Effortlessly Reading

Book Review: Black City – Elizabeth Richards

Black City
Author: Elizabeth Richards
Series: Black City #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
My Rating:

Summary:

In the aftermath of a brutal and bloody war, in the still-smoldering Black City, sixteen-year-olds Natalie Buchanan and Ash Fisher do the unthinkable – they fall in love. Natalie, a human and the daughter of a government official, is still reeling from her father’s murder by a crazed Darkling, upending her entire life. So how can she now be falling for Ash, a brooding half-blood Darkling boy? Natalie’s heart betrays everything she’s ever believed with one magnetic beat, forcing her to choose between her family and the boy she loves.
Ash tries desperately to deny his feelings for Natalie. She is a Sentry brat, after all. The very Sentry who would love nothing more than to see all Darklings totally eradicated from the United Sentry States. For now, they’ve settled for banishing all Darklings to the wrong side of a ghetto wall. Despite being half-human and being allowed to live on the human side, Ash is still scorned everywhere he goes, always wondering what it would be like on the other side of the wall with his own kind. Then Natalie steps into his life, a calming force, and he, too, has to choose. But choosing Natalie could get them both killed.
A page-turning and passionate romance set in a mesmerizing and perilous world, Black City is a rich, atmospheric read not to be missed.

 
First Sentence: An air-raid siren wails in the distance, alerting Black City citizens to lock their doors and turn out the lights.

My Review:

I feel like Black City deserves a rating of three, but a very low three. Don’t look at my rating and think oh no, Black City doesn’t look like it’s a good book, I’m going to stay far away from it. Black City is not a bad book. Trust me. It just mainly focuses on the romance for a huge majority of the book with the cheesiest eye-rolling lines ever, and I’m not into the cheesy stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I like romance in books, but for a majority of the book to be focused on a relationship based on insta-love just makes me want to barf. The beginning of Black City was fantastic; we learn about the world and how the society of Black City works. However, as I read on, it was quite obvious that the book was focusing more on the romance and less on the action and mystery part of the book.

I’ll start with the good things first. I love the world Elizabeth Richards built in Black City. She somehow made me want to learn more about the world of Black City and how everything works in its society. Every time she inserts something new in her book, I read it carefully, interpreting it into the visual image I have of Black City and seeing how it’s different from our world as it is now. However, the one question I want to ask Elizabeth Richards that was never answered in Black City is have the Darklings exist with humans all along without humans knowing they exist or did something major happen to create the Darklings?

I also enjoyed reading and learning about Elizabeth Richards’ version of vampires, or in her case, Darklings. There are many different species of Darklings (who would have thought?) including Darklings with wings and white hair, all with their own unique names. For example, Ash’s species, twin-bloods, has hair that move and can sense blood. Twin-bloods can also mark humans as mine to feed off of with The Sight. Can you honestly say that you’ve read about similar vampires in other vampire paranormal books? I don’t think so.

As I’ve mentioned before, the one thing I can’t stand about Black City is the insta-love between Natalie and Ash, especially under their unique circumstances. Natalie is the Emissary’s daughter while Ash is a Darkling. They are basically forbidden from ever being together. For Ash to easily put aside the fact that the Emissary hunts Darklings like him and that Natalie is related to the Emissary because of the “love” he feels for Natalie just doesn’t work well with me. Besides, how much “sparks” can they feel every time they touch each other? I expected them to be fried each time they mentioned that they felt a “spark” when touching one another.

Another issue that bothers me in Black City is the love triangle between Ash, Natalie, and Evangeline (who doesn’t really show up until halfway through the book), which wasn’t needed the first place since it’s so obvious who Ash would pick in the end. (Hello, Black City is told from two points of views: Ash and Natalie.) But goodness, that plot twist that happened (you’ll know which part I’m talking about when you read it), it gave me second thoughts on the entire love triangle. However, two pages later, the feeling that plot twist gave me was ruined; I was just shaking my head so hard in disgust for Ash.

Overall, I’ll only recommend Black City to people who don’t mind very cheesy romance books with some action mixed in. I don’t know if I’ll be reading the next book in the series, Phoenix, but boy, Elizabeth Richards’ Black City series have the best looking covers ever.

-Kelly

Speak Your Mind

  1. This book looks like it has a great concept, but I have no patience for cheesiness, either. And insta-love is certainly something that I can’t stand. Great review though!

    Reply

  2. I can`t wait to read Black City! :D
    I think this book has the best cover of any book released 2012, very creative and just the right colors, looks amazing.

    Reply

  3. I gave it 3 stars as well. Honestly, that insta-love killed me. I got bored while reading those scenes. I liked the plot, thought. I’d be better (for me), if it had less lovely moments.
    However, I hope Phoenix is better! :)

    Reply

  4. I have heard that this book is an okay read, but I want to give it a shot. Thanks for the honest review :)

    Reply

  5. I must admit I am a sucker for cheezy romances. I love the cover of this book! So vivid! I have been wanting to read this, but I have been unsure of how I would feel about it, but know I am sure I will absolutely love it. I am huge on romance in a book since romance novels is what I started out reading on. Thank you for sharing your review! I cannot wait to read this!

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  7. I’ve read mixed reviews too, but I wanted to give it a try because I really cant resist any book with a hint of the dystopian element in it. And I agree, love the cover.

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  10. Wow, I think this is the first non-5 star review of this book I have seen on a blog! But I like to see all opinions of a book before I read it, and I totally get how you feel about it. The sheer number of love triangles in YA is crazy, and it’s especially stupid when the triangle just seems pointless.

    Reply

    • I’m the first non-5 star review you saw? Really? I’m kind of shocked. :P
      And yeah, the love triangle made me CRAZY, especially since you KNOW who the girl would pick in the end.
      Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: May 2013My Profile

      Reply

  11. That’s a shame you did not enjoy Black City that much! :( I LOVED it! I thought the plot was very engaging, and kept me interested through most of the book! Thanks for the honest review! :)

    Reply

  13. I really liked the beginning, liked the middle and the end made me want to read Phoenix without a doubt. I do feel like some of the romance was a bit cheesy but I loved the world-building. I enjoyed Natalie’s growth throughout the story. I loved the friendships and the faith given between friends. The cover is fantastic. Phoenix is going to be good I think!

    Reply

  15. By now it is pretty obvious I am a cover gal. I fell in love with Black City the moment I saw the cover and have wanted to read it since, but the cost was just not in my budget. Recently I won a copy, along with book two Phoenix and I am determined to read them no matter what LOL I am so sorry it did not live up to your expectations, reading is so subjective that I am still hoping that this last year of waiting will be worth the emotional hype for me – well we will see. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

    Reply

  16. This one isn’t on my TBR list but it might be making it there soon :) I think you helped convince me to add this book. And I’ve seen it everywhere too! I just never payed much attention to it :3

    Reply

  17. I thought this book sounded really awesome but I’m totally turned off by cheesy insta-love too. Boo! What a disappointment!

    Reply

  19. Cool review! A lot of book blogger highly recommend this book, but I thought it was okay.

    Reply

  20. I think I will try this book. First of all, the cover is absolutely beautiful. Also, I do like books heavy on the romance, though I also like there to be a bit of action mixed in as well. It sounds like an interesting read.

    Thanks for the review!

    Reply

  21. I want to read it so bad but i dont time at the moment, thank you so much foe the honest review xx

    Reply

  22. You know, I don’t know what it is about this book/series. I just love it. It has that appeal for me. It might be Ash. Either way, I just can’t help it. But I know it’s not for everyone :)

    Reply

  23. Thank you so much for the honest review , looking forawrd to read it but dont have time at the moment xx

    Reply

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Effortlessly Reading sometimes receives ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) from publishers or authors in exchange for honest reviews. Please note that no compensation of any kind has been provided in exchange for a review. Any use and/or duplication of my material without any permission is strictly prohibited.