ps_a22's review against another edition
2.0
This was such a peculiar book. Every element was so distinct and the language used was perfectly sophisticated. The fact that it was set in the past but also incorporated magic into the world was very interesting to read. Alp in all, a truly unique book.
the_cover_contessa's review
3.0
I'd like to thank Disney Hyperion and Net Galley for supplying me with an early ecopy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way influenced my review or opinion.
Blurb from Goodreads:
Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.
Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.
Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.
Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.
I have to say that my initial draw to this book was the core. It is supremely gorgeous. Dark and mysterious and the font, I love it! So it's no surprise when I saw there would be a blog tour I rushed to sign up for it. I was excited to get picked!
I usually start with the characters of a book, but in this case I really have to start with the setting. The blurb describes it as 1930s-esque world and it certainly has that tone to it. However, I also got the feeling that it's set in the future, in a world riddled by war. And I can tell you that I read the blurb but had forgotten that magic was actually included as part of the book. So it was kind of a surprise to me when it came up. But it really worked quite well. I think the most interesting thing is the book is told in third person. Often I am annoyed by this, but it really worked with this book. It definitely reminded me of Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices in that way.
Thea is a sixteen year old girl who has been forced to quit school so she can work to support herself and her mother. Her mother is sick, and just continues to get sicker, since her father disappeared. So Thea has really had to grow up fast since her father has been missing for eight years of her life. I can say that I would have liked a little more in depth perusal of Thea's character. I feel we really only just scratched the surface of who she is. She obviously loves her mother and father and would do anything for them, but what would she do for herself? I did love that her character was not whiney and full of angst. She was actually quite mature.
Freddie is also very mature for his age. Having had to grow up rather quickly when he's taken from his family because of the power he holds. I didn't find him particularly swoon worthy. For me, he was just an ok romantic interest for Thea. I am guessing this is because the romance is not really at the forefront of the story. We certainly see his attraction to Thea in the fact that he refuses to do what he is tasked to do.
Nan, Thea's best friend, is a really strong character. At first, I thought she was in her twenties. But later on we find out she, like Thea, is sixteen. Nan is different, though I won't tell you how or why, as it's revealed a bit later in the book.
The pacing of this book varied. At times it was full of action and interesting things that happened to keep it moving. At other times the pace was a bit slower, leading to a build up of what would happen next. Over all I read through it fairly quickly and it held my interest. I really wanted to know what the secrets were that the different characters held. I also found the concept intriguing, it's always fun to see what an author will do with magic in a book.
If you're thinking Harry Potter than think again. The magic is more dark and mysterious in this book. I will say that they story line was much darker than I had originally anticipated, and I liked that it was. I didn't find myself particularly attached to any one character. They were all done fairly well, but I did feel like they could have been developed just a bit more. I needed to feel empathy for them in some way and I found that hard to do with this book.
My favorite part of this story was that it did not revolve around the romance. Oh, there is romance in there, but it's very subtle. And there's more than one, which was nice. I liked that the book could stand up all on it's own merit with it's interesting magical plot line and dark undertones.
The ending is rather neat and tidy. I know there is a second book planned so I'm curious as to where the author might go with it, seeing as these characters had their arc compete. I would have liked to see a bit more world building, historical background, to this book. I was a little confused as to where it was taking place and if the time period was actually in the 30s or in the futures. Overall I really enjoyed this read and would recommended it to anyone who likes a dark mystery with magical undertones. Definitely for fans of Clare.
Blurb from Goodreads:
Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.
Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.
Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.
Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.
I have to say that my initial draw to this book was the core. It is supremely gorgeous. Dark and mysterious and the font, I love it! So it's no surprise when I saw there would be a blog tour I rushed to sign up for it. I was excited to get picked!
I usually start with the characters of a book, but in this case I really have to start with the setting. The blurb describes it as 1930s-esque world and it certainly has that tone to it. However, I also got the feeling that it's set in the future, in a world riddled by war. And I can tell you that I read the blurb but had forgotten that magic was actually included as part of the book. So it was kind of a surprise to me when it came up. But it really worked quite well. I think the most interesting thing is the book is told in third person. Often I am annoyed by this, but it really worked with this book. It definitely reminded me of Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices in that way.
Thea is a sixteen year old girl who has been forced to quit school so she can work to support herself and her mother. Her mother is sick, and just continues to get sicker, since her father disappeared. So Thea has really had to grow up fast since her father has been missing for eight years of her life. I can say that I would have liked a little more in depth perusal of Thea's character. I feel we really only just scratched the surface of who she is. She obviously loves her mother and father and would do anything for them, but what would she do for herself? I did love that her character was not whiney and full of angst. She was actually quite mature.
Freddie is also very mature for his age. Having had to grow up rather quickly when he's taken from his family because of the power he holds. I didn't find him particularly swoon worthy. For me, he was just an ok romantic interest for Thea. I am guessing this is because the romance is not really at the forefront of the story. We certainly see his attraction to Thea in the fact that he refuses to do what he is tasked to do.
Nan, Thea's best friend, is a really strong character. At first, I thought she was in her twenties. But later on we find out she, like Thea, is sixteen. Nan is different, though I won't tell you how or why, as it's revealed a bit later in the book.
The pacing of this book varied. At times it was full of action and interesting things that happened to keep it moving. At other times the pace was a bit slower, leading to a build up of what would happen next. Over all I read through it fairly quickly and it held my interest. I really wanted to know what the secrets were that the different characters held. I also found the concept intriguing, it's always fun to see what an author will do with magic in a book.
If you're thinking Harry Potter than think again. The magic is more dark and mysterious in this book. I will say that they story line was much darker than I had originally anticipated, and I liked that it was. I didn't find myself particularly attached to any one character. They were all done fairly well, but I did feel like they could have been developed just a bit more. I needed to feel empathy for them in some way and I found that hard to do with this book.
My favorite part of this story was that it did not revolve around the romance. Oh, there is romance in there, but it's very subtle. And there's more than one, which was nice. I liked that the book could stand up all on it's own merit with it's interesting magical plot line and dark undertones.
The ending is rather neat and tidy. I know there is a second book planned so I'm curious as to where the author might go with it, seeing as these characters had their arc compete. I would have liked to see a bit more world building, historical background, to this book. I was a little confused as to where it was taking place and if the time period was actually in the 30s or in the futures. Overall I really enjoyed this read and would recommended it to anyone who likes a dark mystery with magical undertones. Definitely for fans of Clare.
mlboyd20's review against another edition
3.0
I wish to thank the publisher and author for providing me a complimentary copy of this book, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Doing so does not sway my judgment in any way.
An interesting concept, quirky storyline, interesting characters but unfortunately put together in too much of a mishmash way that the actual story is all over the place. Trying to keep up with the assortment of different characters was a struggle that didn’t win me over. The characters themselves were interesting enough, but the author switched from one to another to one scene to another in no real systematic fashion that they lost their luster and became muddled instead of attention grabbing.
So many different elements going on; magic, resurrection, oppression, betrayal, hope, etc. As presented, each element intrigues and made me want to know more. Kept separate, each has a story of its own and if given the space to grow on its own would make for a blockbuster of a story. Tossed together like they were distracted me from the story and seemed to drag it down. This created a story that seemed to lag in places where it should have soared.
For those who like stories off the beaten track, with a quirkiness that forms them, you will like this novel. This story wasn’t for me, but I can see where others would really like it. This is not a book for people looking for romance. There are subtle hints to a potential romantic match, but that’s about it.
An interesting concept, quirky storyline, interesting characters but unfortunately put together in too much of a mishmash way that the actual story is all over the place. Trying to keep up with the assortment of different characters was a struggle that didn’t win me over. The characters themselves were interesting enough, but the author switched from one to another to one scene to another in no real systematic fashion that they lost their luster and became muddled instead of attention grabbing.
So many different elements going on; magic, resurrection, oppression, betrayal, hope, etc. As presented, each element intrigues and made me want to know more. Kept separate, each has a story of its own and if given the space to grow on its own would make for a blockbuster of a story. Tossed together like they were distracted me from the story and seemed to drag it down. This created a story that seemed to lag in places where it should have soared.
For those who like stories off the beaten track, with a quirkiness that forms them, you will like this novel. This story wasn’t for me, but I can see where others would really like it. This is not a book for people looking for romance. There are subtle hints to a potential romantic match, but that’s about it.
thepaperreels's review against another edition
3.0
Dark Metropolis is a very original and strange (in a good way) read for me. I like a book that makes me glued until the end. And yes, I've read this book in 24hours. I REGRET NOTHING.
The story starts with Thea, a waitress in Telephone Club, daughter of a Mother that is kind of crazy because of a magic spell and bestfriend of Nan, who I think is the real Main Character. Anyway, when Thea met Freddy and they accidentally touched, something happened. No, it's not Insta-Love. But something dark.. something magical. Then Nan disappeared.. and that's how our story starts..
When I said that Dark Metropolis is original, I wasn't joking. I was enthralled by Thea's world.. Fascinated by what Freddy can do and intrigued by Nan's character! Plot wise, Dark Metropolis is good. Really good. It was fast paced, richly detailed and the readers are well informed by everything that is happening. There was plot twists that you will not see coming! And heart felt moments that will make your heart aches a little.
If I would complaint a thing, I think it would be the Romance. Don't get me wrong, I adored Nan and (...) a lot! But I want more Freddy and Thea!! I'm still a little confused about their relationship (or if they have one)
Overall, I enjoyed Dark Metropolis a lot! And yes, I'm one of those impatiently waiting for the sequel!
The story starts with Thea, a waitress in Telephone Club, daughter of a Mother that is kind of crazy because of a magic spell and bestfriend of Nan, who I think is the real Main Character. Anyway, when Thea met Freddy and they accidentally touched, something happened. No, it's not Insta-Love. But something dark.. something magical. Then Nan disappeared.. and that's how our story starts..
When I said that Dark Metropolis is original, I wasn't joking. I was enthralled by Thea's world.. Fascinated by what Freddy can do and intrigued by Nan's character! Plot wise, Dark Metropolis is good. Really good. It was fast paced, richly detailed and the readers are well informed by everything that is happening. There was plot twists that you will not see coming! And heart felt moments that will make your heart aches a little.
If I would complaint a thing, I think it would be the Romance. Don't get me wrong, I adored Nan and (...) a lot! But I want more Freddy and Thea!! I'm still a little confused about their relationship (or if they have one)
Overall, I enjoyed Dark Metropolis a lot! And yes, I'm one of those impatiently waiting for the sequel!
littleredd303's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @ 41%
Unfortunately I just didn’t like this one. Which sucks because I was almost positive I was going to like it, there were aspects of it that I liked and others that I just couldn’t stand.
One thing I didn’t like was that there was no world building. For a story to work for me, it needs to have world building and this one lacked any and It felt it rushed. The story picks up immediately and it doesn't let up. While I am a big fan of a fast paced storyline it can sometimes be hindering instead of beneficial. Because the storyline was so fast paced I didn't make a connection to any of the characters; and I had so many questions and things I wanted to know more about that basically just got brushed aside without much information which I hated. I always wanted more, I wanted more world building, I wanted more explanations, I wanted more backstory and characterization.
Another thing I disliked was the lack of description. The main reason I picked this book up was because the synopsis said it was set in a “1930s-esque” world. The 1930s was such an interesting time period and I was looking forward to see how Dolamore was going to portray it, but she basically didn’t. To me at least, it didn’t feel 1930s at all, it felt modern. There were only a couple times where I would realize that it was not set in the present, that was a huge letdown for me. And the town which the book was set wasn’t even described, we didn’t even get a name. I just needed more description of the town, the music, fashion, personality, little things like that to help immerse myself into the world.
For me the characters were lackluster and forgettable, I never connected with them and frankly didn’t really care what happened to them. Freddy really annoyed, I wanted to slap some sense into him a couple of times. Thea needed a little more backbone but all in all she was an alright character. Nan was my favorite out of all of them, because she was tough and not afraid to ask the right questions no matter the consequences.
I would be lying if I said the core storyline wasn't interesting, because it is! This book does have an interesting take on necromancy and it also has magic, propaganda, and revolutionaries! And I did like the twists and turns this book had, and piecing the puzzle together along with the characters was fairly entertaining. But in the end, this book was just not for me.
Unfortunately I just didn’t like this one. Which sucks because I was almost positive I was going to like it, there were aspects of it that I liked and others that I just couldn’t stand.
One thing I didn’t like was that there was no world building. For a story to work for me, it needs to have world building and this one lacked any and It felt it rushed. The story picks up immediately and it doesn't let up. While I am a big fan of a fast paced storyline it can sometimes be hindering instead of beneficial. Because the storyline was so fast paced I didn't make a connection to any of the characters; and I had so many questions and things I wanted to know more about that basically just got brushed aside without much information which I hated. I always wanted more, I wanted more world building, I wanted more explanations, I wanted more backstory and characterization.
Another thing I disliked was the lack of description. The main reason I picked this book up was because the synopsis said it was set in a “1930s-esque” world. The 1930s was such an interesting time period and I was looking forward to see how Dolamore was going to portray it, but she basically didn’t. To me at least, it didn’t feel 1930s at all, it felt modern. There were only a couple times where I would realize that it was not set in the present, that was a huge letdown for me. And the town which the book was set wasn’t even described, we didn’t even get a name. I just needed more description of the town, the music, fashion, personality, little things like that to help immerse myself into the world.
For me the characters were lackluster and forgettable, I never connected with them and frankly didn’t really care what happened to them. Freddy really annoyed, I wanted to slap some sense into him a couple of times. Thea needed a little more backbone but all in all she was an alright character. Nan was my favorite out of all of them, because she was tough and not afraid to ask the right questions no matter the consequences.
I would be lying if I said the core storyline wasn't interesting, because it is! This book does have an interesting take on necromancy and it also has magic, propaganda, and revolutionaries! And I did like the twists and turns this book had, and piecing the puzzle together along with the characters was fairly entertaining. But in the end, this book was just not for me.
medusax0's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @ 41%
Unfortunately I just didn’t like this one. Which sucks because I was almost positive I was going to like it, there were aspects of it that I liked and others that I just couldn’t stand.
One thing I didn’t like was that there was no world building. For a story to work for me, it needs to have world building and this one lacked any and It felt it rushed. The story picks up immediately and it doesn't let up. While I am a big fan of a fast paced storyline it can sometimes be hindering instead of beneficial. Because the storyline was so fast paced I didn't make a connection to any of the characters; and I had so many questions and things I wanted to know more about that basically just got brushed aside without much information which I hated. I always wanted more, I wanted more world building, I wanted more explanations, I wanted more backstory and characterization.
Another thing I disliked was the lack of description. The main reason I picked this book up was because the synopsis said it was set in a “1930s-esque” world. The 1930s was such an interesting time period and I was looking forward to see how Dolamore was going to portray it, but she basically didn’t. To me at least, it didn’t feel 1930s at all, it felt modern. There were only a couple times where I would realize that it was not set in the present, that was a huge letdown for me. And the town which the book was set wasn’t even described, we didn’t even get a name. I just needed more description of the town, the music, fashion, personality, little things like that to help immerse myself into the world.
For me the characters were lackluster and forgettable, I never connected with them and frankly didn’t really care what happened to them. Freddy really annoyed, I wanted to slap some sense into him a couple of times. Thea needed a little more backbone but all in all she was an alright character. Nan was my favorite out of all of them, because she was tough and not afraid to ask the right questions no matter the consequences.
I would be lying if I said the core storyline wasn't interesting, because it is! This book does have an interesting take on necromancy and it also has magic, propaganda, and revolutionaries! And I did like the twists and turns this book had, and piecing the puzzle together along with the characters was fairly entertaining. But in the end, this book was just not for me.
Unfortunately I just didn’t like this one. Which sucks because I was almost positive I was going to like it, there were aspects of it that I liked and others that I just couldn’t stand.
One thing I didn’t like was that there was no world building. For a story to work for me, it needs to have world building and this one lacked any and It felt it rushed. The story picks up immediately and it doesn't let up. While I am a big fan of a fast paced storyline it can sometimes be hindering instead of beneficial. Because the storyline was so fast paced I didn't make a connection to any of the characters; and I had so many questions and things I wanted to know more about that basically just got brushed aside without much information which I hated. I always wanted more, I wanted more world building, I wanted more explanations, I wanted more backstory and characterization.
Another thing I disliked was the lack of description. The main reason I picked this book up was because the synopsis said it was set in a “1930s-esque” world. The 1930s was such an interesting time period and I was looking forward to see how Dolamore was going to portray it, but she basically didn’t. To me at least, it didn’t feel 1930s at all, it felt modern. There were only a couple times where I would realize that it was not set in the present, that was a huge letdown for me. And the town which the book was set wasn’t even described, we didn’t even get a name. I just needed more description of the town, the music, fashion, personality, little things like that to help immerse myself into the world.
For me the characters were lackluster and forgettable, I never connected with them and frankly didn’t really care what happened to them. Freddy really annoyed, I wanted to slap some sense into him a couple of times. Thea needed a little more backbone but all in all she was an alright character. Nan was my favorite out of all of them, because she was tough and not afraid to ask the right questions no matter the consequences.
I would be lying if I said the core storyline wasn't interesting, because it is! This book does have an interesting take on necromancy and it also has magic, propaganda, and revolutionaries! And I did like the twists and turns this book had, and piecing the puzzle together along with the characters was fairly entertaining. But in the end, this book was just not for me.
bookworm_630's review against another edition
3.0
Perfectly enjoyable read. I've always found Jaclyn Dolamore's writing to be entertaining and easy to read, and this isn't any different. The premise is intriguing and I fell into the world easily. I would have liked to see more from Thea's viewpoint, as the summary indicated, but I liked Nan as well. The idea that Nan was something more than human was interesting but needed to be explored in greater depth. The book wrapped up a little too neatly in the end, I would have preferred more ragged edges.
bstaats's review against another edition
2.0
Dark Metropolis is in many ways unlike any kind of story I've read before: it's set in a very distinct world and even the plot is unique. Unfortunately while I appreciated Dark Metropolis as an innovative read, the characters and story fell flat for me.
Reason to Read:
1. A curious setting:
Jaclyn borrows from history (think "1927 Berlin") and blends it with her own imagination for a world that is both familiar and strange compared to ours. It's so unusual and creative that I was utterly fascinated by it; I wanted to learn as much about the world in Dark Metropolis as I could. The magic and its system is unlike any type I have ever read about, and Jaclyn is clearly a very innovative writer with plenty of new ideas. Some parts are so dark and disturbing which lend a very eerie sense to the whole book and I particularly enjoyed that.
It seems to be hinted at that there is a strong class struggle happening, but that aspect of the plot felt rather undeveloped to me. The brief mentions and allusions to this conflict weren't enough to satisfy my own curiousity or provide much background information which I felt was crucial to establish the story. The rules and politics in Dark Metropolis were completely unfamiliar to me, so I failed to recognize the importance of certain actions and ideas.
But most importantly, I felt completely disconnected from the characters. It's written in a third person narrative, and jumps around from focusing on a few different characters. This failed to ground me with any one of the characters and because I felt like I had landed in the middle of a story already taking place, their concerns failed to resonate with me. For example, there was very little attention paid to the development of Thea and Nan's relationship and Nan goes missing so quickly in the book that they're separated nearly from the very start. As a result it was difficult for me to identify with Thea's determination and struggle to find Nan.
While yes, this is a deeply imaginative story with some very thoughtful ideas and inspirations it never really felt complete to me. My relationship with characters is paramount to how much I enjoy a book and my failure to identify with the characters in Dark Metropolis means that this story just didn't work for me.
ARC received from HBG Canada for review; no other compensation was received.
Reason to Read:
1. A curious setting:
Jaclyn borrows from history (think "1927 Berlin") and blends it with her own imagination for a world that is both familiar and strange compared to ours. It's so unusual and creative that I was utterly fascinated by it; I wanted to learn as much about the world in Dark Metropolis as I could. The magic and its system is unlike any type I have ever read about, and Jaclyn is clearly a very innovative writer with plenty of new ideas. Some parts are so dark and disturbing which lend a very eerie sense to the whole book and I particularly enjoyed that.
It seems to be hinted at that there is a strong class struggle happening, but that aspect of the plot felt rather undeveloped to me. The brief mentions and allusions to this conflict weren't enough to satisfy my own curiousity or provide much background information which I felt was crucial to establish the story. The rules and politics in Dark Metropolis were completely unfamiliar to me, so I failed to recognize the importance of certain actions and ideas.
But most importantly, I felt completely disconnected from the characters. It's written in a third person narrative, and jumps around from focusing on a few different characters. This failed to ground me with any one of the characters and because I felt like I had landed in the middle of a story already taking place, their concerns failed to resonate with me. For example, there was very little attention paid to the development of Thea and Nan's relationship and Nan goes missing so quickly in the book that they're separated nearly from the very start. As a result it was difficult for me to identify with Thea's determination and struggle to find Nan.
While yes, this is a deeply imaginative story with some very thoughtful ideas and inspirations it never really felt complete to me. My relationship with characters is paramount to how much I enjoy a book and my failure to identify with the characters in Dark Metropolis means that this story just didn't work for me.
ARC received from HBG Canada for review; no other compensation was received.
scarredman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
_egg_wash's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Confinement, Child death, War, Slavery, Murder, Kidnapping, and Animal death