Format: 416 pages, Hardcover
Release Date: November 4, 2025
Publisher: Saturday Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Publisher: Saturday Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name and maintain its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.
Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War have made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.
As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.
Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War have made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.
As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.
Fallen City by Adrienne Young is the first installment in the Fallen City Duology, a Greco-Roman-inspired historical fantasy romance that blends political intrigue, forbidden love, rebellion, and divine intervention. Set in the opulent yet decaying walled city of Isara—divided by the Sophanes River into the elite Citadel District and the struggling lower quarters—the story unfolds across dual timelines labeled "NOW" and "BEFORE." These timelines gradually converge to reveal the full picture of a rebellion simmering for a century. The book also alternates between two protagonists (Luca Marius and Maris Casperia).
Luca Matius, a disciplined legionnaire and centurion from a powerful family tied to the Forum, burdened with carrying on his cruel uncle's legacy while apprenticing under the city's Philosopher. On the other side is Maris Casperia (or Casoeria in some descriptions), the sharp and strategic daughter of a Magistrate, raised in the corrupt inner circles of power and trained as a novice to the last Priestess who holds remnants of stolen magic from an ancient war. Their fated meeting ignites a chain of events that entangles their lives with the gods themselves.
When a dangerous secret surfaces amid growing unrest, Luca and Maris form a calculated alliance in a bid to shift the balance of power. But an execution catapults Luca into the role of reluctant rebel symbol, thrusting the lovers onto opposite sides of a holy war. Themes of loyalty, sacrifice, corruption, and divine will drive the plot, as the city teeters on the brink of collapse. The story incorporates elements like a deceptive lottery system, meddling gods, political scheming, and the weight of legacy in a society ripe for revolution.
Young's Greco-Roman-inspired world is complete with chitons, forums, legions, philosophers, and priestesses. The setting feels gritty yet glittering—opulent marble halls contrasting with the desperation of the lower districts—creating a palpable sense of a civilization on the edge of implosion. Political intrigue, class warfare, and the interplay between religion/magic and state power add layers of depth, making Isara feel alive and consequential. Dual POV enhances intimacy with each character's inner conflicts, while the divine elements—gods writing the city's story—add a mythic, almost tragic grandeur reminiscent of classical epics.
Complaints? Yes. While ambitious and effective at building mystery, the story can feel distancing or confusing for some, keeping readers at arm's length and preventing them from fully emotionally investing in Luca and Maris early on. Pacing occasionally suffers as timelines unfold, with certain revelations or emotional beats landing less impactfully due to the fragmented presentation.
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