Rebel Spring: A Falling Kingdoms Novel

Let me start off by saying Rebel Spring was definitely better than Falling Kingdoms but there were still things that annoyed and irritated me about this book.
Plot wise this book was solid for the most part. I love the world in this series, I love the magic, the elementia, and the battle between the lands. I even like that unlike al lot of books like it in this one it's not about stopping a king from invading, that already happened in the first book in less than 100 pages, but now it's about taking the kingdom back and I like that more, though again it did make the first one feel more like a prologue. The problem with this book is the same as with Falling Kingdoms, and that's the characters.
Characters -
Cleo - Cleo gets better in this book and I like her more and I feel I understand her more but the main thing that annoys me is she spends a lot of time in the beginning of the book basically feeling sorry for herself and while get why she does some of the things she does in this book it still annoys me that for most of it she sits back and does nothing. On top of that Theon is barely mentioned, and when he is Cleo will cry but it doesn't feel real, I still don't believe she ever loved this guy and then for a very brief period it seems like she likes Jonas and then maybe she likes Magnus? This is a theme throughout the whole book it's like the author wants all the characters to be in love with each other at one point or another and it's pointless and annoying and leaves you feeling like it wasn't real at all, because she doesn't spend enough time on any of it to make it seem as if these two characters actually love each other. It's like they hate/tolerate each other then bam! Insta love and then bam! they "love" someone else, I think? Because you're never quite sure what any of them actually feel about each other.
Jonas - Jonas remains my favorite character because he is still the strongest, you know this character, you know what he wants and you know he will actually go after it, you always know what this character is feeling and you don't have to guess every step of the way. But again with the whole "romance" aspect. I really enjoyed it when he was falling for Cleo but you never quite know if he actually likes her and then towards the end it seems like he randomly releases he "loves" Lysandra(another rebel) which is stupid and like you can only use the randomly realizing this character loves this other character thing so many times in one book series! I liked it much better when Brion(another rebel and Jonas' best friend) was in "love" with Lysandra, why did you have to go and mess that up!
Magnus - Oh, I feel so bad for Magnus. He thinks he's evil, he thinks he's just like his father, and so he acts that way, but he's not! I do feel for Magnus but I also feel I would have liked him more if he started thinking for himself before the very end of the book and even then you don't know if he has finally figured out that he is better than his father or not and it's like I just want to slap him and tell him to snap out of it already! I do like that he seems to grow in this book, at least where it concerns Lucia but still mainly his character just frustrates me. One thing I will say for Magnus is he is the most unique and interesting character even is it makes me want beat him.
Lucia - I don't feel like she was in the book enough. I feel like I still have no clue who she is, maybe even more now. I don't really have anything I specifically don't like about her but again I don't think you get to know her character at all in this book, it's like she's multiple people and I was looking forward to seeing her kinda come into her own in this book, but that never happened.
The Watchers - I loved that the watchers were in this one more and they actually had a part in this book but it was all kinda vague and I get that it's supposed to be mysterious but there is a deference between mysterious and confusing and this book definitely walks that line. I do like all the myth about the watchers but as for when they actually come into the book, and you see things from their POV I feel like it was unnecessary, I think it would have been mysterious to not have those parts beyond the dreams that some of the characters have with the watchers.

Besides the character flaws honestly there wasn't much bad about this book. It keeps a nice steady pace so that you don't get bored and loss interest and the overall story is solid, I love the premise of these books it's just characters are what makes a book, and great relatable engaging characters and relationships are what these books lack. I will say even with the frustrating "love" octagon thing the author is really good at making you want whoever it is at the moment who are in "love" to be together, she can make you fall in love with them but then it's all pointless because five chapters later those characters are in "love" with someone else(that was a slight exaggeration, but still). I honestly rather there be no "love" or "romance" element in this book besides the "love" the author describes isn't love it's lust.

In conclusion -
This book definitely has more action than Falling Kingdoms and some character growth but honestly it's still not great. I hate that I feel like if only the characters were a little more relatable and the "love" and romance wasn't all over the place, I would love this series. I understand why the author has written the characters the way she has, but I just find them annoying and if I don't like the characters then I don't like the book. The overall plot is great, I love the idea behind these books, I love everything about the war and about the magic and the watchers but the lack of great characters is what brings this book so far down in my opinion.

Do I recommend this book? Yes. If you like this kind of fantasy book then I say it doesn't hurt to try it, I know a lot of people that love it but personally I don't relate to the characters and at parts I hate them, but if you like the premise then you may as well try the first book, just maybe borrow it.

Will I read the next ones? I will, because I really hope that they will continue to get better and despite all the problems I find with these books they are far from the worst thing I have ever read and they do leave me wanting to know what happens next, which proves if nothing else that the author is a good writer.

Warning there will be spoilers from the first book in this series Falling Kingdoms. Proceed with caution if you do not want to be spoiled.

This is the book that I have been waiting for! After finishing the first book Falling Kingdoms back in January this year, I needed Rebel Spring. Not wanted, needed. This world that Morgan Rhodes has created is highly addicting and at time just plain gut wrenchingly good. Before I read Falling Kindoms, I had heard that it was a young adult Game of Thrones. But at the time I hadn't watched the television show, nor read the A Song of Fire and Ice books. Now after watching the television show (still haven't read the books. Do you know how long they are?!?!?) I definitely get the comparisons. But after reading Rebel Spring, I am reminded by how much I love the young adult genre.

This series has everything in a high fantasy series. Death, romance, the struggle for the power to rule, betrayal, fighting, magic, a royal court, arranged marriages, etc. But when you put all of those things in a young adult novel, it makes it easier to read and doesn't have the reader confused. Occasionally when I read adult books, especially those in a fantasy setting, I often find myself having to go back and reread parts because I get confused. I love how this series has four core characters. And as with the first book, these four characters are very different and are easy to follow along with.

When Falling Kingdoms ended, King Gaius of Limeros had succeeded in conquering Auranos and now is known a The King of Blood. He rules over Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia together known as Mytica. Cleo is currently struggling with losing not only her family, but her birthright to the throne. Lucia has been stuck in a coma since the spell she cast caused an explosion that left her unconscious. Jonas is out for revenge against the king, and has set up a rebel army to defeat him. And Magnus is still dealing with his romantic feelings for his adopted sister, while trying decide if his doomed fate is truly what he thinks it is.

While Cleo's pov was my favorite in Falling Kingdoms. Magnus's was mine in Rebel Spring. To see him try to reach back into the light after descending into the dark in the prior book was astonishing. Magnus's transformation is definitely a favorite. But my favorite scenes were definitely any scene between Magnus and Cleo. The relationship between Magnus and Cleo that develops is honestly why I read books. Sometimes people just have chemistry, whether it's a love connection or an extreme loathing or hatred. But other times these feeling can really stretch the line between love and hate. Not gonna lie, I ship them. I ship them hardcore. Their scenes were just so amusing to me, that I was glued to the pages. I remember messaging a friend halfway through reading and telling her that I am shipping two characters, that I probably shouldn't be shipping together. And after I finished the book, I tweeted the author saying, "Not gonna lie I ship Cleo and Magnus hardcore! It felt so wrong while reading it, but just so right at the same time!"

I didn't want to put this book down. I forced myself to stay up and finish reading even though I had work the next morning. Usually the second book in a series is pretty slow for me. But not with this one. The characters are still falling, and still struggling. I wish I had Jonas's fight and determination. I wanted to give Lucia a hug and tell her that everything will be okay. I wanted to go to the Watchers and warn them. And speaking of the Watchers. If I had dreams about someone as handsome as them, I'd never want to wake up! But the point is, I am so invested in all of these characters. I love them so much. And the ones I despise I still love reading about them. I have a bit of a long wait for the next book, but in the meantime I will enjoy spreading the word about this series!

Reviewed by Sana @ Step Into Fiction

This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

I could not put this book down! I was totally invested in the story from the first page! This is the second book by Morgan Rhodes that I have had the pleasure of reading. The one thing that I can say about her writing is that she can keep the reader's attention and keep the reader wanting more.

The absolute best thing about this series is the elaborate plot. The plot really runs deep in this series. There are many characters at play and they all have their own agendas. There is conflict, intrigue, secrets, and so much drama! It is literally the best! I am itching to start on the third book in the series as I am typing this review. The story is that damn good. For real.

The characters are incredible. There are quite a few of them to keep track of, but the writing is so fluid that you don't have a hard time of it. You definitely get a feel for each of the characters right off the bat, and it helps differentiate them all quite easily. And the more characters there are, the more relationships occur throughout the book. This makes for a very exciting read since you never know who is hiding secrets, who is allied with whom, which characters are going to fall in love or lust, and the list could go on. There is just so much intrigue regarding the characters. There are so many options for so many different outcomes. It is so tantalizing! The characters themselves are very relatable and written beautifully. I have grown quite attached to them all already, and when an author can form those bonds with the reader it is really something special.

The world building is still wonderful. It is very atmospheric. I can feel myself in the terrain experiencing things right along with the characters. It was really well done in the first book, and the second is no different.

I loved the small LGBT+ representation and I hope that it expands in the next book!

The only thing that I would change about the book would be the inclusion of more romance. So far the relationships are building so there isn't much romance to be had. I am not a fiend by any means, but I like to spice things up with some romance (or lust) once in a while. It feels few and far between in this book, as it did with the first book. I do have to add that the small amount of romance does not make me dislike the book AT ALL. M five star rating still holds firm, even without more romance. The book is that good!

Overall, this series really is something special. I am so eager to finish this series. These characters have become so special to me over a mere handful of hours of reading. If you are a fan of young adult epic fantasy, then this series was made for you. Go get it. Read it. Love it. And when you're done come back here so we can fangirl (or fanboy) together!

“At first glance, no one would ever perceive her as a threat.
But she knew that she was. Her heart beat now for one reason, the only thing that helped stanch the flow of incapacitating grief.
Vengeance.”

Things get much more intense in the second installment of the Fallen Kingdoms series. I often had a difficult time putting this book down, and I am completely captivated by these characters. It is truly one of those stories that has you changing who you route for with the turn of a page. There are many gray areas that exist in between the obvious good and bad characters, and I appreciate the author showing us this in a fantasy setting. The power of magic that can be used in only certain ways is a big part of showing the edges of good vs evil in this series. The magic always has a price, even when those involved don’t realize what it is. I am hoping we go even deeper into that in the rest of the series.

The book has a lot of character drama, which I am always drawn too. The story has romance, unrequited love, and hints of more romance. My favorite part of this book was some of the unexpected pairings, you will just have to read to find out what I mean. I give this book 4.5 stars and will definitely be reading the next book.

A quick summary of my thoughts: A strong second book in a YA fantasy series. The characters are increasingly complicated and interesting as they fight for their respective kingdoms. Also, magic. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers!

Rebel Spring continues the action of Falling Kingdoms with similar pacing and plot development. While there are a lot of characters, our four main characters seem to be the common thread through this story: Cleo, Magnus, Jonas and Lucia. Cleo continues to be one of my favorite characters in this series as her character has changed the most! She used to be a spoiled, vapid princess but the tragedy of losing her family and kingdom has caused her to grow up quickly. She uses her status as 'ignorant princess' to trick people in to underestimating her, and she does it well! I am absolutely rooting for Cleo to get her kingdom back.

Magnus is another one of my favorites! He pretends to be hardened and cruel like his father but we as the reader know he has a soft heart. Rhodes does an impressive job of displaying Magnus' internal struggle throughout the story. Him and Cleo still hate each other...but there were some hints that they may not hate each other forever?!

Jonas is leading the rebel movement in Paelsia and through Jonas we get to know some very likable side characters- Brion and Lysandra. Jonas has a particularly interesting character arc as his actions culminate to a scene towards the end of the book that I think will drastically change his story. I don't want to give details...but it involves bloody fight scenes and magic!

Finally, Luica continues to be consumed by her power. Lucia was probably my least favorite character- she seems a bit one dimensional and I don't quite understand how her powers affect her ability to think rationally. What I did find interesting was her connection to Alexius, a Watcher! We are finally starting to tie together the Watcher agenda and the fate of Mytica.

Basically, if you liked Falling Kingdoms you will also enjoy Rebel Spring. The combination of political strife with this overarching magical plot line makes this series extremely enjoyable. The fact that it is a multi-book series allows Rhodes to develop most of her characters into realistic people with a surprising amount of depth. The world is intricately built and while the plot is slow to culminate, I have a feeling that the series will continue to get better. I've already requested book 3 on Overdrive, so clearly I am excited to continue!

This is book 2 in the Falling Kingdoms series and there is, once again, a lot happening. We get plenty of action, new characters, some shocking deaths and we learn more about the Watchers. King Gaius is as bloodthirsty and relentless as ever. He is determined to find the Kindred at any cost and become an immortal god. This man doesn't ask for much in life. Nope, not much at all.

Jonas is leading his small army of rebels and he is out for revenge. He is determined. He is angry. He is ready for action, but the man is incapable of executing a plan! Every time he has a brilliant idea, disaster strikes. At this point I'm not even sure how he's still alive. If he survives to the end of this series, I will be shocked. Absolutely shocked. I just hope at some point, the poor guy will accomplish something.

I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with Cleo. She's been through so much and she is still going strong. She smiles and plays her part for the people. She acts as if everything is just fine, but she doesn't actually fool anyone. King Gaius knows it's an act, Magnus knows it's an act, pretty much everyone who meets her, knows it's an act. She also has (actually I've lost count of how many) men falling in love with her, but I haven't figured out what, besides her beauty, is so fascinating. At times I feel like she just isn't very bright. For example, she continually fiddles with and draws attention to her super special ring that she doesn't want anyone to know about. "My ring is glowing you say? What ring? Oh, this old thing? It's just a trick of the light." Sure, Cleo. Absolutely no one is suspicious now. Can you please be a little less obvious?

Magnus and Lucia's relationship is now strained and I'm hoping that someone else just may capture Magnus's heart. I love that his character is really growing and changing throughout this book. Lucia, on the other hand, is becoming more and more like king Gaius. Is she up? Is she down? Is she good? Is she bad? I don't even know anymore but I'm looking forward to seeing where she is heading.

The new characters such as Lysandra, Prince Ashur and the Watchers are keeping things interesting. The various POVs don't bother me at all, and I haven't had any trouble keeping up with all the different characters. I enjoy trying to figure them out and discover their secret agendas. For me, this was definitely another fun read and I'm already off to book 3, Gathering Darkness.

We return to the three kingdoms of Auranos, Paelsia, and Limeros to follow the four heroes set forth in the previous book, Falling Kingdoms. A lot has changed since the start of book 1, including total disruption of order in Auranos and the king of Limeros taking over the continent. But if I’m being completely honest, I finished this book in record time but I couldn’t give you a detailed report of what happened because it wasn’t memorable.

From what I’ve seen of this book and the last is that the plot has been done time and time again. Everything that happened in Rebel Spring I could predict to the point that I stopped caring about what happened but instead who it happened to. The strength of these books lies in the characters, but even those weren’t as strong as the first book.

I hated Princess Cleo in Falling Kingdoms. She was a spoiled brat who cared little for anything (or anyone) but herself. Yet of the protagonists in Rebel Spring, I liked her the most. She’s becoming more of an independent thinker who doesn’t just flit around doing whatever she pleases with no concern for the consequences. Jonas held promise but didn’t live up to it. He constantly complained about the gaps between the rich and poor which is fine on its own if it hadn’t become all his character lived for. Quickly growing on my nerves, I had hope for the last two protagonists, Lucia and Magnus. Lucia reminds me of an obnoxious younger sister. Despite being the foretold sorceress who would save the world, her powers are strictly elemental and out of control. And I couldn’t care less about her.

Which is weird, because I usually love the magic users in a book (like Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic).

Magnus could be so great if he would just stick it to his father and stop pretending to be the biggest jerk in Auranos (aside from the king). Instead of making him stronger by living these two roles, he turned into a depressed and defensive kid who’s in love with his sister.

Speaking of, what is up with the romance in this series? We’re see how incest plays out on a much more vulgar level with A Game of Thrones — though Jaime and Cersei are on the same page in those books whereas Magnus is living the unrequited life. I don’t mind Magnus/Lucia nearly as much as the new Cleo/Jonas affair. For a book and a half we’re told they hate each other and not in the “I hate you but secretly am falling in love with you” way. In fact, there’s absolutely no indication of this turn of events but suddenly they’re kissing?! And in the same insta-love realm, Lucia and her dream(boat) Alexius who’s well over a hundred times her age yet he swoons over this bratty teenager. No. Thank. You.

But in ALL of this, I still really enjoyed the book… and I’m not entirely sure why. I would have to peg it on the writing style and my reader’s hope that everything will magically fix itself in the next book as those are the only two consistent elements from these first two books. So maybe, just maybe, things will improve with Gathering Darkness.

This second book was wayy more enjoyable than the first book. I still wanted to strangle the majority of the characters, some grew on me, and new characters were introduced. I love the direction the story is going and I feel like even though this is the second book, Morgan Rhodes hasn't even scratched the surface of what's to come.

I enjoyed Jonas so much more this time around. He is steadily growing on me despite the fact that he is blinded by his rage. I may like Cleo a little more towards the end of this book. I think she's a brat and can't come up with one good idea on how to kill the King and take back her thrown. I have this love/hate relationship with Magnus because I so want him to open his eyes and be his own person and do the right thing. But he gives a little, then takes it back, frustrating me to no end. Lastly, I liked that we got to know more about the Watchers, their goals, and more about the Kindred. It's helping to turn the story into an unexpected direction that has won me over and totally love this series and where its headed.

I'm glad I stuck with this series even though the first book was a bit frustrating to read. I was so engrossed in the story and the characters. Even the ones I don't care for, I was dying to know their fate because again, Morgan Rhodes has ripped out my heart by killing yet another one of my favorite characters. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to continue the series.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: An exhilarating follow up, filled with adventure, magic, and bravado.

Opening Sentence: Death cast a long shadow across the barren miles of Paelsia.

The Review:

It isn’t common when a young adult fantasy book transcends the expectations and finds itself alongside the word “saga.” Morgan Rhodes’ Rebel Spring has brought the Falling Kingdoms series into the saga genre. Not only does Rhodes bring a captivating story, but she has developed this world so intricate and entwined that each character has become an integral part of my literary world.

Auranos has been defeated, and young Cleo has been dethroned. Limeros, Paelsia, and Auranos has been united as a singular country called Mytica. Three nations brought together by power, but eventually will also be destroyed by power.

Rebel Spring has more point of views than Falling Kingdoms. It was a bit confusing at first, given that there were more than 5. After a while, I had to stop focusing on a person, and instead just followed each nation. Regardless of a victory, each nation and person are still fighting for the throne.

Cleo has become a prisoner in her own home. It was interesting to see her character develop. At times, her path was predictable, and others I was surprised. Her persona is familiar, gathering traits from other heroines that I know.

I wasn’t sure about Magnus in Falling Kingdoms, and I am still unsure of his character now. It was like he was written to be hated, but with an inward desire to be loved. I struggled a bit with his affection for his sister. It felt strong and aggressive, and I wasn’t too comfortable with it.

Lucia and Jonas weren’t the strong side characters that I needed them to be. It is a bit unfair to fault them, for there are so many characters in the young adult world that demand attention. There were points of attitude and personality traits that I do not prefer, but I feel that they needed to be these people for this point in the story.

Rebel Spring, its characters, this world… I am obsessed with them, regardless of my nit-picking. There was action around every corner, inclusive of greed, power, and gore. There is a story to be heard, and Rhodes has my attention. I wish that the constant change of voices slowed down, but I don’t normally like reading more than one voice per story.

Notable Scene:

“Stop!” Cleo shouted, the word escaping her before she even realized it. She trembled from head to foot, her heart pounding so hard that it rocked her entire frame. “Don’t do this! Please, don’t! He didn’t lie. He – he was telling the truth! We were together one single time. I did give my chastity to him knowingly and without reservation!”

The guard holding the dagger froze, the edge of the blade pressed to Aron’s pink, squirming tongue.

“Well, now,” King Gaius said softly, but Cleo had never heard more menace in anyone’s voice. “That certainly changes things, doesn’t it?”

FTC Advisory: Razorbill/Penguin provided me with a copy of Rebel Spring. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Ah. Magnus, my little tortured soul. You are going to be my favorite man in these twisted kingdoms.
Well, it does get better. What do you know? Cleo and Jonas just don't go. That little moment was so random that it can't be love. Ooooh. Magnus and Cleo! I know they hate each other, but COME ON. I want them to be together! Jonas should stop making dumb decisions too. He just leads his rebels-not much of a resistance-and they don't do anything worth while. Lucia has problems. She just kills living things and then feels bad later. I was thinking Prince Ashur was going to be a favorite, but then be did that thing with Nic and I can't see him the same. SPOILER ALERT:
Lysandra is going to be executed! How could this happen? I'm really hoping Alexius and Lucia get together because he is a good book boyfriend! I think he might be in deep water though...

"Rebel Spring" the second intoxicating book in the Falling Kingdoms series begins in the City of Gold where King Gaius Damora has taken the throne, uniting the people with the marriage of his son Magnus and the Auranosian Princess Cleo, and building a blood splattered road across Mytica in his quest to find the Kindred; crystals that will not only bring him immortality but ultimate power.

Morgan Rhodes sets the stage for this mesmerizing page turner in the country of Mytica where the kingdoms of Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia have been merged by the evil, blood-thirsty and power-hungry conqueror King Gaius. The threads of this exciting plot follow; the quiet defiance of Princess Cleo forced into an arranged marriage; Prince Magnus, the tyrant's heir who struggles to overcome his inner turmoil and growing hatred; Princess Lucia's control and fear of the magic of elementia; and Jonas Agallon's continuing rebellion to free his people. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed as King Gaius becomes more brutal, building a road drenched with the blood of slave labour so his sorceress daughter Lucia can point the way to the power he craves.

Cleverly woven into this well-written, captivating story about a country where magic is not impossible and people grapple for its power are the Watchers who invade dreams and shape-shift to observe mortals, waiting for their chance to breach their Sanctuary and return to the moral world. As blood is shed and nature in the mortal world revolts in a tornado, earthquakes and wildfire, pieces of a formidable Watcher's plan emerge that will see death reign as the human world burns. The violence, intimidation, brute strength, despair and heartbreak so much a part of this plot are only diluted with the tenderness, deliverance, mercy and bravery of the four young people who struggle in the web of deception, loss and treachery.

Morgan Rhodes creates unforgettable and complex characters with flaws and faults that imperil them at every turn. Princess Cleo Bellos haunted by the deaths in her family and dethroned by a cruel tyrant is opinionated, defiant, and strong-willed which constantly brings confrontation with King Gaius. Engaged once to the shallow, cowardly arrogant Lord Aron Lagaris who betrayed her secret, she's suddenly trapped into an arranged marriage with the Prince she loathes. . Prince Magnus seems as sullen , cruel, cold and harsh as his father masking any sense of humanity. In this story the forbidden love that he feels for his sister Lucia begins to weaken in the light of Lucia's hostility and his growing admiration for the Auranosian Princess. Lucia Damora, stolen as a baby because of her magical ability struggles with the darkness and strength of a power the King covets.

Among the rebels who fight to thwart Gaius's cruelty are Jonas Agallon the stubborn, wary and resourceful Paelsian; Lysandra Barbas a bold, fearless and skilled archer and Brion Radenos who's loyal, amiable and self-sacrificing. All these characters add to the intensity, passion and drama of a riveting story that ends in an explosive an cliff-hanger.

I enjoyed " Rebel Spring" and will continue to follow this riveting fantasy series that grips you from the first page to the last.

I had actually written my review right after I finished reading it last July and when I was supposed to post it the other day, I found myself with the unfortunate news that I didn’t save it all. There goes my lost hard work and creativity. Now I’m trying to rummage through and refresh my poor nonexistent brain. Now let’s go back to my miserable review.

After having the chance to read Falling Kingdoms earlier this year, I hereby proclaim myself as a fan of the series and Morgan Rhodes.

It is universally established that a sequel will either make or break a series and I always fret reading second books in fear it will be disappointing compared to the debut novel of the series. It is not often we come across a strong sequel that is even better than its predecessor, if that is even possible. *GASP* It is. *hands you over a copy of Rebel Spring.

Rebel Spring picks up three weeks after Auranos has fallen and now all the three kingdoms, Auranos, Limeros and Paelsia, are united as one country called Mytica. Thrown right back into this mesmerizing world, I was constantly hit by the magic of Morgan Rhodes’ writing. Her story unravels in such a bewildering manner that ensures the unwavering attention of the readers. There’s plenty of action in this novel. Rebel Spring will surprise you indeed with its dark, suspenseful and constant heartbreak.

I know some people are bothered by the fact that Falling Kingdoms is told in several points of view, but I can assure you that Rhodes did her magic again. You won’t ever get confused with chapters and getting into the plot is piece of cake,. You wouldn’t have any qualms about it. Heck you would totally dig the various point of view of the characters. Falling Kingdoms characters are all driven by their fate, their destinies are all intertwined together and that’s what makes the multiple POV enchanting, it is perfectly executed and very convenient for the plot. The character development is amazing, and everyone evolves in having a backbone and being a bad-ass rebel.

Let’s talk about the romance. There will be new pairings you didn’t expect that will come together. How could the absence of romance be so heartbreaking and giddy at the same time? I am saying this because I am still deeply mooning over this certain pairing. There’s so much emotion and angst going on there that will rip your heart apart and make you beg for more and moaaaaarrrrrr.

Rebel Spring has easily become one of my favorite reads this year and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Its an absolutely heart-wrenching sequel that will astound you with it’s plot-twist. It is a page turner with a very intriguing and gripping story. Morgan Rhodes outdid herself with her masterpiece sequel. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

I really enjoyed the sequel of "Falling Kingdoms"! I still believe that this series is a much better set for a YA "Game of thrones" ;)
As the plot thickens and slowly the mystery behind the Kindered unravels, feelings ignite, friendships are tested and yes, characters die.

I felt bad for the secondary characters who had to die in order for the protagonists to move on and in a way become stronger. On the other hand, I wanted more of Lucia's POV. Since she is the key in all this I belive we'll see more of her soon. The Watchers also have their own agenda and when a mysterious prince appears, well we are going on a ride on the next novels!

I only hope Magnus will soon find a chance and kill his Father. That King is pissing me off.

There are many kings on many books I read this yead who I wish them dead. And I am sure you know them. From "Winner's Curse", "Throne of Glass", "The Defiance" series and I am sure there are more.

The ending wasn't a cliffhanger (thank God) which left me with the NEED to read the rest! :)

Much better than the first. I was hesitant to go ahead with this series because the first book was just not my thing. I am so glad that I caved to the pressure of "this is such a good series" and read this one.
I understand so much more of the motivation of each of the characters. I like that the author is not afraid to kill characters although it is a little jarring and sometimes really heartbreaking. This story could go in a multitude of directions and that fascinates me. I hate when I know exactly where a story is headed. It doesn't always stop me from reading but I enjoy taking the journey with the characters instead of being 300 pages ahead of them.
Lots of deception and withholding of information. I can see that there will have to be a breaking point for some of these characters to form new alliances or destroy one another.
I am looking forward to the next book and am anxious to see what happens next.

My Thoughts:
Love doesn't even encompass the emotion and feelings that spring forth when this series, Falling Kingdoms, crosses my mind.
Just gazing at the cover of the second novel, Rebel Spring, I get this tingling sensation all over my body. It's just so hard not to get caught up in this book because there is so much going on in it. But the story isn't crowded at all; on the contrary, every move made in this story is a tactical one. It is another step in the seeming direction of the overall thrilling plot arc.
No matter how tiny each detail is, it is another scene that contributes to the entire story line. That is FANTASTIC writing! There is no filler, no excess. Everything in this story has a purpose and a reason for it.
This is superb writing that supersedes just one genre. Of course there is young adult fantasy, but then there is romance, and a lot of thriller vibe going on.
Actually the romance seems to take a backseat to all the power struggles that seem to be taking place. I think I would compare it to these reality shows, The Real Housewives franchise. The royalty in Rebel Spring could put all of those people to shame. These power struggles are deceitful, intense and downright evil.
And let's just say, I definitely would not want to be a servant in the Danora household. Servants do not seem to last long here.

Rebel Spring really dives deeper into the lore of the Watchers and Kindred as we learn more about Luica's power and the golden hawks peering down. I love how Morgan Rhodes writes these complex and difficult characters, who may be good inside but have to show a completely different personality to literally survive in this world where danger comes from the ones closest to them.
I'm in awe of how she writes characters that would usually be classified as weak but she gives them ethereal strength to them.
Princess Cleo is one of these characters. Her enemies always underestimate her, seeing her as a weak and spoiled princess. That is their undoing. I love that she gets to prove these people wrong constantly.
Jonas is another character that makes me smile whenever he "walks" into a chapter. But I am also a slight fan of Prince Magnus-so you can see that I am torn between sides. And I think that is exactly what Rhodes wants us to be. She wants to make it hard for us to pick one character and be completely on their side because each one has good and bad traits, just like in real life.
Another series I could compare to Falling Kingdoms is The Walking Dead. Okay, wait, here me out first. I know there isn't any undead in Mythica; but let's say loss prevention isn't important in either series. You cannot get attached to any one character because chances are they aren't going to last long....in either series. It seems Rhodes likes to torture us with killing off characters I didn't like losing. No one is safe. (And that is how they are similar)
So yeah, there were a few deaths that left me saying, out loud, "What the hell just happened?"
But even with that, I wouldn't change a thing about Rebel Spring because every single situation, good or bad, plays into the bigger picture. And the conclusion of this story is going to be epic. I can feel it in my bones.
This is one of those stories that I wish there was a rating for a million hearts, a million stars, just a million of anything. But it has already captured my own beating heart and holds it in its magic forever; 5 hearts will just have to suffice.
But a slight plea, if you may: Please don't destroy my heart too terribly as the story progresses further.

This second book was a mix of unexpected deaths, multiple viewpoints and exciting developments.

The death toll in this book was similar to the first, in that there are quite a few deaths, especially for a YA story. Some of the deaths were totally unexpected, which made for interesting reading. I love when authors aren’t afraid to kill beloved characters, and this series certainly fits that bill.

This book focused on four main characters, and they all had chapters from their viewpoints. I think this multiple narrative had a few too many narrators. I found the constant narrator changes to be disruptive. Just as I was getting in the story, I’d be pulled out and thrown to the next narrative.

Speaking of story, the first part of the book was a bit slow. There was a lot of maneuvering into position in the first half, which is necessary, but not very intriguing. The second half of the story started to pick up in action and excitement, and I was disappointed the story ended just as it was getting good.

Overall, this book started to suffer from “second book syndrome”, but managed to recover before the end. Now I’m quite excited to see what happens next and will be looking forward to reading the next book.

Fantasy has quickly become one of my favorite genres to read, especially in YA, because there is such a spectrum to chose from. Morgan Rhodes was an author I was familiar only because of her pen name; Michelle Rowen. I loved Michelle's writing, but when I saw that she was writing a new series under a new name, I was very intrigued. And I am so glad I started it because Falling Kingdoms, which came out last year, was one of my favorite fantasies of that year. You can read my review here.

Rebel spring opens right where Falling Kingdoms leaves off. And I will admit that I had forgotten most of what happened in the first book because I read it so long ago, but I will tell you this, Morgan Rhodes does a great job of slowly revealing what happened before, without info-dumping. This is something i always look for in sequels because I think it is very important, especially to someone who does remember most of what happened. You don't want to bore them right off the bat.

This second installment was fantastic for many reasons, because it is told from many different perspectives (like Falling Kingdoms) but I thought that this time around there was so much more substance to each character. Especially Magnus, who I seriously hated in the first book, but grew to like in this one. He is such a complicated character and you that in this book. You discover what he has to deal with internally and with the expectations of his heartless father.

Celia was another character who I loved in this novel, not because her and Magnus were so connected in this book, but because she grew so much, and we her having to deal with feelings she never thought she would have to feel. It was great to see the evolution of her relationship with Magnus, because it goes from one spectrum to the other over the coarse of the book, and i loved that.

Rebel Spring doesn't leave anything to be desired as far as death and mystery are concerned. We get plenty of both in this sequel. And seeing how shocked I was with certain deaths in Falling Kingdoms, she does the same with Rebel Spring. I don't think any character is safe from her, and I am scared of what will happened in the next book! But I still cannot wait. This series is filled with romance, mystery and so much betrayal that you will no be able to put it down. I guarantee it.

This series gets better with each book. The beginning of this one was a little slow, but it started to really pick up towards the end. It seems like the next book is going to have a bunch of action right away, judging by how this one ended.

I really like this series, there isn’t a lot of other YA series out there like it, with the huge cast of characters and so much going on all at once.

I listened to the audio version of this and the narrator is perfect. I love his voice for Magnus.

** spoiler alert ** SPOILER!!

What can I say? It was soooooooooooooooooooo good! I loved it as much as I did the first book!
The King Gaius , still evil.
Cleo and Lucia , both still awesome female characters.
Lyssandra, new character, I liked her a lot!
Magnus, OMG! Totally in love with him! His character grew so much! Int his book, I guess he realized he does not want to be like his father. And he never was, but poor Magnus, of course he does as the king says. As for his forced marriage with Cleo , OMG, I think there is something called love growing between these two, forget about her hate for him for what he did to Theon. This 2 will fall in love with each other!
Jonas, I hope his character has a very important place in the series, because honestly, he hasn't done anything, he is all macho man and all brave about his rebels and all that stuff, but he fails on everything he does, he gets everyone killed and somehow he ends up staying alive for what? I do not know, because he is worthless. And poor Phaedra ended up dying because of him!
And Nic and Prince Ashur! Dude! I did not expect that at all!
The book was ,as the Doctor 9 would say, FANTASTIC!
I can't wait for book 3!

Rhodes proves herself yet again by delving deeper into her wonderful crafted world, the area of Mytica. War between the kingdoms continues to rage on, with the evil and conceited King Gaius reigning over all and spilling blood throughout the land. Boundaries are pushed and relationships are tested as battle rages around every corner. Rebel forces continue to gain strength, dreaming of annihilating the king and restoring peace to the kingdoms. Rebel Spring was a wild ride that I dug into as soon as I finished Falling Kingdoms, and now I find myself feeling empty inside without the next installment in my hands.

Before my glowing review truly begins, I'd like to get the one thing that bugged me about this book off my chest and out in the open: the amount of romance swirling around in the forefront of the story. Now, I'm one that likes a good deal of romance in my stories, as long as it doesn't take over and push the other elements into the background. It wasn't that this happens in Rebel Spring, it's that there are wayyy to many couples. Everyone seems to be falling for each other, no one can just be alone. About a billion people had a thing for Cleo, for unknown reasons. I felt like there was a love triangle starting with her, Magnus and Jonas. Personally I'm team Jonas all the way!

Aside from that one flaw, the story unfolded perfectly, taking place right after the end of the first installment. Lucia sleeps on, not waking from her slumber.. for unexplainable reasons that are later revealed. Once awakened, her personality really begins to transform into something quite ugly. Her lust for power is quite strong and her magic seemed to be controlling her every action. Quick to anger with a thirst for blood, she was quite like her father.. only much more dangerous.

Cleo continued to be a bit reckless and foolish, getting into more dangerous situations. If I were her I would have stayed with the rebels, with the boy I was clearly falling for.. but for some reasons she is drawn to the palace and the people who treat her so cruelly. She seems to have a thing for men who treat her pretty shitty at first... not sure how I feel about that?

Magnus continued to struggle with his feelings, though he tries putting Lucia in the past by avoiding her. He struggles with trying to be like his father, when he really isn't nearly as blood'thirsty and crazy as his elder. Though he wants to be badass and heartless, it just doesn't work for his character.

Throughout the story we get to see a lot more of the watchers, mythical beings trapped in their own world. Alexius and Melenia are two we really get to know, both of which seem quite evil in the beginning. Melenia wants nothing more than to rule over the entire world, going to extreme measure to make sure this will be her eventual fate. She shows no compassion or feelings, and has a coldness that surrounds her like a thick blanket of fog. Alexius on the other hand has good in his heart, even finding himself falling for a mortal girl that he has no business even communicating with.

Rhodes manages to keep tension high, always leaving me antsy and waiting for the next big battle scene. A lot of bled is shed in these books, so be fair-warned before you pick up the series. With the concept of blood magic, powerful elementia that is strength-ed when blood is spilled, it's no wonder so much mass murder happens at the hands of the king. Rebel Spring was a wonderful conclusion with only one minor flaw, and I eagerly await the end of the year so I can greedily gobble up the third book!

Yes, I'm cruising through this series. Finished the first book yesterday and managed to read 300 pages of this before going to bed, now I just finished the second book. It's almost as enjoyable as the first. Four significant deaths happen, two more heart wrenching that the others. Guy on guy kissing, though I won't say which characters because of spoilers but I didn't see it coming. Still not quite sure who to ship because people keep dying. Maybe after the next book I'll have a more strong opinion. Highly recommend this series for a binge-read because it's holding up quite well but I might regret that once I read the third book and have to wait months for the fourth. New characters are introduced which needs to happen with everyone dying but still trying to figure out whether they are good or bad. Now on to book three.

I had borrowed an audiobook of this from the public library. First, I would like to give the narrator a credit for such a wonderful deliverance that made listening quite an experience. Second, Morgan Rhodes (a.k.a Michelle Rowen) had conceptualized this series with great thoughts and skillfully executed the story. More complications were added in this installment. My emotions were stirred to the length of whether to despise or love Prince Magnus. The romance part of the story was a bit frustrating for it was designed in full circle with unrequited love. In spite of it, this book was very entertaining. Last but not the least, I wish that the author would reconsider to stop killing good characters and depart from Shakespeare tragedies. I would want to see a happy ending for Jonas, Cleo, and Nic. It’s my wish upon a star. ☺

Review posted on: undercoversco [dot] blogspot [dot] com

I was in a bit of heart break over this book. Since the first book, I've loved more characters more than others and other characters less than others. Now it's starting to hurt more that I'm starting to grow more closer to other characters than the first two that I've connected with since the beginning.

This book was in a sense, a mix of fantasy, romance, and magic. Sure, some parts did not work for me at all. Some characters just annoyed me to no end--not because there was anything wrong with them, just that they were conflicting with my feelings. Trust me, I had a lot of feelings about this book (in the Eh Feelings Section below).

Honestly, I had no problems with the plot or the writing pace. The storyline was just as good as the first book. It was just the characters.

I feel like connecting with the characters is hard. Not impossible, just hard and it will definitely be a long process because I don't like all of them.

I liked this book, because it had variety. Variety between what was happening between kingdoms and variety between points of views. Reading the story in various point of views really brings color to the plot.

As for recommendations, I say if you liked the first book then GO FOR IT you won't be disappointed.

Note – This review will contain spoilers of Falling Kingdoms, the first book in the series.

I did not realize until after I’d read Falling Kingdoms and Rebel Spring that Morgan Rhodes is the pen name of Michelle Rowen. Rowen wrote Coutdown, a book I read a few months ago and did not enjoy. I’m glad I didn’t know this until after reading the books, because I would likely have approached this series with a much more critical eye and lowered expectations. Instead, I went into the story with the open mind one has when reading a “new to you” author.

At the end of Falling Kingdoms, the first book in this series, King Gaius increased the span of his empire, and Cleo, with her family dead, is sort of politely imprisoned by Gaius. She keeps her princess title as Gaius attempts to make the conquered people of Auranos believe that he is a good and just ruler. For reasons only Gaius would understand, he appoints the detestable Aron as kingsliege. He has one more plan for Cleo, and once that is accomplished, he believes his rule will be secured.

But a faction of rebels, led by Jonas who’s still seeking to avenge his brother’s murder, isn’t buying what Gaius is selling. Their odds of dethroning the king with a small band of rebels are low, but Jonas sees an opportunity to strike when the royals will be distracted by a most merry event.

The interesting thing about Rebel Spring (and Falling Kingdoms, too), is that the plot is very well-done: good pacing, exciting, and some surprising twists. World-building is also done well, and we get a good sense of the lives of the people in their former factions, and what this unity under Gaius means to them. But while so much of this story works well, the characters are extremely weak, in comparison. Most of the males are unappealing, ranging from idiotic, surly, sullen, enraged, drunk, or flat-out evil. The couple of them that we’re supposed to like have personality flaws that are hard to ignore and make them pretty unlikable.

Prince Magnus, the heir to King Gaius, is still in love with his sister, Lucia. (“She was adopted!” we’re reminded. ”It’s still disgusting!” I reply), but it’s mercifully toned down a bit. Magnus seems to finally get the hint that his sister doesn’t love him like THAT, but he still whines and complains and swings his sword around like an angry toddler.

Aron and Gaius are so terrible, we know it can only be a matter of time until they get their just deserts. In the meantime, Aron enjoys being drunk and obnoxious and even commits an attempted rape. (Incidentally, another rape between two main characters is strongly alluded to earlier in the story, but we later learn the male didn’t go through with it.) Gaius gets his fun by keeping his subjects terrified and doling out executions on a whim for the slightest offense.

The possible saving grace for the men is the visiting Prince Ashur, who has the potential to be very, very interesting, especially if he eventually gets entangled with a certain character. I’m hoping he has a more significant part in the next book.

The female characters fare better, but the personalities of Cleo and Lucia could be interchangeable. Both are very serious, strong-willed, and brave, yet occasionally naive. There is not a lot to tell them apart aside from Lucia’s wicked magic skills. In their first meeting, the two behaved like petty, catty, spoiled brats, but later on, we’re given reason to believe that they may be able to set their differences aside.

Because the characters are not well-developed, it’s not a surprise that the romances that spring up seem to come with very little build-up and even with some declarations of mutual hatred immediately beforehand. They also are not always as smart as they could be. One character had a very specific and critical task to accomplish, but senselessly decided to deliver a speech rather than merely take action. Unsurprisingly, the results were disastrous.

I think the best way to approach this series is the way you would with a film like Troy (Brad Pitt): Enjoy the action and the story, and overlook the bad acting.

Note – I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had borrowed an audiobook of this from the public library. First, I would like to give the narrator a credit for such a wonderful deliverance that made listening quite an experience. Second, Morgan Rhodes (a.k.a Michelle Rowen) had conceptualized this series with great thoughts and skillfully executed the story. More complications were added in this installment. My emotions were stirred to the length of whether to despise or love Prince Magnus. The romance part of the story was a bit frustrating for it was designed in full circle with unrequited love. In spite of it, this book was very entertaining. Last but not the least, I wish that the author would reconsider to stop killing good characters and depart from Shakespeare tragedies. I would want to see a happy ending for Jonas, Cleo, and Nic. It’s my wish upon a star. ☺

Review posted on: undercoversco [dot] blogspot [dot] com

I was in a bit of heart break over this book. Since the first book, I've loved more characters more than others and other characters less than others. Now it's starting to hurt more that I'm starting to grow more closer to other characters than the first two that I've connected with since the beginning.

This book was in a sense, a mix of fantasy, romance, and magic. Sure, some parts did not work for me at all. Some characters just annoyed me to no end--not because there was anything wrong with them, just that they were conflicting with my feelings. Trust me, I had a lot of feelings about this book (in the Eh Feelings Section below).

Honestly, I had no problems with the plot or the writing pace. The storyline was just as good as the first book. It was just the characters.

I feel like connecting with the characters is hard. Not impossible, just hard and it will definitely be a long process because I don't like all of them.

I liked this book, because it had variety. Variety between what was happening between kingdoms and variety between points of views. Reading the story in various point of views really brings color to the plot.

As for recommendations, I say if you liked the first book then GO FOR IT you won't be disappointed.

Note – This review will contain spoilers of Falling Kingdoms, the first book in the series.

I did not realize until after I’d read Falling Kingdoms and Rebel Spring that Morgan Rhodes is the pen name of Michelle Rowen. Rowen wrote Coutdown, a book I read a few months ago and did not enjoy. I’m glad I didn’t know this until after reading the books, because I would likely have approached this series with a much more critical eye and lowered expectations. Instead, I went into the story with the open mind one has when reading a “new to you” author.

At the end of Falling Kingdoms, the first book in this series, King Gaius increased the span of his empire, and Cleo, with her family dead, is sort of politely imprisoned by Gaius. She keeps her princess title as Gaius attempts to make the conquered people of Auranos believe that he is a good and just ruler. For reasons only Gaius would understand, he appoints the detestable Aron as kingsliege. He has one more plan for Cleo, and once that is accomplished, he believes his rule will be secured.

But a faction of rebels, led by Jonas who’s still seeking to avenge his brother’s murder, isn’t buying what Gaius is selling. Their odds of dethroning the king with a small band of rebels are low, but Jonas sees an opportunity to strike when the royals will be distracted by a most merry event.

The interesting thing about Rebel Spring (and Falling Kingdoms, too), is that the plot is very well-done: good pacing, exciting, and some surprising twists. World-building is also done well, and we get a good sense of the lives of the people in their former factions, and what this unity under Gaius means to them. But while so much of this story works well, the characters are extremely weak, in comparison. Most of the males are unappealing, ranging from idiotic, surly, sullen, enraged, drunk, or flat-out evil. The couple of them that we’re supposed to like have personality flaws that are hard to ignore and make them pretty unlikable.

Prince Magnus, the heir to King Gaius, is still in love with his sister, Lucia. (“She was adopted!” we’re reminded. ”It’s still disgusting!” I reply), but it’s mercifully toned down a bit. Magnus seems to finally get the hint that his sister doesn’t love him like THAT, but he still whines and complains and swings his sword around like an angry toddler.

Aron and Gaius are so terrible, we know it can only be a matter of time until they get their just deserts. In the meantime, Aron enjoys being drunk and obnoxious and even commits an attempted rape. (Incidentally, another rape between two main characters is strongly alluded to earlier in the story, but we later learn the male didn’t go through with it.) Gaius gets his fun by keeping his subjects terrified and doling out executions on a whim for the slightest offense.

The possible saving grace for the men is the visiting Prince Ashur, who has the potential to be very, very interesting, especially if he eventually gets entangled with a certain character. I’m hoping he has a more significant part in the next book.

The female characters fare better, but the personalities of Cleo and Lucia could be interchangeable. Both are very serious, strong-willed, and brave, yet occasionally naive. There is not a lot to tell them apart aside from Lucia’s wicked magic skills. In their first meeting, the two behaved like petty, catty, spoiled brats, but later on, we’re given reason to believe that they may be able to set their differences aside.

Because the characters are not well-developed, it’s not a surprise that the romances that spring up seem to come with very little build-up and even with some declarations of mutual hatred immediately beforehand. They also are not always as smart as they could be. One character had a very specific and critical task to accomplish, but senselessly decided to deliver a speech rather than merely take action. Unsurprisingly, the results were disastrous.

I think the best way to approach this series is the way you would with a film like Troy (Brad Pitt): Enjoy the action and the story, and overlook the bad acting.

Note – I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I read Rebel Spring and Gathering Darkness immediately back to back, so I can't really differentiate them in my mind completely. After all the craziness that happened at the end of Falling Kingdoms, we see that life is so completely different for some and almost exactly the same for others. The repercussions are just starting to make themselves noticeable and the dust is still settling. There's even more crazy plots, tangled stories, and changing complicated relationships.

I am loving this series, especially since it includes such strong heroines. The jury is still out on some of the characters including Magnus and Lucia, but I still adore Cleo and Jonas. Given the nature of the story, I am trying not to get too invested in any secondary characters because they are dropping like flies. What I love the most about this series is how it sucks me in. I feel like I am right in the world with these characters.

I read the Fallen Kingdoms books to make sure they were suitable for my preteen boys (age 11), and quickly found myself hooked. While I enjoyed the first book immensely, Rebel Spring is even better and I could not put it down. I've read it twice now and can't wait until the third book comes out. My boys really loved the books as well. There are so many unexpected twists and it also contains a fair amount of mystery. Harry Potter book fans would enjoy this series, as it centers on magic and has well developed characters and relationships.

This story started with Falling Kingdoms, planting a little seed inside of me, drawing me in with all sorts of awesomeness. Rebel Spring caused the seed to grow until I feel this story in the very fibers of my being. I am completely amazed by Morgan Rhodes and her wonderful storytelling. I loved the first book, but this one planted itself even deeper. It so neat to see characters we somewhat dislike in the first story grow into something we love and want to believe in. I absolutely love Magnus in this series. He is a wonderfully complex character and it's taken two books to see a side of him I never thought we would see. I find myself rooting for a person I once thought was possibly bad and terrible. I love the other characters too but I most enjoy Magnus... for his dark past and the way his character grows and changes gives me hope that there is a way to redeem him and that he can finally find some happiness amongst all the darkness he has had to endure.

This story is witty and clever. It's fast paced and takes a turn I didn't exactly expect, but one I definitely enjoyed!

I actually enjoyed the first book more, 3 stars.
Struggled through this one, even though it was on audio, found myself not wanting to deal with the contradicting character decisions and weak environmental development.
Done with this story, can't force it any more, but I'm willing to try the author out on something else.

Warning: some spoilers
Overall, a good story in a good setting, but I can't seem to like Cleo and I grew colder towards Jonas.
Cleo: Reading above I see that many love Cleo, but I'm reading deeper and I think of her as a shalow, self-centered brat. She's more than a little manipulative and is only fascinating to all because of her "beauty". She reminds me of a toddler throwing a fit because of her lost throne that she only has a claim to because of her lucky chance birth into the royal family. Her romances with the two male leads seemed sudden and poorly developed. Her grief over her family seems shallow and had her kingdom not lavished in wealth while another kingdom suffered she would not be grieving.
Jonas: In the first book I was a fan, but now the only captivating part about him is his role as a hot rebel. It seems that now the only thing he is good at is getting people killed.
Magnus: I liked him from the beginning and he grew more in this book. Everbody needs to let go of the loving his sister thing; it's not her fault she's beautiful. Plus that whole aspect of the book is not as gross as it could be. I also hope he does not fall for as I think he deserves better.
Lucia: I have a love of magic and I thought Lucia was a promising character. However, in this book I feel like the author is favoring Cleo and I can only hope that the next book will favor Lucia to balance it out. (I hope that Cleo and Magnus are not the goddess and king in Melenia's prophecy. If so I will be even more disappointed than I already am.)As for Lucia's and Cleo's petty squabble I feel like Lucia would not have acted like that had the author stayed true to Lucia's previous sweeter character. Save the girl drama for books like Pretty Little Liars. I think it would be nice to balance out Cleo's triumphs with Lucia obtaining her ring (fingers crossed) and I think it would be amusing for Cleo to want Alexius even though he is very much in love with Lucia.

Wow what a great second installment in this series! This book lived up to the hype that I had from the first one and took us on a even wilder jounery. It answered a lot of question but left a lot more. The only read I didn't give a 5 star rating is because some parts were quite predictable but over all it was a amazing and wonderful read.

The plot is thickening and I believe it's getting a lot better! Usually, I don't like judging a series by the first book because that's where everything is just starting to unfold. Glad I continued reading! My feelings for some characters are still iffy, but to me, the plot is making it worth the read. At this point I have no idea how things will end, so Morgan Rhodes is keeping me on my toes. Good job!

If you have already read the first book and hesitating to read this, you should go for it. This is defenitely much better than the first one. I enjoyed every bit of it.
The twists and turns of this book are incredibly breathtaking. There were moments where my jaw hanged down astonished by many of the surprises Morgan Rhodes mined for us while reading it.
The thing i most liked is the incredible development of the characters. Especially for Magnus and Cleo.
Although this is, indeed, a five stars read for me, there are few bad things in the story. There were some unexplained, motiveless and exaggerated actions of some characters. Especially Lucia whom i really hate. On more thing is the love triangle which i am not a big fan of. Its just not contributing to the plot at all. I heard that the next book is even better. I cannot wait to read it.

This is the second book in the Falling Kingdom series and I just absolutely can not get enough....I LOVE these books!!! You easily get into the story and characters. Very hard to put down! I will continue with this series and anything else she writes.

I'm done. The characters are actually flat out stupid the world building is lacking and honestly he book is mainly the characters minus king Gaius king along haplessly trying usurp the king. Nothing works its insane. I can't.
Others saw something I didn't see but I'm not compelled to keep reading.

“Auranos has been conquered and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. But alluring, dangerous magic still beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world. And when Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will forever change the face of this land.” —Goodreads

Published December 3, 2013, by Razorbill, Rebel Spring is the second in the bestselling series by Morgan Rhodes that combines political intrigue with magic and fantasy.

What a great sequel. Rhodes is an excellent writer creating a compelling story for the reader. It picks up where the last novel left off with the Rebel faction being formed by Jonas, Cleo being used as a pawn for the King of Blood who has taken over her kingdom and pretty much killed everyone she has ever loved. Not only that but (SPOILER ALERT!) he then engages her to his son Magnus, the ultimate brood. Of course, while much of this is happening, Lucia is still unconscious, and finally, the reader gets to meet Alexius. So slowly Rhodes is finding a way to make sure that in some way these characters come together for the ultimate end, whatever that may be. And through this, the reader really gets to see the characters develop.

Now with a story that employs many tropes — royal politics, fight for power/throne, magic rising from the ashes, and rebellion — it’s not a unique story. These are elements prevalent in the fantasy genre, not all but many, just look at Dragonlance or A Song of Ice and Fire. These are familiar tropes used either together or paired up differently in many ways to tell a story, especially in the realm of fantasy. That being said, it’s the way the author employs those elements that makes the story either unusual or redundant dribble. Rhodes is part of the former. She’s such an excellent writer and the added feature of the Watchers, these immortals who are essentially dying without the magic in the world “beneath” them. It’s a brilliant way to breathe life into the story and add another level of storytelling that is only aware to the readers and not the characters. The tension it creates is fantastic because of that clash or worlds, it’s what going to be climactic, (we hope) and that is what drives the reader to keep reading.

Little by little Rhodes explores the worlds and expands upon them and the characters. She could spend a bit more detail and time on the world around her, but instead, she shifts the focus to that of the characters. Now, there is some predictability regarding the dynamics of the characters, the reader is already going to be able to see where some of these character dynamics are going to go. That doesn’t take the joy out of reading it because the way the characters are designed, how they fall together, is structured in such a way to keep the reader interested in the characters. They all have such strong personalities, and they balance each other out enough to allow them to grow and weave impressive dynamics.

The story is fast-paced, it focuses on what is important without lagging, and the perspective shifts that move from one character to another give the story a balanced finish. At the same time, those angles give deeper insights into these still growing characters allowing the reader to connect to the characters and eagerly watch their journey unfold. (★★★★☆ | A-)

Another knockout by Morgan Rhodes! Like the first book, REBEL SPRING was packed with action, twists, heartache, and shocking loss. I massively enjoyed it right from the first page right until the end. It was great to learn more about the world from new characters like Prince Ashur (who I kinda love) and Lysandra (a spitfire for sure) to delve more into the realm of the mysterious Watchers. The main characters continue to shine, with Cleo being even more loveable, Jonas getting in waaaaaay over his head, Magnus being a tortured soul, and Lucia swept up by powers she can't control. It was also great to see POVs from other characters I didn't expect like Gaius and the queen, and I hope for more of that in the future. There is no doubt that the stakes are being raised to dangerous levels and that death can come for anyone at any time, which keeps me turning the pages to see who will be alive at the end of them. Though at times I struggle with some of the romances (pick somebody and stick to it! Gah!), I love how layered it makes each character seem. I also really enjoyed the final chapter and think it will lead to yet another fantastic book!

The plot is thickening and I believe it's getting a lot better! Usually, I don't like judging a series by the first book because that's where everything is just starting to unfold. Glad I continued reading! My feelings for some characters are still iffy, but to me, the plot is making it worth the read. At this point I have no idea how things will end, so Morgan Rhodes is keeping me on my toes. Good job!