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!

Where to start with this book... overall, I enjoyed it but it seemed like two books shoved into one. I really enjoyed the first 'half' with Aina and Teo and their mission to kill Kouta, but the second 'half' I didn't like as much. I felt like it shoul'd've been a completely different book and the subject matter was almost entirely different.

I received a free copy of DIAMOND CITY by Francesca Flores, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Aina Solis works as an assassin for a powerful crime boss. Aina’s primary ambition is to earn her freedom and become a powerful crime boss in her own right. Finally, her boss tells her he has one last job for her, and it’s a big one. She has to kill the highly protected heir of the Steel fortune. It’s hard to get to him; all he does is read inside his library. This is the story of Aina’s quest for independence.

I just couldn’t connect with the primary character. Aina’s a sociopath; she has no empathy or value for human life. Though she has brief flashes of attachment or guilt; they’re shallow and completely overruled by her own selfish goals and desires. Aina has no desire for a better life; she’s perfectly content killing for a living; she only wants more power. Please note that, though nothing sexual happens in this book, Aina appears to be bisexual, so the next book may explore her more carnal desires.

<I> I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. </I>

Aina grew up in a world of those who have and those who have not. At the age of eight she watched her parents be killed for nothing more than practicing their religion; something they were doing in secret to avoid such persecution. A religion based on blood magic. After spending sometime on the street she is taken in by Kohl and taught to be one of his hired assassins. Aina dreams of one day becoming owning her our guild of assassins. To accomplish this dream she has made a deal with Kohl. One last job. Infiltrate the home of one of the cities most wealth citizens and murder him. Aina believed that she accomplished her task but soon realizes that her target is not dead.

I enjoyed Diamond City. Francesca Flores has built an amazing world and developed wonderful characters. I could visualize every moment of the story. Including the moments that involved my biggest fear - extremely large sized spiders! This story has a lot of complex twists and turns. Because it was so overwhelming I found myself having to read then step back to absorb and take in what I read.

My only real issue with the story would be a character flaw of Aina. I believe that this flaw was by design and I also believe there will be redemption by Aina should there be future installments to the story. In her time with Kohl Aina has developed a bit of Stockholm Syndrome. She believes herself to be in love with Kohl even though he often times treats her poorly. After Aina discovered that her target, Kouta, was not dead she works with her target's brother, Ryuu, in an effort to locate where Kouta is hidden. Aina gets to know Ryuu and they form a friendship. Once Kouta is located Aina still follows through in righting her botched assassination. Fortunately for Aina someone else has beaten her to the punch and Kouta is already dead. I love Ryuu's character and the way he made Aina think about herself and what she could become despite where she had been. I felt it was unfortunate that she betrayed that developing friendship.

I look forward to the next installment.

What is this book about?
Diamond City follows Aina, an assassin working for one of the worst crime bosses in Koshima. When presented with an opportunity to break away from the Blood King and start her own establishment, she takes on a high-profile assassination job. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned and she gets caught up in a game of politics, conspiracy, and murder.

What did I like?
This is a case where the book started out so amazingly but slowly lost steam as the story went on. I thought the world-building was clever: a world caught between industrialization and religion. The struggles between the two sides felt very believable and added depth to the story.

I also really loved Aina! It was refreshing to have an assassin that actually commits murders without qualms. Orphaned at a young age, she struggled to overcome poverty and homelessness, and is eventually “saved” by the Blood King, the leader of a ruthless gang. Speaking of the Blood King, Francesca Flores did an excellent job exploring the kind of power and emotional control people like Kohl have over impressionable younger girls such as Aina. Aina transitions from romanticizing him and their relationship to finally opening her eyes to the kind of person he truly is.

What didn’t I like?
Towards the end of the book, the story started to lose a bit of steam. The action really picked up, but the conflicts were resolved quickly and without much fanfare. There were also a few aspects and “plot twists” that felt a little forced and a bit too clean for the kind of story this started out as.

Overall thoughts: I highly enjoyed this debut book from Francesca Flores! The world-building was unique and different from what I was expecting for a novel about a young assassin, and the heroine was truly the heart of this book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

Hang on tight for this one, from start to finish it is non-stop tension, action and fabulous character interaction! Even more of an attention-getter is that the heroine is not your typical good girl! Aina is a master thief and assassin, raised on the streets after her parents’ murder in a city that is as terrifying as it is fascinating.

Taken in by the cold-hearted leader of a gang of young thugs, Aina strives to be the best at what she does, sadly, all for the praise and acceptance of someone who doesn’t deserve her loyalty and proves it in spades when an assassination goes very wrong and in retribution, a hit is put out on Aina.

Welcome to a world of magic, mayhem and murder, where the haves have all of the power and the forgotten become less than human. DIAMOND CITY is a rapid-fire tale of survival, discoveries, deceit and unlikely alliances as Aina’s eyes are opened to brutal truths and her heart is opened to love and trust. Now she must learn to survive at all costs and beat the bad guys at their own game.

Francesca Flores had me from page one and never let go with her amazing character development that flew as high as the scenes she brought to life. High energy, creative and incredibly mesmerizing! Written for young adults, but perfect for any age of dystopian adventure loving readers!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Wednesday Books! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a YA read that had many of the usual YA themes, situations, and character types. A quick read.

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me. It was a bit too high paced on the action and I felt like the world and characters were not built up enough because of it.

An adventurous tale of an orphan's struggles to find freedom in a world that wants to keep her under its heel. Brimming with danger, action, and of course some mild romance, Flores seamlessly incorporates themes of classism and religious persecution while giving readers a strong heroine whose vulnerability and flaws only serve to further endear her to you. Plenty of twists and turns keep you on your toes as you speed to the end. Looking forward to book two in the series.

Oh my! What a wild ride this book is! I kid you not, from page one this book takes off. Eighteen-year-old Aina grew up in the street of mazelike where she is trained to be an assassin for the Kohl — the Blood King. Tasked to kill Kouta Hirai, a wealthy businessman who holds the monopoly on diamond-mining — this job won’t come easy for her. With the lose of her parents on her mind and other gangs after her Aina does what she must in order to survive. My only issue is the world building, there just wasn’t enough of it.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and Netgalley for gifting me this darc in exchange for an honest review. Over all I gave this a 3.5 but bumped it up to 4/5 stars.

I could NOT get into this one... It sounded intriguing and was offered to me and I tried, but I just couldn't find myself caring about the characters or following the gangs or feeling compelled at all by the story. I think it just wasn't a good fit...

This book has a very strong Six of Crows vibe. That story wasn't my favorite style of writing and this one was even less so. Unfortunately I don't see myself picking this one up again anytime soon.

Diamond City was absolutely incredibly written and kept me completely caught up in the story. An orphaned girl being turned into a highly skilled assassin, I love it. The main character Aina had an interesting back story that was brought up throughout the book. The author continuously gave hints to how Aina became the Blade she is today. Admittedly, I love books that have a darker side to them. Toss in some ruthless killing and incredible skill and I am all in.

The supporting characters help move the story along at such an amazing pace. At first, I was a little unsure who I wanted to like and who I felt something was off about. In the end, I actually fell in love with each main character because they were so... themselves. You could really tell who was who and the characters truly played into that. The author did a wonderful job shaping them. I only struggled a little bit with one character, just because I was not sure if I could truly justify his feelings and such willingness to forgive.

Now, the world building was incredible. I could easily recall the city layout and I had a very vivid image painted in my mind of the Stacks and Amethyst Hill. With warring gangs, numerous assassins, tons of plot twists, this book had me completely hooked. I easily give Diamond City four stars.

If you like books that keep you guessing, have lots of action, and are overall incredibly well written then this is the book for you.

I liked the sound of the world-building in this novel - it gave me some Ace of Shades vibes (a book I adored!), so I immediately requested it from NetGalley.

If you love action-packed books that move at a brisk pace, Diamond City checks those boxes.  From nearly the first page, the story takes off and rarely slows down - which makes sense given the MC is an assassin.  And she's very good at her job.  Other reviewers have mentioned difficulty in connecting with Aina because of her profession.  Admittedly, she's racked up quite the body count, but she was also orphaned at a young age and lived on the streets.  She could choose to either give up and die or kill others to survive.  Someone from her walk of life doesn't have a long list of choices.  

The world-building is dark and gritty with gangs, rampant religious persecution, and a wide divide between the rich and the poor.  Magic is connected to religion and is outlawed, but there are still those who still practice it and risk their lives.

Initially, I became annoyed with Aina and the way she's attracted to nearly everyone she meets, but the reason becomes obvious to Aina and the reader by the end of the book, and I was glad romance isn't a prominent element of the story.  There are some fascinating, complex dynamics going on between some characters, and I'm anxious to see where this goes in the next book.

Diamond City is a dark, bloody tale and requires suspension of disbelief in a couple of places, but it's a solid debut novel and a series I plan to continue.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced access.

This was an exciting narrative set in a stratified society, where magic is wielded through diamonds, and those in power have banned the trading of diamonds for magical use. Yet the illegal sale of diamonds endures via the blackmarket, and practicers continue to exist and are persecuted.

The main character, Aina, is the orphaned daughter of magical users, who has since become an assassin for the Blood King. After accepting an almost impossible job targeting a well-known member of the upper class, Aina enlists the aid of her friend and fellow assassin Teo. Encountering obstacles and revelations along the way, she bands together with Ryuu, her target's brother, and Raurie, a girl from a magic-using family.

I thought that the plot had a lot to offer, and Aina's growth and self-realization as the novel progressed was a highlight. However, some of the characters felt underdeveloped. Specifically, the Blood King was supposed to be this big, bad, enigmatic lord of crime with a dark backstory, but I found myself still puzzling over him and his relationships to other characters. How did he come to be this powerful? Also, Aina's assassination target was supposed to be this pivotal character in uncovering the major conspiracy. But he did not have a single speaking line, which is not a major issue. However, we did not really get to know him at all. Everything we did know about him was learned indirectly through other characters' thoughts or dialogue. It just felt incomplete somehow.

Overall, I thought that the main character's inner conflict was portrayed skillfully and I appreciated the author's exploration into themes of persecution and self-realization.