ARC Review: Toxic Heart by Theo Lawrence

Title: Toxic Heart by Theo Lawrence (Mystic City #2)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: April 8th, 2014

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopian, Action, Drama, Romance

Medium: ARC Paperback Via Publisher

This novel revived my love for dystopian romances. Original, action-packed, and a delicious mix of genres, this novel is a romantic thriller that anyone will love, whether you are a fan of dystopia or new to the genre. You are sure to love this novel as much as I did.

The second MYSTIC CITY novel . . . it's Romeo & Juliet in a dystopic Manhattan.

A city in flames. A trust betrayed. A perfect love destroyed. Has Aria lost Hunter, her one true love?Ever since rebellion broke out in Mystic City, pitting the ruling elite against the magic-wielding mystics, Aria has barely seen her boyfriend. Not surprising, since Hunter is the leader of the mystic uprising, and he'll do whatever it takes to win freedom for his people—even if that means using Aria.

But Aria is no one's pawn. She believes she can bring the two warring sides together, save the city, and win back the Hunter she fell in love with.Before she can play peacemaker, though, Aria will need to find the missing heart of a dead mystic. The heart gives untold powers to whoever possesses it, but finding it means seeking out a fierce enemy whose deepest desire is for Aria to be gone—forever. -Amazon.com

First of all, the plot was enchanting and fresh. After all, the description "Romeo & Juliet in a dystopian Manhattan" is the perfect way to describe this novel. It really is a Romeo & Juliet-esque romance, where starcrossed lovers have been dropped into a challenging situation. In this novel, you find Hunter and Aria's romance is falling apart as the uprising and Aria's family are pressing in on their relationship as the inevitable war comes closer. Not only that, but Aria knows that her best friend feels something for her- and worse, she may have feelings for him too. A love triangle is forming in this novel, one that will leave you guessing and wanting more.

The action is also very addicting. This novels hands you a perfect mix of action and romance, so perfect that this novel is a great option for both guys and girls. With all the action and battle taking place, you are left flipping pages, wondering what will happen next. Several plot twists happen that will make you gasp. And multiple times, the characters will escape by the skin of their teeth, and leave your heart racing. You have the edge-of-your seat action, fighting, and war, along with the spellbinding fantasy and magic, all mixed together and topped with a cherry of romance and imperfect relationships that keep you guessing.

The writing was also very interesting, and one of the things I loved most about this novel. Theo Lawrence writes a perfect story with a mix of all genres, weaving together a tale of forbidden romance and magic in a torn world. He creates interesting and perfectly imperfect characters, all who act well together and perform perfect dialogue. Lawrence manages to write without sounding fake or boring, and his writing never seems impossible. The entire time you are reading, you feel as if you are there with him in the story and experiencing every torn feeling Aria does. It's astounding and will leave you breathless until the very end.

Overall, I was majorly impressed with this novel. Although it is a sequel to a novel I have never read, Theo Lawrence wrote it so that I could pick up on it at any time. Even though I haven't read Toxic City (the first novel that I now desperately want to read) I was still able to enjoy this sequel as a stand alone. It was a perfect mix of action and romance, fantasy and drama, and a novel sure to elicit rave reviews from many more fans. This novel is great for fans of dystopian masterpieces, and even for readers who have never experienced a world like the one in Toxic Heart. It was original, suspenseful, romantic, dramatic, and magical in every way possible. One of my favorites.