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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
4-4.5/5
I definitely still love the ideas of the series, but didn't like it as much as the first book. (The ending had a lot more of the magic, creativity, and excitement that originally drew me in.)
I think I can definitely see how this was an earlier series for him. It's very wordy and things often go on too long or could have been edited out to better serve the plot, but the core ideas are still good (though he can't help but get a little preachy at times).
What happens when the enslaved overthrow and then becoming the political masters of their enslavers? What does it mean to be a god with all the weight of religion and morality that that implies? How do just a few people make a difference in the world?
A fun time, some decent sparks of invention and creativity, a decent series over all (though not an all time favourite, apart from Sigrud).
I definitely still love the ideas of the series, but didn't like it as much as the first book. (The ending had a lot more of the magic, creativity, and excitement that originally drew me in.)
I think I can definitely see how this was an earlier series for him. It's very wordy and things often go on too long or could have been edited out to better serve the plot, but the core ideas are still good (though he can't help but get a little preachy at times).
What happens when the enslaved overthrow and then becoming the political masters of their enslavers? What does it mean to be a god with all the weight of religion and morality that that implies? How do just a few people make a difference in the world?
A fun time, some decent sparks of invention and creativity, a decent series over all (though not an all time favourite, apart from Sigrud).
Compared to the first book, it disappointed me greatly. It did sometimes bring some clever perspectives but not the well tied adventure of the first book.
Začala jsem číst někdy po druhé hodině odpoledne, skončila jsem o půl jedné v noci. Knížka má 537 stránek. Je to nejspíš nejslabší díl z celé trilogie (děj není tak ucelený, konec je předvídatelný), ale i tak je jejím velmi důstojným zakončením.
(read for r/fantasy 2019 bingo)
A perfect, poignant ending to one of the most creative series I've read in a while. This book and its predecessors were delight from start to finish.
A perfect, poignant ending to one of the most creative series I've read in a while. This book and its predecessors were delight from start to finish.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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:
No
I finished book 2 of this trilogy at the beginning of last June and on the strength of that book, this final book was moved up in my TBR list. And, wow, it was a very cool finish to a very cool fantasy trilogy. First of all, if you're not familiar with it, it's not set in a faux medieval world. It's set in a world of major cities, building, increasing technology, and some left over bits of magical occurrences from some not quite dead gods. This book begins with the deadly operative Sigrud beginning on a mission of revenge. There are some scenes in this book that are so cool, it makes you wish you could see it transformed into a movie. Some seriously exciting stuff.
I loved this conclusion to one of my favourite trilogies of the last few years. Absolutely fitting.
[b:City of Miracles|31522139|City of Miracles (The Divine Cities, #3)|Robert Jackson Bennett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1479836869l/31522139._SY75_.jpg|48992784] is a bizarre, fantastic end to a bizarre, fantastic series. Once again with another point of view, this time we follow Sigrud, with Shara and Mulaghesh both taking minor background roles, what with Shara dying in the first few pages... Hey. It's not a spoiler, if it happens that early in the book... Plus, you know she always has another trick up her sleeve! ).
Sigrud is a fascinating character seeing him deal with yet another loss and on yet another mission to track down and kill those responsible in a way that only he can do is well worth reading on it's own. Combine that with the inevitable-in-hindsite fallout of killing or driving off all the godly beings in a land...
...and you have quite a story.
The worldbuilding remains solid and I just want to explore more and more. Seeing the world advance and new technology in each story is particularly fascinating. A big battle set on giant cable cars crossing the mountains? Yes please. Oh, and guns. Lots of guns.
Also quite the delving into the nature of the miraculous:
Rather, I believe that miracles changed and mutated just as any organism might: the Divine Empire was a teeming ecosystem of miracles and Divine entities, all with varying levels of agency and purpose, all shifting and altering as the years went by. Though many have gone, those changes still shaped this land. The Divine was not absolute, as we might prefer to think. And though it is gone, these mutations echo on. We must prepare for what happens if one miracle should change and shift enough that, improbably, it could adapt, and survive.
It does make me wonder what exactly the nature of the six Divinities was, compared to that. Just six that collected the most 'power'? In the end, it doesn't necessarily matter, but it's still an interesting question.
Overall, it feels both like the previous two books, but with the darker, more intense feel that Sigrud brings to the book. There's a theme of hope throughout the books that I particularly appreciate. Even in the darkest night, there will still come a dawn--even if you have to punch/stab/shoot the darkness to death to bring that about.
Oh Sigrud.
Well worth the read and a satisfying finish to the series. I need to check out some of [a:Robert Jackson Bennett|2916869|Robert Jackson Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328633063p2/2916869.jpg]'s other works...
Sigrud is a fascinating character seeing him deal with yet another loss and on yet another mission to track down and kill those responsible in a way that only he can do is well worth reading on it's own. Combine that with the inevitable-in-hindsite fallout of killing or driving off all the godly beings in a land...
The first night that humanity experienced. Before light, before civilization, before your kind named the stars. That's what he is, that's how he works. He is darkness, he is shadows, he is the primeval manifestation of what's outside your windows, what's beyond the fence gate, what lives under the light of the cold, distant moon...
...and you have quite a story.
The worldbuilding remains solid and I just want to explore more and more. Seeing the world advance and new technology in each story is particularly fascinating. A big battle set on giant cable cars crossing the mountains? Yes please. Oh, and guns. Lots of guns.
Also quite the delving into the nature of the miraculous:
Rather, I believe that miracles changed and mutated just as any organism might: the Divine Empire was a teeming ecosystem of miracles and Divine entities, all with varying levels of agency and purpose, all shifting and altering as the years went by. Though many have gone, those changes still shaped this land. The Divine was not absolute, as we might prefer to think. And though it is gone, these mutations echo on. We must prepare for what happens if one miracle should change and shift enough that, improbably, it could adapt, and survive.
It does make me wonder what exactly the nature of the six Divinities was, compared to that. Just six that collected the most 'power'? In the end, it doesn't necessarily matter, but it's still an interesting question.
Overall, it feels both like the previous two books, but with the darker, more intense feel that Sigrud brings to the book. There's a theme of hope throughout the books that I particularly appreciate. Even in the darkest night, there will still come a dawn--even if you have to punch/stab/shoot the darkness to death to bring that about.
“Now—if I give you the name of the town, are you going to blow up her damn house too?”
“I guarantee nothing.”
Oh Sigrud.
Well worth the read and a satisfying finish to the series. I need to check out some of [a:Robert Jackson Bennett|2916869|Robert Jackson Bennett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1328633063p2/2916869.jpg]'s other works...
Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley for purposes of this review.
There's something wonderfully satisfying about a well written, well executed third book in a trilogy. That's essentially what Robert Jackson Bennett has done with City of Miracles, the third (and final?) chapter in his Divine Cities series.
This book contains all the hallmarks of a Robert Jackson Bennett book: compelling characters, intriguing storylines, twists, and excellent writing. The setting deserves particular mention: The Divine Cities is set in a world somewhat contemporaneous to our own in, say, the 1930s -- there are motor vehicles and electricity and sky trams, but it still has the feel of something in the medium past. There's a grittiness and age to the locations that feels as though the Continent and Saypur are just settling into an industrial revolution.
The two major races of people are the Russian-like Continentals and the Saypuri, reminiscent of India, former vassals of the Continent who overthrew their masters and killed their gods. It's the dead gods, and specifically what they left behind when they died, that are at the heart of this trilogy.
City of Miracles shifts the narrative focus to Sigrud, Shara Komayd's bodyguard in the first two books, and the focus appears natural. Sigrud has always seemed somewhat of an enigma in the first two novels: a hulking, Nordic warrior who has some sort of connection to the divine that is never really fully understood. With the start of City of Miracles, Sigrud discovers that his friend and mentor Shara has been brutally murdered, which prompts him to come out of hiding to try and discover who killed Shara, and why. In the process, Sigrud uncovers a secret hidden by the late Shara, and a threat that could consume whatever is left of both the Continent and Saypur.
Without giving too much away, I was very pleased with this book and the conclusion of the series. Bennet's world in The Divine Cities is vast and deep and there could surely be more extremely interesting stories told here, but the narrative threads of the three novels intersect and conclude in a way that is completely satisfying. The main characters of the three novels -- Shara Komayd, Turyin Mulaghesh, and Sigrud je Harkvaldsson -- leave long shadows over the trilogy. All of them appear in some form over the course of City of Miracles, and the by the end of this book all three have come to narrative conclusions that feel appropriate.
If I have to quibble, by nature of his connection to the divine Sigrud has a touch of "Gary Stu" in him -- the things he does and the success he has in bringing about their successful completion feel a bit... well, miraculous. This is addressed in the novel (and I suppose that's the point) but while the action set pieces were page-turners I had a bit of a hard time not side-eying Sigrud's actions throughout the course of the book.
The main plot twist was not altogether unexpected, either, but even if you saw the end-game coming, Bennett's writing is such that it kept you interested and engaged every step of the way.
Bennett's Divine Cities series has been one of my favorite fantasy series of the past 20 years. City of Miracles was both a wonderful read and a fitting conclusion the trilogy. I hope that one day he is able to return to the Continent and Saypur to expand upon some of the themes explored in this series.
There's something wonderfully satisfying about a well written, well executed third book in a trilogy. That's essentially what Robert Jackson Bennett has done with City of Miracles, the third (and final?) chapter in his Divine Cities series.
This book contains all the hallmarks of a Robert Jackson Bennett book: compelling characters, intriguing storylines, twists, and excellent writing. The setting deserves particular mention: The Divine Cities is set in a world somewhat contemporaneous to our own in, say, the 1930s -- there are motor vehicles and electricity and sky trams, but it still has the feel of something in the medium past. There's a grittiness and age to the locations that feels as though the Continent and Saypur are just settling into an industrial revolution.
The two major races of people are the Russian-like Continentals and the Saypuri, reminiscent of India, former vassals of the Continent who overthrew their masters and killed their gods. It's the dead gods, and specifically what they left behind when they died, that are at the heart of this trilogy.
City of Miracles shifts the narrative focus to Sigrud, Shara Komayd's bodyguard in the first two books, and the focus appears natural. Sigrud has always seemed somewhat of an enigma in the first two novels: a hulking, Nordic warrior who has some sort of connection to the divine that is never really fully understood. With the start of City of Miracles, Sigrud discovers that his friend and mentor Shara has been brutally murdered, which prompts him to come out of hiding to try and discover who killed Shara, and why. In the process, Sigrud uncovers a secret hidden by the late Shara, and a threat that could consume whatever is left of both the Continent and Saypur.
Without giving too much away, I was very pleased with this book and the conclusion of the series. Bennet's world in The Divine Cities is vast and deep and there could surely be more extremely interesting stories told here, but the narrative threads of the three novels intersect and conclude in a way that is completely satisfying. The main characters of the three novels -- Shara Komayd, Turyin Mulaghesh, and Sigrud je Harkvaldsson -- leave long shadows over the trilogy. All of them appear in some form over the course of City of Miracles, and the by the end of this book all three have come to narrative conclusions that feel appropriate.
If I have to quibble, by nature of his connection to the divine Sigrud has a touch of "Gary Stu" in him -- the things he does and the success he has in bringing about their successful completion feel a bit... well, miraculous. This is addressed in the novel (and I suppose that's the point) but while the action set pieces were page-turners I had a bit of a hard time not side-eying Sigrud's actions throughout the course of the book.
The main plot twist was not altogether unexpected, either, but even if you saw the end-game coming, Bennett's writing is such that it kept you interested and engaged every step of the way.
Bennett's Divine Cities series has been one of my favorite fantasy series of the past 20 years. City of Miracles was both a wonderful read and a fitting conclusion the trilogy. I hope that one day he is able to return to the Continent and Saypur to expand upon some of the themes explored in this series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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