What do you think?
When Mountains Crumble
- GenresDystopia
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Mickey Black
6 books10 followersMickey Black is an author and poet from Richmond, Virginia. But she didn’t set out to be a writer. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, Mickey began her adult career as a guitar teacher. But the words always spoke to her.
As early as middle school, Mickey wrote short stories and poems to scratch her creative itch. She quietly kept honing this hobby until April of 2018 when she launched her poetry blog, anxiousrambling, on Instagram. The blog was dedicated to breaking mental health stigmas and promoting body positivity. At its height, the blog had over five thousand followers.
Today, be on the lookout for her anthology appearances in “The Greatest Holiday Romance Stories Ever Written” by Kissmet Quarterly, “Tread Lightly, Speak Gently” and "Kaleidoscopic Quill” by Wild Ink Publishing. Her debut novel, “When Mountains Crumble”, will be released in October of 2026.
As early as middle school, Mickey wrote short stories and poems to scratch her creative itch. She quietly kept honing this hobby until April of 2018 when she launched her poetry blog, anxiousrambling, on Instagram. The blog was dedicated to breaking mental health stigmas and promoting body positivity. At its height, the blog had over five thousand followers.
Today, be on the lookout for her anthology appearances in “The Greatest Holiday Romance Stories Ever Written” by Kissmet Quarterly, “Tread Lightly, Speak Gently” and "Kaleidoscopic Quill” by Wild Ink Publishing. Her debut novel, “When Mountains Crumble”, will be released in October of 2026.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 24, 2026
Honestly, given the hype I had for it, I was pretty disappointed. It was actually quite hard to decide in the star rating. It gets three stars because I read a huge part on the last day and stayed up really late because I was totally hooked and I needed to finish it.
Overall, it's good, an entertaining and highly addictive read. Plus, it has short chapters and it isn't a very long book either.
I might be one of the few who feels this way, but I found that many events felt abrupt, or unfolded so quickly that there was hardly any time to delve into them and connect with the situation.
I liked the main characters but not that much really, for instance, I liked Shiloh's strenght and perseverance; though there were times when I felt they they were acting like eleven year olds.
As for the ship between them, I understood the reasoning behind it, but I was actually a fan of a different one, for me they should have stayed best friends, just my personal feeling about it.
That said, I absolutely loved the secondary characters, especially Hunter, Maggie and Lord Latchan, as well as Aster's family. And the whole thing with Thomas, poor boy.
I'd happily read a book about any of them.
On another note, I spent the whole book waiting for the rebellion part, kit was what intrigued me the most, but when it finally happened, it fell short, everything moved way too fast.
And the final scenes felt a bit odd; at that stage with what it had just happened, it didn't make sense to do things that way, which explains why the book ended the way it did. If they had made smarter choices and it still ended like that, I'd have been fine with it, perfectly happy even, but the way it actually played out...
All in all, the book isn't bad itself, but I went in with high expectations and felt a bit let down; it is true also, that it isn't very long, so there wasn't much time for big development.
The other reviews I've seen are very positive, so don't let my opinion stop you from giving it a chance if it catches your eye.
If yu are looking for a quick, addictive read with wonderful supporting characters, this one could fit.
Thanks to the author, Mickey Black, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, it's good, an entertaining and highly addictive read. Plus, it has short chapters and it isn't a very long book either.
I might be one of the few who feels this way, but I found that many events felt abrupt, or unfolded so quickly that there was hardly any time to delve into them and connect with the situation.
I liked the main characters but not that much really, for instance, I liked Shiloh's strenght and perseverance; though there were times when I felt they they were acting like eleven year olds.
As for the ship between them, I understood the reasoning behind it, but I was actually a fan of a different one, for me they should have stayed best friends, just my personal feeling about it.
That said, I absolutely loved the secondary characters, especially Hunter, Maggie and Lord Latchan, as well as Aster's family. And the whole thing with Thomas, poor boy.
I'd happily read a book about any of them.
On another note, I spent the whole book waiting for the rebellion part, kit was what intrigued me the most, but when it finally happened, it fell short, everything moved way too fast.
And the final scenes felt a bit odd; at that stage with what it had just happened, it didn't make sense to do things that way, which explains why the book ended the way it did. If they had made smarter choices and it still ended like that, I'd have been fine with it, perfectly happy even, but the way it actually played out...
All in all, the book isn't bad itself, but I went in with high expectations and felt a bit let down; it is true also, that it isn't very long, so there wasn't much time for big development.
The other reviews I've seen are very positive, so don't let my opinion stop you from giving it a chance if it catches your eye.
If yu are looking for a quick, addictive read with wonderful supporting characters, this one could fit.
Thanks to the author, Mickey Black, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2026
This book was given to me as an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. A special thank you to the author for providing it.
WHEN MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE is a cute new adult dystopian fairytale. The use of the friends to lovers trope was heartwarming, and the overarching theme of rising up against abuse was inspiring. There was some spice but it was not the focal point of the romance—that would be the yearning.
It’s an easy read and a great debut novel. I’m looking forward to the second installment in the duology.
WHEN MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE is a cute new adult dystopian fairytale. The use of the friends to lovers trope was heartwarming, and the overarching theme of rising up against abuse was inspiring. There was some spice but it was not the focal point of the romance—that would be the yearning.
It’s an easy read and a great debut novel. I’m looking forward to the second installment in the duology.
Review of advance copy
The story of When Mountains Crumble follows Shiloh, the daughter of a cruel and wealthy lord. Her childhood friend is Aster, who begins his life as a stable boy and later becomes a soldier. While Aster is away at battle, Shiloh herself learns to fight and navigates the abuse from her sadistic father as well as she can.
However, these childhood friends are not to be separated for much longer and that reunion will be life-changing.
As Black's first novel, When Mountains Crumble is well-paced. The coming-of-age romance with a dystopian flavor offers characters to love (and hate) with a steady narrative.
One thing to note is that there is a pretty spicy section. Otherwise, I think this will be widely enjoyed for the cozy fall read that it is.
I look forward to seeing what happens in the next installment, which I understand is well underway!
However, these childhood friends are not to be separated for much longer and that reunion will be life-changing.
As Black's first novel, When Mountains Crumble is well-paced. The coming-of-age romance with a dystopian flavor offers characters to love (and hate) with a steady narrative.
One thing to note is that there is a pretty spicy section. Otherwise, I think this will be widely enjoyed for the cozy fall read that it is.
I look forward to seeing what happens in the next installment, which I understand is well underway!
Review of advance copy received from Author
** Thank you to the Author and their team for allowing me serve as an ARC reader **
WOW -- MY FIRST 5 STAR ARC READ. I am so blown away by the pace, the prose, the structure of the book... It just read like butter and I stayed up until 2am to finish.
I absolutely loved the friends to lovers dynamic of Lark (Shiloh) and Aster and the set up for the rest of their story at the beginning before he leaves off to join the military was just enough for get me engaged into their characters and their dynamic. The character ARC for Lark, her resistance, her want to make change resonated a lot with me and I couldn't help but root for her. Something I appreciated about Lark's character is that while she was young throughout the book and it was 1st person POV I never felt annoyed or cringed at her thoughts or her dialogue. Aster... aster aster aster... the man that you are. Wow, that whole dynamic was just so heartwarming and the amount of own self-discovery and resilience from his own story was lovely. The secondary characters supported the main cast and added fantastic banter, found family, and helped pull my emotional investment more into the storyline, which is what IMO secondary characters are supposed to do.
I am just so impressed on how a book of 290 pages can get more emotionally investing and deep than 800 page novels I've read. Congrats on your debut novel -- I can't wait to pick up book 2!
My weighted score:
📖 Storyline / Plot 15% 5 -- Superb, it had a clear plot and storyline and I loved it.
✍️ Prose & Writing Style 15% 5 -- Superb, prose and writing style were fantastic, multiple 1st person POV which was well done
💕 Romance Chemistry 15% 5 -- Superb, the yearning, the banter, the childhood friends to lover dynamic. I loved it all.
🌍 World-Building 15% 4 -- Good, fantastic world building/setting development, a little superficial but it worked overall with the plot.
🎭 Character Development 10% 5 -- Superb, Aster and Lark's development throughout the time that passes in the story was well done and believable. The secondary characters added to the overall storyline and helped further emotionally engage with the plot.
⚡ Pacing & Structure 10% 5 -- Superb, perfect pace and structure makes sense.
😮 Emotional Impact 20% 5 -- I stayed up to 2 to finish this and was emotionally invested. I felt the yearning, the happiness, the heartbreak. Really well done.
🏆 WEIGHTED TOTAL SCORE (out of 5) 100% - 4.85 out of 5 --> rounded to 5 stars
WOW -- MY FIRST 5 STAR ARC READ. I am so blown away by the pace, the prose, the structure of the book... It just read like butter and I stayed up until 2am to finish.
I absolutely loved the friends to lovers dynamic of Lark (Shiloh) and Aster and the set up for the rest of their story at the beginning before he leaves off to join the military was just enough for get me engaged into their characters and their dynamic. The character ARC for Lark, her resistance, her want to make change resonated a lot with me and I couldn't help but root for her. Something I appreciated about Lark's character is that while she was young throughout the book and it was 1st person POV I never felt annoyed or cringed at her thoughts or her dialogue. Aster... aster aster aster... the man that you are. Wow, that whole dynamic was just so heartwarming and the amount of own self-discovery and resilience from his own story was lovely. The secondary characters supported the main cast and added fantastic banter, found family, and helped pull my emotional investment more into the storyline, which is what IMO secondary characters are supposed to do.
I am just so impressed on how a book of 290 pages can get more emotionally investing and deep than 800 page novels I've read. Congrats on your debut novel -- I can't wait to pick up book 2!
My weighted score:
📖 Storyline / Plot 15% 5 -- Superb, it had a clear plot and storyline and I loved it.
✍️ Prose & Writing Style 15% 5 -- Superb, prose and writing style were fantastic, multiple 1st person POV which was well done
💕 Romance Chemistry 15% 5 -- Superb, the yearning, the banter, the childhood friends to lover dynamic. I loved it all.
🌍 World-Building 15% 4 -- Good, fantastic world building/setting development, a little superficial but it worked overall with the plot.
🎭 Character Development 10% 5 -- Superb, Aster and Lark's development throughout the time that passes in the story was well done and believable. The secondary characters added to the overall storyline and helped further emotionally engage with the plot.
⚡ Pacing & Structure 10% 5 -- Superb, perfect pace and structure makes sense.
😮 Emotional Impact 20% 5 -- I stayed up to 2 to finish this and was emotionally invested. I felt the yearning, the happiness, the heartbreak. Really well done.
🏆 WEIGHTED TOTAL SCORE (out of 5) 100% - 4.85 out of 5 --> rounded to 5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recently made my first foray into novel-length romantasy with Mickey Black’s debut, WHEN MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE. What I found was a book that offered up so much more than its genre label lead me to believe it would be.
The story has two alternating POVs — Shiloh, daughter to Lord Sebastian Dupre and heiress to Blackwood territory; and Aster, stable boy for Blackwood Manor and Shiloh’s best friend — and works as a coming-of-age tale, detailing the harsh lives they’re faced with.
When Aster joins Lord Dupre’s army as a teenager, the two friends are torn apart, leaving Shiloh to the whims of her tyrant father while forcing Aster to compromise himself in an effort to earn more money for his family. The kids’ relationship then becomes a series of letters, keeping each other abreast of their lives while fighting to survive in a brutal, dystopian world. But when a chance encounter brings them back together after years spent apart, old feelings spark anew, drawing the pair together again.
Black does an excellent job of world-building, detailing the history and politics of her setting. But where the writing really shines is in its vivid characterization. Readers get to know the main characters in great detail, but there is also a host of secondary characters that are just as fleshed-out and interesting to read about, making for a fantastic cast that’s both good and oh-so-bad.
If you’re a fan of coming-of-age tales, you’ll enjoy WHEN MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE. Yes, it has a little smut, but it’s also full of action sequences, political maneuvering, truly vile characters you’ll love to root against, page-flipping tension, and a finale that was as eye-popping as any I’ve experienced this year. I look forward to reading more about this world and cast. Recommended.
The story has two alternating POVs — Shiloh, daughter to Lord Sebastian Dupre and heiress to Blackwood territory; and Aster, stable boy for Blackwood Manor and Shiloh’s best friend — and works as a coming-of-age tale, detailing the harsh lives they’re faced with.
When Aster joins Lord Dupre’s army as a teenager, the two friends are torn apart, leaving Shiloh to the whims of her tyrant father while forcing Aster to compromise himself in an effort to earn more money for his family. The kids’ relationship then becomes a series of letters, keeping each other abreast of their lives while fighting to survive in a brutal, dystopian world. But when a chance encounter brings them back together after years spent apart, old feelings spark anew, drawing the pair together again.
Black does an excellent job of world-building, detailing the history and politics of her setting. But where the writing really shines is in its vivid characterization. Readers get to know the main characters in great detail, but there is also a host of secondary characters that are just as fleshed-out and interesting to read about, making for a fantastic cast that’s both good and oh-so-bad.
If you’re a fan of coming-of-age tales, you’ll enjoy WHEN MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE. Yes, it has a little smut, but it’s also full of action sequences, political maneuvering, truly vile characters you’ll love to root against, page-flipping tension, and a finale that was as eye-popping as any I’ve experienced this year. I look forward to reading more about this world and cast. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Mickey Black and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC of When Mountains Crumble in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Stars
When Mountains Crumble is an emotional and engaging story that explores resilience, loss, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward when life feels impossible. Mickey Black creates characters who feel authentic and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys and the challenges they face.
One of the aspects I enjoyed most was the emotional depth of the story. The characters are given room to grow, and their struggles feel genuine rather than exaggerated. The author handles difficult themes with sensitivity while still maintaining a sense of hope throughout the narrative.
The pacing is steady and allows important moments to breathe. While some sections move more slowly than others, they contribute to the development of the characters and the emotional impact of the story. By the end, I felt connected to the characters and satisfied with where their journeys led.
Mickey Black's writing is accessible and descriptive, making it easy to visualize the settings and immerse myself in the story. The themes of perseverance, healing, and finding strength in the face of adversity resonated strongly with me.
Overall, When Mountains Crumble is a heartfelt and thoughtful read that delivers both emotional moments and meaningful character development. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories, emotional journeys, and themes of resilience and personal growth.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 4 Stars
When Mountains Crumble is an emotional and engaging story that explores resilience, loss, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward when life feels impossible. Mickey Black creates characters who feel authentic and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys and the challenges they face.
One of the aspects I enjoyed most was the emotional depth of the story. The characters are given room to grow, and their struggles feel genuine rather than exaggerated. The author handles difficult themes with sensitivity while still maintaining a sense of hope throughout the narrative.
The pacing is steady and allows important moments to breathe. While some sections move more slowly than others, they contribute to the development of the characters and the emotional impact of the story. By the end, I felt connected to the characters and satisfied with where their journeys led.
Mickey Black's writing is accessible and descriptive, making it easy to visualize the settings and immerse myself in the story. The themes of perseverance, healing, and finding strength in the face of adversity resonated strongly with me.
Overall, When Mountains Crumble is a heartfelt and thoughtful read that delivers both emotional moments and meaningful character development. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories, emotional journeys, and themes of resilience and personal growth.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Shiloh is stuck with an awful and cruel father, and never gets to leave her home. Her one bright spot is her best friend Aster. But then he joins the military, leaving her alone once again. She is trained to fight by Hunter, someone who works on the grounds, becoming stronger so that she can someday fight back and perhaps help her people. Aster quickly moves up in rank in the army, having to do awful things, always keeping an eye on the future so that he may someday make a difference.
I absolutely loved that we started with best friends in childhood who were eventually brought back together. They had such a wonderful connection, a strong bond before they even thought of each other in any sort of romantic way. Aster was always so supportive of her, taking care of her, but also making sure she was strong enough to take care of herself. The friends to lovers, especially over time, was such a breath of fresh air from all of the "enemies to lovers" books. I've always wanted to have that connection with someone, to grow it from friends into something more, so I loved it in this book.
There were times that I could tell that this was a debut novel, but I loved it, and have no doubt the next one will be even better.
That cliffhanger though. I need the next one soon!
I absolutely loved that we started with best friends in childhood who were eventually brought back together. They had such a wonderful connection, a strong bond before they even thought of each other in any sort of romantic way. Aster was always so supportive of her, taking care of her, but also making sure she was strong enough to take care of herself. The friends to lovers, especially over time, was such a breath of fresh air from all of the "enemies to lovers" books. I've always wanted to have that connection with someone, to grow it from friends into something more, so I loved it in this book.
There were times that I could tell that this was a debut novel, but I loved it, and have no doubt the next one will be even better.
That cliffhanger though. I need the next one soon!
Review of advance copy
I was privileged to read this book early.
When Mountains Crumble earns five stars from me for making me giddy at least five times!
The strength of this novel lies in the clarity of its relationships and the consistency of its characters. The author skillfully progresses through many years of life while maintaining a coherent timeline.
I understand the word count restrictions that novels often face these days, but I would have enjoyed spending more time in the various locations to gain a deeper understanding of the setting and the divisions between the kingdoms.
This was a fast read in all the right ways, and I look forward to the next installment. As with any series, I anticipate the world will continue to deepen with each page.
The main characters are the true selling feature of this novel! 🔥🔥🔥
The tree scene when she surprised him with her reaction = massive smile from me!
The forehead kisses??? Perfection!
Thank you for a good time!🖤
When Mountains Crumble earns five stars from me for making me giddy at least five times!
The strength of this novel lies in the clarity of its relationships and the consistency of its characters. The author skillfully progresses through many years of life while maintaining a coherent timeline.
I understand the word count restrictions that novels often face these days, but I would have enjoyed spending more time in the various locations to gain a deeper understanding of the setting and the divisions between the kingdoms.
This was a fast read in all the right ways, and I look forward to the next installment. As with any series, I anticipate the world will continue to deepen with each page.
The main characters are the true selling feature of this novel! 🔥🔥🔥
The tree scene when she surprised him with her reaction = massive smile from me!
The forehead kisses??? Perfection!
Thank you for a good time!🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: Thank you to the author for trusting me with an ARC :)
Mickey Black’s debut dystopian romance does some serious heavy lifting in under 300 pages. Friends since childhood, Aster and Shiloh (“Lark”) reconnect after years apart; joined by their shared affection and a determination to topple the tyrannical leadership. This story is full of heart and resilience. The characters are sharp: Shiloh’s resolve to oppose her own father is admirable; Aster’s time in the military illuminates a tension between moral conviction & desperate circumstance; and Shiloh’s father Lord Sebastian is a detestable villain. The cliffhanger left me anxious!
*Dystopian Appalachia
*Childhood Friends-to-Lovers
*Robin Hood Vibes
*"Will you be my first kiss?"
* Moral Complexity
Mickey Black’s debut dystopian romance does some serious heavy lifting in under 300 pages. Friends since childhood, Aster and Shiloh (“Lark”) reconnect after years apart; joined by their shared affection and a determination to topple the tyrannical leadership. This story is full of heart and resilience. The characters are sharp: Shiloh’s resolve to oppose her own father is admirable; Aster’s time in the military illuminates a tension between moral conviction & desperate circumstance; and Shiloh’s father Lord Sebastian is a detestable villain. The cliffhanger left me anxious!
*Dystopian Appalachia
*Childhood Friends-to-Lovers
*Robin Hood Vibes
*"Will you be my first kiss?"
* Moral Complexity
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recently had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of When Mountains Crumble by Mickey Black. Thank you to the author for providing me with this copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It is a compelling dystopian romance that kept me engaged throughout. I really loved the strong FMC (Touch ME and die!) and the two different POVs.
I would have loved to see more in-depth world-building to really understand the setting and how this society functions.
I think fans of fast-paced dystopian romances will find a lot to enjoy here. I am looking forward to the sequel!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It is a compelling dystopian romance that kept me engaged throughout. I really loved the strong FMC (Touch ME and die!) and the two different POVs.
I would have loved to see more in-depth world-building to really understand the setting and how this society functions.
I think fans of fast-paced dystopian romances will find a lot to enjoy here. I am looking forward to the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such an enjoyable read. I really liked the way the story pulled me in and kept me interested throughout, especially the character dynamics and the way the relationship developed. There was a great balance of emotion, tension, and those little moments that make it easy to keep turning the pages.
The characters felt believable, and I especially enjoyed watching everything unfold between them. The pacing kept the story moving without feeling rushed, and the ending left me satisfied. If you enjoy romance with plenty of emotion, chemistry, and a story that keeps you invested, this is definitely one to check out.
The characters felt believable, and I especially enjoyed watching everything unfold between them. The pacing kept the story moving without feeling rushed, and the ending left me satisfied. If you enjoy romance with plenty of emotion, chemistry, and a story that keeps you invested, this is definitely one to check out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book reads like a dream - sometimes blissful, sometimes nightmarish, but nevertheless difficult to wake up from and return to reality. With carefully carved out characters and a skillfully woven plot, Black delivers seamlessly a dystopian fairytale that is guaranteed to make readers beg for more.
This debut novel from Mickey Black promises more than a highly anticipated sequel - it guarantees more of the brilliant prose from Virginia's up-and-coming go-to author of dystopian romances.
This debut novel from Mickey Black promises more than a highly anticipated sequel - it guarantees more of the brilliant prose from Virginia's up-and-coming go-to author of dystopian romances.
July 20, 2026
I was gifted an advanced copy of When Mountains Crumble and ate it up! It’s an easy, enjoyable read and a fantastic debut novel. Throughout the book, you can really sense the author’s confidence in her own writing ability grow, and I suspect we’ll only see more of that in the sequel.
I can’t wait for the second book to come out!
I can’t wait for the second book to come out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Honestly by far the best book I have ever picked up. This book has made me laugh, cry, smile and furrow my brow in a way I have never done. Mickey Black has a way with words that is for sure. I gave this book a five star review, but thats because honestly by far it is my favorite book ever officially!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I want more!
Eloquently written and such an emotional story I felt compelled to keep reading the entire time. These days, every story seems to fit into an “expected” category. This was definitely an exception!
Realistic characters and the “WANT” was my favorite part! I can’t wait to read more by this author!
Eloquently written and such an emotional story I felt compelled to keep reading the entire time. These days, every story seems to fit into an “expected” category. This was definitely an exception!
Realistic characters and the “WANT” was my favorite part! I can’t wait to read more by this author!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews