Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 621
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Review for book 1
Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad—and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.
Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe..
Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.
And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.
The City of Brass was one of my most unexpected favorites of 2019! I waited for YEARS to read this series because, honestly, I was a little intimidated by it. I finally did though, and I absolutely loved it. I couldn't wait to get back into the world of Daevabad and see what had become of the characters!
The Kingdom of Copper is set quite a few years after the end of book one, which was quite jarring at first. It took me awhile to settle into Nahri, Ali, and Dara in their new, separate lives. Although I loved the characters interacting and was a little worried a book where they're mostly apart wouldn't be as good, I really enjoyed getting to know them in their individual storylines.
Nahri especially was wonderful and strong, especially considering what she had to work with! Much of the story is about Nahri coming into her own as a healer and learning about her heritage. I loved how motivated she was and how hard she worked to do what she thought was right for her people. I did wish she had more time with Dara, but I'm eager to see what happens next between them.
Although I did love it, this book definitely does suffer a bit from middle book syndrome. There's a lot of focus on everyday life and politics, getting from book one to book three. I will admit that this one took me longer to read, just because I did find myself zoning out from time to time. It felt like The Kingdom of Copper replaced much of the magic with even more political intrigue. Don't get me wrong - there was still a lot of action! But this book was over 600 pages and not much of it was terribly exciting.
So yes, there were things that weren't perfect, but I still cannot wait to read The Empire of Gold! The Kingdom of Copper set up so much and I am so excited to see what happens!
