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A review by gracealicia
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
5.0
A fantastical tale filled with romance, magical and political maneuverings – this tale whisks you away on a wild adventure.
The City of Brass is an epic adult fantasy novel set in eighteenth-century Egypt, it focuses on the legendary tales of djinn and demons. When Nahri, a small-time con artist, with the ability to heal, accidentally summons a powerful and deadly djinn. She is forced from the life she knows and into a fight for her very existence. As she and her djinn companion, Dara, flee to the sanctuary of the djinn city, running from immortal beings out to kill her. Once there, different dangers arise, one wrong step away from being vilified, both Nahri and Dara must attempt to navigate court politics whilst attempting to remember and reconnect with their mysterious pasts. Questions haunt them both, Nahri’s parentage and Dara’s centuries spent as a slave.
This truly is an epic tale. I was wary of this book, a historical fantasy based on myths and legends of a culture I was entirely unfamiliar with. What I found was an imaginative tale that sucks you into a different world. Despite my alienation with some of the language and themes, I was completely immersed and had no trouble falling into the story.
I absolutely loved the world-building in this novel. A mix of imagination, myth and historical facts. Chakraborty includes just enough realism that at no point did I struggle with the world she was presenting. The details are consistent and intricate, setting up not only the story but the entire world in which it takes place. The hints of the history and traits of all the different tribes and species are done really well. I loved the hints given about the water and air elemental species, the true power of the Nahids and the horror of the djinn slaves.
It isn’t just her world-building that fleshes out this novel. With multiple plot lines and multiple characters to keep up with it could be easy for this novel to become messy or convoluted, and yet it isn’t. Chakraborty makes the plot easy enough to follow without giving away the entire story. What really caught my eye was the setup of the series plot lines. Hints of Nahri’s mother and parentage, why Dara is being hunted by the other elements, the truth of what happened in the past. This is why I kept reading and why I am so excited for the next installment.
Now it is no secret that I love a good romantic plotline and oh boy does this book deliver. Dara is gorgeous and troubled and always ready for a fight. I mean what more could a girl want. Seriously though, the slow development of his characterization – the sometimes-horrible knowledge of his true power and crimes – makes a fascinating read. I loved that their connection grew slowly, it took weeks to months of knowing each other, and there was no instant love. Nahri is a great character, smart, independent and sharply funny. Even as she loves him she continues to have her own desires and motivations. This can sometimes be rare.
I am happy to say that there isn’t anything that I really disliked in this novel, no moment where I felt disconnected or where I disliked the writing or themes. There is nothing better than a book that sweeps you off your feet; The City of Brass does just that. I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of fantasy, romance or adventure. It has all three in spades.
The City of Brass is an epic adult fantasy novel set in eighteenth-century Egypt, it focuses on the legendary tales of djinn and demons. When Nahri, a small-time con artist, with the ability to heal, accidentally summons a powerful and deadly djinn. She is forced from the life she knows and into a fight for her very existence. As she and her djinn companion, Dara, flee to the sanctuary of the djinn city, running from immortal beings out to kill her. Once there, different dangers arise, one wrong step away from being vilified, both Nahri and Dara must attempt to navigate court politics whilst attempting to remember and reconnect with their mysterious pasts. Questions haunt them both, Nahri’s parentage and Dara’s centuries spent as a slave.
This truly is an epic tale. I was wary of this book, a historical fantasy based on myths and legends of a culture I was entirely unfamiliar with. What I found was an imaginative tale that sucks you into a different world. Despite my alienation with some of the language and themes, I was completely immersed and had no trouble falling into the story.
I absolutely loved the world-building in this novel. A mix of imagination, myth and historical facts. Chakraborty includes just enough realism that at no point did I struggle with the world she was presenting. The details are consistent and intricate, setting up not only the story but the entire world in which it takes place. The hints of the history and traits of all the different tribes and species are done really well. I loved the hints given about the water and air elemental species, the true power of the Nahids and the horror of the djinn slaves.
It isn’t just her world-building that fleshes out this novel. With multiple plot lines and multiple characters to keep up with it could be easy for this novel to become messy or convoluted, and yet it isn’t. Chakraborty makes the plot easy enough to follow without giving away the entire story. What really caught my eye was the setup of the series plot lines. Hints of Nahri’s mother and parentage, why Dara is being hunted by the other elements, the truth of what happened in the past. This is why I kept reading and why I am so excited for the next installment.
Now it is no secret that I love a good romantic plotline and oh boy does this book deliver. Dara is gorgeous and troubled and always ready for a fight. I mean what more could a girl want. Seriously though, the slow development of his characterization – the sometimes-horrible knowledge of his true power and crimes – makes a fascinating read. I loved that their connection grew slowly, it took weeks to months of knowing each other, and there was no instant love. Nahri is a great character, smart, independent and sharply funny. Even as she loves him she continues to have her own desires and motivations. This can sometimes be rare.
I am happy to say that there isn’t anything that I really disliked in this novel, no moment where I felt disconnected or where I disliked the writing or themes. There is nothing better than a book that sweeps you off your feet; The City of Brass does just that. I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of fantasy, romance or adventure. It has all three in spades.