R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on + 1453 more book reviews
Black City is a dystopian love story or as some people believe maybe a dark urban fantasy. However classified, the lovers are on opposing sides. Natalie is an emissaryâs daughter, and Ash, a Darkling, sells a drug called Haze to support his family.
The city itself is dying. Buildings fall apart but no one repairs or replaces them so people live in fear, perhaps they will have no place to live or more bombs will fall as they did a year earlier during a brutal war. Darklings are restricted to a penitentiary like facility except for those like Ash who are part human. The term is twin-blood but, even they must wear identifying bracelets. Of course, Darklings want to be freed from the enclosure and may fight to become so. Black City may be about to surge into war again.
As a twin-blood, Ash lives in the city but feels alienated. Would he feel at ease if he lived inside with the full-blood Darklings? Maybe so or maybe not but he would be with many of family members. Natalie is lonely, too, but friendly, outgoing and cares about all the citizens of Black City including the Darklings. Other interesting characters are Beethe and Day. One might classify Beethe as a druggie but he's in love with Day who is kind, considerate and are Beethe and Day. One might classify Beethe as a druggie but he's in love with Day who is kind, considerate and in love with Beethe.
I like the characters and the plot that the author created. The forbidden love of Ash and Natalie is only part of the story. There are evil individuals including Sebastian, Gregory, Natalie's mom, and Purian Rose. Mom is manipulative and Purian Rose is certainly devious because while he leads church and state, he is unbelievably cruel, which he hides within his religious beliefs. A Darklling named is Natalie's maid and a friend to her..
The depth of the plot and the characters is gratifying. The interaction among the characters blends well with the world building. In all this is an entertaining and a very good read filled with fascinating action.
The city itself is dying. Buildings fall apart but no one repairs or replaces them so people live in fear, perhaps they will have no place to live or more bombs will fall as they did a year earlier during a brutal war. Darklings are restricted to a penitentiary like facility except for those like Ash who are part human. The term is twin-blood but, even they must wear identifying bracelets. Of course, Darklings want to be freed from the enclosure and may fight to become so. Black City may be about to surge into war again.
As a twin-blood, Ash lives in the city but feels alienated. Would he feel at ease if he lived inside with the full-blood Darklings? Maybe so or maybe not but he would be with many of family members. Natalie is lonely, too, but friendly, outgoing and cares about all the citizens of Black City including the Darklings. Other interesting characters are Beethe and Day. One might classify Beethe as a druggie but he's in love with Day who is kind, considerate and are Beethe and Day. One might classify Beethe as a druggie but he's in love with Day who is kind, considerate and in love with Beethe.
I like the characters and the plot that the author created. The forbidden love of Ash and Natalie is only part of the story. There are evil individuals including Sebastian, Gregory, Natalie's mom, and Purian Rose. Mom is manipulative and Purian Rose is certainly devious because while he leads church and state, he is unbelievably cruel, which he hides within his religious beliefs. A Darklling named is Natalie's maid and a friend to her..
The depth of the plot and the characters is gratifying. The interaction among the characters blends well with the world building. In all this is an entertaining and a very good read filled with fascinating action.
