Series Black City
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Pages: 385
Genre: YA Paranormal
Personal Rating; 4 Stars/ Crave and Covet
A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
Well, to be quite honest I had no knowledge of this book. I knew nothing about it until I got a ARC of Phoenix in the mail. Being a person who incapable of just diving into a sequel book; I shelled out the cash to buy Black City. Then I waited a week for it to arrive in the mail; every day I would look at the ARC copy of Phoenix and sigh. Finally I came home one day to the amazon box. It’s funny how sometimes a box that you get in the mail can glow and make music like a holy relic in an old movie. Any way I tore into that box and started reading Black City as I was walking the box to the trash. I finished reading the book with in a day.
Did I like the book? Well it is a dystopian with vampires...what do you think? If you think the answer is yes than you would be correct. I loved the fact that it’s somewhat of a Hunger Games/Twilight mash up. President Snow? Anyone? Also, though there is some almost insta-love it’s not too bad, it works.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the the pacing; but, what really made the book for me was the alternating perspectives which added a lot to the book. The switches were pulled off well without feeling too choppy or confusing; which, is no easy feat. I enjoyed watching/reading as Ash and Natalie grew as people and learned to see more than just their own perspectives. The story itself is interesting and while it is not at all simple it isn’t a maze of confusion either. I can’t wait to read the next installment to see how the story progresses. My only issues would be how some parts can seem somewhat predicable. Also I would have liked to see the character Sebastian fleshed out a little more. I really wanna know why he is suck a...jerk.
I decided to give this book a lower 4 Stars/ Crave and Covet rating. I really love the covers and I can’t wait for the third book. However, after the third book comes out I think I may lose some interest in this series. So all in all I suggest you read this if you like dystopian and vampires. It’s worth it without a doubt.
