Darkness becomes her by Kelly Keaton

Ari can't help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know what she's running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won't stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

I picked up this book because I won a copy of the sequel through Goodreads First Reads and I wanted to acquaint myself with the characters before I received my copy. I unfortunately had quite a bit of a hard time getting into the story, and it was only about three quarters of the way through the book that I became truly invested in the story and began to enjoy it. I could have done without some of Ari's outbursts, but I did enjoy the variety of characters/personalities, and once there was more action (aka once Athena appeared) I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. Looking forward to the sequel!

I really liked this story. One, it took a bunch of elements I have seen a million other places and put it back together into a brand new story. Loved the gothic setting. I do wonder if Keaton had me entranced because of her writing or if I loved this so much because I have been to New Orleans and recognized almost everything in the book.
Ari is not a blushing flower of a heroine. Think instead: a slightly less mad Lizbeth Salander. I gave super points for this being a first novel, and I am assuming this will be a series. So I want more character development and more exploration of supporting characters in the next book. I love the little cast of outcasts surrounding Ari. Crank, especially, could be our first-ever elementary school steampunk hero! Henri has no personality at all, and Dub needs some background, but I love them already.
The world building here is great, but I would love to know a few more things. How, for example, are supplies getting into the city if the postal truck barely gets across the bridge? Where is the food supply? I am curious because I care.
I predict this series will find fans with paranormal readers, mythological readers, alternative history readers, and dystopian readers (the feel is there).