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The Empire of Gold

(The Daevabad Trilogy #3)

S.A. Chakraborty (Goodreads Author)

4.60 · Rating details · 1,684 ratings · 525 reviews

The final chapter in the bestselling, critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.

Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying allian ...more

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Hardcover, UK Edition, 766 pages

Published June 11th 2020 by Harper Voyager

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Feb 19, 2019 Mecca-Amirah Jackson rated it really liked it

Super update: 4/16/2020

Just got the ARC! 😂 Time to put the money where my mouth is

Update: 1/14/2020

I still stand by what I said.

2/19/2019:

Nahri and Ali better not get together romantically or I will revolt. ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Melanie marked it as to-read

Shelves: read-in-2020, buddy-reads, historical, arc, ghosts, retellings, fantasy, demons, own-voices

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May 17, 2020 Will Byrnes rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, books-of-the-year-2020, fantasy, favorites, young-adult, all-time-favorites-fiction

Do you know how many times I’ve had to do this? Forget healing, my specialty should be having my life destroyed and then being forced to rebuild from nothing.

---------------------------------------

Yet everything was just a touch off. There were empty spaces where conjured buildings should have stood, ugly pockmarks on the skyline. The brass walls were tarnished, the edifices—on closer inspection—riddled with missing bricks and blackened mortar. Defying any weather pattern Nahri knew, somehow

...more

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Apr 18, 2020 Charlotte May marked it as library-loans

I don’t usually care about the romances in books but I really hope Nahri and Ali are endgame and not Dara.

I hate the trope where a girl falls in love with a man/being that is like thousands of years older than them.

And I just love the friends to lovers trope!

Roll on June!!!!

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Apr 19, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it it was amazing

Quick confession: When I saw the page numbers of the book, I draw the blanket on my face and try to hide from the book. Nearly 800 pages! I’m so happy it was not a paperback, I’m holding right now! I don’t want to look like wrestler after finishing my reading (I was looking like giant when I finished Dark Tower series of Stephen King book! It gave me cries to look at my triceps!)

Of course the other two books of the installment were long, too but when I start reading something (and you may guess Quick confession: When I saw the page numbers of the book, I draw the blanket on my face and try to hide from the book. Nearly 800 pages! I’m so happy it was not a paperback, I’m holding right now! I don’t want to look like wrestler after finishing my reading (I was looking like giant when I finished Dark Tower series of Stephen King book! It gave me cries to look at my triceps!)

Of course the other two books of the installment were long, too but when I start reading something (and you may guess I’m reading two times faster than normal people. But This overusing your brain and killing your brain cells softly technique earned me scrutinizing and suspicious looks and daily at least 10 emails: are you a robot? You cannot read all of them. FYI” Yes I can and yes I will!) time stops! I stop eating ( thankfully I resume my drinking habits, thanks to my stocked straw collection!
After the quarantine: it’s five o’clock at some place in the earth, cheers!), becoming more asocial (which makes my husband happier and my neighbors happiest), living and feeling the book fully.

But I felt so likely because I already invested in this series for so long and after the cliffhanger of second book, I was really curious about the story’s progression so I want to yell at myself to have second thoughts to start this one. So I grabbed it. It already glued to my hands, my mind, my heart and to my soul. Here we go! Let’s get lost in the story inspired by Arabian nights!

I have to admit: The strongest thing about the book is its unique, impeccably detailed, layered, well-crafted characterization. Interestingly one of my favorite characters is Dara. I know his POV was darker, more gruesome and depressing when you compare with other two POVS but I found those parts more realistic, stunning and vivid. The emotional part of the story fed by slow burn Alizayd and Nahri’s romance. I enjoyed the characters’ development and their inner journeys. They grew, they lost, they hurt, they ached and experienced versions of them were much brighter and likable.

I got really surprised but I root for Muntadhir and Zaynab a lot and I wished they have their own POVS ( I know the book would have more pages than War and Peace with their additional narrations but I still wanted to read their inner thoughts and wanted to learn more about the characters!) Fingers crossed, maybe we get a spinoff and see the supporting characters have their own books!

The conclusion was amazing. There are so many unexpected twists make you flabbergasted, shocked. (My spidey senses retired throughout my reading so I didn’t see any of them coming)

I’m so happy to read this ARC but I also feel sad and nostalgic as usual when a trilogy ends and I have to say goodbye to all those characters I invested for a long time.

I’m rounding up 4.5 start to 5 and I’m closing it with red-rimmed eyes at 4.26 am in the morning! It was a long reading marathon for me but truly it was worth it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Voyager for sharing fantastic conclusion of trilogy in exchange my honest review! ...more

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Jan 09, 2019 Aimal (Bookshelves & Paperbacks) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, cover-love, indigenous-or-poc-protagonists, multi-pov, to-buy, favorites, 2020, arcs, diverse-2020, made-me-cry

Thank you to HarperCollins for an early copy of this book!

Please be warned that as this is the final book in a trilogy, the review will contain SPOILERS for the first two books: The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper.

The Empire of Gold begins immediately after the second book ends: Daevabad has fallen, with Manizheh at its head and Darayavahoush standing squarely by her side. Nahri and Alizayd have fled the city with Suleiman’s seal in tow, resulting in a sudden extinguishing of magic. Now, Thank you to HarperCollins for an early copy of this book!

Please be warned that as this is the final book in a trilogy, the review will contain SPOILERS for the first two books: The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper.

The Empire of Gold begins immediately after the second book ends: Daevabad has fallen, with Manizheh at its head and Darayavahoush standing squarely by her side. Nahri and Alizayd have fled the city with Suleiman’s seal in tow, resulting in a sudden extinguishing of magic. Now, they find themselves attempting to come up with a plan that will save their city, all while preventing any more bloodshed. Meanwhile in Daevabad, Dara must come to terms with the fact that he has committed yet another massacre; with the weight of blood and guilt on his hands, with Manizheh’s endlessly cruel schemes further grating on his conscience, Dara must make a choice. Will he do what he knows is right and rebel against everything he’s ever believed, or will he stand by his Nahid’s side, no matter the cost?

Let me begin by saying that this is one of the most difficult reviews I have ever had to write. For one, it’s no secret that this series is my favorite trilogy of all-time, one I have been championing non-stop since before the first installment was even released. To say I had certain expectations for how everything would be wrapped up is an understatement; some of these were met, others were not. Some of those that were not met, I was fine with, others I was not. Parts of this conclusion were absolutely perfect, and I could not have asked for a better ending – other parts felt like I was reading a completely different series! It sometimes felt like a chore to get through it. So, it’s strange having to write a glowingly positive review mixed in with a somewhat negative review… so bear with me.

There are two tones to the book: Nahri and Alizayd’s chapters are adventurous, feeling Disney-esque at times. Dara’s chapters are absolutely grim. As Nahri and Ali traverse across human lands, meeting magical creatures, getting themselves into dangerous situations, their chapters have a clear sense of adventure to them. Despite what they have gone through, their moments are lighter than Dara’s chapters of the book. However, despite liking both characters’ arcs and chapters in the previous books, I felt a little disappointed with their chapters here, one reason for which was the romance.

Ali’s unresolved romantic feelings for Nahri are far more prominent here while they are alone together, and unlike previously, it seems as if Nahri begins to reciprocate. The two have no one else to lean on after the destruction wrought onto their home by the man Nahri loved so deeply. Their bond shifts from purely platonic to somewhat romantic, and quite frankly, I wasn’t a fan. For one, I was far more invested in the pair as a platonic couple, and I loved their friendship. Until this book, Nahri had not reciprocated Ali’s crush, nor had she ever hinted at feeling anything for him other than loving him as a friend, so I’ll admit the romance felt rushed, forced and unnecessary. Before anyone lies to you and says that I wasn’t a fan of the romance because of petty ship wars, let me make it very clear: I never cared if Dara and Nahri ended up together or not – especially not after everything that happened in the second book. My ideal ending was Nahri to end up powerful and happy, and throw all the men into the trash. I’m not saying if that’s the ending we got or not, but the romance between her and Ali was, frankly, bad – my feelings towards Dara notwithstanding (even if Danahri have more chemistry in a single scene than Nahli have had in three books, fight me.)

Secondly, I raised my eyebrows at the fact that Nahri has now been with all three main men in the series: Dara in the first book, Muntadhir in the second, and now Ali in the third. It’s a strange narrative choice that I didn’t think was necessary.

Another reason why I thought the Nahri and Ali chapters weren’t as compelling is because when contrasted with Dara’s chapters, they felt jarring and out of place. Dara’s arc is extremely heavy, his chapters fraught with both chaotic external conflict, as well as the internal conflicts within Dara himself. He’s always been a polarizing character, and it’s no secret that I am one of those people who rooted for him from the very first day, and I felt his arc was wonderfully handled. Dara has to face the consequences of his decisions, his bloody history, and is forced to look some ugly truths about his beliefs in the face: the result is a devastating picture of regret, guilt, helplessness, anger and frustration.

To me, the Daevabad trilogy has always been about the intersection of these many different conflicts how otherwise decent, good people can do terrible things in times of war, how histories are written by victors, how peace can never truly be achieved with the weight of past oppressions and transgressions hanging over people’s heads. Dara’s chapters embodied the brutal, bloody nature of the series, portraying intense political strife, the desire to do what’s right and failing to do it anyway, the need to work with people you have previously been pitted against… all of that was so intricate and fascinating, and I’m not even talking about his internal conflicts yet! In contrast when a Dara chapter would switch to an Ali or Nahri chapter, where Ali is salivating over Nahri’s wrist? It felt jarring, so trivial compared to what I had just read that I couldn’t take those chapters seriously.

Another thing I noticed was how when Ali’s main conflicts (re: his conflict with his family, and wanting to do the right thing by rebelling against the people he loves) is taken away, his character falls flat. I’ve loved Alizayd from the very first book: his intense idealism, his strong sense of justice stemming both from his own morality and his Islamic faith, his determination to help the marginalized at cost to himself. Even the fact that he’s judgmental and often close-minded just add nuance to him. None of that was present in this book! When his main conflict was taken away, Ali felt like a shell of who he was; he was reduced to his romantic feelings for his friend, his sadness at losing Muntadhir, and that’s it. Despite that, he had more chapters than Dara did when Dara’s arc is literally reaching its climax as the reader grapples with whether or not he will receive redemption or not… while on the other hand, Ali’s arc had already reached its climax in the previous book. I firmly believe that he should have had fewer chapters.

But despite my problems, that ending… that ending was absolutely perfect, and I cried tears of grief and joy and hope, and felt both hollow and content after the turn of the last page. This series’s books have a pattern: a strong build-up, and during the last quarter, everything explodes. The Empire of Gold follows a very similar trajectory, and boy, when the explosion happens, it is absolutely phenomenal. I was at a loss for words, just screaming variations of keyboard smashes at the person I was buddy-reading with (shoutout to you Hannah). From the climax of the story where all the action comes to a head, to the aftermath, Chakraborty wrapped her story up impeccably. Just… Dara’s arc, especially, was *chef kiss* and I still don’t have words to describe it. It felt earned and appropriate, given everything. And Nahri! I’m so, so glad with how her story wrapped up. I obviously can’t go into as much detail because spoilers, but I think most people will be very happy with the ending.

If you’ve stuck around to the end of the review, maybe you can understand why this review was difficult to write. I loved so much about this book – loved these parts more than I loved anything about the other two books, and there was a lot I didn’t like too, and that’s not something I can overlook. For a solid 75% of the book, it was a 2-star read, unfortunately… but the ending picked it up, and picked it up so magnificently that I’m still content with the way it ended despite a bumpy ride. Make of that what you will. Either way, I will miss these characters so, so, so much and I am so grateful to the author for not only bringing this world and these characters to me (especially Dara; Dara let me die for you), but also because I met so many incredible friends through it. For that, I will be forever grateful.

Update: 07/01/2020: After several months of thinking of how the shortcomings in this book could have been fixed, I have come to the conclusion that(view spoiler) Debate your moms. ...more

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Oct 13, 2018 halfirishgrin marked it as arc-to-read

Shelves: historical, 2020-release, poc-mc, sci-fi-fantasy, muslimshelfspace

I honestly can't even *imagine* what direction this book will take after the events of book #2 but I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED and it'll 100% worth however damn long the wait is. I just want my children (ALI AND NAHRI) happy and safe

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Mar 06, 2019 Angelica rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, arc, read-2020

You ever hesitate to pick up an especially long book? Like, you want to read it but then you see that page count? This was that book. But I'm so glad I did read it.

S.A. Chakraborty managed to create a concluding novel that brings so much new history and lore to her world, and yet manages to perfectly wrap up the story she had began to tell in The City of Brass.

In this book, the stakes are raised tenfold. The throne of Daevabad is at stake and the lives of every person in the city are in the bala ...more

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Apr 22, 2020 micolreads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-of-2020

This book was like those songs that start slow, almost soundless, but that just go up and up until you cannot not hear them.

This series made me realize that love is powerful, it can get you through a lot and make you stronger. But it's not everything. Friendship and family are always there when love is challenged. I thought i couldn't read more about Nahri and Dara being apart, but the fact that I enjoyed, that I loved them being in love but apart, just reminds me that you can do everything you ...more

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Feb 12, 2020 a n i s s a rated it it was amazing

I am not okay.

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Mar 06, 2020 Nouf *LostinFantasy* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-release, family, siblings, epic-fantasy, fantasy-sci-fi, favorites, i-ship-it, favorite-characters

I received an E-ARC of the book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 4.7/5 rounded up to a full 5!

If you know me at all you’ll know how much this series means to me. I’ve fallen in love with this world and characters since the first book released and I’ve been waiting desperately – and nervously – for the final book.

Now that I’ve read it I can definitely say that it solidifies the trilogy as one of my all time favorite book series ever.

The book was filled with ...more

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Sep 02, 2019 Farheen marked it as to-read

I can't be the only one who ships Ali and Nahri, right? 😭

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Jul 27, 2019 Hafsah (on hiatus) marked it as i-need-tr

Shelves: not-yet-released

UPDATE: Expected publication is now FEBRUARY!! *jumps up and down whilst squeling*
_______________________________

Omg would you just look at that GORGEOUS cover!

Now that I'm all hyped up again, I'm 100% sure that I need an ARC. Besides, I've been dangling off the cliff in book 2 for far too long already and I'm not strong enough to hold on for much longer.

And does the fact that I've never recieved an ARC before (sob) stop me from promising to do anything and everything to get my hands on this bo ...more

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May 15, 2020 megs_bookrack marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I WON A GIVEAWAY!!!

Look at me go! It's like the world isn't falling apart after all...

I'd like to thank the Academy, William Morrow Books and Goodreads for this honor.

...more

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May 02, 2020 Raquel Flockhart rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-releases, adult, arc, own-voices, buddy-reads, read-in-2020, on-my-shelf, fantasy, muslim-rep

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

1. The City of Brass | ★★★★★
2. The Kingdom of Copper | ★★★★★
3. The Empire of Gold | ★★★★★

“Not wanting to be destroyed by despair doesn’t make you a coward, Ali. It makes you a survivor.”

It is always a bittersweet feeling when you reach the last sentence of one of your favourite series. The denial that you will not read more about characters you love, characters whose adventures you have been following for a while now. But, at the same time, I am so happy with how S.A. Chakraborty wrapped up this historical fantasy trilogy.

The Empire of Gold starts off right where The Kingdom of Copper left off. After the action-packed ending full of twists of the second book, everyone is picking sides and making hard decisions. I am still in awe of the character development, especially regarding Ali. I have always praised the complexity of these characters through the entire trilogy and this final instalment shows that evolution in a remarkable way.

The Persian, Babylonian and Egyptian mythological elements take a step forward, being some of the new creatures introduced in this book essential for the resolution of the plot. Chakraborty has connected the breadcrumbs she has been dropping since The City of Brass in a masterful way, bringing everything full circle. Moreover, although the ins and outs between the different tribes take a back seat in The Empire of Gold, the political strategies are as engrossing and intricate as in the first two books.

“It made it worse, this passing of a barbed baton between women who no matter how clever, how powerful, would always be known by the men to whom they were attached.”

I just love how the author tied everything in this conclusion, even going back to places and people that I did not think we would visit again. It was a beautiful way of saying goodbye to the story and, at the same time, a way of showing us the different paths the main characters might have been taken in other circumstances. The concept of how important is to make our own choices is quite emphasized in this book, as well as the conversations regarding colonialism and regarding how women’s voices have been silenced throughout history.

Also, this trilogy has, hands down, one the most beautiful slow burn romances ever. I actually love all the different relationships and dynamics between every single character, but this romance and the complexity of the bond of the Qahtani siblings were my absolutely favourites. Seriously, the portrayal of the different relationships in this trilogy, regardless of its nature, is amazing.

Overall, I truly believe The Empire of Gold is a perfect and fitting ending for one of my favourite trilogies. It is the first time I give 5 stars to every single book in a series apart from ASOIAF, so I think that says a lot about how much I love these books. I am going to miss reading about Nahri, Ali, Muntadhir, Jamshid, Hatset, Fiza and Zaynab. Also, that last sentence is literally perfection.

“I do not believe ambitious men who say the only route to peace and prosperity lies in giving them more power—particularly when they do it with lands and people who are not theirs.”

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

Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Tumblr

...more

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Apr 09, 2020 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, arabian-nights

A solid conclusion to this Arabian Nights-inspired fantasy. It has some great twists and turns.

RTC.

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Jun 07, 2020 Book Barbarian (Tammy Smith) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, fantasy, earc, magic, djinn

EDIT: 11 June 2020 -Happy Release Day!

eARC provided by NetGalley , thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for gifting me this book!

Dizzying, unpredictable, magical. An Arabian fantasy I have always NEEDED to read. This series is a new world that completely captivates you from page one.

The Empire of Gold by S.A Chakraborty
Book 3 of the Daevabad Trilogy
Publish Date: 11th of June 2020
Cover Rating: 9/10
Adult – Fantasy – Magic – Arabian-Inspired – Mythology

I AM NOW LOST.

description

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THI ...more

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Apr 02, 2020 Fadwa (Word Wonders) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-releases, fantasy, 2020-reads, adult, historical-fiction, poc-indigenous-rep, sent-for-review, ownvoices, muslim-mc

Can't think... head empty.

Seriously though, I finished it. My favorite series. And I don't really know what to do with myself. I cried and laughed and cried some more. Loved things, hated things, saw the necessity in things even when I hated them. And just. Dara did that.

RTC!!

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Apr 08, 2020 Beatrice in Bookland rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-2020

"Nahri always smiled at her marks."

1. The city of brass ★★★★★
2. The kingdom of copper ★★★★★

4.5

I don't even know what to say about this book, it was almost perfect.
The only thing I didn't appreciate was the romance - even tho I don't despise it - because I just wish these two had remained platonic friends. But I did like how nothing was rushed, especially in the last pages.

Dara has been my favorite character since his very first appearance in The city of brass and his ending - and his last scene ...more

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Aug 27, 2019 Laura rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-otps, best-of-2020, fantasy, books-i-will-never-forget, 5-star, paranormal, historical, audiobooks

Let's see how my predictions went ...

(view spoiler) ...more

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May 03, 2020 Shealea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-recommended, arc-review, has-poc, books-with-diversity, books-that-strangely-grew-on-me, has-lgbtqiap, books-that-made-me-cry

I cried three times. That’s all you need to know. For now.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher (via Netgalley's wish-for-it feature) in exchange for an honest review. This does not, however, shape or change my opinion of this book.

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May 01, 2020 Veronica Belmont rated it it was amazing

Shelves: epic-fantasy, fantasy, sl-sword

Ugh, so good. I'm so sad that this series is over, but so happy to have read it. The worldbuilding is something I will hold as a high standard for fantasy for years to come.

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Jun 30, 2020 Rosamund Hodge added it

Shelves: fantasy, 2020

IT ABSOLUTELY GUTTED AND THEN HEALED ME.

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Apr 10, 2019 Merline added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-most-anticipated

All time favorite series. So sad it’s over. I miss the characters and the world already. Feels like there’s a hole in my heart. Need time to process, but I will say this was a thrilling conclusion. There are a few spoiler-y things that could’ve been handled differently but still a satisfying conclusion with amazing character arcs. RTC.

For people who like ratings: If I were still rating books, I’d give this 4.5 stars.

Thanks Harper Voyager and Edelweiss for the arc.

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Jan 16, 2020 Elle is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

This is not a book it is an event . Nobody talk to me I am BUSY!

—✨—✨—✨—✨—✨—✨—✨—✨—✨

Nahri to Dara at the end of KoC:

...more

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Feb 08, 2020 Sana marked it as to-read-so-bad-it-hurts

SA Chakraborty looking out for her readers and writing ~800 pages long series ender, what a legend

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Apr 16, 2020 Jules ✨ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq, fantasy, lets-talk-diversity, more-than-500-pages, 5-stars, adult, young-adult, 2020-release, favorite-author, paranormal

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

This series has been a rollercoaster of emotions. I absolutely loved each book, which says a lot, I do think The Kingdom of Copper is my favorite.
Not to say this book wasn't amazing, because it was. It was definitely more dark and hard sometimes to read but still really fantastic.

Shannon's writing is exceptional. I honestly felt like these 780 pages lasted nothing. It was like watching a movie, it went quickly, like a breath of air. My favorite p ...more

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