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Broadway Books (2016), 498 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:A triumphant return to the world of City of Stairs. A generation ago, the city of Voortyashtan was the stronghold of the god of war and death, the birthplace of fearsome supernatural sentinels who killed and subjugated millions. Now, the city�??s god is dead. The city itself lies in ruins. And to its new military occupiers, the once-powerful capital is a wasteland of sectarian violence and bloody uprisings. So it makes perfect sense that General Turyin Mulaghesh�?? foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumored war criminal, ally of an embattled Prime Minister�??has been exiled there to count down the days until she can draw her pension and be forgotten. At least, it makes the perfect cover story. The truth is that the general has been pressed into service one last time, dispatched to investigate a discovery with the potential to chan… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Zoes_Human
Five years after the events of City of Stairs, Shara Komayd pulls General Turyin Mulaghesh out of retirement to investigate the disappearance of a Ministry agent sent to assess the discovery of an amazing new metal. This time we are taken to Voortyashtan, the former Continental stronghold of the
A brilliant blend of high fantasy and espionage thriller. Fast-paced and thought-provoking. An excellent second novel in the world of The Divine Cities.
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divinity Voortya—Empress of Graves, Maiden of Steel, Queen of Grief, She Who Clove the Earth in Twain, and war goddess of the terrifying Voortyashtani warriors.A brilliant blend of high fantasy and espionage thriller. Fast-paced and thought-provoking. An excellent second novel in the world of The Divine Cities.
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LibraryThing member pwaites
City of Blades is the sequel to the phenomenal City of Stairs. While City of Blades references events from the first book and expands upon its world building, the plot of City of Blades is separate. Theoretically, you could read it without having read the first book.
After centuries of rule by the
While there are many things about City of Blades that may seem familiar from City of Stairs, it is the thematic differences that really distinguish this book from its predecessor. City of Blades is a book about war, death, and what it means to be a solider. As you might expect from the thematic material, it can be a dark read at times. These ideas echo across not only the plot and setting, but the life of the protagonist, General Turyin Mulaghesh.
“Out of the service and adrift in the civilized world, she couldn’t tolerate what she’d done. She tried to bait the world to kill her, to do the thing she had no courage for. But it wouldn’t. Life went on; it just kept happening.”
When she was sixteen years old, Mulaghesh lied about her age and joined the army to fight against an ongoing rebellion in the Continent. The things she saw and did during the Summer of Black Rivers changed her forever.
“She couldn’t erase the past, but maybe she could keep it from happening again.”
Mulaghesh is bitter and cynical and quite likely suffering from PTSD. She’s over sixty years old and has lost a hand during the Battle of Bulikov five years ago. She is tired of death and war, yet she will do what she has to to protect those who serve under her.
Characterization in City of Blades is phenomenal, particularly when it comes to Mulaghesh. She’s a protagonist I will remember for years to come. Not only is she superbly written, how often do sixty year old female general as a protagonist in a fantasy novel? Actually, City of Blades does a roundabout fantastic job when it comes to including interesting and prominent female characters.
The world Bennett has created is so vivid and imaginative. These two books have had some of the best world building I have ever seen. The city of Voortyashtan with its eerie remnants of the divine was wonderful.
The novel starts out somewhat slow, with Mulaghesh finding different pieces of the puzzle. The action ramps up at the half way mark, but even then the book never really reached the “I can’t put it down” quality for me. There was also a plot twist that I saw coming.
I would highly recommend City of Blades for anyone who’s read and loved City of Stairs or is looking for an inventive and well written fantasy novel.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received a free ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. City of Blades comes out January 26th 2016.
After centuries of rule by the
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Continent and it’s gods, the nation of Saypur was able to kill the Divinities and gain freedom. Now, eighty years after Saypur killed Voortya, goddess of death and war, the retired General Turyin Mulaghesh is being sent to the city once under Voortya’s domain, Voortyashtan. She is to look for a Saypuri agent who went missing while investigating a mysterious ore with possibly miraculous properties. She soon begins to wonder what happened to the afterlife created by Voortya and the dead warriors supposedly inhabiting it…While there are many things about City of Blades that may seem familiar from City of Stairs, it is the thematic differences that really distinguish this book from its predecessor. City of Blades is a book about war, death, and what it means to be a solider. As you might expect from the thematic material, it can be a dark read at times. These ideas echo across not only the plot and setting, but the life of the protagonist, General Turyin Mulaghesh.
“Out of the service and adrift in the civilized world, she couldn’t tolerate what she’d done. She tried to bait the world to kill her, to do the thing she had no courage for. But it wouldn’t. Life went on; it just kept happening.”
When she was sixteen years old, Mulaghesh lied about her age and joined the army to fight against an ongoing rebellion in the Continent. The things she saw and did during the Summer of Black Rivers changed her forever.
“She couldn’t erase the past, but maybe she could keep it from happening again.”
Mulaghesh is bitter and cynical and quite likely suffering from PTSD. She’s over sixty years old and has lost a hand during the Battle of Bulikov five years ago. She is tired of death and war, yet she will do what she has to to protect those who serve under her.
Characterization in City of Blades is phenomenal, particularly when it comes to Mulaghesh. She’s a protagonist I will remember for years to come. Not only is she superbly written, how often do sixty year old female general as a protagonist in a fantasy novel? Actually, City of Blades does a roundabout fantastic job when it comes to including interesting and prominent female characters.
The world Bennett has created is so vivid and imaginative. These two books have had some of the best world building I have ever seen. The city of Voortyashtan with its eerie remnants of the divine was wonderful.
The novel starts out somewhat slow, with Mulaghesh finding different pieces of the puzzle. The action ramps up at the half way mark, but even then the book never really reached the “I can’t put it down” quality for me. There was also a plot twist that I saw coming.
I would highly recommend City of Blades for anyone who’s read and loved City of Stairs or is looking for an inventive and well written fantasy novel.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received a free ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. City of Blades comes out January 26th 2016.
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LibraryThing member Shrike58
In this return to world Robert Jackson Bennett introduced in “City of Stairs” there has been some water under the bridge when we are reacquainted with “retired”, i.e. quit kicking and screaming, Gen. Turyin Mulaghesh who is dragged back into service to ostensibly complete the several months
Without giving too much away if “City of Stairs” ultimately felt melancholy, but still holding promise, this book is full-fledged tragedy and the climax is as raw and cathartic and gut-wrenching as good tragedy aspires to be.
Besides that one thought that comes to mind is the genre of fantasy one has here. With continued reading I wonder if this sort of fiction should really be considered “weird,” what with the nature of the gods, the shamanistic nature of magic, the sheer horror of events and the apocalyptic flavor of the tale.
As for my main gripe with the series, which involves characters and technology that seem anachronistic to a world with a level of technology and culture that is generally Victorian, or at best Edwardian, on the whole I just try not to let it bug me too much.
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service she owes the government to retain her pension. Or, if she so “chooses,” she can look into the mysterious disappearance of a government agent who was engaged in the never ending task of rooting out manifestations of the old great gods. Of course there is no good afoot but the guts of this story are that of Mulaghesh coming to grips with her own story of origin and the nature of the war that was waged on the reign of the gods; a war the implications of which continue to unspool.Without giving too much away if “City of Stairs” ultimately felt melancholy, but still holding promise, this book is full-fledged tragedy and the climax is as raw and cathartic and gut-wrenching as good tragedy aspires to be.
Besides that one thought that comes to mind is the genre of fantasy one has here. With continued reading I wonder if this sort of fiction should really be considered “weird,” what with the nature of the gods, the shamanistic nature of magic, the sheer horror of events and the apocalyptic flavor of the tale.
As for my main gripe with the series, which involves characters and technology that seem anachronistic to a world with a level of technology and culture that is generally Victorian, or at best Edwardian, on the whole I just try not to let it bug me too much.
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LibraryThing member kgodey
Retired war hero General Turyin Mulaghesh is sent to the city of Voortyashtan on a sort of tour to count down the days until she earns her pension. That’s the official story, anyway – actually, she’s there to covertly investigate a new metal that just might be related to the supposedly dead
I enjoyed City of Stairs when I read it last year, but not as much as a lot of other people. Mulaghesh was one of my favourite characters in the book, though, so I was pretty thrilled that she was going to be the protagonist of City of Blades. She does not disappoint – she’s a curmudgeonly one-armed war hero that’s unabashedly competent and won’t take any nonsense from anybody. She starts off the book pretty tired and lost, but once she enters problem solving mode, there’s no one I’d rather have on the case. She’s got a unique perspective and it never gets tiring to look through it. I would read a whole series of books about Mulaghesh.
City of Blades starts off with a pretty similar premise to the first book – a Saypuri is sent to a hostile Continental city to investigate possible Divine intervention – but it quickly evolves into its own thing. It helps that it doesn’t have to do all the worldbuilding that City of Stairs had to; the world of these books is complicated, and it was good to be familiar with how it all worked. The world does get extended, but in a very natural way. The martial Voortya is a pretty interesting god to explore, and Mulaghesh is the perfect person to understand her.
The new characters introduced in this book are pretty cool, especially Sigrud’s engineer daughter Signe. Sigrud is back as well, and he seems much more like a real person, which was great. I was a little bit frustrated with the character arcs of the villains – I can’t say more without spoilers, but I wished that they were less stereotypical. It’s a minor flaw in an otherwise terrific book, though.
I’m looking forward to the third book, City of Miracles – I think that’s going to be the last book. Sigrud is going to be the protagonist, which I’m more excited about thanks to his development in City of Blades.
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gods of the Continent, and figure out why the last person sent to investigate the issue ended up missing. Voortyashtan is complicated, though, and there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye.I enjoyed City of Stairs when I read it last year, but not as much as a lot of other people. Mulaghesh was one of my favourite characters in the book, though, so I was pretty thrilled that she was going to be the protagonist of City of Blades. She does not disappoint – she’s a curmudgeonly one-armed war hero that’s unabashedly competent and won’t take any nonsense from anybody. She starts off the book pretty tired and lost, but once she enters problem solving mode, there’s no one I’d rather have on the case. She’s got a unique perspective and it never gets tiring to look through it. I would read a whole series of books about Mulaghesh.
City of Blades starts off with a pretty similar premise to the first book – a Saypuri is sent to a hostile Continental city to investigate possible Divine intervention – but it quickly evolves into its own thing. It helps that it doesn’t have to do all the worldbuilding that City of Stairs had to; the world of these books is complicated, and it was good to be familiar with how it all worked. The world does get extended, but in a very natural way. The martial Voortya is a pretty interesting god to explore, and Mulaghesh is the perfect person to understand her.
The new characters introduced in this book are pretty cool, especially Sigrud’s engineer daughter Signe. Sigrud is back as well, and he seems much more like a real person, which was great. I was a little bit frustrated with the character arcs of the villains – I can’t say more without spoilers, but I wished that they were less stereotypical. It’s a minor flaw in an otherwise terrific book, though.
I’m looking forward to the third book, City of Miracles – I think that’s going to be the last book. Sigrud is going to be the protagonist, which I’m more excited about thanks to his development in City of Blades.
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LibraryThing member Gretchening
I found this an enjoyable follow-up to City of Stairs. I didn't feel as ~gripped~ by as I did its predecessor, nor did I feel as disappointed in it (see my CoS review for spoilers on that). The protagonist of this book, Mulaghesh, is a stubborn, practical, no-nonsense old bird, and I looooooove her
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as much as, if differently from, Shara. I like Bennett's focus on women and people of color, and the ways he explores the interweavings of national and personal histories. This book felt a bit more of a mystery/soldier's story than the previous one, though still stayed in the same vein and it had similarly strong pacing and characters. Some new faces, some familiar from the first book also gave a sense of continuity, though this book would be fine read on its own. I liked it, and I think if you liked the first book you will like this one, too! Show Less
LibraryThing member jsburbidge
This is a secondary world fantasy, following his excellent City of Stairs, with detailed political and historical backgrounds (his prior novels, down to American Elsewhere, were this-world novels with SFnal or fantastic elements). For all that it's very much another world, the issues it makes the
Bennett has been improving as he moves along. I found American Elsewhere well written, but felt that it had baked in structural problems (it uses a Lovecraftian model of monsters from the cosmos who break human minds, but the plot requires that they display a very human type of family dynamic, and the two requirements pull at each other). City of Stairs was brilliant. This book builds on its predecessor and displays Bennett's strengths to their fullest.
It concludes with its immediate arc having reached a full and final conclusion, but leaves other broader arcs open-ended (the ultimate Saypuri handling of their role as masters of the world being one: both books so far have ended with impending political changes in the capital). There will be, I understand, a third book, City of Miracles, with Sigrud as a central character (who is, for once, not a Saypuri).
I've seen the complaint that working out who is responsible is too easy, that the reader is ahead of the narrator he/she is following. I think this is to misunderstand the specific type of this book: this is not a detective story with a brilliant sleuth whom the reader can, if so willing, try to second-guess, but a journey of discovery combined with a military mission with a very blunt, straight-ahead (regardless of torpedoes) viewpoint character. (If it has any parallels with the detective story, it is with the hard-boiled type where the guilty character is fairly obvious but where the proof of this is achieved through the P. I. getting beaten up several times along the way.)
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reader think about are very much our issues (or at least some of them) : colonialism (the "colonial" power in the books used to be colonized (and badly treated) by the now colonized), martial triumphalism, war crimes, civilian control of the military, and low-level (guerrilla) warfare, plus some interpersonal and family dynamics with real heft.Bennett has been improving as he moves along. I found American Elsewhere well written, but felt that it had baked in structural problems (it uses a Lovecraftian model of monsters from the cosmos who break human minds, but the plot requires that they display a very human type of family dynamic, and the two requirements pull at each other). City of Stairs was brilliant. This book builds on its predecessor and displays Bennett's strengths to their fullest.
It concludes with its immediate arc having reached a full and final conclusion, but leaves other broader arcs open-ended (the ultimate Saypuri handling of their role as masters of the world being one: both books so far have ended with impending political changes in the capital). There will be, I understand, a third book, City of Miracles, with Sigrud as a central character (who is, for once, not a Saypuri).
I've seen the complaint that working out who is responsible is too easy, that the reader is ahead of the narrator he/she is following. I think this is to misunderstand the specific type of this book: this is not a detective story with a brilliant sleuth whom the reader can, if so willing, try to second-guess, but a journey of discovery combined with a military mission with a very blunt, straight-ahead (regardless of torpedoes) viewpoint character. (If it has any parallels with the detective story, it is with the hard-boiled type where the guilty character is fairly obvious but where the proof of this is achieved through the P. I. getting beaten up several times along the way.)
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
The sequel to 'City of Stairs' open with what's likely the most entertaining 'calling-a-character-out-of-retirement' scene I've ever read. General Mulaghesh has tried to leave war behind and purchased a cottage on a remote beach. However, we quickly begin to suspect that her retreat isn't quite the
After the initial scene, the POV switches - it initially feels like a disappointment, because the opener was so strong. I also missed the brilliantly realized city of Bulikov that 'City of Stairs' introduced us to, even though it's clear from the titles that each book in this series is intended to focus on a different locale. But soon enough I was won over by the new perspective and the new setting.
The 'City of Blades' is Voortyashtan. At times (and I'm not concretely sure why) it reminded me of an evil Gondor. Voortyashtan was largely destroyed by the 'Blink' - the cataclysmic battle in which all the gods and all their associated miracles were destroyed. The bulk of the city, once suspended by Divine power, has sunk below the waves. The surviving inhabitants are in conflict over the remaining bits of arable, livable land. Meanwhile, Saypuri politicians from overseas seek to maintain political control, and a force of Dreylings, also from overseas, are working on an engineering project to clear the harbor, which has the potential to become a key spot in international commerce.
Among both Dreylings and Saypuri, Voortyashtan has a reputation as being the ass end of nowhere - and dangerous, to boot. It's the sort of place where half-discredited military officials are shoved out of the public eye. But now, a bizarre discovery has been made - one that's either an amazing discovery that could revolutionize new technologies, or a disconcerting sign that the gods might not be as dead as everyone assumed. (And, considering that Voortya was a goddess of death and war, she's maybe not a deity you really want to have around. Especially after you killed her.) In conjunction with this, an agent has disappeared. Rumor has it that before vanishing, she went insane. General Mulaghesh is asked to investigate...
It's a great setup for a murder mystery in an eerie, fascinating world. And indeed, the story unfolds with plenty of twists and action. However, as it progresses, somehow the book also becomes a truly insightful meditation on war, the multitudes of costs it inflicts on all parties, the place that violence holds in human society, and what it means to be a soldier. All this without in any way sacrificing the flow and tension of the plot. An impressive achievement.
Many thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this excellent book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
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haven she imagined. And now, an envoy has been sent from Saypur with a message for her - and a mission.After the initial scene, the POV switches - it initially feels like a disappointment, because the opener was so strong. I also missed the brilliantly realized city of Bulikov that 'City of Stairs' introduced us to, even though it's clear from the titles that each book in this series is intended to focus on a different locale. But soon enough I was won over by the new perspective and the new setting.
The 'City of Blades' is Voortyashtan. At times (and I'm not concretely sure why) it reminded me of an evil Gondor. Voortyashtan was largely destroyed by the 'Blink' - the cataclysmic battle in which all the gods and all their associated miracles were destroyed. The bulk of the city, once suspended by Divine power, has sunk below the waves. The surviving inhabitants are in conflict over the remaining bits of arable, livable land. Meanwhile, Saypuri politicians from overseas seek to maintain political control, and a force of Dreylings, also from overseas, are working on an engineering project to clear the harbor, which has the potential to become a key spot in international commerce.
Among both Dreylings and Saypuri, Voortyashtan has a reputation as being the ass end of nowhere - and dangerous, to boot. It's the sort of place where half-discredited military officials are shoved out of the public eye. But now, a bizarre discovery has been made - one that's either an amazing discovery that could revolutionize new technologies, or a disconcerting sign that the gods might not be as dead as everyone assumed. (And, considering that Voortya was a goddess of death and war, she's maybe not a deity you really want to have around. Especially after you killed her.) In conjunction with this, an agent has disappeared. Rumor has it that before vanishing, she went insane. General Mulaghesh is asked to investigate...
It's a great setup for a murder mystery in an eerie, fascinating world. And indeed, the story unfolds with plenty of twists and action. However, as it progresses, somehow the book also becomes a truly insightful meditation on war, the multitudes of costs it inflicts on all parties, the place that violence holds in human society, and what it means to be a soldier. All this without in any way sacrificing the flow and tension of the plot. An impressive achievement.
Many thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this excellent book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
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LibraryThing member renbedell
Military fantasy that further explores religion and culture, but also what it means to be a soldier. The book is set up almost exactly like City of Stairs, like a murder mystery. This time the setting is in a new place on the Continent and following a new protagonist. Many familiar characters from
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the previous book that allow a deeper perspective to each of them. The story itself is great. A lot darker due to the struggle of dealing with atrocities that a soldier may do. It is also self-contained, like the first book, with a clear ending that sums up everything. Though to understand some characters, the first book should be read. The prose is about the same as City of Stairs. I am enjoying the series and looking forward to reading the next chapter. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
I do love a good fantasy story. There is something so enjoyable in reading about worlds that do not exist whether they are filled with magic or suspend the laws and theories of science. I could analyze why I love a good fantasy story. I am sure it has something to do with escaping reality, but I
A good fantasy balances the expository necessity of world-building with forward progression of the story. This is something Bennett does so, so well. Because City of Blades picks up several years after the action in City of Stairs, and because it follows a different hero in a different city, there is again a significant amount of world-building Bennett must provide in order to bring readers up to speed. He has a gift for building his strange world right into the action, so that readers never feel the story lag due to lengthy descriptions or huge chunks of explanations.
Even better, his world is just so damn fascinating. It is difficult to shake the impression that the story takes place in Asia because his use of names, physical descriptions, and food choices could very well come directly from Russia, India, and one of the Scandinavian countries. This makes following the story easy and yet tricky because one must constantly remember that it is a fictional location about a fictional group of people. Building on this layer of familiarity, he adds a nebulous time period. Much of the technology described throughout the novel is a mash-up of old and new items. They drive cars and sail on cruise ships. They fire rifles and cannons. They use cranes and drills for construction projects. They send private communiques over wire. However, telephones are ancient, and no one uses them anymore. They use horses more often than cars. They may have rifles but they also use cross-bows and swords. There is so much that is familiar and yet tauntingly strange about this weird world of Saypur and the Continent. Does it take place in the past or in the future? Does it really occur on the Asian continent or is that just for familiarity’s sake? You just want to know, but at the same time not knowing enhances the truly fantastic elements of the story.
As for City of Blades, it follows the adventures of the very hilarious, totally crass and thoroughly enjoyable General Turyin Mulaghesh. She is a woman’s woman with her propensity for cursing and her “fuck everyone” attitude. This woman tells it like it is and does not bother to sugarcoat a damn thing. While it may turn off some readers, I love every minute of this extremely non-traditional woman’s story, especially when she reveals some of the demons haunting her and admits to a vulnerability buried deep underneath the gruff exterior.
City of Blades brings back all of the favorite characters from City of Stairs, which is a great thing because they all had a genuine connection with each other. They work well together, and you cannot imagine one of the main three characters without at least one other. This is not a rehashing of the first story though. The two stories are similar but have distinctly different themes. However, Bennett reveals a greater plot hiding underneath the individual stories which left me incredibly anxious for the final book.
This is one book/series where I am completely incapable of expressing just how good it is. Bennett’s world is so complex but the familiar elements make it easy to understand. His characters are fantastic; the shades of grey they all portray when it comes to good versus evil are just spectacular and would make for an amazing character study. On top of all of that, the story is just good. Intense, action-packed, and mysterious, there is also something to keep a reader’s interest. Just do yourself a favor and go read it, okay?
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will leave that to the psychologists. Instead, let me gush about Robert Jackson Bennett’s latest novel in his Divine Cities series.A good fantasy balances the expository necessity of world-building with forward progression of the story. This is something Bennett does so, so well. Because City of Blades picks up several years after the action in City of Stairs, and because it follows a different hero in a different city, there is again a significant amount of world-building Bennett must provide in order to bring readers up to speed. He has a gift for building his strange world right into the action, so that readers never feel the story lag due to lengthy descriptions or huge chunks of explanations.
Even better, his world is just so damn fascinating. It is difficult to shake the impression that the story takes place in Asia because his use of names, physical descriptions, and food choices could very well come directly from Russia, India, and one of the Scandinavian countries. This makes following the story easy and yet tricky because one must constantly remember that it is a fictional location about a fictional group of people. Building on this layer of familiarity, he adds a nebulous time period. Much of the technology described throughout the novel is a mash-up of old and new items. They drive cars and sail on cruise ships. They fire rifles and cannons. They use cranes and drills for construction projects. They send private communiques over wire. However, telephones are ancient, and no one uses them anymore. They use horses more often than cars. They may have rifles but they also use cross-bows and swords. There is so much that is familiar and yet tauntingly strange about this weird world of Saypur and the Continent. Does it take place in the past or in the future? Does it really occur on the Asian continent or is that just for familiarity’s sake? You just want to know, but at the same time not knowing enhances the truly fantastic elements of the story.
As for City of Blades, it follows the adventures of the very hilarious, totally crass and thoroughly enjoyable General Turyin Mulaghesh. She is a woman’s woman with her propensity for cursing and her “fuck everyone” attitude. This woman tells it like it is and does not bother to sugarcoat a damn thing. While it may turn off some readers, I love every minute of this extremely non-traditional woman’s story, especially when she reveals some of the demons haunting her and admits to a vulnerability buried deep underneath the gruff exterior.
City of Blades brings back all of the favorite characters from City of Stairs, which is a great thing because they all had a genuine connection with each other. They work well together, and you cannot imagine one of the main three characters without at least one other. This is not a rehashing of the first story though. The two stories are similar but have distinctly different themes. However, Bennett reveals a greater plot hiding underneath the individual stories which left me incredibly anxious for the final book.
This is one book/series where I am completely incapable of expressing just how good it is. Bennett’s world is so complex but the familiar elements make it easy to understand. His characters are fantastic; the shades of grey they all portray when it comes to good versus evil are just spectacular and would make for an amazing character study. On top of all of that, the story is just good. Intense, action-packed, and mysterious, there is also something to keep a reader’s interest. Just do yourself a favor and go read it, okay?
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LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
This was one impressive read! I read the first book in this series, City of Stairs, a few months ago and really enjoyed it so I was really excited to finally get around to reading the second book in the series, City of Blades. A lot of times the second book in a series doesn't quite live up to the
I had really expected this book to focus on the same group of characters and I was somewhat wrong. The main character in this book is Mulaghesh who did play an important role in the first book but was not the lead character. I liked Mulaghesh in the first book but I absolutely loved her in this installment. Getting to learn some of her back story really opened up her character. She is tough, smart, and somewhat haunted by her past. I love the an older woman who has seen and done a lot of things is the person at the center of this story.
This book takes place in Voortyashtan which was very different than the setting of the first book. This meant that while some of the world building did build on the what was established in the previous book, a lot of this world was entirely new. The City of Blades ended up being something I would have never imagined but as it was described it I almost felt as if I were there. I really feel like there is almost no boundaries with what this series can explore.
The story in this book was very exciting. I did think that some of the earlier parts of the book were a bit tedious as I tried to figure out what was really going on. When the story took off, it really didn't let up. There are so many different things to solve that are all interconnected. The story took quite a few twists that I didn't see coming. I was a bit nervous as I read because I had no idea how things would work out for Mulaghesh and everyone.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the series and I do think that this series really needs to be read in order. The stories are not a continuation but the events of the first book really impacted the characters and the world they live in. I can't wait to see what is going to happen in City of Miracles!
I received a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Broadway Books via Blogging for Books and NetGalley.
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first so I was a bit worried going into the book. There was no need for any worry because as good as the first book was, this one was even better. I had such a hard time putting this book down and when I was away from it, I couldn't get it out of my mind. I had really expected this book to focus on the same group of characters and I was somewhat wrong. The main character in this book is Mulaghesh who did play an important role in the first book but was not the lead character. I liked Mulaghesh in the first book but I absolutely loved her in this installment. Getting to learn some of her back story really opened up her character. She is tough, smart, and somewhat haunted by her past. I love the an older woman who has seen and done a lot of things is the person at the center of this story.
This book takes place in Voortyashtan which was very different than the setting of the first book. This meant that while some of the world building did build on the what was established in the previous book, a lot of this world was entirely new. The City of Blades ended up being something I would have never imagined but as it was described it I almost felt as if I were there. I really feel like there is almost no boundaries with what this series can explore.
The story in this book was very exciting. I did think that some of the earlier parts of the book were a bit tedious as I tried to figure out what was really going on. When the story took off, it really didn't let up. There are so many different things to solve that are all interconnected. The story took quite a few twists that I didn't see coming. I was a bit nervous as I read because I had no idea how things would work out for Mulaghesh and everyone.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the series and I do think that this series really needs to be read in order. The stories are not a continuation but the events of the first book really impacted the characters and the world they live in. I can't wait to see what is going to happen in City of Miracles!
I received a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Broadway Books via Blogging for Books and NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member blodeuedd
I was impressed. Maybe I have read too many series, that has had a first good book and then gone down. But here book 2 was even better! YAY! I love when the series gets better and better.
I meant to write this review earlier, but I had one of those, how to express how cool this book was moments. I
This is book 2, our main character was in book 1, had a big part, but was not the main main character. I really got to like Turyin here. First, she is smart. Second, she has her issues and third, well she is old. An older heroine. Yes, I liked that.
The book is about her retiring, but then they drag her back in! And she has a mystery to solve. Which I really liked. A mystery fantasy book.
I am not doing a good job, I have so many things I want to say! Like how I felt like you could read this one without having read book 1, cos he just made it work. Sure you'd be a bit confused but he would just pull you right into the story.
And how I like that they used to be gods and now they are gone, all their miracles gone and the world left in chaos because of it. And the whole god thing was dealt with so well here.
The world is cool and made up from different cultures, and the place without a God is now the one ruling. I remember not liking them in book 1, but here, well they are trying to make things better.
Oh oh! And yes the whole flintlock fantasy thing. They have guns, they have railroads, they are modern, and getting more since magic is gone with the Gods. But the world still feels raw and dark, and so intriguing.
I was impressed. It pulled me right in and I can't wait to see where the road takes us next, and who will be in charge of that book.
I meant to write this review earlier, but I had one of those, how to express how cool this book was moments. I
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just do not know how to express it, but I will try.This is book 2, our main character was in book 1, had a big part, but was not the main main character. I really got to like Turyin here. First, she is smart. Second, she has her issues and third, well she is old. An older heroine. Yes, I liked that.
The book is about her retiring, but then they drag her back in! And she has a mystery to solve. Which I really liked. A mystery fantasy book.
I am not doing a good job, I have so many things I want to say! Like how I felt like you could read this one without having read book 1, cos he just made it work. Sure you'd be a bit confused but he would just pull you right into the story.
And how I like that they used to be gods and now they are gone, all their miracles gone and the world left in chaos because of it. And the whole god thing was dealt with so well here.
The world is cool and made up from different cultures, and the place without a God is now the one ruling. I remember not liking them in book 1, but here, well they are trying to make things better.
Oh oh! And yes the whole flintlock fantasy thing. They have guns, they have railroads, they are modern, and getting more since magic is gone with the Gods. But the world still feels raw and dark, and so intriguing.
I was impressed. It pulled me right in and I can't wait to see where the road takes us next, and who will be in charge of that book.
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LibraryThing member psutto
City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
What does it mean to be a soldier? This question lies at the heart of the second book from Robert Jackson Bennet in the series. A glittering, multi-faceted gem of a book it is too. I seldom invest in series, the author has to be just damn good to get me to
So I approached City of Blades with some nerves - I knew Bennett hadn't planned to write a sequel, I knew it wasn't going to be about exactly the same characters (although Mulaghesh is the main protagonist - and a fabulous kick-ass character too) and, although set in the same world, wasn't going to be in enchanting Bulikov.
Once I'd read a few pages any reservations I had were blown away. Bennett has the knack of grounding you in the story, you are immediately with the characters, absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the world he's transmitting into your brain via the written word. It's a skill I am totally envious of.
General Turyin Mulaghesh has quit but is persuaded to come back for one last mission on behalf of now PM Ashara. The mission? To find a missing member of the government, someone who was investigating a new type of ore found beneath Voortyashtan, the home city of the former god of war and death. And so Bennett pulls out of the hat a second, brilliantly imagined, city in the same world as City of Stairs with an engaging plot, a new cast, with some cameos by old favourites, and a book that builds up to a page-turning second half.
I highly recommend this series to all, but especially to fantasy fans
What does it mean to be a soldier? This question lies at the heart of the second book from Robert Jackson Bennet in the series. A glittering, multi-faceted gem of a book it is too. I seldom invest in series, the author has to be just damn good to get me to
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buy more than one book in the same world and few make the mark. Bennett is one of them (Dave Hutchinson is another - see below). City of Stairs was bold, it felt fresh, it ticked all the epic fantasy boxes that I wanted to be ticked (caveat - I'm not a massive epic fantasy fan, you have to do something special in the genre to make me want to read it) and it was just a rollicking good read.So I approached City of Blades with some nerves - I knew Bennett hadn't planned to write a sequel, I knew it wasn't going to be about exactly the same characters (although Mulaghesh is the main protagonist - and a fabulous kick-ass character too) and, although set in the same world, wasn't going to be in enchanting Bulikov.
Once I'd read a few pages any reservations I had were blown away. Bennett has the knack of grounding you in the story, you are immediately with the characters, absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the world he's transmitting into your brain via the written word. It's a skill I am totally envious of.
General Turyin Mulaghesh has quit but is persuaded to come back for one last mission on behalf of now PM Ashara. The mission? To find a missing member of the government, someone who was investigating a new type of ore found beneath Voortyashtan, the home city of the former god of war and death. And so Bennett pulls out of the hat a second, brilliantly imagined, city in the same world as City of Stairs with an engaging plot, a new cast, with some cameos by old favourites, and a book that builds up to a page-turning second half.
I highly recommend this series to all, but especially to fantasy fans
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LibraryThing member meandmybooks
It took until halfway through before the book really gripped me, but that may have been a function of real life distractions. On the other hand, it is at about the halfway mark that Sigrud comes on the scene and his daughter's character becomes interesting and our main character, Mulagdhesh, can
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finally have real conversations and humanizing interactions. I think the author just has a lot of background to get in and scenarios to develop before he starts things moving. Once they finally do though, the story zips along very satisfactorily. As with City of Stairs, Bennett does an amazing job of building a complex, believable world staffed by deeply flawed but sympathetic characters. The depictions of sadistic violence and cruelty are both appalling and appropriate. Four stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
Catching up on a book I missed from earlier this year. This is set several years after the events in City of Stairs and is set in a different part of Mr. Bennett's fantasy world. This time General Turyin Mulaghesh takes center stage when she is sent to Voortyashtan to discover what happened to a
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Ministry operative. I loved the slow build up until the story take a radical turn and then quickly spirals out of control in the last quarter of the book. Mulaghesh is a great character as she tries to balance doing what is right with what the situation demands of her. She does have help as Sigurd from the first book makes an appearance. What a force of nature he is too! (Side note I can't wait for book three which looks as if Sigurd will take center stage.) There is so much going on in this story as we explore warfare, military life, the Divine and the Afterlife, but the author deftly handles everything and keeps the story focused despite the rising body count. I am not sure how he does it but it just works oh so well. May 2, 2017 can't get here fast enough to continue this series! Show Less
LibraryThing member DLMorrese
The Divinity was a goddess of war, death, and destruction. She's dead, but her soldiers still expect the afterlife she promised them. It's an interesting premise for a story, and a worthy sequel to City of Stairs, although it has they same flaws. The main characters lack appeal and the prose still
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needs work. I can't honestly say I 'liked' it a full 3-stars worth, but I was motivated to finish it. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
This is the sequel to the excellent City of Stairs. It's set several years later, with a different main POV character (albeit one who is familiar from the first book), but it still features everything I liked so much about City of Stairs, and then some: good characters, great fantasy
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world-building, and a compelling story featuring twists and turns, mystery and action. There's also some real depth to it, featuring themes of war, guilt, and what it means to be a soldier. This has rapidly become one of my new favorite series, and although this volume, like the first one, is nicely self-contained, I already find myself wanting more. Show Less
LibraryThing member adamwolf
I enjoyed this. I think I liked the first one a little better.
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Complex, but satisfyingly compelling needs to be read in small doses. Like bomber command in WW2, almost everyone dies. Jackson Bennet will need almost a totally new cast for the sequel.
LibraryThing member ashleytylerjohn
A worthy successor to the very gripping City of Stairs. Its strength (like its predecessor) is extremely likeable protagonists, not because they're so sweet, but because the writer does such a good job of bringing them to life, warts and all, that one can't help but empathize. That said, I wasn't
(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. There are a lot of 4s and 3s in the world!)
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as moved by supposedly moving events in the book, so it's staying at 4 stars for me, which is still high praise.(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. There are a lot of 4s and 3s in the world!)
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LibraryThing member mariananhi
City Of Blades was totally outside of my expectation. I was in love with City of Stairs, and immediately worked my way to the 2nd book of the series (thanks to the ARC that Netgalley provided for me). And guess what? It blew my mind.
Yes, we are no long at Bulikov anymore. And yes, no more Shara for
I love every single character in this book. Bennett did an amazing job to demonstrate the characters and each of their own stories. The astonishing effect that was mixed between the aspect of ancient gods and urban time of Book 1 didn’t disappear. In fact, it becomes much more prominent. The world building is wonderfully made, and Mulaghesh’s mind is so details and complex, I can’t stop myself to turn the page and learn more about her.
You don’t even need to ask me if I would recommend it or not, because there is NO possible way that I would say no. The urban fantasy touch-up is beautifully mixed with the mysterious atmosphere. The solid, more-than-amazing writing and the vivid but surreal imagery give this book the power to take any reader’s breathe away. I absolutely love it!
*I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. In no way this can affect my opinion on the book.
Yes, we are no long at Bulikov anymore. And yes, no more Shara for
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me.This story focus on Mulaghesh and her mission to Voortyashtan. Thanks to Shara Komayd—who is now Prime Minister of Saypuri, Mulaghesh was dragged to the place where it once the home of a death goddess and her dangerous warriors. However, few know, a miraculous type of metal has been discovered in Voortyashtan that may affect the fate of the world. The more Mulaghesh digs into the history of the city, the more mystery secrets that have been buried for ages now revealed.I love every single character in this book. Bennett did an amazing job to demonstrate the characters and each of their own stories. The astonishing effect that was mixed between the aspect of ancient gods and urban time of Book 1 didn’t disappear. In fact, it becomes much more prominent. The world building is wonderfully made, and Mulaghesh’s mind is so details and complex, I can’t stop myself to turn the page and learn more about her.
You don’t even need to ask me if I would recommend it or not, because there is NO possible way that I would say no. The urban fantasy touch-up is beautifully mixed with the mysterious atmosphere. The solid, more-than-amazing writing and the vivid but surreal imagery give this book the power to take any reader’s breathe away. I absolutely love it!
*I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. In no way this can affect my opinion on the book.
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LibraryThing member veeshee
I found this novel to be just as fascinating as the previous one in the series. I was a bit disappointed to learn that the author had replaced the protagonist, but I quickly grew to love General Mulaghesh; her no-nonsense attitude combined with her intelligence and sharp mannerisms made her one of
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my favorite characters of all time. As usual, the detailing in the story was magnificent and every character that was introduced was complex and interesting to read about. I liked that the author shifted POVs throughout the novel, as it kept me sharp on my toes. Reading this novel is like getting a glimpse of history (albeit a false one); I could easily believe that the events happening were real. The plot was intricate and flowed at a good pace; there was enough time to enjoy the scene being presented while not getting bogged down by all of the little details. I am curious to see how the story will continue in the next book, so I am definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for news of the release of the next novel in this series! If you like science fiction and fantasy, then this is the novel for you! I guarantee that those who like Game of Thrones would definitely enjoy this series and should give it a shot! Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
So this is an older female hero who has retired from the army to find that she still has some service owing, so she's sent to a small outpost where their god is dead. like most of the gods in this world, but godish stuff seems to be happening. There's also a substance that appears to conduct
Our hero thought she was done and that she was going to be able to pickle her liver in peace, but no, a last mission, dealing with old friends and enemies and everything in between, including her PTSD. Everyone, including her, have their own motive and it's quite messy.
It took a while to get really going but then I just couldn't put it down, I'm also curious what's going to happen next.
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electricity and amplify it while conducting it and a previous investigator has disappeared, apparently the investigation caused her to lose her mind.Our hero thought she was done and that she was going to be able to pickle her liver in peace, but no, a last mission, dealing with old friends and enemies and everything in between, including her PTSD. Everyone, including her, have their own motive and it's quite messy.
It took a while to get really going but then I just couldn't put it down, I'm also curious what's going to happen next.
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LibraryThing member quondame
The author states that a whole novel was removed from the center of this. It should have been a novel and ½ at least. There is some great stuff here and another ghastly entanglement with the divine, or at least the ghost of the devine, a high rather merciless body count, as the survivors would
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have preferred their own deaths to those that occurred. The pacing could have been more sprightly, the characters were pretty good and interesting where they weren't horrific, and the setting is well invoked. Show Less
LibraryThing member ardvisoor
What a sequel to City of Stair. It blew my mind completely.
I liked City of Stairs, I liked Sigrud and Vohanes and I pitied Shara somehow but I loved and enjoyed every bit of City of Blades.
This books is brilliant,General Mulagesh is now playing the main character and she is so good,so brave,so
In this book Shara send her old friend on an undercover mission to one the most hostile part of continent.
The part that long a go was land of death under supervisory of Voortya Godess of war and death.Mulagesh cooperator in this mission is young Dreyling brilliant engineer who mutually don't like each other.
I liked City of Stairs, I liked Sigrud and Vohanes and I pitied Shara somehow but I loved and enjoyed every bit of City of Blades.
This books is brilliant,General Mulagesh is now playing the main character and she is so good,so brave,so
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human that make it impossible not to love her.In this book Shara send her old friend on an undercover mission to one the most hostile part of continent.
The part that long a go was land of death under supervisory of Voortya Godess of war and death.Mulagesh cooperator in this mission is young Dreyling brilliant engineer who mutually don't like each other.
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LibraryThing member tldegray
[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2017)
Language
Original publication date
2016
ISBN
9780553419726
Local notes
The city of Voortyashtan was once the domain of the goddess of death, war, and destruction, but now it’s little more than a ruin. General Turyin Mulaghesh is called out of retirement and sent to this hellish place to try to find a Saypuri secret agent who’s gone missing in the middle of a mission, but the city of war offers countless threats: not only have the ghosts of her own past battles followed her here, but she soon finds herself wondering what happened to all the souls that were trapped in the afterlife when the Divinities vanished.