I'd love to know if Sabriel was an influence on this book, I know necromancy isn't a new topic in fantasy fiction, but the idea of treacherous journeys into the deadlands struck a chord between the two (at least in my opinion).
I was fascinated by the idea of a world where raising the dead isn't seen (by everyone) as a bad thing. The theme of the benefits and dangers of change in a society governed by the same person for centuries or more was played out beautifully in these pages. I enjoyed the way the dead were seen as a part of normal life and by extension, the necromancers were just another form of a magician. I feel like a lot of fantasy focuses on death magic as purely a negative, dark magic whereas this book seemed to find the happy medium between positives and drawbacks.
I will state outright now that this book has far more romance than I was anticipating. Personally, I don't mind a book with a heavy romance element (especially with an own voices representation of a bisexual main character) but some people may find this distracts from the necromancy, who am I to judge. What carried more than the romance for me (though the two are tied) was how much of this book was devoted to the idea of grief, and how we cope with death - a particularly interesting concept in a world where, for most, death doesn't have to be permanent. The need to shut out all emotions and the gradual healing process was far more heartwrenching than any romance plot.
This book also has a mystery element to it, with intrigue and plots piled up to the roof. I thought this was written well, with Odessa finding out information as and when it made sense for her to do so. Often in books like this, the main character stumbles upon information that it doesn't actually make sense for them to have. I thought this was set up perfectly, with the reader able to work out a rough idea of what's going on just before Odessa does, creating some gorgeous moments of dramatic irony.
The magic system in this book was also interesting, with different people able to do different kinds of magic. My personal favourite was the idea of beast mastery (anything to make dogs love me more, anything). But there's certainly scope to develop that further in the sequel (yes there is a sequel, though this book would definitely work as a standalone). I think that would be my take from this book - there are some incredibly strong characters and some interesting elements of worldbuilding that will hopefully be expanded on in the sequel to flesh this setting out a little bit more.
I had the best time reading this book. I devoured it on release day - if I could have I'd have taken a sick day from work to read it all in one go.
My rating: 5/5 stars
All opinions are my own.
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Reign of the Fallen Kindle Edition
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Sarah Glenn Marsh
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Format: Kindle Edition
Sarah Glenn Marsh
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Length: 380 pages | Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled | Page Flip: Enabled |
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Language: English | Age Level: 12 and up |
Grade Level: 7 - 9 |
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Product description
Book Description
"This edgy fantasy doesn't just blur boundaries of genre, of gender, of past and present, life and death-it explodes them."-Cinda Williams Chima, New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Realms series and the Shattered Realms series.
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
Review
Praise for Reign of the Fallen This edgy fantasy doesn't just blur boundaries of genre, of gender, of past and present, life and death--it explodes them. --Cinda Williams Chima, New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Realms and The Shattered Realms A dark, thrilling fantasy set in an innovative and imaginative world with a diverse cast that readers are sure to fall in love with. Sarah Glenn Marsh's Reign of the Fallen is a page-turning start to what is sure to be a brilliant series." --Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician Reign of the Fallen is a diverse story brimming with wickedly delightful magic, sizzling romance, and shocking betrayal--I've completely fallen under its spell. In a fantasy world where neither life, death, nor love can be bound, readers will be mesmerized from page one. A decadent treat for the senses, I adored this dark jewel of a book. - Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper An immersive fantasy that explores love, grief, and the power of death, Reign of the Fallen features a bisexual necromancer heroine who will bring your heart to life! - Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns A refreshing fantasy, wholly unique.
--Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series An inventive, unpredictable, unputdownable fantasy. Reign of the Fallen has it all: a twisty, heart--wrenching plot, immersive worldbuilding, and a complex bisexual heroine! --Jessica Spotswood, author of Wild Swans and The Cahill Witch Chronicles * Marsh has created a compelling novel of death, life, and letting go. --School Library Journal, starred review Marsh delivers an outstanding fantasy with a bisexual necromancer, zombies, and magic.... Hand this captivating novel to fans of Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series. --Booklist "A thrilling masterpiece... Sarah Glenn Marsh will captivate the hearts of readers from the very first page." - Rebeca, The Life of A BookNerd Addict "A dazzling blend of magic and mystery." - Ava, Bookishness and Tea "A lush world full of twists and turns, with a refreshing heroine at its heart." - Hafsah, IceyBooks "Hits all the emotions from love and friendship to loss and betrayal. I couldn't get enough!" - Kristen, My Friends Are Fiction "Odessa is the fantastically badass necromancer we've all been waiting for. Following her adventures through lush parties, ancient kingdoms, and darkly entrancing Deadlands is a thrill not to be missed." -Cait, Paper Fury A dark and intense fantasy with brilliant writing and genuine characters. Sarah Glenn Marsh is definitely an author on the rise. - Brittany, Brittany's Book Rambles "This modern fantasy tale where love is love will have you enamored the whole way though." - Christy, Tales of the Ravenous Reader "A new intriguing and diverse fantasy that needs to be on your list of must-reads." --Alex, The Book's Buzz --This text refers to the paperback edition.
--Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series An inventive, unpredictable, unputdownable fantasy. Reign of the Fallen has it all: a twisty, heart--wrenching plot, immersive worldbuilding, and a complex bisexual heroine! --Jessica Spotswood, author of Wild Swans and The Cahill Witch Chronicles * Marsh has created a compelling novel of death, life, and letting go. --School Library Journal, starred review Marsh delivers an outstanding fantasy with a bisexual necromancer, zombies, and magic.... Hand this captivating novel to fans of Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series. --Booklist "A thrilling masterpiece... Sarah Glenn Marsh will captivate the hearts of readers from the very first page." - Rebeca, The Life of A BookNerd Addict "A dazzling blend of magic and mystery." - Ava, Bookishness and Tea "A lush world full of twists and turns, with a refreshing heroine at its heart." - Hafsah, IceyBooks "Hits all the emotions from love and friendship to loss and betrayal. I couldn't get enough!" - Kristen, My Friends Are Fiction "Odessa is the fantastically badass necromancer we've all been waiting for. Following her adventures through lush parties, ancient kingdoms, and darkly entrancing Deadlands is a thrill not to be missed." -Cait, Paper Fury A dark and intense fantasy with brilliant writing and genuine characters. Sarah Glenn Marsh is definitely an author on the rise. - Brittany, Brittany's Book Rambles "This modern fantasy tale where love is love will have you enamored the whole way though." - Christy, Tales of the Ravenous Reader "A new intriguing and diverse fantasy that needs to be on your list of must-reads." --Alex, The Book's Buzz --This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
Sarah Glenn Marsh has been an avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of The Hobbit and promised it would change her life; she's been making up words and worlds ever since. When she's not writing, Sarah enjoys painting, ghost hunting, traveling, and all things nerdy.
She lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and their menagerie- four rescued greyhounds, a bird, and many fish. She is the author of Fear the Drowning Deep and Song of the Dead. --This text refers to the paperback edition.
She lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and their menagerie- four rescued greyhounds, a bird, and many fish. She is the author of Fear the Drowning Deep and Song of the Dead. --This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B0728MJVDD
- Publisher : Razorbill; Reprint edition (23 January 2018)
- Language : English
- File size : 2605 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Print length : 380 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 0448494396
-
Best Sellers Rank:
399,344 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 456 in LGBTQ+ Romance for Young Adults
- 730 in LGBTQ+ Fiction for Young Adults
- 1,129 in Fantasy Romance for Young Adults
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
72 global ratings
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Top reviews from other countries

Judith
5.0 out of 5 stars
READ THIS BOOK
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2018Verified Purchase
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Helen marsh
3.0 out of 5 stars
A great mix of fantasy and contemporary.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2018Verified Purchase
This is a great book for those wanting to bridge the gap from contemporary to fantasy; with a heavy romance plot line and some fantastical elements woven in, this is a great place to start with fantasy. I highly recommend for those who are on the younger side of YA, however it does deal with substance addiction and misuse; as well as the presence of suicide ideation and thought processes. Therefore I would recommend that you chose an alternative if either of these are a trigger for you.
I did enjoy the LGBT representation within this book; lesbian, gay, and bi-sexual representation was there and none of them were used a cheap or easy plot points. There were several 'reveals' of sexuality however they were woven in nicely and never used to merely propel the story forward.
I am confused as to how there can be a sequel... I believed when reading this that this was standalone and was very happy with how everything wrapped up. Although I am puzzled by where a sequel is coming from, I do intend on picking it up in January 2019.
I did enjoy the LGBT representation within this book; lesbian, gay, and bi-sexual representation was there and none of them were used a cheap or easy plot points. There were several 'reveals' of sexuality however they were woven in nicely and never used to merely propel the story forward.
I am confused as to how there can be a sequel... I believed when reading this that this was standalone and was very happy with how everything wrapped up. Although I am puzzled by where a sequel is coming from, I do intend on picking it up in January 2019.

Rachael A
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reign of the Fallen was an enjoyable read with some great characters and world building
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 February 2018Verified Purchase
Overall, Reign of the Fallen was an enjoyable read with some great characters and world building, and I'm intrigued enough to read the sequel. There are just a few things about it that stopped me from really loving it.
Spoilers to follow...
For me, I felt the emotions the main character went through were, at times, a bit jolted and erratic, which made it hard to relate to her. As much as I ship her and Meredy, the pace of their relationship just wasn't realistic to me. I understood the author was trying to show their connection, but I feel it just developed far too quickly. Especially considering the MC, Odessa, seemed to have some sort of romantic or sexual feeling for multiple people, however fleetingly, over the course of the book. It made each one seem almost superficial.
That being said, I did enjoy the characters and their interactions. I didn't resonate with Odessa, but Valoria was an instant hit, and Meredy is definitely my favourite.
The world building was SO well done and probably my favourite part of the book. The Deadlands were creepy but inticing, and the backstory of why the Kingdom keeps reviving its dead and the different attitudes toward it were really interesting to read and created a good amount of tension. I particularly like the idea of the different types of magic being linked to eye colour, the festivals, and the idea that there are hidden magics out there. It was a unique take on things for sure.
Overall, an enjoyable read that definitely picked up during the second half of the book. I enjoyed it more than enough to look forward to seeing where the story goes in the sequel!
Spoilers to follow...
For me, I felt the emotions the main character went through were, at times, a bit jolted and erratic, which made it hard to relate to her. As much as I ship her and Meredy, the pace of their relationship just wasn't realistic to me. I understood the author was trying to show their connection, but I feel it just developed far too quickly. Especially considering the MC, Odessa, seemed to have some sort of romantic or sexual feeling for multiple people, however fleetingly, over the course of the book. It made each one seem almost superficial.
That being said, I did enjoy the characters and their interactions. I didn't resonate with Odessa, but Valoria was an instant hit, and Meredy is definitely my favourite.
The world building was SO well done and probably my favourite part of the book. The Deadlands were creepy but inticing, and the backstory of why the Kingdom keeps reviving its dead and the different attitudes toward it were really interesting to read and created a good amount of tension. I particularly like the idea of the different types of magic being linked to eye colour, the festivals, and the idea that there are hidden magics out there. It was a unique take on things for sure.
Overall, an enjoyable read that definitely picked up during the second half of the book. I enjoyed it more than enough to look forward to seeing where the story goes in the sequel!

Jake F. Waller
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fast paced story in an incredible YA fantasy world
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2019Verified Purchase
I bought this book on a bit of a whim "just to see" what it was like. I was not disappointed. If you're after something that will grab you and force you to read it in just a few sittings, this is a perfect choice! The world Marsh has created and the plot that the book weaves are both fascinating and gripping. The author has put a unique spin on many great fantasy elements, and the Deadlands where the spirits of the dead wait to be raised is so well thought out.
As others have touched on, LGBTQ+ representation in the book is really strong and it doesn't feel like it was put in there just to tick a box - the characters fit the identities and orientations they're given. In general, the sex in the book is YA friendly and lots of interesting angles are explored, in much the same way as many of us experiment growing up!
There's one area where I felt like there could've been more depth, and that's the antagonist...
[SPOILERS BELOW]
I get that Hadrien does some terrible things, and they're made worse by his flirty behaviour with Sparrow (which she seems to encourage despite her feelings for Evander) but his intentions (in bringing change to help the people of Karthia by ending King Wylding's eternal, no-progess rule) are really good and his actions have very positive consequences in the end. It feels like no one can see that what he's striving for is a positive thing, even if he does it in a bad way. Wonder if the sequel will address this... I'm going to read it and find out!
As others have touched on, LGBTQ+ representation in the book is really strong and it doesn't feel like it was put in there just to tick a box - the characters fit the identities and orientations they're given. In general, the sex in the book is YA friendly and lots of interesting angles are explored, in much the same way as many of us experiment growing up!
There's one area where I felt like there could've been more depth, and that's the antagonist...
[SPOILERS BELOW]
I get that Hadrien does some terrible things, and they're made worse by his flirty behaviour with Sparrow (which she seems to encourage despite her feelings for Evander) but his intentions (in bringing change to help the people of Karthia by ending King Wylding's eternal, no-progess rule) are really good and his actions have very positive consequences in the end. It feels like no one can see that what he's striving for is a positive thing, even if he does it in a bad way. Wonder if the sequel will address this... I'm going to read it and find out!

Charlotte Breedon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a bad story.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2018Verified Purchase
Interesting world of magic, but some of the characters and interactions a bit annoying. Overall a good story, but not sure I'd hurry to read the sequel- purely because I didn't find this book gripping. As an adult who reads a lot of YA fantasy books, this does feel aimed at very 'young adult'! It did however conclude nicely, yet allows for future works.