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Magical mob rivalry, star-crossed ambition and the pursuit of perfection at any cost – set in a glittering, alternate, present-day Los Angeles. Red City is the dark and deadly adult debut from the bestselling author of the iconic Legend series - and perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab.
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.
Readers are loving this book:
'A truly outstanding and emotionally powerful story'
'Sharp, cinematic, and completely addictive'
The writing was exquisite, the plot and politics a treat, I couldn’t put it down'
'The characters are flawed in the best way. It’s tragic, it’s doomed, it’s absolutely PERFECT'
'This book isn’t just good - it’s freaking phenomenal. It’s the kind of story that makes you
cancel plans, stay up too late, and immediately recommend it to everyone you know'
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
Genre: Urban Fantasy
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.
Readers are loving this book:
'A truly outstanding and emotionally powerful story'
'Sharp, cinematic, and completely addictive'
The writing was exquisite, the plot and politics a treat, I couldn’t put it down'
'The characters are flawed in the best way. It’s tragic, it’s doomed, it’s absolutely PERFECT'
'This book isn’t just good - it’s freaking phenomenal. It’s the kind of story that makes you
cancel plans, stay up too late, and immediately recommend it to everyone you know'
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
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Praise for this book
"Powerfully written, Marie Lu's spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart." - Holly Black
"Like power itself, Red City is equal parts seduction and carnage--sexy, brutal, and laced with doom. Lu stages her tale of star-crossed love against a glittering world of ambition and greed, and the result is as devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it." - Olivie Blake
"Red City is a thrilling descent into a seedy underworld of alchemists and arcane-wielding criminal syndicates with ties to the upper echelons of power. Marie Lu has crafted not only a mesmerizing world, but memorable and convincing characters caught up in the machinations of competing crime bosses and assassins vying for control in Angel City. The only thing I wanted when I reached the end of this engrossing book-was more!" - P Djèlí Clark
"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
"Like power itself, Red City is equal parts seduction and carnage--sexy, brutal, and laced with doom. Lu stages her tale of star-crossed love against a glittering world of ambition and greed, and the result is as devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it." - Olivie Blake
"Red City is a thrilling descent into a seedy underworld of alchemists and arcane-wielding criminal syndicates with ties to the upper echelons of power. Marie Lu has crafted not only a mesmerizing world, but memorable and convincing characters caught up in the machinations of competing crime bosses and assassins vying for control in Angel City. The only thing I wanted when I reached the end of this engrossing book-was more!" - P Djèlí Clark
"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
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