Toxic Heart (Mystic City Trilogy, #2)

by Theo Lawrence

[Kelly]

4½ Stars.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/08/toxic-heart-by-theo-lawrence.html
I absolutely loved Mystic City, book one in the young adult Dystopian series, and Toxic Heart is an incredible sequel that leads to what will be an epic finale. It follows the story of Aria Rose, former socialite daughter of the Rose family who live a privileged lifestyle high in the Aeries. Now she lives in the depths with the Mystic community, citizens with power and the ability to bring New York into chaos. Since the global warming flood that plunged the city into raging torrents and a seedy underwater world, the Mystics have been drained of their power, used to build and light the wealthy Aeries. But now it's time to fight back, and Aria seeing the injustice firsthand, has endeared her to their cause.

The hero of Toxic Heart is Turk, Hunter's best friend who has been entrusted to look out of Aria in his absence. He's jovial, fun and the reader will be engaged by his own plight and emotional turmoil he endures. Turk is torn between his best friend and his blossoming friendship with Aria, and proves that he is more than willing to support Aria often when Hunter can't or refuses to. He may not be leading a revolution, but plays an important role in Aria's life and seemingly begins to feel more for Aria than their friendship suggests.

Reminiscent of the plight of Adam in Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series, Hunter is keeping Aria at arms length. He's no longer the boy from the depths who would meet her on her balcony, but seemingly possessed by a war that even his mother had no intention of fighting. He's unreasonable and ruthless, and will stop at nothing to see that not only the Mystics are freed, but will dominate the once segregated society. Aria's loyalty will be tested and I found myself warming less to Hunter and more to Aria as she was able to stand up for the injustice, no matter the consequences.

Toxic Heart showcases how the revolution has changed the dynamics between each character, with the ending a surprise that I hadn't expected. I'm now awaiting the final in this incredible trilogy, that has now set the series up for an epic showdown.