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Romance. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels. Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud�??and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection�??and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city�??including… (more)
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Quick & Dirty: A girl tries to move on with her life after losing her memory, but moving on means being a puppet in a political race with her parents.
Opening Sentence: The party has begun without me.
The Review:
Aria knows she loves Thomas Foster. At least
Mystics are outcasts — the ones who have the lower jobs and are never to be trusted. Yet at one time they helped build the city that is practically floating on stilts. But they became feared and thus the feuding Rose and Foster families took it into their hands to fix the mystic problems. So mystics are required to be drained of their power twice a year, leaving them as shells of their old self. But a rebellion is brewing of undrained mystics and even a union between a Rose and a Foster might not distract the citizens.
I think I’ve found my new favorite series. Imagine Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick as the first book in the series and you’ve pretty much got Mystic City in a nutshell. We don’t know Aria’s past and we don’t know about the dystopian world of Mystics and Aeries. Lawrence weaves an intriguing mystery full of action and suspense and pretty much everything you want in a YA dystopian book.
Hunter…oh my. He’s charming, sweet, and can knock a girl off her feet if he really tried. But he has his own secrets and obstacles to overcome. He thinks he’s doing the right thing by staying away from Aria, keeping her from danger and letting her live her life of high-end, classy materials. He’s strong not just physically but also mentally for having to endure the trials (sorry for being vague–can’t spoil the story!).
There were multiple consistency problems but that’s due to it being an ARC…but the fabulous writing and unpredictable plot makes up for it. The entire cast of characters are great in themselves, but I thought some of the minor characters could have been mentioned earlier in the story. Manhattan as a dystopian city is absolutely beautiful and can (and will) steal your breath away. Overall this has great potential and Lawrence will definitely be on my “debut-author-to-be-watched” list. I can’t wait until the next installment! (But first I got to wait for this book to come out…)
Notable Scene:
So little time is left.
“Take this.” He folds the locket into my hand. It throbs as if it has a pulse, giving off a faint white glow. “I’m sorry for putting you in danger.”
“I would do it all again,” I tell him. “A thousand times.”
He kisses me, softly at first, and then so fiercely I can hardly breathe. Rain falls, soaking us, splashing into the canals that twist through the hot, dark city. His chest heaves against mine. The sound of sirens–and gunshots–reverberates between the crumbling, waterlogged buildings.
My family is drawing closer.
“Go, Aria,” he pleads. “Before they get here.”
But footsteps are behind me now. Voices fill my ears. Fingers dig into my arms, tearing me away.
“I love you,” he says gently.
And then they take him. I scream in defiance, but it is too late.
My father emerges from the shadows. He aims the wicked barrel of his pistol at my head.
Inside me, something bursts.
I always knew this story would break my heart.
FTC Advisory: Delacorte Books for Young Readers/Random House provided me with a copy of Mystic City. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
The story is a bit complex (which in my opinion is a good thing)
When Aria wakes up after overdosing on a substance known as Stic, she has very little recollection of her past, and more surprisingly, how it is she became betrothed to Thomas Foster. She’s surprised to find that both families are at peace with the betrothal, and have agreed to put their family feud to rest should the two be married. They believe this will bring peace to the city and help them rise above the Mystics (magical humans who have the ability to do things like walk through walls, manipulate their surroundings, morph into things — think X-men). Regular humans fear the Mystics, yet they rely heavily on them. Mystics are drained of their powers regularly to supply the city with energy. It’s part of a long-standing agreement, but one several Mystics are not happy about.
As Aria tries to piece together her fragmented memory, she begins to unravel a web of deceit deeper than even she could have imagined. Searching for answers in the lower levels of Mystic, Aria meets a young man named Hunter who seems very familiar to her and conjures feelings that she should feel for Thomas. Hunter may hold the secrets she looks for, but the truth could cost her, and several others, their lives.
As I mentioned before, the story is a little complex, but I really liked it. The world is dark and gritty and dangerous, and the characters complex and engaging. It touches on themes of discrimination and acceptance and is a great study in power struggles in politics.
I did notice a few consistency problems, but this was an ARC and I’m sure they’ll be fixed before publication. I enjoyed the writing and the story. This is one I would recommend to lovers of fantasy and sci-fi. It also has a nice romance that even I was able to buy into. I will definitely buy a copy of this for my shelves.
Aria is a socialite and daughter to one of the crime lords who runs
This is a very entertaining dystopian read. It blends a lot of interesting genres. The stories have a high society taste to them (think Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz). They also have a mafia theme (since Aria’s father is a crimelord). Added to this is an interesting post-apocalyptic world in which a fascinating race of people called Mystics can use magic in wonderful ways; when they are not having it drained out of them. On top of all of this Aria is dealing with horrible memory loss.
Imagine being thrust into an engagement with your sworn enemy in a complex post-apocalyptic world. People tell you, you love this man Thomas but you can’t even barely remember him. Aria is a fascinating heroine that handles all of this fairly well. She has many aspects to her personality and I really enjoyed her. She can handle the faking it in high society, she can handle the adventure of the Depths. Despite her crime-based family she questions the morality of things around her and wants to do what’s right. She is determined to find out the truth. Aria comes off as likable, realistic, and easy to engage with I really enjoyed her a lot.
Hunter is the Mystic who saves Aria’s life on a balcony, and keeps popping up places. Hunter is also a very enjoyable character; he is funny, capable, and mysterious.
The relationship between the two is absolutely amazing. I love how they interact and buck all of societies trends to find out the truth and try to fix things. You have two people from two absolutely different parts of society, but their placement within their societies is such that they could change the whole world.
This is a very creative world. The specifics of what is going on to create this post-apocalyptic type situation aren’t gone into in much detail. We know the water level has risen because of rising global temperatures. We know because of this vast portions of LA are under water. The biggest thing I loved about this world though were the Mystics.
The Mystics can use magic in fascinating ways but are persecuted as a danger to humanity. I loved the scenes with the Mystics and their awesome magic. I love how the Mystics presence is integrated into the history of this world and its past. Even more interesting is how the crimelords who run the city drain the Mystics for power to keep the city running.
There are some fun twists in the story. Parts of the story are a bit predictable but there was enough going on that I was never bored and could never fully predict what would happen next. The book was excellently written, there are wonderful descriptions throughout and excellent pacing.
My only complaint is that I would love to know more about why this world is how it is. I would also like to know more about the world outside of LA.
Overall I really loved this book. The idea of throwing a magical race of humans into a post-apocalyptic setting is lots of fun and something I’ve never read before. I love how Aria has to struggle not only through politics and daily life, but with her memory loss to piece together what is happening. Aria and Hunter have a wonderful relationship and I enjoyed how it built over time. I am so excited to see what happens next with the Mystics and their struggle for equality. Highly recommended to those who love fantasy and YA dystopian novels.
The most important part of this book was the setting. Hands down. Without that, this book wouldn't work. This was a futuristic NYC with technology that ran completely on mystic energy. Electricity was never mentioned but I am assuming they don't use it anymore. There were two areas of NYC: The Depths, which was a lot like a futuristic Venice, complete with flooded canals and gondolas; and, The Aeries, which was where all the rich people and government officials lived. They lived up at the tops of skyscrapers with bridges and roads and futuristic mystic-powered trains connecting them. I kinda loved the world building. It reminded me of a cross between Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X and Stark from the computer game The Longest Journey and Dreamfall. Incidentally, if you haven't played any of those games, you are truly missing out.
But here's the thing. As much as I loved the setting, I just feel like it fell sort of flat. The writing wasn't vivid. There was a lot of telling. I was missing sensory language and description that would have made me more able to mentally picture the setting, which I think was a huge part of why the book sort of failed for me. I hate to use that word, because I did like parts of it. But without a believable, vivid setting, I am going to complain. I am such a sucker for a great setting, and very rarely do I love books that don't have one.
Where the book shined though was in its story. I actually really loved the story. It was suspenseful, exciting, and truly kept me turning those pages. I didn't love the characters but I didn't dislike them, and to a point I cared what happened to them, which was enough for me to really enjoy what was going on. Basically, the rich government that lives in The Aeries controls the city. Aria is the daughter of a powerful family that has their hands deep in the corrupt government. She is engaged and supposedly in love with the other powerful family's son, Thomas. Problem is, she has no recollection of falling in love with him and getting engaged. They claim she overdosed on drugs and lost her memory. But right away, we know something is afoot.
She meets Hunter, a boy from The Depths and she starts to question all she has been told. And that is really where the story begins. It's kind of got a Romeo and Juliet vibe complete with guns and organized crime. I can't tell you much without revealing spoilers, but there is a ton of action and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I loved the magic in this book. I thought it was brilliantly rendered. But the city itself, not so much. It's hard to explain in words.
I liked Aria. I thought she was written well. She wasn't a favorite character and there were times when she did get on my nerves, but for the most part I found myself rooting for her. I don't understand why she put up with some of the crap that she did, and I don't get why she didn't stand up for herself more, but every character is supposed to have flaws. It makes them more realistic. It's just all about whether the reader can deal with those flaws. And in this case I could, because I respected a lot of the relationships she had with the people around her.
One thing I don't get though? And I am not sure if this is a plot hole or what, but why didn't she and Hunter just leave? If there are other mystic cities out there (as is mentioned more than once), why didn't they just LEAVE? Sneak out? It was never even an option! But if you are so worried about getting killed and you truly love each other, pack up your sh*t AND GO! Maybe I missed something, but I never could figure that out.
Anyway, I don't want to tell anyone not to read this book. Because most of it I really enjoyed. I'm going to read the next one. I think a lot of the problems I had might be personal ones. I have particular preferences that another reader might not have. In some cases, I feel like I am nitpicking. But somehow parts of this book did not work for me. That doesn't mean they won't work for you. You know that if I found a book absolutely terrible and not worth reading, I would say so. This is not one of those books. So take from that what you will.
Aria finds herself with missing some of her memories due to a drug overdosed. Memories like that of her secretive romance with
I was surprised at how much I hated Aria’s parents at the end of the book. A few of the characters seem a bit one dimensional to me but I will say that the ending left me wondering what will happen Aria.
As I began to read however, I began to really enjoy the world being created here. I think of it as an Alternate Universe, X-men type world where they came out, them being the Mystics. In shows and comics where people with powers come out there is always the whole "normal people will not accept us" but as they are usually "beginnings" stories, we never quite see what would happen if people didn't accept them due to fear and prejudice. Mystic City is that world.
The plot itself follows the daughter of one of the major politicians who have been pushing down the Mystics and using their powers to fuel the city. She wakes up with no memories and is told that she had had a drug overdose, but before than had revealed that she had been sneaking around with her father's political rival and are now engaged, a true Romeo and Juliet story… right?
I really enjoy the idea of telling the story after the true courting already happened. It also takes care of that pesky insta-love issue Young Adult Romance books tend to have. It also gave the main character, Aria, a good sense of paranoia to begin with, instead of a naïve rich girl that she could have been.
There are many parts that the mystery is completely obvious, but there are others that took me completely by surprise. The pacing is well done, and the end had me gripped. I don't know if there's sequel planned, but honestly I wish the book had gone further, setting up for Aria's next step as opposed to just rehashing the aftermath.
Overall this book was not the most amazing book I've read in my life that blew my mind, but I also enjoyed it and I'll probably read it again at sometime and recommend it to friends who enjoy a bit of romantic escapism.
Aria Rose, a young woman
And so Hunter is introduced to the story - and we have that love triangle that has become the standard in young adult literature.
Love triangles aside, there was some real depth to this story. There is the struggle between high and low classes which include a form of torture in order to keep that class structure intact. There are themes of revolution, true love and sacrifice, and selflessness which keep the story one that survives any parts which might tip over into the cliche.
I really enjoyed the kickoff to this series and will be watching for Lawrence's future novels as they are released. It was nice to be more futuristic and still have that fantasy feel - and it was also nice to see the setting one that was familiar here without taking the city into a post-apocalyptic type feel.
There really is no other way for me to describe it...
This story takes place in a an apocalyptic-Manhattan known as Aeries, where the upper elite live in apartment buildings built on high stilts above the Depths, which is what
Aria Rose wakes up one day, and has no idea what is going on and how she got into her current situation. Confused, she doesn't remember what caused her "accident", why she doesn't remember anything and most of all, she has a fiance?! And to make things even more complicated, her fiance is Thomas Foster! Wouldn't she remember having a secret love affair with their family's nemesis! And how is it that both families have taken to their deceit and love affair so easily and quickly. And how is it that she can remember everything except for the last week of her life, and him - things just don't add up...
Aria is desperate to make a connection with Thomas - shouldn't she be able to feel her love for him even if she can't remember anything? When he looks at her, or even touches her arm - shouldn't that touch burn through her and remind her of what they had? or have? She decides that if she did it once before, she can do it again - she must sneak over and speak to Thomas in private. Maybe then, going through what she has supposedly done may times before, will help her regain her memories.
As she's trying to sneak through the city by going through the Depths and tries to remember what paths she would have traveled to get to Thomas, where they must have hidden and met, she gets into some trouble... and then she meets Hunter - a rebel Mystic.
Mystics are humans with magical powers - they have been outcast-ed as dangerous and uncaring, the government has forced them to register and their abilities are drained and used to power the city.
Aria has been taught in school that these people are menacing, dangerous and to be feared. But when she meets Hunter, and others, she sees for herself that the things that she has been told since the day she was born has all been a lie... and why does Hunter intrigue her so much? Why is it that every time he touches her, it burns right through her? Is it because of his powers...
I have to admit, I was a teeny bit disappointed in the love story here. Led to believe that there would be a love triangle of some sort, no, no there isn't. So for those of you who hate love triangle, rejoice!
There was so many clues as to what really happened to Aria and who her true love is - and she failed miserably so many times to realize any of it. Could it possibly be that she buried her head in denial, unable to accept what her family is capable of? Perhaps. But, there was just too many instances and it made me really frustrated with her... I would have liked to have seen more passion in the end. I was a bit disappointed with their "undying love" moment. BUT, I do have to admit, that after all is said and done, Aria does come into her own and completely owns up to everything. From the beginning she was determined to discover everything on her own, and now that things have changed, she is determined to face what has happened and take on full responsibility.
I am SO looking forward to the next book in this series! Overall, Theo Lawrence did a fabulous job - I really enjoyed the storytelling and world building he did here. And the gorgeous cover really does have an impact and represents Mystic City perfectly. Can't wait to find out what will happen to Aria, Hunter and their families.
With that said
I was attracted to the personality of Aria Rose almost immediately. She came off as strong and independent, even though the circumstances could have rendered her the complete opposite. I've read about too many female leads in dystopian worlds who were just plain whiny, cowardly and irresponsible. Aria had an honest heart, and stuck to her cause until the very end-I loved that.
The violence in this novel kind of took me by surprise, but not in a way that made me want to put it down. Quite the opposite-I admired the author's no holds barred action scenes. It was to the point and wasted no time with unnecessary logic and dialogue. I felt like the scenes were well placed and had just the right amount of thrill.
I absolutely loved the secondary characters, especially Hunter and Davida. They were diverse in the their characteristics, and in my opinion, really helped to drive the story forward. Through these characters, and others, Mr.Lawrence was very successful in giving the readers a perspective from both sides-life in the "Depths" below and life in the "Aeries" above. I'm SO excited to read more of their stories in the second novel-Renegade Squad.
I recommend this book for people still experiencing Hunger Games withdrawal symptoms. It will soothe some of your longing, I promise!
I suppose my biggest issue with the story is that it was a bit predictable. There were quite a few plot elements that I figured out in the beginning of the story, but it took Aria a very long time to put everything together. To be fair, the reasons Aria had difficulty putting the pieces of the puzzle together are understandable, but it didn’t make the plot any less predictable from a reader’s perspective.
I did enjoy the forbidden love story, but I think I needed Aria to be a bit braver and slightly more action-oriented for me to really love it. I also needed our “Romeo” & “Juliet” to fight for each other in the beginning and “Romeo” was just too distant at the beginning for my tastes.
The ending of Mystic City also didn’t really feel complete to me. There was a lot of tragedy in the end, but I wasn’t really attached to the characters so it wasn’t very emotional or captivating to me. Really good stories pull you into the action and it’s like you’re right there with the characters. With Mystic City, however I felt more like a distant observer than a thoroughly engaged reading.
While Mystic City was enjoyable enough, nothing about the book particularly stands out. The plot is a bit predictable, the characters are just ok, and the writing didn’t fully engross me the way I wanted it to.
Aria is an excellent leading character. There were times that I wanted to smack her, but overall, she was strong and intelligent. Her friends, however, were anything but. Kiki is obnoxious and such a cookie cutter character that I couldn't stand to read about her. Bennie is okay, but nothing terrific. Thomas is a jerk, and I can't stand him. I adore Hunter and Turk, though! Also, some of the secondary characters, such as Elissa and Benedict are extremely interesting. The Roses and the Fosters are both terrifying, and I could not believe the awful things that they do in the name of power.
The plot is unique and captivating. I had the mystery figured out with Aria pretty early on, but I still couldn't put the book down. I had to know when she'd figure it out and who else knew what was going on. I also had to know what else was going to happen before she figured everything out. That being said, there still were plenty of surprises! Some of the events really shocked me, and it was all I could do not to flip to the end to see how things end up. Needless to say, this novel is extremely suspenseful. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time. Lawrence definitely kept me guessing, and that's a good thing!
The world-building is okay, but sometimes I felt that there was so much description that the author was showing more than telling. For the most part, things are pretty balanced, though, and a lot of the descriptions may be edited out before the final version is released. The pacing is pretty spot-on, though it does drag a little bit in the beginning. I would have liked for things to come together more quickly. For the most part, though, I have no complaints. The ending is excellent. It ties up a lot of the loose ends, but leaves room for the sequel.
Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves dystopian fantasies. You will not be disappointed!
Review: I heart this book. It was a mix of a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the dystopian genre, fantasy, and futuristic society. Enemies become lovers, there are mystics-people with power, Manhattan has flooded and the mystics and their families must live in the flooded portions while the rich and normal live above the city, in modern skyscrapers. The setting of this plot was amazing, taking a modern well-known area and creating a dystipian society as well as a futuristic one, was a fun spin on things.
The plot much like the setting was very well pieced together, you are always left questioning things and wanting to read more. Aria's family are troubled and headstrong with power, while she is just trying to get through life. Aria is the gentle of her family, still ignorant to the outside world because of a filtered life, but she has compassion for other beings. She was a pleasure to follow through her story.
What I think works so well in this book is that from the beginning Aria questions her place, however even while questioning she does try to follow her parents orders. I think that in most teen stories the teens can be overly defiant, Aria on the other hand is more realistic, in that she would like to rebel, but wants more answers before she does. I really liked that about her.
As the story proceeds you learn more about Thomas and Aria’s engagement and previous secret romance and the pieces slowly come together.
I really enjoyed this book, the action and suspense is fun and leaves you full of anxiety. Can't wait for more.
Mystic City is dystopian fantasy story that manages effortlessly blends the magic of the mystics into a futuristic
I really liked Aria. Although her family was one of the elite, she wasn't snobby nor judgmental towards the 'lower class' mystics, or even her overly-privileged friends. Her confusion between her two love interests, Thomas and Hunter, was well played, although the differences between the two boys actually makes it easier to predict what actually happened to Aria.
This was an awesome start to a new series and I look forward to reading more from Lawrence.
The first part of the book takes you through Aria's engagement party. An engagement that has the entire city
Enter Hunter. Hunter, the saving grace of this story. Well, somewhat. Mystic City's pace picks up in part two. Aria, unknowingly, makes some connections with people from her past. Pieces begin to fall into place for the reader. Aria herself does not catch on so quickly. She becomes more caring and all around stronger character. The true personalities of the people in Aria's life show themselves and they are far, far from good. Seriously, this girl has some horrid family members! Hunter is pretty wonderful though, but perhaps a bit soft at times.
The story of Aria and Hunter finding each other is a sweet one and the world that Lawrence builds is very interesting. It is post global warming Manhattan, where people have been forced to build up and live high above the flooded streets of the past. Only those with "mystic" powers still live below, those who will be drained to power the city in the sky.
I don't understand where these mystical powers came from, there is nothing that really explains it. I found that somewhat odd, since the rest of the world is fairly realistic. But it is an interesting twist and I liked the range of the different powers.
Part three was even more exciting. Things really hit the fan and Aria is fighting not only for her life but for the lives of those she's come to care about and love. The ending really leaves a lot of room for future installments, I'm not quite sure if I am sold though. It's an all right read and I think there will be many who will enjoy it. I just needed a bit more action.
2.5 Stars
Which isn't a bad thing - the plot moves at a quick pace and manages to mostly keep everything in order. There were a few twists and turns (esp. at the end) that probably weren't necessary, but it wasn't enough of a wrench to really throw me off the storyline.
Lawrence dives right into the intrigue - which totally works! - but because the world is kind of...presented as we go, some of the elements can be seen as convenient rather that a restraint of the new world.
I liked all the main characters. I thought some of the secondary characters (Thomas, specifically, and all of Aria's friends) were a bit thin and stereotypical. I also want my villains to be robust and I was left wanting in that category.
But, as I mentioned above, this is a very fast book. Action ALL OVER THE PLACE. And quite a thriller. I'm very, very interested to see what happens in the second book. I just hope a lot of these sort of sloppy elements are cleaned up a bit.
Aria's Family = Crazy as all hell
Aria's Friends = Shallow and annoying
That's really all there is to say. I could waste time ranting and raving about this book, but I won't. Why? Because I don't really care. I don't care about any of the characters. I didn't form any attachments to
This was a terrifically light read with great world-building (which accounts for it being a page-turner for me) & stock characters.
I space out my YA reads because I need distance to avoid the sameness I start to see if I read them in close succession. So, I had been waiting a while
I wanted to know more about virtually everyone else in the story. Thomas (more interesting than I think the writer intended), Kyle, Davida, Kiki, Bennie, both sets of parents, Violet, Elissa, Benedict. You get the point. Aria can only be excused for part of her blandness as she has selective amnesia. Ostensibly she never had a deep thought, question or clue of anything in her world before her amnesia set in but now that it has, she's just a lightning rod for finding everything & everyone so unsatisfying & stifling. It's laughable & annoying altogether. I didn't so much root for her as tolerate her to get information on what's happening in the story. Apparently, all Aria's girlfriends are first class twits too (the writing of them is so heavy handed to make them unlikable) but she was close to them before her "accident" so I can only assume that Aria too was a socially scathing twit until she met the awesome that is Hunter & he changed her whole outlook to the point that she needed her mind wiped. Aria seems to be another YA heroine in a long line of them that has friends she regards almost contemptibly yet they seem never to tire of her & think she's irrefutably wonderful. They always invite her out, throw her parties, simper when they don't receive her adoration in kind, their calls & texts go unanswered by her & yet they never really call her out for ignoring them & she never has to display any sort of interest in their lives because she's so self-involved. I ask myself for the millionth time, where does one find friends like these? I only hear of them in books & they never resemble any of the friendships I've had with my girlfriends as a teen or an adult woman. A conundrum, to be sure.
In other character oddities, Aria also takes that a guy hasn't shaved for the day & has a hint of stubble as meaning he has an air of danger & trouble about him. This would be less stupid if she didn't also know that her father is a criminal overlord, clean shaven & impeccably coiffed & she's lived with gun toting, hulking bodyguards her entire life. Sadly, Aria racks up more inconsistencies & I don't have the inclination to list the rest here. Hunter has a lot to go to get real cred as the story's "bad boy" because currently, it's basically his zip code that clinches it for him & not his actual personality, such as it is or his actions. If the author couldn't be bothered to give him layers, then neither can I care too deeply.
Two bores together do not a blistering (or interesting) love story make & that's just what we are given in Aria & Hunter. Mary & Gary Stu in bland bliss with all the Deux Ex Machina luck that comes with the assignation. They fit in the slots well enough but there's nothing even remotely new here. There's no real triangle angst even with Thomas in the mix & I really didn't feel any tension or moral outrage about Gretchen on Aria's behalf. She had Stu, I mean Hunter, so no big deal. I don't care if they refer to themselves as Romeo & Juliet, this is no soul stirring retelling of The Bard. And, they're still alive at the end of the story so... again, no.
I'll read the next because I want to know more about the aftermath of the showdown in the Depths & I think the author's way with world-building (the description of the mystic's power is very well done) is worth reading another. Maybe there'll be some decent people to be found in the Aeries other than the sainted Aria. You know, other wealthy people working to support the cause of freedom & equality. Surely the inhabitants above are no more a monolith than the people in the Depths. There needs to be a lot more grey and less White Hat/Black Hat happening for me to really buy into this having a tight plot. I'm going to hope Aria & Hunter turn it up on the interesting metre also.
The characters were fairly flat and scenes were repetitive (they eat dinner and skulk around dark alleyways A LOT).
My biggest problem was that the foreshadowing was way too heavy handed. I wasn't surprised by anything in this book. I knew who was evil, what the big twists were, etc.
I think I'll be skipping the sequel.
For decades the Roses and the Fosters have been rival families, one ruling the East of Mystic City, the other the West, only now Aria finds herself engaged to Thomas Foster.
Their marriage will solidify a great political union and bring together Aeries -the privileged ones living about the city - against the mystics banished to the the Depths below.
If only Aria could remember this supposed great love . . .
It's not until she encounters Hunter, one of the mystics living below the city, that Aria thinks she might be even starting to start to remember something. It doesn't seem as if everything is as she's been told - about her memory loss or anything else.
The premise of Mystic City with its rival families, society castes, and a girl who may be about to uncover the truth behind what's she's always been told her entire life, sounded really fantastic. For some crazy reason, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the story at first. At first it seemed like certain things were just too easy to predict or that it was too obvious what was too come.
As I kept reading, though, Mystic City really grabbed me, it became really engrossing. The things that I thought were too obvious or made an outcome too clear turned out to either be purposely that obvious, so that they would be guessed and figured out - or they only seemed so clear-cut so that when it turned out not to be what you thought, it would be surprising (but never not believable).
Aria's memory loss plays well. The reader is allowed to get a few steps ahead of her, seeing things she can't - or won't - see about both the story and the characters. At times it does get frustrating, as you do want her to wise up and see something or someone for what it is, but that's not who she is or where she is. It does get to a point that her naivete, however, is kind of pushing it - I felt a sort of 70/30 pull between thinking it fit her character and being frustrated with her, thinking she was being a bit dense.
The design of Mystic City reminded me a bit of what Julie Kagawa had designed in The Immortal Rules. Here we get a really good description of the different areas/levels, especially the Depths but I do wish there had been a bit more on how the city as a whole connected. Maybe I just had trouble picturing all of it. I did love that the environment, transportation, and things from the modern day were all taken into account when building this new, future city.
The characters and the emotion, not to mention the plot are fantastic in Theo Lawrence's Mystic City, Mystic City #1 and will leave you eagerly awaiting the second book in this trilogy.
Rating: 9/10
digitial galley received from publisher through NetGalley - thank you!
Unfortunately, it's pretty clear that this book and I are not going to get along. The writing is a bit stiff, there's definitely more telling than showing going on, and the dialogue is just . . . bad. I'm sorry, but I can't get into it.
Unfortunately, it's pretty clear that this book and I are not going to get along. The writing is a bit stiff, there's definitely more telling than showing going on, and the dialogue is just . . . bad. I'm sorry, but I can't get into it.
I honestly have not read a more intriguing, unique, captivating Young Adult book since the Hunger Games. It was everything I look for in a book and more. There were magical elements that take you to a new place and let's
I was sucked in from page one and didn't want it to end. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat and the secrets/lies held me captive. Hunter was definitely my favorite character in the book. I loved how he had to remind Aria of the love they once had. Together they had to trust one another and go against everything they stood for to save the world they live in. It was an Amazing love story that brought so much to the table!
I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 and see what happens next.
Aria wakes with a lack of
I can't deny that the characters are what really drew me in. While Aria isn't the type of protagonist I'm usually drawn to, I did find her interesting. The fact that she was willing to question things, even when she was assured on all sides that her memories were fine, made me smile. Of course once Hunter came into the picture you couldn't have stopped me reading if you wanted to. Funny, kind, and absolutely intriguing, Hunter is a character to swoon over. You'll get no spoilers from me, but their story is wonderful.
My one wish for Mystic City was that the world building was a little more solid. Let's be honest, a futuristic New York is just too delicious not to describe! I was teased with a look at a world that is split in two. The rich live above the filth, and the poor in it. New gadgets and technology rule the day, and people are constantly monitored no matter where they go. I really wanted more showing and less telling. When Lawrence was describing, it was gorgeous. All I wanted was more. I'm hoping that the next in the series will help me further dive into this new setting.
Despite any small qualms that I may have had with the world building though, I really enjoyed Mystic City! I blame my Fantasy addled brain for the lack of five stars, because quite honestly the story line and characters together are more than enough to keep you reading this book. Readers of dystopian, fantasy and even romance will all find something to love here. I will happily admit that I am eager for more!