Rescued by a gang leader after the murder of her parents, Aina spends her life training and becoming a deadly assassin. Although her boss is cold and cruel, he provides a place for those who are unwanted with nowhere to go. They live in Diamond City, a world where extreme wealth and poverty live side-by-side, diamonds providing more wealth to the wealthy as well as the ability to perform blood magic to the faithful - although both the magic and religion are illegal. 

It's hard to sum up this book in just a few sentences because it is a little multifaceted and complex, but the story and storytelling were both wonderful and drew me in immediately. I loved the struggle the hero endures as well *slight spoiler alert* because honestly, in no story that I have ever read has the hero struggled with a drug addiction of any kind, and I loved that aspect along with the way she overcame the addiction, while still demonstrating that the struggle doesn't all the way come to a designated "end." 

The pacing was great, the storytelling was amazing, and overall I highly recommend this book.

It's been five days and I just can't engage with this book. No matter how hard I try, it's simply not doing it for me so I'm going to have to throw in the towel.

I'm having the biggest struggle with Aina. I understood when picking this up that she was a hired assassin and there would be morally grey characters, but if that's the case you have to somehow make me empathize/sympathize with these people to care what happens to them. The heroine's parents were slaughtered right in front of her as a child for practicing a forbidden religion and magic, but instead of feeling grief about that she seems to feel only anger that she was left to fend for herself. She has honed herself into an emotionless killer whose only ambition is to be the most feared by the gangs she associates with, more feared than her vicious boss. She's represented as a cold as steel person who can shut off fear on a whim and has no conscience to speak of. However, we are told that she has the secret weakness of being terrified of spiders? The sound of gunshots are supposed to trigger fear for her because of her parents' deaths, but in the first fight scene there were gunshots all around her and she didn't blink. 

The worldbuilding is vague in regards to the black diamonds, the "Mothers" who created the two moons and how worshipping with diamonds works, and the different gangs in the Stacks. The romance hinted at in the synopsis is really beyond creepy and toxic. It makes me lose interest in the heroine each and every time she feels attraction to her boss. This is the kind of person who holds complete and utter power over her using fear. Killing people under his protection in front of her eyes. Smashing her head into a wall and punching her for failing him. Then in the next breath she's having warm feelings of attraction and I admit, this woman makes absolutely no sense to me.

Edging towards halfway, I should be engrossed and feel some form of concern for the main character. As that didn't seem to be happening, I made the choice to accept that Diamond City is simply not for me.

I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review. Due to university classes I will be unable to finish the novel by the time that this book is archived., however, the amount that I have read so far is phenomenal! I wish I could provide an in-depth view but without finishing it, I don’t feel like I can be honest.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book.

Diamond city is a YA story full of magic, romance and action. It took me a couple of chapter to really get into it but I have really love this book and looking foward to the sequel.

After the murder of her parents, Aina became an assassin to survive. His boss might be brutal, but he provides a place for people who have no where else to go. On one of her task, something will go wrong and Aina might lose everything...

Diamond City was a fun story full of adventure and hidden agendas. The main character was an assassin and ended up involved in a job that got her in over her head and turned her world upside down.
I felt like I was reading early Throne of Glass, in the Assassin’s Blade novellas as the main character struggled to earn enough to escape her powerful boss and survive in the city, as well as feud with the other assassins for the boss’s favor.
While I enjoyed the plot, there was a lot of telling vs showing and a lot of emphasis placed on how amazing of an assassin she was, yet she seemed more like an ordinary person who struggled to find her place in the world. There wasn’t a lot of emotion behind any of her actions and I had hoped to connect with any of the characters a little bit more than I did.

Three and a half
Ok I was really keen to read this story about a female assassin as I have adored that particular trope recently and honestly I wanted to be fully immersed in another piece of fantasy fiction. Well yes ok our protagonist is female and yes Aina is an assassin but she's almost detached at times, felt strangely weak and wasn't really that likeable. I do understand when anyone could be out for your blood every day that it's hard to trust or form attachments but Aina seemed to lack loyalty and empathy and for me any explanations given just weren't strong enough.
I will endeavour not to rehash the plot but essentially we have a world divided into an industrial elite class and then a much poorer group who follow an outlawed religion. Into this odd mix the author drops deadly street gangs and perhaps the part I really needed more information about is diamond mining because the diamonds are used for magic amongst the poorest and jewellery by the richest or Steels as they are known. There's a strong sense of both Victorian like slums coupled with a more modern world with electricity and technology that sadly just wasn't descriptive enough. I wanted to picture things in the theatre of my mind but just couldn't.
The story and overall plot isn't bad it was just that with my lack of empathy for the flawed Aina and her Stockholm attitude towards her boss it just didn't convince me enough. I wanted to be completed sucked in and yes the author leaves possibilities for romance if Aina survives the next book but who will actually get her to truly feel is anyone's guess !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for offering this ARC in exchange for an honest review***

Diamond City is about an orphaned girl, Aina, taken in by a crime boss and trained as an assassin. Aina has a strong character arc and the book is full of exciting chases, sword and fist fights, and angst.

The plot weaves outlawed magic with a powerful crime syndicate and political conspiracy. I thought the concept of diamonds to fuel magic was an interesting system and I liked the world building in this story. I would even say that the world building is one of the strongest features in the book. 

The pace is well done and drives the reader forward quickly, though there are a few rest stops along the way. The characters never pause in pursuit of their goal and I enjoyed the well thought out obstacles they encounter. 

The characters themselves and their relationships were the weakest point for me. I didn't fall in love with Aina and had a lot of difficulty empathizing with her. A lot of her emotions felt flat to me and I didn't connect with her. I was also troubled by her relationship with other characters, specifically Kohl. 

All in all, I think a lot of people will really love this fast paced story and intriguing world the author has built.

DNF.

I gave it maybe around 50+ pages and I wasn't really captivated by the stories. The main characters are trying to be super vicious and cutthroat but it just made me dislike them. If this city has like this dark trade in diamonds and what not, that's what I was more interested in reading as it was mentioned in the premise but I just got a sort brief glimpse of it and then a whole bunch of confusing world building.

Maybe if I had more patience I could push through but I'm falling into a reading slump and need to prevent this from getting worse.

eArc provided by NetGalley.

I couldn't really get into this title. I'm usually all here for strong female assassins, but by halfway through the book I wasn't excited or interested in what happened next. I also got strong 'not like other girls' vibes from the protagonist, which is a theme that I'm averse to personally.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me a review copy of this book!

As the first book I read in the new year, this absolutely did not disappoint. Following Aina Solís, an assassin working for one of the most powerful gangs in the city as a means of survival, as she embarks on one of the most challenging hits of her career, DIAMOND CITY captures your attention from the very first chapter and makes you question how your past shapes your future. With a high-stakes mission in a city that has outlawed everything that makes her who she is, Aina and those she holds close are the underdogs that we all love reading about. So, let's talk about them first.

I'll admit that, initially, Aina wasn't my favourite character. Her dynamic with her boss, Kohl, reminded me too much of Kaz and Inej from SIX OF CROWS with the exception that Aina didn't stand as strong on her own, consistently referencing her desire to gain Kohl's approval. That said, Aina's character not only provided a unique discussion into abusive relationships and the process of separating yourself from someone that you hold above all else, but also was someone whose empathy juxtaposed against her role as an assassin enhanced my connection to her. Even through her worst moments, I could rationalize her behaviour, seeing myself in her shoes, working through her complex relationships alongside her. Moreover, I loved the way that her and Teo operated, with such a powerful bond that allowed Aina to find something worth fighting for when everything around her seemed unstable. Teo's character also allows her to engage in her own self-reflection and grow throughout the novel through his role outside the gang, which I really appreciated.

To switch gears to focusing on the plot, I admired the consistent pacing throughout the novel, lending appropriate time to both character and plot development. More importantly, however, was how well this plot of the Steels vs. the Inosens reflected and commented upon the class and religious divides in modern day, with an acknowledgement of privilege and the ways in which members on both sides of the divide could work collaboratively towards a common goal. To add to this, the amount of female empowerment in this novel is nothing short of excellent, with many female characters coming out from the shadows to aid in Aina's quest in their own powerful ways that furthered the magic system and our understanding of how it created the divide to begin with.

Ultimately, this novel took me by surprise in the best way possible and is a story that I truly believe will make people think about their positioning in society. For those who loved SIX OF CROWS or ACE OF SHADES or really, any epic heist/assassin story, this one's for you.

"Good things don't happen to girls who come from nothing... unless they risk everything."

Diamond City is a multifaceted YA fantasy that blends the aspects of many different types of magic systems into one plot, and while I've seen this as being a turnoff for some readers, I found it to work beautifully. Flores has given us a world filled with blood/elemental magic, a steampunk setting, and political unrest to breed a luscious, atmospheric tale of bloodshed and, ultimately, revenge. While I'm not as well read in this genre as some, I have picked up my fair share of YA fantasy over the years and I found the world building, plot progression, and character development to be delightful and engaging. This is the first in a new series, but don't worry, there is just enough closure to negate the awful cliffhanger feeling, while leaving just enough of a set up to cause the reader to crave the next installment. If you enjoy a slow burning fantasy that is both sensual and stabby, look no further!

3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. From the beginning, the concept of this world where diamonds are a source of magic interested me and I enjoyed this book overall. However, I thought it lacked some necessary character development and there were some things that seemed odd to me about it. A small spoiler alert may be necessary here, but Aina is supposed to be this really amazing assassin in this book. However, her greatest fears are guns and spiders. That doesn’t seem likely for a skilled assassin who has been training for years. I did really enjoy the backstory of her addiction and overcoming that on her own.  I’m hoping there will be a second book where true character development is shown. Overall, I would recommend this book.

I set down with a cup of tea and this book to recover from holiday rush.  I kept reading the book and forgot my tea.  For me that’s a major endorsement for the book. Very interesting read. Good character development and plot. Definitely worth your time. Just be sure to have your tea on a warmer.

This definitely felt like an original story! I was glad to read a YA book that broke the mold.

I really enjoyed learning about the characters, but I would have loved more world building. I feel like there is much more to unpack regarding the history of the diamond guards, and the religion in general - hopefully we see this in future installments!
Aina was well rounded, and I loved watching her grow into herself. The pacing was great and it had a great ending!

It’s so hard to find a good heist book. Something with bosses and stakes and friends with backstories that make you feel like you’re one of the team even though you’re just a reader. Francesca Flores does all that and more in Diamond City. I’ve read the book twice just to be absolutely sure but I feel like I’ve wanted to read this book for so long. 

Someone recommended it to me before I received the ARC from NetGalley and they said it was very Ocean 11 meets A darker shade of magic and I think they got it right. Aina is a hero who will stop at nothing to get what she wants because that’s simply how the world works and she is good at it. She walks and talks with the confidence of someone who is holding the winning card, and smiles like she knows all of your secrets and is willing to tell them to you for a price. 

“Because good things don’t usually happen to girls who come from nothing.”

But Aina isn’t going to let that one sentence rule her life. She’s so whole in this book, so completely real with a fear of spiders and a distrust of the dark. She’s an absolute wonder and this fast-paced book is doing everything it can to keep up with her. You owe it to yourself to read this book. 
I can’t believe I left it till 2020 to read.

Book: Diamond City
Author: Francesca Flores 
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC. 

Wow, wow! Where do I even start with this book? I really am liking what Wednesday Books has been putting out there. This gave me Six of Crows and Throne of Glass vibes. I mean we have a dark city ruled by thugs and assassins.  Yes, please! I know a lot of people are saying that this is just another assassin book and really doesn’t change anything. So what? I mean, those of us who love assassin books are really going to love this one. 

I was sucked in right away by the world. We have a dark city where people live in fear. There is the Diamond Guard who hunts people down for practicing their faith and assassins who kill those who get in other people’s way. We get to see what it is like to be trapped in an endless cycle of the street life and poverty and the effects of it. A lot of people in this book live the life they do because of what society has handed them in life. This is so true in our current world. I mean, stop and think about it for a second. Francesca does an amazing job at painting the picture. Once you understand this book’s world, then it allows you to understand the characters a lot. 

So, let’s talk about the characters. 

We have Aina, a street rat turned assassin who has developed a rather unhealthy obsession over her boss, Kohl. In her eyes, he is the hero. After all, he is the one who plucked her from the streets and gave her the life she has. Throughout the entire book, we see her struggle with this and how she refuses to let him go. She is blinded by this worship to see that he is the one who is giving her a lot of pain. I know a lot of people are going to struggle with this aspect of the book. I want you to put yourself in Aina’s shoes. Her parents were killed by the government for their religion and she was shoved aside by society. Kohl steps in and gives her this better life.  He gives what she thinks is everything and is unable to turn away from him. However, she does have dreams and wants to venture out, but, yet, he keeps entering the picture. As the story goes on, we get to see her struggle with this and we get into not just her mind, but head. Francesca really has created this beautiful character in Aina and shows us why she is the way she is. I really can’t go into much more detail on her without spoiling the story anymore than I already have. 

Even the side characters are just wow. They all fit so great into this world that Francesca has created. We get to see just truly how society has transformed people into what they are and how life isn’t always pretty. We get to see just how messed up the world can actually be. We get to see just how different levels of social classes affect each other and how the actions of one person, one character can change the world for either the good or the bad. 

I love the world and the way everything was presented in this book. We have a lot of action, a very dark world, and great characters. I love how everything just fits and makes sense. Plus, this is a great reflection as to the world we live in. I will say that is it books like that this that make me think that YA still has a chance-after all, YA was not very kind to me in 2019. It is books like this that draws readers in and makes them want to keep going. 

Anyway, this book comes out very soon-January 28, 2020. 

Youtube:  https://youtu.be/ni-3dMjVQbo

(Review is also on Goodreads)

Overall, this was a fast-paced, action-filled adventure where you'll be rooting for morally gray characters as in a world filled with crime, everyone has their own reasons for doing what they can to survive.
I really enjoyed the last two-thirds of the book.  The fight sequences were thrilling, and twists and turns kept me reading and I just could not put the book down. The story leaves some openings for romance, and I'm very curious to see where it will go in subsequent books.
On the flip side, the first third of the book was slow to start, and even once it really got going, there were info-dumps/character reflections of the past that really slowed it down.  There was an attempt at diversity, but we were not given more than the different countries' names.  I hope there is a map in the finished books.
I wish we got to know more about the magic system, but as the world has magic as a forbidden aspect of the city, it makes some sense as to why we were just given the bare bones.  

Please keep in mind that I read an ARC and there might be changes in the finished book.  Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC.

This book grabbed my attention from the first page! The world building is amazing. This is a world I definitely would not want to be a part of. The corruption and the horror. Nope not for me. I felt I was able to see Aina grow from her parents death. The only reason I deducted two points is because I felt some times some parts were left unexplained. I am actually looking forward to the sequel to this. 
Thank you Netgalley from giving me an advance readers copy to review it.

Diamond City is a novel that follows Aina as she works as an assassin after the death of her parents. However, a job gone wrong leaves her teaming up with her enemy in order to survive the wrath of her boss.

I really enjoyed the character development in this book. I feel like I was able to see the characters grow and develop as the novel progressed, and I found myself rooting for them. I think the author did a good job on fleshing them out and telling us about their histories throughout the novel, so I was engaged and interested in the characters from start to end.

I think the world building in this book was simply okay. I feel like I had a good understanding of the world from the jump and it was explained clearly, however I think there could’ve been more done with the world and sometimes the author would hit the surface of something interesting, but not really build upon or develop on.

All in all, this was a quick, fast and interesting read that I overall found enjoyable.

This story is fantastic! Great plot that kept me flipping the pages, incredible characters, and full of action. 

This story starts off with a prologue that chills you and the story does not let you go. Aina is a kick-ass heroine that grips your heart, and you’ll love the secondary characters just as much. 

There are so many awe-worthy moments in this story. Many moments that make you think and feel and appreciate. There are times you don’t know who to trust and what to believe. I love that we get so see the flaws and moments of truth for each of the characters. This story elicits so many emotions.

Francesca Flores built this incredible world filled with grit and despair. Corruptness. Gangs. Betrayals. There’s a lot to absorb, great twists and turns, and is action packed. The writing is so engaging and detailed, I felt like I was a part of the danger and the fight scenes. I wanted to fight alongside these amazing characters and help their cause. And that ending! I’m excited to see what the author will bring us next!