Book Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

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.

Black City was a mish-mosh of all the popular ideas in literature right now compiled into one book. Some things worked some didn’t. There are vampires, dystopia, star-crossed lovers (that never goes out of style), an evil dictator (think President Snow) and even shape shifters. The book is set in a society where Vampires are segregated from humans. It parallels racial and ethical segregation that has occurred in times past. It is interesting to read a young adult novel based on a time where society has fallen apart. I think the impact of the story is so different from an adults perspective than from a teens. For example, to me this was a book about social injustices and how prejudice can tear apart a society. But to a teen this was about vampires and teen romance. Anyway, on with the review. 

I thought the love story sort was rushed and disjointed. One moment Natalie and Ash were in the denial phase the next BAM they are in love and soul mates. Then out of nowhere she wasn’t his soul mate and another girl was. I got whip lash from the story. 

Around the love story, a story of social injustice was going on. The vampires were starting to rebel against the unfair treatment. Natalie’s Mom, who is in charge of the town, is starting to reveal some secrets about the town and the government’s involvement in spreading a vampire plague. Not to mention the human rights group that starts to cause trouble. There was no lack of action, intrigue or drama through the book. It was a bit jam packed in the book, but it seemed to work. Overall, I thought the book was okay. You could tell the author borrowed some ideas from other books but made it her own. If you are looking for a good action packed read this is your book. 

 3.5 Bards

This review was submitted to A Midsummer Night’s Read by Missy.