Fantasy Discussion Group…

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

S.A. Chakraborty

Start date: April 1, 2019

Finish date: April 30, 2019

Discussion: Book of the Month

Why we're reading this: Goodreads Book of the Month, April 2019
[close] Goodreads Book of the Month, April 2019

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Showing 2 of 81 topics — 202 comments total

Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Aug 01, 2020 John rated it it was amazing

I would have had no idea that this was a debut. Best Middle Eastern fantasy I've ever read. Wow, was this enjoyable. So many of the characters were interesting. Lad I picked up Kingdom of Copper awhile ago. Very anxious to see where this goes. Oh and that Epilogue!! Damn she can write. Highly recommend! ...more

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Jul 17, 2019 Mel Lenore rated it really liked it

Update: yep. I just wasn’t in the mood for this book at the time. Upon reread I greatly enjoyed it. I stand by the beginning being a bit less interesting as we got to know the characters. However, by the end I was willing to stay up way past my bedtime to find out what happened.

I'm bumping this up a half star because I truly think I just wasn't in the mood to read this. Ali really got on my nerves for the first 3/4 of the book. He seemed like a weak character with no growth. By the end, I reall ...more

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Jun 20, 2019 Elisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: bingo-reads

(read for r/fantasy 2019 bingo)

I really, really enjoyed this book, and only knocked it down a star because of some pacing issues. The setting is incredibly interesting and vibrant and the characters, while flawed, were likeable. I like that there are several layers of mystery and intrigue in this book, and look forward to learning more in the next installment.

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Apr 28, 2019 Mark rated it liked it · review of another edition

Some promising elements but not really my cup of tea in the end. I was very interested by the initial setting - Cairo with magical elements - and was a bit disappointed that the action quickly moved away into a world effectively insulated from that one.
I think my real issue may have been that the book took its cues from the parts of modern UF that I don't really enjoy. E.g. our MC with magical gifts is suddenly told they're the heir to some powerful magical tradition and dragged off to join thi ...more

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Mar 24, 2019 Ed rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, book-club

If I had read this story on fanfiction.net in approximately 2006, I might have been impressed. I might even have loved it.
Unfortunately, I'm not 14 anymore, and I actually paid money for this book.

Whilst I don't have a problem with young adult novels in general; this book reads in large part like someone trying to tick of every YA trope on their checklist, and as such feels repetitive and at worst cynical.
You have the snarky female lead who is ostracised from her community but is actually so mu ...more

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