Review - Black City

by Elizabeth Richards
publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR
date of publication: November 13, 2012
format: ARC
pages: 373
source: Around the World ARC Tours

From Goodreads:

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.

I wasn't sure what exactly I would be in for with Black City.  First and foremost, I was beyond curious to find out just what a Darkling was as portrayed in this story.  Second, I wanted to know what the war had been waged for and who the different factions were.  When the story opened with a clandestine meeting in the shadows for nefarious purposes, I was even more fascinated.  It is at this point that I learned what a Darkling is.  From then on, I was as hooked as a Haze addict. 

The book opens with Ash, so I will start with his character.  At first, you get the impression that he's a dangerous, immoral character.  After all, he deals Darkling venom (Haze) to addicted humans, which is disconcerting and beyond what I was expecting.  However, as more of his characteristics come to light, you find out that there is something more behind the mask.  As his situation, past, and inner thoughts are revealed, he becomes a more sympathetic character.  I eventually came to enjoy him a lot.  Natalie is also a character that takes a little observation to fully understand.  Her past is tragic and the scars she bears both inside and out mark her as a girl who has been through a lot.  As she begins to wake up and see the real state of things, she becomes a remarkable, admirable character willing to fight for the right thing. 

The premise for Black City is simply fascinating.  There is a truly heinous despot behind the atrocities in Black City and the results of his reign of terror are frightening.  However, I would have loved to know a little more about the reasons for the war.  Knowing more about the catalyst would have made an already great story all the better.  The setting is absolutely perfect for this story: gritty, dark, and bleak.  It serves very well to highlight the slivers of hope that begin to emerge from the ashes of a terrible situation.  It is a fantastic setting for a great storyline.

Black City was very difficult to put down.  The story flows so well that it is very easy to lose track of time and, before you know it, 100 pages will have gone by.  Filled with romance, gritty surroundings, and top notch characters, Black City is an engaging read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  The intensity of the conflict situations can't be beat.  This is definitely a series to watch.

Buy Black City at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge via Around the World ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.