Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Black City 

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Series: Black City Chronicles, Book One
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group 
Genre:Young Adult Dystopian/Fantasy
Format:Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date:November 13, 2012
Source: Mid-Columbia Libraries

Synopsis: 


In Black City, directly following a brutal war, Natalie Buchanan and Ash Fisher do something that should never have happened. They fall in love. Natalie is a human, and the daughter of the city’s Emissary. Ash, on the other hand, is a half-blood Darkling. After she watched a Darkling kill her Father, how can Natalie possibly have feelings for Ash? Ash tries desperately to fight his feelings for Natalie. She is the daughter of the Emissary who, along with the entire United Sentry States, wants the Darklings decimated once and for all. Both Natalie and Ash struggle with their feelings for each other for if they choose love, they could both be killed.

My Review: 

I really enjoyed this book. I love the way that Elizabeth Richards wrote the book. She switches back and forth between Natalie’s and Ash’s perspectives. I loved getting both character perspectives on what was going on. It can get somewhat confusing if you’re not paying attention when a new chapter begins, but it adds so much to the story, I would never change it.

The book begins with a startling scene that shocked me. I literally flipped back and read the inside jacket because I wasn’t sure what I had signed up for. But I persevered and once I got further into the book, I liked the way it started. It definitely got my attention! This book was a little racier than most of the dystopian/sci-fi romance books I read and I really liked that. It felt a little more grown up to me. Natalie and Ash’s love is very real and not wishy-washy like many books. They are very passionate from the get go and their connection is deep and real.

I loved reading and learning about Darklings. It was different from your run-of-the-mill vampire book. I loved that Ash is half-human as well because readers can connect with him more. His character is dark, brooding, and beautiful. I fell in love with Ash’s black, glittering eyes. His character starts off very closed off and then begins to open up more and more and fight for what he wants.

At first Natalie annoyed me. All she could think about was going back to Centrum where she could live a life of luxury. She seemed like a spoiled brat to me. But then, I got to know her better. Her strained relationship with her Mother revealed that her life isn’t perfect. Then as she gets to know Ash, you start to see her for who she really is. A girl, who, I suspect, is much like her Father. She truly wants Darklings and humans to be equal and by the end is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. She is certainly not fearless and neither is Ash, but they complement each other perfectly and lend strength where strength is needed.

Overall, this book was very well written. It kept me entertained the entire time I was reading. It literally brought me to tears at one point. If a book can evoke that kind of emotion out of me, I give it two thumbs up. The second installment Phoenix, is slated to be released in June, 2013. I can’t wait to see where Elizabeth Richards will take us in the second book.

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