My review of Mystic City

Mystic City (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence
Release Date: October 9, 2012
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Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

Mystic City is an absorbing and wondrous YA book about magic and all the damage it can cause. It's gripping and it's exciting, no way will you be able to put this book down.

Mystic City is about Aria Rose, the daughter of one of the most powerful and important families in Mystic City. She wakes up and finds herself engaged to the son of her families enemies, Thomas. Their marriage is meant to solve the generations of hate between the families. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas, despite all her parents say about their relationship before her accident. Then she meets Hunter and there is something about him that is familiar, but what she doesn't know is that he holds the key to unlocking her forgotten memories. 

I really enjoyed Mystic City! I was worried about starting it at first because of all the mixed reviews, but when I got into it, I found myself enjoying it and unable to rest without finishing it. I had to find out what was going on with Aria and all the secrets the people around her were hiding. But also because I was madly attached to the character of Hunter; a boy we meet a few chapters into the book with a killer smile and good looks. Yeah, I loved him.

I also loved the Romeo and Juliet connection. The whole, "getting married to unite two families" thing was good. And the forbidden romance between two people also made the book absolutely irresistible for me. Hunter and Aria's relationship started off with him rescuing her repeatedly due to her daring habits, but eventually that grew into something more and... Ahh, I couldn't stop swooning.

There are many other elements of the book that I enjoyed. For instance, the action was well written and fast paced, the mystery part of the book made it that much harder to pull away from, and the characters. There were so many to meet and get to know! I loved it.

Mystic City is an interesting and well-written book about magic that will interest fans of books like Matched by Ally Condie and Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz.

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