Thank you Netgalley & publishers for this advanced readers copy!
I was immediately captured by the atmosphere as soon as I picked up the book. In true fantasy fashion, the world building can seem slow to some, while not at all to others, especially while you're getting used to the dual timeline and POV... but it doesn't stop it from being intriguing and making you want more! I also love that this wasn't like "every other" romantasy that's been released lately.
So, without further ado, or any spoilers, I'll give you some of the tropes from Fallen City- forbidden romance, war, slow burn romance, world building, and tragedy in many forms.
I cannot wait for this to be released, as I need all of the formats, gossip and book 2 already!
Fallen City releases Nov 4th- pre-order your copy now!

Having loved The Unmaking of June Farrow, I was overjoyed to get an ARC of Adrienne Young’s newest novel Fallen City. Everything about this book was soooo goood. The love story between the main characters was both sweet and heartbreaking. The politics were also fascinating and so well thought out that I was hooked. The use of both past and present views of both of the POVs was a great narrative device. I was speed reading through the chapters so I could figure out the mystery of how the present situation came to occur. It ends on a massive cliffhanger that led me to internally scream so I didn’t wake my family up or throw my kindle clear across the room. I cannot wait to see what happens next. Five stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!

Okayyy this book was such a ride. Political drama? Rebellion? Forbidden love? Check, check, and check. The world of Isara felt super rich and layered, you could tell there were centuries of history and tension just simmering under the surface.

Maris and Luca were both really compelling characters, especially once their paths started colliding in big, messy ways. The slow-burn romance gave me actual stress (in a good way), and the stakes just kept getting higher. I also loved how the story wrestled with power, legacy, and fate without getting too philosophy class vibes about it.

That said, the pacing in the middle lagged a bit, and there were a few plot points I had to reread to fully get what was going on (especially when the magic + politics started mixing). But overall, this book delivered: high drama, complex characters, and an ending that made me stare at the wall for a sec.

Definitely recommend if you’re into fantasy with a brain and a beating heart.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casoeria was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

Thank you to #netgalley #saturdaybooks and #stmartinspress for an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I am so sad to say that this book just did not resonate with me! I have adored Adrienne's writing since her debut and fell in love with Fable and the world of the Narrows -( I honestly would read anything she wrote set in that world, hint hint #Wednesdaybooks). But this one just fell flat for me. From the very first chapters, I couldn't connect with either of the protagonists, and just did not feel immersed or care what happened within the world. It pains me to write this about one of her books. And it was well written, with her usual flair and beautiful descriptions. I know there will be many readers who like and love this book. It just wasn't for me.

2 🌟 I tried really hard to enjoy this book but I just couldn’t get into it. If I wasn’t reading this to review, it would’ve been a DNF. That is a lot coming from me because I hate not finishing a book. The book seemed childish to me. I wanted to grab Maris & Luca by the shoulders and shake them until they got some sense. I kept hoping the ending would breathe some life into the story but it just never got there.

I loved this whole book. It’s a great dual timeline, dual POV fantasy book about gods, political games, war, and love. I’m so excited to read the next part.
I’d say if you’re a fan of Divine Rivals this would be a must read next.
Adrienne Young continues to be a master of fantasy and magical realism books.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Adrienne Young, and the publishers for this advanced copy. I will continue to read everything she writes!

4.5 stars!

let me just say that i did not expect to love this book so much! at first, i kinda struggled with the dual timeline but i was still really intrigued by the story. i’ve realized that the dual timeline really set up this first book and helped build the storyline. i don’t think it would have been high stakes and intense if it went in chronological order.

i really loved the political intrigue, immersive world building, and divine forces at play here. i saw another person say that the pacing feels like a crescendo and i cannot agree more! it feels like a gut wrenching piece of classical music playing.

the forbidden love trope ahhh 🤭🤭🤭 i LOOOVE it so much, it was so good! i feel like if you loved the song of achilles by madeline miller then you will also like this book!

thank you st martins press for the e-book arc through netgalley! i will be posting a review for this on my instagram soon!

Did I finish Fallen City, or did it finish me?

This story took me for a ride, I was absolutely consumed by the writing, the gorgeous atmosphere, dual timelines. The longing! The betrayal. Faced with impossible choices.

The tension was built beautifully, subtle but an absolute dagger to the heart.

War, political intrigue, forbidden love, fantasy, a rebellion… this immersive story has everything, and I cannot wait for book 2!

This book will absolutely rip your heart right out. This was equal parts tragic, romantic, tense, and heartbreaking. This was high-stakes and I was instantly invested in Maris and Luca.

This story is told in multiple timelines, and while you are thrown right into a battle at the very start, you start to catch on to what is happening, and who the sides are pretty quickly. It reminded me a lot of Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, which is one of my favorites of all time. I feel like I will be counting down the seconds until I get my hands on the next one!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fallen City is a high/historical fantasy book that absolutely consumed me from the first page to the final page. Adrienne Young creates immersive world building, characters you love and hate, and a powerful statement on the struggles for power and the disparity between classes in Isara.

The story is told from the POVs of Maris and Luca, with time periods broken into "before" and "after". The dual POVs and alternating timelines added suspense and interest to the story, as the slow burn political agendas, threat of war, and forbidden romance unfolded. Young brings great tension throughout the book, especially with the relationship between Maris and Luca. I also enjoyed the side characters and their interactions with the main characters. There are some very complicated characters and their different agendas and desires really bring them to life.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Political Agendas
* Will of the Gods
* Rebellion/War
* Forbidden Love
* Slow Burn
* Betrayals/Revenge
* Loyalty/Sacrifice

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

There were moments that Young's writing and the dialogue between characters gave me goosebumps. As soon as I finished the last word in the final chapter, I was immediately craving the next book. If you enjoy political intrigue, complicated relationships and characters, and books like Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, then I would highly recommend Fallen City.

I loved this book. It was so different than past works and I love seeing how authors grow and evolve. I loved the Roman inspired world, it was so immersive. I really hope the story continues because I need more.

It was well paced, well written. I also loved the style; going "before" and "now". It just added so many layers and you really got to know the characters so well that your heart ripped apart for them. That ending man...I was hurting.

I have waited literal years for this book and it did not disappoint one bit.

I admit, this had a bit of a shaky start. With the dual POVs and the slip between past and present, setting up an expansive story, I struggled a little bit to get into it. But fret not, I got over it super quick and was so invested in Maris and Luca's story. The storytelling was actually phenomenal and I would not ask for the format to be changed. Once I found my footing it was impossible to put down, with the looming dread of the past chapters and the tension of the present ones, all the while wondering whether the two star-crossed lovers would ever get their happy ending. The perils of power and who holds it is always a fascinating subject, especially when gods are involved.

I cannot wait for the sequel!

Wow! This book was amazing! From page one I was hooked. Adrienne Young has an amazing ability to weave the past and present in the books I’ve read of hers and this is no different as the chapters go between the present action to the recent past setting the scene. The setting being Ancient Rome adjacent felt refreshing. The lore of the story didn’t feel overwhelming as it was sort of given along the way. Adrienne also does an amazing job of having these characters that have been parted and showing the emotion and tension and yearning between them as they try to find their way back to one another. The political machinations going on in the story was fascinating and kept the plot moving. The ending devastated me before I realized this was a duo so now I’m anxiously waiting for book 2!

3.5/5 stars & ARC Review

This book has all the things I love about an Adrienne Young book, and a few things that left me wanting more. It follows two new adults as they navigate the political landscape in their world while grappling with meddling gods, finding each other along the way.

I was nervous at first about the story being split between two POVs in two timelines, but it really works for this book. In a way, you're reading two stories at once, and it makes the tension build then explode in two separate places. It's easy to root for two people who want to make the world a better place, and exciting yet maddening to see how they get thrown off course.

I would've liked to see more of Maris's mother, of all people, because she's clearly playing 4D chess but has motivations I don't completely understand. Nej and even Vale are in a similar place for me.

Overall I think the world building was good and Luca's change from lower city boy to a man of the citadel is interesting, but there's a clear need for a sequel to fill in some gaps and motivations.

It's been a while since I read a book with writing that feels cinematic, and this story gave me that fix. Not only was it interesting in its direct inspiration from Ancient Rome, but also in the direct use of politics spurning a war between this fictional city. Above all, it also showed how the humanity of the major players in a war can seep into the consequences felt throughout the city and turn the tides.

As you start the story, a lot may feel black and white. There are two sides of the war, and you follow two people on different sides of the river. Until you keep reading and see how it all intertwined together from the scenes that happened before the initial division. The book tells the story between past and present, divided between the points of view from Maris Casperia and Luca Matius. We see the impact of their history in the present time, but then we learn of how they came to be in the past, and how their fates may have had something to do with the war at hand. And that's as much as I'll say without spoiling anything.

Now, what really intrigued me about this story was the concept of the gods. The gods are real and they are revered, respected, disowned, and spat on. As readers, we see how the stories of the gods frame the very making of the city, and yet as most stories are, they are distorted and changed to serve an ideal. My only wish was that the gods had a bigger role to play, though I assume that will come into full force in the second book.

While the story also focused on two sides of this war, I think one side was more developed than the other. I'm not one to complain about a romance subplot, but I do think the romance took a lot of space from the story and we didn't get a bigger part of the story that ended in the plot twist near the end of the book concerning the Consul. After much thought, I wondered if perhaps Maris's point of view could have been used more to dive into this side of the war, especially with the tie she had to the plot given her uncle and her position as Magistrate.

Nevertheless, this was an incredible book rich in language and history. I wanted to keep reading past the ending.

Finally, I just want to say that Théo was the baddest bitch in this whole book, and I stand by that.

Go read this book when it comes out! It's definitely a treat 🙌🏼

I had been waiting for Fallen City to be released for years and one of my most anticipated reads this year. The ancient Rome setting and Adrienne's storytelling was everything I had hoped for. This book consumed my thoughts, from the very first page to the end in a fantasy story like one I've never read before.

The story starts off in the middle of a rebellion that was a hundred years in the making, a city divided, with the two main characters at odds. Maris and Luca, both the next in line to fulfill their duty in seats in the Forum, but both raised on opposite sites of the tracks or in this case, the river. And both deeply in love with eachother. We're not sure what sparked the war when the story starts, and where they each stand toward eachother, but as the story unfolds with a dual timeline, chapters perfectly placed, the story is told in a captivating way where you are rooting for both of them as you discover what is actually happening to this city.

This book shines in so many ways. I personally think this book stands out from others as you have a fantasy novel where both the MMCs aren't really enemies but lovers that are divided and torn. Equal protagonist to a female and male character together. The ancient Rome clothing, setting, and military rankings were so well depicted. I did think the rebellion in this city and some of the choices made can be relevant today in certain settings with making choices under an allegiance to a following that may not be exactly moral.

I love Adrienne Young's writing so much and a fan of all her books. Fallen City brings her adult fiction writing style with the captivating plot of her YA fantasies to a New Adult fantasy.

This book is just as romantic as it is full of tension and fighting a war the Gods are controlling. It would be perfect for fans of Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals. I loved it so much and I can't wait to see what happens next in this duology.

A very big thank you to St. Martin's Press and Saturday Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publish Date November 4, 2025

Adrienne Young has created an immersive world with characters that latch onto your soul, and an atmosphere so beautifully described that you can almost smell the incense hovering in the air. I was absolutely enthralled.

World Building: The insular world building was amazing. I walked Casperia’s villa, and stood at the rails in the Forum. The Roman-Greco inspired culture was interesting and lush. The rest of the world, we don’t know much about that. But does it really matter? I don’t think so.

Romance: The story, at its core, is a love story. The romance is tender, sweet, obsessive, and all consuming. There is yearning. Darkness and light. Maris and Luca have captured my heart. The depiction of emotion, the beauty of the words … it hit me in the gut, I was thirsting for more.

Magic System: The magic system is better described as divine gifts or favor bestowed by the gods. The meaning of the gifts and the benefit of favor is a bit of a mystery. We hear about these things quite a bit and they are central to the plot. My criticism is that the meaning and the myth surrounding the attention of the gods is not very clear. Perhaps the point? The games gods play with humans?

Final Thoughts: I am a romance and a world building girlie and <i>Fallen City</i> provided both those requirements. Any book I devour in 1 day deserves a 5 star rating. I will be purchasing the physical copy (already preordered!) and dutifully rereading.

This book had me throughout the entire book. I could not stop reading. It was plot driven and it felt a little close to what we (Americans) are going through right now. Minus some of the god interference, I think. This book is about the rumblings and start of a revolution with gods just under the service. Luca and Maris’s forbidden love was absolutely amazing and grew as the book progressed. I absolutely appreciated the love that grew from difficult times and seeing their love grow with this journey. Adrienne Young writes so beautifully that this book was captivating and unforgettable.

Fallen City is book 1 of a planned duology. This story follows Maris and Luca, two adult children of leaders of a Roman inspired Empire, as they navigate political intrigue, famine, war and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3⭐️.

This is my first book by this author and to be honest, I am underwhelmed. This book has 2 POV characters in both the present and past, usually I don’t care for this narrative style, but it was ok in this book. This just suffered from being way too predictable and slow. There was a good chuck of this book around the 60-75% area that I was seriously contemplating DNFing it completely. I am glad I read this book but I don’t know if I am interested in reading book 2

Fallen City is a Greco-Roman style fantasy romance with a dual POV and past/present timelines. The romance between Luca and Maris is a lovely slow burn of forbidden love, and the world building is beautifully layered and exquisitely detailed.

I loved the prosaic writing, and really felt the simmering tension between the main characters. However, I did get easily distracted by the past/present timelines along with the dual POV. Overall, a great read and one I would recommend.