BLACK CITY by Elizabeth Richards  
Hardcover, 384 pages 
Expected publication: November 13th 2012 by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
ISBN: 0399159436
Source: Publisher
Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥

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.

My Thoughts:

BLACK CITY by Elizabeth Richards is an amazingly unforgettable debut novel that integrates several genres while depicting some of the most dramatic scenes and hosting a myriad of memorable characters that will leave you breathless. At first the deluge of information may seem overwhelming but that thought is quickly dispelled as you become immersed within it's well paced storyline.

BLACK CITY is narrated from Natalie and Ash's POV. Natalie, being a human that has currently moved back into the Black City who's mother is a high ranking government official and hell bent on destroying all Darklings. Next is Ash, a rare twin-blood Darkling allowed to live within the city walls but not accepted by any means. Both contrasting characters, different in every way but undeniably attracted to one another.  Yet, the ongoing war between humans and Darklings will not allow their forbidden love to florish.

Wow! can I get a witness! This book had me totally hooked from the very first page, heck I wasn't even finished with the first page and I was already willing to go anywhere this story would take me. Elizabeth Richards has created something unique and immensely intriguing with Black City. The non-stop action, romance and wicked plot twists are  deftly depicted amongst the vivid back drop of a war torn city while moving at a steadfast pace that kept me wholly engaged. I truly could go on and on about this story but I don't want to ruin anything for the next reader that wants to encounter an astonishingly memorable read. 

I highly recommend BLACK CITY to those fans of Paranormal and Dystopian novels for it has the best elements of both genres. And although I believed I was uninterested with Vampire based reads, Elizabeth Richards has completely changed my mind on that fact and now I cannot wait for PHOENIX the next installment in this new series.