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nclcaitlin's review against another edition
4.0
Five years on from the events of The City of Stairs, Mulaghesh has retired to the island of Javrat. However, in order to receive her full pension, she must embark on a touring shuffle of the Continent, the land where she fought a war in her youth, wasted decades of her life in bureaucracy, and lost a hand, all in the shadow of that nation's dead gods.
In fact, that’s merely a cover story in order for Mulaghesh to work covertly for prime minister Shara to find out the truth about a new material that has surfaced that seems to possess Divine qualities.
“Chains are forged of many strange metals. Poverty is one. Fear, another Ritual and custom are yet more. All actions are forms of slavery, methods of forcing people to do what they deeply wish not to do."
Mulaghesh is a fascinating character to follow. Not only is she an older protagonist, is one-handed and uses a prosthetic; she also suffers acutely from PTSD and guilt.
We get graphic flashbacks to her horrific experiences- from when she was in the Yellow Company, hiding her true age of fifteen years old at enlistment and all the atrocities she carried out in the name of war and victory.
“You aren't born this way. None of us are. We're made this way, over time. But we might be able to unmake some of what was done to us, if we try."
This was like a sudden adventure to the main plot to show the larger world, political climate, and give us an awesome side character story.
This was a lot more emotionally heavy and poignant, dark and insightful. This was an intense study of what it means to be a soldier, to serve, to be a hero. To remember, to be remembered. To forget, to pave a future.
A soldier serves not to take, they don't strive to have something, but rather they strive so that others might one day have something. And a blade isn't a happy friend to a soldier, but a burden, a heavy one, to be used scrupulously and carefully.
I haven’t been this enraptured by a book series in a while!
In fact, that’s merely a cover story in order for Mulaghesh to work covertly for prime minister Shara to find out the truth about a new material that has surfaced that seems to possess Divine qualities.
“Chains are forged of many strange metals. Poverty is one. Fear, another Ritual and custom are yet more. All actions are forms of slavery, methods of forcing people to do what they deeply wish not to do."
Mulaghesh is a fascinating character to follow. Not only is she an older protagonist, is one-handed and uses a prosthetic; she also suffers acutely from PTSD and guilt.
We get graphic flashbacks to her horrific experiences- from when she was in the Yellow Company, hiding her true age of fifteen years old at enlistment and all the atrocities she carried out in the name of war and victory.
“You aren't born this way. None of us are. We're made this way, over time. But we might be able to unmake some of what was done to us, if we try."
This was like a sudden adventure to the main plot to show the larger world, political climate, and give us an awesome side character story.
This was a lot more emotionally heavy and poignant, dark and insightful. This was an intense study of what it means to be a soldier, to serve, to be a hero. To remember, to be remembered. To forget, to pave a future.
A soldier serves not to take, they don't strive to have something, but rather they strive so that others might one day have something. And a blade isn't a happy friend to a soldier, but a burden, a heavy one, to be used scrupulously and carefully.
I haven’t been this enraptured by a book series in a while!
rachel281's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
joey_schafer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
peterkeep's review against another edition
5.0
Books are so often judged by their endings. I do it. I can slog through a book, but if the last 50 pages are exciting, then that's what I dwell on. That's probably not fair, especially in the other direction.
I loved the first 400 pages of the book. Absolutely amazing. The last 80 or so were still good, but it wasn't like it was the most amazing ending action sequence ever written. It was good. Not quite as enjoyable for me as the end of City of Stairs, but that doesn't mean that this wasn't a great book. Because it really was.
I really liked the focus on some of the newer characters - I thought moving away from the original cast of characters would be hard, but it really wasn't. I was pretty immediately invested in the new people, or the familiar ones with different roles. They fit really well into the feel of the series, but everything was still new and exciting. And that's a big part of this series: feel and uniqueness. The world is still as cool and unique and special as it was in City of Stairs, but there are some really great new wrinkles added, details filled in, and backstories told. Robert Jackson Bennett really does a great job of writing intriguing and interesting stories, and I've had so much fun with these books.
I loved the first 400 pages of the book. Absolutely amazing. The last 80 or so were still good, but it wasn't like it was the most amazing ending action sequence ever written. It was good. Not quite as enjoyable for me as the end of City of Stairs, but that doesn't mean that this wasn't a great book. Because it really was.
I really liked the focus on some of the newer characters - I thought moving away from the original cast of characters would be hard, but it really wasn't. I was pretty immediately invested in the new people, or the familiar ones with different roles. They fit really well into the feel of the series, but everything was still new and exciting. And that's a big part of this series: feel and uniqueness. The world is still as cool and unique and special as it was in City of Stairs, but there are some really great new wrinkles added, details filled in, and backstories told. Robert Jackson Bennett really does a great job of writing intriguing and interesting stories, and I've had so much fun with these books.
maledicte's review against another edition
4.0
I wrote a review for this book on my blog! You can read it here.
tashshaw's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
5.0
rainhaunted's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
oweran's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
graff_fuller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book/story was leaps and bounds BETTER than the first one. Obviously, you cannot have the second book, without the first book...and this gives me a LOT of pleasure, thinking about what is in store for me...in the final book of the trilogy.
I absolutely fell in love with the battle worn, semi-retired general, Turyin Mulaghesh. I also can see how much the author loves this character, too...for he put her through hell (along with his readers).
By the end of the book, I was a blubbering idiot. I went through (at least) twenty plus tissues...wiping my leaking eyes and leaking nose (I'm not sick, just incredibly emotional...after all that she went through...to do the RIGHT thing).
Death. Death is ever present in this story. If you have suffered death in your family, this book is going to dredge it up...and make you look at you loved ones (no longer with us) and force you to face them, and the internal YOU, to do better in your life.
I loved our main character, Mulaghesh. She is a doer. Not a leader that leads by force, but by example. She is there to protect her men/women...even though...she has to put them in "harm's way". She's also willing and able to take the brunt of the mission (on her self), and never make excuses. Making her...the perfect leader to her people and the the good of all.
I absolutely felt for her...in her decision making, and the burden and responsibility laid upon her. Wow. Just a harsh experience for her, but one that she would NEVER back down from.
The story is meandering (at times), but I didn't really care...I was locked in. Once I finished the book, I understood why the narrative took us in THAT route...we needed time to be there...with her (and all the goings on of the story).
From what we know from the City of Stairs, and now in the City of Blades...this truly can be an epic ending...and I cannot wait to open the next book, City of Miracles.
Oh Shara (main character in the first book), is not playing the short game, but the long game.
What is actually going to happen next?
I absolutely fell in love with the battle worn, semi-retired general, Turyin Mulaghesh. I also can see how much the author loves this character, too...for he put her through hell (along with his readers).
By the end of the book, I was a blubbering idiot. I went through (at least) twenty plus tissues...wiping my leaking eyes and leaking nose (I'm not sick, just incredibly emotional...after all that she went through...to do the RIGHT thing).
Death. Death is ever present in this story. If you have suffered death in your family, this book is going to dredge it up...and make you look at you loved ones (no longer with us) and force you to face them, and the internal YOU, to do better in your life.
I loved our main character, Mulaghesh. She is a doer. Not a leader that leads by force, but by example. She is there to protect her men/women...even though...she has to put them in "harm's way". She's also willing and able to take the brunt of the mission (on her self), and never make excuses. Making her...the perfect leader to her people and the the good of all.
I absolutely felt for her...in her decision making, and the burden and responsibility laid upon her. Wow. Just a harsh experience for her, but one that she would NEVER back down from.
The story is meandering (at times), but I didn't really care...I was locked in. Once I finished the book, I understood why the narrative took us in THAT route...we needed time to be there...with her (and all the goings on of the story).
From what we know from the City of Stairs, and now in the City of Blades...this truly can be an epic ending...and I cannot wait to open the next book, City of Miracles.
Oh Shara (main character in the first book), is not playing the short game, but the long game.
What is actually going to happen next?
halt_bullfrog's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, War, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, and Alcoholism