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With the help of his human and non-human allies, Colton has accomplished the impossible; he killed the Overlord of the Dark Ones, crippling their offensive - for now. The battle is won, but the war has just begun.

Three weeks later, the nightmarish creatures from another dimension are back. And they're stronger and more vicious than ever.

If that isn't bad enough, Colton is suffering from a mysterious, life-threatening illness.

To save him, his friends bring him to the enigmatic Academy- a conglomerate of cyber-enhanced scientists. Here, the shocking truth about Colton's identity is finally revealed.

Meanwhile, Vincent, a powerful entity disguised as a human soldier, falls for Eurydice, an ice-cold enforcer for the Dark Ones. He must choose which side he's on. A momentous decision that could destroy the world as we know it...

Fast-paced, action-driven, and cinematic, Dark City takes place in the heart of the eternal war between good and evil, told in a way you've never heard before.

281 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2020

13 people are currently reading
57 people want to read

About the author

Anna Mocikat

63 books207 followers
Anna Mocikat is a successful Cyberpunk and Space Opera author.
She was born in Warsaw, Poland, but spent most of her life in Germany where she attended film school, worked as a screenwriter and a game writer for several years.
Her "MUC" novels have been nominated for the most prestigious awards for Fantasy and science fiction in Germany.
In 2016 Anna moved to the USA where she continued her writing career.
"Shadow City" was her debut in English in 2019.
Since then she also published the "Behind Blue Eyes" series, the "Cyber Squad" series, the "Nephilim" series as well as "Space Punks" and "Neon Nights."

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,325 reviews2,360 followers
September 1, 2020
Dark City (Tales of the Shadow City #2) by Anna Mocikat is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I really enjoyed this second book! I didn't like that it ended in a cliffhanger! The characters are the same but we get to know more secrets about them. More interactions that lead to conflicts in the Zone, and out! So much action and the sci-fi/fantasy mix makes this a terrific read. Dark Ones, mutants, vampires, cyborgs, and other creatures along with zealot religious freaks keep tensions high! Can't wait for the next book. Gave this a 4 1/2 star rounded up to 5. Took off half star for cliffhanger, I hate cliffhangers!
Profile Image for Dave.
3,726 reviews453 followers
August 3, 2020
Dark City is the second volume of the planned Shadow City trilogy, a post-apocolyptic fantasy set in a future Los Angeles following a "Glitch," which destroyed civilization. What remains is a community of humans centered in the ruins of Hollywood and a nearby alliance of Vampires. Part of the alliance is that the humans voluntarily give to the blood bank. The alliance is necessary because with the Glitch came an opening to another dimension where the Dark Ones dwell and plot and Earth, if it can be conquered, is a way station to their arch enemies. Between scavenging in the ruins and fighting off the Dark Ones, life is pretty busy in what they call the Zone. Besides being post-apocolyptic, it is part urban fantasy in the sense that the vampires are mesmerizing and tempting and the most powerful one of all, Eurydice, is the femme fatale of the new world dressed in leathers astride her motorcyle and no man can resist her.

Also, the Zone can count among its allies a cyborg named Bombshell cause she just is being as she is made of titanium and has a wicked sense of humor and a sort of superhero, Colton, who arrived from nowhere with no memory of his past, although in this volume we finally get to know his past. Within the post-apocolyptic world that Mocikat built, everything remains consistent and believable. The action is furious. It is a fun read, but stay tuned for a conclusion in book three.
Profile Image for Anya Pavelle.
Author 6 books122 followers
August 30, 2020
Dark City is a thrilling continuation of Shadow City, the first book in this series. The story starts not long after the Battle on the Freeway. The humans and vampires have a tenuous alliance, and Colton has status as a hero. As a reader, I knew that any peace was fleeting. There are too many warring factions for anything else to happen. On one hand, the Dark Ones want to upset the balance between humans and vampires. There are also humans who hate the alliance in the Zone and vampires with competing agendas. Eurydice, for example, works to create chaos at the macro and micro levels. Then, there’s Vincent, who is…...well, I’m not going to say. From early on, the action hits; it doesn’t let up. Dark City is a thoroughly engaging read, complete with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers!

On another note, I love the atmosphere in dystopian and post-apocalyptic books, and Dark City was even better than Shadow City on that count. Mocikat’s descriptions of LA’s ruined landscape are vivid and, often, heartbreaking because the reader gets a glimpse of what was. I also appreciated learning more about the world, specifically the Dark Ones and their role in humans’ fate. I really hope the next book comes out soon!
Profile Image for Tracey.
1,158 reviews9 followers
September 10, 2020
The world is a mess, something called the Glitch has decimated the human population but there are survivors. The survivors have to eke out an existence between the harshness of the land and a vampire colony with an agenda of their own and the Dark Ones who seek to end the human race. There is also a cyber race that assists the humans. It certainly is not an easy world for anyone to navigate.
We meet all the characters a couple of weeks after a major battle has occurred in which the humans with the assistance of the vampires have secured a major victory over the Dark Ones. Everyone is smarting from their wounds and even victory has had a cost. At the start of the story everyone is regrouping and developing strategies for their next moves.
For the humans, it is about affirming their alliance with the vampires through blood. For the Dark Ones it is about preparing for the ultimate battle. For the two central characters to this story, Eurydice and Colton it is about revealing more of who they are and how they figure in the yet to be released final instalment.
Eurydice, by age an ancient vampire but by appearance is frozen in time and is stunning. She is a woman playing all sides and has been traversing this environment by herself. However, she decides that she needs to start her own vampire clan and looks to bring in Louis, a young man who will die of radiation poisoning. What complicates matters for Eurydice is her relationship with Vincent and the strong connection they have. Colton, who was discovered outside of the zone, has no memory of where he came from but has extraordinary powers. However, Colton is suffering a mystery ailment and is not willing to confront what is happening. This is the launch pad for the story but then you throw in the political gamemanship, the manoeuvring of the major players and you are in for a heady ride as the reader.
What I did not realise that this was the second book in a trilogy and to be honest it did not matter. As you are whisked straight into the action and quickly catch up with what has been and what is coming. You realise it is a trilogy as the ending certainly makes that clear. It did take me some time to come to grips with the large number of characters and the roles they all play. None of the characters are vanilla, they all have their own foibles and strengths. The world is well crafted in taking the known and twisting it to the worse possible scenario. I truly do not want to say too much as I don't want to give away anything for those waiting for the book to arrive so they can learn the plight of their favourite characters.
For those who have read the first book, I am sure they will have no problems continuing their reading investment with the second. For those coming to the story for the first time you will not be disappointed.
This is a fast paced read created in an interesting world and has a intriguing cast of characters.

Net galley provided me with an advanced copy for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dee.
204 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2020
Dark City
The people in the Zone are trying to survive, not only from the weather and harsh conditions that leave them with little of anything including food but also from the rebel vampires and The Dark Ones.
I didn’t read the first book in this series but did not feel that I was missing anything. Although I am not normally a fan of post apocalyptic books I loved the combination of the urban fantasy and post apocalyptic worlds colliding (vampires are one of my weaknesses).
I found that it did ramble a bit in places but there was plenty of action that kept me wanting to turn the pages.
I look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for A.C. Merkel.
Author 17 books63 followers
September 13, 2020
Feels like coming home. Yes, that home is kind of a terrible post-apocalyptic wasteland. Even so, spending time there might be worth it. Brooding and overprotective Eric, funny and caring, and yes, Cyborg, Bombshell, Colton and Jean’s love. These characters feel like family! Throw in stunning Eurydice and enigmatic Vincent’s odd and preternatural attraction, and a slew of interesting side characters (needs more Isabelle, TBH) and what we have is complete, well rounded adventure with something for everyone.



A great continuation!! Can’t wait for more to be revealed in book three! Bravo! And hurry up!


Favorite moments: smart lady knows! Perfect shot! Getting a degree in X, Marvel, Capitol records, And Barbie. Lol


You know it never rains in Southern California!!!!
Until it does...
Profile Image for Anca Antoci.
Author 11 books132 followers
September 15, 2020
The Story

It picks up three weeks after the end of Shadow City. Just like its predecessor, Dark City is a fast-paced novel with multiple POVs intertwined. After defeating the Overlord of the Dark ones everyone in the Zone sees Colton as a hero while the nightmarish creatures regroup to attack.

Colton starts having blackouts, sometimes even during missions, which puts his life and his team at risk. Despite claiming he’s okay, he agrees to go with Bombshell to the Academy for an extensive check-up. After a novel and a half of wondering what Colton is and why he has no memory of his past, we finally find out and I seriously doubt that you can guess the truth. This is a spoiler-free review, so I’m not going to tell you, but it will blow your mind.

The truth about his origin comes with sad news and I’m looking forward to seeing how the author will deal with his situation in the next novel.

The other mystery is Vincent. We learn more (but not everything) about him and his orders too. He is intrigued by the feelings Eurydice stirs in him because it’s all new to him. In the end, he has a difficult decision to make.

We get to read some more cinematic style fights, narrated blow by blow with great effects. Eurydice is as badass as she was in Shadow City.


The characters

There are several plot-twists character-wise. The first of them is Louis. We already knew from Shadow City that he was sick with radiation poisoning and most likely dying. His character arc is spectacular as he goes from the sweet little boy who would do anything for his sister, to the vengeful teen (because his sister Jean has taken an interest in Colton and gives him more attention than she gives her brother) who wants Colton dead. You’ll never guess who sways his loyalty? Without giving too much away, let’s say that Eurydice has a hand in it.

“From afar, they looked like two normal teenagers hanging out on a roof. But in truth, they were two dark souls understanding each other without words. A deadly killer everyone feared, and her apprentice, who they would fear even more someday.”


We get to see Eurydice quite often through Louis’s eyes and she’s more fascinating than ever.

"What happened next, Louis could only describe as some sort of dance, the art of killing shown to perfection.
Louis watched how Eurydice continued her dance of death and destruction, which had an alluring, morbid beauty."


Eurydice isn’t all bad and we learned that in the previous book when she saved Vincent and not only him. Louis knows this. Vincent is fascinated with her and with his feelings for her which go way beyond lust.

Read the full review here:
https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
Profile Image for Bertie (LuminosityLibrary).
560 reviews122 followers
October 13, 2020
As someone who didn't enjoy the first book, I only picked this one up because I was participating in a book tour. I can't say it changed my opinion of the series, but it was a significantly better book.

After the events of the first book, the human settlement is weakened, and tensions are rising. The demon-like creatures from the other dimension won't stay away for long. To make matters worse, Colton is suffering from a life-threatening illness that leads him to the Academy, a group of cyber-enhanced scientists. Meanwhile, Vincent, another powerful entity, is falling for Eurydice, the only problem is she's working for his enemy.

The writing was a lot better than the first; there were far fewer spelling and grammar errors which made it a much easier read overall. The book introduces even more factions, which I don't think works very well. There's so much going on that nothing has the depth it deserves, though I will give the author credit for creating an interesting setting for all of these parts to collide. Shadow City is fast-paced and action-driven, just as it said, but it relies too much on that. The characters and plot are lacking, and it's filled with cliches. I think the author has a lot of great ideas, but she hasn't managed to implement them well.

CW: Death, violence, illness, rape.

(Thanks to Booktamins and the author for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for participating in a book tour. This review was posted after the book tour had taken place)

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Profile Image for Bozena.
1,081 reviews19 followers
September 1, 2020
WOW! Just WOW! 😲

This second book in the scifi-ditopian-postapocaliptic fantasy series is an unbelievable roller-coaster of action, destruction and dark emotions.
It happens so many things at the same time in this book, that it's not possible to describe it with a short review.
The post-apocalyptic Los Angeles world is what nightmares are made of.
Mutations and zombi-like creatures from the Dark Ones world attacks, make every day to a battle for life and death.
The 7 main characters, Eric the vampire, Bombshell the cyborg "sweetheart", Vincent the "being" from a mysterious world, Calton the mysterious soldier, Jane the only normal human in the group, Eurydice the killer vampire and Louis on his way to become a vampire, are fighting together against the Dark Ones and the power games between the different existing population groups or  against each other in a weird complicated way.
This story is unbelievable gripping and incredible mysterious.
No one can be trusted and everyone wants to win the power over the new world.
Everyone has secrets and own affiliation group, which they have to obey and friends/family that they want to protect despite the laws in their own groups.
And yes, in all this chaos and destruction a beautiful love stories exists too.
Of course not the sweet and swoony ones, but complicated love stories between different "species".
Gosh! What a wild ride!
I loved every second of it 😍🖤
The suspense-packed story makes you want to read it in one go.
I couldn't put it down 😍
I can't wait for the third and last book in this series.
They are so many secrets and suspense that have to be discovered.
This book end with a cliffhanger 😈 with a lot of unanswered questions and secrets, but trust me this book was so damn good, you don't want to wait 🖤

This is not a standalone.
You've to read Shadow City first to understand the whole story.
Profile Image for Jackie (readingwordsmith).
144 reviews22 followers
September 18, 2020
Spoiler-Free Review:
Dark City by Anna Mocikat is action-packed and takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. It follows main characters: Colton, Jean, Eurydice, Eric, Bombshell, Vincent, and Louis.

The book contained many interesting Sci-Fi aspects that I found to be really enjoyable. I especially liked the contrast of the desolate, post-apocalyptic world with these enhanced cyber-machines and people. It really felt like what a potential post-apocalyptic world might look like if it existed in reality.

The supernatural elements of the books like the presence of vampires and demons added a fantastical element to the story. This was done in a way I haven’t really seen before in other books, making the story unique in that aspect. I really enjoyed seeing how these elements interacted throughout the story.

The characters were pretty intriguing and I like how they were all connected to each other in some way. Throughout the entire story, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who or what Vincent was and why his people were the enemies of the Dark Ones. Eurydice was compelling villain, she was well developed and multi-dimensional. While she is evil, her romance with Vincent and the little cracks in her armor present her as a multi-dimensional character.

While Colton is toted as this big hero in this book, he is far from being perfect. He is dealing with different issues in this book, particularly his declining health. It was great to see the weaknesses in a hero who is considered to be practically invincible. His identity reveal was shocking and worth the wait as I felt attached to his character.

Bombshell was a cyborg female character who nearly always said something that lightened the mood. Her character was like a bit of fresh air against the gloom, grim mood of the story. I think she is also the first cyborg main character I’ve read about. I loved that she experienced real human emotions, instead of being cold and emotionless as technology and robots are usually portrayed.

The plot of the story was a bit predictable, especially at the beginning which I disliked. The story is also a bit tricky to get into, but after a few chapters it really starts to get interesting. Several events happen throughout the story that propel the plot forward, but for the most part these feel natural and not overly forced. I loved and diliked the cliffhanger at the end of the story. It was a good tactic to end the book while keeping readers engaged, especially since Dark City was the second book in the series. However, I just wanted to read on and finish the rest of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book pretty well. I thought that the plot was a bit predictable, but I really enjoyed the world and the characters. I think my favorite part of the story was probably the mix of the fantastical/supernatural elements with the Sci-Fi ones.

If you’re looking for a Sci-Fi story with compelling characters and an interesting world, this book is for you.

Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Cyberpunk
Author: Anna Mocikat
Publication Date: 17 September 2020
Profile Image for J.L. Rothstein.
Author 3 books59 followers
October 24, 2020
My Highest Recommendation!

If you are a true fan of the Fantasy genre, you will find the Tales of the Shadow City series highly enjoyable.

Author Anna Mocikat superbly navigates multiple plots throughout the series and this book. Each plotline is given just the right amount of time to grow, each character given their moment to shine, or fail.

It is rare for an action based book to also be character driven. This author does a tremendous job in this. You care about each character, good or bad, and the decisions they make. It is also rare in a Fantasy Action Thriller to read "real world advice" as I call it. There was one passage I read that not only did I bookmark, I also wrote it down.

"There's only one thing that truly matters"..."Your actions. Actions speak louder than words, or anything else in this damn world. It's our actions that define us, which make us who we are."

In the current climate of Covid-19, Political Strife and Intolerance, we should all remember these words. Our actions do define us. This has stayed with me long after I finished the book.

I don't believe in giving spoilers in my reviews and this will be no exception. The book does end in something of a cliffhanger, which I expect in the 2nd book of all great Trilogies. What I will do is give this book my absolute highest recommendation. My only regret is knowing this series will end with the next book. Hopefully, Amazon, Netflix or HULU will grab the rights and make this into a series to give true justice to the vibrancy of the characters.
Profile Image for C.T. Phipps.
Author 93 books675 followers
December 15, 2021
DARK CITY is the sequel to Anna Mocikat's extremely entertaining genre mashup: SHADOW CITY. In the future, the world has been destroyed by a mysterious event called the Glitch and plunged into an eternal darkness where monsters inhabit the land with most of humanity slowly dying off by radiation poisoning. Vampires and cyborgs exist, though, and they are humanity's last line of defense against the Dark Ones that are invaders from another dimension. Or are they? We get some more insight into the worldbuilding this time around and lots of character development. Louis is a very annoying character, though, and I can't wait for him to get eaten.
Profile Image for Katja.
482 reviews
September 18, 2020
I loved this book. I loved to be back in this world and with these characters. A lot happened and there weren't any boring moment. And we got the answer for what Colton is. I didn't expect that at all. I think I had some other ideas. I liked that we get to know Vincent a bit better and I liked his relationship with Eurydice because I liked her. She is interesting character. Also I still liked Eric and Bombshell. Can't wait for next book.


*I received an Arc for honest review*

Profile Image for Wayne Turmel.
Author 26 books134 followers
September 17, 2020
In this sequel to Shadow City, the author has outdone herself. With the characters firmly established in the first book, she's free to focus on a whirlwind plot with inventive twists and new ways to torture (in the best genre way) her characters. While the ending really sets up the climactic third book, it is a fun ride and makes me impatient for the next installment.

I received an advance copy of this book, with no expectation of a positive review. I enjoyed it that much I had to share.
Profile Image for J. T. Wilson.
Author 7 books67 followers
February 13, 2021
Book 2... Wow!

What can I say? The story continues to get better and we get a more in depth look at what is happening with behind the scenes and workings on what our characters are doing and experiencing. Can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for M.E. Aster.
Author 4 books50 followers
December 31, 2023
Audiobook review:

Dark City returns us to the world that Shadow City introduced us to. We are reunited with Colton, Eric, Bombshell, Vincent and more.

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites, just like all of Mocikat’s others works have been. Our heros (and villains) are met with even more challenges and dangers as they try and bypass the dangerous world that has been left behind after the glitch.

My favorites in this book were actually Vincent and Eurydice. There story was so twisted but also so special and filled with devotion.

I can’t wait to read more in this series! Kudos to Mocikat for creating another amazing world.
Profile Image for Alisha Rowe.
697 reviews34 followers
February 13, 2022
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/33iIAcL.










Since the Glitch, in the land that was once Hollywood, the only remaining safe-haven is a small town of a few hundred people. After the brutal attack against the town lead by public enemy number one, the vampire Eurydice, the local blood-bank was destroyed. Now the town must rebuild and to do so they need their local hero, Colton, to inspire the masses. When he donates things seem to be going well until Colton begins having seizures, Louise is under the thrall of Eurydice, and a massive flood pours from the sky for the first time in 12 years. Can Colton, Bombshell, Eric, Jean, and the others save the small town and those they hold dearest?
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I received the book a while ago and am just now getting to it. Anyone who has been reading my reviews for any length of time knows this has nothing to do with the author. I absolutely adore Anna and Shadow City (book 1) is what started our communications. Since then I have read and reviewed 4 other books for her, not including this one, and look forward to many more in the future. She is a very talented author and I am lucky to know her.

When I first started Dark City it had been almost 2 years since I had read Shadow City. However, the first few paragraphs reminded me so much of the first book I had to go back and open book 1 again and make sure I was reading the right copy. I was. Just like that I was back in the world of the Glitch in the dark city that was once Hollywood. Dark Ones abound. Vampires are entitled pricks for the most part or just savage, in Eurydice's case. Then there are the humans who are raiders, religious idiots, or just normal people. All are doing what they can to survive. I picked up where I had left off in book one without feeling the gap of the last two years and loved every second.

Yes, there were some errors within the book. However, Anna and I are working together to get those resolved now. There is nothing more than I wish to see than for her to succeed. As with book one the book is gripping and leaves you wondering if this little pocket of civilization can survive the overwhelming power of The Dark Ones. Unfortunately, this book ends on a cliffhanger and there are still many things unresolved. What happens to Eurydice, Vincent, Colton, and Louise?

I won't say what happens that I am singling them out. That is for you to learn as you delve within the pages. My only warning to you is this. Once you start you won't be able to stop and you need to be prepared for the fact that Anna has not yet written a third book. I do hope she will at some time in the future. I do, however, understand that Behind Blue Eyes and Cyber Squad are taking up a lot of her time currently.

I still find myself drawn to Eurydice just as I was in book one. You can read my review of book one by clicking here. She is so sure of herself, yet shows the humanity that was once a part of her being at times. I adore everything about her. Even when she makes stupid decisions. Update: After speaking with Anna she has let me know that Book 3 will be out the end of this year or early 2023. I can't wait!
Profile Image for AnnaReads.
479 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2020
Anna Mocikat did it again. She’s presented us with a unique world and great, well-rounded characters.

Dark City continues the story of Colton, the people of the Zone and their struggles and fights with the Dark Ones. Well wow...I’m amazed again. I loved Dark City in its entirety. The world-building? Just astonishing. I can feel how much thought and effort Mocikat put into building up this world.

Mocikat tells the story of the last people of Earth through multiple perspectives which gives the reader insight into the lives of all the different players. This helps better to understand what’s happening and get to know each character more. Colton, Jean, Eric and Bombshell have all become my favourite characters and I can hardly wait what happens to them next.

She does an amazing job pacing the story, giving and withholding information. She gives answers to some questions just to present you with more questions in the next sentence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boack Rose Writing for my copy.
Profile Image for Stephen.
53 reviews
December 2, 2020
Dark City by Anna Mocikat is the sequel to her book Shadow City. It continues the saga of the human and vampire survivors of the Glitch, the unknown event that tore open a portal to another world. They battle the Dark Ones, creatures that came through the portal and are using Earth as part of a plan to conquer their true enemies.
I have to say, I truly enjoyed this book. This is the third book of Mocikat I have read and she never disappoints. One of the things that stands out, is her attention to detail in the story. No time is wasted in the story. There are bits and pieces of clues, that at first glance seem insignificant. But if the reader takes notice of them, they get awarded a huge payoff later.
Not only that but unlike many other writers, Mocikat gives a complete story in both her books. When I originally read Shadow City, it felt like a bigger story than what I was reading. As I approached the end, I began to worry that the story would be incomplete. But the conflicts and characters that were the focus of the book were resolved with enough satisfaction that I wasn’t disappointed. While having enough setup built into the story that made me want to read more. A skill she repeated with Dark City.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories, if you enjoy urban fantasies, if you enjoy sci-fi, then this is the story for you. It has the elements of these genres weaved together perfectly. I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a try.
Profile Image for Jeffrey Higgins.
Author 10 books99 followers
September 16, 2020
In "Dark City," the second book of the "Tales of the Shadow City" trilogy, Author Anna Mocikat delivers a thrilling journey through a post-apocalyptic world. Dark ones and vampires battle a coalition of humans, vampire allies, and cyborgs in a quest for survival. Mocikat leads the reader through a tale of love, sex, and treachery where things as not always as they appear. Mocikat is a master of the cliffhanger, and the pace increases until the end. This is a must-read for fans of "Shadow City."
Profile Image for Yub Yub Commander.
387 reviews37 followers
January 26, 2021
4.5 maaaaaybe. I'm really stuck between 4.5 and 5 stars on this one.

Firstly that ending cliffhanger was killer and I need answers.

I definitely enjoyed this second installment to to Shadow City. It felt like a good continuation, built on the characters and their arcs while also adding enough tension to make the plot continue. I never once felt like the store dragged.

You got a good bit of information on various people and characters, but there's still so much unexplained that really leaves you wanting the next book just to know more. I appreciate there being multiple plots going on at the same time while all of them also converging enough that nothing ever feels out of the way or pointless to the main story.

All-in-all, a fabulous sequel and I cannot wait for book 3.
Profile Image for Taylor Levesque.
43 reviews5 followers
June 5, 2021
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Following Shadow City, Dark City is the second book in Anna Mocikat’s trilogy. The mutants are back, and much stronger and more numerous than before. Colton appears to be suffering from some kind of illness that could result in his demise, and is linked to the shocking truth about his true identity. Vincent has fallen in love with Eurydice, a stone-cold vampire rogue hated by the Zone and working with the Dark Ones. Whose side is he really on?

This was a fantastic sequel to Shadow City. Just when we think all of our questions are going to be answered, we wind up with more. This book is a definite page-turner, and absolutely jam-packed with action and surprises. The Hell on Earth has gotten stronger, plots have twisted, disasters strike, and the ending? TALK ABOUT A CLIFFHANGER.

As one more thing I would like to mention, I actually love the way vampires are depicted in these books, the way characters are written (and actually develop over time), and how the descriptions are so deliciously vivid yet kept so simple. Anna Mocikat truly has an amazing way with words. Naturally, I can’t wait to read the next — and I believe final — book in this series. I’m scared, yet excited, and I don’t know how to handle it. Help?
Profile Image for Kenneth Myers.
Author 1 book12 followers
March 15, 2021
If Shadow City represented the innocence of a child growing into a hero, then Dark City is the angsty teenager that has grown out of the original story. Mocikat blasts readers with the great dangers of The Zone and what’s left behind of our world. The Human-Vampire pact is always on the brink of decay as the Dark Ones work their magic to bring an end to the last survivors of our world. Delving deeper into love, hate, and betrayal, Dark City will have you thirsting for more even after you’ve turned the final page.
Profile Image for Judy Ferrell.
Author 20 books88 followers
February 15, 2021
The fight continues.

In the fight for what's left of Los Angeles, many things are unveiled. Anna Mocikat continues these wonderful series with Dark City. It holds all the drama and battles you could ever want. But be warned there is a touch of sadness too.
Profile Image for Michael Hartnett.
Author 5 books24 followers
October 7, 2020
A Novel of Riveting Conflicts and Great Rewards
Anna Mocikat’s Dark City offers the reader an intense journey that is emotionally cathartic and intellectually stimulating. While numerous well-drawn characters are compromised by their desires, none are more so than the generally hated and feared Eurydice. Her allegiances to the nefarious Dark Ones and her tutelage of Louis (who has his own issues) are jeopardized by her deep connection to Vincent. Meanwhile, Vincent carries a similarly heavy burden of otherworldly internal conflicts.
Set in a gritty and evocative post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, Dark City presents a world of struggling humans living in an uneasy alliance with vampires even as larger forces – both meteorological and alien – loom above them and ultimately descend upon them. Mocikat masterfully shifts scenes from the heroic Colton to the world-weary and wise vampire Eric to Colton’s girlfriend Jean to Jean’s brother Louis and to the aforementioned Eurydice and Vincent. By juxtaposing these perspectives and storylines, Mocikat builds intrigue and tension to extraordinary levels.
In other words, this novel is a tremendously fun read because the Eurydice, Vincent, Colton, Eric, and Jean are constantly on the precipice of making monumental decisions and taking irrevocable actions. Each struggles with torn commitments in an environment where survival and a way forward are not often compatible. Those layers are only heightened by a visit in the second half of Dark City to the intellectual sanctuary dubbed the Academy – a place where a number of jaw-dropping revelations come to pass.
Mocikat leavens much of this intensity with wry humor throughout, particularly the sharp and delightful banter between Eric and the cyborg Bombshell. I had been looking forward to Dark City ever since the first novel in the Tales of Shadow City trilogy came out last year. That novel, Shadow City, where the street smarts and the vitality of individuals somehow brought life to an L.A. wasteland was a wonder. Dark City builds off Mocikat’s earlier vision as the characters become even more vulnerable and appealing.
As I mentioned earlier, the climax of the Dark City is filled with stunning revelations and offers exciting possibilities for the finale of the trilogy. I can’t wait to see where Mocikat and her troubled characters deliver us.

Profile Image for Laura Maybrooke.
Author 6 books75 followers
October 15, 2023
Okay, where’s the next book? That should tell you how much I loved it. (Seriously, where is it, I need it like yesterday, haha).

Dark City continues the story from Shadow City, the first book in this series, picking up not long after the big battle in the previous book. More of your favorite characters, the truth about Colton, and more about what’s going on with Vincent. We also learn more about the world and the Dark Ones, and I just love the atmosphere and details of this post-apocalyptic world. Also, Bombshell is still my best girl!

Dark City is a very engaging read, with a vast array of different characters with different motivations. Plenty of action and that cliffhanger that makes me need the final book in series like now. I loved Shadow City, but I must say I really loved Dark City, is it maybe the familiar characters or the higher stakes and interesting character revelations or the atmosphere that is even more present because of the combined importance of all of the above?

Fast-paced with multiple POVS, always something going on, racing toward an interesting end without being rushed. Yep, five dark hearts from me! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Profile Image for Brandon.
151 reviews3 followers
October 4, 2020
Overall, I will say this was a marked improvement over the first book in the trilogy. The plot was developing a bit better, the language flowed more smoothly, and the world was expanding a little. I did feel like there was a gratuitous amount of sexual encounters for a book as short as this, and they felt a bit contrived. I do not have any issues with them on principle, but these felt a little more shoe-horned in and not really necessary for story or character development.

With that said, based on the improvement from the first book and the expectation that the improvement will continue, I will be looking to get a hold of book 3 at some point in the future.
Profile Image for M.L..
Author 37 books144 followers
October 9, 2020
Bittersweet. Anxious to find out what happens next, I couldn't consume this book fast enough, only to wish I'd taken the time to savor it more. A full range of emotions took me through the pages of this amazing book. Scenes painted so vividly I found myself submersed in the ruins of Los Angeles. Toward the end of the book, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, anxiously going from one chapter to the next. The anticipation kept me hooked right through to the end. Looking forward to the next book...well...kind of... What will happen to my beloved characters? I'm anxious to know, yet dreading it at the same time. Cuz...you know...the end...
3 reviews
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December 1, 2021
I pretty much dnf'd this book by skipping over to the ending. I think this is an overrated book, like the behind blue eyes books. I seriously don't get why everyone thinks Mocikat's books are so great. They only range from just plain good to annoying in my opinion.
Profile Image for saintlouis.
133 reviews
December 19, 2022
What an opening act

I love science-fiction this is really not that. Vampires, interdimensional travel, dark ones lots of questions. I want to read the second chapter.
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