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Juxtapose City #3

The Battle for Black

Two men from vastly different backgrounds can’t fight their attraction to each other despite the forces that seek to tear them apart.

While Black and Calyx work to deepen their relationship in the wake of the Consortium disaster, enemies and lovers from Black’s past rise up to drag him and JC2 into a gang war against Genesis that will test everyone’s loyalties and force Black to decide who he is and who he fights for.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2012

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About the author

Tricia Owens

96 books541 followers
I write urban fantasy, paranormal romance, m/m fiction and menage fiction, with probably more genres to come! Please visit my website and sign up for my newsletter so you'll be kept apprised of my frequent new releases:

Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com/

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5 stars
148 (37%)
4 stars
153 (38%)
3 stars
75 (18%)
2 stars
15 (3%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for JustJen "Miss Conduct".
2,436 reviews156 followers
July 2, 2013
Gahhhh, still so many questions! Things are getting clearer, though not all in a good way. We find out more about Genesis/Phoenix/Black/Parker and even Mneumonia and how they are all connected. Still don't know who is on the good side, or even which side is the good side. There is the side that JCP fights for, ridding Juxtapose City of the drugs, etc., then there is the side of the Psypaths fighting for their spot in the City and their freedom, and then there is whatever the heck Captain Dickerson is up to - experiments on the Psypaths? He's trying to help them? Or is he trying to ensure he has the most power behind him when he takes over the City? We still don't know.

Poor Calyx still struggles to get through to Black, though it seems he's made a bit of progress. So many stumbling blocks are in his way, and then there is always the Sundhill episode hanging over his head. Every time Calyx and Black get close to something, the rug seems to get ripped out from under them.

And Black, with all of his secrets, and boy some of them are whoppers. He is just so mentally screwed up from the events in his life, due mostly it seems, to his dear old mentor/boss/pseudo dad, Captain Dickhead. I so badly want him to see the light before it is too late. Black's actions are a bit mind boggling, but I find myself right there with the rest of his team, trusting him and following blindly, just hoping he will come through in the end.

I have not enjoyed a sci-fi/paranormal series like this in a long time. I was very happy to find out there was so much more planned for this, and am eagerly looking forward to the next segment. I miss the guys already.
Profile Image for Macky.
2,061 reviews229 followers
January 22, 2013
Totally addicted to this series and getting withdrawal symptoms as I'm writing this review now that I've finished book 3. Talk about cliffhangers! Nobody does 'em like Tricia Owens. Bring on Book 4 ASAP.

The story begins again just after the fallout of book 2 and again we are caught up in the world of psypaths, JC2 and Blacks nemesis - Genesis. As before the world built around Juxtapose City is filled with secrets and lies, misguided loyalties, SHOCKING revelations and the ongoing perverse but very hot sexy' romance ' between Calyx Starr and Black whose ST is off the wall - not forgetting Captain Dickerson, ' puppet master ' behind all the explosive situations that Black and the gang are manipulated into. I can't wait for Black to see what a complete SOB he is and watch him suffer the consequences, but that's obviously yet to come.

Tricia Owens has done it again. We learn a lot more about Black and his tortured past but just when you think you've got the answers she throws a curve ball and you're almost back in the dark again. Calyx is slowly breaking down his barriers but in doing so he has to do ' things ' that could in fact end up pushing them apart! Wow, this series of books is a hot bed of emotions and as I've stated before not for the fainthearted- if you want straightforward heroes and villians and a romantic love story then give this a miss because the only heroes in this come with the word anti in front and the love story is more than a little twisted! I LOVE it.

Mustn't forget the rest of the characters involved, every one of them are vital to the plot and are just like the story, complex, complicated and deep. Really good stuff. As stated in the heading, don't even try to read this as a standalone, they must be read in sequence to follow the plot, you'll just be confused if you don't. So do yourselves a massive favour - get them all, put your feet up and prepare yourself for a bumpy but exciting ride. I did and now I'm hooked!
Profile Image for Samantha.
539 reviews55 followers
September 3, 2013
First reaction: AHH. NOOOOO. YOU CAN'T STOP THERE!

Another fantastic addition to the Juxtapose City series. Once again, Ms. Owens has left me with some questions answered, but hundreds of new and complicated ones festering within my head.

I loved watching the relationship between Starr and Black grow in this. The shifts in their behaviors weren't too abrupt/sudden. They seemed fluid and natural, or at least natural for the completely screwed-up relationship that these two have and I dearly love.

And oh, the angst. And the jealousy. It all stabbed me in the gut multiple times while reading this. I could feel what they were feeling, particularly Starr. There were moments when he would growl and I'd find myself making a not-so-pretty grumpy face at the same thing he was unhappy about.

But damn, I have no idea what else is in store, or where the twisted web begins and ends - or if it even does! And I can't stop thinking .

And to make it all even better, it is certainly not lacking in the hot department.

One thing is for sure - I'm going to go crazy while I anxiously await the next in the series.
Profile Image for Katherine.
350 reviews8 followers
March 31, 2014
I love/hate this series so much. OMG Tricia Owens, you can't leave it like that. These books are so dark and painful to read at times. And just when I start to feel sorry for a character, they do something to make me hate them all over again and vice versa. And this is why I love/hate this series. But I can't stop reading them!
Profile Image for Dani (ダニ ¦ 다니).
296 reviews11 followers
March 6, 2018
Waaaaaaahhhhh!!!

I just don't trust Dickhead....I just don't know what side he's on and it's making me crazy. Why is Black so stubborn when it comes to Dickless. I just don't know who I can trust and it's driving me mad. Also, all the Black/Starr scenes are just precious and great and hot and fantastic and I want more of those as well.

Why is this series so good. Why can't I stop reading this.
Profile Image for Claudia.
3,100 reviews110 followers
March 25, 2018
this was definitely the best so far. can't wait to read more about the team and how everything develops
Profile Image for Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine).
1,253 reviews35 followers
September 19, 2020
Read this book with caution. There are no warnings as to the true content. Juxtapose City series contains multiple incidents of sexual assault, rape, murder, drug use, torture. Basically all the worst of humanity almost all of it in first person. Now I will return to my usual format...
"You've got quite a tongue on you. But that's good. You need to be sharp and intelligent if you're going to be able to survive this by Black's side. If you want him, you're going to have to go through fire, Calyx." — Parker

I'm so glad I came back to this series. I adore these characters, and the situations they are in. This book adds to the lore and adds to the plot, always asking questions. Answering some but posing so many more. Something that this series is so good at.

Black and Starr's relationship actually goes somewhere in The Battle for Black. They move from being whatever that was in the last book to almost lovers. Starr shows an epic jealous streak in this book. A lot of what they go through is super heavy, it essentially comes down to Starr having to decide what he is willing to do, risk for Black. Essentially by the end, Starr is looking like being ride or die. But it is a journey to get there.

We meet two new psypaths. Telekinetics, more powerful in groups. Prescients, super rare there have only been two that we know of. We finally got confirmation of where Black fits in too, he's an extremely strong telepath.

I love characterisation. Black's coding develops, he's a confusing character to understanding coding for. We knew rape was a part of his youth but sex and partners is something that has never been dealt with for him. "It's more than the gender thing. He always swung both ways whether he wanted to or not." (this was 'Monia)/"He was a sexual deviant."/"nervous. Embarrassed. He hated sex. He'd never enjoyed it that he could remember."/"He'd had sex plenty of times; that wasn't the issue. Whoring yourself was one thing. Loving someone was completely different." Basically with all the information we got in this book my current read on him is as a demi-bi or demi-pan. But his demi romantic alignment feels more reactive than something that was born in him. He has so much internalised self-loathing too. He can be a painful character to read at times, let alone to see from Starr's perspective, someone who could love him.

Some spoiler notes just because

On the two new characters Parker and Mneumonia. Black apparently has a type after all, between these two Andrew (wretch) and Starr, physically attractive and powerful in their specific field. Mneumonia, I like Monia's whole deal, the idea of a girl gang in this world is appealing to me. She takes no prisoners and never backs down, I guess the only way to survive in that world. Parker... Parker is something else. Parker is hot af, and vaguely reminiscent of Starr. Honestly that he and Starr are attracted to each other on sight is both amusing and unsurprising.

This is one of those series that if you like it you love it if you don't you won't have gotten to this point. I really like this series. I can't read it end on end, but I love the characters and the overarching ideas. The first book is usually free on Amazon, so you can try before you invest yourself

"I want you to break me,"[...]"I want you to push me farther than anyone else has before,"[...]"I want you to break me...hurt me..."[...]"Destroy me, Starr." — Black

A representative gif:
description

There is a contextual quote for this which I will add if someone asks me to

Profile Image for Ayanna.
1,632 reviews63 followers
January 21, 2013
I think I've had a glut of this manga-lit for now...
Maybe I'll come back to it later (no, I know I definitely will cuz it's a manga *shrug). But anyways...I just...really want more of Hadrian right now...
(Black's too much of an uke. Hadrian's kind of got the "everyone wants to fuck him" thang going on, but he's got more trauma and angst and THAT generally takes the foreground. Black...it's like he's defined by how many and who wants to fuck him...)



:D I was in the mood for some soap opera. But ooooh hot damn does the plot thicken!
There's so much psychological conditioning going on that everything's pretty damn murky.

Hmm...let me make a prediction/wish. I'm generally pretty good with my wishes turning into genuine predictions, something like that. (I can generally call who's going to top when. Dunno if other people can do that, though, so maybe it's actually a very common ability).
I really want to see Calyx crack. He's always the strong one and Black's always the one on the verge of a breakdown. I kind of want Calyx to have a breakdown (for whatever reason) and have Black be the one to pull him together and then they have this nice lovey-dovey tender moment and such. It's possible such a story already exists somewhere, as I think this entire series is mostly written out. It might also exist in one of those AU/sanctioned-fanlits, if those exist for this series (not sure cuz I didn't check on her website).

Black is such a tool...
Profile Image for joani.
1,678 reviews6 followers
September 8, 2015
Really??

Tell me that Black is that stupid!! He grew up on the street and is a telepathic!! He can read minds and he just Takes everyone's word for it??? I get that he wants to play the hero but he could be smarter then thumb tack in doing it. He is not street smart at all...thank God he has Calyx...There are too many secrets and nothing could be taken at face value....use your gift and be proud of it. Let get to Calyx...that video is proof of what a slime Sundhill really is. That's what I thought Calyx's motives were. All of a sudden it's about revenge on Black. If Black leaves over this I will hate him forever. Calyx stuck by him through all his horrible unforgivable actions and so far is the biggest hypocrite around. Grow a pair and take charge of your life and take care of the men that truly love him. Both Parker and Calyx need him to be stronger and wiser!!!
Ok was that passionate much...lol ...sorry, had to let out my frustration. That's how you know that it's a great book!!
Profile Image for P Leslie.
3,304 reviews17 followers
September 22, 2018

If Black’s secrets got out it could ruin him and give others power over him but what will Calyx do? Will he stand by Black or hate him for what he does?

Black’s many layers are unfolding but what type of man is he underneath? Is he worthy of respect, trust and love?

There were moments my jaw dropped and I thought WTF is happening. So many twists, turns, ups, downs and unexpected surprises that will leave you in utter disgust and shock.

Things are spicing up between Black and Calyx - can’t wait for the fireworks to explode.

Black is seriously naive and that in itself was frustrating. He becomes more bearable with each passing book - hopefully that will carry on.
Profile Image for Tionne.
367 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2015
I would've given this 4 stars but I am thoroughly disgusted by the way Black craves the acceptance of his superiors and what he's willing to do to get to the top. How can he be that fucking naive???? When will Genesis and Dickerson finally fucking pay? Is there even another book in this series? If there is, hopefully everything will be revealed and it'll be a HEA for Black and Starr.

Update
So this is it? There's no 4th book?? MOTHERFUCKER!
Profile Image for SueM.
777 reviews146 followers
September 3, 2013
Wait! You mean it finishes here? But...but... There has to be more... There are so many threads left unfinished, that while I loved it, it is also damned frustrating to read... Will just have to wait, I guess....
Profile Image for Cheryl .
298 reviews25 followers
April 9, 2016
OMG the shit just got REAL. Damn this is one twisty series and I love it.
Profile Image for Natasha.
426 reviews4 followers
July 20, 2017
Enjoyable

It didn't have the kicker end like the others but still loved it. Can't wait to see Black and Stars progression though I think it's about to blow up.
Profile Image for Denise.
7,813 reviews141 followers
December 1, 2017
While Calyx and Black continue to slooowly inch closer to maybe possibly perhaps at some point sorting out whether their relationship is ever actually going to happen (it's not so much will-they-won't-they with these two, it's more when-oh-when-will-they-finally), old enemies, friends and lovers from Black's shadowy past come back to haunt him as Genesis steps up the game.

A lot more about Black's past is revealed in this installment, and we (and Calyx) finally learn what it is Dickerson has him do on their little nocturnal excursions. Have I mentioned that this series is addictive and the cliffhanger endings are evil? Next book please, thank you.
478 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2020
Amazing

This is the third book of the series and it is just amazing. I just can’t wait to start the next one. Usually with a long series of books, and there are 11 right now in this series, I get really bored about the third book. But now I have to keep on going and see what happens!
50 reviews2 followers
October 1, 2019
addicted to this series and these characters!
Profile Image for Anastasiia.
540 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2026
these books are like crack to me, but but but this one is not as good as the previous two
Profile Image for Mies.
158 reviews9 followers
November 1, 2024
This had definitely more plotline than the previous books. Still a big mess. Everyone still wants to fuck Black. Nothing new. Also, what the fuck Jake
Profile Image for Cat.
380 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2016
In this installment of the Juxtapose City series, Black's telepathy is back online following the rape and torture at the end of book two. Beginning just two weeks following the end of In the Blink of an Eye, Black is surprised by a blast from the past in the form of an ex-girlfriend and her merry band of telekinetics. During their meeting, she tells Black that another of his old friends, psypath Parker, wants to meet with him while also letting him know that Genesis is picking up the pace in wanting Calyx's head on a platter.

In an effort to protect the beautiful empath, Black conspires with Lieutenant Sundhill to take Calyx for a mini-vacation fishing on Sundhill's boat, and in return, Calyx gives Sundhill a dance club surprise and then a boat encounter he won't soon forget while Black slips away to remove the threat to Calyx as JC2's compound is attacked.

Black reveals what he does on his trips with Dickerson to Calyx, who is horrified but still willing to stand with and for Black. The two men go meet the leader of the Ortega Street gang, where Calyx meets Parker, a lover from Black's youth who is still clearly in love with the man, and who has secrets of his own.

This book provides so much insight into Black's character, and Calyx is helpless to do anything but fall further and further for the enigma that is his team leader. Black finally accepts that he wants Calyx, and the steam factor is through the roof. No one writes tormenting sexy times the way Owens does!

A battle with Genesis takes place, as well, in a fiery debacle that leaves the team reeling, both physically and emotionally. This series sucks you in and won't let you go. Despite the anger and frustration felt toward Black for his vehement denial of wrongdoing by Captain Dickerson and the naivete he displays in his blind dedication to the horror of a human, you are compelled to continue reading. Because this is a cliffhanger ending, it loses a star as per my rating policy. That is the only loss this book receives. It is a solid four stars of fantastic writing and continued character and world development.

Warning: This book contains flashbacks of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse that may cause triggers.
248 reviews
February 25, 2017
Madness

The story continues with all kinds of crazy from all characters. Love the main characters their a hoot. Constant push and pull between them is hilarious.
Profile Image for Missjoanie.
329 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2016
Complex, dark and unsettling but I love it.

The story of Black, team leader of a Juxtapose City police force specials team (JC2) continues.
This is a dark world where people with psy abilities are distrusted and need drugs to help dull what they are sensing.
JC2 job is to keep them in their part of the city and keep criminal a activity at minimum.
However, over each book it becomes more difficult for Black to see psy and non psy as polar opposites, when Starr a psy empath becomes a member of his team.
Can Black trust his feelings for Starr whilst trying to do right by everyone in the dark city - his family and his men? Too many people from his past keep popping up and it is unclear who to trust.
There is a strong m/m relationship running through this series between Black and Starr but it is struggling to see the light of day as both protagonists fight their own demons and try to do right by one another.
Set in a dystopian city this is not a pretty romance and will not be for everyone. It is is clever, very visceral (sometimes I have to put it down), but if you persevere you will come to care for these guys and be kept guessing as to where the axis of evil lies. These books must be read in order to make any sense of a complex storyline.
Profile Image for WhatAStrangeDuck.
478 reviews33 followers
November 22, 2015
The series started out promising but I don't think it is meant for me. Too many plotholes, too many idiosyncrasies in the narration...

Why, oh why does the author keep referring to the characters by their super-powers "The empath thought..." or other characteristics like "the other man", "the older man", "the taller man". They've got names. It's allowed to use them. Calyx even talks, and I mean talks to himself about himself in the third person like that "Oh no, this empath will...". GAH!

It's okay for a while but at one point it started to seriously annoy me.

One other thing that didn't really work for me - though this one is strictly on me - is that this is Yaoi in prose. Lots of people love that, and I respect that. It's just that at one point a began to see the characters as drawn in Manga style and that aesthetic just doesn't do anything for me. At all. So I respectfully withdraw from this series (which btw is actually just one very, very long book) before I start spitting nails.
Profile Image for Aethena Drake.
1,220 reviews4 followers
August 16, 2016
I liked this book even better on the second read. Tricia Owens creates some very interesting psychological thriller/romance/sci-fi stories with engaging characters. I've read most of this series already, but I find new tidbits with every reread. The tiny little clues I missed about Black's past in the first read. The way the building connection between Black and Calyx that doesn't seem reasonable, but it works. So many things I didn't appreciate or notice the first time...

The reader is getting to know the MC, Black, through his interactions with other characters. Black is locked down emotionally, but the reader is slowly learning that his demeanor is a result of traumatic experiences that seem to get worse with every new reveal. The story does not lack in tension. I had trouble putting the book down, and I had already read it once before. I already started on the next book, and I really hope this series has a resolution before I finish the reread. Please, please please....

Profile Image for Danielle.
1,563 reviews15 followers
January 19, 2014
Cliffhangers I hate you so much! This one was better then the last one I have to say. No exactly the most shocking secret Black could have I was imagining something a lot worse so am I disappointed? Don't know, maybe?

Anyway, I don't have much to say, I got bored near the middle somewhere and I can't wait for Parker and Jake to get together cause really Jake is getting desperate for some loving.
Profile Image for Nijin.
113 reviews6 followers
February 8, 2013
What bugged me in this one is that in first 16 years of his life Black managed to accumulate lots of ex-lovers and enemies, who hates/loves him with passion justified only by years and years of relationship. As their numbers grew my interest in plot lessened.
Book 3, 70% DNF
Maybe someday...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews