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.

I admit, I was hesitant to start Black City. It’s been sitting on my bookshelf for months and I’ve been putting off reading it for who knows why. This book was spectacular. I honestly couldn’t stop reading. Black City kept me up reading well passed the time I usually go to sleep. Even after I had finish reading, Black City was still stuck in my mind. Even now, two days later, I can’t even form eloquent words to explain how much I enjoyed reading Black City.

The dystopian novel trend has been really big, so I’m always apprehensive when starting a new dystopian novel. Elizabeth Richards took this novel above and beyond my expectations. Her world-building was amazing and you can’t help but get lost in what Richard’s has created.

The characters in Black City were so well written. Ash made me swoon on every page. Natalie, though sometimes slightly annoying, was well written and believable. These characters were relatable despite being in a different world. I loved reading about them and am looking forward to hearing more about their lives in the next novel.

Black City was a fantastic novel that I really liked reading. It was well-written, addicting, and just plain beautiful. Richards is a mastermind of dystopian young adult literature. I can’t wait to read the sequel to Black City!

FTC- Received from publisher.