This story is told from the perspectives of Maris and Luca in two different timelines, and I loved seeing how their fates became increasingly entwined as their love story developed and everything came together in the end. I just didn't know it’s going to be a duology - the ending came as a bit of a surprise, but not in a bad way! One thing I absolutely loved was the setting. It's a city inspired by Greece and Rome, ruled by magistrates and gods. It was fascinating to learn about all the myths and legends, and I really hope we get to learn more about them in book two! The only thing that bothered me were all the names. Sometimes I found it difficult to remember who was who and what their actions meant, etc. And I would have liked the love story to have had more time to develop – it went a bit fast once it got started. But all in all I thoroughly enjoyed it and am already looking forward to the next installment! ✨

I got to listen to the audiobook in advance thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I think I might have rated the story a little higher if I read the book, but the worldbuilding and political structure is intense and highly thought through, which made it harder to follow everything while listening. Especially with two timelines and POVs, it sometimes got a little confusing who doesn’t like whom, who is fighting who etc. Nevertheless, I was amazed by the design of the Fallen City and its religion/politics. I think the whole situation gave a little depressed vibe throughout the book which also could be felt in the relationship between the main characters. It was a good book, really great narrators that matched the characters, but nothing too special unfortunately.

A big thanks to the publishers for the opportunity for immersive reading with both the ebook and audiobook. What this book excels in: a fallen empire inspired by Greco-Roman politics. The political intrigue is deep, the setting vivid, and the worldbuilding absolutely epic. Where it falls flat: while the premise hooked me right away, the dual timelines and dual POV made it harder to fully connect. I often found myself more impressed by the scale than invested in the characters. The characters feel distant, and the romance never quite convinces. Two narrators of the audiobook bring the story to life, which fits the dual POV structure. I enjoyed the male narrator, but the female voice sounds a bit detached, which unfortunately mirrors the overall tone of the book — well thought out, but hard to feel close to. Great premise, stunning world, but emotionally a bit flat. 3/5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the eARCs! #FallenCity #AdrienneYoung #Netgalley #Bookstagram