#Review: The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty #Fantasy

I’m back! I think. At least for now, hiatus is over. Yipee!

And my first review now that I’m back? The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty. I know, I know, I’m late to the party when it comes to this baby. But it’s so good. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who kept telling me to read it – I am officially in love.

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Title: The City of Brass

Series: The Daevabad Trilogy

Author: S. A. Chakraborty

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Publication Date (Paperback): July 3, 2018

Genre: Fantasy, Adult Fantasy

Themes: Djinn, Magic, Politics, Civil Unrest

Features: Interview, Glossary, Excerpt, Reading Group Guide

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Synopsis

From goodreads… 

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for…

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My Review

This is a deliciously sumptuous read that toes the line between older YA and adult/ epic fantasy and makes the best of both worlds. The main characters are 18, 20, and tangentially immortal so they will appeal to wide range of readers, while the story itself makes use of some much loved tropes including the unexpected discovery of magical abilities, missing/ dead parents, a hint of the chosen one, the makings of a love triangle, and a tyrannical ruler. And then it elevates them all to the next level with intense world building, complicated H/histories and politics, and a delightfully complex and unpredictable magic system. Add in some luscious prose, snappy dialogue, and a diabolical eye for detail and this is the type of storytelling that might just leave you wanting more.

I thought that everything was incredibly well crafted. Yes, there are some slower spots where the world takes precedent of the plot, but considering that this book is crafted around non-western settings and cultures I think that this extra detail is warranted. Not just because readers may be unfamiliar with the late nineteenth century Egyptian/ Middle Eastern setting, but because mainstream publishing has focused so much on western courtly retellings that I think books like these deserve a little bit more room to build and breathe. Everything from the food to the buildings, from the ifrit to the djinn, and from the clothing to the politics is given the attention is deserves to set the imagination alight. And the best part? No detail or line of dialogue is superfluous, everything has a purpose and a place, and the attentive reader will be rewarded for paying attention.

And the characters, my goodness, the characters! They are all so gloriously flawed that it’s divine. Every single one of them is morally grey and there are no clear-cut heroes or villains. Sure, we have Nahri as our protagonist but I would’t call her a heroine by any stretch. She’s a thief and a con artist, always looking for her next mark, terribly pragmatic, and infuriatingly stubborn. She might be the last of the Nahids and in possession of incredible powers, but she’s also a criminal who might not be the best fit for courtly life. Then we have Dara – the dark and stabby warrior who once decimated nations, conveniently lacking is more outrageous memories, and in possession of more arrogance than one broody boy should have. He’s clearly not a good person, but he’s also not all bad either, and the more you learn about him, the more muddled the waters becomes. And Finally, there’s Ali – the hot-headed young prince who has been raised to fight for his older brother since birth. He’s all business and no play, a devout observer of his faith, and a champion of the common person. But he sees the world in black and white, fails the grasp politics, and has no problems engaging in treasonous activities when he believes that they’re right. Throw them all together and you have the perfect fire storm full of tension, drama, and even a touch of romance.

Now, a lot of time was invested in exploring the Daeva tribes and politics, and I have no doubt that this investment will pay off even more in books two and three. Even still, it offers a nuanced exploration of History as written from the perspective of the victors and history as experienced by the conquered. It juxtaposes the value of the written word with oral histories and the power of memory – and that can be a powerful thing in a world where people seemingly live forever.

On one hand I’m mad at myself for being so late in discovering this series, but on the other I’m thrilled that I can order the other two books and finish them right away. I can’t wait to dive back into this magical world and have my emotions destroyed… again.

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I purchased this book as a result of blogger recommendations, all opinions are my own.