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Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
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Synopsis
The Godfather meets The Magicians in the sweeping adult debut from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab, Red City is 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. Alchemy is the hidden art of transformation, an exclusive power wielded by crime syndicates who market it to the world’s elite in the form of sand – a drug that enhances those who take it into a more perfect version of themselves: more beautiful, more charismatic, simply more. Among the gleaming skyscrapers and rolling foothills of Angel City, alchemy is controlled by two rival syndicates. For years, Grand Central and Lumines have been balanced on a razor’s edge between polite negotiation and outright violence. But when two childhood friends step into that delicate equation, the city – and the paths of their lives – will be irrevocably transformed. The daughter of a poor single mother, Sam would do anything to claw her way into the ranks of Grand Central in search of a better life. Plucked away from his family as a boy to become a Lumines apprentice, Ari is one of the syndicates’ brightest rising stars. Once, they might have loved each other. But as the two alchemists face off from opposite sides of an ever-escalating conflict, ambition becomes power, loyalty becomes lies, and no transformation may be perfect enough for them both to survive the coming war. Praise for Marie Lu ‘Marie Lu always delivers’ – Leigh Bardugo, author of Ninth House and Six of Crows ‘Marie Lu is magic’ – Tahereh Mafi, author of Shatter Me
Red City: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This adult fantasy features magical drug syndicates in a violent turf war, with on-page violence, organized crime themes, addiction elements, and star-crossed romance between rivals. The book explores moral ambiguity and the corrupting nature of power.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include substance abuse, addiction, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be drawn to the complex world-building mixing alchemy with organized crime and the emotionally fraught romance between childhood friends on opposite sides of a gang war.