Rating: 3

I'll start with the things I did like about this book:

I loved the multiple points of view that we got to see, and it was super interesting to see all of the ways that identity was explored for different characters! I love fantasy, so I'm always on the hunt for more queer centered fantasy reads, and this certainly had a pretty big variety of queer rep!

I also liked the overall premise and plotline centered around four people finding out how they fit into a cycle, and am curious to see how that plays out.

However, despite me having really high hopes for this book, I have a lot of critiques of it.

Although it was exciting to see so many different queer characters, I feel like some of their experiences could have been handled better. For one, I wasn't expecting to see the f slur right off the bat. It also was very uncomfortable to read multiple points of view, knowing one character ID'd one way while reading every other character referring to and thinking of them in a different way, and on a similar note (and speaking as a trans person), it was uncomfortable to see the emphasis on body = gender in terms of the gender fluid(?) character.

I would also be wary of this book because there was an uncomfortable amount of focus and involvement with the police, as well as a point where a white character turns a Black character in for a crime she knew he didn't commit, and basically walks away from it fine even when they find out she lied. I'm white, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, but that entire situation didn't feel like it was handled well at all.

Lastly, the pacing of this story felt all over the place. Although it was exciting to get to read multiple POVS, it takes a lot of work to make sure the characters are all getting developed well, and I feel like most of the characters remained pretty stagnant through the majority of the book. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, no matter how much I wanted to, and the I couldn't really tell if it felt like the plot was moving too quickly or if it was dragging. The ending especially threw me off because there was so much happening at once, and not really much explanation.

This story held a lot of promise and I'm curious enough about where it'll go for the characters that I'll probably still read the sequel when it comes out, but it was kind of all over the place.

This fantasy story weaves in a bit of reality. Racism, abuse, underestimating the possible cruelty of pretty little blonde women. The characters also feature people across the spectrum of gender identity and their struggles to determine what feels right.

Old/New City both used to be part of River City until the night a king was overthrown, a queen died and the magic nearly dried up.

It’s never fully explain, but it seems there’s a cycle with four main players: a hero, a maiden, a monster and a witch.

Who you think fulfills each role isn’t always so.

The abrupt ending leave me to believe this is just the start to a series.

*1.5, rounded down*

This ARC was provided by NetGalley! Thank you so much for letting me read this!

So, I wanted to like this book so bad. The cover is GORGEOUS. I don't know how this author keeps landing these gorgeous covers (I was previously enamored with the cover of their debut novel when I saw it out in the wild for the first time in B&N), but absolutely stick with whoever is hooking them up with them, because holy cow.

Sadly, it just... didn't live up to anything. I don't know how to put this in a nicer way, but I really haven't read a writing style and just general world-building that was so unbelievably convoluted that I couldn't follow a single thing happening in a very long time. It's like this book WANTS to confuse you. It sets up absolutely nothing and explains absolutely nothing as well, leaving the reader fumbling through a story with no idea what the heck is happening.

I actually didn't realize this was the same author as their debut novel, because otherwise I most likely wouldn't have been as shocked. I was actually turned off the debut novel because I read how convoluted and muddled the author's writing style was. Sadly, while I cannot compare the two because I didn't read their first work, I can say that the writing present here is like trying to swim in polluted water. Words shouldn't try to fight you as you read, and I sincerely hope this goes through an editor again before publication.

I could not tell you a single thing about this worldbuilding and setting in depth, which is such a shame because the prologue was SO charming but the rest just didn't follow through. I shouldn't have to be 75% of the way through by the time I finally grasp where your story falls in terms of fantasy and setting in even the barest sense, but it did.

It was also just... hard to like most of the characters. Not that they're unlikable for the most part, but because they're just flat. And it's SUCH a shame, because a monstrous queer young adult-- actually monstrous, in a delightful way-- is one of my favorite things to read about, but it just didn't feel developed enough. She had promise but it wasn't fully realized. I'm aware that this is part of a duology(?) but things simply were not developed enough for a character-driven novel, even a part one.

One of the main characters also becomes completely unlikable imo towards the end, and I was uncomfortable with her the rest of the novel.

I'll preface this next part by saying I am white. Incredibly so! That said, there are some instances of how the black characters were handled in this and some very heavy irl topics that just... felt like they were handled insensitively, and I'll be curious to see how black readers feel.

One final note: this is marketed as a YA novel. I... do not understand how. This is a New Adult novel, if anything. Most of the characters seemed to be in their 20s, and the topics handled were... not handled in a YA way. Not to say that YA can't deal with a whole range of sensitive topics, but this book didn't come across that way at ALL. I would seriously recommend the publisher re-evaluate promoting this as a YA book and focus on a more adult audience.

This book was enjoyable but just fell a little flat for me. I feel like it started very strong and I really liked the characters but the world building felt a little off. It was urban fantasy when it was convenient but then high fantasy at other points? I think the author touched on all the social aspects very well and I loved that aspect but because of that the world and parts of the plot just didn’t work out right. I did enjoy this book but I am not certain if I will be reading the second or not yet.

When I saw Rose Szabo was releasing another book, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. What Big Teeth has been one of my favorite books I’ve read in the past few years and I always recommend it to people. Szabo has a way of writing that is entirely unique within the YA genre. We All Fall Down is no exception. The book focuses on four queer characters and is told through their different perspectives every chapter. The book takes place in River City which is split between the Old City and the New, which contains the giant hospital that often participates in questionable experiments with any creature they can get their hands on. River City was once an area rich with magic, but that has dwindled down to close to nothing. We All Fall Down follows our four characters on their journeys to figuring out their place in the world and, possibly, the world of magic as they know it.

I’m so grateful to have been given access to this ARC. This book was fantastic, unique, and so, so enthralling. Szabo is able to create rich, fleshed-out characters that were you grow to deeply love. Please read it. (And read What Big Teeth which is equally amazing while you wait for the sequel of We All Fall Down to come out.)

Thank you, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), for allowing me to read We All Fall Down early!

I didn't have yet the chance to experience Szabo's debut, but I heard only good things about it, so when I saw We All Fall Down up on NetGalley, I decided to request it. What can I say other than: when is the second installment in the duology being released?! Because I really need it, but like right now. I need to know how it continues! Such a splendid queer dark fantasy novel. I'm still reeling from all the emotions.

My first reaction to this book was confusion. It really doesn’t bother explaining much about the world to you. Sometimes this can be a positive, creating a sense of wondrous world building similar to the feeling of reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. However, it’s usually to it’s detriment. I was about 2/3 of the way through this book before I felt like I comfortably understood the world I found myself in. That being said, I don’t really have any other complaints, aside from a couple minor things. It’s an absolutely fantastic story, with great queer representation, really cool magic, romance filled to the brim with chemistry, and a poignant political message that’s reflective of the world we live in, without hitting you over the head with it or getting too depressing. If you don’t mind going in pretty blind, I definitely recommend this book. I’m definitely going to pick up a physical copy when it comes out in June, and I’ll be waiting very impatiently for the sequel. 4/5

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4493434349

We All Fall Down

First of all, I would like to say how beautiful and detailed this book cover is. If you zoom in and look at the way the tones are assembled and the designs are placed millimetrically, the book deserves a high rating for that alone. Congratulations to the publisher and whoever wrote and designed the cover.
Okay, now for the content: in parts, the book was confusing. High Fantasia with a lesbian character and several POC characters, could NOT be bad for me. But in general, the book is not a YA as promised, it's too heavy for a YA, definitely, and some discussions within this fantasy felt similar to things in real life that could trigger me, so I didn't enjoy it as much. However, in the end, I really liked River City and I want a sequel because the descriptions of the city made me want to read more, although the dialogues were a little rough in parts and the story was more confusing than it should have been. 3.0.
Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an
eArc.