Sunday, August 11, 2013

Review: Phoenix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards


Amazon
Barnes and Noble

My Rating: 5

Synopsis:
Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s Law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

When Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings, her fate is sealed. Enter Elijah Theroux, the handsome Bastet boy Natalie once saved from her mother’s labs, where he’d been experimented on and tortured. It was his venom the Sentry used to create the lethal Golden Haze, the heart of the government conspiracy that led to Black City’s uprising and Ash’s rebirth as the Phoenix, the face of the rebellion. Elijah is back and Ash doesn’t like him; it’s clear he’s taken with Natalie, and Ash fears she may have feelings for him as well.

But Elijah also may have the answer to taking down Purian Rose for good—a powerful weapon called the Ora. Ash, Natalie and Elijah just have to escape Black City undetected to find it. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon (if it even exists) are easier said than done, and the quest could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.

This enthralling sequel to Black City is just as absorbing, delicious and steamy as the first book, leaving readers hungry for the series conclusion.


My Review:

Black City blew me away, and Phoenix proved to be a worthy sequel, deepening my love of the series as a whole. Which is very strong, and maybe more than a little creepy. Phoenix was absolutely stunning, a unique dystopian masterpiece.

Ash and Natalie continued to be excellent voices to tell the story, and both of them happen to be extremely likable characters. Not that either of them are perfect, but I could not help rooting for both them and their relationship the entire time.

Speaking of their relationship. I have read a lot of YA books, and almost all of them have involved romance to a degree, the majority in a greater detail. Still, Ash and Natalie have to be one of my favorite couplings ever. Even when tension is high, they have a love that is both heart-warming and deliciously steamy. I can't get enough of it.

Characters who were not as prevalent make great appearances in Phoenix. One of my favorites being Elijah, who is reason enough to run to your nearest bookstore or click over to your favorite online seller and make sure you can get your hands on this.

Both Black City and Phoenix have some of the best themes and description that I have read. The different races and the discrimination and reactions between them brought up incredibly and horrifying real mirroring of history. The great descriptions of the Darklings and the other races just add to this incredible world readers can be transported into.

With beautiful writing, countless plot turns, heart stopping suspense, and addicting dark tones, Phoenix will have readers emotionally exhausted and hungry for more.


New to the series? You can buy the first novel Black City here (B&N) or here (Amazon)
Also, you can read my review of Black City here

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