Opal City

My heart was racing as I turned every page of Opal City, the thrilling fourth installment in the Diamond City series. This book took everything I loved about the series - the pizza shop vibes, monster fights, and complex family dynamics - and cranked it up to eleven.

Following Sage on what should have been a blissful honeymoon turned survival story was INTENSE. The way Cole weaves PTSD and mental health struggles into this action-packed narrative is masterful. Watching our pizza-slinging heroine fight not just external monsters but her own internal demons had me emotional throughout.

The character development in this book is absolutely phenomenal. Sage's journey from pizza shop owner to warrior has been incredible to witness, but now seeing her grapple with marriage, family responsibilities, and severe trauma while facing a dangerous cult? Cole doesn't pull any punches, and I appreciate how real and raw these struggles feel.

What really got me was how the stakes felt higher than ever - Sage isn't just fighting for herself anymore, but for her marriage, her family, and everything she's built. The mysterious Lightbringer and their cult added such a creepy, compelling layer to this world we've come to know and love. The way Cole builds tension around this new threat while connecting it to themes from previous books is simply *chef's kiss*.

The action sequences are heart-pounding, but it's the quiet moments that truly shine - the weight of trauma, the strength found in vulnerability, and the power of chosen family. This book beautifully balances the physical battles with the emotional ones.

I can't wait to see what comes next in this incredible series. Each book has been a perfect blend of urban fantasy, family drama, and personal growth, with enough pizza references to make you hungry! The Diamond City series has earned a permanent spot in my heart and on my bookshelf 💎

🍕If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for? And if you're already a fan, prepare yourself for an emotional, action-packed installment that delivers everything you could want and more🍕

This might be my favorite book in the series, I loved Sage’s boys & yes that includes Damian. Though Damian was a bit unhinged I liked him a lot more in this book, his protectiveness towards Sage and his family never disappoints. The boys fighting alongside their mom was EVERYTHING. I LOVED how they took their father’s place in protecting their mother when Damian could not. It was too cute. Sage did make me a bit mad when she was asked for a kiss by the Lightbringer… Her response made me want to smack her just a bit but I still love that badass woman. The action was again EVERYTHING but that’s to be expected from Astrid. If you haven’t yet read this series, I highly recommend it!

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫 ↴

This is an Advanced Reader copy. Although this book was given to me as an ARC my thoughts are my own. Thank you to Astrid Cole for the ARC opportunity!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ↴

🍕 Action

🗡️ Monsters

🍕 Morally Gray MMC

🗡️ Emotional Trauma

🍕 A Badass, pizza-loving FMC

🗡️ 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖