Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Disturbing violence overshadows high-octane fantasy finale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In DOWNFALL, Conrad is desperate to stop his Uncle Urwin from killing everyone in the Lantian Empire with his weapon of mass destruction. When Conrad tries and fails to beat his uncle at a duel to take the crown, his punishment is a one-way trip to the Below with an equally doomed army of his uncle's many enemies. They arrive in a bombed-out husk of the outer underground cities teeming with rogue man-eating beasts, but that's hardly the worst of their problems. Conrad has thirty days to gather the Lantian council, or his uncle will exterminate everyone in the Below.
Is It Any Good?
This finale may satisfy at the end, but it's a long, violent, bloody, cruel, and monster-infested road to get there and not all readers will want to see the story through. Readers who crave a character-focused plot, with an emphasis on how they grow into better people will be especially distracted by the relentless violence. Conrad's crew is a delight, especially people like Pound and Roderick who are forces of nature and young women like Bryce and Yez who are experts in their fields. They are all fantastic to root for, and the pages fly by when we're graced with their presence.
But this story, like Conrad, seems to have something to prove, some kind of macho toughness badge it's trying to earn. How cruel can we make the power-hungry king, how downright sociopathic can we make an old nemesis? Sebastian is so terrible, he force-feeds Conrad his beloved pet (a snake that spits venom, but still beloved). And then, how long and drawn-out can we make fights in tunnels with man-eating monsters and the prison brawls and Conrad's enemies' deaths? Readers know the duel with the king is coming because the scene graces the cover of the book. And while it's supposed to be the crowning moment of the story, it leaves a sour taste like all the rest of the hyper-violent moments. It's a good thing Conrad's fantastic friends return by Downfall's close, or this was all just a lot of beating people with sticks for nothing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the disturbing violence in Downfall. When does it feel like too much? Would the story have the same impact with half the violence?
Samantha is a Hunter in a wheelchair and formidable force in the story. The Skandar series includes a super-fast unicorn rider who uses a wheelchair. Can you name other books that feature strong characters in wheelchairs or with other physical disabilities? Why do authors include this kind of representation in novels?
Conrad's focus on teamwork and friendships grounds him in otherwise hopeless moments. How will it make him a better leader as well?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Competition , Dystopia , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Monsters ) , Friendship , Pirates , Royalty ( Kings )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Peachtree Publishers
- Publication date : March 17, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 528
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : April 6, 2026
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