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ericageorge91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For reference, I’m using Book Roast’s CAWPILE rating system and SusanLynKnits’s detailed rating definitions:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iZhinxtTMFQ - Book Roast
https://susanlynknits.wordpress.com/2023/01/21/rating-books-tweaking-cawpile-to-fit-my-needs/ - Susan Lyn Knits and Reads, Update #3
Characters: 9/10 - I’ll think about these characters often. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the characterization. Nahri and Ali felt so real to me. Nahri, I love her ambition and how she does whatever it takes to survive. She’s a reluctant hero and I find that beautiful. Ali is so unabashedly himself. He is so fucking honest and stubborn, and yet still likable. Chakraborty finds a way to make his unwavering moral compass and stiff personality charming. She also has a wonderful cast of side characters that feel equally complex and fleshed out. Everyone has their reasons for moving the way that they do and it makes for a captivating (and stressful 😅) story.
Atmosphere: 10/10 – Setting is amazing and unique. This x1000!!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a Middle Eastern fantasy. The world-building felt so intricate and, once you’ve got the hang of it, immersive. She left no stone unturned when it came to developing the lore of this world and the people that make up this magical city.
Writing Style: 9.5/10 – Excellent // Wow, that was awesome. While I definitely struggled with my first read through, my reread makes me wonder if part of it was just being unfamiliar with Middle Eastern culture. Don’t get me wrong, the world building IS dense, but I think the writer pretty smoothly guides readers through the terrains of her world while also trusting them to find their own footing. That level of craft is truly incredible.
Plot: 9.5/10 – Awesome. Hello?!? High stake adventures, political intrigue, and a slow burn romance (it’s technically a love triangle but there’s only one pairing I will accept 😤).
Intrigue: 8/10 - I want to read more from this author/series. Shannon could shit on a piece of paper and finger paint and I would read it, to be honest 🤷🏾♀️
Logic: 8/10 – I totally understand this world.
Enjoyment: 9/10 – I’m sad it’s over. This might not make sense, but I loved this and the next book in the trilogy SO MUCH that I have yet to read the third because I didn’t want it to end 😩
8.5+10+9.5+10+8+8+9 = 63/7 = 9
1.1-2.2 = ⭐
2.3-4.5 = ⭐⭐
4.6-6.9 = ⭐⭐⭐
7.0-8.9 = ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9.0-10 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
= 5⭐️
Original Review April 2023: [4.5⭐️]
I LOVED IT! I FUCKING LOVED IT!
It’s been about two months since I’ve been this invested in a book’s characters and their world. <i>City of Brass</i> might not be for everyone, BUT IT SURE AS FUCK WAS FOR ME 😭
The world-building was lush and intricate. If I’m honest, it might have been a little too intricate at times 😅. I fought for my life trying to understand the different djinn tribes and their characteristics and politics. Did it pull me out of the world at times because of that? Yes, but once I got the hang of this world, I was sucked in. This was set in a Middle-Eastern/Muslim-inspired world, which might be tough for Western readers but, I think if you can read Game of Thrones, you can make it through this book.
Part of me wishes that Nahri and Dara had gotten to the City of Brass sooner. Another part thinks that we needed time for that relationship to grow from reluctant allies to something more. Because they took so long on this arduous journey, their feelings for each other felt earned. I got so into it, I could almost forget the age gap.
Almost 🥴
This story is full of magic, morally grey characters, and political intrigue. There is so much history and bad blood between various characters and groups of people that I don’t even know who to root for. I ate this shit up. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
TW: Death, violence, slavery, human trafficking, torture, age/gap romance, attempted murder/murder, discrimination, rape (mentions/off page), religious themes
Rep: BIPOC characters, Middle Eastern characters, queer SC characters
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
saric7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Ali’s character kept this book from being terrible. I would love to have seen him get his own book instead of being tertiary and part of a subpar love triangle.
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and Abandonment
andemilytoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
errie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and War
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Outing, War, and Classism
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
foxonabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🧞♀️
Review: This has been on my TBR for over a year since I bought the trilogy with a Kobo gift voucher I’d received. I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long to finally read it because I didn’t know how much I needed a book inspired and influenced by the Middle Eastern culture until I’d read this.
🧞♀️
The world building is great, the characters are well rounded and the plot is not short of any action, twists or turns. I did feel like sometimes things or a character’s mood/motive shifted a little too quickly, but that’s just a minor detail.
🧞♀️
The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because at points you could tell that this book wasn’t written by someone from the Middle East, and that broke the immersion for me. Though there is no denying that this is very well researched and clearly a labour of love, and I may be more sensitive to these things because of my own background 🤷🏽♀️
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
linluvsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Many complex themes are explored and the perspectives of several sides are presented. This is a smart book, more than an adventurous romp (which would’ve been great as well).
I keep telling myself not to fall into any more trilogies but then I return to fantasy and they’re inevitable…
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Self harm, Kidnapping, and War
poppywarphan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
smrj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood and Medical content
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, and War
Minor: Rape, Torture, and Trafficking