Mystic City [Paperback]

In a futuristic New York the wealthy and corrupt elite live in the Aeries high above the city while the poor inhabit the Depths. 17 year old Aria Rose is supposed to marry Thomas to consolidate a political alliance between their families - but a meeting with a gorgeous rebel with Mystic powers changes the course of her life.

I adored this book: Lawrence has created a dark and beguiling world that feels very real, and peoples it with some great characters. Aria is a good lead, and the chemistry between her and Hunter is beautifully conveyed.

I don't want to say too much about the plot but this is a book which I found captivating from the start: well-imagined, written with flair, and with a hero and heroine that we really care about - plus a good sprinkling of magic, and even a revolution brewing on the streets of Manhattan, yay!

I'll definitely be reading the sequel, and just hope that it's as good as this.

I was initially attracted to this book because it was described as a cross between Romeo and Juliet and the X-Men with a twist. The twist being that it is set in Manhattan, but a Manhattan unlike anything you've ever seen before. The Rose family rules over the population with an iron fist but rebel mystics lie in wait beneath the city, preparing to seize power. An alliance is being formed between two influential families thanks to the future marriage of Aria Rose to Thomas Foster, the only problem being that Aria has had an accident and can no longer remember who Thomas is and why she ever loved him.

When this book arrived I couldn't wait to pick it up but when I started reading I thought that it was a little slow to get going and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it judging from some of the unusual language and turns of phrase used. However, I needed have worried because as soon as the main character Aria met rebel mystic Hunter, I was absolutely hooked. From then on I raced through the story and found it impossible to put down.

The relationship between Aria and Hunter was definitely one of my favourite things about the book. All the scenes between the two of them were so sweet and adorable. I loved the way he was so protective of her and the fact that everything he does is designed to keep her safe. As the story progresses she begins to learn more about him, as does the reader and everything I discovered only made him more appealing. Just like Romeo and Juliet some of their meetings take place outside of her bedroom window where there are plenty of opportunities to whisper sweet nothings to each other!

I enjoyed the fact that the author has woven into the story elements of one of my favourite plays of all time. There's the warring families who are supposedly to be reunited by true love, the starcrossed lovers, the hero and his best friend and the go-between servant who tries to being the young lovers together. It is ingenious and clever and the story was extremely engaging. It just kept getting better and better as I read on.

I was also impressed that although the book is written by a male author, he has managed to capture brilliantly the female voice of the main character, Aria. I couldn't wait to see how she was going to unravel the truth about what had happened to her and when she did, I was intrigued to see which direction she would decide to take next.

Mystical, magical, adventurous and romantic, I loved it! I will definitely be adding this book to my keeper shelf and I'm itching to get my hands on the sequel 'Renegrade Heart' which is set for a summer 2013 release date.

Another bit of post collapse of civilisation as we know it dystopian fiction for teenage readers. That is the start of a series. And has a teenage female lead character who narrates the whole thing in first person present tense.

It runs for three hundred and ninety seven pages. Is divided into three parts and thirty two chapters, plus a prologue and an epilogue.

Ideal reading age would be thirteen and up, since as with many of these it's about a lead character discovering romance and hidden truths about her world. It does contain some mild adult references and some violence and one bit of mild language. But it's good enough to be enjoyed by older readers as well.

Lead character of mystic city is Aria Rose. Teenage daughter of one of the families that rules in future New York. A rather different city to the way it is now. Following global warming and the resulting floods, the city is ruled by those who live high above the floodwaters. And they get their power by channeling the energy taken from mystics. People with special abilites, who live a lot lower down. In an area known as the depths. Which isn't quite as salubrious.

This book takes place a few years after the flooding, and also after another disaster. Which involved magical energy. The mystics have always been here in this world, though, even prior to all that. And known as well. So it's not quite the world as we know it.

But the book isn't concerned with how all of that came to be. It's the story of Aria. She's due to get married to the son of another ruling family. Traditional enemies of hers. Everybody says she loves him. But due to a supposed overdose, she can't remember him at all, or any of their supposed time together.

But vague memories are tugging at her. And a meeting with a teenage mystic boy called Hunter will introduce her to just how the other half lives. And might just force her to remember. Because there's more going on in the city than meets the eye....

Stories of teenage character discovering romance and their destinies are becoming pretty common. But this is very readable right from the off. And the mysteries surrounding Aria's memories do keep you hooked. Coupled with a good and interesting setting which is very nicely detailed, and some excellent plot twists and turns, this really will keep you hooked and turning the pages.

It does have enough originality to make it stand out in a crowded marketplace, and it does have a very sympathetic lead character. And it's a good enough read to make me want to know what will happen next. Book two will be out next summer. I look forward to it.