When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths. (From Goodreads)
This book is absolutely stunning. I mean that in both senses of the word. The writing is beautiful, the world is gritty and vivid, and the plot flows together effortlessly. It's stunning in an aesthetic way and it's stunning in an emotional way. More than once, I had to pause and absorb the story. Because I was shocked over and over. Every conception I had about soul mates, love at first sight, love triangles, love in general was totally turned on its head. I actually have a different view on love after reading this book. It changed me.
While the dystopia politics are pretty standard - bleak outlook, little hope, on the brink of war, victimized minorities, and a scheming lying government - it's still somehow unlike anything I've read. It's darker and the stakes are higher. Death is looming everywhere, drugs are the only way for most to survive, and then there's the genocide. This book has an interesting take on othering - Darklings have vampiric qualities, but it's hard to call them vampires. They're different, somehow. And then the twin bloods, like Ash, who are half Darkling, half human and can live with out a heartbeat. This was a great twist and that really gave Elizabeth an opening to do some pretty epic things with Ash and Natalie's relationship.
The love between Ash and Natalie really brings life and beauty into such a harsh reality. The way their relationship progresses is where all the magic is. I won't elaborate for this reason, but I just have to say that it's intense and inspiring. These are two people who are fighting against two different sets of obstacles - the ones created by society and the ones that fate put there for them. And it's not really a question as to whether their love is strong enough to over-take it, but whether they are individually strong enough to fight for each other and for taking the hard road. It's clear their love is strong, but that fact has other implications - it's not as clear cut as you might expect love to be.
Everything in this book took me by surprise. It tapped into my emotions, it messed with my head, it flowed into me and became a part of me. This book shook things up in a way that I didn't expect. It's brilliant. I'm awed by this story. I want to know these characters, I want to fight for them.
