Fallen City

Bestseller Young (Sky in the Deep) delivers a sweeping Greco-Roman–inspired romantasy that pairs divine machinations with the ruin of empire. Rebellion is brewing in the walled city of Isara. Novice philosopher Luca Matius, heir to a notorious political dynasty, and Maris Casperia, daughter of a magistrate and apprentice to the city’s last priestess, are drawn together in a fragile romance that soon plunges them into the political upheaval. Their alliance begins as an attempt to reclaim stolen magic and imagine a different future for Isara, but an execution forces Luca into the role of rebel figurehead, while Maris remains trapped inside the city’s Citadel and loyal to the ruling class, setting them on opposing sides of a holy war. In alternating perspectives, Young traces both the tender beginnings of their forbidden love and its brutal unraveling, layering intimacy against the backdrop of bloody revolution. The prose is lush and cinematic, with the city rendered as almost a living character haunted by gods and secrets. While the nonlinear structure occasionally dulls the impact of the romance, the emotional stakes and mythic atmosphere keep the pages turning. This haunting series starter showcases Young’s talent for blending intimacy and grandeur. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary. (Nov.)