Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this advanced copy <3.

This book held so much promise but ultimately did not deliver on a few fronts.

First, I felt little to no attachment or investment in any of the characters, who all felt, to varying degrees, flat.

Second, this book is marketed as adult fantasy, but nearly everything about this felt very YA. Well, minus the explicit sex scenes, which felt *very* out of place. The plot was predictable and very surface level, making you work for virtually nothing.

Third, the setting/atmosphere of this book was so lacking as to be nonexistent. I didn't feel any sort of immersion, and there were times reading this that I had to remind myself where we actually were.

All that to say, this wasn't a bad book. The writing was good, and I really enjoyed the immigrant story line for Sam's mother. And as I mentioned at the beginning of my review, it holds a lot of promise and potential to be a really good story. It just failed to execute.

Final rating: 2.5 stars rounded up

I was swept away by the dark pulse of this adult fantasy thriller. Set in a magical, crime ruled LA, it follows Sam and Ari childhood friends torn apart by rival alchemy syndicates, drawn back together by power, betrayal, and that old spark. The alchemy as a drug twist felt fresh and haunting, and the tension between them simmered so well it nearly took my breath away. The world building is cinematic and gritty, full of ambition, grit, and the cost of perfection. It starts intense and only builds from there, with emotional stakes that cut deep.

If you’re craving a story driven by twin obsessions power and forbidden connection this one hits hard

Sam spent her entire childhood being invisible. She can remember anything, gets good grades, and is happy being overlooked. Enter Ari: the one person who truly seems to see her. He has made school bearable, and she thinks she might love him. But they both have secrets, all of them revolving around the hidden world of alchemy.
Now adults, Sam and Ari have made a place for themselves in their alchemy fields... Unfortunately working for rival organizations, having not spoken since high school until fate puts them back in the same orbit.
Can their childhood love survive their differences, or are they too deep in the world of alchemy to care about anything other than power?

THIS BOOK IS UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING. It's most definitely mafia The Librarians meets Romeo and Juliet, including a plot to fake someone's death. Sam and Ari are complex characters that are relatable and interesting. And the alchemy! I love a good magic system, and changing something into something else is a fantastic way to accomplish that. Not to mention that anyone could do it, AND people who practice have a special skill they acquire. Amazing.
I genuinely cannot wait for the next book. The pacing was amazing, but the twists were slightly easy to figure out. But an altogether amazing book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC! Projected publishing date: October 14th, 2025

I love Marie Lu's writing. This was an amazing introduction to this adult series. There are multiple Povs that kept me interested. You do want to check the triggers in case that may be an issue, there is violence, drugs and abuse mentioned as well as some gore described. I cannot wait for this deluxe edition to come out on Oct 14th so i can have my shelf trophy.

Genuinely flabbergasted at the ride that book just took me on! I’ll be in recovery for a little while.

A fantasy Narcos? A true crime Shakespeare novel? A Marvel movie meets poetry? WHAT was this amazingness?!

I can tell you for me it was a ⭐️ 4.5 stars (rounded up to a 5!)

This is one of those books you just have to read to believe. There’s nothing I can write in this review that would hold a flame to what Marie Lu wrote in this book. It was mind-bending, soul-searing, heart attack-inducing. It was insanely creative, well-plotted and beautifully written. I was really sucked in, chewed UP, and spit back out dyinggggg for more.

Let’s get into the specifics

What I loved:

- Characters - The time and effort that was put into building up characters, their backstories and their current depths was phenomenal. For such an action-packed book, thick plot with a tall order of worldbuilding, the characters were still incredibly done. I have to mention how complex they were. I love love love that in characters, to love and hate them all.

- The setting – I love an alternate version of a real-world city. This was set in an alternate LA and it was vivid.

- The world building/science/magic system – I mean this was all just incredible and completely bulletproof. It was so imaginative and yet it was done with such effort and explanation that I almost felt like it could be real. Like I wanted to try Alchemy myself because it just felt so attainable and real. I can tell this will forever be one of my favorite “magic” systems I’ve read in a book.

- A story that went there – This hit hard! I love a book when I can’t predict what’s going to happen but when it does it makes sense. I love when an author takes a risk and makes a big moves that genuinely shock and pull on the emotions of a reader.

What I didn’t love (the few small things that kept this from a full 5 stars)

- The beginning 25% of this book was VERY slow. Just that little chunk in the beginning took me three days to read. I was a but bored but could feel an undercurrent that it would lead to something big so I pushed through. My advice to anyone who wants to read it would be to have patience and make it to that 30% mark because it does absolutely pay off and all of that background info is necessary.

- Ari and Sam. I loved and believed in that in the present chapters as adults. I could not buy into their connection as teenagers. It didn’t click with me and that caused some confusion for me.

- The writing was stunning. Do not get me wrong. But it was very wordy (that’s the best way I can put it). So as amazing as the story was, it could be tiring to read. I did not take anything off for this because this is full a “my brain” kind of thing but I would keep this in mind if you’re someone who gets that sort of “reading exhaustion” from really wordy books like I do.

⭐️ Overall, this was freakingggggg amazzzinnnngggggg. I am still so stunned. I can’t believe I have to wait for a book 2. I’m sick about it. I want to dive back into this world with these characters ASAP. I highly recommend.

For fans of
- Vicious and Vengeful by V.E. Schwab
- Dark Academia settings
- True Crime Novels

Things I predicted would be featured in this adult novel debut: excess depictions of blood and violence--check; unmitigated use of the 'fuck' word--check; a deeper exploration of dark topics, such as child abuse and mental illness--check.

Things I did not anticipate would be prioritized in this adult novel debut: a teenager having bondage fantasies while being blindfolded by an adult man; the same adult man admitting to a student that he's "wanted" her for a long time; detailed scenes of teachers (yes, teachers plural) having sex with their barely legal students, who they've known throughout their youth.

I do not believe it is unfair of me to be taken aback by this content, especially when considering how unnecessary it is to the plot. Oh, the young boy who has been sexualized throughout his childhood is now extra charismatic when he takes magic drugs, so he needs someone to teach him how to have sex? Yeah, I dunno about that one. The girl who has been physically and emotionally abused by her mentor is now in love with him and needs him to have rough sex with her because she's sad? Hmm! That's really weird. Like, super-extra-unimaginably weird!

To top it all off, the writing really isn't that great. You, as the reader, are never allowed to speculate or think on events of the story. Marie Lu insists on narrating everything, not permitting you to puzzle pieces of the story together on your own. The chapters' alternating character perspectives spell out every thought, action, and motivation. You don't need to worry about cliffhangers or suspense in this one, you just need to turn the page!

But don't even think about asking me how the magic system works. They can see the molecules, okay? What more do you need?

I have been obsessed with this book since they teased its release! And let me tell you I have never wanted anything more! Marie Lu is an amazing authors and I knew I needed to get my hands on this. This book did not disappointed in anyway!

i loved this so much and was so invested!! it felt like 'goodfellas' but with magic and i had so much heartbreaking fun.

the yearning and tension between Ari and Sam was so good and i loved how their relationship changed too like it started simple and sweet but then when they met again they were on opposite sides and then shifted again into something sweet but intense.

i also thought the combination of magic and politics was very refreshing, the science of alchemy itself was so fascinating but then the addition of sand as an enhancement was so cleverly done.

also each side character did not feel like just a side character they all added something to the story and allowed us to see the greater picture

I really wanted to like this. The early writing was satisfying, as was the worldbuilding. But between timeline challenges early on (I had to flip back and forth several times because one second Sam was in fourth grade gluing fortune cookies to a restaurant floor, and the next she's in seventh grade getting noticed by Ari, then it's a month later and it's fire season and she knows Ari) and the VERY convenient "we're BFFs but we also don't tell each other anything personal" that sets up the central conflict for part two, I found myself being pulled out of the story.

Maybe I'll give this a second chance post-publication.

Red City is a thrilling and provocative start to Marie Lu’s adult fantasy debut. Set in a glitzy, dangerous version of Los Angeles, the story dives into a world fueled by “sand”—a drug that enhances people into their best selves, but at a serious cost. The tension between the two controlling factions, Grand Central and Lumines, feels both corporate and criminal, adding depth to an already gripping setting.

At the heart of the story are Sam and Ari, once close friends now caught on opposing sides. Their journey is emotional, intense, and at times heartbreaking. Lu doesn’t hold back, exploring themes of power, identity, and ambition with maturity and edge. Sam especially shines—a complex mix of vulnerability and determination that grounds the novel.

While a few middle sections felt a bit slow and some side characters could have used more development, the overall impact of the book is strong. The ending delivers, leaving just enough to make you crave the next installment.

A dark, stylish, and smart read—perfect for fans of gritty fantasy with emotional depth.

Thanks to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything I had hoped for and more. Half way in I knew Lu was going to break my heart but as usual she did it a way that makes me want to say thank you for the pain.

Loved everything about this story and can’t wait to get my hands on book 2

Thank you for the early copy for review!

This is my first Marie Lu book and I absolutely loved it! I was pulled in from the first page. The story mostly goes back and forth between Ari and Sam, but there are a couple others mixed in as well. I was equally engaged with each of the narrators. This novel also covers a long period of time. It starts when Ari and Sam are kids, then teenagers, then adults. Even though a lot of time is covered, I never felt like the story was rushed. I was completely engaged with each time period. While I would have liked to have spent more time in each of the eras, I think this likely would have made the story drag a bit. I also loved the magic system. I always struggle a little bit with alchemy-based systems because I can't help but compare them to fullmetal alchemist, but I didn't have that issue with this book. The different types of alchemy, the addition of the soul, as well as the urban landscape helped the magic system to feel unique. I loved both Ari and Sam as well as their relationship. Since the narrative started when these two characters were so young, you really get to see their choices and situations impact and change who they are.
I loved this book and am definitely going to have to check out more of Marie Lu's works!

Red City is the story of Sam and Ari. Both born into poverty and how that and being recruited into alchemy-based crime syndicates shaped their lives and relationships.

This book is advertised as Marie Lu's first adult novel and I mean, I guess. It really feels like YA but with some mature situation scenes that are supposed to be the adult part. The thing is, they are kids for a decent chunk of this book and even though they are adults at some point they don't act more adult. There is no real character development or maturation to hint at. The timeline of what age they are when certain things happen isn't really obvious.

I also feel like there was a missed opportunity to get into the details of the alchemy but that doesn't happen. It was hinted at how this all works but besides some references to chemistry, it's really not explained. I need the details of the how the magic works please, that is what makes it interesting. If people can do whatever they want whenever they want, it is not as complicated and therefore interesting.

Also never really asked for books to be longer but I feel like this needed to be longer. The relationship between Sam and Ari needs to be built up more to rationalize a lot of the actions taken. I completely understand that what happens when you are young affects your brain chemistry development, but events need to happen for that to be a thing. It feels like Ari should have a lot deeper connections to the other members of his syndicate than Sam.

In conclusion, my biggest peeve is trying to sneak a YA book through me as an adult book. Nice try but no thank you. If you liked Legend (which I did), you will like this. I am just personally over my YA phase.

Hands down one of the best books I’ve ever read. I felt so many emotions throughout it reading it; I was dejected, happy, and even absolutely furious at one point. Probably the only thing keeping it from being THE best book I’ve read is the beginning. The first 10% of this book was very slow, but after that it is AMAZING.

Lu draws from her own experiences growing up, and mixes them with magic in a stunning book set in an alternate universe. The magic system, alchemy, is complex and unique, but actually makes a lot of sense. I do wish she dove into the complexities a little more, especially when the two main characters were learning (I feel like a lot was skipped), but I’m not mad since that was the slow part.
I was especially intrigued with the concept of sand, a drug, in the story and how it worked both with normal people and alchemists. The combination of fantasy and organized crime is an intriguing idea, and I absolutely love its execution here. However, the separation of alchemy from the normal world was a little weird to me, and felt unrealistic at times, but I suppose it is common for people to turn a blind eye so I don’t mean to criticize it much.
Character dynamics and relationships were great and well-done, as well as character motivations. While I don’t necessarily relate to the characters, I can completely understand their desires and goals (with some exceptions) through Lu’s excellent writing. Romance was present and there was sex, but it surprisingly didn’t feel forced at all. It actually went well with the plot and wasn’t overdone, which is refreshing compared to some other new adult books that are popular right now.

Overall, I would give this book a 9.4/10 and would highly recommend it. I’ll probably get a hard copy once they become available and read it again.

Lu’s tale of two young outsiders with a powerful connection who are brought up to wield both power and magic on opposing sides of a gang war is both deeply emotional and electrifying and will remind readers of Fonda Lee (“Jade City”) and Erin Morgenstern (“The Night Circus.”)

Having read many of Marie Lu's prior work it was not hard to dive into her latest novel, Red City. Her signature style can be seen within the characters, the world building, the corrupt leader and shadow deals.

When Rupta comes across Ari; a child born into abject poverty halfway across the world, he sees a young prodigy ready to be molded. With a strong soul, Rupta is sure he can turned into a powerful alchemist. With his families well being saddled onto his back Ari does everything he's asked to do, but when his charisma and charm outshine the teacher, chaos ensues and Ari must decide where his loyalties lead.

Sam has always felt a little different. Born to a single mother who struggled everyday to provide Sam isn't a stranger to stretching meals and entertaining herself. Her greatest skill? Going unnoticed. A classmate of Ari's, the sweet boy who was dropped off and picked up in a black SUV everyday from school, Sam relied on him when her mood was down. After graduation she wants to keep in tough, but Ari doesn't think she fits into his world---or, does she?

Marie Lu built a world where everyone is keeping secrets, all for different reasons, and with so much interconnection it often ends where it begins. Two warring factions, a drug business between them and their rise or fall hinges on two former classmates who may or may not still have feelings for each other.

I read a bit each night and it never seemed to be enough until I finally stayed up late to finish it. I am very excited for this series and I am already looking forward to Book 2.

Thank you Tor for the gifted ARC.

OMG!!! Thank you sooo much for this opportunity, I still can’t believe I was accepted and was able to read Marie Lu’s first adult book.

Well I forgot about that part, it was an adult book, until I came across some smut parts lol I loved everything in this book! The characters and the universe hooked me right away. Only small thing would be to identify the chapters so we can follow the table of content… otherwise i read this book in two days.. couldn’t stop and can’t wait for the next book!!

Marie… you did it again!! ❤️❤️❤️

Marie Lu continues to impress with her signature style in Red City. As someone who has loved her previous work, I was excited to see where she would take us next—and she doesn’t disappoint. Her prose is sharp, cinematic, and emotionally grounded. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the atmosphere throughout the book has that classic Marie Lu intensity I’ve come to expect.

While it didn’t quite reach the top tier of my favorites from her, Red City still stands out with its strong themes and well-crafted characters. A few pacing issues and moments where I wanted a bit more depth or tension kept this from being a full 5 stars, but overall, it’s a compelling and enjoyable read.

Lu’s fans will absolutely find a lot to love here, and this book is a great example of her ability to mix action, emotion, and thoughtful storytelling. I'm already looking forward to what comes next!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!!

I really enjoyed this read! This is one for fans of Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six series and her One For My Enemy stand alone. I loved the mix of dark academia and the God father. The world building in an alt magical Los Angeles is expertly done. The characters are complex and diverse as well. Although a bit slow in the beginning, it does start to pick up and you can’t put it down. Run to your local book haunt once published and grab it!

I have so much to say without spoiling anything and even that won’t convey how much I loved this. If you enjoyed RF Kuang’s Babel and/or VE Schwab’s Vicious, you’re in for a treat.

I’ve read every single book released by Marie Lu and have grown up with her works and characters since high school. Reading her first adult dark fantasy debut in my twenties was a full circle moment. I. Want. More. The writing style was beautiful, gripping, and the adult themes were structured so well for a mature audience. I enjoyed every moment of this book and will be holding it close to my heart.

We’re introduced to Sam (FMC) and Ari (MMC) from when they’re young, innocent children to when they are several years older as alchemists of rival syndicates (think Babel with a mafia focus where alchemy, at the literal cost of one’s soul, is the magic system). Sam and Ari were both so well written and my heart hurt for them so much. They go through many moral dilemmas develops their character over time with a lot of difficulty. They have so much love for each other and their own families. As expected, this impacts their decisions as they are in constant conflict between their duties and what is right. Alchemy has a cost and seeing how it gradually affects one’s literal soul and innocence to corruption was truly dark and reflective.

The other characters from the syndicates were also well introduced and intriguing. No spoilers, but one particular character was the definition of a villain and very interesting with several faults. Since their role was so impactful to the storyline and I’m curious what their character will be like in the next book

While the plot does have a slow start to set up the world, I wished for more moments between Sam and Ari. The progression of their relationship was well paced and full of so much angst when they meet again as enemies. I loved them together!

I also admire how Marie Lu touched on immigrant experiences of POC and the complex relationships with the guilt of both immigrant children and parents. As a daughter of immigrant parents, the messaging was so powerful and truly resonated with me.

Ari struggles with the loss of his own cultural identity and being pulled from his family as he’s forced to assimilate in a Western setting. No one ever talks about it, but loss of being able to speak your own native language is mournful. Sam’s mother is a single immigrant mother who has gone through endless hardships but does her very best to raise Sam and provide for her. Sam has a complex relationship with her mother, which was so relatable. I understood her struggle to be noticed and fully communicate her feelings, while also acknowledging (but not fully knowing) the sacrifices her mother has made to ensure Sam could succeed in life.

The alchemy-based worldbuilding was so creative, well researched, and I’ll never stop thinking about it. I enjoyed the “scientific” framing of it. The fantastical and elemental aspects added more because it makes you think about the ethical cost of such power. The fight sequences had me hooked in and I was truly mesmerized with how cleverly each technique was presented.

I also enjoyed the different extracts throughout the book that came in snippets of news articles, headlines, journal entries because it made me feel truly immersed into the world with how realistic it felt. The bonus POVs were unexpected but provided MUCH context and heightened the emotional blow by the time I got to the end of this book.