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Member Reviews

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!

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

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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!

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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? 😭

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

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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!

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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.

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