I couldn't put this book down. The author sucked me in from the beginning and spit me out at the end. Aina wasn't a likable person. But she was shaped into who she was by the death of her parents and the training of her boss. By the end of the book, the world she used to view in black and white morphed into many shades of grey.

I do have a warning. The world that Diamond City is violent and bloody and the author doesn't hold back. So, if this isn't your thing, I would skip it. Other than that, strap in and enjoy the book.

Diamond City is currently available for pre-order. Its expected publication date is January 28th, 2020.

This epic fantasy with so many things that are similar to our current world knocked me off my feet. I loved everything about this dark and well written book. The world building was excellent and I cannot wait for the next in the series. With that being said, get ready to LOVE a heroine and feel everything that she feels. Aina is a character unlike any other and the way you go on your journey with her will rock your soul.
In a city built by magic that is just yearning to be saved, Aina will be the one. She comes from nothing and has blood magic. Her parents have died and she is just trying to survive in life. As she takes on the job of an assassin she will find those that are like her, whose souls call out to hers. As she plays the games her evil boss wants to play with her, you have to wonder will she survive or will this new gritty reality win over her.

I really liked the cast of characters in Diamond City. I didn't think that the overall theme was particularly unique: female character gets caught up in a gang that's run by a man/boy who is too young to have believably accomplished everything he's reputed to have done. Plus sexual tension between them. It's been done before. However, I still enjoyed this book. The characters were well fleshed and and I found myself rooting for the main character.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this in return for an honest review.

I usually fall in love with assassin books, so when I read the premise to Diamond City, I was super excited. However, I felt that it fell flat in more than one area. The assassins don't seem to have a mission, like they do in most books I've read. Whether they be good or bad, most have goals and here it seemed like they just killed willy nilly and people around them just didn't seem to care.

The main character was very unlikeable, in my opinion. She was an orphan, raised to be an assassin (which is sort of a trope that is overdone), but murder doesn't seem to be illegal. Aina is worried about being caught for peddling diamonds, which could get her killed, but literally murdering people doesn't matter? It as all very confusing and not very well explained at all. And hey, I'm all for character growth, but towards the end, Aina's actions didn't seem consistent with her character at all. It as like she had to fit the mold for lead romantic character, tough girl, and best friend all in one. And I get that people can definitely be multifaceted, but usually their choices are consistent.

The world was interesting enough, if not well enough explained. I did't understand the magic system until over halfway through the book, and even then it seemed to be a secondhand thought. One strength that this book had was descriptions. I absolutely love well envisioned characters and settings, and I was fully able to see these while reading. The best parts were the actual fight scenes. These are hard to get right for me and these were done right.

Overall this book was just okay. It did remind me of a lot of other YA reads. Just for once I wish that a main character was fully unique.

Aina has lost her parents, lived for years on the streets, and then been taken in by a man who both acts as her father and trains her to be a ruthless assassin. But there is so much that she doesn't know, and her heart is often torn. When she is given her biggest assignment yet, and fails, everything falls apart in her mind. This is a story of inner conflict, seemingly impossible odds, and personal triumph.

Characters that you can root for. Very interesting read. At times (only a couple) it seemed to be slow going, however, those slower times are necessary for the backstories of our main characters to be understood. Great first for the series. Complete with twists and turns and development and growth for the characters you are rooting for.

This book was fast paced, action packed, and a surprisingly quick read for as long as it is! The characters are dynamic and I appreciated that the main character, Aina, was such a bad-ass!!! This is a great addition to YA fantasy/dystopian.

I loved the way this book tied together a contemporary feeling with the themes of magic often seen in more historically based books. It was an energizing look at magic, with characters you love to hate.

Diamond City was a book that grabbed me with its portrayal of its protagonist and refused to let go with mesmerizing twists and turns. As a fan of dystopian Young Adult Fiction, I was struck by the brutality of this world. Aina Solis was a heartbreaking heroine who oozed cynicism and trauma. Despite her violent skillset as an Assassin (or Blade) for the ruthless Blood King, I found myself drawn in. There was a broken quality that was tragic yet optimistic.

This book was unique because, for most of the first two acts, I felt as if it could have been a one-and-done standalone novel. However, as it became clear that this book was headed for a sequel, I felt torn. I thought that the world in which this story takes place was tailor-made for a larger story, but I thought that Aina’s story was much more definitive.

Ultimately, then, I liked Diamond City a lot. I liked Aina and the other prominent characters. There was a definite sense of danger and conspiracy that grew chapter by chapter and there was a genuinely surprising library of twists and turns that were present in the book.

Diamond City is scheduled for release in early 2020, and I certainly recommend it.

My review posts on my website tomorrow morning.

I got a little past halfway in this and then skimmed the rest. I didn’t care about the characters or story. The story felt patched together and not like a finished product, and it seemed too wordy. There are other similar stories that are done better.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Got this free in exchange for a review. I got through 35% before I couldn’t take it.
It started out great, but screeched to a halt when she gives a guy time to get dressed before she interrogates and kills him. What??? Then they sit on the bed and chat like they’re old friends. Apparently oblivious to the fact that she killed a butt-load of people on the way in, and someone was bound to notice. But the would-be victim doesn’t seem remotely bothered that she slit his brothers throat. He acts like a perfect teen boy with a crush who can see no wrong with the girl butchering everyone in his house. What the crap??

This book was fast paced from start to finish! Truly this was a surprising read for me. The characters are developed well, the story is a wasteland of death and morally grey characters!, and Aina.......By God she is amazing! You will truly fall in love with this book!!!
The interactions between the characters feel real and plausible. I truly felt this book transport me, and I did not want to leave this world. I wanted to be beside our assassin while she made more mistakes, and triumphs! I would definitely stab Kohl.... several times, for good measure....... :). If this book is not on your TBR, you should add it there now!!!!

This novel contains action, mystery, betrayals, and magic. In a world where many struggle to survive and magic is outlawed, there are those who rise, but not always on the side of good. Aina Solis became an assassin due to the murder of her parents and she idolizes the man who "saved" her. She has plans for the future, even is involved in illegal activities, with few, if any friends. When she fails her most recent mission, she is shut out by the one who "saved" her. Now, she needs to prove herself, while it is declared "open season" to kill her. She gets an unlikely ally, who knows there is more corruption in Diamond City and needs to find who the big fish is before they finish the job. Aina has ulterior motives for helping, after all, if it gets her closer to the prize and her "redemption", then who cares. However, Aina does care, which creates conflict within herself, from what she has made herself believe and the actual truth. A very intriguing story and looking forward to what happens next.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

Such a fun and thrilling story.

I’m a romance fiend and even though there wasn’t a single kiss, all that romantic tension (there were many contenders for Aina’s heart) was delicious.

Can’t wait to read the next installment!

I loved the characters but the world-building needs work. There seem to be many factions and stakeholders in this universe and I'm still not clear who is aligned with whom and what they all stand for. I'll absolutely read the next book in this series, though. I'm hoping Aina will end up with her blue-haired counterpart (Tanis?) by the end.

This book was AMAZING. In the cutthroat world of Sumerland, only the brutal survive. Aina was pulled off the streets of the Stacks at just 12 years old by the infamous Blood King, who transformed her into one of the most powerful and dangerous assassins in the kingdom. She jumps at the chance to leave her past behind her and run her own tradehouse when she's offered to chance to kill one of the richest and most infamous citizens of the land. When things go horribly wrong, Aina finds herself on the run, the hunter now is the hunted. Besieged on all sides with few to trust, Aina tries to correct her mistakes, and discovers a conspiracy that threatens to destroy everything she knows and everything she hopes for.
Man, I can't say enough about this book. Diamond City is a raw, violent, feminist action-packed book that had my heart racing from beginning to end. I loved Aina as a protagonist and how her arc played out throughout the story. The author doesn't exculpate her from her actions, but she is a flawed, morally grey character who knows that she can never truly make up for the lives she has taken, but takes steps to put it behind her. She is fearless, determined, broken, and strong. I also loved how her abusive relationship with Kohl is handled in this book. It is a subject that isn't dealt with so often in YA literature, but Flores manages to capture the harsh realities and complex issues at the center of these kinds of relationships. Aina is able to stand on her own two feet and walk away from it, fully claiming the power she has inside of her as a woman.
Diamond City is also a blistering assessment of wealth, greed, and inequality. The rich and corrupt have power, while the common people and the poor are exploited and left to rot. Sumerand's world building is just exquisite, and it paints a picture of a world not unlike our own. The writing is so powerful and swift. And the male characters were wonderful, especially Ryuu and Teo. I'm honestly blown away by the fact that this is a debut novel. Fans of Red Queen, AEITA, and The Hunger Games will devour this. You want to read this book. It'll be your new obsession.

I was not a fan of this book. this seriously backs up the fact that I am not into young adult fantasy.

This was a multifaceted, well-written, action packed ride. I thought it was going to be a quick and easy read, but it wasn't. Watch out for those twists ad turns! I felt major Ace of Shades vibes (which I loved.) I enjoyed the character development, but sometimes the story was so detailed that it bogged down the pace a tad. I wasn't fond of the timeline transitions as a few were abrupt. I really liked the smart, sassy, and strong-willed main character. I'm curious as to what (if anything) will happen next.

Thank you to Netgalley for granting me an ARC to review.

This book blew me away. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.

Diamond City follows Aina Solis, an assassin navigating through the slums of Kosin and waiting for the day when she can be free from her indenture to the notorious Blood King's gang. When she's presented a job to kill a wealthy industrialist with a big enough payout to break free from the gang and escape poverty, she gladly accepts only to have the assassination go terribly amiss leading to a bounty on her head and caught in a game of deadly politics and conspiracies.

"Good things don't happen to girls who come from nothing"
Aina was such a memorable and relatable heroine. What made her stand out was how flawed she was, yet, her need for redemption and hope despite her circumstances made her such a complex character. Teo and Ryu were kind of bland though- I wasn't as invested in them as a side character. Kohl on the other hand..... he reminds me so much of the Darkling and I hope to see more character development.

The plot was so fast-paced and action-packed. And I loved the worldbuilding- intricate and dark with parallels to our world that provides commentary on the effects of industrialism, religious persecution, and poverty.

I absolutely loved this thrilling YA fantasy debut and cannot wait to read the sequel.

*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a free ARC