Shadows of a Crown (The Falling Kingdoms Book 1)

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· The Falling Kingdoms Book 1 · Twin Rivers Press · Narrated by Olivia King
11 reviews
Audiobook
6 hr 38 min
Unabridged
Eligible
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About this audiobook

An exciting new fantasy series from bestselling authors M. Lynn and Melissa A. Craven begins here with a story of prophecy, hidden identities, and forbidden romance.


Before the dawn of a new age can begin, the old one must die.

An empire will crumble. And a champion will lose.

It’s the same every millennia when the cycle of prophecy begins anew. One by one, the kingdoms of Teitora fall to the words of a book written long ago.

Samara, knows nothing of her past. Orphaned among the servants of the Covenant of Morimei in their isolated city of caves, her mission is theirs. To guide the empire through the next cycle of prophecies and prevent the complete destruction of the world.

After a vicious attack, Samara and her best friend Zak—who is equally unaware of his own crucial role in the prophecies—flee the aftermath, embarking on a perilous journey across the ocean to the distant kingdom of Doragune. There, the recurring prophecy awaits as the new cycle begins.

Zak and Samara's journey is fraught with danger as rebels relentlessly pursue them for the coveted book of prophecies—a key to the fate of their world—now dismissed by many as a powerless relic of the past.


When they reach their destination, a familiar princess and her beguiling guard have a proposition. An alliance, of sorts. One that is likely to get them killed and jeopardize a future less certain than the book of prophecies would have them believe.

Join Samara, Odessa, Zak, and Gideon as they navigate the ancient fates, fall in love, and battle each other to be the ones standing when the Kingdom comes crumbling down.

An exciting new fantasy series from bestselling authors M. Lynn and Melissa A. Craven begins here with a story of prophecy, hidden identities, and forbidden romance. Before the dawn of a new age can begin, the old one must die. An empire will crumble. And a champion will lose. It’s the same eve...

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Ratings and reviews

11 reviews
Helene Rynczak
January 6, 2026
I thought this was a fine fantasy book. I may continue on to the second book, but Im not rushing into it. It feels more of a filler series for me. I listened to the audiobook, and I felt like it was so easy for me to zone out versus being immersed in the world. I prefer audiobook listening, and its been a while since I've had issues following along. Definitely included interesting twists, so those kept me going. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout.
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Jessica Beatty
January 18, 2026
4.25 ☆ Olivia King is one of my favorite narrators. I could listen to her read all day! Not only does she have a wonderful voice, but she is incredible at providing each character with their own voice and emotional inflection. The story itself is really intriguing and I had a great time listening to this book! Definitely recommend if you like royal intrigue, headstrong characters, piracy, magical books, prophecies, and are looking for a quick read. (I listened at 1.8x speed)
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Maggie Nelson
January 5, 2026
The last chapter of this book is such a cliffhanger! In the first book of The Falling Kingdoms series, you will find prophecies, dragons, and hidden identities. Let me tell you, once you realize the hidden identities, you will be so stunned! With the characters, you will learn each of their motives and desires. Not to mention, there is some very good banter that will make you smile and laugh! Each character has such an important part. Honestly, my favorite is probably Samara, what a spitfire
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