Wow! Amazing! Everything I look for in a fantasy, enemies to lovers, alchemy, brutal fight scenes, immersive writing and incredible world building?! This had it all, I couldn't tear my eyes away I'm sad it's ended I might re read it right away, I really loved this and want more!

4.5 Rounded Up! Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing for an eARC of this book. This book was addicting and such an engaging read! I could not put this down! Fans of Jade City would enjoy this book.

This book follows multiple point of views but it mainly follows Ari and Sam. Ari and Sam are childhood friends but each start to go their own way when they become alchemists. This book does take place in a modern time setting in the States. In this setting, alchemy is real and alchemists can transmute materials into other things, this can include changing someone’s skin into the ground when fighting. But there are also bioalchemists who can transmute feelings as well. The alchemists can accelerate their abilities through taking sand. There is a huge market in sand, therefore these alchemists have formed competitive syndicates. Unbeknownst to each other, Sam and Ari have found themselves in opposing syndicates.

People may find the beginning to be slow, and while it is the slowest part of the book, I still enjoyed the backstory of Ari and Sam’s childhood. After part 1 though, I was not able to put the book down. The action and tension was non-stop. And this book does not shy away from the ugliness of the syndicates. The author’s writing is amazing. It writing flows so smoothly and paints an exact picture of what is happening.

Sam and Ari are forced to succeed in their syndicates to protect their families, which slowly kills a part of their souls. There are scenes of assassinations, murder, fights and very descriptive sexual intimacy scenes (most scenes do not fade to black)

I loved the Jade City trilogy and I felt this book had a similar feel to it and I loved this book as well. My only complaints would mainly be related to the relationship of Ari and Sam. I did not really feel the connection between them, and I felt their personalities did not really fit together. Their personalities seemed to be different when they were around each other (which I guess the argument could be they could finally be themselves—but I did not feel this personality was the real personality). Also I was a little disappointed by the ending. If this would have ended just a little bit differently, it honestly could have been a standalone. But it does appear this is to be a series, and it ended leaving room for more. Thankfully it does not end on a cliffhanger but there are some answered questions.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I could not stop reading it. I definitely recommend if you enjoyed Jade City. Would I continue this series? Yes, because the author knows how to write an amazing story.

I can say that I absolutely loved this! Every choice our two characters make do feel like they have consequences, for better or for worse even if those consequences don't come to light immediately. The world building was impeccable, giving us just enough to understand but not too much to allow our imaginations run wild. It felt like a city where other things were happening beyond the main plot between Grand Central and the Lumines. and oh my god the fight scenes were amazing.

In Red City, Marie Lu casts America in a dazzling, deceptive light. It shines like glass but cuts just as deep. Her version of LA is an alternative reality soaked in the allure of alchemy, where glittering ambition runs parallel to greed, violence and inequality, and where every heartbeat seems to echo the question: What are you willing to sacrifice to matter?

This book is not merely a fantasy; it’s a mirror held up to the ugliest truths about wealth, belonging, and the desperation to be loved. At its core are Sam and Ari, two brilliant, broken souls who orbit each other like twin stars doomed never to align. Their love story doesn’t just tug at the heartstrings, it rips them. Sam and Ari are bound by longing and undone by silence. “They write bridges to one another across a widening ravine,” Lu writes. And those bridges—made of letters, glances, and aching restraint—are some of the most moving parts of the story.

Ari, who becomes Shakespeare, is magnetic. Not just because of his charisma, which Lu paints with effortless grace, but because of how deeply he feels. His journey through the grueling terrain of alchemy is as much about learning a magical craft as it is about learning to live with his own darkness.

Sam, his counterpart and contrast, wears the name Mozart like a crown of thorns. Genius comes easily to her. She learns alchemy like it’s breathing. But the thing she cannot seem to master is being enough—for her mother or for herself. Sam’s yearning to be seen is the most human ache imaginable. Her mother’s love is a mirage. It's always just out of reach; a cruelty more profound than outright rejection. It’s in Sam’s quietest moments, where she doubts her own worth, that Lu’s writing hits hardest. Anyone who’s ever longed for someone’s pride and received only their silence will feel that wound reopen.

Alchemy, in Lu’s world, is far more than a magic system. It is a metaphor for transformation and for the desperate attempt to turn pain into power, insignificance into gold. For Sam and Ari, alchemy becomes a lifeline. Not because it saves them, but because it gives them the illusion that their existence matters. And in a world ruled by syndicates and class divides, where wealth gives you the ability to move through life without consequence, that illusion is seductive.

But here’s the tragedy: Sam or Ari ever say what needs to be said. Their love is real, but always half-spoken. They hold themselves back, afraid to burden one another with their truth. And in doing so they lose each other. Not in one dramatic moment, but in a slow, heart-wrenching unraveling.

By the end, Sam believes she can change the system from within. She ascends to power, but it’s impossible not to wonder: has she become what she once fought against? Her heart is still wounded, still seeking something she may never receive. And her brittle heart and vulnerability—the very thing that once made her revolutionary—may now be her undoing.

“Wounded hearts with something to prove are always the ones who change the world,” Lu says. But Red City reminds us that not all revolutions end in freedom. Sometimes, they end in captivity that looks like triumph.

Marie Lu has created a novel that is lyrical, gutting, and unforgettable. Red City isn’t just a commentary on inequality or ambition. It’s a story about the things we do to feel like we matter and the terrible cost of that hunger.

Red City will destroy you as you hang on to every single word.

I cannot express how much I loved this novel. If I could rate higher than 5 stars I would. This is a book that will forever be on my mind and I will never be able to forget.

Red City has alchemy, friends to enemies mixed with some love stories, and was written so well I didn’t find myself looking at how much time I had left until nearing the end as I didn’t want it to stop.

Red City is beautifully written. It is the blueprint for imperfect, morally grey characters, and is riddled with angst.


This is likely one of the most emotional books I've read in ages. This book HURTS. It doesn't gloss over the hardships of life; it paints a vivid picture of the extent people are willing to suffer for those they love, and how sometimes their efforts only make things worse. It's heartbreaking, but most importantly, it's REAL. The characters are authentic and incredibly well-developed.

Ari and Sam are the definition of star-crossed lovers. Very Romeo and Juliet vibes—forbidden romance surrounded by tragedy. They honestly feel like soulmates (which, considering souls are part of the magic system in this book, could be a possibility).

All I will say about Will is that I can fix him 😌🌸

Once I was introduced to the way alchemy works in this world, there is no way to describe the visceral feeling of "oh no" I felt. It's probably because I've watched Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood too many times, but the concept of trading in bits of your soul that you can never recover? Yeah, that's terrifying. And I completely understand how people desperate for money or safety for their families would be willing to (quite literally) sell their soul, despite the feeling of wrongness. I want to shake Sam and Ari and tell them "don't do this!", but I know that they wouldn't listen.

This book is 4 instead of 5 stars for me just because it took a while for me to get into it. The beginning spends a lot of time establishing the characters and worldbuilding, which is necessary. I just have a short attention span. It was definitely worth it though!

Overall, would I recommend this book? Absolutely. It feels so unique, and it does a good job critiquing greed and humanity's obsession with pursuing perfection.


Thank you Netgalley and Tor Books for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

4 Stars
Arc Review

I’m honestly having mixed emotions after finishing this book. On one hand, I really loved it. The writing style was just so unique, and unlike anything I’ve read before. The beginning is slow, and when I mean slow, I mean very slow. There were points where I was questioning the amount of time that was passing, especially near the start of the book. It does pick up, and by the end of the book, it’s pretty fast paced. In a way, it almost reminds me of a Mafia style Babel by R.F. Kuang with more of a romantically focused plot.

The romance itself was okay. I wasn’t able to really connect to the characters that much, so I was having trouble with the idea of Ari and Sam’s relationship. Sam and Ari have been friends since their childhood. Ari has always gotten attention from people, even when he doesn’t want it, while Sam is excellent at going unnoticed. Ari is the first person who truly sees Sam, and they start exchanging notes at school. They talk about everything together, everything but their home lives. Given the fact that we are only given a snippet of these notes and they really don’t interact as much when they become alchemists, it’s hard to find chemistry between the two of them. I almost wanted to see Sam end up with Will instead of Ari.

You know those books that somehow manage to shift your entire perspective on life? This is one of those books. The writing is just so beautiful and I was so disappointed when I reached the end. Sometimes I read fantasy books primarily for the romance, but the plot was solid as well, and I was completely and wholly invested. As I mentioned earlier, the beginning is slow, but it speeds up as it goes on. That cliffhanger… I have no words right now.

Features-
- Childhood friends
- Romance/fantasy
- Syndicates
- Touch her and die
- Sex with characters other than the MCs
- Descriptive violence/gore
- Political plot
- 3rd person
- Dual POV

4.2 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

What's after seven but before nine? Because Marie ate
A lot of people are calling it dystopian, but I don't think it is, it's more just an urban fantasy.
Marie knows how to write toxic men ehehehe iykyk
I still don't compleeeetely buy SamAri
But omgggg this book slaps, it's super slow at the beginning, but when they finally graduate training, I couldn't put it down. I especially liked Sam's chapters. I really like their contrasts too. At risk of spoilers, I won't go too in detail, but I like the representation of the two different ways of being smart, and the two different ways of being perceived.
People have been comparing this to Jade City but I don't really see the resemblance. It does remind me a bit of Warcross though which I guess makes sense

Light spoiler: Ik I'll be judged for this but I liked Constantine more than Shakespeare 😭😭 I know he wasn't the best person but he deserved better 😭😭😭 remember how I said Marie knows how to write toxic men? Well I fall for them literally every single time so I fear I am the problem

The beginning of this book is a little slow but so worth the wait. The build-up is totally worth it. Marie Lu is my favorite author for many reasons, but one of the biggest is her ability to write about anything. This story is her first try in the adult genre. I call it contemporary romantasy (spice level 2). Seeing spice (some spice not a lot) was a little weird at first because it's not what I think of when I read a Marie Lu novel, but I still loved it nonetheless. This book has so many layers. There is the magic mafia family level for both characters. There are the star-crossed lovers who are the complete ying and yang to each other. One character is the boy everyone loves but wants no attention and the girl that no one sees but only wants to succeed, to be more. I can't even begin to explain this book, but it is one on a very personal raw level. I loved it so much! Can't wait to see what is in store for Ari and Sam next!

Marie Lu's Red City marks a bold and captivating foray into adult fantasy, blending elements of magical realism, crime syndicates, and star-crossed ambition. Set in an alternate Los Angeles, the novel introduces readers to a world where alchemy is a closely guarded secret, controlled by rival crime syndicates that market it to the world's elites in the form of "sand"—a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves.

The narrative centers on two childhood friends, Sam and Ari, whose paths diverge as they become entangled in the dangerous underworld of Angel City. Sam, driven by a desire to escape her impoverished background, seeks to rise within the ranks of the Grand Central syndicate. Ari, once plucked from his family to become a Lumines apprentice, is now one of the syndicates' brightest rising stars. Their reunion amidst the power struggles of their respective factions sets the stage for a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the pursuit of perfection at any cost.

Lu's writing is both lyrical and gritty, capturing the allure and danger of a city teeming with secrets and power plays. The world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of a society where magic and crime intertwine seamlessly. The characters are well-developed, with Sam and Ari's complex relationship adding depth to the narrative.

While the novel is compelling, some readers may find certain sections slower than others, particularly in the middle of the book. However, the intricate world-building and character development more than compensate for these moments.

Overall, Red City is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and urban intrigue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Marie Lu’s adult debut Red City is a really impressive adult fantasy that lays the groundwork for what looks to be a very captivating modern urban fantasy series.

Warring crime syndicate made up of alchemists (magic users) fight for power and control as two star-crossed characters come of age in this exciting novel that takes some common YA tropes (magical education, love triangles,) and matures them up a bit for an older audience.

The magic system of alchemy is well developed and intriguing , I hope Marie Lu expands upon it in future instalments.

The central romance was a bit too YA for my tastes but I think it will really do well with its target audience likely readers of Marie Lu’s earlier books who want to take the jump into reading more adult fantasy now that they’re older.

Overall, I found the plot engaging and well-paced, the criminal syndicate / organized crime elements were cool and leave lots of room to be fleshed out and expanded on in later novels and the slow world building of introducing Angel City and dropping other names and places in was well-executed and left me wanting to read more.

The protagonists are both likeable, distinct and well developed and for the most part I enjoyed the character work but would have loved a deeper dive on some of the compelling “villains” in the story.

I’m now going interested in going back and checking out the author’s earlier YA work and look forward to adding The Alchemist series to my must-read list.

4.75 ⭐️ / 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Sam and Ari are two kids, each trying to carve out a place for themselves.
Sam is the daughter of a single immigrant mother who is trying desperately to keep them afloat.
Ari is a young child when he is brought to America by a strange man who begins teaching Ari the secret art of alchemy.
Sam and Ari go to school together and become friends.
One day Sam's mother is injured at work and Sam is forced to turn to Diamond Taylor, the leader of Grand Central and one of the most influential people in the world. Sam is inducted into Grand Central's ranks and begins learning alchemy, an art only a few are able to accomplish. Throughout the years, Sam and Ari drift apart, both forced to keep the secrets of their lives from one another. Until one day, they meet again, on opposing sides of a battle for control of the city and production of a drug called Sand, which turns whoever takes it into a more perfect version of themself.

Sam and Ari are both such compelling main characters, they’re so vibrant and unique and I could feel myself being drawn in by them. The first part of the book follows them as children, and it was so heartbreaking to read them both yearning for a more perfect world.
I absolutely loved the later chapters we get of Sam’s mom. Her POV was incredibly moving.

The one thing I felt a little gross about was both of the main characters having sexual relationships with their respective mentor figures. Like, anytime Sam and Will interacted I was a little icked out because he met her when she was 15 and he 20ish and became her mentor a few years later. And I felt like it was just a little too glossed over in the narrative; like it was a perfectly normal thing. Ari and Isla as well. We see a bit less of their relationship, but it felt equally as icky, seeing as Isla was teaching Ari when he was like 10.

Overall, this was a very compelling story. I was always invested in the characters, and plot wise, I was never bored, it was the perfect pace to keep you on your toes at all times!

Oh. Em. Gee. What a fantastic start to Marie Lu's entrance to the adult fantasy world. Electric! It was everything I want to read, dark, sensual, and just absolutely decadent. It was very well developed, full of drama and intrigue. I was on the hook from the very start and cannot wait for more! Would absolutely recommend.

I received this book as an ARC, this opinion is entirely my own.

For starters, I think this book had a phenomenal and unique concept. The world building was interesting and new, the characters were lovable as they aged and the story was not predictable for the most part.

What I had a problem with personally was that around 70%, the book started to drag for me. It took me a couple weeks to finish the book because I felt like around this time frame the chapters felt to drag on. They weren't long chapters by any means but the book itself kind of plateaued for me.

This does not mean that I will not continue the series, I think that the series has potential to be a lot more exciting in the future. I understand that world-building takes time and that often the first book in a series is not the most exciting but I felt compelled to skim through chapters towards the end, which is not common for me.

The series has potential

This was a very fun read! I loved the urban fantasy setting (mostly a fake LA) and the fast engaging plot. The characters were pretty good, although I felt like, later in the book, some aspects of the relationships between characters were a little rushed. I really liked the way the story progressed from when they were younger and followed them over a time jump.
The alchemy was cool and the dynamics of the different loyalties and gangs made this very entertaining. Can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

This is the story of Sam and Ari, two young people who find themselves tied to competing underground magical syndicates but still inexorably drawn to each other. We first see Sam as a young girl whose mother was doing her best to provide for her and her daughter. Her mother had immigrated from China when Sam was just an infant hoping for a better life. When an accident at her job makes getting a new job impossible, Sam takes matters into her own hands. Ari was discovered on the streets of his hometown in India as a young child and brought to America to be taught. This education, while ensuring both his and his family's wealth, comes at a steep price. The two meet at school, but drift apart after graduation. This book looks very hard at the sacrifices we make for love, family, and to satisfy a driving need for more. I don't think there was a single character in this book who didn't have some serious flaws either in character or judgement, but I adored them. I adored loving them and hating them in equal measure. The worldbuilding was superb. I already feel a loss missing the next in this series!

I love warring magical syndicates and this was a surprise! The worldbuilding was good but the pacing was a bit too slow for me.

John Wick meets Full Metal Alchemist in this high-octane thriller by Marie Lu, RED CITY is the gangster novel you never knew you needed.

Lyrical and lush, stirring and sweeping, with tightly woven world building and the exact correct amount of ennui dripped, like paint, into the pail of dystopian desperation. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, Marie Lu, and Tor Publishing Group for my digital ARC of this novel.

You know those books that are really good but also just really heavy? Red City is a perfect example. I was able to read this title ahead of its October publication date, and overall it was a positive experience that left me just a titch devastated, but in the best way.

Red City is set in an alternate version of modern Los Angeles in which magical crime syndicates battle for control of the city using a kind of underground magic called alchemy - the ability to transmute one substance or material into another. This magic is more or less limitless - you can create a gun from a concrete wall, for instance, if you know the proper formula - but you can't turn inorganic matter into live matter or bring people back from the dead. In the 80s, the creation of a magic-enhancing drug, Sand, completely altered the landscape of both magic and the world, and criminal organizations now battle for control of the drug and all the money, power, and magic that it yields.

Sam and Ari are two young people caught up in opposing sides of this conflict and this is very much a story of decent people sucked into a world where violence and killing becoming routine, where power is everything. They have to decide how far they are willing to go and just how much money and control are worth the price of their souls.

This is one of those books that I had a hard time putting down and looked forward to picking up whenever possible. It's a quick read and the characters and story are extremely compelling. I enjoyed the unique magic system and feel like the world-building was extremely well done and immersive. The novel does have a good deal of gore, language, and explicit scenes, so if you're sensitive to any of the above this might not be the book for you.

Overall, I enjoyed Red City and did feel it was very well-written. I would be interested in reading other works by this author and give this book a very solid 4/5 stars.