Falling Kingdom Series by Morgan Rhodes, and Michelle Rowen - Reading from 'Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3)' from July 24th 2019

[Hannah]

Join Twila, Nicole and I as we read this :)


The road to power...is paved with blood and magic.

Cleo is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people.
Magnus stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia.
Lucia is haunted by the outcome of the breathtaking display of magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms.
Jonas watched at the palace gates a troop of rebels behind him, waiting for him to tell them how he plans to overtake King Gaius.

After a bloody siege, Auranos has been defeated, its young queen orphaned and dethroned. The three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. But the allure of ancient, dangerous magic beckons still, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the whole world over....

At the heart of the fray are four brave young people grappling for that magic and the power it promises. For Cleo, the magic would enable her to reclaim her royal seat. In Jonas's hands, it frees his nation, and in Lucia's, it fulfills the ancient prophecy of her destiny. And if the magic were Magnus's, he would finally prove his worth in the eyes of his cruel and scheming father, King Gaius, who rules Mytica with a punishing hand.

When Gaius begins to build a road into the Forbidden Mountains to physically link all of Mytica, he sparks a long-smoking fire in the hearts of the people that will forever change the face of this land. For Gaius's road is paved with blood, and its construction will have cosmic consequences.

[Twila]

I'm glad I'm finally going to read this. Still mad about Theon though...

[Hannah]

I know right! Omg he was the first person i even cared for in the first book :/

[Hannah]

Just one more day :) ready?! :D

[Twila]

Excited to get August started.

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Will join you guys, i love this book so it's a re-read for me :)

[Twila]

I couldn't sleep very well last night thanks to the neighbour's VERY annoying dog. So I got a really good amount of reading done.
Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Cleo and Magnus?! I did not see that marriage arrangement coming at all. I'm still expecting something to happen between her and Jonas. I don't know how that's going to happen now though. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ Cleo should have stuck with the lie! I would have. Anyway, this has a really strong start. I love it! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ There's some good in Magnus. He just has to stop brooding and stand up. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ Oh, so someone's telling the king to build the road? I wonder what her game is... (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ It was a sleeping potion? The whole time?! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ Did I miss something? The Queen's suddenly dead? Jonas didn't kill her did he? So confused! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I want to meet this new prince from across the sea already! So curious. Please let him be awesome. And I can't believe they actually got married! (hide spoiler)]

[Twila]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ So the magic is definitely evil. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 24 (view spoiler)[ Lysandra's into Jonas maybe? The romance in this novel is all over the place. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[ I'm really tired over Magnus and Cleo's bickering. Can't they just get over it already. It's annoying. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ OMG. WHAT IS WITH ASHUR? HE KISSED NIC! WHAT?! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ It looks like we'll finally get to see some development from Magnus. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ Nothing ever works out for poor Jonas. Just as well, he can be such an idiot. (hide spoiler)]
Done (view spoiler)[ Overall, I liked this better than the first one. I miss Theon though. I liked the addition of the new characters. Well, until they died :D
I kinda want to read the third one right now, but my August is already planned out :( (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Twila wrote: "I couldn't sleep very well last night thanks to the neighbour's VERY annoying dog. So I got a really good amount of reading done.
Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]
Chapter ..."

(view spoiler)[I find it pretty logical for the king to kill his wife after knowing she was dozing his chance of getting the Kindred.. but pinning this on Jonas with the dagger was really devious on his part.. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Twila wrote: "Chapter 22 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 24 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 25 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 30 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 31 [spoilers removed]
Chapter 32 [spoilers removed]
Done Overall, I..."

(view spoiler)[I'm sad that Jonas isn't as badass as I thought he was in the first book.. his character isn't given proper motive beside the vengeance plot which I'm not really thinking it as powerful as it was in the first book. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[no matter how many times I've read this book this kidnapping idea gets worse. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 11 (view spoiler)[Magnus's feelings about Cleo's kidnapping are really subtle in this book and I love it (hide spoiler)]

chapter 13 (view spoiler)[this sanctuary/hawks plot is amazing and creative.. I'm awed by it (hide spoiler)]

chapter 20 (view spoiler)[the red wedding xD Gaius's wrath on Cleo after the attack was terrifying (hide spoiler)]

chapter 25 (view spoiler)[my favorite chapter.. no reasons needed xD

I'm finding hints to some things that are addressed Book 3 stuff, myth stuff in particular.. little gems (hide spoiler)]

chapter 27 (view spoiler)[ I like the quote about Magnus crushing the only flower in the snow.. symbolic!and Aron killing Brion was heart-breaking.. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29 (view spoiler)[so the girls meet, Cleo and Lucia .. I keep thinking that Cleo might be Lucia's sister.. based on what was mentioned in Book 1 (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[proof of Magnus subtle change towards living in Auranos: "the ground here was dry, cracked an what little vegetation it bore was brown and withering. The air was not as cold as in Limeros, where one's breath would freeze into clouds as they spoke, but there was a dry chill here that nonetheless worked its way into Magnus's very bones. It made him miss the more temperate climes of Auranos. So sunny and golden, and filled with light and life.

contrast to what was mentioned to him getting bothered by the heat in the very beginning of the story. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Ending (view spoiler)[I still am in love with this as the first time I've read it.. even though I wished Jonas would get much better at being a rebel himself but oh well, there's always the next book xD (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

We are starting this on the 12th september. Would someone please change the information for the thread please? Much appreciated. :D x

[Abi]

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Reading from the 12th of September 2015

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[Char]

Thank you Abbie! :)

[Joan]

Started this today! :)

[Char]

Me too! Cant wait to see what happens in this one. Falling Kingdoms was full of surprises!

[Joan]

25% (view spoiler)[Aron is sooooo annoying, I admire Cleo's patience with him (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Joan wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"

I've just hit the 15% mark and really enjoying it so far. Am I the only one who dislikes Lucia?

[Joan]

You are not alone, I don't like her as well. At first, I felt it difficult to connect with Cleo but in this book I'm not loving her storyline XD

[Char]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[Interesting alliance. So many things could go wrong though. Also, after the person who has threatened your life breaks into your room, you just don't think or acknowledge how attractive he might be. Like who does that? (hide spoiler)]

[Joan]

All done. I'm so ready for the next one!

(view spoiler)[I thought I would faint when the rebels died during the wedding, and I thought Jonas was a goner. Twice. (hide spoiler)]

The plot thickens. I like this one more than the first.

[Char]

Joan wrote: "All done. I'm so ready for the next one!

[spoilers removed]

The plot thickens. I like this one more than the first."

You're right! It feels more intense than the first one. Are you gonna start gathering darkness right away after this? I am about half way through rebel springs and really enjoying it. Hoping to finish it today as I have no work and no plans. Currently about to start Chapter 14 :)

[Joan]

I need to get my hands on a copy of it first :) and I'm piled up on books for this month, maybe second week of October. :) I think I'm gonna be rooting for Magnus all the way to the end now, and Cleo is starting to warm up on me.

[Char]

Joan wrote: "I need to get my hands on a copy of it first :) and I'm piled up on books for this month, maybe second week of October. :) I think I'm gonna be rooting for Magnus all the way to the end now, and Cl..."
Yeah, Magnus is giving me a lot of Warner vibes (from Shatter Me) and I love me some Warner so...

[Char]

OMG THAT WAS AMAZINGGGGGG. just finished it and I had to start the third cause the way this ended just brought chills. It was just so fast paced and action packed.

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

I'm going to start this one and I loved the first book

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

Chapter 5

Jonas: (view spoiler)[ Him and brion are in front of the Auranion castle where the new king is and his family and the king was telling his speech on how he is making a road between the three kingdoms and the forbidden mountain and then out of nowhere he announcing the engagement of Princess Cleo and Prince Magnus. Also meanwhile Jonas is trying to find more rebels to help defeat the king of blood and that's how he meets Lysandra and think he needs a spy in the castle. (hide spoiler)]

Cleo: (view spoiler)[ it was a shock to find out that she was going to get married to Prince Magnus so soon and aron tried to talk the king out of it but that didn't work so well because Cleo said it's whatever the king wanted and then aron spilled out that she and him slept but she was drunk and it was the only time it happened. (hide spoiler)]

Magnus: (view spoiler)[ After he found out about Cleo he surprised her and stood up for her by saying that he would still marry her and then he went to go visit his sister by the bed side and Mira is taking care of her and than the things comes in and talks to Magnus about the Kindered and everything else then Magnus made a promise to himself he would find the kindred for Lucia. (hide spoiler)]

Lucia: (view spoiler)[ She hasn't woken up yet from her coma and than all of a sudden she goes into a dream where she meets Alexius the watcher who has been watchers all this time and been telling her a little bit what's going on and I might think he is developing feelings for him but I really hope not. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

Chapter 10

Cleo: (view spoiler)[ so one day she finds Mira crying and she thinks that Nic is dead but really he in the stables serving his punishment and when they find him Mira and Nic hug and miss each other and then the plot thickens when Jonas comes and visit her to tell her to be an informant for the rebels but she refuse but when she goes for her dress fitting Jonas comes and kidnaps her and Nic has been upgraded to a bodyguard for Cleo. (hide spoiler)]

Magnus: (view spoiler)[ When Magnus cut the ribbon to start the road lord Darius comes and starts shouting that the king is telling lies to the kingdom and everything then the kings kills him infront of everybody and I can't wait till the king dies already, Than when they were a the temple of Cleonia where the wedding is being held the queen talked to her son about if he really wanted to do this and she was telling him how he is nothing like his father yes he has made mistakes but he has a kind heart and there is nothing you can do to change that. (hide spoiler)]

Lysandra: (view spoiler)[ so she went to go see people from her village but then Jonas and Brion go and find and said they would join her during this journey and than they were attacked by a bear and outlaws until they got to a the village where they start making the road and then Lys old friend Vara saw her and said there is going to be an escape and than there was a massacre until this tornado showed up randomly out of now where and the three of them barley escaped from the camp. (hide spoiler)]

King Gauis: (view spoiler)[ So someone is telling him to build the road all over mythica just to find the kindred doesn't he know that the old watcher is lying to him and he asking about his daughter even though he doesn't care for her only her magic I hate him I can't wait for him until he dies. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

Chapter 15

Magnus: (view spoiler)[ When he found out that Cleo was kidnapped his subtle approach trying to get her back is cute and than they were talking in Lucia chambers and than Mira was there and was cleaning and everything and than the king killed her I was pissed and than after the king left Lucia woke up and Magnus was so happy to see her and than his mom came in and told him to go and come back later. (hide spoiler)]

Lucia: (view spoiler)[ So she woke up and her mom was there and talking to her asking what happened how she killed 200 people and than she killed Sabina because she had a knife to Magnus throat and than her mom was telling her that her powers are going to get out of hand and she is going to turn evil and has been using a sleeping potion so the king won't use her and until the queen can find a way to kill Lucia. (hide spoiler)]

Alexius: (view spoiler)[ So when his friend told him one of the watcher is going to die he ran to the palace and said that the elders don't want anyone to find out about this and they are saying how because of the kindred being gone there reason all of them are going to eventually die and before the watcher died he said do you think Meleanie secret will die with him and than she killed him. After that happened they Alexius went back to the meadow with his friend and she know his secret about watching Lucia and said he's not the only one who is hiding secret. (hide spoiler)]

Cleo: (view spoiler)[ So when she was kidnapped she was taken back to the rebels camp and her and Jonas bicker like they always do and than Lysandra came to see her saying how much hardship she has been through but then Cleo told her about what she went through and everything and that shut her up but than few days later nothing has change with stopping construction with the road when the solders came and than her and Jonas went into a cave and kissed OMG and than she made a plan about her going back and when the wedding come they could ambush at the temple of Cleonia. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

Chapter 20

Queen Althea:(view spoiler)[ So the queen has been meeting with this witch who has been in the dungeon being accused of doing witchcraft and she saved her by brining clothes, food and other stuff and she said for her to get her magic back she needs to kill someone and then she kills Michol and after all that has happened she goes meets the witch again but she finds her dead and the person killed queen afterwards. (hide spoiler)]

Magnus: (view spoiler)[ Went out for a little bit to find out more if anybody could help his sister Lucia with her magic and what not so he went to one of the towns to get food and this lady was crying because her daughter is being accused of being a witch and finds out she an wiled two elements of magic and he was asking more question until the bartender started saying how the king is brainwashing them and everything, so he went back to the castle and Aron was looking for him so that his father wanted to see him and told him that his mother is dead and the rebels must have killed her and than when he went to go to his room Cleo found him and saw that he was upset and try to comfort him a little but than broke it by telling her Mira was dead. (hide spoiler)]

Jonas: (view spoiler)[ there is a warrant for his arrest and than he was telling the plan for to ruin the wedding and Brion and Lysandra didn't agree but than Jonas and Brion got into a fight and Jonas was hurt by that and said whoever want to join can but if not you don't need too and left to the forest. (hide spoiler)]

Lucia: (view spoiler)[ So once again she was visited by Alexius in her dream and he was talking about her and her destiny and what her powers can do exactly and what they are meant for in this world but he didn't have enough time so he told her he would find a way to talk to her again and they kissed which is weird and she is getting a little annoying now but we will see how it goes. (hide spoiler)]

Cleo; (view spoiler)[ it is the day of her wedding and she was going to marry prince Magnus and everything was going okay and it was almost over so than Jonas came with his band of rebels to kill the prince and king but the king was prepared and she was worried about Jonas safety and she was standing with Nic as protection but than the king came up to her and slapped her and held her by the throat said you think you will ever get this throne back and he said never so than magnus tried to stop him but it didn't work and said continue with the wedding and now there married I want to see where this goes. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

Chapter 25

Alexuis: (view spoiler)[ So basically we thought Alexuis was in love with Lucia and all that but in reality he is using her so he can help melanie to get the Kindred but we find out that he has developed feelings and that he wants to tell her what is going to happened but than Melanie is taking away his powers and that Lucia blood is going to be spilled to find this Kindred. (hide spoiler)]

Lucia: (view spoiler)[ I think her magic is evil because she doesn't have anything to control it and what is being said in this book that the ring that Cleo has can control her but she doesn't have it but her magic is getting worse so when the tutor came in, Lucia almost killed her and Alexuis was watching and knows what is going to happened. (hide spoiler)]

Cleo: (view spoiler)[ it was her wedding night and she knows she has to spend it in bed with Magnus which she doesn't want to do so then when she went to go get a breath of fresh air prince Ashur gives her a wedding gift for brides back in his home country and it was a knife to either kill the bride or kill the husband and he kept asking question about the kindred and saying I will be staying for a while than she went to her chambers and the prince comes in and he makes her scared but reality that I think he has feelings for her and left her than on there wedding tour they kept talking a little bit and touring all over the three kingdom and the last kingdom we find out that Magnus is afraid of public speaking and saved Cleo from an assassinations so he does care for her. (hide spoiler)]

Lysandra: (view spoiler)[ so when Jonas came back she saw a guard was after him and she killed the guard and said the twenty men that went with him died than they told the whole camp and Ivan was questioning why he was the leader and left than Lys stood up for him saying were going to attack the blood road to free everybody and we also find out that she is in love with Jonas. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die-]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ so much stuff has happened like the PRINCE ASHUR KISSING NIC WHAT IS THIS and than I like how Lucia and Cleo are becoming sister which is cute and hopefully they work together and how I think Magnus might be developing feelings for Cleo and also how Aron and Brion are dead I'm crying I loved Brion. The king is getting scared because he doesn't think he is immortal now and all these people coming out of the sanctuary I'm so confused I really wonder how this is all going to play out in the third book. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting April 3rd 2016. Happy Reading ☺

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[Rachel]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ that was an interesting twist by King Gaius! I don't think Cleo will approve of this new marriage arrangement! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ I wonder what's so special about this road? And who King Gauis's new advisor is. Lysandra definitely rushed into going to the road! (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

The watchers (view spoiler)[ I don't know how much to trust the watchers, Melenia is definitely untrustworthy - and seems to be really power hungry! Alexsius just seems so brainwashed! This search for the kindred could cause some problems! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ that ending was really intense! When Jonas was stabbed I was really shocked! I'm glad that he didn't actually die though! I'm still not keen on Lysandra's character, and I'm interested to see when Magnus will stand up to his father! (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from May 14th and from May 15th 2016

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[Eesh]

Starting the May 3rd BR with Rebel Springs!

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

I'd like to join for both RS and GD

[Eesh]

ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥ wrote: "I'd like to join for both RS and GD"

Great!

[Eesh]

RS Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[Cleo's "hatred" for Magnus is kinda pathetic. Magnus didn't "stab him in the back" as she says, The on was just an idiot who turned his back on his enemy. Pretty flimsy excuse to hate him so much. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

@Quirks (view spoiler)[Theon did not Magnus was going to fight himself just as Magnus did not know Theon wasn't going to kill him.. It's easier for Cleo to put blame on Magnus in her grief.. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥ wrote: "@Quirks [spoilers removed]"

Of course they both knew! They would have to be especially dumb not to. I think the author just needed a reason for Cleo to hate Magnus more than she would normally.

[Eesh]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[It seems that the only character I care about at the moments is Magnus. I wish we could just skip everyone else's chapter.
Though Lysandra seems interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[the damoras are one messed up family.. I keep wondering who Lucia's real parents might be.. I know she was born in Palesia (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 7 [spoiler removed]"

he is the most interesting..

[Eesh]

ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥ wrote: "Chapter 12 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[They are messed up. Very much so. But they're also the most interesting part of the book. Lucia isn't. Which why I don't think I'll be very upset if she died, even though I know she won't. (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

(view spoiler)[Lucia and Jonas could have been just as interesting but their storyline is sidelined (hide spoiler)]

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥]

Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[idk what Ashur's point by giving Cleo the dagger.. He doesn't know her at all so giving her the dagger..

I loved how Magnus told her about his grandfather, for a girl he hates, he's rather talkative.

"it's well within your rights to feel nothing toward me at all- as it is in many arranged marriages. But hate is something. The problem with hate, however, is it leaves you at a disadvantage. It clouds your mind every bit as much as five goblet of wine can ."

I love him ❤️ (hide spoiler)]