"City of Stairs" - What Did You Think? *Spoilers*

[Kim]

What did you think of this book?

For me this book came out of nowhere. I knew nothing about it so I went into it with a fresh, open mind and I loved it. It was a fascinating world that kept me wanting to know more. I was also very happy that it was a standalone, something that is a rarity. I understand the author is writing another book set in this universe but it won't be a sequel as it were.

[carol.]

I was really quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it--mostly because I felt like it has had such hype, and those type of books can be a miss for me. I'm so glad that it was a monthly choice, which encouraged me to read it.
I loved, the plot, the language, the characters, the world-building. It reminded me of Guy G. Kay. quite a bit. There were a couple of parts that faltered a little for me (Sigurd saving the day after already indirectly saving the day by killing at least a couple dozen "sailors" seemed awfully mythic) but on the whole, one of the best books so far this year.

[Scott]

It was one of my favorite reads from last year and also came out of nowhere for me. I loved the setting and also that the main character was this smallish woman who was intelligent and really into history, not our typical fantasy protagonist.

Think my favorite character was Mulaghesh (probably misspelled). But, really all the characters were interesting and engaging.

Even in the slows parts I never felt bored. Learning the history of the world and characters was really fun

[Rob]

I really enjoyed it. The first time Sigurd went badass reall ramped this up for me. Great characters. Great world building. I'm glad it lived up to the hype for me.

[Ilona]

It was also one of my favorite reads from last year. I saw it praised on two blogs I follow and the story seemed interesting.

Well there were few things I didn't like : the death of Vohannes, that Shara didn't guess the one she saw was Vohannes's brother while I was really suspicious and that she didn't take with her the weapon... as if she expect a dangerous god would only come annonced long before. I am not overly enthousiastic over Sigurd like the first time in action, I imagined it more like a kind of comedy where the bad guys were a joke.

But oeverall, I like how the city was destroyed in part, with some mysteries, I liked Vohannes and I liked having Shara as the main character and the brain of the story. And this story of gods and family, so sad and ironic in a way.

[Andreas]

Carol. wrote: "It reminded me of Guy G. Kay."

I agree. Not every work of Kay touches me, so it isn't a guarantee for 5 stars. But City of Stairs was quite impressive for me.

The setting with Constantinople/Istanbul similar Bulikov, complex characters, the philosophical questions of oppression after winning freedom, cultural questions like loss of religion or cultural identity, the story's structure and tension arc.

Outstanding for me was the chapter where Sigrud's past was revealed: I didn't know that one can weave a character's background right into a climactic action scene without interrupting the flow and urgency. A bit deeper analysis in my review.

5 stars from me and I'll go for City of Blades.

[Valerie]

I finally finished and I thought it was just okay. There is nothing that I can point to and directly say, "This is what was wrong with this book." Rather, it just never really pulled me.

I did like the world building, but didn't love it. It was refreshing to have kind of a blend of Russian/Indian culture, versus the classic medieval European setting.

I also appreciate a stand-alone book. Why does everything have to be in a series???

[Edwin]

Valerie wrote: "I finally finished and I thought it was just okay. There is nothing that I can point to and directly say, "This is what was wrong with this book." Rather, it just never really pulled me."

Funny, this was my exact reaction as well. I felt the book started well, as a murder mystery/spy novel, but gradually became less coherent. The characters were well fleshed out and the world and "alternate" worlds were, well, interesting, but the god concepts: dead or alive, created or creating, good or bad, just didn't work for me. 3 stars as well.

[Steve]

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The characters were strong, even those who played a lesser part and the world building / history of Bulikov was great. However the defeat of the dual / merged Gods seemed a little anti-climatic. I'm not saying how it should have played out but after the build up I was expecting something more intense and prolonged, rather than a moment of 'you are not worthy' to 'kill me please' a few pages later.

[Maggie]

I enjoyed this a lot as well. I felt all the characters as real and the plot complicateed. Sigurd was fun!

[J.W.]

I just read this because its sequel was up for voting for next month.

Absolutely blown away by it. The tone. The world. The exciting scenes. It was just superb. Going on my best fantasy books shelf. May have to buy it instead of just library.

Wow.

[Faith]

J.w. wrote: "I just read this because its sequel was up for voting for next month.

Absolutely blown away by it. The tone. The world. The exciting scenes. It was just superb. Going on my best fantasy books she..."

I loved this book and City of Blades, City of Miracles not so much.

[MadProfessah]

Really? I just read all three. I think they are all
Pretty strong with CITY OF BLADES probably the best.

[Faith]

MadProfessah wrote: "Really? I just read all three. I think they are all
Pretty strong with CITY OF BLADES probably the best."

It was City of Miracles that I didn't care for as much. It was more like a conventional thriller and there were too many fight scenes for me. City of Stairs was my favorite.

[Sid]

Faith wrote: "MadProfessah wrote: "Really? I just read all three. I think they are all
Pretty strong with CITY OF BLADES probably the best."

It was City of Miracles that I didn't care for as much. It was more l..."

I had the same thought. City of Stairs with its slow burn noir mystery was my favorite of the set. I found City of Blades enjoyable enough, if a bit predictable. I still haven't been able to finish Miracles. I think part of the problem is that I just don't find Mulaghesh or Sigurd all that interesting, and I'm muchh more interested in what Shara's been up to in government. I'd much rather read books upon books of Shara's adventures in parliament lol.

[Chris]

I thought it was OK, not great. The pace was slow, and the book seemed longer than necessary for what happens.

[MadProfessah]

I actually had the most difficulty getting through CITY OF STAIRS (the first one) and almost DNF’ed it. But by the time I finished it I really looked forward to the sequels and ended up buying all 3 in mass paperback.

His new series which begins with FOUNDRYSIDE is an absolute Five Star read in my humble opinion.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

space

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

for

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

the

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

BR

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Anyone intending to join me on this? I've maybe sort of already dipped a toe in

[Kaa]

I'm planning on it, although I'm in the middle of a lot of other things right now as well. I guess whether I start on time depends on how soon I finish some of those.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Chop chop, friendo! I know you're all like "oh, I'm working on a cure" but if you think for one second that excuses you from reading for fun very seriously then I have ludicrous news for you!

[Kaa]

Hah, I have to admit that the main barrier to reading recently has been spending hours shooting fanatics in Borderlands 3...

[E.D.]

I'm planning to join this one. Nearly finished City of Stairs.

[Travis]

I'll be joining!

[MadProfessah]

I’ve read all 3. They are all different in interesting ways.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[ I'm liking this quite a bit but it does require attention to keep all of the characters, places, events and so on in order. It's kind of fun to watch this story unfold from a sort of MI6 spy POV, though not what I was anticipating. (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]"

I'm not there yet, so not clicking. But I'm enjoying it already. I especially like the moments that open up beyond the murder mystery --- or that suggest just how historically broad and deep the mystery might delve.

[Travis]

Finished. I also liked the things you talk about in #29, Allison. But the story itself never really took off for me in the way I was hoping it would.

[E.D.]

A bit like Travis I found this a 'nice' read but it never really took off. (view spoiler)[I felt that it was building to an exciting conclusion which seemed to come too early with the battle at the embassy.
After that it just marked time. Shara seemed to sort out the issues of the return of all powerful gods, her own ancestry and the plots of her aunt in remarkably few pages. Probably as a set up for the next two books in the series.. (hide spoiler)]
I will probably read at least the next one when time allows.

[AndrewP]

I never suspended disbelief that the all powerful and all knowing gods made buildings but forgot to put in stairs.

[Cheryl L]

After loving The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption, I was excited to give another Robert Jackson Bennett series a try. I'll say that I still like The Tainted Cup best of the books I've read, but I also thoroughly enjoyed City of Stairs.

I think Bennett is great at creating unique worlds and interesting characters. Probably my favorite thing was the dead gods and their relationship to humans. (view spoiler)[ I get a little tired of stories that have gods that enjoy messing with human lives for whatever petty reason they have. I like in City of Stairs that the gods were as influenced by the humans and the humans by the gods. (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

Cheryl L wrote: "After loving The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption, I was excited to give another Robert Jackson Bennett series a try. I'll say that I still like The Tainted Cu..."

good point Cheryl.

This is a reread for me - first time I read it was nine years ago - and I found myself appreciating that part more.

Also, that reveal of the Kaj murdering his own mom still got me. I think the book is even scarier for me now.

And I also liked Shara-Sigrud friendship, another rare case of female-male friendship with no romantic tone. Just two very capable people that respect each other and can joke around as well. I wish to read more of their Pre-Bulikov adventures :)

Bennett is a good world builder and this trilogy made me a fan. The current trilogy that started with the Tainted Cup is so far his best work. Let's hope the last book would be as good as the others.