[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Wings by Elizabeth Richards

 

(Check out the tour schedule HERE!)

 

Title: Wings (Black City #3)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: June 12, 2014

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Goodreads

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.

THOUGHTS:

In all honesty, I've come to dread the final installment of all book series that I love, and it's mainly for two reasons. One, simply because the series is wrapping up, and coming to an end. It's so difficult to say goodbye to a series that has been a part of your life for a few years a least, and while I've always looked forward to finding out how  the story will finish, I hate the feeling of realizing that I will never read about this particular world, and its characters, ever again. Second, I hate to say this, but over the past two years, I've encountered so many series with terrible endings - endings so jaw-droppingly horrible that I can't help but wish that I've never invested in these books in the first place. Now, I bet you guys can just imagine my trepidation when I cracked open Wings. I was chanting "please be an awesome book, please be an awesome book" in my head so many times while I tried to find a comfortable position to read!

And... it was. It really was.

Now that I've finished reading Wings, and thus effectively ending my part in Ash and Natalie's tumultuous journey to secure peace for everyone, I feel a bit... broken. A part of me still can't believe that everything's over. I loved the ending, don't get me wrong, but this book was so difficult to get through, simply because the two main characters have been through so much! I'm amazed at how strong and how focused in their goals both Ash and Natalie are. Throughout the series, they've faced so many obstacles, but the concept of giving up never even crossed their minds. Their incessant determination is just astounding!

I also can't help but marvel at just how much both Ash and Natalie grew as characters, and I have to laud Richards for making them relateable. While yes, they were trying to save the world, but that doesn't excuse them from your average, same old problems that every single person faces. We have them encountering filial-related problems; of course, a little jealousy here and there couldn't be avoided as well, and despite everything they have accomplished, they were also times wherein they let their insecurities get the best of themselves. While not necessarily main plot devices, it was so refreshing to find characters in dystopians facing the same problems that I do, and ultimately being characters that I can actually see myself in.

Richards outdid herself with the plot and story of Wings. While a majority of the book dealt with the rebellion deciding on how best to take down Purian Rose (and this means a lot of talking and confrontations), everything was still paced properly in the sense that I never felt bored while reading it. I've come to find that the last books of dystopian series tend to be a bit on the boring side, simply because it deals with politics and rebellions, but I'm happy to note that Wings goes on a different path entirely. Wings is jam-packed with action scenes, beautiful moments wherein you can't even think of denying Ash and Natalie's love for each other, and mind-boggling revelations. Just when you thought that you knew all the characters, their backgrounds, and you knew what to expect of them, you learn the hard way that you never did after all. (And let me stop myself here because if not I will end up spewing out spoilers!) Books that keep me on my toes have a special place in my heart, and suffice to say that Wings is one of those books!

There is one particular scene in the book that had me screeching like a banshee, and that had me screaming "Why Elizabeth, Why!?", and ultimately this is the scene that made me decide to give Wings five stars instead of four. It's also the scene that stuck with me, simply because I did not question just why a character decided to do what he or she (check me out - I'm trying my hardest to avoid giving out spoilers!) did. This character's decision made sense, and it fit with how Richards developed said character. This scene was also highly emotional, and because it happened in a part of the book where you didn't think it could possibly occur at, the element of surprise will definitely envelope you when you read it.

All in all, I don't think I have any words to explain just how much I loved Wings, and how much I enjoyed the Black City trilogy. Most of my fellow bloggers as well as my blog's readers are most probably aware of just how much I tend to side-eye and ignore dystopian novels, but I'm really glad I gave Black City a shot. Thank you so much to Elizabeth Richards for these characters whom I will remember forever, and for writing a beautiful trilogy that has ultimately had me wanting to read dystopia again!

Rating: 5 Stars

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[Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway] Wings by Elizabeth Richards

 

(Check out the tour schedule HERE!)

 

Title: Wings (Black City #3)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

Release Date: June 12, 2014

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Goodreads

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.

EXCERPT:

EDMUND

“Mrs. Hope, it’s Edmund,” I say, my voice cracking a little.

All the lights in the cottage are off, apart from a single candle that illuminates the hallway. Rows of medical books line one side of the wall. A clock ticks at the far end.

There’s a creak of floorboards from the room overhead.

I walk up the rickety staircase, gun raised. Every instinct screams at me to run, by a strange tugging sensation compels me forward, like someone is pulling on a gossamer thread woven to my chest, drawing me farther up the stairs.

I lick my dry lips. “Whoever’s here, I’ve got a gun, so you’d best leave now!”

A dull pain begins to ball up inside my rib cage as I softly tread toward the bedroom.

I open the door.

“Mrs. Ho—” My words get lost in my throat. The old lady is in front of the window, floating several feet above the ground, her long white nightdress billowing in the breeze. A pale arm is hooked around her waist—someone is lifting her out of the window! I take a step toward them, and pain explodes in my chest. I fall to my knees, dropping the gun.

“Help me!” Mrs. Hope cries.

I struggle to my feet and stagger over to the old woman just as she’s dragged out of the window. She stretches out her hand, our fingertips touch, and then—

She’s gone.

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[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Title: Phoenix (Black City #2)

Author: Elizabeth Richards
Release Date: June 4, 2013

Published by: Putnam Juvenile

Goodreads

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.

THOUGHTS:

After reading this book, I have a lot of... feelings. Feelings that won't stop haunting me before I go to sleep; feelings that make me want to curl myself up in a fetal position in the corner; and feelings that just make want to... scream. Ash and Natalie haven't had the easiest of relationships, and just when you thought things were finally about to look up for him... they don't.

Phoenix picks up where Black City left off - Ash is now a hero to the rebellion, and there are now more humans and darklings alike who are devoted to the fight for equality between all beings. Purian Rose is frustrated with the rapid growth of the rebellion, and he is willing to do anything to ensure the continuance of his regime. Moreover, he has found a way to hurt Ash where it would devastate him the most, when he makes him choose between Natalie's life or the cause he has dedicated himself to. Ash, of course, is heartbroken, and rightly so. How exactly can he denounce his cause, yet at the same time, how on earth can he just let Natalie die?

Right off the bat, I felt bad for Ash and Natalie. They're supposed to get married, to live happily ever after, but that simply won't happen anytime soon. They just cannot get a break! However, one thing is for certain - I can't help but admire their love for each other. It's just so strong and magnificent, and just apparent throughout the course of the novel. Despite all the nonstop difficulties the two of them encounter - be it about Purian Rose or their relationship - you really cannot deny just how much they care for each other. I truly loved reading about how Natalie and Ash display their deep affections for one another. Some part of me truly believed that their love can trump all. I particularly felt emotional when Natalie herself encouraged Ash to choose the lives of the darklings instead of hers. Not a lot of people can do something that selfless.

I'm going to admit, however, that I did kind of want to smack both Natalie and Ash a few times while reading Phoenix. Though I understand perfectly their reasons for doing so, it pained me to see them not communicating with each other. It hurt to see them think the worst of each other. I'm going to laud Richards' writing on these parts, simply because while I was frustrated with both characters, I still felt for them, and I knew where they were coming from. That's not exactly an easy balance to strike, and Richards did so with no problem whatsoever.

Most sequels usually suffer from the "second book syndrome" (okay I may just have made that term up), but Elizabeth Richards' Phoenix doesn't. The action picked up; the romance sub-plot made for an entertaining read; and both main characters experienced apparent character growth. Natalie's discovery did break my heart, but hey, what's to remember about a book that didn't make you tear up, right?

Rating: 4 Stars
 
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