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
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What Members Thought

May 19, 2022 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: not-quite-five-stars-but-sooo-close, unfinished-series, egypt, orphalins, religion, espionage, shop-on-your-own-shelves-2022, fantasy, treasure-and-adventure, folklore-and-mythology

Yet another book I don’t want to review because I put off writing the review so long that I’ve forgotten details of the book and what I wanted to say about it, if I ever knew. Mostly I’m just mad I didn’t read this sooner, although now I don’t have to wait in between books if I don’t want to. (I don’t want to, but I can’t manage to fit the second book into my OCD color-coded TBR—don’t ask, it’s too complicated to explain—and also! I’m only reading spooky/murdery books in October so it can’t go t Yet another book I don’t want to review because I put off writing the review so long that I’ve forgotten details of the book and what I wanted to say about it, if I ever knew. Mostly I’m just mad I didn’t read this sooner, although now I don’t have to wait in between books if I don’t want to. (I don’t want to, but I can’t manage to fit the second book into my OCD color-coded TBR—don’t ask, it’s too complicated to explain—and also! I’m only reading spooky/murdery books in October so it can’t go there, either and life is hard wah these aren’t real problems.)

This historical fantasy book starts off in early 18th century Cairo, with our main character Nahri, who is a con woman and a grifter with no ties to her past and no knowledge of who she is, where she came from, or how she got these powers (mysteriiiiouuusss powersssss). When she accidentally calls up a djinn (excuse me, he prefers to be called a daeva) Nahri is dragged into adventure and politics and brough to a hidden city full of other people like her, but also full of history that she is woefully unprepared for.

I do remember that my one issue with this book is how complicated the political situation in Daevabad was to get a grasp on. I just sort of went with it and figured understanding would come, but it is very intricate. I’m betting that intricacy will pay off in the second two books. The worldbuilding here was incredibly imaginative and fun, and the book was a blast to read, even when I was confused. This is why I immediately went online and bought hardcover copies before I’d even finished this one. Here is an example of Djinn health problems, just to give you a taste of the book’s sly humor:

“Stripes were common in infants born during the darkest hour of the night . . . Sweating silver droplets was a constant irritation in the spring. It was possible to to accidentally create an evil duplicate, to transform one’s hands into flowers, to be hexed with hallucinations, or to be turned into an apple—an incredibly grave insult to one’s honor.”

The characters, by the way, were also excellent. I was sort of tempted to give this five stars, but I want to give myself some room if the second and third books manage to exceed this one.

[4.5 stars] ...more

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Feb 12, 2018 Diane Patterson rated it liked it

Shelves: sf-f

I wanted to love this book. Middle Eastern flavored fantasy! Things are unabashedly Muslim! Totally different world!

Well...totally different. Also, much of it is incomprehensible. (What, precisely, is the difference between "daeva" and "djinn" and why did the djinn take that name on themselves again?) What is the form of government here?

Nahri starts out pretty good, and becomes a royal pain in the ass.

I can sympathize that the author wasn't trying to set up the obvious love triangle...but it's ...more

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Jan 05, 2018 Concetta Phillipps rated it liked it

I loved this book and I hated it at the same time. Like many new fangled fantasy novel, this one tried to be a two sided narrative (going back and forth between two main characters) and set up multiple love arcs. I think it would have been better served by splitting the book on two - one, the story of the origins of Daevabad and two, the history of Nahri and then her joining Ali in Daevabad.

I appreciate the author telling a Muslim fairy tale instead of the already well worn Western fantasy paths ...more

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Jul 12, 2021 Ketutar Jensen rated it liked it

Shelves: dnf, fantasy

I really liked it until 2/3.

Nahri abruptly stood, as angry with herself as she was with Dara. She was done showing weakness before this man. “Well, if that’s all that matters, surely Muntadhir will do,” she declared, a savage edge creeping into her voice. “The Qahtanis seem fertile enough, and the dowry will probably make me the richest woman in Daevabad.”

She might as well have struck him. Dara recoiled, and she turned on her heel. “I’m going back to the palace.”

“Nahri . . . Nahri, wait.” He wa

I really liked it until 2/3.

Nahri abruptly stood, as angry with herself as she was with Dara. She was done showing weakness before this man. “Well, if that’s all that matters, surely Muntadhir will do,” she declared, a savage edge creeping into her voice. “The Qahtanis seem fertile enough, and the dowry will probably make me the richest woman in Daevabad.”

She might as well have struck him. Dara recoiled, and she turned on her heel. “I’m going back to the palace.”

“Nahri . . . Nahri, wait.” He was between her and the exit in a heartbeat; she’d forgotten how fast he could move. “Please. Don’t leave like this. Just let me explain . . .”

“To hell with your explanations,” she snapped. “That’s what you always say. That’s what today was supposed to be, remember? You promising to tell me about your past, not parading me in front of a bunch of priests and trying to convince me to marry another man.” Nahri pushed past him. “Just leave me alone.”

He grabbed her wrist. “You want to know about my past?” he hissed, his voice dangerously low. His fingers scalded her skin and he jerked back, letting her go. “Fine, Nahri, here’s my story: I was banished from Daevabad when I was barely older than your Ali, exiled from my home for following orders your family gave me. That’s why I survived the war. That’s why I wasn’t in Daevabad to save my family from being slaughtered when the djinn broke through the gates.”

His eyes blazed. “I spent the rest of my life—my short life, I assure you—fighting the very family you’re so eager to join, the people who would have seen our entire tribe wiped out. And then the ifrit found me.” He held up his hand, the slave ring sparkling in the sunlight. “I never had anything like this . . . anything like you.” His voice cracked. “Do you think this is easy for me? Do you think I enjoy imagining your life with another?”

His rushed confession—the horror behind his words—dulled her anger, the utter misery in his face moving her despite her own hurt. But . . . it still didn’t excuse his actions.

“You . . . you could have told me all this, Dara.” Her voice shook slightly as she said his name. “We could have tried to fix things together, instead of you plotting out my life with strangers!”

Dara shook his head. Grief still shadowed his eyes, but he spoke firmly. “There’s nothing to fix, Nahri. This is what I am. It’s a conclusion I suspect you’d have come to soon enough anyway. I wanted you to have another choice in hand when you did.” Something bitter stole into his expression. “Don’t worry. I’m sure the Pramukhs will provide you with dowry enough.”

The words were her own, but they cut deep when turned back on her. “And that’s what you think of me, isn’t it? Regardless of your feelings, I’m still the dirt-blood-raised thief. The con artist after the biggest score.” She gathered the edges of her chador, her hands shaking with anger and something else, something deeper than anger that she didn’t want to admit to. She’d be damned if she was going to cry in front of him. “Never mind that I might have done those things to survive . . . and that I might have fought for you just as hard.” She drew herself up, and he dropped his gaze under her glare. “I don’t need you to plan my future here, Dara. I don’t need anyone to.”

This time when she left, he didn’t try to stop her.

Ok, bye, Felicia. ...more

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Jan 18, 2021 Jessica rated it really liked it

The ending was sooooo good! This would have been between a 3 and 4 star if not for the ending, and it gives me a good feeling about the rest of the trilogy.

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