Review: Dark Metropolis

Info:

Title: Dark Metropolis
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Series: Dark Metropolis #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: June 17, 2014
Source: I received a complimentary eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Synopsis:
Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

Review:
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started reading Dark Metropolis, but it wasn't what I got. Which is actually a good thing! I wavered on whether to read this one, but I'm glad I did.

Our main character in the beginning is Thea, a nice girl who is facing more than her share of trouble. Her father died in a war and now her mother is mentally ill due to a spell linking her with her husband. Thea has dropped out of school to provide for her and her mom and works nights waitressing at a club. And that's where things get interesting.

I'm not really sure what to classify this one as. Sometimes it had almost a dystopian feel, with the apparent changes after the war and some government conspiracy business, but it wasn't super dystopian-like. There's a bit more magic than I expected, so it could almost be Urban Fantasy, but it's a bit more subtle than most UF I've read.

Regardless of what category this book ends up under, I did enjoy it. I could have done with a little bit more world-building and Thea completely disappears for a large chunk of the book and I completely forgot where we left her.

The characters were pretty good. Like I said, Thea is a nice girl and I loved how dedicated she was to her family. Freddie was our love interest and I found him interesting, although not particularly swoon-worthy. But he goes through a lot of crap as well and I appreciate the way he cares for Thea. And no instalove!

My favourite character in this one was Thea's best friend Nan. I'm not sure why, there was just something about her that I loved. I think because she felt like she didn't fit in. And so many secrets! There is a ton of Nan's storyline that needs to be explored, so I'm definitely waiting for that in the next book. I also like Sigi, although I would like to get to know her better.

Overall, I enjoyed Dark Metropolis a lot, partly because it was not what I expected. Things get crazy, but the main characters look out for one another, which I loved. Definitely waiting for the next book already!

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