Red City: Dark academia fantasy where friends have become enemies – separated by a magical gang-war
Oct 2025 · Pan Macmillan
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About this ebook
‘As devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it’ – Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six
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; perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab.
Sharp-as-a-blade Sam lives in poverty, and she’ll do anything to claim a better life. This includes forcing her way into the Grand Central crime syndicate to learn the magical art of alchemy.
Charismatic Ari was taken from his family as a boy to join Grand Central's greatest rivals – the Lumines. Long ago, he and Sam were childhood friends. Now, he’s one of his syndicate’s powerfully gifted stars.
Among the gleaming skyscrapers of Angel City, these rival gangs deal in sand. This drug magically transforms users into a more perfect version of themselves. And Sam and Ari find themselves facing each other from opposite sides of an escalating conflict. Will ambition be enough to survive – and who they might be when it’s done?
* * *
‘Marie Lu’s spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart’
– Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince
‘Equal parts seduction and carnage – sexy, brutal and laced with doom’
– Olivie Blake
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; perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab.
Sharp-as-a-blade Sam lives in poverty, and she’ll do anything to claim a better life. This includes forcing her way into the Grand Central crime syndicate to learn the magical art of alchemy.
Charismatic Ari was taken from his family as a boy to join Grand Central's greatest rivals – the Lumines. Long ago, he and Sam were childhood friends. Now, he’s one of his syndicate’s powerfully gifted stars.
Among the gleaming skyscrapers of Angel City, these rival gangs deal in sand. This drug magically transforms users into a more perfect version of themselves. And Sam and Ari find themselves facing each other from opposite sides of an escalating conflict. Will ambition be enough to survive – and who they might be when it’s done?
* * *
‘Marie Lu’s spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart’
– Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince
‘Equal parts seduction and carnage – sexy, brutal and laced with doom’
– Olivie Blake
‘As devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it’ – Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six
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; perfect for...
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Ratings and reviews
1 review
J
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January 10, 2026
fantastic read and loved this concept of mafia alchemists. very well written and it was easy to imagine the world and the concept of alchemy. got a bit dark and sad later on but enjoyed the book a lot and looking forward to the second installment. #teamwill
About the author
Marie Lu is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Stars and Smoke, the Legend series, The Young Elites, Warcross, Skyhunter and various other novels. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry, where she worked as an artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare hours reading, gardening, enjoying time with her family and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles with her illustrator/author husband, Primo Gallanosa, and their son.
Marie Lu is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Stars and Smoke, the Legend series, The Young Elites, Warcross, Skyhunter and various other novels. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry, where she worked as an artist. Now a ful...
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