•- -♥- -♥- -♥- -♥- -♥- -♥- -♥- -•

Bloody Bookaholic's Commandment:

Thou Shall Read Till Thy Eyes Bleed

Thursday 23 August 2012

Review + Giveaway: Black City by Elizabeth Richards.

Black City (Black City, #1)
Title: Black City
Author: Elizabeth Richards
Series: Black City
Book #: 1
Pages: 373
Reading Level: YA
Book Rating: Photobucket
Goodreads Rating: 4.09
T.B.Published: Nov. 13th, 2012

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.

Taschima's POV:

To put it in the simplest terms Black City is like Legend only mixed with vampires. This is not a bad thing; Legend is great, and so is Black City! It has some of the things Legend has, only heightened- ex. love becomes forbidden love. Corrupt government? Check. People being oppressed? Check. Two main characters, one from the government the other a normal person? Check. Adding to this delight Black City manages to have a plot that is original and not monotonous. Black City is that typical book you can't put down, it enthralls you with it's very complicated dark world,it makes your heart beat just a little bit faster. I bet If you were a half-darkling this book would kick start your heart right up.

It is a hot day in Black City (I can only imagine) when Natalie, the Emmisary's daughter (fancy term for a high ranking government official), and her remaining family move to the crappiest place in the world, Black City, from Centrum (a "better" city than Black City). On top of that she now has to attend public school along with the rest of the work boots (not so fancy term for people who actually have to work for a living). How will she ever survive?
"It's your bew identity bracelet. Do you like it?" I ask.
Martha nods slighly, not saying anything. She must be overwhelmed; it's a very expensive gift. She slips it on.

Some context on the quote, Martha is Natalie's maid and she is a Darkling (Darklings who live on the human side of the wall are made to use bracelets with their info on them). I thought this quote described Natalie great at the beginning of the novel. Natalie pissed me off at first. She was such a spoiled brat. It was hard to root for her, but then she grows up. It's so amazing, she went from someone who I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole to a brave self sufficient heroine that doesn't need to be rescued. I respect her, I like her.
"I place a hand against the wall and slip my other hand between her thighs, gently easing her legs apart. Touching her doesn't turn me on, but I groan like it does, knowing she'll enjoy that. They all do, even the guys -it's why they come to me instead of the Haze dens."

Ash is a Haze dealer, and a half-Darkling. You can say he got the "short" end of the stick in life (though in fact he is really tall). He is an outcast, abondoned by his mother at a young age. It's clear that he has issues.But It is very hard NOT to like Ash, he is so conflicted. You just want to hug him, and help him. He is the one who drew me to the story beginning on Chapter 1.

The story evolves around these two characters with a backdrop of war, corruption, and danger. It's a very dark world, but then again which dystopian world isn't?

The characters, the world building, the intense connection between the characters, the customs of Black City and the Darklings, all of this and more is what I loved about this book. It was just a very good read.

Some things were hard for me to swallow, like how can the vampires (who are stronger, faster, PREDATORS) be oppressed by the humans? I would have liked some more information on the old war. What happened, and how? Were the humans always privy to the existence of this other race? How did they exactly beat the vampires and made them live in guettos? I have no idea! I missed that history lesson.

Another thing that bothered me was the romance, at first. Because the characters show this instant connection to each other without really knowing anything about each other. They meet, they dislike/are sttracted to each other, and on the next page they are bound together. This was something that bothered me, BUT it was completely addrssed and insta-love was succesfully avoided. And even though I could smell the twist to the romance a mile away I still enjoyed it (maybe I like being proved right).

But if you can look past the non existent/much needed history lesson you will really enjoy this novel. I liked the writing, I loved Ash, and I liked Natalie, as well as the rest of the characters. It's a very easy story to get sunk into, and I enjoyed every single page.

Giveaway Rules!
  1. Follow Bloody Bookaholic.
  2. Leave an email, and maybe say hi, in the comment section so I can contact you.



There are plenty of options to go around, and they are very easy to achieve so good luck guys!
Number of winners: 1
This contest will end September 30th. Enough time to give many of you a chance to enter! Spread the word! U.S. only.

68 comments:

  1. What a lovely giveaway! I'm so excited for the release that I've got a countdown timer ticking on my phone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This book is one I have been wanting, when I tried for an ARC, they had none left, or as they said, they met the quouta for this book.
    I enjoyed your review. Really well done, makes me want to read it even more.
    Come by my blog, I have a few giveaways, latest is a giveaway hop.
    Concise Book Reviews by Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really liked Legend so I definitely want to give this book a try. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful review! Black City sounds like such an intriguing and unique tale and I love the cover of it as well! You've definitely made me much more excited about this book than I was before! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOVE the cover and it looks so interesting. Can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This book sounds amazing! I really can't wait to read it!

    Enna P.

    ReplyDelete
  7. the second quote is intriguing :D it makes me curious what the deal is with the person pretending.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great review! I'm dying to read Black City. I can't wait till it comes out.

    ReplyDelete
  9. looks great
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loved Legend, so I think I'll like this one, too, although insta-love is one of my huge peeves. Ash sounds like a fabulous character, though! I can't wait to meet him. :)

    Thanks for the review & giveaway!

    Sophia
    mashimaro401[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  11. This book looks so awesome. I have it on my wishlist for a while now!

    thanks for the great review ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great review!! I'm definitely looking forward to reading Black City as soon as it comes out!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome review! I'm definitely looking forward to reading Black City as soon as it comes out!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've been aching to get my hands on a copy of this since Penguin put out a teaser. Your enthusiasm is making it that much more desirable!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've been wanting to read this for a while now. The cover of this book is beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm glad you enjoyed the book! I'm really looking forward to reading it, now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. This one sounds really great! i'd love to win this one for my granddaughter who is an avid reader. Thanks for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nice review!!! So glad you enjoyed this dystopian!!! CANNOT WAIT!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Awesome review!!! I already wanted this book, but you make it sound so much more amazing that I'd already thought. lol Thanks for the giveaway!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think that I'm super excited for this book and it needs to be out already!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am so excited for this one! I like that you compared it to Legend, with vampires, because I LOVED Legend. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
    sarabara081(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!! I absolutely love the cover for this book. Very striking! Can't wait for more from this author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the giveaway! Would love to read this one.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I can't wait to read this book! Thank you!

    reflectionsbylili@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am a follower and email subscriber. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I like the slang ("work boots") but I also don't understand how the vampires could be oppressed by humans. I don't understand that in most vampire books, actually...

    ReplyDelete
  27. This sounds like a really interesting new outlook on dystopian tomorrow. I cannot wait to check it out. that was a catching review.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This book looks REALLY GOOD. And I've heard tons of good thing about it!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for the review. I would love to win this one.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am so excited for it. The description is very good!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sounds amazing! I've heard so many good things about his book!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I've been hesitant to read Black City for a while. Even though there have been many positive reviews of Black City, I was creeped out by the first chapter. It was so strange and awkward. Now, I kind of understand what made me put down the sampler of the book and can't wait to read Black City.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This book looks sooo good, I am way excited for when I get my hands on it! Thanks for doing this giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. I remember seeing this book a bit ago and had forgiven about. Thanks for reminding me of it.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Ive been wanting to read this book for awhile! I loved Legend, so i will most likely like this book too. Thanks for the giveaway!
    bluebear_star@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have been wanting to read this one! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm looking forward to this book...Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  38. lovely giveaway and the book sounds wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  39. wow, u have read some great books. i cant wait to read this one. thanks for giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks for the great giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  41. awesome review. i have been dying to read this book. each teaser or review i see of this book makes me want to read it more.
    thanks for this giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  42. This book sounds amazing! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  43. This book is on my TBR List! Thanks so much for the chance!

    mmafsmith AT gmail dot com

    GFC: Texas Book Lover

    ReplyDelete
  44. Loved your review - really let me know what to expect, and I definitely want to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I feel like I've been waiting for this book forever : ) Thanks for your awesome review!! I cannot wait until I can read it!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love the cover for Black City :) IT'S SO PRETTY!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Cannot wait for this book. Thanks for the awesome review <3

    ReplyDelete
  48. This book sounds awesome! I cannot wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Black City looks really amazing. The cover is so awesome!

    taylor0662@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I really want to read this!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Black City is one of my most anticipated reads. Thanks so much for giving us the chance to win it!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I am really looking forward to reading this one! It sounds so amazon and the cover is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Very cool! Thanks for your review!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I have been wanting to read this for months now, was a really good review too. Thanks for the giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  55. Black City sounds awesome! :) Thanks for the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  56. This books sounds interesting! Thanks for the giveaway. =)

    ReplyDelete
  57. nice review! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  58. *waves* Hi :D
    Black City is one of THE books I've been drooling to read, so thank you very much for such a sweet giveaway <3

    Mary DeBorde M.A.D.
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. dying to read this book! thanks for the giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  60. I really want to read this book! XD
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  61. I think its awesome! Thanks so much

    ReplyDelete
  62. Oh this book sounds nothing short of amazing. I can't wait to read this!

    kimberlyho75@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Thank you so much for this giveway! At first I had no idea what this book was about but your review covered everything I would've liked to know! I loved Legend, so maybe I'll love this as well! (Even though I do have a slight eversion to Insta- Love) xD

    You can contact me at foreverfree50@gmail.com. :D

    Daphne @ Reading Until Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  64. This review makes me think it'd be a book that I'd love to read! Thanks for the opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Can't wait to read this!

    lexiboo202(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  66. Thanks so much for this fantastical giveaway! You rock! New follower.

    ReplyDelete
  67. I am a newish follower, thank you for the giveaway....if I were a blogger I would post more but since I am not then I did all the other stuff :)

    ReplyDelete

Read your opinion, I want. Leave a comment, you shall.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...