Emerald City

Book Title: Emerald City (Diamond City Series #2)

Author: Astrid Cole

Format: Digital – Apple Books

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I wish I could say I enjoyed the second book more than the first one but that doesn’t seem to be the case for me. The story was going well and then Damian goes to see Agathe. I have mixed feelings about the whole Damian and Agathe scene. I realize the man was drunk but he wasn’t drunk when he showed up at Agathe’s door. I absolutely loved Sage though and how bad ass she was, that right there is a ride or die. The ending though 😬, Astrid give me book 3 ASAP. I got way too many questions.

𝑫𝑰𝑺𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑰𝑴𝑬𝑹: As always, although this is an E-ARC, my thoughts are my own and this is my honest review. Thank you to Astrid Cole for the ARC.

BOOKISH BESTIES! Drop everything because EMERALD CITY just wrecked me in the most incredible way! I experienced this gem in both physical book and audio format, and let me tell you - it's an absolute masterpiece! From laughing out loud to sobbing into my pillow, this book took me through EVERY. SINGLE. EMOTION. Watching Sage's journey from her beloved pizzeria to fighting impossible odds had me completely hooked! 💖

And Damian! Sweet heavens above! 🔥 This man is the perfect contradiction - a powerful Warlord who commands absolute respect while dropping the most hilarious sass bombs! His witty comebacks had me cackling at ridiculous hours (that "man boobs" scene? Iconic! 😂), but when he steps into his Warlord role? Chills! The audiobook narrator captured his duality perfectly - from playful banter to commanding presence, every moment was pure perfection! 🎧

The love between Sage and Damian is unmatched! Through every up and down, every betrayal and revelation, their connection just grows stronger. That scene when Sage revealed her heartbreak to Damian was so powerful - I literally had to pause the audiobook because I couldn't see through my tears! 😭 Their love story isn't smooth sailing, but watching them fight for each other through genetic experiments and impossible choices just proves how deep their bond runs!

Astrid Cole has created something truly magical here! The way she balances intense sci-fi elements with heartwarming family moments and perfectly timed humor is BRILLIANT! Every twist about Emerald City and the Lolligo experiments left me gasping! Trust me, you need both the book and audiobook in your life - the narration adds a whole new dimension to this incredible story! Don't walk, RUN to grab this series! 📚✨🎧