Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1) in The Under-Hyped Readathon!

May 13, 2017 Breanne rated it really liked it

The ending definitely bumped this up to 4 stars.

I found this book to be quite over hyped and underwhelming. It just didn't end up being what I expected it to be.
The characters however were absolutely amazing! I love Magnus and Cleo very much. I think that with a few more books, they'll go through some much needed character development. Already we've seen a darker side to them which I love.
The story flat lined at times but I was never terribly bored as this is a very fast paced story.

Now that I u ...more

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Dec 26, 2014 Abigail rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars! Absolutely fantastic start to a series! The only problem I had was that at times it felt very predictable and very much a set up to the next books! Still though it was very fast-paced, not confusing, and a great new world that I cannot wait to read more of!

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Nov 16, 2014 Janina rated it it was ok

Falling Kingdoms was bad. BUT it actually got better!

The first in a book series is almost always the worst one of them all. Falling Kingdom is a good example for that. In the first book you get to know the setting, the pace and the characters. You learn the different voices of the characters (if there are multiple like in Falling Kingdoms). You learn to care for the story. Sadly, I didn't care about any of the characters in the first 100 pages.

Magnus Lukas Damora/Prince of Limeros/(view sp Falling Kingdoms was bad. BUT it actually got better!

The first in a book series is almost always the worst one of them all. Falling Kingdom is a good example for that. In the first book you get to know the setting, the pace and the characters. You learn the different voices of the characters (if there are multiple like in Falling Kingdoms). You learn to care for the story. Sadly, I didn't care about any of the characters in the first 100 pages.

Magnus Lukas Damora/Prince of Limeros/(view spoiler) /daddy issues/bad-boy with a good heart?/heir to the throne: At first I didn't like him. He portrayed Lucia as this wonderful wonderful creature and I didn't get it! She is pretty, I understand! What else? What makes her so special? (view spoiler)

Cleiona 'Cleo'/Princess of Auranos/naive spoiled little girl with a temper/loves deeply/no filter between her brain and her mouth/gets into a lot of trouble/ (view spoiler) : She was okay. I liked her more than the rest because even though she was often childish I saw a good person in her. She has her heart in the right place. I loved her interactions with Theon, her 'bodyguard'. Cleo was friendly and stubborn but also kind and I understood why she acted the way that she did. Sometimes.
Her friends are nothing new. Nice. Nice. Nice. Her best friend Nic is in love with her. Not really a shocker. Mira was okay. She seemed a bit shallow. I would have liked to have a 'sidekick' kind of charachter in Cleo's arc.

Lucia Eva Damora/princess of Limeros/ (view spoiler)[ adopted/sorceress (hide spoiler)]/perfect little sister/"Lucia Eva Damora was the most beautiful girl in all of Limeros. Without a single exception.":
I hated her. Hate is a strong word but I am going to use it anyway.
She has flawless skin. She has magic. She is loved and cared for. Everyone likes her. Some even love her. Like her 'family'. Magnus and King Gaius adore and need her. She is lovely and loving and beautiful and nice to everyone and very powerful. She is too much. She is too perfect. I need flaws! I need imperfection! And I didn't get that with Lucia.

Jonas Agallon/the 'rebel'/driven by revenge/obsessed with Cleo/wants to change the freakin world all by himself/naive weak pretty boy/poor/brother/youngest son of a wine seller: Jonas is a pseudo rebel. He is so clueless and without logic that I don't even get how he got so far with 'his rebellion'. He is from Paelsia, the middle 'land'/kingdom between Limeros and Auranos. He is sick of the royals and their wealth.

Theon Ranus/Cleo's bodyguard/son of Simon Ranus/ (view spoiler): I loved him. I was happy and then I was sad.

the plot Forbidden love. War. Death. Lots of Death. Rebellion. Secrets. Magic.

WHAT MAKES ME READ THE NEXT BOOK ? Well, good that you ask. I learned to ~~like~~ love Magnus and Cleo's interactions and I am thrilled for Cleo's revenge and her becoming worthy of being Queen.
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Aug 15, 2015 Charlie rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-stars

I have to admit, I only liked the people of Auranos in this book. I absolutely despised Jonas and Magnus. This became better by the end of the book which I found to be an epic ending.

Cleo was my favourite character from this book. She broke my heart more than one time.

Morgan Rhodes also isn't afraid to kill off characters and it tugged on my heart strings. I had tears prickling my eyes on multiple occasions.

Falling Kingdoms is really fast-paced. There's always something happening. The writing s ...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Skye rated it it was amazing

Great start to a fantasy series. I felt that it set up the world, the magic system, and the characters very well. It was dramatic enough, while still being realistic. I really like the characters and how they are not fully good or bad. I feel however that the characters are more realistically in their early twenties not 16 but that's just me nit picking. Super excited to start the next book!! ...more

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