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The Kingdom of Copper

(The Daevabad Trilogy #2)

S.A. Chakraborty (Goodreads Author)

4.41 · Rating details · 24,656 ratings · 3,352 reviews

Return to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel to THE CITY OF BRASS.

S. A. Chakraborty continues the sweeping adventure begun in The City of Brass—"the best adult fantasy I’ve read since The Name of the Wind" (#1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir)—conjuring a world where djinn summon flames with the snap of a finger and waters run deep with old magic; where blood

Return to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel to THE CITY OF BRASS.

Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad—and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe.

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

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Kindle Edition, UK Edition, 640 pages

Published January 22nd 2019 by HarperVoyager

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Aug 08, 2017 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, fantasy, romance, read-in-2018, own-voices, magic, paranormal, historical, arc, buddy-reads

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

1.) The City of Brass ★★★★★

“It is time we get some vengeance for what they have done.”

Friends, this was such a phenomenal installment that was such a treat to read. This is an own voices Muslim Fantasy series, and a historical setting of the early 1800s, which barely touches upon the Ottoman Empire. And The Kingdom of Copper picks up five years after the events of The City of Brass

This is a story about djinn ...more

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Jan 06, 2021 jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

if i thought ‘the city of brass’ was the start of an enticing and ambitious journey, then this next installment is the part of the trek where you have reached a fork in the road and you discover you have lost your map.

one road leads to a familiar civilisation and old problems. the way is lined with lush history, but requires a steep toll that many people cannot pay. is the guarantee to avoid the unknown worth the price?

the other direction leads to new leadership and the promise of being reu ...more

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Aug 21, 2017 Aimal (Bookshelves & Paperbacks) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: releases-2019, adult-fiction, fantasy, owned, 2020, diverse-2019, 5-stars, cover-love, favorites, indigenous-or-poc-protagonists

Please note this review contains spoilers for the first book in the series.

A big thank you to Harper Voyager for sending me a copy for review!

The sequel to S. A. Chakraborty’s magnificent The City of Brass largely takes place five years after the events of the first book. There’s a prologue at the beginning, detailing the immediate aftermath for each of our three main characters. However, the major bulk of the novel takes place several years after Darayavahoush’s ‘death,’ Alizaydi al Qahtani’s possession by the marid and subsequent exile, and Nahri’s political arranged marriage to the crowned prince of Daevabad.

In The Kingdom of Copper, we witness each of these characters embark on a journey quite unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. Nahri finds herself surrounded with strangers, her previous allies (Ali and Dara) nowhere to be found. For five years, she must navigate royal life and the palace alone. Although her relationship with her husband Muntadhir is cordial, Nahri nevertheless feels utterly alone. With nobody but her mentor by her side, she continues to practice healing as best as she can.

Alizayd al Qahtani builds for himself a life in exile in the barren lands of Bir Nabat. With his newfound abilities with water, Ali can play an especially useful role in the sustenance of his new home. He forms new alliances, new friendships, and has become comfortable in this new-found life.

Darayavahoush has been brought back to life by Manizheh, much to his dismay, in a physical form that he is enraged by. Manizheh is laying down plans to take back Daevabad, and restore the Daeva tribe to its original glory with the Nahids at its head. Dara reverts back to his old role as a dutiful warrior, and is forced to face his past while making decisions about his future.

The City of Brass is a sweeping epic fantasy, chock-full of djinn and mythical creatures, lavish world-building, political intrigue, a romance fraught with tension, and characters you will grow deeply attached to. What The City of Brass did best, believe it or not, this sequel does even better.

The world-building is switched up two notches, as we get to see more characters (albeit minor ones) from other tribes. Scenes such as feasts and festivals allow the reader to see short, but detailed, glimpses of these other tribes’ cultures and customs, while more minor characters are introduced that are not from the Daeva or Geziri tribes. We encountered some mythical creatures, such as rivers that turn into serpents, and winged reptiles, but we see even more. There is far more magic in this book than there was in the first one, including elemental magic at the hands of Ali, and Nahri’s strange bond with the Nahid palace, as well as Dara’s new physical form. The history of Daevabad and its tribes is further expanded upon. The enhancement in the already complex world-building makes the reading experience lush and captivating.

One of this series’s absolute defining points is its foundational emphasis on politics. Daevabad is a ‘melting pot’ of a city, but it far from embraces the diversity within its walls. The shafit (half-djinn, half-human) are brutally oppressed, and the royal family’s bloody history with the Daeva tribe doesn’t help, either. There are prejudices among the different tribes towards each other that have lasted centuries. The tension between all these factions has always existed in this story, but while it simmers and bubbles in the first book, this tension transforms and explodes into true action in The Kingdom of Copper. With scheming, shady tactics, stubborn royals, rebellious princes, and Nahri determined to bring peace in the middle, the politics is taken to entirely new levels. It’s dangerous. Exciting, yet often disturbing in its sheer realness.

In fact, what makes this sequel so exciting is just how different it is from the first book without ever straying too far from its foundation. It never rambles or subverts from the main plot of the series, but despite this, it seems entirely new, especially with regards to its characters.

For example: in the first book, Nahri is very dependent on Dara, as he is her Afshin, someone who she knows and trusts in a sea of strangers. Her character was inexplicably tied to his, almost as if they were a package-deal. Their bond seemed so vital to the first story that its physical absence in The Kingdom of Copper made me wary – but I need not have been. It felt new, seeing them in such separate places to the point where Nahri doesn’t even know he’s alive for 90% of the book, but you could still sense their deep regard of each other throughout. Dara and Nahri don’t interact in this book until much later on, and this may discourage readers, but I think this decision allowed both characters to become their own people. Separating these two also allowed for more character development than could have been possible if they had remained a package-deal.

The book also felt new, because it was a lot less Nahri-centric than the first book. Chakraborty allows her other characters’ arcs and development to take center stage. Ali’s inner struggle with his possession by the marid, his own moral and religious values clashing with his duties to his family are fully fleshed out in this book. His warring loyalties and him coming to terms with what he ultimately values breathes new life into an already multi-dimensional, nuanced character, and I came to appreciate him ten-fold in this book.

Dara’s narrative is especially fascinating, because we haven’t seen his perspective before.
In this new time in his life, Dara is forced into a position in the narrative where he has to make a choice between his duty and wanting peace. Where the burden of his history and having to repeat his history is placed upon his shoulders. It’s hard to watch a character you love make bad decisions, but it makes narrative sense. And the complexity of these characters’ decisions and your constant “You’re doing the wrong thing, but I don’t want to see you get hurt either” is what makes this story so compelling.

The side characters, such as Ali’s siblings (Muntadhir and Zaynab) and Jamshid are given more time to shine, too. Their characters have their own internal and external conflicts. Ali’s relationship with Muntadhir has pretty much disintegrated, and seeing them fight as brothers – be cruel and petty and hurtful – was so exciting. We all know and love the main trio, but what makes this sequel soar above its predecessor is how much you learn to love these side characters too.

The antagonists in Manizheh and Ghassan were also incredible to watch, where they both have horrifying and redeeming qualities. It almost reminds me of Game of Thrones in its complexity. There are two awful people leading opposite sides of the conflict; so who do you root for? It puts the reader in a strange position where you’re rooting for people on both sides of the conflict, and you see two characters you love at each others’ throats, willing to do horrible things to each other.

I’m incredibly excited for the third book, albeit dreading it because it means it’ll be an end to a series I have grown to love and cherish. The truth is, I could talk forever about why I love this series, these characters and this world, and it’s hard for me to stop at a suitable place. But all I can say is that this series is a gem, and it could make its place on the shelf of fantasy greats if people gave it the chance. I’m so glad I gave it this chance; it’s been the best reading decision I’ve made in years.

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Dec 31, 2019 Charlotte May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, 500-page-plus, epic-fantasy, tear-jerker

This was so good! Cannot wait for Book 3!!!

“Pragmatic. Heartless. That’s how you survive in this place. It’s how I’ve survived everything.”

What a fantastic sequel! A fantasy full of magic and political intrigue with long held grudges and feuds all coming to a head.

3 POVs. Nahri, Ali and Dara - I didn’t love Dara’s chapters all that much, but I understood they were crucial to the plot.

Nahri is married to Muntadhir and hating life. Meanwhile Ali’s father runs the show like a dictator controlli ...more

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Dec 29, 2018 Will Byrnes rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, books_of_the_year-2019, fiction

Can you ever make a new world that properly addresses the wounds of the past? - from Lightspeed interview

The Kingdom of Copper is the second in S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad Trilogy, and it must be trying harder, as the first was amazing and this one is at least as good. I suppose you might pick this book up and have an entirely fine time reading it, but I would not advise it. If you have not read the first one, The City of Brass, jump on your flying carpet and dash off to your local bookstore. ( ...more

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Dec 19, 2018 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fantasy, arabian-nights

$1.99 Kindle sale, Feb. 21, 2020. 4.5 stars! Excellent sequel to The City of Brass, a near-Eastern inspired fantasy. I liked it even better than the first book, but you do need to read The City of Brass before this one.

Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:

The Kingdom of Copper, the second book in S.A. Chakraborty’s DAEVABAD TRILOGY, picks up soon after the ending of the first book, The City of Brass. Alizayd (Ali) al Qahtani, younger son of Ghassan, the king of Daevabad, has been ex ...more

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Mar 05, 2019 Angelica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: release-2019, better-than-the-first, fantasy, read-2019

me coming to the realization that I'll have to wait a whole year to know what happens next:

Seriously though! How date this book end like that? Who does it think it is? What right does it have to leave me hanging on that cliff all by myself?!?!?!

On a more composed and serious note, this book was so many times better than its predecessor, The City of Brass, in so many fantastic ways.

I read The City of Brass in February and while I had some problems with it, I actually really enjoyed it. One of my ...more

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Nov 20, 2017 Kilikina rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars.

The Kingdom of Copper was my most anticipated book of 2019, hands down. Ever since I finished The City of Brass, I couldn’t wait to read this sequel. I was counting down the days; my anticipation for this was so high. I am so upset that I didn’t love this more... :(

The second half, more specifically the last 30% or so, was really the redeeming part of this. I really, really struggled to get through this. That’s something I NEVER anticipated.
I feel like everything I adored in The Cit ...more

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Jul 10, 2020 Jade Ratley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

9.14 on CAWPILE.

I adored this.

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Jan 03, 2019 Roshani Chokshi added it · review of another edition

Chakraborty's debut, CITY OF BRASS, was one of my top 10 reads of the year. Kingdom of Copper is without a doubt in my top 5 of 2019. Sprawling and opulent, the world of Daevabad and it's fascinating magical intrigue soars to new heights in this sequel. I continue to cheer for Nahri. Dahra is conflicted and broody as ever, and Ali...Oh Ali. He is my heart. I just want him to be happy *weeps*. Chakraborty pulls every emotional string with this sequel. At its heart, it is a story of family and the ...more

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Mar 13, 2019 Deborah Obida rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, new-adult

This is ten times better than book one. I really enjoyed reading this book, it was hard for me to put down, the writing and characters were more matured than the first book.

This book has a five year time jump, I didn't mind much, it made it easier to understand lots of things. The beginning was quite slow but things picked up later. The fight scenes were perfectly depicted.

World building and Writing
There is a major improvement in the world building department, its way better than that of book on ...more

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Mar 19, 2019 Travel.with.a.book rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

S. A. Chakraborty didn't disappoint us again, she's a freaking professional writer, her World she has created is magnificent and we've never read such a well written structure within a book! She really keeps enchanting us with her very beautiful stories, original and interesting topics!
The whole concept of the book is intense and while reading this will be very stressful and intriguing, but in a kind of way you'll love it!
.
The book is told from three different point of views, Nahri, Ali and Dar ...more

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Jun 16, 2019 Clem (the villain's quest) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: real-friends-stab-you-in-the-front, 4-stars, lgbtqia

Instagram | youtube

4/5 shook Stars

Instagram | blog

description

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR TO READ THE SEQUEL?!

RTC. ...more

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Aug 06, 2020 Peyton Reads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really think I’m the only one who hates Dara’s guts with a passion and thinks Nahri and Ali are endgame lmao. Once again a really enjoyable book, but I just didn’t have that full 5 star feeling.

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Jun 20, 2020 Jonathan O'Neill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*** Major Spoilers***

3.5⭐

‘The Kingdom of Copper’ is S.A. Chakraborty’s sophomore novel but there is no sign of second book syndrome here. It is a firm but subtle step up from its predecessor. Shannon demonstrates a masterful understanding of social and political tension and The City of Daevabad is dripping with it. The book is only let down by a slightly anti-climactic final confrontation following a superb leadup.

As was the case in ‘City of Brass’, Chakraborty’s talent for vivid descriptions o ...more

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Jul 24, 2020 Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: muslim-authors, fantasy, historical-fiction, adult-fiction, 0-2020-reading-list, 5-star-reads, adult-sff, favourites

Binging a book series/trilogy isn't something I do often and I haven't done it in so long, until this trilogy came along. The first book was my book club's pick for July and within a few days of finishing it I started this one. You better be ready for a review full of rants because that's what you're about to get.

I wasn't ready for the emotional turmoil that I went through because of this book. The City of Brass left my mind whirling with thoughts and I just couldn't put off reading this one for Binging a book series/trilogy isn't something I do often and I haven't done it in so long, until this trilogy came along. The first book was my book club's pick for July and within a few days of finishing it I started this one. You better be ready for a review full of rants because that's what you're about to get.

I wasn't ready for the emotional turmoil that I went through because of this book. The City of Brass left my mind whirling with thoughts and I just couldn't put off reading this one for too long. I was hooked from the very first page. Within the first few chapters I was sucked right back into the world. The characters and their stories have come to mean so much to me. It isn't just because the story is fantastic, it's also because of the heavy cultural references. There's so much in this that just makes it feel like home. The mentions of some dishes, the Arabic that's mixed in, and there are so many cultures mixed in and it just made me feel so seen. It reminded me that it was possible to draw so much from these cultures and the story would just become richer.

The writing was enchanting and it was so easy to get lost in it for hours without really realizing it. We got a deeper look at the characters in this one too. We got to read from Nahri, Ali, and Dara's perspectives. It made reading so much more interesting. I loved seeing things from their eyes because it showed you their thought process and a deeper understanding about their beliefs even if it isn't something you agree with, it's still interesting to read about. What I find the most interesting is the political intrigue. I personally didn't find myself siding with any of the groups. They all held century old prejudices that they just wouldn't let go of. Everyone wanted to wage war against the other. No one wanted to find some kind of compromise, and even the ones who insisted that there was one were extremely prejudiced and did nothing to stop the injustices being committed.

When it comes to characters I couldn't stop myself from loving Nahri. She's strong and determined. She has had to put up with so much and has had to do things she doesn't want to do. I admired her strength and I just loved how she refused to let anyone control her, especially when it came to other people suffering. She's also kind hearted and you can tell she's trying her best to do what's right for her people and everyone else. Moving on to Ali. He happens to be another favorite. I was a bit conflicted in the first book when it came to his chapters but when starting book two I found myself looking forward to them. Ali is one of the most kind hearted people out there. I keeps trying to help people and everytime he does it just backfires on him. I warmed up to him so much in this book. He's strong in such a different way from the other characters. I don't really know what else to say because I don't really have the right words to describe him. I just loved him in this one. Now, we also got to read from Dara's point of view. If you've read my review of The City of Brass then you know how I felt about him. Reading his chapters added so much more to the feelings that already existed. Being in his head was dark but also full of hope. He doesn't seem to ever catch a break. He has suffered and has made others suffer as well, regardless of the way he feels about it. He's constantly being manipulated and even when he tries to pull back something else is held over him to make him yield. I don't agree with the things that he has done or has been made to do more accurately but I also want him to be happy. I think they've all gone through enough. We also had Manizeh who in a way I could understand why she was doing the things she did but I still just hated her.

Most of the book was slow going. I've never had a problem with slow books to be honest unless I'm really not invested. Even though the story took some time I didn't mind. I was really looking forward to some action though, especially since I knew what was coming from reading the other character chapters. The last 100 or so pages where a whirlwind of action. There was so much going on and I just felt like I couldn't read fast enough! The things that unfolded in those pages had me panicking for multiple different reasons. I'm so excited (and also scared) to read the final book. I don't know where anything is going but I'm ready! (I think?)

Overall, this trilogy has started to mean so much to me. I'm sad to be nearing the end but I'm really hoping this won't be the last we see from the characters. Also this trilogy is officially my brand and I don't think I'll ever stop talking about it. ...more

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Oct 23, 2018 Fadwa (Word Wonders) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-releases, adult, 2018-favourites, historical-fiction, bipoc, muslim-mc, fantasy, sent-for-review, all-time-favourites

CW: Violence, murder, excessive drinking/alcoholism, mention of self-harm, death of a few side characters, mass murder, segregation, racism, gore.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review*

Full review originally posted on my blog: Word Wonders

Question: What do you do when you read your most anticipated book ever and it turns out to be your favourite book ever?
Answer: You cry. You just cry and cry and cry.
Seriously , it’s almost been a month since ...more

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May 24, 2020 Theresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

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May 22, 2019 Raquel Flockhart rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, top-favourites, read-in-2019, historical-fiction, lgbtqia, favourites, on-my-shelf, own-voices, buddy-read

1. The City of Brass | ★★★★★
2. The Kingdom of Copper | ★★★★★

“You don’t stop fighting a war just because you’re losing battles, Alizayd. You change tactis.”

1. The City of Brass | ★★★★★
2. The Kingdom of Copper | ★★★★★

“You don’t stop fighting a war just because you’re losing battles, Alizayd. You change tactis.”

S.A. Chakraborty has done it again. She has created another masterpiece. I knew she was able to create an unique and impressive story because she had already done that in The City of Brass, but she has left me speechless once again with The Kingdom of Copper. I truly believe Chakraborty has taken the fantasy genre to a whole new level with this own voices Muslim trilogy set in Cairo in the 18th century.

The Kingdom of Copper picks up five years after the mind-blowing ending of The City of Brass. The time and the different situations lived since then have changed the characters we first met in the first book. We are back in the magical city of Daevabad, where the tensions between djinn, shafits and Daevas continues to increase. But we also get to know Bir Nabat, the home of one of the main characters for the last 5 years.

While the story was told only through Nahri’s and Ali’s POV in the first book, Dara gets his own POV too in this sequel. I thought the addition of the Daeva warrior’s POV to the story would bother me, as I’m not a fan of him. But the thing is that I really appreciated what he brought to the story. I may not like him as a person, but I definitely love the complexity of his character. Besides, his POV allows us to know more about the ifrits and also about Manizheh’s past.

Nahri and Ali are, once again, my favourite characters. I’m still shocked because of their incredible character development since The City of Brass. I love both their individual journeys and their friendship. And I swear, if they don’t end up being endgame by the end of this trilogy, I’m suing. Nahri deserves someone who respects her as much as Ali does. I know a lot of people ships her with Dara (which is totally valid, we can all ship to whomever we want), but I can’t forget or forgive how he didn’t let her make her own choices and how he acted behind her back in the first book. Ali may not agree with her sometimes, but he always respects her beliefs and, overall, he believes in her.

“You should be proud, Ali. Not many people can outwit me, but you? You had me believing you were my friend until the very end.”

And speaking of characters I love, Jamshid and Munthadir gave me all the feels again with their angsty relationship. Although I have to recognise that I was very frustrated because of how the crown prince treated Ali in this book. I understand where his feelings came from, but it just hurt to read such tension between the Qahtani brothers. But overall, I think Chakraborty is a mage creating complex families with their respective dramas. I cried with a family scene in The City of Brass and I cried again with a sibling scene in The Kingdom of Copper. It’s very difficult for me to cry reading a book and the fact that the author has managed to make me cry with her two books is kind of a miracle.

There are new characters introduced in this book and I want to briefly mention Lubayd, Aqisa and Queen Hatset because I truly loved them. Lubayd made me laugh uncountable times, Aqisa made my day putting men in their place and Queen Hatset was just amazing. Also, my sapphic heart is shipping Zaynab and Aqisa and I will go down with this ship.

As I said in my review of The City of Brass, this is a story of morally gray characters where there isn’t a good side against a bad side, which I love. Chakraborty delves into human complexity making this trilogy so powerful because of that.

The Kingdom of Copper is undoubtedly my favourite book of the year so far and one of the best sequels I’ve read. Can’t wait to know how S.A. Chakraborty wraps the story in The Empire of Gold. I’m sure she’ll blow my mind again with the political intrigues, the complex dynamics between characters, the family drama, the impressive mythology and the incredible world-building.

“And I’m sick and tired of acting like the only way to save our people is to cut down all who might oppose us, as if our enemies won’t return the favor the instant power shifts.”

P.S.: I'm not English, so if you see any mistakes let me know so I can correct them, please.

...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Nastassja rated it liked it

Recommends it for: fans of the city of brass

Shelves: anticipated-releases, mind-blowing-cliffhanger, 2019, fell-short-of-expectations, upper-ya, adult, almost-liked-it, curiosity-killed-the-cat, alternate-universe, this-girl-is-awesome

**This review now posted on my blog**

May I present you my first disappointment of 2019!

I don't know how but everything went wrong in this book. When I first read The City of Brass I was enchanted by its magical atmosphere and characters who swept me away into the world of djinn, flying carpets, giant water serpents and enormous talking birds. I loved everything about that world! I had zero doubt The Kingdom of Copper would deliver the same level of grandeur and will, once more, sweep me off my feet. At the end of the day it kind of did sweep me off, lending me on my back hard with an enormous bruise to nurse until the year of 2021 - this is when book 3 will be out, and my hope of ever redeeming The Daevabad Trilogy.

What landed me the most painful downfall in a while is the fact that probably 'it's not you it's me' syndrome that I hate because it leaves me undecided and torn between loving and hating something.

So, what I didn't like in The Kingdom of copper, but which is not considered to be an actual flaw of the story but only a failure of my expectations which are biased, of course.

🔥 The Kingdom of Copper is in no way young adult. In book one characters were 20 something years old already (and older), in book two the plot picks up after five years later from the book's one events. Which was a bummer if you ask me! I am opposed to big-time jumps in my books because I feel disconnected from the storyline and frightened of the things that might've happened during those five years we - readers- missed. And here we: a lot of considerable changes happened, one of the important ones: the heroine got married! Now, I get that it was an inevitable move in five years time, but I hate it with my whole heart!

🔥 The Kingdom of Copper is really hard on politics. Now, I don't read a lot of adult fantasy because of the hard intricacies of politics and the world. Yes, I prefer my books to be harder on a fantasy aspect and less hard on the political aspect. Don't get me wrong, I love me good political intrigue in a book, but when you have to read almost 700 pages of politics you kind of get bored or annoyed or both. It felt like the story lost its magic and charm. The characters hardened so much I didn't recognize them! And I hated those five years gape which disconnected me from my beloved characters.

🔥 The Kingdom of Copper turned from star-crossed lovers to four-sides-lovers (it's my fancy way to announce a love square). It's a mess and I want to make a facepalm every time I think about the romance part. I hate Nahri's husband because he's a despicable sand fly who uses Nahri but loves another man. I would forgive him that - because I get that he didn't have a say in this marriage - if he wasn't also a palace-slut who sleeps with any skirt he can find. The situation is worsened by the fact that Nahri kind of likes her husband and tries really hard to find common ground with him, and he always shuts her out. So yeah, I am sorry-not-sorry for my slut-shaming of that characters. Then there's Ali who had a beautiful friendship with Nahri but now we find out that he actually feels more? And it's thrown in our faces like the fact we have to accept. Why the fuck can't we have a normal woman-man friendship without turning it into a fucking romance?!

These are the three enormous pillars of destruction and ruination of my fascination with this series. Of course, things are complicated (when they are not?!) and the last 20% of the book make me hopefull things might get better? Doubtful but hopeful? I am in a state when I am torn between loving and hating the series. So I will let book 3 be the judge and prosecutor of my final decision.

...more

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Oct 01, 2020 Krystal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: heartbreak-hotel, light-fantasy, owned, action-adventure

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers for the first book in the series.

Pros:
- Nahri being a badass
- Dara being a badass
- Muntadhir being unexpectedly sweet
- Ali being an idiot

Cons:
- Ghassan being a jerk
- Dara being a jerk
- Muntadhir being a jerk
- Ali being an idiot

Also there was so much more hatred and pain and death and scheming characters and my heart just couldn't. handle. it.

The pace is a little uneven compared to The City of Brass so I was worried from the slower start that I mi ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Laura ☾ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I AM NOT OKAY

__________________________

A heart-wrenching sequel, The Kingdom of Copper picks up where City of Brass left off, with Nahri, Ali, and Dara each facing their own trials, but separated from each other.

The world of Daevabad is absolutely magical and unique, Chakraborty's writing is beautiful, captivating, and the world-building is absolutely phenomenal. The twists and turns in the narrative kept me on my toes throughout this whole book.

The character development was also stunning, e ...more

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Jan 27, 2019 Adah Udechukwu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Kingdom of Copper is undoubtedly the best novel I have read this year. The novel is rich in details, politics, religion, culture........ everything.

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Jan 23, 2020 Abbie (boneseasonofglass) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: diverse-characters, fantasy

Yet again, I have more questions than answers

June is soooo far! Theres so much I NEED TO KNOW

description

PS I think everyone needs to know that this book caused me physical pain 😂 I actually sprained my thumb on this book because it’s so heavy and big 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Ellie (faerieontheshelf) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fantasy, adult-lit, fantasy, historical-set-in-the-past, court-politics

OH MY GODDDDDD

okay I probably shouldn't start Empire of Gold right away - I want to draw this series out so I can savour it - but I may start Empire of Gold right away . . .

This book was just so complex, both politically and in terms character arcs and character motivations, and ugh it was just SO WELL DONE. I was especially fond of the relationship between Ali and Muntadhir, as it really had that messy complication of a sibling relationship - from sheer frustration mixed with hatred, to the kn OH MY GODDDDDD

okay I probably shouldn't start Empire of Gold right away - I want to draw this series out so I can savour it - but I may start Empire of Gold right away . . .

This book was just so complex, both politically and in terms character arcs and character motivations, and ugh it was just SO WELL DONE. I was especially fond of the relationship between Ali and Muntadhir, as it really had that messy complication of a sibling relationship - from sheer frustration mixed with hatred, to the knowledge that deep down, they would die for each other *sobs*

Honestly, me becoming really fond of Muntadhir was a twist I did not see coming, but it was largely because I know how frustrating it is to love a younger sibling who will just not listen to you, despite how much you care for them ~~his relationship with Jamshid helped~~

And Nahri . . . she is my favourite character, as usual. Witty, smart, snarky and wise, with a heart that really cares underneath it all. Ali really grew as a character too, flourishing into a very headstrong rebel with clear beliefs and a strict moral code. And Dara, who in the previous book I viewed both with love and a strong feeling of wariness . . . his POV really brings a lot to his character. He treads a very morally grey line here, and is consistently used as a weapon by other people. Without his POV, is is entirely possible to view him as a villain, but the internal look into his thoughts . . . it's quite interesting and gives him complexity, and in the final book I believe he will have a very interesting character arc.

Also, this book introduced a lot of cool women! Zaynab went from "princess who (somewhat nastily) tricked Nahri into getting drunk" in book one to "clever and slightly devious but kind sister-in-law who gives a lot of support" in book two, and I love that. And then Ali's mother, Queen Hatset, and Ali's friend Aqisa. Also Subhashini Sen, the healer, and that other major female character (whose name I won't include because spoilers) . . . it was very very cool; I was a big fan of how many women were in major roles in this book.

SO NOW THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL THE FINAL BOOK END, I DO NOT KNOWWWWW. THERE ARE STILL SO MANY QUESTIONSSSS.

> 4.5? honestly I had no problems with this book so it should be a full 5 but I hardly ever give out full 5s and often not to second books UGH I DON'T KNOW I'LL COME BACK TO IT

***

me: I won't start Kingdom of Copper right away, I'll read another book first

also me: starts Kingdom of Copper ...more

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Dec 17, 2020 ✨ A ✨ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, adult, mythology-folklore, new-adult

I'm continuing this series for Alizayd alone ...more

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Mar 05, 2019 Kaitlin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this one and I am super glad that I have audiobooked both of these as I think the narrator gives a more immersive look at the Egyptian-inspired culture of this world. This is a sequel so I cannot say too much about the plot, but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the direction this book took, and although I have some small quibbles with some of the ways that the author acted, I think it's a whole lot of fun to read through too.

Nahri is our main character throughout the series ...more

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Jul 04, 2020 demi. ♡ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

❥ 5 / 5 stars

Definitely another 5-star. No doubt!

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) : 5 stars
The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy, #2) : 5 stars ...more

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Apr 07, 2019 Elle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: author-is-nice, 2019

I only read The City of Brass near the end of last year, but it took a minute to get back into The Kingdom of Copper until I read an in-depth summary of the previous novel. The prologue, kingdom descriptions and character backgrounds included in the book were also helpful, and I recommend anyone not immediately reading one after another in this trilogy to take the time to go over them. Reading on my Kindle has been a godsend since it saved me from having to flip back and forth between the glossa I only read The City of Brass near the end of last year, but it took a minute to get back into The Kingdom of Copper until I read an in-depth summary of the previous novel. The prologue, kingdom descriptions and character backgrounds included in the book were also helpful, and I recommend anyone not immediately reading one after another in this trilogy to take the time to go over them. Reading on my Kindle has been a godsend since it saved me from having to flip back and forth between the glossary and the page. Just highlight the word and the definition comes right up!

Once I was able to get my bearings, I fell right back into the dazzling world of Daevabad. While the majority takes place in the city itself, other more rural locations are explored too. Seeing how members of the same tribe spread out from each other physically had radically altered their own core philosophies added another element to the already incredibly intricate political climate in the realm. Ghassan is obviously one of the baddest of the bad guys in the series, but as far as Jobs I Definitely Wouldn't Ever Want go, being the King of Daevas is waaaaay up there on that list.

One think I loved about S.A. Chakraborty's characters is that level of complexity runs through all of them. There's opposing views and ideologies between characters, yes, but they also are having the same battles within themselves. From Dara's prejudice against shafit with his feelings for Nahri, to Ali's devoutness verses loyalty to his family, or Nahri wanting to fight oppressors when the people who are oppressed seems to be constantly changing, they experience as much conflict internally as they do externally.

Nahri, Ali & Dara also harbor a lot of anger and resentment. There's never any completely clean hands between them. It's hard to be frustrated with those three especially for very long because most of their choices, even when they're certifiably dumb, are simultaneously understandable. Can you be mad at someone for killing you when you killed them first? (Questions like these are part of why I will never give up fantasy) Their personal interactions imitate the larger scale disputes in the city, culminating in a heart-racing climax that drastically changes the future of the daevas.

Everything I loved about the city of Daevabad in the first book is present in this one, and its raw brutality is mercifully broken up by moments of levity and humor. I don't know what I'm going to do while waiting for Empire of Gold to be released. ...more

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May 01, 2019 Vishnu Chevli rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-own, english, read-teammate, giveaway-pr

I have heard a lot about "The City of Brass" and I also knew about the release of the sequel "Kingdom of Copper". But I was not aware that the review copy of the same will reach to us. I would like to thank Harper Collins India for the same. Frankly speaking, I had my reservations for this book, when I was offered a review copy in exchange for an honest review. There were two reasons for my reservations
1) I haven't read the first part. Many reviewers recommended to read it.
2) I have relatively f ...more

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Fantasy Book Club...: Daevabd Trilogy #2: The Kingdom of Copper—Finished Reading Spoilers OK	3	19	Oct 02, 2020 04:18AM
Fantasy Book Club...: Daevabad Trilogy #2: The Kingdom of Copper—Roll Call and First Impressions NO Spoilers	1	9	Sep 01, 2020 05:53AM
The Procrastinato...: The Kingdom of Copper (July 2020) Group Read Discussion	13	30	Jul 23, 2020 01:24AM
The Procrastinato...: The Kingdom of Copper (April 2020) Buddy Read Discussion - Mina, Laura, Simone	39	37	Apr 26, 2020 01:36PM
Goodreads Librari...: Please correct page number	2	35	Jan 29, 2019 04:49AM

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About S.A. Chakraborty

S.A. Chakraborty

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S. A. Chakraborty is the author of the critically acclaimed and internationally best-selling The Daevabad Trilogy. Her work has been nominated for the Locus, World Fantasy, Crawford, and Astounding awards. When not buried in books about thirteen-century con artists and Abbasid political intrigue, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and re-creating unnecessarily complicated medieval meals. You can find he ...more

Other books in the series

The Daevabad Trilogy (3 books)

Books by S.A. Chakraborty

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1)

The Empire of Gold (Daevabad Trilogy, #3)

Extra Scenes (The Daevabad Trilogy, #2.5)

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“You don't stop fighting a war just because you're losing battles. You change tactics.” — 27 likes

“Because a lost little girl from Cairo thought she was living in some sort of fairy tale. And because for all her supposed cleverness, she couldn’t see that the dashing hero who saved her was its monster.” — 19 likes

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