Rating: 4.5/5
Blurb: 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 herself.
Blurb: 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 herself.
REVIEW:
I
read Ely’s review of Mystic City by Theo Lawrence before I wrote mine, because
I pretty much am sure that we have the same things to say about this book, and
when I read it, it just confirmed it.
I’m
not going to lie. This is going to involve spoilers so if you would like to
read a review without any spoilers click here to read Ely’s.
Alright!
Down to business.
Theo
Lawrence, you do know how to construct a plot. I agree on most parts being
predictable, but as Ely said, there were many things that weren’t predictable
as well. Like Patrick Bennedict. I was so taken a back by that one. And with
the other ones, you begin to suspect people a page before or so. Like Elissa.
When she kicked that can, I was like, “Yup. She’s an enemy. Nobody kicks cans
like that.” But aside from those things, Lawrence introduced answers at the
perfect time, and I applaud him for that. I hope Theo hears them!
And
another thing I agree with Ely, is the world building. It was really quite
interesting on how this world was formed. The use of gondolas, and the Mystic
lights. It was different from all the other Dystopians books I read. It seemed
to dwell more into the details of the world, not just the overlay.
Aria
was a nice character to read. You didn’t have to yell at her to believe, she
sought all the evidence and agreed on it herself. Good on you Heroine! Nice
one!
I
think my favourite part would have to be when Hunter and Aria were escaping
from Aria’s house once they were caught, and they just slipped through the
walls. I was so excited.
Davida
being promised to Hunter! Being him! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? THAT WAS SO CRUEL.
BUT AWESOME.
I
don’t know if it was just me, but I preferred that the first meeting of Hunter
and Aria after Aria had her memories erased. The actual first one made Aria
sound really stuck up and more like her mother than ever, and quite rude. And
that just didn’t feel like Aria to me. Even if she was rude I was used to her
apologizing because of it. Hunter there’s another story. He just dropped down
and fell for her and I was like, “NO. NO. NO, GIVE HER SOMETHING TO RUN FOR.”
But no. That didn’t happen. I preferred when he was sneaking up on Aria and
when he saved her from those wicked poor people. Aside from that, those love
letters were really cheesy, if I say so myself. I think I can say that I like
the present Aria, not the past Aria…if that kind of makes sense?
Overall,
this is on the good end of the book meter. Not at the top, because Shatter Me
sits their growling. But the sequels may challenge Divergent! Who sits in
second place!
