Fantasy Annotation: Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco

 

“Darkness was never as appealing as the light to most, but that didn’t mean it was any less integral to life. Too much sunshine withered the soul. Balance was the key.”

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Throne of the Fallen

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Number of Pages: 564

Geographical Setting: London-like city, various magical realms

Time Period: Regency-like fantasy time

Series: Princes of Sin #1

Plot Summary: 

In Waverly Green, the gossip of the ton can make or break you. Miss Camilla Antonius endeavors to avoid the scrutiny of the public eye, but as a woman artist and business owner, it's a challenge to remain off the gossip column pages. Her father recently passed and her mother long run off, Camilla refuses the idea of marriage, but in Waverly Green this only makes her more of an intrigue.

Adjacent to Waverly Green lies realms of fae, demons, vampires and seven Princes of Sin. Envy is swept into a wicked fae game leaving his court at stake unless he can beat the Unseelie King. The clues draw him to Camilla, but she soon proves to be more than just a clue in the game and has her own stakes to fight for. Camilla and Envy embark on their twisted dance, striving to achieve their own goals while avoiding the temptation of each other.

Subject Headings:

• Fantasy Fiction
• Romance Fiction
• Women Artists
• Princes

Appeal:

Storyline: "Readers enjoy these books because they tell a great yarn, a rich story full of complications, excitement, danger, loss, and triumph" (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 126). Throne of the Fallen brings readers along on a layered, complex adventure spanning across various realms and riddled with clues and dangerous obstacles. The objective of each character is slowly unraveled throughout the story to keep readers intrigued and wanting to find out the next piece. 

Characterization: "Characters play a crucial role in the Fantasy genre as they operate as embodiments of good and evil...in Fantasy characters are the embodiment of ideas" (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, pp. 127-128).  As a demon and Prince of Sin, Envy is an embodiment of evil, while Camilla is first seen as a representation of pureness and good. As the story unfolds and the characterizations become more complex, intrigue comes in the two tempting each other with elements of both good and evil.

Setting: "Readers turn to this genre to enter a new realm, and they want that world to be detailed and fully described" (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 125). Throne of the Fallen traipses across various realms as Envy and Camilla follow clues to reach their end goals, and readers are whisked away to each realm alongside the two main characters. Each realm is described in rich detail, from the human world of the town, estates and gardens to the glittering black sand beaches of Malice Isle that the vampires call home. 

3 terms that best describe this book: 

• Romantic
• Fast-paced
• Adventurous

3 Relevant Fiction Works:

• The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
• A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance. (From Novelist)
• Relevancy: Fast-paced, romance, engaging

• The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
• A young woman's secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court. (From Novelist)
• Relevancy: Court-intrigue, fantasy, romance, world-building

• Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• In a world nearly destroyed by gods, Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall. Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information. When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning—and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom. (From Novelist)
• Relevancy: Fantasy, romance, steamy, court-intrigue

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works:

• The Annotated Brothers Grimm by Maria Tatar
• Maria Tatar's The Annotated Brothers Grimm celebrates the powerful cultural legacy of the stories collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm —tales that have enchanted children and adults alike for generations. The volume includes over forty of the Grimms' most beloved stories. (From Goodreads)
• Relevancy: Fantasy, dark, engaging

• Jane Austen's England by Roy and Lesley Adkins
• Drawing on contemporary sources including diaries, letters, newspapers and trial proceedings as well as Jane Austen's own correspondence and writings, Roy and Lesley Adkins have created a wide-ranging and richly detailed social history of English life in the early 19th century. (From Goodreads)
• Relevancy: Romance, time period, social dynamics

• The League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin
• A feast for the senses, this sumptuously illustrated book will introduce you to some of the most infamous women throughout world history, united by their shared taste for poison. Welcome to the League of Lady Poisoners. (From Goodreads)
• Relevancy: Engaging, strong women, historical

References

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions