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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Years after the events of City of Blades, Shara Komayd is murdered. It is up to her long-exiled companion Sigrud je Harkvaldsson to unravel the mystery of how she was murdered, and what she was doing at the time of her murder. Along the way, he will at long last learn more about himself than he has ever had time to learn before. And perhaps, it will even all have meaning.
adventurous
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
City of Miracles stops circling and cuts to the heart of the The Divine City trilogy, the nature of the gods, and the nature of justice. It opens explosively, literally, as an assassin uses a bomb to kill ex-prime minister (and protagonist from the first novel) Shara. Sigurd, who has been living underground as a wandering manual laborer, now has one last mission: REVENGE.
Of course, it isn't that simple. The job against Shara was more than politics, it relates to that fate of the Divine on the continent, and the children of the dead gods. Most are wandering orphans trapped in perennial childhood, but one, Nokov, god of the night, was found and turned into a weapon by the Saypuri military decades ago. Now, he seeks to ascend to his full power, and Sigurd and few desperate refugees are all that stands in his way. Sigurd has to make sense of a career of desperate violence, his strange history with the divine, and the nature of power, as he tracks down the ultimate conspiracy.
Of course, it isn't that simple. The job against Shara was more than politics, it relates to that fate of the Divine on the continent, and the children of the dead gods. Most are wandering orphans trapped in perennial childhood, but one, Nokov, god of the night, was found and turned into a weapon by the Saypuri military decades ago. Now, he seeks to ascend to his full power, and Sigurd and few desperate refugees are all that stands in his way. Sigurd has to make sense of a career of desperate violence, his strange history with the divine, and the nature of power, as he tracks down the ultimate conspiracy.
What a stunning conclusion to what is probably one of the best trilogies I've ever read.
City of Miracles is a stunning conclusion to The Divine Cities trilogy. I was skeptical of my enjoyment going into City of Miracles since I couldn’t imagine how Bennett would finish the trilogy, so I’m overjoyed to say that City of Miracles is an incredible finale worth of its predecessors.
Like the previous novels, City of Miracles takes place many years after the events of City of Blades and follows a new points of view character, Sigrud. From Sigrud’s introduction, I’ve been fascinated by his character and his development. In City of Stairs, Sigrud is a one-dimensional secondary character with his main skill, killing, making his scenes exciting. In City of Blades, readers are given a glimpse of a different side of Sigrud as he’s forced to view his actions in a less positive light. Finally, City of Miracles brings Sigrud’s character full circle as the events of City of Blades weighs heavily upon him.
“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.”
City of Miracles expands even further upon the world Bennett has created by introducing new elements and building on things already established in the previous novels. This is a world readers will have no problems jumping back into with each novel despite the considerate time jumps.
“People don’t change. Nations don’t change. They get changed. Reluctantly. And not without a fight.”
Bennett’s writing is easily the best aspect of the trilogy. His writing is lyrical and vivid in its descriptions. I will follow Bennett to the ends of the earth because his writing is that good.
Overall, City of Miracles is an incredible finale that brings its world and characters full circle giving readers a satisfying end to a beloved trilogy.
Like the previous novels, City of Miracles takes place many years after the events of City of Blades and follows a new points of view character, Sigrud. From Sigrud’s introduction, I’ve been fascinated by his character and his development. In City of Stairs, Sigrud is a one-dimensional secondary character with his main skill, killing, making his scenes exciting. In City of Blades, readers are given a glimpse of a different side of Sigrud as he’s forced to view his actions in a less positive light. Finally, City of Miracles brings Sigrud’s character full circle as the events of City of Blades weighs heavily upon him.
“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.”
City of Miracles expands even further upon the world Bennett has created by introducing new elements and building on things already established in the previous novels. This is a world readers will have no problems jumping back into with each novel despite the considerate time jumps.
“People don’t change. Nations don’t change. They get changed. Reluctantly. And not without a fight.”
Bennett’s writing is easily the best aspect of the trilogy. His writing is lyrical and vivid in its descriptions. I will follow Bennett to the ends of the earth because his writing is that good.
Overall, City of Miracles is an incredible finale that brings its world and characters full circle giving readers a satisfying end to a beloved trilogy.
I wanted to take some time to contemplate my thoughts and I have to say RJB has reached automatic reading level for me. I will read anything he decides to publish next. Also this series is my go to recommendation for Fantasy much like Becky Chambers is now my go to for Sc-Fi.
This book was a beautiful conclusion to a great series that I feel I need to reread again to fully enjoy, but after the ride this book gave me I need sometime to let it sit for awhile. After the first book was done I messaged RJB on twitter asking please make book two about Sigrud, cause I needed to know more about him and that was his plan at the time. When he changed his mind and wrote about Mulaghesh instead I was a bit discouraged, but now that I've reached the end and he made the story more about Sigrud by waiting I can see why he chose this.
I won't give away any spoilers here except if you haven't started the series please do so and if you've already read book 1 and 2 you should need ZERO encouragement to finish the story.
This book was a beautiful conclusion to a great series that I feel I need to reread again to fully enjoy, but after the ride this book gave me I need sometime to let it sit for awhile. After the first book was done I messaged RJB on twitter asking please make book two about Sigrud, cause I needed to know more about him and that was his plan at the time. When he changed his mind and wrote about Mulaghesh instead I was a bit discouraged, but now that I've reached the end and he made the story more about Sigrud by waiting I can see why he chose this.
I won't give away any spoilers here except if you haven't started the series please do so and if you've already read book 1 and 2 you should need ZERO encouragement to finish the story.
I had reservations about one aspect of the first book, but I loved the characters, writing, plot, philosophy, mystery, worldbuilding, batshit weirdness and grumpy normal people trying to make sense of the divine so much that I've eagerly eaten up both subsequent books in this trilogy. This was undoubtedly my favorite of what is a very strong series overall. The story focuses on a character who has become my favorite gruff warrior in literature, and gives a weight of meditation on grief, power, sorrow, legacy, political ramification, and parenthood that leaves me breathless. I cried at the end and this is a fitting wrap-up to a truly excellent series. Bravo, Mr. Bennett.