annapeichel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
chaci's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
daisy222de's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
asteeri's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
onejadyn's review against another edition
4.25
This review has spoilers
This was a fantastic sequel to all that occurred in the previous story. With only brief introductions to our characters and the set up to the next year's of their life, we move forward five years later, where they have settled into their ways, all in different places.
Ali has his grove in the desert, Nahri in the heart in the politically unstable djinn city, and Dara under the thumb of the oldest living Bahu Nahida, raised from the dead.
Watching Dara fall apart was heartbreaking, simultaneously expected and terrible, as he agrees to his new Bahu Nahida's whims and takes on an assault beyond terror.
Watching Nahri struggle to hold onto herself and protect her city when others are constantly paying for her mistakes, trying to thrive and create a better world, is wonderful.
Seeing Ali finally come into himself, his powers, and leadership, still struggling to balance his sight of justice as well as his execution in such a politically driven land. Trying to console the parts of him that wished family and loyalty was everything, and the part of him that wished to do better than them. It's amazing.
That's not even talking about Jamshid and Muntadhir, both characters that grew so much, intertwined in a hidden way, but their stories so so seperate, as Muntadhir finally learns what it is to love his family, to question his father, and his potential responsibility to his land and his wife. Jamshid learning to accept his injuries and serve the kingdom in a way he might not have imagined, with no clue about his Nahid power shimmering beneath the surface.
Overall, this was a perfect followup, just as politically charged, with the powerful, terrible, and awe-striking assault representing its finale, where Nahri makes a choice that from the outside is counter to her people, her goals, and the city's safety, and from the inside, is a confusing mess of questions, hopes, that honestly, is likely the best chance that Daevabad has to survive this.
Spoiler
This was a fantastic sequel to all that occurred in the previous story. With only brief introductions to our characters and the set up to the next year's of their life, we move forward five years later, where they have settled into their ways, all in different places.
Ali has his grove in the desert, Nahri in the heart in the politically unstable djinn city, and Dara under the thumb of the oldest living Bahu Nahida, raised from the dead.
Watching Dara fall apart was heartbreaking, simultaneously expected and terrible, as he agrees to his new Bahu Nahida's whims and takes on an assault beyond terror.
Watching Nahri struggle to hold onto herself and protect her city when others are constantly paying for her mistakes, trying to thrive and create a better world, is wonderful.
Seeing Ali finally come into himself, his powers, and leadership, still struggling to balance his sight of justice as well as his execution in such a politically driven land. Trying to console the parts of him that wished family and loyalty was everything, and the part of him that wished to do better than them. It's amazing.
That's not even talking about Jamshid and Muntadhir, both characters that grew so much, intertwined in a hidden way, but their stories so so seperate, as Muntadhir finally learns what it is to love his family, to question his father, and his potential responsibility to his land and his wife. Jamshid learning to accept his injuries and serve the kingdom in a way he might not have imagined, with no clue about his Nahid power shimmering beneath the surface.
Overall, this was a perfect followup, just as politically charged, with the powerful, terrible, and awe-striking assault representing its finale, where Nahri makes a choice that from the outside is counter to her people, her goals, and the city's safety, and from the inside, is a confusing mess of questions, hopes, that honestly, is likely the best chance that Daevabad has to survive this.
piperashley21's review against another edition
4.0
Book two wasn’t quite as good as book one, but it still was an intriguing read.
What I love best about this series is how much it continues to surprise me. Every time I expect a character to make a choice, they make the opposite choice and I love it.
Nahri continued to develop as a strong female protagonist. This book also included more lead female characters and I really appreciated that after noticing the first book was a male dominated storyline.
One downside to the series is the cast continues to grow larger and larger. The glossary of characters in the front of the book is a great resource, but I would also be perfectly content if the cast stopped growing so I can keep them straight.
What I love best about this series is how much it continues to surprise me. Every time I expect a character to make a choice, they make the opposite choice and I love it.
Nahri continued to develop as a strong female protagonist. This book also included more lead female characters and I really appreciated that after noticing the first book was a male dominated storyline.
One downside to the series is the cast continues to grow larger and larger. The glossary of characters in the front of the book is a great resource, but I would also be perfectly content if the cast stopped growing so I can keep them straight.
eclucherini's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
livesinthetub's review against another edition
5.0
books #4-6 of 2022: City of Brass, Kingdom of Copper, and Empire of Gold (pub. 2017, 2019, 2020) by S. A. Chakraborty. this is the most fully realized fictional world with the best storytelling of any fiction I’ve experienced aside from Count of Monte Cristo and Dune (no, I have not read George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire nor J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and I have no plans to: I read fantasy only for very specific reasons, generally writing-related). I recognized elements drawn from the Qur’an, the bible, and even Tarzan and other superhero-esque fiction. packed with action, adventure, and drama, this story, set in Cairo as well as the magical city of Daevabad, in an absolutely compelling series (72 hours as audiobooks). based on Middle Eastern mythology, it includes an array of fantastical creatures such as djinn, ifret, shedus, and many others to bring to life a magical tale with very relevant themes, mainly socio-political: fascism, racism, bigotry, classism, demonization, biological warfare, the problems that result from people being too obedient to authority, but also identity and ecological considerations, etc. the writing is superb and impossible to break yourself away from: I will finally get some sleep after posting this review. I couldn’t find a scene which wasn’t crucial, the dialog is sharp and frequently hilarious, the characters are all rounded and most experience growth, the topics handled are evolved, everything works well, elegantly with the other parts of the work. this story was an extremely ambitious undertaking and it was marvelously well executed. it was a bit more focused on everyone’s feelings than I prefer, though without ever being cloying or sentimental, but I think it addresses personal emotional growth in ways most fiction I’ve read has not, especially not fantasy. I was relieved to find that the author will revisit this world in a new novel coming out in March: River of Silver. this set of books was memorable, though, and will be hard for other fantasy authors to measure up to. I’m glad I read Master of Djinn (2021) earlier this month because it feels like a very poor imitation.
elskeevelien's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those times that I wish I still had my booktube channel so I could gush about this book and series. Alas, I'll do it here.
This series has easily become one of my all time favourite fantasy series. It's the sort of book that I love, luscious writing, intricate worlds, politics and an amazing cast of characters. All of the characters are flawed and sometimes it makes it hard to know who to root for, but I want to root for all of them.
The story had me hooked. It takes place 5 years after the events of book one and picks up pace immediately. The last 100 pages were hard to put down and I didn't want it to end. I haven't been this excited to come home and read in a long time. Sad it's over and I have to wait another year..
This series has easily become one of my all time favourite fantasy series. It's the sort of book that I love, luscious writing, intricate worlds, politics and an amazing cast of characters. All of the characters are flawed and sometimes it makes it hard to know who to root for, but I want to root for all of them.
The story had me hooked. It takes place 5 years after the events of book one and picks up pace immediately. The last 100 pages were hard to put down and I didn't want it to end. I haven't been this excited to come home and read in a long time. Sad it's over and I have to wait another year..