Black City (Black City, #1)

Nov 14, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy marked it as to-read

Shelves: owned-arcs, owned-copy, putnam

A drawing of Ash and Natalie by the author herself
description

I just receive the book...looks damn amazing

55 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, cheese, dickhead-heroes, dont-understand-why-its-hyped, everyone-likes-it-but-me, horrifyingly-bad, hot-mess, i-am-disappoint, insta-love, love-triangles, my-eyes-are-bleeding, no-just-no, owned-ebooks, pile-of-crap, sorry-excuse-for-a-romance, too-painful-to-finish, unlikable-heroines, what-the-actual-fuck, where-art-thou-originality, why-do-people-like-this-shit, you-arrogant-prick

This review is also available over at my blog.

_______________________

You know what I hate? I hate when I'm reading a book, and all I feel the whole time is anger, frustration and disappointment.

That's what I felt with Black City.

As you can see, this is yet another DNF review. Let me tell you why I disliked this book so much: the romance. You know how bad the romance was? It made me overlook everything else in the book; the world building, the other characters, the plot, all of it. The romance wa...more

52 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Umm … what a weird book. Vampires. Dystopian. Religious motifs. Obvious parallels to the Berlin Wall, segregation, racial tensions, and even ethnic cleansing. It’s a lot to take in, but Black City sort of works because I really didn’t expect much more than just a conventional mishmash of vampire and dystopian tropes based on a run of the mill Romeo and Juliet premise, but in fact Elizabeth Richards has really written something that’s actually a bit more complicated.

Part of it though is Richards...more Umm … what a weird book. Vampires. Dystopian. Religious motifs. Obvious parallels to the Berlin Wall, segregation, racial tensions, and even ethnic cleansing. It’s a lot to take in, but Black City sort of works because I really didn’t expect much more than just a conventional mishmash of vampire and dystopian tropes based on a run of the mill Romeo and Juliet premise, but in fact Elizabeth Richards has really written something that’s actually a bit more complicated.

Part of it though is Richards doesn’t really take the time to explain the backstory, I’m dropped right into the middle of the plot with chapters alternating between Natalie’s and Ash’s points of view. Personally, I like Richards’s approach because I have to work at figuring out exactly what these characters are talking about, although it can be a bit infuriating at first not knowing exactly what’s going on. But basically, Black City takes place in a world where humans and several kinds of vampires, called Darklings, coexist, except Darklings obviously need to feed on human blood so they produce this addictive drug from their venom in order to get willing blood donors in it for the high. The Black City version of the United States obviously doesn’t want all its citizens getting high all the time, so a few years before the events of the book there’s this religious reformation that brings to power this leader who decides to trap the Darklings either in ghettos or ship them off to concentration camps. The Darklings clearly weren’t going to willingly go along with that plan, so they start a revolt that’s violently put down and Black City now takes place in this postwar city with Darklings still stuck in their ghetto and the rest of the city divided between supporters of continued persecution and Darkling sympathizers.

That said, I really like how Richards has written her story in a way that’s not at all black and white, both sides can legitimately claim to be doing the right thing, even if it’s obvious what Natalie’s mother is doing is horrifically wrong. The premise is what I would imagine a natural progression of a society in a mixed vampire and human world would be, so while I can’t condone Natalie’s mom’s methods, the question of how to fix all these problems remains, because, yes, Darklings are being horribly mistreated, but as you’ll see, they’re not entirely innocent either. That’s actually the only reason I put up with Natalie and Ash’s relationship, because otherwise it’s really a generic ‘I hate you at first sight but secretly feel different’ type deal, but with the added backdrop of Darkling and human tensions, the two of them become slightly more bearable. However, I’m not exactly convinced that Richards has struck the right balance between Darklings as dangerous menace and innocent victims, the Darklings are starving yes but in order to give credence to the worst of the accusations against them, or maybe just to make Ash seem like a potentially dangerous monster, they end up doing stuff (view spoiler) that just doesn’t sit right with me, like shades of gray gone too far. Heck, I’d support keeping them in that ghetto if I knew what they were doing in there, and that the Darkling sympathizers don’t even acknowledge that Darklings can be that dangerous just makes them seem more than a little naïve and foolish in my book. Just the problem with their addictive venom would’ve been enough for me to understand where the Sentry government is coming from.

As for Natalie and Ash themselves, a big problem with books written with alternating points of view is that the guy and girl characters tend to sound alike, and unfortunately, that’s a problem here too. For me, the only noticeable difference is Ash swears while Natalie is way too uptight for that, but it’s really not enough to set them apart. Oh, and beyond their ‘I hate you until now I like you’ problem, I swear there are scenes that are entirely reminiscent of Twilight, down to a triangle with fellow half Darkling Evangeline and Ash having to pick between human or Darkling society. But enough of the time Richards does add enough shades of gray, Ash being a drug dealer to support his family, getting his best friend Beetle hooked on drugs, contributing to the death of a classmate, that for the most part the Ash and Natalie drama was tolerable, and some stuff, like Ash eventually falling into the ‘he’s a dangerous monster the innocent girl should stay away from’ trope, actually worked as a smaller part of the bigger Darkling place in human society picture.

My biggest problem though is the religious aspects really didn’t work for me. I don’t have a problem with ambiguous world building where it works, but the use of crucifixes as punishment stuck out like a sore thumb because this didn’t strike me as an overly religious book and I just don’t see how the one aspect ties into the rest of the story. And the ending only leaves me even more confused. Other than that, there are quite a few plot holes, I have to point out security at Natalie’s house seriously sucks, an intruder can break into the place the same way, not once, but twice, even though her mom’s such a big shot. After what happens the first time, somebody really needs to be fired. And the treatment of half Darklings is really inconsistent, there’s a scene with another half Darkling kid, not Evangeline, and compared to what Ash has to go through it doesn’t really add up.

But overall, despite the plot holes and flawed characters, I like Black City because Richards could’ve written a much more conventional book without tackling the implications of the world she’s created, but she’s done it and the result is far more interesting.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Ta§chima Cullen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, all-books-to-trade-non-arcs

You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic

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 mo...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 20, 2012 I am Isis added it

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, urban-fantasy, young-adult, vampires

~~The trend isn't over yet?~~

Not sure how I feel about this one. Right now I'm quite conflicted, because what was good was very good, but what was bad was also very bad.

15 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2012 Eyehavenofilter rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, other-worlds, vampire, time-i-will-never-get-back

Hmmm what do I say about this? In the very very beginning I thought I was going to like this a lot, it had some very interesting qualities. Bad Vampire boy, goody goody girl, jealous girlfriend and jealous ex-boyfriend, drugs, vampires,(who are called unaffectionately " nipper" ( I didn't get the joke for about 4 chapters) all different breeds of them, and laws that were out of control, not unlike communist Russia in the 1940's , it seemed like it was going to be my kind of book. But it wasn't....more

7 likes · like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, penguin

The dystopian trend seems to be getting a bit old. All the books have a similar feel to them and the stories are becoming less unique. That is not at all the case with Black City. Elizabeth Richards has created a world all her own with fantastic history, unbelievable creatures, and a bleak setting that manages to stand out against all others.

Black City is a place in ruins. Ash still rains down from bombs that were set off a year ago. Buildings crumble daily and no new ones are built to replace t...more The dystopian trend seems to be getting a bit old. All the books have a similar feel to them and the stories are becoming less unique. That is not at all the case with Black City. Elizabeth Richards has created a world all her own with fantastic history, unbelievable creatures, and a bleak setting that manages to stand out against all others.

Black City is a place in ruins. Ash still rains down from bombs that were set off a year ago. Buildings crumble daily and no new ones are built to replace them. People live in the rubble but fear speaking out to get better living conditions. In the middle of it all is a walled enclosure where all the Darklings are forced to live. However, things may not be that way for long. The Darklings are unhappy with their restrictions and they are ready to fight. Black City is a city on the brink of war.

Ash is a twin-blood. He is half human, half Darkling. He lives outside the Darkling enclosure but he does not feel accepted. He is lonely and sad and it causes him to do some stupid things. However, it is easy to tell that he is a good guy at heart. Readers will definitely fall for this dark and lonely guy. Natalie is also alone but that is because of her station. She is the Emissary's daughter and most people are afraid she could get them in trouble. Even though she is lonely she is friendly and caring and very easy to like. She's smart, brave, and loyal. What's not to like? Beethe and Day are also fabulous. Beethe is hilarious. He's kind of a druggie but he's a sweetheart and he's trying to change his ways. Day is smart (sometimes too smart), kind, yet she can be hard-headed. She makes some mistakes but she learns from them.

Elizabeth Richards really knows how to create a terrifying villain. Sebastian, Gregory, Natalie's mom, and Purian Rose are all completely evil. Natalie's mom is manipulative and sick. Sebastian tries to hide his dark side but it definitely does not work. Gregory doesn't try to hide his prejudice and nastiness. Purian Rose is by far the worst though. He is the leader of church and state. He hides his evilness by saying it's "His mighty's" will. He is cruel and sick. I both dread and look forward to reading more about him.

The plot focuses quite a bit on the forbidden romance between Ash and Natalie but that is definitely not all that is going on (although that part was great.) Because of Ash, Natalie discovers a lot about Darklings and a lot about her family. Ash discovers that people can't be judged based on their parents. There is also quite a bit of mystery that will have readers hooked.

Overall, Black City is a favorite of mine that I must recommend. Dystopian fans HAVE to read this one. And romance fans because it is one steamy romance. Really everyone should just read it! (less)

10 likes · like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Giselle marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc, own

WANT TO WIN THIS ARC? And how about the first chapter? Head on over to my blog! :)

14 likes · like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Belinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-frustration, abuse, action-packed, change-of-heart, dealing-with-issues, favorites, forbidden-love, frustratingly-sexy, heartache, heavy-drama, hero-saves-the-day, hidden-troubles, hot-leading-men, hot-lusty-love, kickass-heroines, love-triangles, murder, part-of-series, starcrossed-love, truly-madly-deeply-in-love, vampires, war

SOME SPOILERS!

WTF DID I JUST READ.

HOLY SHIT.

My first thought post this book.. is a) i want to marry Ash
but then I think harder so b) WHY did I not read this as soon as I got it ! Rookie error Belinda, Rookie, Rookie error.

This book was amazing. It was a whole lot of loving and more.

The Characters
Ash: He is like the epitome of any leading man you could ever want in your life. He knows when to be a smart ass, irresistible and cocky.. but knows when to be caring, kind and compassionate to other...more

11 likes · like · see review

Dec 01, 2012 Lex rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-books, sci-fi, vampires, pnr

Can't wait for this one! :)

11.13.12 - IT's OUT!!! Wooohooo! I'll be stopping my Currently reading for this one. :) Gonna read it now. Yay! You just have to wait Fifty Shades Freed. :P

I can't gather my thoughts for this book... Black City is a Dystopian AND Paranormal book rolled into one. I don't know why but the love story reminds me of Romeo and Juliet. They have something in common. Maybe because Natalie Buchanan is the Emissary's daughter... And well, Ash Fisher is a Twin-blood. A half-Dar...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 23, 2012 Ezmirelda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, romance, insta-love, not-what-one-expects, okay, vampires, dystopian-2012, drags-in-middle, dissapointing

Germany in World War 2…but with vampires
The whole entire book could be summarized as just that: Events from World War 2, Germany and the Holocaust—but with vampires thrown in for good measure. The connection between this book and actual historical events is really stunning. In the end, I felt more like I was reading a history textbook than a paranormal romance novel. Why? Well there are some pretty obvious connections right from the start, like how the Darklings and were forced to live in the “g...more Germany in World War 2…but with vampires
The whole entire book could be summarized as just that: Events from World War 2, Germany and the Holocaust—but with vampires thrown in for good measure. The connection between this book and actual historical events is really stunning. In the end, I felt more like I was reading a history textbook than a paranormal romance novel. Why? Well there are some pretty obvious connections right from the start, like how the Darklings and were forced to live in the “ghetto”. The ghetto is a term used for the places where Jews were forced to live in during the Holocaust. There was wide-spread poverty and starvation there which parallels to the “ghetto” used in Black City. Another connection I made was how the Sentry leader “Purian Rose” decided to use children to become “trackers” or rather young soldiers. This reminded me of how Hitler used an army of children (young German boys) as a last ditch effort to try to win a losing war. Then, the book mentions use of cyanide as a quick and painless way to end your life, and this is historically known as the way Hitler chose to commit suicide. On one page it said, “It was common practice during the war for less moralistic Darklings to collaborate with Trackers, in return for food and protection.” This is the same thing they did to Jews during the Holocaust. They had male Jews round up and help murder their own kind in return for their insured safety for the time being. All this and much more happened just in the very beginning of the book. I found myself really confused at this point, wondering if this was really going to be a rehash of the Holocaust. And it turned out to be just that.

Vampires, cheese, and insta-love. Oh my!
The narrative and dialogue were cheesy to a fault. At one point I found myself not able to believe anything the characters were saying. Everything was an empty reason, their actions and reactions unexplained. There were times when the characters would say or do things that seem so out of character and unnatural that I would often wonder if I had read it right or not. The insta love moved way too fast for my liking. First they planned their first date without dating in the first place. Then there was an info dump in the scene where Ash explains the term “Blood Mate “ which was all tell and no show. Next thing you know they’re both willing to give up everything and risk their lives for each other. It all felt very sudden and unnatural, I actually thought that the relationship between Natalie and Ash was a lot more romantic and sweeter before they officially decided they wanted to be together.

In a nutshell…
I liked this story but the inconsistency with the characters, predictability of the plot, insta-love, and the cheesiness in general made it a slow read for me. Overall, I think what made this story the most interesting for me was the world building of the Darkling/ Sentry world. It’s not typical to see a universe in which humans rule over the vampires. Normally you would see quite the opposite. If you’re a historian buff and like vampires I would recommend this to you. However if you, like me, don’t particularly care for insta-loves or cheesiness you probably might want to stay clear of this one.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 15, 2012 Tara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012debut, challenge-dac2012

Review originally posted on my blog http://hobbitsies.net/2012/11/black-c...

My feelings on Black City by Elizabeth Richards are a little hard to explain. Black City is an interesting dystopian kind of book, but with a vampire population (although they’re called darklings rather than vampires).

And I loved the first hundred pages or so of Black City. There was political scandal, romance, intrigue, and I loved learning about the world Elizabeth Richards built. New worlds are some of my favourite th...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 25, 2012 Beatriz Lins rated it 2 of 5 stars

What a disappointment. Ridiculous world-building, shallow characters, stupid ending, and the romance is cheesy, melodramatic and unrealistic. This book couldn't have been worse for me :(

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2012 Teri marked it as to-read

This is not just another vampire book, in fact In Black City there are humans, and then there are Darklings and both have an agenda up their sleeves for the future. What captures readers is the world and character building in this book that surpasses expectations and weaves reader’s into an intriguing bittersweet story of finding what you what and having to fight to keep hold of it in an unsteady time.

Ash is a Darkling, in fact he is more than that because he is considerd a twin-blood meaning...more This is not just another vampire book, in fact In Black City there are humans, and then there are Darklings and both have an agenda up their sleeves for the future. What captures readers is the world and character building in this book that surpasses expectations and weaves reader’s into an intriguing bittersweet story of finding what you what and having to fight to keep hold of it in an unsteady time.

Ash is a Darkling, in fact he is more than that because he is considerd a twin-blood meaning that he crosses both the world of human and Darkling. The Darkling race is varying in looks and abilities and a human created virus is sweeping through their families destroying people into slavering Wraiths. Ash struggles to help provided money for his troubled family and help other people in hius commnuuity but the price of that help is consuming him because he is providing a drug called Haze that is being persecuted by officials and is destrying some of his friendships. Finding himself questioning parts of his existence and running from humans who may want to maim or kill him just for being Darkling, Ash is becoming more bitter and detatched until one day something drastic happens, in his heartbeatless life, something is stirring that will change his life forever.

Natalie has recently moved back to the derelict Black City, a city in the Sentry States that has seen recently harsh times in its history. Natalie has a history of herself with her father recently killed for his work involving Darklings and her Emissary mother who works in the labs on Darklings to produce something sinister for their race. With something hunting Natalie and a recent string of killings and attacks, her conflicted relationship with her mother and injured sister are leaving Natalie wanting more in life, as if she is missing a piece of herself but that may all soon pass as she has to enroll in a new Black City school for the lower class people, including Darklings that will change her world forever. As Natalie tries to hold off her attraction to Ash, she soon finds herself immersed in a hidden world and strung into events that will change her future forever, but at what cost? Will Natalie find the strength in herself to face the growing challenges in fighting for what is right and involving herself in an illegal relationship? Richards blends these elements together into a gripping heroine that captivates us as much as we want Natalie to find peace in this troubled world.

In the world of Black City we find the United Sentry States, basically our future has been transformed. Cities are divided between Wookboot working class people and the Sentry humans who are running the show. There are massive Boundary walls separating the humans from the Darkling population except for the Darklings who are basically slaves for humans and with a new legislation that is in the works, the Darkling may soon become nothing more than expendable livestock with little rights. But all of that may soon changes as alliances are being made and undermined by individual and faction groups that are fighting for their own ideal futures at the cost of many lives.

Elizabeth Richards has created something spectacular in Black City. With a cast of driven and captivating characters we are immersed into a dark world of intrigue and oppression at the cusp of change and at the cost of citizen life. With a dueling scientific community and a host of ruling class people that are fueling their own agenda, Richards takes us into the heart of our characters just as they are finding something in each other to live for. With a gripping plot and twists that will surprise, Black City is a powerhouse of beauty in a dark time in these character’s lives that will pull our heartstrings.

With an astounding finish Black City will give a great book hangover and leave us all pining for more.
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 15, 2012 Morgan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Nobody.

Shelves: disappointing, one-star, won-from-giveaways-first-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Review of Black City , written by Elizabeth Richards.
Won from a giveaway via Goodreads.com
Expected Publication: 11/13/12

My Overall Rating: One Star
Cover Rating: 4 Stars - gorgeous, though slightly similar to the Twilight cover theme, if you know what I mean.

What I knew about this book before beginning it:
1. Vampires. (Or, Darklings, as they're called in this book.)
2. Dystopia setting, of course.
3. Romance. Duh. It's YA with vampires in a dystopian setting.
4. The main character's name is Ash....more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 31, 2013 Mai rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-boyfriend, dystopian, love-triangle-situation, paranormal, romance, vamps

Black City is an awesome read. I know that there are a lot of mixed reviews on this one, some are in love with it while there are some who found it lacking.

Concept. I think it's cool to mix elements such as dystopia, vampires, humans and romance in one novel. It'll be a total disaster if these elements do not compliment each other in the story. Elizabeth Richards could have explained a bit more about the history and the whats and whys of certain things so there will be more heart pounding an...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 18, 2013 Kari rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-2012-authors, 2013-dystopia-reading-challenge, dystopian

**3.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: This book is a perfect example of why I always try and at least read 100 pages before putting a book down. I was ready to give up on page 2, but pushed through. I thought the beginning scene was about sex/prostitution, however, it was about drugs. I know that doesn’t make it better, but I would rather read a book dealing with drugs than one that starts with a sex scene. To me, if you start with a sex scene, it probably means it will continue throughout the book – and I...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Justine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Full Review and Giveaway available at www.appraisingpages.com

We were lucky enough to get this book at SDCC. I wanted to read it because it looked like a book right up my alley of interests. Black City has an almost dystopia feel, this is a world thats falling apart oh and there are Darklings( think of vampire like creatures). The romance is woven throughout the story, but there still was drama, thrills, and some very real feeling mysterious happenings. I truly loved this book and couldn’t stop r...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Omigosh, I love, love, LOVE this book! The synopsis alone was more than enough for me to want to get my grubby little hands on it so I jumped at the chance to get on the tour at Around the World Tours. And let me tell you... once I started reading this one, I did NOT want to put it down! It's got romance, mystery, evil political agendas, warring factions, you name it. This is one you will not want to miss!

Black City introduces us to Ash and Natalie, two individuals leading VERY different lives....more Omigosh, I love, love, LOVE this book! The synopsis alone was more than enough for me to want to get my grubby little hands on it so I jumped at the chance to get on the tour at Around the World Tours. And let me tell you... once I started reading this one, I did NOT want to put it down! It's got romance, mystery, evil political agendas, warring factions, you name it. This is one you will not want to miss!

Black City introduces us to Ash and Natalie, two individuals leading VERY different lives. Natalie is the daughter of the most powerful woman in the city, the emissary, who is fighting to instill the values of Purian Rose, a dictatorial leader who wants to ensure that segregation between Darklings and Humans becomes a lasting and permanent way of life. Ash is a twin-blood, a half-blood Darkling living with his human father while secretly desiring to meet his Darkling kin on the other side of the boundary wall. Tensions between the races are at an all-time high and the threat of another war is never quite forgotten.

A chance encounter under a bridge leads to Ash and Natalie's lives becoming entangled as the two fall inexplicably in love. The young lovers know that nothing but danger lies ahead as it is a capital offense to date outside one's race, but they can't seem to help themselves, especially once they realize that they've bonded and that it's due to Natalie that Ash's long-dormant heart is now beating in time with hers. Shocking revelations come to light that have the lovers questioning everything: Are they meant to be together or did a cruel and shocking twist of fate force them into feelings that they cannot control?

In addition to figuring out their confusing feelings for one another, Natalie and Ash are thrust into a world of mystery as questions begin to arise about the Golden Haze, a drug that is killing human teenagers at an alarming rate. Coupled with that fact that more and more Darklings are sucumbing to the Wrath, a killer disease that literally eats away at their flesh, it seems that no one is truly safe. Who is to blame for the death plaguing both sides of the wall? Could there ever be peace or is another war inevitable? And will none of these questions matter as Natalie deals with a stalker intent on scaring her, or possibly doing more harm than that? You're going to have to wait to find this all out!

This book is SO GOOD. It's entertaining, fast-paced, I LOVE the switching of POV's between Natalie and Ash! It's the type of book that keeps you frantically flipping the pages and if you're like me, you'll end up super bummed to have to wait to find out what happens when book two is released. ARGHHHH, slow release schedules can be brutal when a book is that freakin' good. I want to know what happens NOWWWW.

Okay, whine over. But seriously, scoop this one up for yourself and you'll know exactly how I feel! Way to go, Elizabeth Richards. You've got me hooked! :) (less)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 10, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Black City :

Wow. Wow. Wow. This book is now in my top 5, I don't know how you couldn't have fallen in love. This book gets you hooked from the beginning to WAY past the end. It has danger, love, betrayal, lust, fighting and so much more. I could not put this book down.

Natalie is amazing. Plain and simple amazing, she has gone through so much and is going to be going through a whole lot more. She is strong, determined, and will protect those she loves to the very end. Then she meets Ash, beautifu...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 24, 2013 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, romance, physical-book, owned, bought, dystopian

Check out more of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

Black City, Elizabeth Richards' electrifying debut, combines segregation and a faulty government into one fantastic novel.

One of Black City's strong points was the plot and the concept. Easily enough, you could say that it was a a cross between a vampire story an a dystopian story. The fact that Elizabeth manipulated the usually overdone vampire tale into a totally different topic concerning Darklings who came across as ruthl...more Check out more of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

Black City, Elizabeth Richards' electrifying debut, combines segregation and a faulty government into one fantastic novel.

One of Black City's strong points was the plot and the concept. Easily enough, you could say that it was a a cross between a vampire story an a dystopian story. The fact that Elizabeth manipulated the usually overdone vampire tale into a totally different topic concerning Darklings who came across as ruthless, vicious creatures that should never be reckoned with. Add that in with a killer, creative plot and you get an exciting debut novel.

Black City is a young adult dystopian novel told in the two points of views of Natalie and Ash, our two polar opposites, our two protagonists. Not only does Elizabeth tell both of their stories flawlessly and each one with a distinct voice, she also manages to infuse a great plot in with these character's growth. Our characters are very much the main story here, where Natalie and Ash meet each other and discover their supposed "enemies" aren't as bad as they've made each other out to be, which is a touching aspect that really gets to you. I loved watching Natalie and Ash grow as a couple and as individuals; they're both determined and have this fire to them.

Something that I didn't like about Natalie and Ash was how quickly their relationship grew. As quickly as they met each other they were all of a sudden having sparks near each other. It seemed like their attraction stemmed from the fact that they acted different around each other, and they felt tingles when they touched. It felt extremely insta-lovey, and, honestly, it really turned me off. Because of this, whenever Natalie and Ash sacrificed themselves for each other, I couldn't bring myself to believe their actions were legitimate.

With a romance that was romantic to a certain extent, characters that were strong and were gradually molded into better people, and a fresh setting, Black City will capture you with everything about it.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2012 Amy (Amy's Book Den) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: debuts-2012

Black City has just come out of a war. The place is devastated in most places, there's poverty, discrimination, and a whole lot of black from the fire's that ravaged the city. The Darklings—a race of vampire-like creatures—have been segregated and forced to live behind a walled ghettos so that they don't mix with the humans and provide them with Haze—the drug their bite provides. Thought they've been promised food and essentials, they're left to live in horrible conditions slowly dying from the...more Black City has just come out of a war. The place is devastated in most places, there's poverty, discrimination, and a whole lot of black from the fire's that ravaged the city. The Darklings—a race of vampire-like creatures—have been segregated and forced to live behind a walled ghettos so that they don't mix with the humans and provide them with Haze—the drug their bite provides. Thought they've been promised food and essentials, they're left to live in horrible conditions slowly dying from the deadly Wrath virus. When a new form of the drug called Golden Haze makes its way to the humans and they start to die, the streets of Black City will tremble again with the talk of another war.

Ash Fisher is the only half-blood Darkling allowed to live inside the wall. He's always felt out of place among the humans, what with not having a heartbeat and all that, until the day he meets the girl with the cornflower blue eyes and his heart flutters for the first time in his life. After her father is killed by one, Natalie Buchanan firmly believes Darklings to be monsters, but as she gets to know Ash her beliefs will crumble and her heart will be shaken. The only problem is that human and Darkling relationships are a capital offence, and the punishment is death.

War, oppression, lies, fanatic and religion, forbidden love, the Wrath virus, and a million other things make Black City one of the coolest dystopian debuts this year. Elizabeth Richard manages to bring back the vampires of old—fang baring, blood-drinking, burning in the sun vamps—with creative twists that makes them her own. The different breeds of Darklings were both beautiful and terrifying. The punishment for associating with them was horrifying and heartbreaking. This fast paced, action packed story of forbidden love full of shocking twists and turns will leave begging for more!

The only reason I give this a 4 out of 5 is for the times where I found the dialogue a bit too stiff, almost as if the characters were reading the lines instead of saying what they wanted to say. I also found myself wishing some scenes to be drawn out more, to let the emotions that I was feeling run a bit deeper instead of just cutting to the chase and moving on. But overall I found this to be an amazing debut and a great addition to my favorite YA dystopian novels!

*I received this ARC from the publisher*
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Natalia Belikov rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult, received-won, arc

Read more of my reviews at Dazzling Reads

Black City is one of the Breathless Reads I was most excited to read this year. I mean, it was chosen as one of the Breathless Reads and that's something! I had high expectations on this brand new vampire series but unfortunately, it didn't take my breath away and my very high expectations were not reached. Still, I enjoyed this novel and I'm definitely eager to read the sequel and discover what happens next.

What I loved
- The Darkling concept. It was very...more
Read more of my reviews at Dazzling Reads

Black City is one of the Breathless Reads I was most excited to read this year. I mean, it was chosen as one of the Breathless Reads and that's something! I had high expectations on this brand new vampire series but unfortunately, it didn't take my breath away and my very high expectations were not reached. Still, I enjoyed this novel and I'm definitely eager to read the sequel and discover what happens next.

What I loved
- The Darkling concept. It was very interesting to discover a vampire that actually feels fresh, specially learning about the background history of them and how it all started.
- The Characters. I think they were very charismatic and they all have their own personality that shines on every page. I definitely got to love and care for each one of them. :)
- Dual Point of View. This one is definitely my favorite! I enjoy female pov, but having and insight into the male characters/love interest is always a plus for my reading experience!
- Dark atmosphere. Black City is definitely a dark paranormal novel. Gruesome descriptions and cruel events/punishments such as crucifixion, drug abuse, etc. For some people this may be too much. For me it was a daring addition to Black City and I praise Miss Richards for writing such dark world.

But
- The romance was okay for me. I didn't fall in love with Ash (insta-love usually doesn't help me with that) I prefer the characters to go through a lot together before getting to the so anticipated first kiss scene. That way I can see and understand why they fall in love with each other.

And that's it. I don't think there is any other "but" about this debut. The fact that it didn't reach my expectations doesn't have anything to do about the things I didn't like about Black City. In fact, I actually enjoyed it and there wasn't anything I didn't like about it. I think Black City is actually a good read. It's very enjoyable, specially if you are a big fan of the genre and still can't get enough of Vampires and oppressive governments, but it didn't blow my mind as other Breathless Reads have such as Legend by Marie Lu, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, or Matched by Ally Condie. So would I recommend it? Yes, it wasn't epic, but it got a exciting plot, great characters and a good pace that will definitely provide a few hours of enjoyment.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2012 Nimue rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, dystopian, fantasy, romance, urban-fantasy, young-adult, vampire

First of all, and that might be a spoiler, but I have to mention: I had absolutely no clue that this book is about vampires! They are just called Darklings and they come in different kinds, like races. Anyway, this gave the story a completely different spin than I expected originally.

Dark City is set in an unpleasant dystopian future in Northern America (as usual). There are humans and the before mentioned Darklings and there was a war recently between them, through we don't get to know a lot ab...more First of all, and that might be a spoiler, but I have to mention: I had absolutely no clue that this book is about vampires! They are just called Darklings and they come in different kinds, like races. Anyway, this gave the story a completely different spin than I expected originally.

Dark City is set in an unpleasant dystopian future in Northern America (as usual). There are humans and the before mentioned Darklings and there was a war recently between them, through we don't get to know a lot about this. Darklings are segregated in a ghettos in all major surviving cities. Ash is a half-Darkling living with his human father in the human part of town. He is somebody you don't want to meet in the wrong part of town during the night. At least that's the impression he wants to give. He doesn't speak a lot and when he opens his mouth he is rough and rather impolite. Honestly I can understand his attitude as he pretty much a pariah and everybody at least loathes if not fears him. On the other hand he loves his father dearly and does everything to support him. I actually started care for him quite quickly. But I do like the underdogs in general.

However, Natalie, the female lead character, is hard to like, especially in the beginning. She had a privileged upbringing and hardly knows anything about the suffering of the common people. And she doesn't seem to care either. She is very judgemental and questions far too little. She is a clever girl so there is no excuse for not opening your eyes properly at least. On the other hand she grew up with a very demanding mother who doesn't have any motherly attributes. And most important Natalie hates Darklings after her father was killed by one.

The center piece of this book is the originally unexplainable attraction between Ash and Natalie. They absolutely distaste each other, and at the same time they are drawn to each other, strongly. This is one of this cases of instant love, but the author actually manges to pull it off. Kind of. I'm never a huge fan of instant-love/attraction. Anyway, there is at least a scientific explanation to all of this not just fate coming by. In general I liked the interactions between these involuntary lovers, who are growing out of their prejudice and become people who care about the future of all of them.

Black City is mainly an impossible love story, like Romeo and Juliet. In addition there is plenty of serious political scheming going on. Think in the dimension of genocide! Unfortunately Elizabeth Richards doesn't avoid some classic clichés like ... and that's the bummer I can't tell as this would be a substantial spoiler. But there is an edge to the whole love story which involves more than the two people in it. Quite a shocker actually.

Overall it's an intriguing read. The world building is sufficient and I guess we will get to know more in the next book as well. Natalie turns into a likeable person and Ash becomes only more gorgeous, though he isn't perfect, which again makes him only more adorable. The author also did a good job with the supporting characters, wo are in the beginning very cliche-like but overcome this problem soon. It's a decent start for a trilogy as I was reading through the book in one go.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 ๑ஜ๑ Jαѕмιиє ๑ஜ๑ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

After reading (17/1/13): I have mixed feelings about this one. Some parts were totally awesome, but others were just.. eh. There was more romance than I first anticipated, but I was in my rare mood for romance anyway, so I wont complain. And as I said a couple of books before this: when you don't get much time for books, you find it hard to hold a grudge much on the books you do get to read.
I'm caught between giving this a four or five, so I'll settle on four.

PS. The cover is the best part. I s...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 Gabrielle Carolina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: penguin, november, 2012-debut-author, own, didn-t-finish

2.5

I DNF Black City.

The plot was predictable, giving me the feeling of intense deja vu without concocting anything new.

"I shouldn't love him, he's got a bad label, but when we do fall for each other I'll discover his heart of gold!"

"She represents everything I hate, but when I see her compassionate, understanding side I will become obsessed with her- she will be the reason I take in breath."

I'm just done. Bored. I don't even hate the tropes anymore, because that's how little I can be bothered...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2013 Fuilteachapearl rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: no one

Recommended to Fuilteachapearl by: No one, my sis just bought it and I decided to read it

Shelves: eww-what-the, this-got-published-by-who-again, why-am-i-wasting-my-life-for-this, oh-my-gawd-oh-my-gawd-oh-my-gawd, and-im-gone-gone-gone, explain-the-reason-of-a-rough-draft

Starters:

Those who have enjoyed the book, and honestly have a right to their opinion and sometimes very much hate others for "dissing" their beloved books, for the sake of your and my time, don't read this. I have an opinion and so far we are still free to state it, so if don't like my review, tuff, I'm not changing it just so you can be happy.
THERE ARE SPOILERS!!!! DON'T READ FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!!!!
.....................................
Anyways.....

YES! The book! Where shall I ever start.....more

like · see review

Apr 11, 2013 Michaela Raschilla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal-romance

Well, it wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't mind blowing.

I had the enormous revelation at the beginning of the novel that it was a less tragic Romeo and Juliet but with vampires, well "darklings". I wasn't far off. (Calling back memories of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead: a movie filled with terrible literature puns involving vampires)Of course we have our star crossed lovers. The daughter of the cities emissary the son of the king of the darklings. They will fall in love and of course th...more Well, it wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't mind blowing.

I had the enormous revelation at the beginning of the novel that it was a less tragic Romeo and Juliet but with vampires, well "darklings". I wasn't far off. (Calling back memories of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead: a movie filled with terrible literature puns involving vampires)Of course we have our star crossed lovers. The daughter of the cities emissary the son of the king of the darklings. They will fall in love and of course their love will conquer all.

I will say that there was a strong point in the characters. I had emotional attachments to almost all of them. If I didn't love them for their quirk or their humor I hated them because they were ignorant sheep being led to a slaughter by their government. Personally I have an affinity to love the secondary characters more than the protagonists. No offense to the protagonists they still kick butt but I would rather curl up with their best friends. The same is true for this novel.

While Ash our dashing darkling is suave even in the times when he is imbecilic, his best friend Beetle's struggle with drug addiction and his choices in the past interested me far more. Likewise, while I could relate completely to Natalie in many ways and was utterly confused in others her best friend Day and her sister Polly were more heart warming. All of the characters were well developed and showed growth. They were realistic and both lovable and hate-able in all the right ways. Let's leave that be for a moment and talk about the other aspects of the novel.

The world building was alright. It has some of the classic dystopian elements: a world ravaged and scarred by war, the people divided, a government the performs atrocious experiments on their citizens, a courageous group of youngsters ready to stand up in arms against oppressive government that doesn't care about them, you know, the usual. None of the themes here were particularly alien to me so it was a comfortable environment to be in. You knew pretty much what to expect.

The one problem I found with this book is that it was extremely predictable. I saw all of the little signs left for me to connect the dots. The problem with this style of writing is I always get the feeling that the author thinks their readers are dim. Thinking that the readers wouldn't get the idea if all of the signs are lain out in front of them with flashing neon lights surrounding them. Ooh ooh look this is important, Chekhov's gun. While she does indeed tie them in to the story, it was slightly distracting to sit and wait for them to become important.

There were a few other things that took me off guard. Small things that were distracting but not really important but could have been easily mended. Those of course are just knit picky things.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and I did call out shenanigans when one character decided to be a dumb ass. It was a good read in an interesting world even if it was predictable and dare I say it unoriginal. You can read this book in countless other books in the genre, of course then you won't get to know the beauty that is Beetle and his Aunt Roach. Give it a go if you like paranormal romance of the temperate nature.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 26, 2013 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm only about a couple hundred pages in, and I am already finding myself growing more and more bored. The writing doesn't flow very smoothly, and there are several scenes reminiscent of Twilight (like the classroom/projector scene? Gripping the wooden desk so hard you leave dents? Glittering black eyes?)

Not to mention every other page filled with barely concealed info-dumps where I struggle not to glaze over.

The only reason why I'm trudging through the rest of this novel is because of the promi...more

like · see review

Mar 24, 2013 As Hot As Jack Frost rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, mythical-creatures, pretty-cover

Actual rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Hmm....it was okay. It had insta-love, though, which pretty much ruined the book. I absolutely detest insta-love, but this time I tolerated it enough to get through the book. Natalie was shallow. Ash was better than that, but I didn't "fall for him" as some people say they did. The minor characters were okay. Day, Natalie's friend, was all right although I kept on thinking of Legend whenever I read her name. (As another reviewer said, this book is a bit like L...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
SOS: Serious Over...: [Jan 2013] "Black City" Discussion Spoilers	12	72	Jan 11, 2013 09:27am
Black City Blog Tour and GIVEAWAY	1	17	Nov 13, 2012 01:06am
Does anyone have a copy they don't want?	1	17	Jul 23, 2012 12:05pm
Book Giveaways: Win A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont & an ARC of Black City by Elizabeth Richards	1	24	Feb 29, 2012 04:46pm

title link	preview: Black City
avg rating	preview: Black City Goodreads rating: 3.79 (2338 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12568505-black-city?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345736401l/12568505.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12568505-black-city?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Black City by Elizabeth Richards[/url]

Black City (Black City #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Elizabeth Richards

Books by Elizabeth Richards

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Black City