The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy, #2)

by S.A. Chakraborty

“Don’t believe everything they tell you,” Manizheh said, suddenly sounding on edge. “The marid. They are liars.”

Are they?

“If you could see the destruction you portend, Darayavahoush e-Afshin, you would throw yourself in the sea.”

“There is nothing nonpolitical about someone named ‘Zaydi al Qahtani’ trying to help the shafit.”

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

“People do not thrive under tyrants, Alizayd; they do not come up with innovations when they’re busy trying to stay alive, or offer creative ideas when error is punished by the hooves of a karkadann.”

I should have been more aggressive in my dowry demands, she suddenly thought. Because she had not been paid enough to marry into this family.

Fear and hate ruled the city—built up by centuries of spilled blood and the resulting grievances. It was a place where everyone was so busy trying to survive and ensure their loved ones survived that there was no room to build new trust.

“I’ve had enough of men hurting me because they were upset.” Her voice was hard, so much so that Muntadhir looked startled. But Nahri didn’t care.

She rose to her feet, placing her chador over her head. “I won’t have it from the man I call my husband. Not anymore.”

“Fine, I will tell you why Suleiman cursed us. It was not for playing with humans—it was because we warred with the marid over those humans.”

“It belongs to the past, sister.” “It belongs to the present,” Fatumai returned sharply. “It is a warning of what the Daevas are capable of. What your Nahid is capable of.”

Those who don't learn history are bound to repeat it

“And why, brother? Tell me why the Geziris and shafit torched this place with such fury.” Ali couldn’t look away and yet he couldn’t not answer. “Because the Nahid Council experimented on shafit here,” he confessed softly. “Not just experimented,” Fatumai corrected. “They created a poison here.

“No, I wasn’t afraid. I was tired.” Ali’s voice broke on the word. “I’m tired of everyone in this city feeding on vengeance. I’m tired of teaching our children to hate and fear other children because their parents are our enemies. 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.”