Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC; all thoughts & opinions are my own.

This was my first Marie Lu book, though I have heard great things about her writing. I am so incredibly glad that this was my introductory experience to her writing; I was absolutely blown away by her writing. The characters were well built and I thought their development was well done. No one was stuck to just one personality trait - every character had flaws and yet were redeemable. The inevitability of their situations was heartbreaking and the twists were devastating. I legitimately cannot wait for book 2.

Talking more specific book details:

I absolutely LOVED how well the passage of time was written. The background followed Sam and Ari through their childhood and built the conflict that occurred during their adult years phenomenally well. A lot of the times year-long jumps can be jarring, but that was not the case here.

Plot wise, Ari and Sam end up in competing syndicates that produce "sand," a ground up form of the philosopher's stone that, when ingested, makes a person more of what they are. Ari, an attractive charismatic young man, becomes one of the most desirable men. Sam, a quiet girl who no one notices, becomes almost invisible. I also love that sand emphasizes not just good/helpful traits, but also bad traits - cancer can spread more quickly, violence escalates, things of that sort. Though each have their own story on how they ended up where they were, they each play a vital role in their respective syndicates. Though it has this mafia-like theme, the fantasy aspect of alchemy and using of souls makes it even more enchanting.

I read the entire book in one day. Truly amazing, and I cannot wait for its release.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and Marie Lu for the ARC of her adult debut. I went back and forth on whether I thought this was a four or five star read and may sit on it / change my mind: it was definitely a very solid read.

We have an urban fantasy slightly alternate world where a drug called sand enhances characteristics of people, and has massive societal implications. We have rival syndicates who navigate the world through sand and alchemy and power. We have childhood friends Sam and Ari, who end up on opposite sides of those rival syndicates. We have a story about immigrant experiences growing up, the drive to succeed, the effects of addiction and power and greed, and what different manifestations of love look like.

"The closer we come to the perfection that drives us, the more we chip away at our souls. And what happens when we arrive there? What then? You look down from the mountain and see the carnage you've wrought."

I thought this was really well done. The complexity of the characters was compelling, watching as the story developed and Sam and Ari got sucked into these worlds for noble reasons and became part of their syndicates and the roles they played. The world and the alchemy system felt interesting and fresh and curious.

I guess there's going to be more of this world, but with how it ended I think it'd be perfectly acceptable as a standalone (or at least won't leave you on a cliff waiting for resolution).

This book, beyond a shadow of a doubt, blew me away. Marie Lu's adult debut is everything and more, and I finished it in less than 24 hours. I have so, so much to say about this book.

Red City is an urban fantasy set in an alternative Los Angeles, called Angel City. I love how she altered the name of not only LA but other cities like London (Londinium in the book) to give her world a more modern and even a slight dystopian touch. Across the world, a drug called "sand" that enhances strength, beauty, etc. has sunk its teeth into the wealthy elite. It's so coveted that rival syndicates, who produce the sand, are locked constantly in heated conflict. Angel City is ruled by two: Grand Central and the Lumines. Our main character Sam gets recruited by Grand Central, while Ari, her childhood best friend and source of constant mutual pining, is with the Lumines. Uh oh.

The story establishes the history between Ari and Sam by taking readers through Sam and Ari through their childhood and teen years before skipping years ahead to when they're in their mid twenties, which is where the bulk of the plot and story unfolds.

Sam's talent (arguably even a power, so I'll refer to it as that from here on out) of being unremarkable and unnoticeable seemed kind of lame to me at first, but boy did that change once she gets recruited by Grand Central and learns to wield her power and strength. Not only is she absolute queen of shadows who can slip through a crowd without even being perceived, but she quickly gets classified as a Polemist, who specializes in combat/warfare. Basically, she can snap people's bones and kill people without a thought. I think her abilities as being preternaturally elusive and a Polemist is one of the coolest things I've ever seen in a book. It's so unlike other typical powers you usually see in fantasies. She is an absolute badass and the way that she carries herself, especially when she's on sand, is nothing short of awesome. She is just TOO cool and I loved everything about her.

On the other hand, Ari is a golden boy-- the complete opposite of Sam. Noticed everywhere he goes, he effortlessly captures everyone's attention and immediately has people falling at his feet without even doing anything. He's quite literally irresistible, making him incredibly powerful. But what I loved is how Lu created such depth to his character-- his social anxiety and low social battery under his outwardly presenting facade. And though Sam is "invisible", he's always noticed her.

This book was surprisingly spicy and I kind of loved it? Sam and Ari have lots of action with other characters. I did however think it was odd how Ari pictured her every single time he was with other woman especially when he was younger because like, hello? She's right there? It wasn't cheating but it felt odd at times, although I do kind of see how it was an important aspect of his character.

So I guess I'm a hypocrite because I must confess I was such a fan of Will, Sam's mentor(ish) and son of Grand Central's leader, throughout the book because of the mean-edgy-mysterious-but-subtle-yearning-for-Sam vibe he had going on: I really wanted them together (pre betrayal). Disappointed. Not sure what that says about me... but it's clear that Ari and Sam have the kind of bond that transcends being a part of enemy groups and any other obstacles life has ever thrown at them, really.

All in all, I was so blown away by Red City. The plot was fast-paced and engaging even in moments without action. The concept of sand, the system of powers, the romance, the plot-- impeccable. This is an absolutely electric first installment to the new series!

Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for this ARC!

4.25! 🌟 Starting from the beginning, I liked that the first part of the book is dedicated to telling the story of their childhood and teenage years. It made it a lot easier to understand where their future actions came from and what motivated each one of them. I also liked how it showed Sam and Ari’s friendship being built and how it’s emphasized that, in a way, they complete each other.

What I probably liked the most was how the magic works. Besides being different from anything I’ve ever seen, you can definitely tell the author put a lot of thought into it. I also liked how the rivalry between the two main crime syndicates was developed but I did wish we had seen a bit more about the other syndicates too. Considering the way the book ended, I’m guessing we’ll get more of that in the sequel, so that’s definitely something I’m excited to see.

Considering I read the whole book in less than 24 hours (and barely slept thinking about it), I don’t even need to say how much the story hooked me from start to finish. Despite noticing a few flaws beyond what I mentioned, my love for the book ends up overshadowing most of them and that’s okay.

Red City by Marie Lu was my first introduction to her writing, and I was immediately struck by how sharp and immersive her style is!

Set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles, this dark, contemporary fantasy blends magical warfare, crime syndicates, and the high-stakes pursuit of perfection. In this world, alchemy is power—a secret art used to create “sand,” a drug that transforms users into more ideal versions of themselves. Two rival syndicates, Grand Central and Lumines, are locked in a tense standoff until childhood friends Sam and Ari end up on opposite sides of the brewing war.

Sam, raised by a single mother, is desperate to rise through Grand Central’s ranks. Ari, a brilliant Lumines apprentice, was taken from his family and molded into one of their most promising talents. Once, there may have been love between them—but now, ambition and loyalty are pitted against each other in a city on the edge of chaos.

I loved the unique magic system and the way each syndicate had its own flair. The worldbuilding was rich, especially with all the cultural layers woven into the story. The book starts a bit slow, and I found myself wishing some of the flashbacks were interspersed more dynamically with the present timeline Those early chapters do help deepen our understanding of the characters and their choices, but I think a slow unveiling of the past would’ve been a bit more satisfying to understanding the character choices and motivations.

If anything, I wanted less romance and more syndicate politics—I was fascinated by this world and wanted to linger in it longer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This dark dystopian fantasy book was great! I absolutely loved the world building in this story, along with the dystopian elements. I would consider this a psychological read as well. I enjoyed the different points of views in this story. It has drama, corruption, love and betrayal! I didn’t want this book to end and I cannot wait till the second book in this series comes out! The themes explored in this book are love and betrayal, the price of perfection, the pursuit of power and corruption, and inequality! It is a mix between character and plot driven. The characters are developed very well. It has both unlikable and likable characters in it. This story is truly a compelling one! Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Marie Lu and Tor Publishing Group for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Content warnings include violence, drug use, sexual content, gore and abuse.

I think people that love a dark fantasy mixed in with rivalry and alchemy would enjoy this book. It gave me the books Immortal Longings and Scythe vibes!

This book is expected to be published on October 14, 2025!

3.5 By the end, I felt genuinely satisfied. Everything tied together nicely, and the journey was worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. Below is my honest review!

I loved this book. I'm so surprised by Marie Lu's writing because it differs from all her YA novels (of course, because this is an adult novel). The thing I loved most about this book was each character's dynamic. Marie Lu really takes the time to make sure we all know the motivates of her main characters, especially Sam and Ari. You first meet them when they're young, then you get to see them grow into the people they are by the end of the book. They both enter this secret society that is almost gang-like, except it revolves around alchemy and this drug called "sand" that enhances everything about you (the good, the bad, the physical, the emotions, everything). The world itself is easy to understand, though there is definitely room to add more nuances (hopefully in the next book). Additionally, family is really important to both Sam and Ari, but almost in different ways. I love how Marie Lu incorporates a bit of Asian culture in there as well.

Overall, this was a pleasant and exciting read. I would highly recommend and can't wait to pick up the next book!

This is definitely my top read of 2025 so far.

Sam & Ari deserve the entire world & I cannot wait for book 2.

This book was action packed — and sooo stressful. I loved every single second of it.

Did I mention I cannot wait for book 2? 😭

Red City signals a sophisticated, thrilling, and potentially heartbreaking exploration of magic, ambition, and the ties that bind, even across battle lines.

I like all things Marie Lu, so I was thrilled to read this ARC of Red City. Let me start off by saying: this is an adult novel. Even though her books are popular in high school libraries, believe what they say when this is an adult novel! The story follows two young people--Sam and Ari--who each have come into a crime syndicate from different directions and for different reasons. These mafia-like groups work in a drug called sand, which enhances qualities about the person who takes it. However, to create this sand requires the power of alchemists, who can transmute elements into other elements. This story is jam packed with action and some loose romance. The fight scenes are fantastic, and the pacing of the book is great. Overall a fantastic and engaging story that I can't wait for others to read. Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for this ARC!

This is a book with a strong enough premise that it could have been written in a myriad of ways. Unfortunately, I did not fall in love with the execution of RED CITY. That said, I can’t stop thinking about this book, and thus my score of 4/5. You would love this book if you liked Addie LaRue. The influence is strong here, with introspective, slow-moving present tense prose and a female MC whose main concern is the family she's (intentionally) separated herself from. Both Addie and Sam also have a magical propensity to be overlooked. In addition, I felt the hook of "sand" was more shimmer than substance. The same can be said about the various locations (Angle City is just LA, but Berlin is still Berlin?). Finally, I felt our main MCs lacked agency throughout and made odd choices given how deeply informed they were about the criminal magical world at the heart of the story. Since there’s a sequel, I hope to see them shine a bit more.

this is potentially a soft dnf- i was so beyond excited to read marie lu’s debut adult novel after loving her ya series but i find myself constantly putting the book down and have yet to connect to our mc’s. this could absolutely be a me thing and could potentially return to it with a different mindset later on!