Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

Release Date - June 17, 2014

Publisher Website - Disney/Hyperion 
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 304 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**received in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

Zombies, magic, and secrets. Dark Metropolis offers up a rather enjoyable twist on the usual zombie lore and, in the process, provides a rather thrilling, fun read that has plenty of potential. A few minor things prevented me from fully connecting to the story, but otherwise it was fairly enjoyable read.

A little more world building would have helped elevate this novel as it didn't quite come together. It has an intriguing premise, characters that fit within the world they inhabit, and the previously mentioned  unique on 'zombies' is enough to captivate. Everything lacked just a little more detail that would have brought it all together. The inclusion of magic, without being fleshed out, still manages to work, but I just wanted something more from the world building. The novel's setting has a glitzy 1920's feel, but I am unsure of exactly when this would take place as it felt both historical and contemporary. I think the novel tries to include everything, instead of focusing on it's most prominent, and promising elements.

I didn't get fully invested in the characters, or the outcomes of their story because I was not full immersed into their world. I recognized that there were heart breaking scenes and how they should have impacted the characters, but I didn't feel it. The characters themselves were not the issue. I think, for me, it was just a lack of connection to everything. I certainly enjoyed many of the characters, and did want to get to know more of their story.

The zombie aspect of the novel was done brilliantly. This seemed to be the most complete element and the one with the most details. Clear ground work had been laid on how they would work within this world, and the impact they would have. There are some chilling, spine tingling scenes that worked rather well within the confines of this story. I don't normally enjoy zombie stories, but this one felt different.

A novel that holds plenty of potential, and dishes out plenty of chills. It didn't quite spark with me, however, due to minor elements. I am curious enough to pick up the sequel and continue the story. I think those who look for more plot driven novels, rather than character driven ones, will find plenty to enjoy in this one.