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Red City

Dark academia fantasy where friends have become enemies – separated by a magical gang-war

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Red City

By: Marie Lu
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus, Sid Sagar, André Santana, Eunice Wong
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‘As devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it’ – Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

A dark and deadly contemporary fantasy of magical warfare, star-crossed ambition and the pursuit of perfection at any cost, set in a glittering alternate Los Angeles; perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab.

Sharp-as-a-blade Sam lives in poverty, and she’ll do anything to claim a better life. This includes forcing her way into the Grand Central crime syndicate to learn the magical art of alchemy.

Charismatic Ari was taken from his family as a boy to join Grand Central's greatest rivals – the Lumines. Long ago, he and Sam were childhood friends. Now, he’s one of his syndicate’s powerfully gifted stars.

Among the gleaming skyscrapers of Angel City, these rival gangs deal in sand. This drug magically transforms users into a more perfect version of themselves. And Sam and Ari find themselves facing each other from opposite sides of an escalating conflict. Will ambition be enough to survive – and who they might be when it’s done?

* * *

‘Marie Lu’s spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart’
– Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince

‘Equal parts seduction and carnage – sexy, brutal and laced with doom’
– Olivie Blake

 Dark Fantasy Fantasy Magic War
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Continue the series
Silver Dawn cover art
Silver Dawn By: Marie Lu

Critic reviews

Red City introduces a stunning new world with complex, morally grey characters who will steal your heart! I couldn't put it down! (Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author of Neon Gods)
Marie Lu always delivers (Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House)
Red City is a thrilling descent into a seedy underworld of alchemists . . . The only thing I wanted when I reached the end of this engrossing book – was more! (P. Djèlí Clark, author of A Master of Djinn)
As devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it (Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six)
Powerfully written, Marie Lu’s spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart (Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of Book of Night)
Every book she writes is a knockout. Marie Lu is magic (Tahereh Mafi, author of Shatter Me)
Marie Lu’s prose paints a vivid picture of the struggles and hopes of the young immigrants, and the brutal training they endure . . . strong, multifaceted characters and moments of lurid intensity (SFX Magazine)
Lu builds a rich alternate present that pulls tropes from both magic school and crime drama literary traditions to tell an addictive double 'Chosen one' story . . . It's truly enthralling
Wondrous magic and terrifying brutality . . . Lu’s writing feels like alchemy as her words form an utterly gripping and heartrending story
Red City is a masterclass in urban fantasy. Marie Lu has outdone herself, and I can’t wait to see how she tops this
Both heartbreaking and action-packed: an immense achievement
All stars
Most relevant
This is easily best thing I’ve read in the genre for a while. Kept me up at night and some scenes made me stop mid- what I was doing

Wow

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While the magic system was a little unexplained at parts it didn’t take away from amazing work put into the relationships. There is, obviously, the romance and I won’t get too into it but it was quite wholesome where they found what they were looking for in one another. What I was invested in was the relationship between mother and daughter and what love looks like and how it is perceived. Connie and Sam were tragic, not because of their lack of trying but because of their audacity to dream in a world that wasn’t made for them (or basically anyone).
I’ve left out Ari in this because I could write a full essay about his struggles, his story, and his relationships but alas all I will say is that it too was tragically beautiful.

Gorgeously done

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A dark tale of star-crossed lovers trapped between gang war and the desire for power.

Heartbreakingly beautiful

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