Review: Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Publisher: Putnam
Series: Black City #2
Pages: 368

Received: Borrowed from the library

Release Date: June 4, 2013
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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.

My Review:

After my hesitation of reading the first book in this series, I really ended up enjoying myself and wanted to continue on with the story. This book picks up right after the first book has ended, and there is a lot more drama happening. I really loved the romance between Ash and Natalie in the first book, and it continues in this book, with them really being there for one another, and you can still feel the love that these two have.

This book brings out the worst in people, Purian Rose is determined to have Rose's Law go through and he will stop at nothing for the vote to be in his favour. I was surprised how dark this book was, and yet I was so drawn to the story, I think this book was even better than the first one! Elizabeth Richards turned everything around with this story, there is more danger and a lot more action throughout this book.

There are so many great new characters in this book as well as old loveable characters from the first book. I really enjoyed some of the new characters, especially Elijah. I found him to be an intriguing character. He has come back to help Natalie because she helped him escape, and yet throughout the whole story it seems that he has a secret. I really wanted to know more about Elijah and his family.

The synopsis makes it seem like there is a love triangle in this book, but I can guarantee that is not what is happening at all. I was really happy to see that, there are some misunderstandings throughout, but nothing to over the top. Honestly, I love the relationship between Ash and Natalie... Richards did a beautiful job of explaining it, and she really makes you feel their love every time they touch.

Elizabeth has created a world in this book that is scary to live in, this is a world where you must conform or fear for what will happen. But even worse is that the fear is hidden away, as a third party reading the book you see what many people miss out on, and I am excited and scared of what Elizabeth Richards will do in the final book of the series. With everything she pulled out in this book I can see things getting even worse before the better things come. This series just seems to get better with each book, and I can see big explosions in book three (and after how this book ended  I am eagerly awaiting that book!)