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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
A fairly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I felt the pace during the final climax slowed a bit from the whirlwind of earlier developments, but otherwise, this book kept me entertained throughout. We got to see all the characters we've come to know and love and see (for the most part) how their stories concluded. As with all the books in the series, there is no need to have read its predecessors to enjoy this volume, but it's does give you more insight into the story.
What a beautiful end to a wonderful tale. I have enjoyed this trilogy immensely.
I think I like the first book in this series the most, because the world was very original and new to me. Even though the ending was everything in an epic finale I wanted of an adult fantasy series, some aspects of the second and so automatically also for this book became a little tiny bit predictable and that is something I really don’t like in books in general. Predictability can really ruin a story for me and particularly in fantasy and science fiction and the most if there is not something else that stands out to me, like characters or the intricate and original world. Luckily that was the case for this book. I loved Sigrud as a character in the entire series but his growth in this book especially was very well done and because of that he will be a character I will never forget.
May 19 2021: This book is after reconsideration a 5 star read for me.
May 19 2021: This book is after reconsideration a 5 star read for me.
Loved the finale of The Divine Cities trilogy! Each of the books in the series has a decade or so in between each other, which allows the world time to breathe and change after the implications of one ending go into affect.
City of Miracles focuses on Sigrud and ultimately the city of Bulikov. Ashara Komayd has been prime minister for 17 years, and has adopted a Continental daughter, Tatyana. Sigrud, who has been working in a logging camp for years, waiting patiently for Shara to call in his services, learns that Shara has been assassinated.
He immediately travels to Ahanashtan to investigate. There's an evil force, that points to being Divine, involved in the mystery.
General Turyin makes a brief appearance in the story. Sigrud is helped by Ivanya, a friend of Shara's who Sigrud met many years ago, and Tatyana.
I had a hard time putting the book down. It was an excellent mix of character development and action. I've really come to enjoy the world-building in this series, and how everything is constantly changing in regards to politics and the Divine.
There are some great action scenes. The ones that take place in the blizzard on the tram are awesome. There continues to be strong females characters of all ages in the story.
The politics was less in this one than the previous book, but it doesn't detract at all. Although the ending was satisfying, I don't think in any way the world in the story is left at peace, but for the main characters it is.
In thinking back over the three books, it has been quite an adventure! I will need to read through Jackson Bennett's catalog.
City of Miracles focuses on Sigrud and ultimately the city of Bulikov. Ashara Komayd has been prime minister for 17 years, and has adopted a Continental daughter, Tatyana. Sigrud, who has been working in a logging camp for years, waiting patiently for Shara to call in his services, learns that Shara has been assassinated.
He immediately travels to Ahanashtan to investigate. There's an evil force, that points to being Divine, involved in the mystery.
General Turyin makes a brief appearance in the story. Sigrud is helped by Ivanya, a friend of Shara's who Sigrud met many years ago, and Tatyana.
I had a hard time putting the book down. It was an excellent mix of character development and action. I've really come to enjoy the world-building in this series, and how everything is constantly changing in regards to politics and the Divine.
There are some great action scenes. The ones that take place in the blizzard on the tram are awesome. There continues to be strong females characters of all ages in the story.
The politics was less in this one than the previous book, but it doesn't detract at all. Although the ending was satisfying, I don't think in any way the world in the story is left at peace, but for the main characters it is.
In thinking back over the three books, it has been quite an adventure! I will need to read through Jackson Bennett's catalog.
3.75 out of 5 stars -- see this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this final volume of Robert Jackson Bennett’s brilliantly inventive Divine Cities trilogy, the focus shifts to Sigrud je Harkvaldsson — for my money, one of the best characters in the series. Seeing him get the spotlight was a welcome sight, but I didn’t end up enjoying his POV as much as Shara’s and Mulaghesh’s before him. He may be better served as a supporting character being peppered-in sparingly rather than having full star-status, but as the plot unfolds you come to realize that he was the necessary choice for this role. While he struggles to carry parts of the novel, Bennett builds up a strong supporting cast around him that mostly negates this deficiency.
Bennett’s writing is as strong as ever here, as the novel sets off with a propulsive pace. I’ll set the scene — against the backdrop of a gloomy metropolis, a hulking, lone-wolf vigilante, stealthily picks off baddies one by one in the dark, fueled by the deaths of those he loved. He’s basically Batman for the first part of the novel and I loved it. Despite a middle portion that could have been tightened up as my interest started to wane, Bennett ratchets everything back up for the big heart-pounding finale that each of his books have done so well.
Overall, this was a worthy addition to the Divine Cities series, but not my favorite. That said, Robert Jackson Bennett nailed this trilogy and did a wonderful job with the interplay of gods & mortals, modernity & traditional fantasy worlds, and great characters & an imaginative story. I look forward to seeing what he puts out next.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this final volume of Robert Jackson Bennett’s brilliantly inventive Divine Cities trilogy, the focus shifts to Sigrud je Harkvaldsson — for my money, one of the best characters in the series. Seeing him get the spotlight was a welcome sight, but I didn’t end up enjoying his POV as much as Shara’s and Mulaghesh’s before him. He may be better served as a supporting character being peppered-in sparingly rather than having full star-status, but as the plot unfolds you come to realize that he was the necessary choice for this role. While he struggles to carry parts of the novel, Bennett builds up a strong supporting cast around him that mostly negates this deficiency.
Bennett’s writing is as strong as ever here, as the novel sets off with a propulsive pace. I’ll set the scene — against the backdrop of a gloomy metropolis, a hulking, lone-wolf vigilante, stealthily picks off baddies one by one in the dark, fueled by the deaths of those he loved. He’s basically Batman for the first part of the novel and I loved it. Despite a middle portion that could have been tightened up as my interest started to wane, Bennett ratchets everything back up for the big heart-pounding finale that each of his books have done so well.
Overall, this was a worthy addition to the Divine Cities series, but not my favorite. That said, Robert Jackson Bennett nailed this trilogy and did a wonderful job with the interplay of gods & mortals, modernity & traditional fantasy worlds, and great characters & an imaginative story. I look forward to seeing what he puts out next.
Delightful wrap up to the trilogy. Really top notch story telling. I'm incredibly happy that this was nominated for the Hugo as a series, as it got me to read all three. Also, I wish that this book had also been nominated for best novel, as it definitely deserves that kind of recognition.
A bit disappointing. I was quite enjoying this until about the midpoint and then a number of factors dragged it down for me. The genre here is (for the most part) fantasy thriller. I would harken it to James Bond with magic. It was an interesting blend of action-packed and fantastical until about halfway through. The turning point for me was a fierce battle occurring on a sky tram. The scene reminded me too literally of a James Bond fight sequence such as might have been in Moonraker. Although the mechanics were different, the similarity felt obvious. The rest of the book could easily have recovered, however it was dragged down by the characters and tone.
This novel is third in a series, so I have no doubt I missed some subtleties in character evolution. But there was a female lead character, Shara, the hero’s former partner/boss/friend(?), who is positioned as having “retired” from the espionage game and instead became a political leader. As Shara was introduced into this story, I found her extremely maudlin. Sappy and full of sincere platitudes. Not only was she rather one-dimensional but also far-fetched for someone who formerly was the handler of an assassin/espionage team. Now she seeks to take care of orphans? Her nature bled through the tone of the second half of the book, which struck me as overly emotional and weighing down the energy and drive of the story.
In the end, I found City of Miracles ponderous and cloying. I think the author was trying too hard to give his characters profound endings, but it came across as melodrama.
Disclaimer: I received this book free, through a book giveaway.
This novel is third in a series, so I have no doubt I missed some subtleties in character evolution. But there was a female lead character, Shara, the hero’s former partner/boss/friend(?), who is positioned as having “retired” from the espionage game and instead became a political leader. As Shara was introduced into this story, I found her extremely maudlin. Sappy and full of sincere platitudes. Not only was she rather one-dimensional but also far-fetched for someone who formerly was the handler of an assassin/espionage team. Now she seeks to take care of orphans? Her nature bled through the tone of the second half of the book, which struck me as overly emotional and weighing down the energy and drive of the story.
In the end, I found City of Miracles ponderous and cloying. I think the author was trying too hard to give his characters profound endings, but it came across as melodrama.
Disclaimer: I received this book free, through a book giveaway.
“What a tremendous sin impatience is, he thinks. It blinds us to the moment before us, and it is only when that moment has passed that we look back, and see it was full of treasures.”
I cried through this book. It is merciless, bleak, repetitive, and so human. Struggles of divinities and humans continue to their bitter end, and a hope for change emerges. Can Sigrud, a man destined to repeat his mistakes, break the pattern?
It is rare to find a book that brings something new to the table while speaking about important topics, and I feel that the author managed to do it with this series. The first book was the most straightforward, the second complicated things, and this book put everything into a new perspective. It is definitely something worth rereading with new knowledge and to revisit vivid, dear characters that I came to love enough to google their fanart.
I cried through this book. It is merciless, bleak, repetitive, and so human. Struggles of divinities and humans continue to their bitter end, and a hope for change emerges. Can Sigrud, a man destined to repeat his mistakes, break the pattern?
It is rare to find a book that brings something new to the table while speaking about important topics, and I feel that the author managed to do it with this series. The first book was the most straightforward, the second complicated things, and this book put everything into a new perspective. It is definitely something worth rereading with new knowledge and to revisit vivid, dear characters that I came to love enough to google their fanart.