Fallen City by Adrienne Young

A rich, Rome-inspired fantasy of gods and rebellion that didn’t fully deliver.

Fallen City sets up an ambitious world of gods, rebellion, and political unrest in a setting that feels inspired by ancient Rome. I loved the atmosphere and the potential of this world—there’s constant motion, high stakes, and the sense that something big is always about to happen.

But despite the strong setup, I struggled to stay grounded. The constant jumps between timelines and alternating points of view pulled me out of the story every time I started to get invested. I appreciated what those flashbacks were trying to do, but the reveal they built toward didn’t feel worth the wait and left me more frustrated than surprised.

Maris is easy to root for, but Luca’s choices often came across as frustratingly self-sacrificial. Their relationship has that fated, star-crossed lovers energy, yet I never quite felt the depth behind their connection. I ended up more curious about a few of the side characters than the central romance itself.

Still, the political tension and worldbuilding kept me reading, and there’s clearly more to explore in the sequel. I do plan to read the second half of the duology and check out more of Adrienne Young’s backlist.

Rating: 3 – 3.5 Stars

POP: 67%

Release Date: November 4, 2025

Pre-Order your copy of Fallen City here or request it from your local library.