Review: Wings by Elizabeth Richards

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Title: Wings
Series: Black City #3
Publication: June 12, 2014
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Source: Publisher

Synopsis
Following the cliffhanger ending of Phoenix, Natalie finds herself separated from Ash and unexpectedly reunited with her parents, including the father she thought was dead. But she can only think of Ash. She hasn't heard a word of him since she and Elijah were brought to the underground headquarters of the Sentry Rebellion. But she vows to find him.

Ash, meanwhile is back in Black City; it's the perfect place to hide from the Sentry government. But not for long. He won't give up on Natalie or bringing an end to the terrible reign of Purian Rose.

A pulse-racing end to an exciting series.

Natalie finds herself separated from Ash, she tries her best to get a rescue mission sent out to find him but the Commander in charge doesn't want to risk his resources. The Rebellion is planning an attack on Purian Rose soon and she wants in. Natalie hopes to keep the promise she made to her sister to kill him. Ash's determined to find the weapon that truly bring Rose to his knees but it isn't exactly what he thought and he may have to make a sacrifice to make it work. I liked the fast pace of the writing for this book and how Richards gives insight into Rose's background, it makes him seem more human but still a monster. His secret was a complete surprise to me yet it makes sense, no matter how extreme his motivations have been throughout this trilogy. What he hopes to carry out is insane and the Rebellion has a fight on their hands if they want to end his madness. The characters are tough, they go through so much in these books and develop into strong people. Overall, I think this is a great end to their story. 

Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Title: Phoenix
Series: Black City #2
Publication: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenille
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
~Website

Goodreads 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.

Natalie is struggling with a secret that she's afraid will tear her and Ash apart. Purian Rose threatens everything she loves and her future with Ash. Ash has a tremendous weight on his shoulders as he is the figure-head for the rebellion and hope for his people but when Rose corners him, he questions what's more important, the good of the people or the girl he loves. Should he save one and sacrifice the lives of the many that support the cause? What he decides will set into motion an emotionally charged and dangerous quest to find a promising solution to end Rose's tyrannous reign. 

This book is a good continuation from the first book. Ash and Natalie are together but the destruction that could be caused by Rose's law causes strain on their relationship. They both have secrets, which threaten to tear them apart and an old "friend", Elijah reappears. It's clear to Ash that Elijah from the way he looks at Natalie that he wants her but what hurts him more the attraction he sees in her eyes. Ash begins doubt their love will survive especially when Natalie seems to become more withdrawn from him. Ash and Natalie have so much to lose in this game of love and war. 

I liked how the events transpired in this book and the writing has a steady balance to keep the pace going with the emotional tempo and action sequences. The characters have developed nicely, I didn't think Purian Rose could get anymore evil but he does his job so well. Ash and Natalie seem more fragile and their bond becomes strained by outside forces in many ways. Overall, this vividly detailed world has loads of distrust and betrayal that I think anyone that's craving action and romantic angst will enjoy. 

"Waiting On" Wednesday #6: Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards
Release Date: June 4, 2013

Goodreads Synopsis
Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.

What new release are you waiting to read? 

Arc Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Title: Black City
Publication: November 13, 2012
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Rating: 4 out 5

Synopsis

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.

Refreshing and original. 

Ash is a twin blood meaning he has no heartbeat, which is one of things he craves other than Natalie. He fits into neither human nor the Darkling world and desires to someday see the family that the wall keeps him from being with. At a young age his mother left to be with her lover, leaving him with his human father. Ash is an interesting character; he is more than those surrounding him believe. They see him as the Haze drug dealer, the heartless Darkling but Ash is a good bad boy and a preacher's son. Sound good to you yet? Wait there is more.

Natalie is expected to be obedient and follow the rules as the good Emissary daughter that she is.... not. She is rebellious and brave. She was forced to watch her father die at the hands of a sinister enemy and her sister forever deformed from that encounter. Her mother is cold, unfeeling and more concerned about her own political games, whatever they may be. Her behavior towards Natalie is shocking and confusing. She suddenly decides to send Natalie where she becomes drawn to Ash, the one boy she is forbidden to be with and the consequences are death if they are found. But for some reason she can't resist the tug that pulses within her heart whenever Ash is near. Do they risk everything to be together or will the sparks just be stifled flames.

It seems as if the author took a blend of genres and combined them to make this book. You have vampires who have two hearts, their hair moves to seek out available blood and they are being treated horribly by the government. There is no secrecy about their existence. Feels like everything I've read lately has some sort of dystopian aspect and this book is no exception. The government seeks to control the people by making them believe that the Darklings are bad and they should vote for Purian Rose's Law to not integrate the two races. So many things are going on in this book from the romance, pending uproar and the political struggles...

I really like the characters in this book; I think they are well developed. The concept of this work is fascinating and I look forward to what happens in the next installment. I think vampire lovers will find this take on the lore to be interesting. Told from the perspectives of Ash and Natalie, this made for a good read, so check it out! 

*Received this book from Around the World Arc Tours*