A review by kindra_demi
The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.75

I said this in my last review but I genuinely am glad that I stuck with this series! The politics, the slow burn, the heartbreak and ache. I listened to the audiobooks while doing other stuff but now I want to reread it all with physical books! (Though my family would rather I listen to them again because my reactions to the twist and some of the other moments that happened had them dying laughing.) 

Empires never last and we began to see that at the end of <i>Kingdom of Copper</i>. Chakraborty continues to exploit the fine threads that barely keeps all of the groups together, sees how she can manipulate them to being stronger or into breaking. 

We get to see Nahri explore what she defines as home when she is thrown back into her childhood home of Cairo: a city that raised Nahri created the foundation for a lot of her personality. In the past books, we got to see her realize how much Cairo had influenced her, but in the beginning of Empire of Gold, we get to see her explore who she is after 6 years in Daevebad. Intertwined with the discussion of home is the discussion of family, and as a result, we see how Nahri views herself in this world. 

The romance didn’t feel cheesy or trope-ey. Characters did not just bounce from one to another because “love”. Chakraborty wrote how messy emotions can be. How we can’t just wish them away, as much as we try. 

Overall, I will definitely be rereading these in the future again when I have some time to sit down and loose myself in the world again! 

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