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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
wipqozn's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book. Absolutely fantastic. Mulaghesh is easily one of my favourite characters in literature now. She's excellently written, and is just a great person all around.
library_rift's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
dazz13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
anna__b's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not super into military stories so I didn't like this quite as much as book 1, but it was still a pretty good read. Mulaghesh definitely intrigued me in City of Stairs so I enjoyed getting to spend so much time with her. You don't see too many protagonists like her in the fantasy genre and I appreciated what Bennett did with her. The mystery was twisty and engaging, the climactic battle was very exciting to read, and the reflections on war and what it means to be a soldier were interesting and thought-provoking. I really have no idea where the story is going to go from here, but I'm curious to find out!
corprew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
stellarian's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed City of Stairs, but City of Blades is so much better. Interesting, emotionally gripping and above all firmly determined to never follow where you expect the plot to lead. That is in fact the biggest impression the book leaves me with – clichés and tropes are dodged again and again so consistently I started to look forward even more to when I could see a key plot moment was coming up and I knew I couldn’t predict what was going to be the outcome of it. That takes skill.
General Turyin Mulaghesh is in retirement, and is at the very start of the book convinced/blackmailed by Prime Minister Shara Khomeid to go to Voortyashtan and covertly investigate what has happened to a lost agent. In the previous book, City of Stairs, we have already learned of this world where most of the divine beings have been killed seventy years ago, the event bringing with it an almost complete collapse of most of civilization as it was known. Into this space, the Saypuri people, previously enslaved, stepped and quickly built an empire by subjugating the people who were their former masters.
You can read City of Blades without reading City of Stairs first. It’s a book about atrocities of war, the role of the soldier and the meaning of life. General Mulaghesh is an excellent protagonist, tortured by what she did as a young soldier as well as by the events of the battle of Bulikov which took place in book one. She finds herself drawn into a world she was trying to leave behind, increasingly worried by what she uncovers in her investigation. As she follows in the footsteps of the lost agent, what looks at first like a random death seems more and more to be something much more important… and dangerous. The general stationed in Voortyashtan is Mulaghesh’s old commanding officer, and she finds they’ve gone down very different roads of life.
There are several very touching moments in the book – especially to do with the relationship of parents and children and commanders and their soldiers. That and the ability to dodge clichés seems to be this author’s main forte. I assume this won’t be the last of the Divine Cities series, and I’m very much looking forward to the next part.
General Turyin Mulaghesh is in retirement, and is at the very start of the book convinced/blackmailed by Prime Minister Shara Khomeid to go to Voortyashtan and covertly investigate what has happened to a lost agent. In the previous book, City of Stairs, we have already learned of this world where most of the divine beings have been killed seventy years ago, the event bringing with it an almost complete collapse of most of civilization as it was known. Into this space, the Saypuri people, previously enslaved, stepped and quickly built an empire by subjugating the people who were their former masters.
You can read City of Blades without reading City of Stairs first. It’s a book about atrocities of war, the role of the soldier and the meaning of life. General Mulaghesh is an excellent protagonist, tortured by what she did as a young soldier as well as by the events of the battle of Bulikov which took place in book one. She finds herself drawn into a world she was trying to leave behind, increasingly worried by what she uncovers in her investigation. As she follows in the footsteps of the lost agent, what looks at first like a random death seems more and more to be something much more important… and dangerous. The general stationed in Voortyashtan is Mulaghesh’s old commanding officer, and she finds they’ve gone down very different roads of life.
There are several very touching moments in the book – especially to do with the relationship of parents and children and commanders and their soldiers. That and the ability to dodge clichés seems to be this author’s main forte. I assume this won’t be the last of the Divine Cities series, and I’m very much looking forward to the next part.
asaraphale'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? Yes
4.0
lareads36's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
City of blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
4⭐
Book 2 in this series and I wasn't quite as impressed with it as the first one. It was still a high ranking read for me.
Read this if you like military, strategic based books. The first was the element of a coup and spy work while this second book brought us a military investigation.
I enjoy fantasy or sci Fi that explore colonialism. This series fits the bill perfectly. And he doesn't mind killing off beloved people. This book explores military PTSD so be aware.
The character development of the overarching story lines was intriguing. However, element of murder mystery should have more red herrings. It was waay too obvious even if it isn't the main point.
Looking forward to City of Miracles!
4⭐
Book 2 in this series and I wasn't quite as impressed with it as the first one. It was still a high ranking read for me.
Read this if you like military, strategic based books. The first was the element of a coup and spy work while this second book brought us a military investigation.
I enjoy fantasy or sci Fi that explore colonialism. This series fits the bill perfectly. And he doesn't mind killing off beloved people. This book explores military PTSD so be aware.
The character development of the overarching story lines was intriguing. However, element of murder mystery should have more red herrings. It was waay too obvious even if it isn't the main point.
Looking forward to City of Miracles!