Reviews tagging 'War'

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

95 reviews

kornwaiisms's review

adventurous tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

i am devastated (this book is fantastic) here's a few thoughts!

- so strong in its writing and story from start to finish, when i tell you it got me hooked,, (if you say it's boring even in the slightest did we read the same book?)
- the characters are SO intricately written i want to see more of all of them (yes even the ones that pissed me off

*guh guh dara guh guh*

)
- i must admit i need a history book to understand and study the history of this world completely but IT'S OKAY WE'RE VIBING
- ..what WAS that last part. WHAT WAS IT. i'm on the floor sobbing i just want my little darling characters to be ok
 
special notes to the characters:

1. NAHRI SHOW THEM WHAT YOU GOOOOOT
2. ali pls survive
3. jamshid pls survive
4. muntahdir pls don't do anything stupid

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Slavery and Death

Minor: Sexual violence

taliaalongi's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Murder, Violence, Death, War, and Racism

Moderate: Rape

_forestofpages's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

I absolutely loved this world. The characters were so interesting and complex, and I am excited to see where they go in the series. The world building was excellent and always delivered in a believable and not info-dumping way. I was immersed from the first page and intrigued with how everything would come together. The pacing was great! It never got too slow and there was just enough action, but the parts I liked best were inside Daevabad. The political aspect and the second POV was the real elevator for me. Ali and his whole family, the opposing ideals and his ridigness and how he grows was amazing to watch.

Now, why it isn't a higher rating:

I did feel at times that Nahri for all her experience with thieves and conmen, she was blind when it came to Dara and the royals. This character in particular, felt passive at times when she shouldn't be (based on her fiery personality) and aggressive when she REALLY shouldn't have been (like when she knew she was in danger and should keep quiet), which would have been fine except her whole career (as a con artist) was based on trickery and charisma, knowing when to speak and how. And yet, as soon as she was with Dara all of that was out the window. She was inconsistent, so as a character I didn't know if I really liked her or not since she went back and forth with her personality. 

Also Dara being a liar the whole book made me unsure if I could like him either. I never knew where he would land, what side he was on, or what his real motives were and because this wasn't revealed in book 1 and he is (for now) gone, I can't really say how I feel about him. I can tell you the romance between Dara and Nahri also did nothing for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexual assault, Child death, and Rape

dreadspawn's review

adventurous mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Medical content, Slavery, Blood, Murder, Trafficking, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

Minor: Rape

ripxw's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, War, Violence, and Genocide

clarehiyama's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this world! Boy, are the characters FLAWED, but I loved a lot of them anyway. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, War, Torture, Blood, Body horror, and Violence

reddeddy's review

adventurous challenging 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Trafficking, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Body horror, Gore, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Slavery, Xenophobia, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Animal death, Alcohol, Bullying, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Genocide, Animal cruelty, Dysphoria, Racial slurs, and Sexism

Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Child death, Outing, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Torture, Child abuse, Biphobia, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Police brutality, Drug use, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Islamophobia, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Rape

butkerfingers's review

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: War

Minor: Rape

lyricallit's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

3.5

I wish I'd known there are 2 POV streams here, Nahri & Ali. The first time we switched to Ali I was confused and remained uninterested for awhile 😆 But it picked up. I enjoyed reading a fantasy with non-Western roots! I will probably get the next books to see where it goes. (I do hope the pacing picks up a tad in the next book)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape, War, Torture, and Slavery

mmelibertine's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I could fix him. Probably. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and War

Minor: Rape