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Black Wings #5
Black City
Former Agent of death Madeline Black may have been stripped of her wings—but she hasn’t lost her purpose…
When Maddy finally killed her father, Azazel, she thought his depraved experiment died with him. But now Chicago has been infested with vampires immune to the effects of the sun, and the bloodbath is worse than she could have ever imagined. While the Agency refuses to interfere with other supernatural courts, Maddy is determined to do everything within her power to save her city—wings or no wings.
But when the leader of the vampires requests that she turn herself in or risk more deaths, Maddy becomes a target for the very people she’s trying to save. Left with no other choice, she turns to Lucifer, the one creature who has the power to help her. But her grandfather’s aid has always come at a price…
When Maddy finally killed her father, Azazel, she thought his depraved experiment died with him. But now Chicago has been infested with vampires immune to the effects of the sun, and the bloodbath is worse than she could have ever imagined. While the Agency refuses to interfere with other supernatural courts, Maddy is determined to do everything within her power to save her city—wings or no wings.
But when the leader of the vampires requests that she turn herself in or risk more deaths, Maddy becomes a target for the very people she’s trying to save. Left with no other choice, she turns to Lucifer, the one creature who has the power to help her. But her grandfather’s aid has always come at a price…
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 26, 2013
54 people are currently reading
2413 people want to read
About the author
Christina Henry
60 books8,477 followersChristina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include GOOD GIRLS DON'T DIE, HORSEMAN, NEAR THE BONE, THE GHOST TREE, LOOKING GLASS, THE GIRL IN RED, THE MERMAID, LOST BOY, RED QUEEN, ALICE, and the seven book urban fantasy BLACK WINGS series.
Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies ELEMENTAL FORCES, CURSED, TWICE CURSED, GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE and KICKING IT.
She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.
You can visit her on the web at
www.christinahenry.net
Facebook: authorChristinaHenry
Threads: authorChristinaHenry
Instagram: authorChristinaHenry
Goodreads: goodreads.com/CHenryAuthor
Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies ELEMENTAL FORCES, CURSED, TWICE CURSED, GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE and KICKING IT.
She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.
You can visit her on the web at
www.christinahenry.net
Facebook: authorChristinaHenry
Threads: authorChristinaHenry
Instagram: authorChristinaHenry
Goodreads: goodreads.com/CHenryAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
December 29, 2012
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*ARC provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review
I have a handful of favorite Urban Fantasy series. BLACK WINGS is definitely one of them, and while some series start to get a little stale by about book #5, this series just gets better, and better, and BETTER with each book that Christina releases!
My first words after finishing Black City were "Whoa! Just whoa!
Even darker, just as gripping, action packed as usual, and dare I say... SEXY! :) I love this series so very much!"
Christina is definitely embracing her dark side, and I am positively giddy about it. LOL.
Following the mystifying events in Black Lament, there were countless ways that Christina could have gone with Black City. Out of all of the possibilities that I had floating around in my head though, nothing was as good as the way it actually turned out. The intensity of the action, the depth of the story, the emotion embedded in the dialogue and the choices that were made were wonderful and I absolutely couldn't get enough. And while BLACK WINGS is an Urban Fantasy series, this installment was really sexy and surprising! There were characters I had thought never to like that I found myself letting in and embracing, and there are definitely new villains to hate as well.
I know that's all very vague and you probably hate me right now, but I refuse to ruin the goodness for you and can only urge you to start this series as soon as you are able and get lost in the world of Maddy and company like I and so many others have. We'll welcome you to our lovefest and fanclub when you do. :)
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Black City a well deserved 5 Skulls and hopes that this series keeps going. It will be a very, very sad day for me when there are no more BLACK WINGS releases to look forward to. I can only hope that Christina has something up her sleeve for us and a new series when that day comes.
*ARC provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review
I have a handful of favorite Urban Fantasy series. BLACK WINGS is definitely one of them, and while some series start to get a little stale by about book #5, this series just gets better, and better, and BETTER with each book that Christina releases!
My first words after finishing Black City were "Whoa! Just whoa!
Even darker, just as gripping, action packed as usual, and dare I say... SEXY! :) I love this series so very much!"
Christina is definitely embracing her dark side, and I am positively giddy about it. LOL.
Following the mystifying events in Black Lament, there were countless ways that Christina could have gone with Black City. Out of all of the possibilities that I had floating around in my head though, nothing was as good as the way it actually turned out. The intensity of the action, the depth of the story, the emotion embedded in the dialogue and the choices that were made were wonderful and I absolutely couldn't get enough. And while BLACK WINGS is an Urban Fantasy series, this installment was really sexy and surprising! There were characters I had thought never to like that I found myself letting in and embracing, and there are definitely new villains to hate as well.
I know that's all very vague and you probably hate me right now, but I refuse to ruin the goodness for you and can only urge you to start this series as soon as you are able and get lost in the world of Maddy and company like I and so many others have. We'll welcome you to our lovefest and fanclub when you do. :)
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Black City a well deserved 5 Skulls and hopes that this series keeps going. It will be a very, very sad day for me when there are no more BLACK WINGS releases to look forward to. I can only hope that Christina has something up her sleeve for us and a new series when that day comes.
March 2, 2013
The Black Wings series has an enticing ecosystem of Agents of the Dead, angels, demons, fairies, and gargoyles. Despite those natural advantages, however, I think it is time for me and Madeline Black to part ways. Maddy has a very "Hulk smash" approach to life, and though she shows some flashes of self awareness in BLACK CITY, it seems admitting she has a problem has brought Maddy no closer to reforming her behavior.
Beyond my issues with Maddy's recklessness, there is certainly a lot to enjoy in this series. Henry has taken some interesting risks with her characters, allowing life changing disappointments and developments to play out without resorting to magic to wipe everything away. Maddy is a pregnant heroine, something I haven't encountered often. She's also grieving the loss of her lover with very human emotion, not immediately embarking on a quest to miraculously restore him (though now, more than ever, it feels like Gabriel's resurrection is right around the corner).
The plot pluses aren't outweighing the minuses for me, anymore. I've finally become numb to the arbitrary choices of Maddy and her band as they seem to survive no matter how ridiculous the plan or how bad the odds. If there is an immortal, all-powerful being opposing them, Maddy will magically annihilate everyone with heretofore unknown powers. If she's not yet in a killing mood, she'll bluster and punch her way through the scene... a habit that is more boring rather than fun or funny. Prefacing every situation with hand wringing and arguments doesn't make everything dramatic, it just makes everything equally boring. I may pop in down the line if Maddy has her baby (I'd love to see an UF heroine manage an infant alongside magical mayhem), but for now the series has exhausted all of my interest and patience.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.
Beyond my issues with Maddy's recklessness, there is certainly a lot to enjoy in this series. Henry has taken some interesting risks with her characters, allowing life changing disappointments and developments to play out without resorting to magic to wipe everything away. Maddy is a pregnant heroine, something I haven't encountered often. She's also grieving the loss of her lover with very human emotion, not immediately embarking on a quest to miraculously restore him (though now, more than ever, it feels like Gabriel's resurrection is right around the corner).
The plot pluses aren't outweighing the minuses for me, anymore. I've finally become numb to the arbitrary choices of Maddy and her band as they seem to survive no matter how ridiculous the plan or how bad the odds. If there is an immortal, all-powerful being opposing them, Maddy will magically annihilate everyone with heretofore unknown powers. If she's not yet in a killing mood, she'll bluster and punch her way through the scene... a habit that is more boring rather than fun or funny. Prefacing every situation with hand wringing and arguments doesn't make everything dramatic, it just makes everything equally boring. I may pop in down the line if Maddy has her baby (I'd love to see an UF heroine manage an infant alongside magical mayhem), but for now the series has exhausted all of my interest and patience.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.
February 24, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Maddy has had some pretty hard knocks. From losing the love of her life, only to find out she's pregnant with his child, to losing her wings because she refused to compromise her beliefs, she's had a rough go. Yet, she hasn't let any of this stop her from doing what she feels is right, such as destroying her own father before he could release a day-walking vampire hoard upon humanity. She thought she had stop his vile plan, but when vampires start spilling into the streets of Chicago, she knows she was wrong. The death toll is staggering, and Maddy knows it's up to her to bring them down, even if means eliciting the help of her ever scheming grandfather, Lucifer. Nothing with him comes free, but it's a price she's willing to pay to save the people of her city.
I'm always amazed at Christina Henry's ability to step things up a major notch in the action department with each new installment. Just when I think the stakes couldn't get any higher, I am proved wrong yet again. Although to achieve this increase, Maddy's powers also seem to get a boost each time around as well, and I've read several reviews where the reader was rather frustrated with this issue. Normally this would bother me as well, since I'm not a big fan of limitless power, yet in this circumstance it somehow works. Perhaps it is because Lucifer has been telling her all along that she's only begun to tap into her power, so I have been expecting that increase. Another thing that helps balance it out for me is that she does has this amazing power, yet she goes through her "magical well" pretty quickly and must rest for a while to restore it. So while the power itself may be almost limitless, she only has so much of it to use at a time. Also, I think it helps that she is mostly making things up as she goes, and the outcome of her powers is usually a surprise to her as well.
I love just how attached to these characters I have become. In fact, I was completely caught off guard with the heartache in BLACK CITY. I just didn't think there was much of anything Christina Henry could throw at me that would hurt as much as the loss of Gabriel. Yet she did with the slow withdraw of Maddy's friends. I guess I should have seen this coming with Bezzle's hyper criticism of her actions, but I had just assumed they would stand by her decisions. There was only one character who held 100% steadfast, never wavering, and honestly, this character was the last one I would have expected to stick around. It just makes me really angry that the rest of them have become so righteous. Maddy has done the best that she can with the horrible situation and role she has been thrown into. I just don't think they have any right to judge her for doing what is necessary to protect herself and the ones that she cares about. Sure, she has gotten a little bit more proactive in that defense by seeking out some of the dangers before they become too great rather than waiting and giving her opponents the advantage. Honestly, I can't blame her for wanting to stop things before they cause her to lose someone. Considering most of her decisions were made to protect the very people who are accusing her of being "dark side" now, I find it a bit hypocritical. Even though it hurts her, I think in the long run it will be better for her as she needs people who support her no matter what. Here's to hoping that makes a turn around in the next installment.
Just like the rest of the series, BLACK CITY is a thrilling ride from start to finish and I highly recommend it. I personally cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment after that whopper of a cliffhanger ending. I'm not sure how Maddy will get out the mess she's in, but I do know it will be spectacular. Fans of the series will not be disappointed in this latest installment as BLACK CITY only built onto the already fabulous series. This is one Urban Fantasy you won't want to miss!
Maddy has had some pretty hard knocks. From losing the love of her life, only to find out she's pregnant with his child, to losing her wings because she refused to compromise her beliefs, she's had a rough go. Yet, she hasn't let any of this stop her from doing what she feels is right, such as destroying her own father before he could release a day-walking vampire hoard upon humanity. She thought she had stop his vile plan, but when vampires start spilling into the streets of Chicago, she knows she was wrong. The death toll is staggering, and Maddy knows it's up to her to bring them down, even if means eliciting the help of her ever scheming grandfather, Lucifer. Nothing with him comes free, but it's a price she's willing to pay to save the people of her city.
I'm always amazed at Christina Henry's ability to step things up a major notch in the action department with each new installment. Just when I think the stakes couldn't get any higher, I am proved wrong yet again. Although to achieve this increase, Maddy's powers also seem to get a boost each time around as well, and I've read several reviews where the reader was rather frustrated with this issue. Normally this would bother me as well, since I'm not a big fan of limitless power, yet in this circumstance it somehow works. Perhaps it is because Lucifer has been telling her all along that she's only begun to tap into her power, so I have been expecting that increase. Another thing that helps balance it out for me is that she does has this amazing power, yet she goes through her "magical well" pretty quickly and must rest for a while to restore it. So while the power itself may be almost limitless, she only has so much of it to use at a time. Also, I think it helps that she is mostly making things up as she goes, and the outcome of her powers is usually a surprise to her as well.
I love just how attached to these characters I have become. In fact, I was completely caught off guard with the heartache in BLACK CITY. I just didn't think there was much of anything Christina Henry could throw at me that would hurt as much as the loss of Gabriel. Yet she did with the slow withdraw of Maddy's friends. I guess I should have seen this coming with Bezzle's hyper criticism of her actions, but I had just assumed they would stand by her decisions. There was only one character who held 100% steadfast, never wavering, and honestly, this character was the last one I would have expected to stick around. It just makes me really angry that the rest of them have become so righteous. Maddy has done the best that she can with the horrible situation and role she has been thrown into. I just don't think they have any right to judge her for doing what is necessary to protect herself and the ones that she cares about. Sure, she has gotten a little bit more proactive in that defense by seeking out some of the dangers before they become too great rather than waiting and giving her opponents the advantage. Honestly, I can't blame her for wanting to stop things before they cause her to lose someone. Considering most of her decisions were made to protect the very people who are accusing her of being "dark side" now, I find it a bit hypocritical. Even though it hurts her, I think in the long run it will be better for her as she needs people who support her no matter what. Here's to hoping that makes a turn around in the next installment.
Just like the rest of the series, BLACK CITY is a thrilling ride from start to finish and I highly recommend it. I personally cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment after that whopper of a cliffhanger ending. I'm not sure how Maddy will get out the mess she's in, but I do know it will be spectacular. Fans of the series will not be disappointed in this latest installment as BLACK CITY only built onto the already fabulous series. This is one Urban Fantasy you won't want to miss!
March 3, 2013
"Black City" by Christina Henry is the fifth book in the "Black Wings Series" and it picks right up where the fourth book "Black Lament" left off, with a Chicago under attack by vampires. Vampires that are immune to the effects of the sun. Maddy and her friends can’t do anything to help, to save her city – wings or no wings while the Agency refuses to interfere with other supernatural courts.
Now the leader of the vampires is calling her out, announcing to the city if she turns herself in to him in 3 days he will leave peacefully or risk more deaths. With that announcement, Maddy becomes a target and with no other choice, she turns to her grandfather, Lucifer, who has the power to help her. Of course, his help has to come at a price…but before she can help Chicago, she has to travel to the land of the Faye to save her friend JB.
Also something strange is going on between Maddy and Nathaniel. There is an unusual connection and lust feelings between these two. To save JB and the entire City they will need to explore these feelings and give into them, so they can gain the power to save them all.
Let me tell you something about Nathaniel…I didn’t like him in the first book. I couldn’t stand him. He was a jerk, but in book 2 I started to change my mind. I started to like him - to love him more and more with each book. Btw in this book, you’ll see that he is not who he thought he was…
By the end, all of Maddy’s friends have left her except for one. Who could that be…?! Anyway that part was a big shock, cause I never thought that would happen. Seeing them to turn their backs on her...I was very disappointed especially from two characters.
I’ve always enjoyed this Series, but I can tell you that it’s just gets better and better with each book. The previous books are great, but this one…wooow…is definitely a step above (the best installment so far). Honestly, ever since Gabriel’s death, the books have gotten so much better. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Gabriel. He was a nice character, even if I think he was a little bit boring in book 2 and 3, but still very likeable.
All in all, this installment is fantastic, sexy and even darker. There is action, mystery, intrigue and romance. This book is about Maddy’s relationships with her family and friends and choices that she has been forced to make. New characters are introduced as well.
“Black City” ends with a huge cliffhanger.
I can’t wait for the next book “Black Heart” to come out this Fall and I highly recommend this!!
Now the leader of the vampires is calling her out, announcing to the city if she turns herself in to him in 3 days he will leave peacefully or risk more deaths. With that announcement, Maddy becomes a target and with no other choice, she turns to her grandfather, Lucifer, who has the power to help her. Of course, his help has to come at a price…but before she can help Chicago, she has to travel to the land of the Faye to save her friend JB.
Also something strange is going on between Maddy and Nathaniel. There is an unusual connection and lust feelings between these two. To save JB and the entire City they will need to explore these feelings and give into them, so they can gain the power to save them all.
Let me tell you something about Nathaniel…I didn’t like him in the first book. I couldn’t stand him. He was a jerk, but in book 2 I started to change my mind. I started to like him - to love him more and more with each book. Btw in this book, you’ll see that he is not who he thought he was…
By the end, all of Maddy’s friends have left her except for one. Who could that be…?! Anyway that part was a big shock, cause I never thought that would happen. Seeing them to turn their backs on her...I was very disappointed especially from two characters.
I’ve always enjoyed this Series, but I can tell you that it’s just gets better and better with each book. The previous books are great, but this one…wooow…is definitely a step above (the best installment so far). Honestly, ever since Gabriel’s death, the books have gotten so much better. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Gabriel. He was a nice character, even if I think he was a little bit boring in book 2 and 3, but still very likeable.
All in all, this installment is fantastic, sexy and even darker. There is action, mystery, intrigue and romance. This book is about Maddy’s relationships with her family and friends and choices that she has been forced to make. New characters are introduced as well.
“Black City” ends with a huge cliffhanger.
I can’t wait for the next book “Black Heart” to come out this Fall and I highly recommend this!!
September 23, 2013
Best book in the series. I give this one ★★★★+
Hmm, all the screwing around in this book, happens to make things very interesting. Both the Lucifer, Puck and Madeleine varieties. And Nathaniel; good for you;-)
As for family: You know your life sucks when your friends leave you, grandpa is the prince of darkness and then you get stuck with (tentacled/true form) uncles who take a liking to you... sexually. Oh well...
Hmm, all the screwing around in this book, happens to make things very interesting. Both the Lucifer, Puck and Madeleine varieties. And Nathaniel; good for you;-)
As for family: You know your life sucks when your friends leave you, grandpa is the prince of darkness and then you get stuck with (tentacled/true form) uncles who take a liking to you... sexually. Oh well...
February 3, 2018
I think I have just lost interest in this series. I was so so bored. And I honestly skimmed a lot of the last half. Maddie is basically all powerful. And that's totally great but it just doesn't make for an interesting book. No matter what happens, she finds some new power to get herself out of it. I also really hate the "romance" part of this book. I would not actually call it romance.. more like lust.. that somehow make them more powerful. I would rather it just be a straight up action book.
I don't know guys. I may eventually read the next book in the series but it is not on the top of my TBR.
I don't know guys. I may eventually read the next book in the series but it is not on the top of my TBR.
January 15, 2018
Just for the record, she wasn't ''stripped'' of her wings, she gave them up willingly.
The pace continues to be insane, they plots continue to compete with each other, Maddy continues to have magical ''powers'' suddenly appearing for no other reason than she conveniently needs them. And while some of these powers are supposedly spells, she doesn't have to learn shit. She just magically knows what to do.
The pace continues to be insane, they plots continue to compete with each other, Maddy continues to have magical ''powers'' suddenly appearing for no other reason than she conveniently needs them. And while some of these powers are supposedly spells, she doesn't have to learn shit. She just magically knows what to do.
April 11, 2018
While Azazel may be dead, it seems his experiment with the vampires was successful as they all converge on Chicago during the day for a feeding frenzy. Maddy and the gang try to fight them off but are overwhelmed and have to regroup. The Agency is still gunning for Maddy and Lucifer only makes it worse by sending her on an errand. Make sure to have book 6, Black Heart, ready as Black City does end on a cliffhanger.
July 19, 2020
J’ai un peu de mal avec le syndrome du martyr. Mais sinon l’aventure est sans temps mort, Madeline en bave, j’espère qu’elle pensera un peu plus à se protéger.
May 20, 2021
A fun read.
October 16, 2020
Book 51 complete.
August 30, 2016
http://www.mybookishways.com/2013/12/...
Because of Azazel’s serum, vampires that are immune to the sun have overrun Chicago, and it’s a full scale slaughter. People are fleeing the city and it turns out, the vampire’s head honcho, Therion, wants Maddy Black’s head. She figures he can get in line, but she knows she’s got to stop the vamp takeover of her beloved city. Unfortunately, pregnant and without her wings, Maddy isn’t exactly at full strength, but it doesn’t stop her from fighting, of course. However, the vampire hoard is too great, and Maddy must return to her friends and regroup. She considers asking Lucifer for help, but that always leads to more complications, and one thing Maddy doesn’t need is more complications. It doesn’t help that her friends are constantly on her about going “dark side” (especially Beezle). In fact, the only person that seems to be firmly on her side is Nathaniel, and that brings with it its own trunkful of baggage. After all, Maddy is still mourning the loss of Gabriel, but her attraction to Nathaniel can no longer be ignored, especially since some things have come to light regarding why Nathaniel does certain things, and what makes him tick. Maddy is definitely one of the things that makes Nathaniel tick, but she’s conflicted over Gabriel’s death and the love for him that still hasn’t faded, and the possibility that she could love Nathaniel, someday.
Okay, so Maddy has to get rid of a hoard of vampires that are bent on taking over the city. No problem, right? If you’ve kept up with the series, you know Maddy has become much more powerful, but those powers may come with a price, and Nathaniel may be able to unlock even more of her powers. I was heartbroken when Gabriel died, but Nathaniel has been doing a lot to make up for his transgressions, and in Black City, he gives us a glimpse of his start with Lucifer and possibly some understandable reasons why he acted like a grade A jerk in the past. Maddy has problems trusting him, but with her friends flaking out on her, she needs him more than ever. Speaking of Maddy’s friends: Like Maddy, I’m getting tired of them chastising her when she uses her power to protect innocents and the ones she loves, accusing her of going “dark side.” Granted, she really struggles with having soooo much power, and not being able to just unleash it just because, say, someone is getting on her nerves, and this is something that will follow Maddy into the next book (BLACK HEART-stay tuned). Anyway, back to her friends. They’re getting on my nerves with their nagging. This is Maddy. She’s had their backs from the getgo, and they just assume she has no self-control (ok, she does have a tendency to blow things up and generally NOT walk softly, but still…), and will eventually end up giving herself gleefully over to evil. They need to cool it and stand by their friend. Now that I’ve gotten that out, BLACK CITY is a killer read in this series, and if you’ve been rooting for a little heat between Nathaniel and Maddy, well….:) Oh wait, did I happen to mention Puck is back and plays a more substantial role in this one? And… SECRETS and REVELATIONS of the most awesome and diabolical kind (with a family like Maddy’s, the hits just keep on comin’.) I’ll stop with the all caps, but you get the idea. Can Maddy stop the vamps and stay true to herself? Will her friends stop being jerks? Will she and Nathaniel ever hook up? Will Maddy ever get a chance to rest her tired, pregnant self and not have to battle scary baddies on a constant basis? Luckily, BLACK HEART is out already, so you’ll be able to dive in right after finishing BLACK CITY, because this ending, you will soooo want to. Promise.
Because of Azazel’s serum, vampires that are immune to the sun have overrun Chicago, and it’s a full scale slaughter. People are fleeing the city and it turns out, the vampire’s head honcho, Therion, wants Maddy Black’s head. She figures he can get in line, but she knows she’s got to stop the vamp takeover of her beloved city. Unfortunately, pregnant and without her wings, Maddy isn’t exactly at full strength, but it doesn’t stop her from fighting, of course. However, the vampire hoard is too great, and Maddy must return to her friends and regroup. She considers asking Lucifer for help, but that always leads to more complications, and one thing Maddy doesn’t need is more complications. It doesn’t help that her friends are constantly on her about going “dark side” (especially Beezle). In fact, the only person that seems to be firmly on her side is Nathaniel, and that brings with it its own trunkful of baggage. After all, Maddy is still mourning the loss of Gabriel, but her attraction to Nathaniel can no longer be ignored, especially since some things have come to light regarding why Nathaniel does certain things, and what makes him tick. Maddy is definitely one of the things that makes Nathaniel tick, but she’s conflicted over Gabriel’s death and the love for him that still hasn’t faded, and the possibility that she could love Nathaniel, someday.
Okay, so Maddy has to get rid of a hoard of vampires that are bent on taking over the city. No problem, right? If you’ve kept up with the series, you know Maddy has become much more powerful, but those powers may come with a price, and Nathaniel may be able to unlock even more of her powers. I was heartbroken when Gabriel died, but Nathaniel has been doing a lot to make up for his transgressions, and in Black City, he gives us a glimpse of his start with Lucifer and possibly some understandable reasons why he acted like a grade A jerk in the past. Maddy has problems trusting him, but with her friends flaking out on her, she needs him more than ever. Speaking of Maddy’s friends: Like Maddy, I’m getting tired of them chastising her when she uses her power to protect innocents and the ones she loves, accusing her of going “dark side.” Granted, she really struggles with having soooo much power, and not being able to just unleash it just because, say, someone is getting on her nerves, and this is something that will follow Maddy into the next book (BLACK HEART-stay tuned). Anyway, back to her friends. They’re getting on my nerves with their nagging. This is Maddy. She’s had their backs from the getgo, and they just assume she has no self-control (ok, she does have a tendency to blow things up and generally NOT walk softly, but still…), and will eventually end up giving herself gleefully over to evil. They need to cool it and stand by their friend. Now that I’ve gotten that out, BLACK CITY is a killer read in this series, and if you’ve been rooting for a little heat between Nathaniel and Maddy, well….:) Oh wait, did I happen to mention Puck is back and plays a more substantial role in this one? And… SECRETS and REVELATIONS of the most awesome and diabolical kind (with a family like Maddy’s, the hits just keep on comin’.) I’ll stop with the all caps, but you get the idea. Can Maddy stop the vamps and stay true to herself? Will her friends stop being jerks? Will she and Nathaniel ever hook up? Will Maddy ever get a chance to rest her tired, pregnant self and not have to battle scary baddies on a constant basis? Luckily, BLACK HEART is out already, so you’ll be able to dive in right after finishing BLACK CITY, because this ending, you will soooo want to. Promise.
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March 10, 2013The Black Wings series has an enticing ecosystem of Agents of the Dead, angels, demons, fairies, and gargoyles. Despite those natural advantages, however, I think it is time for me and Madeline Black to part ways. Maddy has a very “Hulk smash” approach to life, and though she shows some flashes of self awareness in BLACK CITY, it seems admitting she has a problem has brought Maddy no closer to reforming her behavior.
Beyond my issues with Maddy’s recklessness, there is certainly a lot to enjoy in this series. Henry has taken some interesting risks with her characters, allowing life changing disappointments and developments to play out without resorting to magic to wipe everything away. Maddy is a pregnant heroine, something I haven’t encountered often. She’s also grieving the loss of her lover with very human emotion, not immediately embarking on a quest to miraculously restore him (though now, more than ever, it feels like Gabriel’s resurrection is right around the corner).
The plot pluses aren’t outweighing the minuses for me, anymore. I’ve finally become numb to the arbitrary choices of Maddy and her band as they seem to survive no matter how ridiculous the plan or how bad the odds. If there is an immortal, all-powerful being opposing them, Maddy will magically annihilate everyone with heretofore unknown powers. If she’s not yet in a killing mood, she’ll bluster and punch her way through the scene… a habit that is more boring rather than fun or funny. Prefacing every situation with hand wringing and arguments doesn’t make everything dramatic, it just makes everything equally boring. I may pop in down the line if Maddy has her baby (I’d love to see an UF heroine manage an infant alongside magical mayhem), but for now the series has exhausted all of my interest and patience.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.
Beyond my issues with Maddy’s recklessness, there is certainly a lot to enjoy in this series. Henry has taken some interesting risks with her characters, allowing life changing disappointments and developments to play out without resorting to magic to wipe everything away. Maddy is a pregnant heroine, something I haven’t encountered often. She’s also grieving the loss of her lover with very human emotion, not immediately embarking on a quest to miraculously restore him (though now, more than ever, it feels like Gabriel’s resurrection is right around the corner).
The plot pluses aren’t outweighing the minuses for me, anymore. I’ve finally become numb to the arbitrary choices of Maddy and her band as they seem to survive no matter how ridiculous the plan or how bad the odds. If there is an immortal, all-powerful being opposing them, Maddy will magically annihilate everyone with heretofore unknown powers. If she’s not yet in a killing mood, she’ll bluster and punch her way through the scene… a habit that is more boring rather than fun or funny. Prefacing every situation with hand wringing and arguments doesn’t make everything dramatic, it just makes everything equally boring. I may pop in down the line if Maddy has her baby (I’d love to see an UF heroine manage an infant alongside magical mayhem), but for now the series has exhausted all of my interest and patience.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex.
March 2, 2013
When I first began reading the Black Wings series I truly loved it. However, after the first two books the series has been hit or miss with me. "Black City" is a 'miss's for me. I had so many problems with this story that I am left wondering is I should cut my losses and forget about continuing on with the series. Here are the problems as I see them:
1) Ms. Henry overuses the sentence: "Gods above and below." In the beginning of the book she used this phrase on every other page. I found myself saying, "Please not this again!"
2) I am a person who loves action in books; the action in this book was excessive to the point I questioned whether or not Maddy cared for her unborn child and whether or not he could withstand all of the physical exertion/abuse. Additionally, the excessive action took away from the problematic relationships in the story.
3) I have grown tired and intolerant of all of the love triangles in this series. Is there any man out there not in love with Maddy? With the changes in her personality in this installment, I'm not so sure I even like her anymore.
4) I've Aldo grown intolerant of all if the convoluted names, creatures and story lines that keep emerging. I just wish Ms. Henry would return to the basic premise of this series that made it good.
With the above being said, most series do not continue to be really good after the fourth or fifth book and this one is no exception. I hope Ms Henry will get beck to Maddy & her child, decide on one man's affection for her and not introduce any more bad guys. More in this case is just more and enough is enough!
1) Ms. Henry overuses the sentence: "Gods above and below." In the beginning of the book she used this phrase on every other page. I found myself saying, "Please not this again!"
2) I am a person who loves action in books; the action in this book was excessive to the point I questioned whether or not Maddy cared for her unborn child and whether or not he could withstand all of the physical exertion/abuse. Additionally, the excessive action took away from the problematic relationships in the story.
3) I have grown tired and intolerant of all of the love triangles in this series. Is there any man out there not in love with Maddy? With the changes in her personality in this installment, I'm not so sure I even like her anymore.
4) I've Aldo grown intolerant of all if the convoluted names, creatures and story lines that keep emerging. I just wish Ms. Henry would return to the basic premise of this series that made it good.
With the above being said, most series do not continue to be really good after the fourth or fifth book and this one is no exception. I hope Ms Henry will get beck to Maddy & her child, decide on one man's affection for her and not introduce any more bad guys. More in this case is just more and enough is enough!
August 27, 2014
This Author certainly knows how to weave a tale. I started it earlier, and just finished it.
I enjoyed it. Good read, and the series has yet to be repetitive or boring. So I'm happy.
I enjoyed it. Good read, and the series has yet to be repetitive or boring. So I'm happy.
February 26, 2013
*Spoiler's may be present*
BLACK CITY is the darkest of all the books so far in the Black Wings Series. Maddy has lost her husband, she’s pregnant, and people are trying to kill her at every turn. With the vampires on the loose in her city people are dying left and right and Maddy jumps right in hoping to save people. A lot happens in BLACK CITY, it's packed full of action, emotion and sticky situations.
Maddy is a bit of a mess. She has taken to putting herself in extremely dangerous situations against other people’s advice. She seems to be turning romantically to someone I really don't want her to be with, but surprisingly is the only one sticking by her side. The emotion in book 5 left me a tad bit depressed to tell you the truth but I could not put the book down. By the end of BLACK CITY all of Maddie's friends have left her. I never thought that would happen and it was a bit of a shock to see them all turn their backs on her. I have no clue how Christina will bring them all back together. If you are a fan of the series you can’t NOT read BLACK CITY. I honestly can't think of anything else to say as I'm a bit shell shocked. Wow yeah that is all go read it.
BLACK CITY is the darkest of all the books so far in the Black Wings Series. Maddy has lost her husband, she’s pregnant, and people are trying to kill her at every turn. With the vampires on the loose in her city people are dying left and right and Maddy jumps right in hoping to save people. A lot happens in BLACK CITY, it's packed full of action, emotion and sticky situations.
Maddy is a bit of a mess. She has taken to putting herself in extremely dangerous situations against other people’s advice. She seems to be turning romantically to someone I really don't want her to be with, but surprisingly is the only one sticking by her side. The emotion in book 5 left me a tad bit depressed to tell you the truth but I could not put the book down. By the end of BLACK CITY all of Maddie's friends have left her. I never thought that would happen and it was a bit of a shock to see them all turn their backs on her. I have no clue how Christina will bring them all back together. If you are a fan of the series you can’t NOT read BLACK CITY. I honestly can't think of anything else to say as I'm a bit shell shocked. Wow yeah that is all go read it.
March 5, 2013
Have you ever got on the Carousel and then found out it was the big roller coaster? That's what this book felt like. We know that Maddie is pregnant with her dead husbands son...the Angel Gabriel. We know she has a house full of men who only want to protect her...even her little house Gargoyle Beezle thinks he knows best how she should be living her life. Her world is being systematically torn apart by vampires, demons, and the good guys. What's up with that? Maddie has only, ever looked to protect the innocents of her home city, Chicago, from the evil invading this beloved town. And now she carries a big target on her back from the organization she used to work for, collecting souls to send them on to the door that will take them to their final resting place. It seems that the target also includes any person who tries to assist her safety. Causing her to go on rescue missions to save those she cares about....victims of torture, trying to get to her. It seems fate has decided Maddie would be more powerful if she embraces her "dark" side....after all she is the only descendant of Lucifer still living. But will she remain his only heir?
March 1, 2013
Black City starts with a cliff-hanger and ends with an other. Its story starts the minute Black Lament ends. It's not a stand-alone read in any stretch of the imagination.
I'm not sure what to think about it, as there are so many surprises and game-changers. What remains the same is the never-stopping action, neither Maddy nor the readers have time to understand what's going on, to stop and think. It left me reeling.
I'm also unsure what to think about the characters. Maddy seems faithful to her self, but the others change in an expected way. Can I buy it? Depends. I will have to see what happens in the next book. See if it's just a reaction or it's final. (This last would be unbelievable...)
The Black Wings series has surely plenty of flaws, from an heroine who keeps winning against all odds to some holes in the world-building, but I gobble down every book notwithstanding. :) Note that every single book has a cliffhanger for the next.
I'm not sure what to think about it, as there are so many surprises and game-changers. What remains the same is the never-stopping action, neither Maddy nor the readers have time to understand what's going on, to stop and think. It left me reeling.
I'm also unsure what to think about the characters. Maddy seems faithful to her self, but the others change in an expected way. Can I buy it? Depends. I will have to see what happens in the next book. See if it's just a reaction or it's final. (This last would be unbelievable...)
The Black Wings series has surely plenty of flaws, from an heroine who keeps winning against all odds to some holes in the world-building, but I gobble down every book notwithstanding. :) Note that every single book has a cliffhanger for the next.
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April 21, 2013I'm disgusted she chose Nathaniel. Seriously? UGH. Even if it wasn't so much a choice as the other option wasn't available, he still should have never been an option to begin with
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
Tahle série začíná být čím dál temnější 🌃
January 25, 2018
I don't understand how her 'friends' don't realize that she really has no choice in the decisions she makes? If Lucifer asks you to do something, how the heck are you supposed to say no?
Her decisions also save these so called friends of hers. Almost everything she does is for the sake of her people and that is how they deal with her. The girl didn't ask for her idiot family ties. Her gargoyle alone grates under my skin, like seriously, what is his purpose? Then her brother law starts talking shit and his purple head woman has the nerve to put in her two cents? Should have let her ass die.
And what is this Sokolov guys deal anyways? She saved your Agents, killed all the vamps, is related to Lucifer, your punk ass won't go after him though. He has to be more than we think he is, he can't just simple be a real prick.
I feel for Maggie. Sometimes you just have to let people go, especially when they are mad ungrateful. I didn't want her with Nathaniel at all, was routing for J.B., but to me Nathaniel is the one that has her back whatever his earlier motives were. Everybody is on her ass constantly, but I don't see anyone else coming up with suggestions that would work. She seriously saved ALL of their lives one time or another. She is far from turning dark.
Puck and Lucifer sure are getting around though. lol.
Her decisions also save these so called friends of hers. Almost everything she does is for the sake of her people and that is how they deal with her. The girl didn't ask for her idiot family ties. Her gargoyle alone grates under my skin, like seriously, what is his purpose? Then her brother law starts talking shit and his purple head woman has the nerve to put in her two cents? Should have let her ass die.
And what is this Sokolov guys deal anyways? She saved your Agents, killed all the vamps, is related to Lucifer, your punk ass won't go after him though. He has to be more than we think he is, he can't just simple be a real prick.
I feel for Maggie. Sometimes you just have to let people go, especially when they are mad ungrateful. I didn't want her with Nathaniel at all, was routing for J.B., but to me Nathaniel is the one that has her back whatever his earlier motives were. Everybody is on her ass constantly, but I don't see anyone else coming up with suggestions that would work. She seriously saved ALL of their lives one time or another. She is far from turning dark.
Puck and Lucifer sure are getting around though. lol.
September 15, 2020
Warning. This entire review is full of spoilers.
Book five. This entire series has gone places and directions I didn't expect. As one who reads and has read extensively for decades, that's saying something.
That said, I'm not so sure about this direction and I freely admit it's the romantic in me that is standoffish. I liked Maddy and Gabriel and literally on the heels of that I'm being asked to switch teams and embrace a new and improved Nathaniel.
I'm not on board, but I do see the threads that are beginning to twine around both Maddy and Nathaniel. The threads that Gabriel understood all to well. Their lives are not their own. They are who they are - the granddaughter of Lucifer and son of Puck - as much if not more than they are themselves.
From a free will standpoint, it's disconcerting, but it does make sense. In a world of power and rules filled with powerful beings, how do two descendants establish themselves outside of that construct? Is that even possible? Lucifer has told Maddy the more she struggles, the more in control he is and so far, he isn't wrong. Beezle sees Maddy becoming more dark the more she fights, an inevitability to be sure, but is there more going on there?
The only way to know is to keep reading. Book six, here I come.
Book five. This entire series has gone places and directions I didn't expect. As one who reads and has read extensively for decades, that's saying something.
That said, I'm not so sure about this direction and I freely admit it's the romantic in me that is standoffish. I liked Maddy and Gabriel and literally on the heels of that I'm being asked to switch teams and embrace a new and improved Nathaniel.
I'm not on board, but I do see the threads that are beginning to twine around both Maddy and Nathaniel. The threads that Gabriel understood all to well. Their lives are not their own. They are who they are - the granddaughter of Lucifer and son of Puck - as much if not more than they are themselves.
From a free will standpoint, it's disconcerting, but it does make sense. In a world of power and rules filled with powerful beings, how do two descendants establish themselves outside of that construct? Is that even possible? Lucifer has told Maddy the more she struggles, the more in control he is and so far, he isn't wrong. Beezle sees Maddy becoming more dark the more she fights, an inevitability to be sure, but is there more going on there?
The only way to know is to keep reading. Book six, here I come.
December 27, 2023
Yet more changes
Maddy Black has been trying to come to terms with her feeling that she’s the only person who is willing to risk herself to defend the helpless citizens of Chicago while also handicapped by her loss of both power and mobility since she renounced her status as an Agent. To further complicate matters, a new and overwhelming inimical enemy is launching an all out assault on the city. Of course she would expect assistance from the Agency (or at least neutrality!) but instead she still is regularly assaulted by Byron with a hunting license from Solomon. She still misses Gabriel badly but feels that she is never going to be able to just grieve without leaving herself open to attack on multiple levels.
So she’s decided to take Beezle’s advice & go with her strengths, even though it seems like everyone is determined to think that she’s becoming a monster just because she’s willing to protect those important to her. If nothing else, she certainly hasn’t had any chance to be bored over the last few months (hopefully that’s a good sign?)
Maddy Black has been trying to come to terms with her feeling that she’s the only person who is willing to risk herself to defend the helpless citizens of Chicago while also handicapped by her loss of both power and mobility since she renounced her status as an Agent. To further complicate matters, a new and overwhelming inimical enemy is launching an all out assault on the city. Of course she would expect assistance from the Agency (or at least neutrality!) but instead she still is regularly assaulted by Byron with a hunting license from Solomon. She still misses Gabriel badly but feels that she is never going to be able to just grieve without leaving herself open to attack on multiple levels.
So she’s decided to take Beezle’s advice & go with her strengths, even though it seems like everyone is determined to think that she’s becoming a monster just because she’s willing to protect those important to her. If nothing else, she certainly hasn’t had any chance to be bored over the last few months (hopefully that’s a good sign?)
August 27, 2017
This series is getting better and better. Is Maddie turning to the dark side? Beezle her gargoyle thinks so. That seems to be the underlying theme, but you know what you gotta do what you gotta do. She is starting to remind me of the character Gin Blanco from the Elemental Assassin series that is a strong female lead, and fiercely loyal and protective of her friends and family.
Maddie didn't ask to be Lucifer's Hound of the Hunt, she didn't choose to be an Agent of Death and yet everyone questions her choices. She is doing the best that she can to fight off all the threats around her while pregnant with her dead husband's child. Give her a break everyone!
Lucifer's siblings come into play and help (questionable) and reveal some secrets about her previously betrothed now somewhat boyfriend Nathaniel. Yet she doesn't know who to choose, him or J.B., her boss and half Faerie friend.
Maddie didn't ask to be Lucifer's Hound of the Hunt, she didn't choose to be an Agent of Death and yet everyone questions her choices. She is doing the best that she can to fight off all the threats around her while pregnant with her dead husband's child. Give her a break everyone!
Lucifer's siblings come into play and help (questionable) and reveal some secrets about her previously betrothed now somewhat boyfriend Nathaniel. Yet she doesn't know who to choose, him or J.B., her boss and half Faerie friend.
February 25, 2020
Je ne suis plus aussi enthousiasme qu'au début de cette série. L'univers est original, il y a de l'action et des rebondissements à foison, on ne s'ennuie pas... mais...
Mais j'ai du mal avec l'évolution du personnage de Maddy. Tout se passe très vite, chaque tome s’enchaîne avec le suivant, les 5 tomes se déroulent sur un laps de temps court, et j'ai du mal à comprendre que Maddy change d'opinion aussi vite, même si la magie l'influence.
Mais surtout, ce qui m'a dérangée dans ce tome, c'est la cour de Maddy, avec un semblant de triangle amoureux, une façon de partager ses pouvoirs qui me fait lever les yeux au ciel.ça me fait un peu penser à Nora Jacobs, mais là, ça me dérange davantage.
On a comme d'habitude un cliffhanger qui nous donne envie de lire la suite, ce que je ferai, mais j'espère que l'histoire va évoluer différemment.Bref, c'est pas mal, mais beaucoup de mais...
Mais j'ai du mal avec l'évolution du personnage de Maddy. Tout se passe très vite, chaque tome s’enchaîne avec le suivant, les 5 tomes se déroulent sur un laps de temps court, et j'ai du mal à comprendre que Maddy change d'opinion aussi vite, même si la magie l'influence.
Mais surtout, ce qui m'a dérangée dans ce tome, c'est la cour de Maddy, avec un semblant de triangle amoureux, une façon de partager ses pouvoirs qui me fait lever les yeux au ciel.ça me fait un peu penser à Nora Jacobs, mais là, ça me dérange davantage.
On a comme d'habitude un cliffhanger qui nous donne envie de lire la suite, ce que je ferai, mais j'espère que l'histoire va évoluer différemment.Bref, c'est pas mal, mais beaucoup de mais...
April 29, 2018
Much better than the last book, but still lacking some things to get a 5 stars from me.
I do like that Maddy is impulsive and reckless, it would have annoyed me for her to be completely changing because of her pregnancy.
Those books aren't about romance even though there is a part of it that includes some kind of romance and that's also fine by me.
The action and the fights are all over the place and new characters are coming along while others are leaving. There is no boring moment even though again I wish things weren't that easy. The struggle is barely there before Maddy finds a solution. But, she is changing and not int the happy ending way and I kind of like this darker side, it makes the book much more interesting.
I do like that Maddy is impulsive and reckless, it would have annoyed me for her to be completely changing because of her pregnancy.
Those books aren't about romance even though there is a part of it that includes some kind of romance and that's also fine by me.
The action and the fights are all over the place and new characters are coming along while others are leaving. There is no boring moment even though again I wish things weren't that easy. The struggle is barely there before Maddy finds a solution. But, she is changing and not int the happy ending way and I kind of like this darker side, it makes the book much more interesting.
September 15, 2022
I keep forgetting to mention how appreciative I am that although this storyline involves fallen angels (with Lucifer being a fairly major secondary character), it actually doesn’t really have religious content. I also appreciate Madeline’s development throughout the series, and I would be lying if I said her thought process in dealing with “bad guys” didn’t resonate with me. Given the same powers as Madeline, I wouldn’t hesitate even a tiny bit to destroy any threat to me and mine. But, I often joke with my husband and son that I’m “not a good person” for exactly that type of reason 😅
October 19, 2017
This is book five in this series.
I am still enjoying this story, however I do not like, nor agree with the romantic turn of events.
I am still enjoying this story, however I do not like, nor agree with the romantic turn of events.
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