Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Black City Cover Reveal + Giveaway (INTL)

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Black City
Elizabeth Richards 
Release date: November 13th, 2012
by G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR

Add it to your Goodreads

Deep in the heartland of the United Sentry States are the burning ruins of the Black City, a melting pot simmering with hostility as humans and Darklings struggle to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a brutal and bloody war. A wall now divides the city separating the two races. Trapped on the wrong side of the wall is sixteen-year-old hustler Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling who’ll do whatever it takes to survive, including selling his addictive venom ‘Haze’ to help support his dying mother.

Then there’s Natalie Buchanan, the daughter of the Sentry Emissary, who feels imprisoned by her life of privilege and fame. When their paths cross, they instantly detest each other but Ash is shocked when his once still heart starts to beat. Bonded by a mysterious connection, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed. Then Haze users start dying all over the city and Ash discovers the terrible truth behind his and Natalie’s mystical connection. Suddenly, city walls and the threat of execution become the least of their problems.

Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist and debut author, who spent her early career writing for videogame publications such as CUBE, P2 and GamesTM,and now works as a website editor. Previously, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls. She won the Jane Hayward Young Journalist of the Year award for her feature on girls in the games industry, and was named ‘Editor’s Choice’ in the industry trade magazine, MCV.

Wow! This cover is absolutely amazing. I love the colors, I love the details. It’s all really awesome! Plus, the cover totally matches my blog! The synopsis is pretty cool too you have to admit! If you agree, keep reading for a look at the first chapter and a chance to win!

1st Chapter of Black City
ASH
    An air raid siren wails in the distance, alerting Black City citizens to lock their doors and turn out the lights. They don’t want to be out in the dark alone. They might meet something dangerous. Something like me.
    I head under the canal bridge and wait for the girl, taking a packet of Sentry-regulation smokes from my back pocket and sparking up. The nicotine courses through my veins, making them throb with adrenaline; the sensation is almost like a pulse . . . almost.
    Footsteps approach the bridge, and a short girl with straggly black hair appears from the shadows, dressed in men’s work boots, tight black trousers and a tailcoat made from a patchwork of clashing fabrics. Her hazel eyes gaze up into mine. She’s brave. Not many cherry-poppers have the courage to look me in the eyes. She hands me an old playing card with two hearts on it, one red, one black. It’s my calling card. It seemed an appropriate choice; that’s what I’m selling her after all, an illusion of love. I slip it into the pocket of my dark green military jacket.
    “You’re late,” I say. “Last thing I need is to be caught out here after curfew by a Tracker. They’re just begging for a reason to throw me in jail.”
    “Sorry, they’ve put up extra checkpoints, stopping everyone. There’s tanks everywhere!” she babbles. “I guess they can’t be too careful with the Sentry Emissary back in the city, what with the boundary negotiations with the Legion and—”
    “You paid Beetle?” I interrupt.
    The girl nods.
    “Terms and conditions,” I say. “No refunds. You don’t enjoy it, you puke, you freak—not my problem, okay?”
    She nods again.
    “You pregnant?” She blushes furiously. “I’ll take that as a no. It may cause drowsiness, so don’t drive or operate any heavy machinery.” She smiles at this, and I grin. They always like that. “And no repeats for at least two weeks, all right? I mean it.”
    “That all?”
    “No kissing. Strictly business, okay?”
    She seems a little disappointed by this, but I don’t like to mix business with pleasure. She shyly unbuttons the collar of her coat, revealing her slim, pale neck. Hunger grips my stomach at the sight.
    “What do I do?” she asks.
    “Lean back,” I say.
    She obeys like a good girl. I place a hand against the wall and slip my other hand between her thighs, gently easing her legs apart. Touching her doesn’t turn me on, but I groan like it does, knowing she’ll enjoy that. They all do, even the guys—it’s why they come to me instead of the Haze dens. I slide my body between her thighs so we’re face-to-face. Her shallow breaths are warm against my cool skin.
    “Relax, okay? It’s more enjoyable if you relax.”
    “My heart’s pounding a mile a minute.” She gives a nervous laugh.
    “Can’t say I know how that feels,” I admit.
    She tentatively presses a hand against my chest, and her eyes widen. “So it’s true, then? You don’t have a heart?”
    “I have a heart,” I growl, shoving her hard against the wall. It just doesn’t beat.
    A small tear snakes down her cheek, her thin lips trembling.
    “Sshhh, it’s okay, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I gently wipe her tear away. “Forgive me?”
    She nods, then tilts her head to one side, exposing the smooth whiteness of her neck. The poison sacs behind my fangs swell with venom.
    Focus, Ash. Don’t blow your load.
    I lean toward her, pressing my lips against the soft flesh on her neck, just below her ear. Her pulse flutters under my lips, and I nearly lose it. I begin to nibble on the flesh, tickling the tiny hairs on her neck with my tongue, making them wet with my saliva.
    “Do it,” she whispers.
    So much for foreplay. I sink my fangs into her jugular. Hot blood spills over my tongue, making my taste buds burst with its sticky sweetness. Man, I love the newbies; they always taste the best. She sighs as my venom enters her bloodstream. I wait for the Haze to take effect before I start to drink from her. That’s the bonus of Haze; my clients get high from me, and I get high from them by drinking their drugged blood. It’s win-win.
    A sour, bitter flavor suddenly floods my mouth, and I gag, leaping back.
    “What the—” I spit up blood.
    The girl stares at me with glazed eyes, blood trickling down the two puncture wounds in her neck.
    “Everything’s sparkling,” she says dreamily.
    “Didn’t Beetle tell you I don’t take clients on meds?”
    She lurches toward me, and I grab her before she falls into the water.
    “I love you,” she slurs, trying to kiss me.
    I shove her, hard. She falls back against the wall and slides to the floor. Her eyes roll back into her head, and she begins to spasm, white foam bubbling out the corners of her mouth.
    “No, no, no! Wake up.” I kneel down and shake her, panic rushing through me.
    The girl jerks, her boots leaving black scuff marks on the cobblestones. Fragg! This is why I don’t take clients on meds. You can never tell how they’re going to react to the Haze. I shrug off my jacket and place it under her head.
    A Sentry tank rolls over the bridge, and I shut my eyes and wait for it to pass. Even though the war is officially over, I still get chills at that sound. Wherever they went, Death followed. I had a few close scrapes during the war. During those days, the fact that I was a legal citizen and half human didn’t mean much to them. If you weren’t 100 percent human, you were the enemy. Every day was a fight for survival. Not much has improved since then; I’m still the enemy in most people’s eyes. All they can see is the Darkling in me. The tank turns down Bleak Street toward the Sentry Emissary’s headquarters.
    The girl groans. It’s too dangerous here; I have to go. I could just leave her . . . No, that’s not an option, but I can’t take her to the hospital. I’d get in so much trouble.
    Beetle!
    I peer down the canal. A yellow barge is moored about one hundred feet away. The lights are off. Where is he? He’s meant to be my wingman; that’s why I came to the bridge in the first place. Can this get any wor—
    An explosion of pain bursts inside my chest, and I clutch a hand over my lifeless heart. I sense someone behind me and turn.
    A girl stands by the entranceway, lit by the headlamps of a passing truck. In the fleeting light, I catch a glimpse of cornflower-blue eyes flicking between me and the Hazer writhing on the ground.
    Her gaze finally fixes on me.
    I fall back, struck down, as the pain in my chest blooms again.
    Shivers run through my body, rushing toward a single point in my chest. There’s a spark of electricity and then:
    A flutter.

Giveaway
Big thanks to Penguin Books for Young Readers who is very generously offering an ARC (physical) of Black City for giveaway to one of my readers.

PLUS
The winner of this ARC will be added to a draw to win one of 5 exclusive and personalized drawings of the main characters—Ash and Natalie—drawn and autographed by the author.

Below is a sketch of the drawing. The finished drawing will be more polished and each one will be just a bit different, so each winner will receive an original and unique image. Winners of the drawings will be chosen at random by the author.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS
One advanced copy of Black City
Open internationally
Giveaway ends March 21st, 2012
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”>You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.

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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

Latest posts by Giselle (see all)

340 Responses to “Black City Cover Reveal + Giveaway (INTL)”

  1. Shirley

    OH.MY.GOD. THAT COVER IS FREAKING GORGEOUS <333 I LOVE how it's different from the typical (but still pretty looking) girls with long flowing dresses! It's sooo unique looking!! MEEE WANTTT!

  2. A.M HUDSON

    Wow, this book sounds great. I was attracted to check it out when I saw the cover on another persons’s Facebook page. The very idea of the story is captivating, and the author’s writing style is dark and well-formed. I look forward to reading this.

  8. Birgit

    How unique and different! I mean, you can easily put a flower onto a cover and give a book a romantic touch, but this “shattering” has such an impact and I think it really reflects the premise of the novel.

  10. Suzanne

    I like the cover, but I wouldn’t think its anything too special. I really like the blurb though. It has joined my list of TBR. Thanks for sharing

  18. _yay_

    I can’t really express how I feel abt the cover except that it blew me away…blows me away every. time. i. look. at. it. 🙂
    Beautiful! I really want to read this book.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    Sasse (_yay_)
    BookthatThing!

  27. Kelly

    The cover is GORGEOUS!! I love it!! And this book sounds absolutely amazing. Adding it to my TBR list to be sure I read it even if I don’t win this awesome giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂

  31. Asheley (@BookwormAsheley)

    The more I look at the cover, the more I like it. In particular, I love the cityscape across the bottom. I know everyone else seems to love the bright colors, and they are really awesome, but that city is down there silently in the background, and I that that is WAY COOLER.

    Honestly, though, it is all-around super pretty.

  36. IdentitySeeker

    I really have to read this book! It looks amazing and sounds amazing!I find the premise very intriguing and I know that I just have to read it now.

    However, more than anything, it’s the cover that caught my attention when I first loaded this page. I think it’s very interesting how it first appears to be rain or shards of glass pouring down on the city scape but it’s in actual fact shred of rose petals pouring down. I would love to own this beautiful cover and have it displayed on my bookshelf. Thanks for this chance:)

    Sarah Bibi Setar

    randomthoughtsofaconfusedadolescent.blogspot.com

  56. Kristen - Seeing Night

    I really like the cover its very different and has a more artistic feel to it then the normal YA covers. The story sounds really interesting so Im look forward to reading this. The cover is fantastic 🙂

  59. Amy

    This cover is so great! I love it! It’s refreshing to have a gorgeous cover that is not a girl in a pretty dress. (Not that I don’t enjoy them, it’s just nice to have a different type of cover)

  65. MissTee

    Your Layout of your profile is really nice and it grabs my attention.. The Book itself sounds amazing and the Cover of the book looks unique. Love it!

  72. Katie @ BlookGirl

    Um. Wow. Just, wow.

    The cover.

    The excerpt.

    Now I can’t wait until November! (Though, hopefully I’ll win this and won’t have to, haha!)

    Thanks for another fabulous giveaway, Giselle and Elizabeth!! <3

  78. Koll

    Love the cover. Although it doesn’t have much on it’s just so.. Beautiful. And then we have the first chapter that made me decide. I NEED that book

    Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

  80. Sam

    This books is on my list already! I discovered it a few weeks ago and have been dying to read it ever since. The excerpt is a nice treat for sure. 😉 I love the sound of this book and the cover is GORGEOUS. It’s definitely a lot better than I imagined.

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway! 🙂

  83. Kali S

    It’s beautiful! 😀 I friggin love it. This book does sound awesome, but before I even read the description I just thought “I have to have that book even if it sucks” just to display it. Although I don’t think it’ll suck at all! ^_^

  90. Proserpine

    Hi! Thanks for this chance, I really love the cover of this book (stunning!), really creative and reminded me of my sister in-law picture!The book sounds great, I would love to read it 😛

  91. T-N-E-

    Can I please get this book. I an very picky about what types of books I like and I love this kind. It sounds really iterating. Please give me this book. Thank you 🙂

  95. NaKesha Brown

    I so cannot wait to read this book. This is my WOW pick also. I put a link on my blog so people can come here and read the first chapter and enter the giveaway! That is a great drawing BTW!

  98. Vicky

    Wow. This cover is intense. It makes me want to pick it up and I’m not just saying this. You know I’m a huge cover lover so I’m not kidding when I say it’s stunning 🙂

  100. Zoey Talbon

    I love that the cover isn’t just another girl in a pretty dress. I also love that you can see a city at the bottom of the cover – like the flower is raining on the city, kind of.

  104. carly

    I just love the sound of this one, very interesting. I also absolutely love the cover, definitely different from everything out there at the minute. I am now off to add it on Goodreads. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂

  108. Devony

    The cover is visually appealing and very stunning. It doesn’t really give a sense for what type of book it is – it kind of seems like a mystery, just based on the cover. Very nice looking. Thanks for the chance!

  110. Candace

    Ummm… WOW! And WHAT TORTURE! I now have to wait like FOREVER (unless I’m lucky enough to win!) before I get to read more! I want more NOW!

  116. Lexie

    I think it’s absolutely beautiful. Between the shattered rose and dark cityscape, it’s this perfect blend of haunting and gorgeous. I want to pet it.

  119. Felicia

    I LOVE the cover. It looks so unique and pretty. I don’t think I’ve heard of this book yet, and the synopsis of it sounds really interesting!

    Thanks for stopping by,

    Livin’ Life Through Books

  123. Melody

    Wow! I LOVE the cover it’s absolutely GORGEOUS! I love the shades of black they used on the cover with that colorful pop of pinks and reds. <3 I can't wait to read this!!! 🙂

  124. Kathy Ann Coleman

    The cover for this is definitely pretty. And I totally agree that it matches up with your blog. I always love it when that happens with books I have on mine. Do you find that fun?

    I am very intrigued and impressed with what I have read here. This sounds extremely original and interesting and I definitely want to read more.

    Thanks for the totally awesome giveaway!

  134. Cean

    I like the cover. The only problem is, the font used for the title is just… I don’t know, not suitable? I think the cover design is very nice though, if I ignore the title.

  135. Cambria

    Wow what a gorgeous cover. I love it and the colors really pop off the page!!
    And what a talented lasy the author is. Those drawings are gorgeous! She writes, she draws…she autogrpahs… LOL. She can probably cook too! LOL.
    Great post and wonderful giveaway!!!!!

  138. Stéphanie

    I love how the flower seems to be breaking into a million places. The city skyline is a nice touch too. Overall, very attractive and makes you want to own a physical copy!

  142. Kristin

    Well, if it matches the blog then it IS amazing!!! Seriously, it actually sells the book better than the title!!! It’s absolutely stunning!! Thank you Penguin and Ms. Richards for no prom dresses!!
    Kristin @myparahangover

  144. .Ambur.

    I love the cover! The city skyline and shredded rose are gorgeous! And I love the sound of this book! Chapter one has me hooked already!!! 😀

  149. Anonymous

    The synopsis is what got my attention. The cover is just amazing! Can’t wait to read it.

  153. black-rose999

    I love it!
    The colours, the layout, the exploding flower 🙂
    Can’t wait to read the story though, if the cover is any indication, the story will be an explosion of colours and senses. eeee

  163. Elodie

    I actually discovered this book an hour ago and I’m so glad I did because it sounds just like my type of reads 🙂 !! Ash seems to be a great character : dark and complex … The cover looks aboslutely gorgeous, that’s actually what drew me in and urged me to check out this book 🙂 !! I love pretty much everything about it : the colours,the rose blowing up …
    I’m so glad that the giveaway is international !!!! Thank you 🙂

  165. ame1184

    i am in love with that cover! it is absolutely gorgeous. i love how it’s got the rose like it’s being shattered over the city. i cannot wait to read the whole book!!

  175. thekams

    I love the cover! The shattering rose over the city scape is beautiful and really eye catching. Thanks for a great giveaway =)

  177. me

    I absolutely love the cover and the flower/shatter effect (although I am entirely against the abuse of pretty flowers). The first chapter is amazing and I think I might cry if I don’t get to read more (ha, not really).

  178. Tristan

    I have been waiting to see this cover foerver and I am SO not disappointed it’s just as awesome as the story sounds! Thanks for the guveaway =D

  186. Carmen B.

    Woah, I already thought the blurb sounded awesome, but the excerpt is even better o.O And the cover is stunning!
    I’d love to win this, thanks so much for making the giveaway international!

  187. Holz

    it is a very beautiful and striking cover. I especially like that the city at the bottom is actually black…i have come across so many covers that completely don’t convey what the books about.
    Just from reading the excerpt i think the rose could represent the shattering effects of the venom??

    Anyways it really is gorgeous! :p

    Hollie M

  188. Jessica T.

    Ooh, I love the cover! It’s pretty different from what you normally see with ya covers. And the excerpt has made me really excited to read the rest of the book!

  189. Badass Bookie

    Loving the shattered flower against the dark city, it’s original and different from the typical “Girl in Dress YA Covers” + the chapter teaser makes me want to win this so bad >_<

  190. usagi,

    I’m loving that cover. It reminds me a bit of the cover of “Dark Song” but this one is definitely prettier with the water and all. This one’s on my TBR for sure! 😀

  191. Anonymous

    The cover is what initially attracted me to the book. ARC or not, I’m definitely getting this one!

  211. Gisele Alv

    The cover is beautiful, for me the shattered rose represents how everything they knew about life was lost, the beauty of the time, and all the wonderfulness of love! My gosh the excerpt leave wanting more! I need to have a cooopy!! Thanks for the giveaway!

  222. Jackie

    Totally love this cover. Definitely anticipating this one. I am super excited. Thanks for the giveaway!

    jacqueline.s.chapman(at)gmail(dot)com

  224. Anonymous

    the cover looks soo cool, it seems like it is taking nature and beauty together blowing in the wind. so as to speak it looks like the book might be something about the world and love, beauty all falling apart^

  226. Yto

    i definitely like the cover. the frozen and then broken rose is beautiful. it feels haunting but light at the same time – curious.

  231. Katrina

    I love love love the cover. And I’m not going to lie, I think the book sounds really interesting. So thanks, for introducing me to a new book I might have to check out. 🙂

  237. SJune

    LOVE the cover. The shattered flower over the city is striking and doesn’t look too “girly” so guys would pick it up too

  239. Jenni

    That cover is absolutely beautiful!!! I love how there isn’t a model on it and how the colours work so well together… I want this book so badly!!!! <3

  241. May

    The cover is AMAZING. It’s like an explosion on a cover, something that is not done often on covers of books. Looks great and can’t wait to read this book 🙂

  243. Kaerah

    I like how it has the flower with one part looking like its shattering , like glass . Very unique i have yet to see a book cover like this one i also am curious as to what the city background behing it is for?

  249. Rachel Naddeo

    beautiful cover, fell in love with this book only by looking at this cover but after reading the first chapter I can’t wait to read it not only because of the pretty cover!

  253. LK

    It was actually the drawing that caught my eye. Somehow I came across this when I was randomly browsing. O.O

    The cover is pretty but I’m not too fond of the typography. It stands out from the recent slew of covers I’ve seen though.

  254. Ellisa

    The cover is beautiful. Not stunningly beautiful, but simply beautiful. Definitely one that entices and invites. Makes me intrigued more to explore the promising story deeper!

  256. Kim

    I have to admit that I didn’t like the cover so much when I first saw it, but the more I see it, the better it gets…
    But that first chapter is AMAZING!

  259. Maria K

    Wow……this is a magnificent cover, one of the best in 2012, love it!!! It is so intense, it looks like a bullet has blown the rose up….and the blurb for the book is not less appealing…it is so new yet I crave to read it!!!!!!

  260. the book bunny

    The cover is beautiful, it catches my eye even when scrolling through tons of covers. It’s not like the usual covers that are cookie cutter and have a pretty girl or a pretty face. =]

  262. Jacquelynne

    Well I must say that this cover will be one to covet and basically frame in my collection! I absolutely LOVE IT! It is an organized chaos of beauty & colour! I can appreciate books as works of art always but when the cover adds that little extra “wow” factor I just can’t resist picking it up and wondering what awesomeness lies between the covers 😀 Just absolutely breathtaking in my opinion – definitely organized chaos lol!

  264. margie c {the bumble girl}

    The cover is so eye catching and beautiful! So many questions pop into my head, what kind of a story is able to ‘shatter’ a flower like that?
    I look forward to reading this, thanks for the giveaway 🙂

  266. Rachel

    This sounds EPIC!!!!! I cannot wait for it’s release even if I don’t win the ARC! Such a great first chapter too. I. Need. More!!

  268. Erin W.

    I <3 this book cover. So amazing! It's definitely different compared to most YA book cover which I love most about it. Anyway thanks for the giveaway!

  272. Jo-Anne

    That is an amazing cover. I love how it’s so different from most of the others out there. I loved the sneak peek too. I so want to read this now.

  273. Crystal

    Love the cover!! It’s beautiful <3 The story sounds really awesome and I can't wait to read it, Thanks for the great giveaway!!

  274. Maji Bookshelf

    hmm, we are so used to the model in a dress cover for YA books that anyone anything different is just… different, but good! I hope this trend continues, like shadows and bones and now this one! 😀

    – juhina

  275. Jana

    Bah! I love this cover! I just can’t say enough about it. I love that there’s no girl with a pretty face in a pretty dress. This cover actually took thought! LOVE it! I want to read this so bad!

    – Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl

  282. Tamara

    That cover is really eye-catching, and that’s an awesome thing when, like me, the cover is what makes me pick up a book 🙂

  304. Kristi

    Not my favorite at first…but over time I’ve warmed up to it! I love the coloring and the placement of both the text & city image. I think it will look great on store shelves! 🙂

  305. Ezmirelda

    I loved the first chapter! There’s so much going on here. I can’t wait until this book will release! 😀

    The cover is BEA-U-TI-FUL!!!

  306. Danielle Bateman

    I love the cover! I like the city in the background and the whole exploding flower thingy.

  317. Ron C. Nieto

    This is pure awesome. I like the color scheme, and I love, love the shreded rose. It might or might not be related to my rose-obsession, but I think the cover is a winner, and it reflects the book so well too! (I think so, at least).

  323. Tabby Williams

    I love it! With almost all YA covers right now featuring a skinny girl in a (usually gorgeous) dress, it is really refreshing to see something different. Thanks for the giveaway!

  328. ZaraAlexis

    The cover design is “explosive!” It shows the right amount of passion and frenetic energy that I hope occurs in the book. Great colour, too. 😀

    Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

  332. Diana_Dimovska

    Enchanting cover, I love it! It reminds me of the book The Perfume, mystical, tempting… Bravo for the choice. And thank you for this amazing giveaway! 🙂

    Best regards, Diana