I'm a huge fan of Adrienne Young, and Fallen City was my most anticipated book of the year. Unfortunately this one severely lacked the sparkle that typically accompanies Adrienne Young books.

This book would have worked so much better had it been in third person POV and didn't rely so heavily on "before." I'm convinced that had she written the first book before and the second during the war, it would have been more fluid.

There was little to no build up for the romance either. We were just "told" these people were in love. There was no tension nor the build up necessary for us to believe it and to whole heartedly invested in them.

I wish this was a higher rating for me, it kills me to rate this book so low.

I’ve read almost all of Adrienne Young’s books so of course I was very excited to get my hands on an eARC of Fallen City!

To me, Fallen City, is different than her other books. It’s more heavy on the fantasy and world building. It’s told in dual POV and dual timeline so I found it a little confusing at times and I still don’t know if I fully grasp the world building. But I really enjoyed the characters and their story and I’m excited to see what happens in the next book.

Also, Theo is one of my fave characters which I did not expect.

Fallen Cities hooked me in with an extremely interesting premise as a Greco-Roman fantasy with star-crossed lovers on opposing sides of a war.

There were a lot of good parts to this novel. The writing was extremely solid and I enjoyed Adrienne Young’s style a lot. The world building was interesting as we learned more about the politics at play and the gods roles in everything. Maris and Luka were also a great couple to follow and see their struggle on how they should fight for what they both believe in.

My one complaint about the book was the dual timeline approach. I find these are hard to do well and in this case it diminished a really strong story. It made it at times hard to get invested in the story and actually almost had me giving up at the start of the book. I am happy that I continued on and overall did think it was a really solid book. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing an ARC of Fallen Cities!

Fallen City is my first time reading anything from Adrienne Young. I went in with no expectations and I can see she is a strong writer.

Chapters 1 & 2 were extremely intriguing and did a great job setting up the political and world building aspects without being overly detailed. I enjoyed that the set up unraveled a bit at a time and wasn’t just served to the reader.

I think a lot of readers are going to be confused with the dual timeline dual first person POVs in this book and I found them to be unnecessary.

Some of the “before” chapters were extremely frustrating. They did little to enhance my enjoyment of the story and took away from how special it was to unravel the mystery of what was going on by spelling out what we just learned. In chapter 3 when Ophelius told Maris she will hold her mother’s position sooner than she knows I groaned put the book down for about a week.

Some before chapters (like ch5) I had to re-read because the change of POV didn’t immediately click or make sense. I generally am not someone who needs to re-read for understanding.

3.5 rounded up

Thank you for the opportunity to read

One of my most anticipated books of the year, and it wasn't everything I'd hoped it to be, unfortunately. The story was pretty great, but the pacing and order (dual POV's and dual timelines) made it feel messy. It was hard to grasp what was going on and more importantly why it was going on. The magical element wasn't explained well, and I really hope it's laid out for us in book 2. Sadly, it didn't really click until half way through, and even then it was probably another 10% until I felt compelled to pick it up, excited to finish it. Like I said, the story is really good once you understand what's going on, but (in my opinion) it needed more depth and background explanations. Now, the love story... we needed more, more, more. It was so rushed at first, told rather than shown. I didn't believe it.

I found this book a little hard to get into with the multiple POVs and timelines, but I did really enjoy the Ancient Greek feel to the world created.
It will be interesting to see where this story leads to next.

I have previously loved Adrienne Young’s adult fantasy(ish) books and the Unmaking of June Farrow was spectacular, so I was immediately drawn to the ARC. This young adult genre, complicated world building was her niche before she went on to adult. When I say complicated, I would suggest if you read this ARC or even when it’s published to take notes because there are a lot of names of Gods and wars that were explained. The timeline was a bit confusing, using terms like “then” and “now” but no distinction of when “then” was, or at least I didn’t catch it. Will round up because I love her but may change it when the follow up book comes out. There is a lot to wrap up in another book

This book will absolutely consume you, Adrienne Young just doesn’t disappoint. This story is so much more its powerful and has such a fantastic dual point of view it leaves you wanting more. Easily one of my favourite reads this year, you won’t be disappointed.

If you like duel pov and timelines then this is for you. It's a very different read for me, despite sounding like something I would go for, but not in a bad way. I loved how descriptive and detailed the story and the author's writing were, as well as the worldbuilding, and the influences from the Greek and Roman empires. I think I would have preferred a linear timeline, but it kept me glued. If you like politics, and god in your fantasy check this out.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Fallen City is a hauntingly beautiful fantasy set in the crumbling empire of Isara, where forbidden love and political rebellion collide. Told in dual POVs and timelines, the story of Luca and Maris is emotionally gripping, with aching romance and impossible choices that feel destined by the gods. Adrienne Young’s prose is lyrical and immersive, bringing a war-torn world to life with rich detail and emotional weight. While the worldbuilding took time to fully settle, the final act delivers a breathtaking crescendo of action, sacrifice, and heartbreak. The romance absolutely stole the show for me—it’s rare I root so hard for a love story, but this one felt raw and powerful. Themes of legacy, morality, and fate elevate this beyond typical romantasy, creating something that lingers long after the last page.

Oh Adrienne Young, the woman that you are. I was hesitant to read this story based on the summary. Greek/Roman inspired stories don’t usually work for me. I should’ve known that Young’s writing would be an exception. This story is heartbreakingly beautiful, especially the love story. I loved learning about both the past and present of our two main characters. I did find myself more inclined to favor the flashback chapters. I desperately wanted to know what happened to the characters and their relationship to put them in the positions and places they are in during the present day. The yearning was done so well and was strong in both the past and present chapters. If it wasn’t obvious, my favorite part of the story was the romance. This surprised me because that is hardly ever the case for me. It is a testament at how well Young crafts her stories and characters. This isn’t a happy story. It’s one about two people being in love while their world is on the brink of war. Neither of the characters are perfect, but everything they do is for one another. By all accounts, our main characters shouldn’t be together. They are constantly torn apart. However, that never stops them from fighting for one another. I loved how there wasn’t always a clear idea of who was good and who was evil. Even the characters struggle with discerning what is right and what is wrong. What held me back from giving this 5 stars was that I felt like I never got a full grasp on the world building. I didn’t fully start to understand the world until near the end of the book.
I am eager to read the next installment. I have a feeling I will love it even more than this one. At least I have some of Young’s backlist to look forward to while I wait for the conclusion to this duology!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Fallen City by Adrienne Young is a gripping dystopian fantasy that pulls readers into a world of crumbling power, dangerous secrets, and resilient hope. Young’s vivid storytelling and fierce, layered characters make the stakes feel personal and urgent. With its perfect blend of action, emotion, and intrigue, Fallen City is a standout addition to her already impressive body of work.

The first book in a new fantasy series that will leave you wanting more. This book has romance, political intrigue, and some fun twists that will keep you turning pages.

I love Adrienne Young, she is one of my favorite authors! However, I am having the hardest time getting into this one. I feel like this setting and type of fantasy story may not be for me. I am hoping to come back to this one at some point. Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for the arc!

I have to start by saying I loved The Unmaking of June Farrow and was very curious how a fantasy book of hers would be. I was hoping for a strong enemies to lovers romance but it was more of a they probably shouldn't be together but eh okay if they are with no build-up. Although I liked the dual perspectives I did not think it was done well with the two timelines. They started out already deeply in love and only a brief unsatisfying build-up scene before they are already hopelessly in love with each other. Due to this, all of the characters fell flat for me and I had no real investment in what happened to any of them. It made it even harder to be invested in the plot when as a reader I felt thrown into the world with little to no explanation of how anything works in the world. However, the author was highly focused on their clothing mentioning the chiton, stola, and palla multiple times throughout the book. I will say the plot picked up around the 75% mark of the book though it also led me to dislike the male main character more and more. Sadly, I don't think I will be reading the 2nd book of this duology but will remain a fan of Adrienne Young!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC, all opinions are my own.

I think I'm the odd man out here, but the dual timeline and POVs of Fallen City honestly made this really confusing and hard to keep up with.

This book wrecked me in the best way.

🗡️ Dual POV
⏳ Dual Timeline
🔥 A slow-burn romance with high emotional stakes
📜 Prophecies & fate

Luca and Maris feel like soulmates torn apart by duty and destiny, and watching their paths diverge into holy war? DEVASTATING. Add the “Before/Now” structure, immersive worldbuilding, layered side characters, and an explosive cliffhanger ending—I couldn’t stop flipping pages.

Perfect for fans of:
🏛 Rebecca Ross
🏛 Shelby Mahurin
🏛 Anyone who eats up lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers tension

🗓️ Expected release: November 4, 2025
⭐️ 5/5 stars – a must-read if you crave emotionally intense, sweeping romantasy with teeth.

I went into this book with little to no expectations. I'm glad I did so, because it enabled me to give this book 3 stars. I didn't truly feel a connection with any of the characters, or their love stories. The book itself suffered, I feel, in moving from past to present and varying narrators. It was also told in the past perfect tense, which I felt didn't add a whole lot of movement to the story. The last 50 pages were highly enjoyable and fast paced
I wish the beginning 250 pages had been the same

Thanks net galley for the opportunity to review

ᯓ★ 3.5 stars rounded down ★ᯓ

────୨「summary」ৎ────

Fallen City follows star-crossed lovers Maris Casperia and Luca Matius as they act as two important players on opposing sides of a massive civil war. Told in dual POVs and shifting between past and present timelines, we follow Maris and Luca as they—and the entire city—inch toward the point of total upheaval. Maris and Luca must decide just how much they are willing to lose in this game of gods and war.

────୨「plot」ৎ────

The book’s plot is fairly understandable yet still engaging. The book has dual timelines, but both timelines progress in a linear direction. Despite having correctly predicted most of the twists, the plot still held my interest because the author used these twists well. Although there are some sly players, I wouldn’t say the political landscape is super complex or original. However, I did prefer reading about the happenings in the Citadel District because that plot line was more interesting and complex compared to the stuff going on in the New Legion’s side.

As for the romantic plot, I was generally left disappointed by it. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the two characters, especially in the present timeline. Mainly, I felt like the romance wasn’t well-developed. First, they’re sorta attracted to each other but are suspicious and hesitant. Then, after a single flashback chapter, they’re in love. I also felt like Maris was the one who genuinely fell and stayed in love; Luca kept saying all these empty words about how much he loves her while acting in ways that made me doubt if he even wanted her as a person instead of just as a support system. Luca is the one who pushes Maris away over and over across both timelines, and his entire martyr act felt very shallow.

────୨「pacing」ৎ────

At first, I struggled to remain focused on the story since I hated the dual timeline format. Upon starting the book, it felt like I was just dropped in the middle of the story, and the act of playing catch-up from the get-go wasn’t appealing to me since I had no reason to care for this world or any of these characters yet. It was a hurdle to get over the painfully slow and confusing start. Despite that, I enjoyed most of the flashbacks, except for the ones in the last 10-20%. I think the last few flashbacks interrupted the momentum in the present timeline, and I found them to be quite repetitive. Overall, the pacing surely lags in some parts, but it did a good job at keeping me hooked after the first half of the book.

────୨「characters」ৎ────

I admire how the author crafted most of these characters with nuance and care. When we’re first introduced to our two protagonists, they are both headstrong and a tad rebellious, yet slightly jaded by corruption. As the story progressed, our protagonists were irrevocably altered by the war and all the choices they or others made.

Maris, the daughter of a wealthy and powerful magistrate, is the heir to her mother’s influential seat in the Forum. Having grown up surrounded by—and disgusted with—the excessive opulence of the Citadel District, Maris starts as the quietly rebellious daughter with dreams of being different from her mother and the other corrupt magistrates. She is characterized as slightly naive but well-intentioned. I found her to be more compelling as a character than Luca, who was more emotionally reactive. Maris, having grown up in the snake pit of politics, made wiser, timelier decisions than Luca. I also admired how Maris was able to be strong but still soft at heart without being “weak.”

Luca, the nephew and adoptive heir of the majority faction leader of the magistrates, was born in the Lower City and brought into the world of the Citadel later on. Having lived on the other side of the river, Luca has personal experience with the poverty and plight that the other magistrate families turn their backs on. Similar to Maris, Luca’s motivations are clear and easy to understand. He is characterized as an impatient and brash man who is hesitant to step into any position of power, which is evident through his actions and overall role in the war. Although I found him to be less appealing as a character, I don’t think Luca was written badly. Considering both their backgrounds and their experiences during the war, I found both Maris and Luca’s character arcs to be realistic.

As for the side characters, we do get a bit of political scheming courtesy of the older players in the Citadel, namely Maris’s mother and uncle, the Consul, Priestess Ophelia, and Philosopher Vitrasian. We also meet Vale, Luca’s best friend and the son of the Consul, who acts as commander of the New Legion (the rebels) and Luca and Vale’s tribunes, Théo and Asinia. I found all the characters to be generally transparent, so I had no trouble picking up their motivations or guessing the possible decisions they’d make. We don’t get much reason to care for the side characters, to be honest, so I don’t have much of an opinion of them.

One thing I wanted to point out is that Luca does mention being around the age of 27 in one of the chapters. Personally, Luca—along with Maris and Vale—seemed to read a bit younger than their supposed ages. If someone handed me this book and asked me if it was Adult or YA, I’d lean towards YA because the characters seem younger and even the politics or themes explored in this book are ones that have been explored in other YA Fantasy books (e.g. the Folk of the Air series).

────୨「setting & world-building」ৎ────

Fallen City is set in an interesting mixture of ancient Greco-Roman society. The Fantasy aspect comes from the existence of gods, godsblood, and gods’ gifts. To me, this part of the world wasn’t as well-explained as I hoped. The role of the gods and the extent of their “reach” is left vague. Even the use and capabilities of godsblood in everyday items could’ve been explained better. It’s stated that godsblood is exploited by the Citadel District, but, besides making things shiny, what does godsblood actually do? I was annoyed with the vagueness of the magic/god lore. Since this is the first book of a duology, I hope to see this part better explained in the sequel.

As usual, I liked Adrienne Young’s writing, and I felt like she wrote some really descriptive imagery that helped make picturing this world, the city of Isara, an easy task. Her writing was also accessible for a book set in something akin to ancient Greco-Roman society.

────୨「overall」ৎ────

Although I struggled to get invested at first, I did enjoy this book, especially towards the end. I think the payoff was there, and I can see myself caring more for specific characters by the time the book was done. I’m particularly interested in seeing Maris and Théo’s journey in the second book because I found them to be the two characters with the most potential. In the sequel, I hope we’ll get some more detailed world-building and maybe a strong reason to root for the main romance.

If you enjoy a Romeo and Juliet-esque main couple, political scheming, and a tension-filled story, I recommend picking up Fallen City.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This novel really took me on a dark emotional journey! I was not expecting this book to be so powerful! It is a truly a masterpiece! This book comes with romance, fantasy, rebellion, a forbidden love, war, political intrigue and so much more! This book was such a fun read and is definitely one of my top favorites so far this year. This story has dual points of views and a dual timeline. It is immersive, deep, engaging, entertaining and I really did not want this book to end! This was very thought provoking and comes with an immersive world building. This is very well written and an engaging read! This has themes of legacy, hope and fate, political turmoil and a very emotional story! Overall, I rate this a high 5 out of 5 stars!

I highly recommend reading this book, especially if you love a great fantasy romance! Content warnings include death, blood, murder, suicide and war.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Adrienne Young and St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books for this electronic ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on November 4, 2025!