Unlike previous work of Marie Lu, Red City is much darker. It stays consistent with the morally grey characters and deep critical reflection of societal structures she often addresses in her novels. However, Red City is much more mature and goes deeper into these elements.
The worldbuilding is inspired by LA, which makes it easier to picture an image of the surroundings. With a complex and compelling magical system, Marie Lu sets the stage for a rich, fantastic, but grim story about two star-crossed lovers. It's divided into three parts, with mainly a third-person pov switching between Sam and Ari, the main protagonists.
The pacing is slow at the beginning, and I must say that it wasn't as action-packed as I anticipated. There are a few 'fight' scenes and passages where some heavy action is happening. The rivalling syndicates, Grand Central and Lumines, add tension to the story that will leave you hooked. Two worlds apart, in romance and in class. That's how you could describe the relationship between Ari and Sam. Besides their tragic relationship, they both have complex relations with their families. Their fates and backgrounds keep them apart, which made me think of Romeo and Juliet.
It's a compelling story about ambition, status, loyalty, and power. Marie Lu transforms LA into a detailed magical scenery wherein Alchemy is an exclusive power. It is less fantasy, more scientific. Needless to say that it is genius how Lu describes and explains such 'magic' in a scientific manner.
The characters' backgrounds are deep and will touch you emotionally. Based on the author's own experiences as a Chinese immigrant coming to New Orleans, Sam's story feels rough and realistic. Ari's story, on the other hand, doesn't feel as personal as Sam's, but it is still layered, and you'll resonate with his hardships. Ultimately, they are just two people trying to find validation from those they look up to. The only question is, who are these people, if not entirely 'good'?
While it wasn't as I anticipated, in fantasy and in romance, I did love the critical, deeper and darker themes.

Thank you, Netgalley and Tor Books, for the opportunity to read an eARC of Marie Lu's debut adult novel, Red City, in exchange for an honest review.

Marie Lu, thank you. Thank you for writing such a brilliant novel that has been an absolute gem to read! Thank you for creating some of the most engaging characters I've spent time with this year.

I'll start by addressing the obvious comparisons that others have made to Jade City, and say that whilst there are elements of a similar nature (i.e. two warring 'clans' and a substance that grants superhuman abilities), that's where the similarities end as I actually thought this was better than Jade City.

The character arcs are absolutely sublime, with the story told from multiple viewpoints and a few flashbacks to the past included for additional context. The magic system is great, the world-building top class, and the overall plot utterly enthralling. Sam and Ari are such strong leads and their relationship and what they endure is handled with both poise and punch. I loved them both immensely and I'm desperate to continue their journey with them.

Red City, is, for me, a must read. It tackles some powerful themes including immigration, family, love, grief and purpose, all woven into a story that is paced to perfection.

5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC!

My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for a free DRC of "Red City" by Marie Lu.
I was so excited for this Urban Fantasy with Alchemy and crime syndicates and so happy that this author decided to write Adult Fantasy.
Some minor spoilers ahead, as that is the only way to talk about the things that forced me to stop reading this book.
It was beyond upsetting to see a child character being watched lustfully by adults. Not only that a teenage girl of 15 being given drugs and blindfolded by a rich adult and this awakens sexual desire in her.
Maybe these sort of things don't bother other readers, but here I felt that these situations were portrayed as something positive. I have read other books with similar events, but it was clear from the context in those other works that corrupting children is the lowest point someone can fall as a human being.
I am sure other readers will notice a few similarities with "The Green Bone Saga" in how the crime syndicates are organized. The main difference in between "Red City" and "Jade City" being that one has child protagonists, that while I could see will grow up, I could not stand seeing them sexualized, and "The Green Bone Saga" having ADULT cast of characters.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the adult debut by Marie Lu was coming out I knew I had to read it. I loved the Legend series as a teen and also loved the Young Elites series. Lu’s style definitely shines through in this action-packed novel.

We meet Sam and Ari as teens shyly bonding in school. Never quite sharing all of themselves with each other, we learn about their childhoods and their current lives. With secrets surrounding them both, they meet for potentially a final time, before going their separate ways.

Fast forward a few years. Now we’re learning about alchemy, and the fragile politics and the magic that goes with it. With tensions fraying, what will happen now for Sam and Ari?

I really enjoyed this book - I think I reduced a strongly because the politics/waring factions seemed to take precedence and I’d preferred more of a focus on alchemy. However, I loved the characters of Sam and Ari, with an interesting supporting cast. I don’t feel like we really got to know them but I wonder if that was part of the idea.

This book saw me reading faster the more I got through it and I wanted to know what happens. I feel like the ending has more to give, so I’d definitely be interested in what happens next! Lu is an engaging writer and I think, having read the acknowledgements, you could hear her in Sam, particularly the early years. I look forward to seeing where this goes!

I’m sorry to have to submit such a low review but I want to flag this.. the book contains grooming and I don’t remember this in the trigger warnings.
The magic system was so good and I was really enjoying this book right up until the boy is invited to learn about s*x from his female tutor. She uses power to make his body keep at it all night and even though the words read like a consenting scene, I just cannot fathom enjoying it. I felt gross.
I was more alarmed initially that the FMC is attracted to her older mentor, but to begin with when it wasn’t reciprocated I assumed it was because he didn’t feel that way…. But turns out he did. She was 15 when he met her, he was 24. Age gaps can be done very well when characters meet as adults. But this ruined the book for me.