Crimson Dagger: Parts I & II

Falling Kingdoms #0.1

by Morgan Rhodes

In "Crimson Dagger," Rhodes introduces us to Magnus as he was before the events of the series unfolded. In this heartbreaking tale, a young Magnus experiences a life-changing event — one that impacts him for years to come and shapes him into the man he becomes.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Short Stories, High Fantasy, Novella, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction

21 pages, ebook

First published September 20, 2016

About the author

Morgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess -- the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, she’s a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy.

Reviews

[Riley]

7 year old Magnus is everything I have needed in life

[♥ℂĦℝΪՖƬΪℕÅ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Prince Magnus ★'s

“Our scars are like the rings in a tree trunk, showing its progress through life. How we heal and move forward through adversity . . . that is what makes the difference. We can’t run from our problems; we need to face them.”

Well this was... Okay, I suppose. I mean, if i'm really being honest, I don't really see why this was even needed? I already knew of the hardships Magnus's had to go through in his childhood and how much he HATES his father. Ya know? Because his father is a ruthless and heartless bastard!!!! Who has no qualms over killing his own flesh in blood! Everyone HATES or FEARS him! Really none of this came as a surprise to me like at all. I did love Kara though and i'm crossing my fingers for her to be in future books. If so, she's gonna be one badass chick and having her as a possible future character really excites me :D

[ambsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT.

What else can I say? I'm even more excited to get back into the Falling Kingdoms world again and see Magnus even more.

[Ahmed Ejaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done! I liked this story. It was perfectly crafted.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always need more Magnus Damora in my life! Very sweet novella, obviously way too short because I NEED more of these characters in my life.

(This is technically my first book of 2017!)

[luciana · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Call me interested.

[Chess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a short read! I kept flicking over the next page for more but it's finished :/

I need more 7 year old Magnus stories!!!

[Rissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love little Magnus! Can we have a story with Kara as thr main character because she seems like a badass i want to be friends with!

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short but definitely a great intro to the series... Off to read book one 😁

[Radmila · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAGNUS <3

[Lucie V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay/good novella.

I'm always on board for more Magnus, but honestly, I'm not sure what this novella brings to the story. We already knew how much of a jerk King Gaius is (and he's not even that bad in the novella), and we also already knew that Magnus had a good heart and that he was not cruel and cold like his father...

Still, it's a very quick read that I would recommend to anyone who wants more of Magnus (and we also get a glimpse of cutie 7 years-old Magnus 🖤🖤🖤).



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[Wanderlust_Wanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Magnus is BAE<3

[Beatrice in Bookland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The memory of their daughter, Princess Cleiona, with bright golden hair that matched the warm Auranian sun, gave him hope since their return to frozen, gloomy Limeros that his future might be just as bright."

the dark prince of blood with a heart of gold *sobs*

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I managed to find both parts at the same time and read this one directly after reading Part I. This story is so interesting because it shows that Magnus from a child who was scared feels guilty for doing something to another innocent person and what lengths he goes to redeem that. The end of this is at the cusp of the beginning of Falling Kingdoms and I can't help but reflect on what Magnus has gone through already through the series and how he has changed. These two parts showed Magnus's progression as a character and how he changed throughout the years by living in fear. I absolutely loved this!

[Selene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short easy read. I wish it was longer!

[Carolina Carriço · Rating 4 out of 5]

My beautiful, sweet Magnus ❤

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this, Magnus if my favorite male characters of all time, but I think that Magnus and this series is a little underrated. I loved learning a little more about Magnus's childhood and from his perspective, I think my only complaint is that I wish it was a little longer but since it's called Part 1 I'm hoping for a Part 2.

[Imnothing Yo Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magnus es bueno, y tiene miedo. Ya lo sabíamos, ahora, que es Morgan quien escribe y yo quien lee, pues sí. Así que básicamente me gusta porque básicamente no tengo objetividad con la saga, aunque no cuente mucho.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Mi Magnus con 17 años? Hell yeah!

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god! This short story really nail right through me! I wonder what would happen if I read the novels.

[Carol Andrade | _carolcabrita · Rating 3 out of 5]

7 years old Magnus <3

[Becs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnus was my favourite character in Falling Kingdoms, as the only representation really for morally grey characters, and so a novella about how he potentially became to be such a grey personality was, for me, a really needed addition to the series.

Crimson Dagger shares a moment in Magnus' childhood which was pivotal in his development. It's difficult to genuinely connect to a story consisting of a mere 21 pages, but somehow I was invested. This particular memory for Magnus really captures the naivety and knee-jerk behaviours of a child, combined with the inherent pressures attributed to a particularly infamous King's son. I liked how well Rhodes conveyed the childlike thought processes Magnus went through in order to behave the way he did in this novella, but I also can see how cleverly she has threaded Magnus as an adult into his younger narrative.

This isn't an essential read for the series as far as I can tell, but I think it definitely adds something to some of the smaller moments in Falling Kingdoms that I might not have appreciated so much if I hadn't read it.

[Sara Saif · Rating 3 out of 5]

7-year old Magnus thought of sunshine and warmth and hope when he recalled the little golden haired princess Cleiona. How freaking adorable is that? However, this was too short, a little more than 15 pages, and that particular event from Magnus's past wasn't that memorable. Still, after reading Crystal Storm it was like a balm. ONE WHOLE YEAR TILL THE FINALE. Morgan Rhodes writes so beautifully!

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to read all of this series! I just love it! Stupid of me because didn't read it few years ago but I think I can marathon it. ;)

[Arielle ✨ Chelsea's Nebular Ally and Team Orion ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So...I guess all I have to say about this was that it was okay. It could have been because I was reading it white fighting through a super painful pressure headache or it could have just been because at the end, I didn't feel like it was needed. I've only read book one but I already knew how much of a dick Magnus's father was. I already hated him. I already loved Magnus and knew the kinds of struggles that he was probably going through.

I suppose those two characters could show up in later books and make it more relevant but for right now, for me, this was only an okay novella.

[May͛a · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was supposed to be doing homework instead of reading, alright?

...BUT I'D DO ANYTHING FOR MY BOY.

Also, I want more Kara. I know we only got a few pages of her but damn, I feel like I like her better than any of the main heroines in the series.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am complete Magnus trash.

[Monique V · Rating 5 out of 5]

poor baby!

[Brittany (Hiatus-On/Off)]

Ahhhhh!!! *smiles*

This book is FREE on Amazon for kindle right now! Just bought it! :D