solntse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
storytold's review against another edition
5.0
One of those where I rounded up once I started typing instead of down, and then also deleted all I'd written. All there really is to say is: structurally and emotionally, this brought the entire series together. I wept deeply. It's not a perfect book and it took me six weeks to get through, primarily because it's dense, but as a conclusion to a trilogy it just sets the bar. I'll be back here again, I'm sure.
crisveijk's review against another edition
5.0
In my review of City of Blades, I mentioned that I didn't see the passion fans have for Sigrud. I take it back.
He's... different, from any character I've read before. In the end of this book, you understand a bit more as to why that is. He doesn't have intense hopes, or fears, or aspirations. He has his mission and his current problems, and pretty much leaves it to that. And that's fascinating and refreshing to read. Speaking of that, I have to commend Bennett on again writing a novel I couldn't predict - this time I saw hints, but in no way foresaw where the plot was going.
This book is just as suspenseful as the first two, and by now I'm actually liking the author's use of the present tense to achieve that. It also manages to be bigger than either prequel in terms of the plot's problem. If the first book is a spy thriller-turned-horror-movie and the second a military film, this one is an action movie - at one point, there's a sticky grenade launched at an enemy's face.
And of course the ending. I won't spoil anything, but it is definitely an ending that fits the trilogy, and kudos to Bennett for that.
He's... different, from any character I've read before. In the end of this book, you understand a bit more as to why that is. He doesn't have intense hopes, or fears, or aspirations. He has his mission and his current problems, and pretty much leaves it to that. And that's fascinating and refreshing to read. Speaking of that, I have to commend Bennett on again writing a novel I couldn't predict - this time I saw hints, but in no way foresaw where the plot was going.
This book is just as suspenseful as the first two, and by now I'm actually liking the author's use of the present tense to achieve that. It also manages to be bigger than either prequel in terms of the plot's problem. If the first book is a spy thriller-turned-horror-movie and the second a military film, this one is an action movie - at one point, there's a sticky grenade launched at an enemy's face.
And of course the ending. I won't spoil anything, but it is definitely an ending that fits the trilogy, and kudos to Bennett for that.
davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
5.0
Goodreads says I reviewed the Kindle edition of this book, but I cannot find that review.
I bet the review was brilliant, but I don't remember what insightful things I said.
Maybe that I hope Mr. Bennett finds a reason to go back to this world even though he seems to have wrapped up the story.
I bet the review was brilliant, but I don't remember what insightful things I said.
Maybe that I hope Mr. Bennett finds a reason to go back to this world even though he seems to have wrapped up the story.
un4tunatalie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
randyrasa's review against another edition
5.0
City of Miracles wraps up the Divine Cities trilogy with a bang, a satisfying conclusion to a 5-star fantasy series. This is a deeply complicated and convoluted world, with each novel focusing on a single main character, each of which is a very strong character in their own right. There's an awful lot to take in here, and the entire series is quite an investment, but it is so very much worth it. Robert Jackson Bennett is a strong writer, both in terms of structure and emotion, stretching out and building the tension while putting his characters (and readers) through a most excruciating emotional journey. Highly recommend the entire series!
let_the_wookie_read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
dryhop's review against another edition
5.0
I am going to keep this review short because otherwise I just know that I will devolve into an insane amount of spoilers. So let me quickly say that I found this book to be amazing. Sigrud had to have his day. It's really only fitting. And have it he did. The story was fantastic and while it ended horribly, it ended in the only way that it could. It was poetic; perfect.
I do want to say one other thing. The prevailing mystery in the book, that plot thread that leads up to that final twist, was, for me, foreshadowed perfectly. This is simply sublime when it happens. I figured out the twist literally at the start of the page on which it was revealed, probably a scant paragraph or two before it happened in the text. I have read actual mysteries that didn't pull this off as effectively as Mr. Bennett did. This is precisely how it should happen. I'm not left waiting and wondering when the reveal that I figured out on page 13 is going to show up nor am I left scratching my head at how this could possibly be the answer when it didn't seem to exist before that point. The red herrings, the subtle clues, the whole setup was perfectly conceived and executed. Moments of brilliance like this affect you emotionally as well as physically, and it is in no small part why I read books.
I noted on Twitter that I didn't want this to end. And I was right. I actually went through a brief period of mourning. The end was beautiful but still an end. So I suppose I will have to seek out other offerings from Mr. Bennett and await for more in the future. I leave off saying that I can't recommend this series or this book enough and that The Divine Cities is officially my favorite series that I have read to date. Bravo.
I do want to say one other thing. The prevailing mystery in the book, that plot thread that leads up to that final twist, was, for me, foreshadowed perfectly. This is simply sublime when it happens. I figured out the twist literally at the start of the page on which it was revealed, probably a scant paragraph or two before it happened in the text. I have read actual mysteries that didn't pull this off as effectively as Mr. Bennett did. This is precisely how it should happen. I'm not left waiting and wondering when the reveal that I figured out on page 13 is going to show up nor am I left scratching my head at how this could possibly be the answer when it didn't seem to exist before that point. The red herrings, the subtle clues, the whole setup was perfectly conceived and executed. Moments of brilliance like this affect you emotionally as well as physically, and it is in no small part why I read books.
I noted on Twitter that I didn't want this to end. And I was right. I actually went through a brief period of mourning. The end was beautiful but still an end. So I suppose I will have to seek out other offerings from Mr. Bennett and await for more in the future. I leave off saying that I can't recommend this series or this book enough and that The Divine Cities is officially my favorite series that I have read to date. Bravo.