Red City - Marie Lu

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. Review Marie Lu always delivers -- Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth HouseAs devastating as it is spellbinding. I loved it -- Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas SixPowerfully written, Marie Lu’s spellbinding novel of rival magicians and impossible choices will break your heart -- Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of Book of NightEvery book she writes is a knockout. Marie Lu is magic -- Tahereh Mafi, author of Shatter MeLegend doesn't merely survive the hype, it deserves it -- The New York TimesMarie Lu’s prose paints a vivid picture of the struggles and hopes of the young immigrants, and the brutal training they endure . . . strong, multifaceted characters and moments of lurid intensity -- SFX Magazine 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.