Book Review: Mystic City (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: Paperback
Pages:  397
Published: 11th Oct 2012 (UK)
Publisher:  Corgi/Random House
Source: Publisher for Review
Genre:  YA, Dystopia, Romance
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository UK I Book Depository US

Description:
Manhatten lies underwater. The corrupt rules of this new city live high about the flood and survive by channelling the energy of mystics - a magic-welding underclass who are forced to live amongst the poor in the squalor of the Depths.

High in the Aeries, Aria Rose's fiance has promised that their marriage will unite two of the  city's ruling dynasties. But the gaps in Aria's memory tell her that this romance isn't all it seems - and the appearance of Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic and passionate revoluntionary, is about to change the course of her life for ever.  - Back of the Book Blurb

Review:
I had never heard of this until the publisher emailed about it. I was intrigued because the premise sounds very unique and I am always on the look out for something different.  And I am not going lie I love the cover and that played a big part on why I wanted to read it (Yip, I know shame on me but I am attracted to pretty covers). However, even though overall it was a very good book and the end makes me want book two I couldn't help feel disappointed because most of the story was slow and some it confused me.

Mystic City is about Aria Rose, who one day wakes up with gaps in her memory. She is told she overdosed on Stic (Mystic energy used as a drug) but she doesn't remember taking it. She doesn't remember Thomas, her fiance and why her parents agreed for her to marry the son of her families enemy. However, when she meets Hunter, a rebel Mystic, bits of her memory comes back and she realised that Hunter may very well hold the key to unlock her lost memories. However, if she unlocked her memories she may not like what she finds and realise she doesn't know who she can trust anymore.

Mystic City is a set a future that could very well happen so the back story is actually believable. Global Warming has got so bad that the world is flooding. Cities are slowly disappearing under water. Now the blurb for me is actually misleading, "Manhatten Lies Underwater" I don't know what I expected but I thought people lived under water in some way and that only the Rich could be high up above the water. (I know silly, how could people live under water right?) However, it was nothing like that. Manhatten was rebuilt after the flooding so all the rich live high above while the poor and Mystics (people with magical powers) live down below where the city is slowly flooding and crumbling.

Aria I think is very likable. She knows things aren't right with her memories  especially with regards of her fiance, Thomas and she fights to find out what. She is strong and isn't afraid to fight for what she believes and for what she loves. She was brought up to believe that Mystic's are dangerous but when she meets Hunter and starts to understand that not everything she was told was the truth. Hunter, oh Hunter, another YA crush in the making I think. He is so sweet and has a hint of danger to him which come on? Who doesn't like that? The chemisty between them is electric. But it's not the corny instalove that many YA novels have. It's real and forbidden, like a futuristic Romeo and Juliet.

Mystic City is split into three parts and honestly I found part one very slow, it does give the readers a bit of back story but I think it could have been explained a bit more because as I said it confused me a little. Part two gets a little better and we see the main story pick up and start to get exciting. Part three, well that was pretty awesome. Very fast paced and exciting with so many twists and turns it keeps you guessing. You never know who to trust, who not to trust, where the story was going and I love it. I like to be surprised and part three of Mystic City definitely does that and leaves you wanting more!

Theo Lawrence has create a good debut novel. I do recommend this to anyone looking for something a bit different. A story that is full of mystery and secrets, which forbidden love and an amazing ending that will have you begging for sequel.


Rate: 3/5

9 comments :

  1. oh, never heard of this one before, it sounds good! Thanks for the review!

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  2. I do recommend it. Looking forward to book 2.

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  3. Ever since I saw the cover and read the storyline I knew it was a must read. Despite the slowness part, I still really hope I love this book. Great review!

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    1. It is actually really good. :) I think just because I was expecting something different it slowed it down for me. But I do recommend. That 3rd part I zoomed through. Very good.

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  4. Have been dying to read this book ever since I saw the cover. It sounds really interesting, even if it is as you said a bit slow to begin with. Great review :)

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  5. Sounds interesting, thank you for sharing your review and opinion! It does look different from most of the books about apocalyptic future i guess... Something every author should strive for I guess? And I guess also such books need some more unusual characters? Ordinary ones like kings, wizards with sharp hats, warriors, etc are as common in the genre as the people, creatures we see every day? I try to avoid that in some of my stories (weightless korks, glowing, living balls, Brown faces, fiery men, one-eyeds, night fruit, rock pieces, fish-keepers, etc sound better than the usual?)

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