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cathepsut's review against another edition
A post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. After „The Glitch“ the city lies in ruins, with charred remains. 30 years later the sky is still covered and there is no sun. Vampires have always been under us and can now roam free. Mutants threaten from outside the city, from a potentially radioactive wasteland. The last remaining humans shelter in „The Zone“, a protected enclave.
Main characters are a pair of siblings that venture into the city to scavenge whatever they can find. And there is Eric and his partner Bombshell. He is an ex-LAPD officer, turned vampire shortly before the Glitch. Bombshell is an ex-bomb squad expert, now cyborg after an almost fatal (bomb-related?) accident.
The siblings find a naked man without memories, naming him Colton, after the street where they found him on one of their scavenging trips. And there is Vincent, a cop working with Eric and Bombshell, who is inhabited by a mysterious entity. Maybe an alien? Or an angel?
So much for the first chapter and the setting of the scene.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review. I received this ARC in 2019, so it‘s been on my shelf for almost 5 years. Mea Culpa!
The first chapter was rough. The writing was not great and the grammar full of mistakes. Strange sentence structures, incorrect word order and word choices, tenses changing in the same sentence or paragraph, correct use of adjectives was missing entirely. Maybe my ARC was an unedited first draft? It definitely needed editing by a natural English speaker.
I read chapter two as well, which brought me to 22%. About 60 to 70 pages, depending on edition. I am not terribly interested anymore in UF/horror in a post-apocalyptic setting with goth vampires and (probably) demons. Sorry, combined with the less than stellar writing: DNF.
Main characters are a pair of siblings that venture into the city to scavenge whatever they can find. And there is Eric and his partner Bombshell. He is an ex-LAPD officer, turned vampire shortly before the Glitch. Bombshell is an ex-bomb squad expert, now cyborg after an almost fatal (bomb-related?) accident.
The siblings find a naked man without memories, naming him Colton, after the street where they found him on one of their scavenging trips. And there is Vincent, a cop working with Eric and Bombshell, who is inhabited by a mysterious entity. Maybe an alien? Or an angel?
So much for the first chapter and the setting of the scene.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review. I received this ARC in 2019, so it‘s been on my shelf for almost 5 years. Mea Culpa!
The first chapter was rough. The writing was not great and the grammar full of mistakes. Strange sentence structures, incorrect word order and word choices, tenses changing in the same sentence or paragraph, correct use of adjectives was missing entirely. Maybe my ARC was an unedited first draft? It definitely needed editing by a natural English speaker.
I read chapter two as well, which brought me to 22%. About 60 to 70 pages, depending on edition. I am not terribly interested anymore in UF/horror in a post-apocalyptic setting with goth vampires and (probably) demons. Sorry, combined with the less than stellar writing: DNF.
sea_caummisar's review against another edition
4.0
This book was interesting to say the least. The world is in ruins. It Glitched. People died from radiation. Mutants hunted humans. And vampires become known to man. Mostly to save them, because they need human blood. Very interesting stuff in here.
So then, more evil than expected lurks in the shadows.
This book has a ton of action in it. More than what I prefer, but maybe that comes with the genre? This was a nice break from my typical horror reads
So then, more evil than expected lurks in the shadows.
This book has a ton of action in it. More than what I prefer, but maybe that comes with the genre? This was a nice break from my typical horror reads
mellhay's review against another edition
3.0
Anna has created a post apocalyptic world here, full of vampires, danger, cyborgs, humans, angels, and demons.
All are interesting along with the friction that exists with the different beliefs from all in the world. And then there's the growing danger of the demons and their portal. We get just the tip of the iceberg on all the different beliefs and history here.
In the beginning I struggled with the perception of the characters. I wasn't sure who was seeing what was happening. As the story went on, I fell into the feel of the book and characters.
Anna writes this full world in the way of fantasy, with lots of great details. The view of the world and how people live is a big part of what's happening here.
All are interesting along with the friction that exists with the different beliefs from all in the world. And then there's the growing danger of the demons and their portal. We get just the tip of the iceberg on all the different beliefs and history here.
In the beginning I struggled with the perception of the characters. I wasn't sure who was seeing what was happening. As the story went on, I fell into the feel of the book and characters.
Anna writes this full world in the way of fantasy, with lots of great details. The view of the world and how people live is a big part of what's happening here.
knittyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Shadow City reads as the perfect combination of a dystopian future, cyberpunk and fantasy creatures. The plot is strong, as are the characters. I was reading this book, looking forward to learning more about both the characters and the new state the world was in all the time.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not going to lie, when I first saw this on the NetGalley website, I was intrigued. From the title and the cover, I wanted to know more about this book and the world within it. Yet, after a couple of pages into the Shadow City I was bored. The characters were okay but none were my favorite or held my attention span for long. Then the world itself was okay but I just wasn't hooked on anything that was happening.
That being said, this book had a ton of action. A lot more than I though it would but I figured since this takes place decades after the Big Glitch.. there was bound to be some action. It kind of reminded me of the movie 'I Am Legend' in a way. Ya know, the one with Will Smith.
The one thing I did like was getting pov's from both sides of the rivalry. It was interesting to see everything from both sides during this post-apocalyptic time. I just wished it was a bit more interesting for me.
Not going to lie, when I first saw this on the NetGalley website, I was intrigued. From the title and the cover, I wanted to know more about this book and the world within it. Yet, after a couple of pages into the Shadow City I was bored. The characters were okay but none were my favorite or held my attention span for long. Then the world itself was okay but I just wasn't hooked on anything that was happening.
That being said, this book had a ton of action. A lot more than I though it would but I figured since this takes place decades after the Big Glitch.. there was bound to be some action. It kind of reminded me of the movie 'I Am Legend' in a way. Ya know, the one with Will Smith.
The one thing I did like was getting pov's from both sides of the rivalry. It was interesting to see everything from both sides during this post-apocalyptic time. I just wished it was a bit more interesting for me.
anca_antoci's review against another edition
5.0
Shadow City is a gripping story set in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, several decades after the Glitch. No one truly knows what the Glitch was, but due to a cataclysm that released toxic radiation, the world was damaged beyond repair. The dystopian world Anna created gives off a mixture of Mad Max and Resident Evil vibes.
“We don’t know exactly. We can only speculate. It came out of the blue, surprised us in our sleep. Probably a nuclear disaster that started a chain reaction... but as I said, it’s unclear. All government and communications structures were gone, there was no one to tell us what had happened, and there was no help. We were left on our own.”
After the Glitch, “endless thick clouds” hid the sun from the world and life went on in the shadow. That allowed vampires to come out once daylight was no longer a deterrent. Hard to believe but they’re the good guys in this story; most of them anyway. The few humans who survived the Glitch made a pact with the vampires. They live together in a protected area they call The Zone and have a blood bank set up where every healthy person above 12 years old has to donate blood for vampires.
In exchange, the vampires protect the Zone from monsters: radioactive mutants, gangs of raiders, and Dark Ones - mysterious beings that feed on human pain and agony and got here through a crack in the earth at LA s City Hall.
We experience the story from multiple POVs. Eric, the brooding vampire leader, Bombshell the cyborg (that Eric affectionately calls Bombie or tin can), Colton who has no memory of his past or his name (he was named Colton after the street he was found on) and Vincent who is possessed by another being and falls for a rogue vampire. That’s quite a team!
You’re thrown into the action from the get-go when a couple of teenagers fight mutants to save a stranger. Little by little, we get to meet the other characters and see them in action.
What I loved most in this book, aside from the action and quirky characters, was the relationship between the vampire and the cyborg and their constant banter:
“That’ s Bombshell,” Eric lifted his glass towards her. “We couldn’t manage without her.” “I know,” she said with a grin. “But it’s always a pleasure to hear it from your lips, vamp.”
When they’re under attack and need reinforcements, we learn that vampires can contact one another telepathically.
“He’ s calling for reinforcements,” Bombshell explained. “Don’ t look at me like that. I have no clue how this hocus-pocus works, but all vamps seem to be mentally connected somehow. One of the reasons we have so many of them in the HF. They’re like undead walkie-talkies.”
I loved Shadow City and I can’t wait for the sequel! I think Anna Mocikat did a great job creating a gripping dystopian world, well-developed characters, relatable villains and an action-packed plot.
Another thing that got my attention were all the music references throughout the story. The fact that I have them on my playlist made me appreciate Anna even more (Metallica, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails are the first that come to mind). Reading Shadow City was like watching an action movie with an awesome soundtrack. It was a good story with unexpected twists and a few emotional moments. You know it’s a good book when even after you finished the story you still think about it.
Posted on https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-reviews/shadow-city-by-anna-mocikat-book-review
“We don’t know exactly. We can only speculate. It came out of the blue, surprised us in our sleep. Probably a nuclear disaster that started a chain reaction... but as I said, it’s unclear. All government and communications structures were gone, there was no one to tell us what had happened, and there was no help. We were left on our own.”
After the Glitch, “endless thick clouds” hid the sun from the world and life went on in the shadow. That allowed vampires to come out once daylight was no longer a deterrent. Hard to believe but they’re the good guys in this story; most of them anyway. The few humans who survived the Glitch made a pact with the vampires. They live together in a protected area they call The Zone and have a blood bank set up where every healthy person above 12 years old has to donate blood for vampires.
In exchange, the vampires protect the Zone from monsters: radioactive mutants, gangs of raiders, and Dark Ones - mysterious beings that feed on human pain and agony and got here through a crack in the earth at LA s City Hall.
We experience the story from multiple POVs. Eric, the brooding vampire leader, Bombshell the cyborg (that Eric affectionately calls Bombie or tin can), Colton who has no memory of his past or his name (he was named Colton after the street he was found on) and Vincent who is possessed by another being and falls for a rogue vampire. That’s quite a team!
You’re thrown into the action from the get-go when a couple of teenagers fight mutants to save a stranger. Little by little, we get to meet the other characters and see them in action.
What I loved most in this book, aside from the action and quirky characters, was the relationship between the vampire and the cyborg and their constant banter:
“That’ s Bombshell,” Eric lifted his glass towards her. “We couldn’t manage without her.” “I know,” she said with a grin. “But it’s always a pleasure to hear it from your lips, vamp.”
When they’re under attack and need reinforcements, we learn that vampires can contact one another telepathically.
“He’ s calling for reinforcements,” Bombshell explained. “Don’ t look at me like that. I have no clue how this hocus-pocus works, but all vamps seem to be mentally connected somehow. One of the reasons we have so many of them in the HF. They’re like undead walkie-talkies.”
I loved Shadow City and I can’t wait for the sequel! I think Anna Mocikat did a great job creating a gripping dystopian world, well-developed characters, relatable villains and an action-packed plot.
Another thing that got my attention were all the music references throughout the story. The fact that I have them on my playlist made me appreciate Anna even more (Metallica, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails are the first that come to mind). Reading Shadow City was like watching an action movie with an awesome soundtrack. It was a good story with unexpected twists and a few emotional moments. You know it’s a good book when even after you finished the story you still think about it.
Posted on https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-reviews/shadow-city-by-anna-mocikat-book-review
donasbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Instagram review: www.instagram.com/p/B7tZCfUAwRf/
Though this little gem sits outside my usual genres, I found quite a few things to love in this book. Mocikat's setting work is gorgeous, to start; she does an excellent job grounding the reader in that terrifying world she has created for her stories.
I thought the addition of the cyborgs to this horror paradigm was both clever and refreshing; not to mention, I love Bombshell and all her antics. I also appreciated all the deviations from the tradition vampire mythology. I don't usually get into vampire stories because I'm a little bored with the myths; but this was fun and different. You'll see what I mean in the first couple chapters.
4.5 out of 5 for me, only because sometimes I had a little trouble following so many characters. I don't blame Mocikat for that really; large casts are hard to follow at times!
I forgot to say: congratulations on landing your publisher! Book 2 is going to be awesome!!
Though this little gem sits outside my usual genres, I found quite a few things to love in this book. Mocikat's setting work is gorgeous, to start; she does an excellent job grounding the reader in that terrifying world she has created for her stories.
I thought the addition of the cyborgs to this horror paradigm was both clever and refreshing; not to mention, I love Bombshell and all her antics. I also appreciated all the deviations from the tradition vampire mythology. I don't usually get into vampire stories because I'm a little bored with the myths; but this was fun and different. You'll see what I mean in the first couple chapters.
4.5 out of 5 for me, only because sometimes I had a little trouble following so many characters. I don't blame Mocikat for that really; large casts are hard to follow at times!
I forgot to say: congratulations on landing your publisher! Book 2 is going to be awesome!!
philibin's review against another edition
4.0
(3.75 Stars)
I "read" the Audible Audiobook version of this and it was very enjoyable. I will say that the dialog mechanics took a little getting used to, and some of the segment transitions were a little clumsy, but the characters each spoke in their own "voice" so, you pick up on the author's (and narrator's) cadence fairly quickly.
The story itself is interesting. Set in a dystopian Hollywood future where magic, monsters, and mechanical beings all meld together to form a tale of sex, love, sacrifice, and the struggle to survive in a world where nothing is as it seems.
It is very reminiscent (to me) of the Deathlands Series (by "James Axler") in a lot of ways. Readers of dystopian fantasy and Dark Fantasy should like this book, it is similar to splatterpunk, but not quite. There are some erotic moments of the book, but not dwelled on.
I "read" the Audible Audiobook version of this and it was very enjoyable. I will say that the dialog mechanics took a little getting used to, and some of the segment transitions were a little clumsy, but the characters each spoke in their own "voice" so, you pick up on the author's (and narrator's) cadence fairly quickly.
The story itself is interesting. Set in a dystopian Hollywood future where magic, monsters, and mechanical beings all meld together to form a tale of sex, love, sacrifice, and the struggle to survive in a world where nothing is as it seems.
It is very reminiscent (to me) of the Deathlands Series (by "James Axler") in a lot of ways. Readers of dystopian fantasy and Dark Fantasy should like this book, it is similar to splatterpunk, but not quite. There are some erotic moments of the book, but not dwelled on.
alyram4's review against another edition
2.0
I unfortunately wasn't a fan of this book. I just wasn't that interested in the stories or characters. Because of this, it felt more like a job to finish this book instead of having fun with it. Was it bad? No, not at all. The writing and descriptions throughout the book are wonderfully done. The real question is, did I have fun reading this? That's where this book fell for me. I like to base my ratings on how well I enjoyed a book. I still keep the writing and plot development in check as well, but most of my reviews are based on enjoyability. I was struggling to get through this, despite me really enjoying bits and pieces of some chapters. I believe the chapters are just way too long. I understand why it was done, but it just made everything out to be longer than it was. Honestly, it was written well, but there's definitely a specific set of people who will enjoy this more than I. I wish I was a part of that audience, as the synopsis really intrigued me, but sadly I'm not.
ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
moj8668's review against another edition
4.0
There is absolutely no hint that this is the first in a series so the cliffhanger ending was a surprise. A pleasant surprise but definitely unexpected.
I loved everything about this book. Vampires, cyborgs, and humans working together to keep people safe in a world that has been torn apart by an explosive incident known as "the Glitch". But that explosion has allowed pure evil into the world. And all the death and suffering that has followed is simply enhancing that evil. It's an evil force that would love to wipe out humans - vampires too! - and take control of the world.
The book leaves you with sooooo many questions. Will Colton ever remember ANYTHING about his past? What exactly is the being inhabiting the body of Human Force officer? They've been stopped temporarily but they certainly haven't given up. What will the Dark Ones do next?
You'll notice I said I loved everything about this book yet I gave it a four-star rating. The ONLY thing that kept me from giving it a five star was the presence of some editing mistakes - words that were missing and sentences that were awkwardly worded. It didn't detract from the plot but did cause my reading to slow down a few times. The awkward wording was really only an issue in that last couple of chapters; it almost read like the book had been written in a different language (I believe the author was born in Poland and lived in Germany until 2016) and then was translated into English. But PLEASE read this book - even with the language hiccups it's a fantastic story!
I loved everything about this book. Vampires, cyborgs, and humans working together to keep people safe in a world that has been torn apart by an explosive incident known as "the Glitch". But that explosion has allowed pure evil into the world. And all the death and suffering that has followed is simply enhancing that evil. It's an evil force that would love to wipe out humans - vampires too! - and take control of the world.
The book leaves you with sooooo many questions. Will Colton ever remember ANYTHING about his past? What exactly is the being inhabiting the body of Human Force officer? They've been stopped temporarily but they certainly haven't given up. What will the Dark Ones do next?
You'll notice I said I loved everything about this book yet I gave it a four-star rating. The ONLY thing that kept me from giving it a five star was the presence of some editing mistakes - words that were missing and sentences that were awkwardly worded. It didn't detract from the plot but did cause my reading to slow down a few times. The awkward wording was really only an issue in that last couple of chapters; it almost read like the book had been written in a different language (I believe the author was born in Poland and lived in Germany until 2016) and then was translated into English. But PLEASE read this book - even with the language hiccups it's a fantastic story!