That was super intense. I need a break before diving into the last book, even though I need to know what happens.
There are just some books that put you through it, and this is one of them. Luckily, the book is also excellent, which is a huge part of why the book was so affecting.
This book picks up three (?) years after the events of City of Brass. I am not going to go into plot specifics bc it is labyrinthine, and won’t mean anything to you if you haven’t read the book, and won’t be helpful if you have. Our three main characters, Nahri, Ali, and Dara, are in very different places at the start of this book, and they are all on the cusp of something new. As is Daevabad. Again, it’s very complicated, and I applaud anyone who can write about it.
By the way, I really don’t suggest waiting very long between books. I wish I hadn’t. This series is best experienced very close together, if not marathoned. I know I’m going to have look up a summary of this one before starting the last book, although I think it will be more sticky in my mind than the first book because of all the EMOTION.
This series explores religion, bigotry, and the legacy of racially inherited trauma in ways that a lot of books set in the real world can’t even manage. It’s very effective, and affecting. The pointlessness and banality of the violence here is perfectly constructed narratively to get Chakraborty’s points across.
“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.”
I don’t know what else to say about this series, except read it!
[4.5 stars, not sure if rounding up or down yet]