Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
HarperVoyager (2019), 640 pages
Description
"The sequel to S. A. Chakraborty's brilliantly imagined fantasy The City of Brass, which #1 New York Times bestelling author Sabaa Tahir called "the best adult fantasy I've read since The Name of the Wind", in which a young con artist drawn into the kingdom of the djinn must navigate her way through their dangerous world of magic, court politics, and ever-shifting alliances"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member pgmcc
This book is much more than simply a Fantasy tale. It is a far-reaching discourse on prejudice, political manipulation, abuse of power, and the everlasting cycle of wars that the world appears to be unable to break. You can view this book as dealing with conflict on a regional basis or on a global
The personal interest is maintained by having well rounded characters from every faction involved. Chakraborty used these characters well to inform the reader of the views of people in each faction. She also uses their personal relationships and feelings to portray the struggle of individuals tied up in undesirable situations not of their making. The sad thing I see is the repeating ebb and flow of cruelty and war in the book reflected in the real world with us currently witnessing the resurgence of behaviours and attitudes that we thought were stopped for good seventy-five years ago.
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scale; the parallels are there and are applicable everywhere.The personal interest is maintained by having well rounded characters from every faction involved. Chakraborty used these characters well to inform the reader of the views of people in each faction. She also uses their personal relationships and feelings to portray the struggle of individuals tied up in undesirable situations not of their making. The sad thing I see is the repeating ebb and flow of cruelty and war in the book reflected in the real world with us currently witnessing the resurgence of behaviours and attitudes that we thought were stopped for good seventy-five years ago.
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LibraryThing member JJbooklvr
Book 2 of this series picks up several years after City of Brass as we follow the story from the viewpoints of the different main characters. This reminded me of a cross between Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead with enough politics, intrigue, and a body count to match. It was at times
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relentlessly grim with moments of lightness as we hit that ending that shatters their world. I can’t wait to see how the author wraps this one up in book 3! Now I need to lie on the floor and have puppies jump all over me to recover from this! Show Less
LibraryThing member foggidawn
After the tumultuous events of The City of Brass, the main characters are dispersed. Alizayd is exiled. Nahri is married. And Dara is dead . . . or is he?
I found this second volume of the series just as interesting and engaging as the first. Often, the second book in a trilogy ends on a
I found this second volume of the series just as interesting and engaging as the first. Often, the second book in a trilogy ends on a
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cliffhanger, but I found the ending of this book satisfying. There are, of course, loose ends to be tied up in the next book, but there's definitely a compete story arc here. If you enjoyed the first book, don't hesitate to read the second. Show Less
LibraryThing member DGRachel
I knew this was going to end with another doozy of a cliffhanger, so I can't be mad, but UGH! I hate that I have to wait for another year to get the conclusion to this story. I love these characters and the world that S.A. Chakraborty has created is so rich and beautiful I hate to close the cover
Seriously, I can't think of anything else to say that doesn't risk major spoilers for either the first book or this one, so all I can say is read it. You won't be sorry. The prose is gorgeous. The characters are multidimensional, and I want to open the book up and start all over again. The audiobook is also done very well. I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator on the first book, but I find that she is growing on me.
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or hit stop on the audiobook because I don't want to leave Daevabad. I don't want to say goodbye, or even see you later, to Nahri or other characters I cannot name because *SPOILERS*.Seriously, I can't think of anything else to say that doesn't risk major spoilers for either the first book or this one, so all I can say is read it. You won't be sorry. The prose is gorgeous. The characters are multidimensional, and I want to open the book up and start all over again. The audiobook is also done very well. I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator on the first book, but I find that she is growing on me.
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LibraryThing member Guide2
Very good follow up to the first book that takes place 5 years later. The main characters are still has interesting, but would have taken more details about the new characters introduced.
LibraryThing member imyril
I have lost all sense of proportion over this series: I'm enjoying it too much to be judgemental (except when it comes to Dara YE GODS WHAT IS HE THINKING). The Kingdom of Copper is another explosive, richly-imagined slice of djinni politics and magical world-building - and it's not shy of asking
Can a society move on from past injustices to take a new, inclusive, fairer shape – in the face of resistance from traditionalists? Can peace be forged in spite of atrocities by modern-day extremists? What acts can we forgive in the name of the greater good? Forget whether the ends justify the means – can we even agree what ends are acceptable?
This is thoughtful, sometimes provocative fantasy for our times. I can’t wait to see what answers it provides in its final instalment.
Although I dearly hope it includes Nahri telling Dara to get back in his bottle because she's had quite enough of his toxic attitudes.
Full review
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, but I'll be buying a paperback too - I want this trilogy on my physical shelf.
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oh-so-relevant questions. Can a society move on from past injustices to take a new, inclusive, fairer shape – in the face of resistance from traditionalists? Can peace be forged in spite of atrocities by modern-day extremists? What acts can we forgive in the name of the greater good? Forget whether the ends justify the means – can we even agree what ends are acceptable?
This is thoughtful, sometimes provocative fantasy for our times. I can’t wait to see what answers it provides in its final instalment.
Although I dearly hope it includes Nahri telling Dara to get back in his bottle because she's had quite enough of his toxic attitudes.
Full review
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, but I'll be buying a paperback too - I want this trilogy on my physical shelf.
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LibraryThing member VioletBramble
The second book of the Daevabad Trilogy. Nahri continues to hone her skills as Banu Nahida (healer) and dreams of rebuilding the hospital built by her people centuries earlier. She plans to open the hospital to the people of all the tribes of the city. In this way she hopes to end the continual
I love this series. This one ended with cliffhangers in multiple storylines. Ugh-- now the wait for the final book begins.
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mistrust and aggressions between the tribes. However; factions from some of the tribes, from inside and outside the city, have very different plans. I love this series. This one ended with cliffhangers in multiple storylines. Ugh-- now the wait for the final book begins.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
The author returns to her fantasy Middle East with the 2nd book in the series. For me, it started out in an unfortunate way, as she undid the shocking ending of book 1. That did not sit well, I wanted to throw the book away at that point.
Unfortunately, most of this book continues to show that all
This isn't all bad, her setting is very interesting and so are the characters, but the plot was a foregone conclusion from the start.
Unfortunately, most of this book continues to show that all
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of her characters are frozen just as they are, completely unable to change in any way. There's going to be a revolution and the revolution is mostly caused by this unwillingness to change, adapt or learn to relate to others. This isn't all bad, her setting is very interesting and so are the characters, but the plot was a foregone conclusion from the start.
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LibraryThing member quondame
Another longer than necessary volume, though it didn't drag quite as much as the first, however, no one seems to have learned much from mistakes as this is a continuation of them and the consequences grow. But all the view point characters are still with us.
LibraryThing member Lisa5127
*** I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ***
I loved this book, and I struggled with this book, it just depends on what page I was on. The ARC was over 600 pages. A lot of that dealt with the politics of which groups were in power and how they got
In the back of the book, the author does give a helpful list - I wish I had paged through the book to notice that before I started reading. She lists all the Daevas, Geziris, Ayaanle, Sahrayn, Tukharistani, Shafit and Ifrit. I probably would have made a photocopy of that and used it as a bookmark to help keep track of where everyone would fit in politically.
There is also a glossary in the back that is just over 3 pages long. I would have referred to that rather often had I done a better job of looking over the book when I first started reading. Without that, picking out definitions in the context of the pages is very hard.
For example, Suleiman's Seal (ring) - depending on your perspective, is either a blessing or a curse, but I wasn't able to really pin down exactly what it was based on context alone. The definition:
The seal ring Suleiman once used to control the djinn, given to the Nahids and later stolen by the Qahtanis. The bearer of Suleiman's ring can nullify any magic. (Page 615-616 of ARC).
So, if a djinn is talking about it, it is bad. If a Nahid is talking about it, it is something that was stolen from them and they want it back. For a Qahtanis, it is a source of power. It seemed to become a trophy or a holy grail to seek for everyone.
So, for the first half of the book, I would have probably rated this 3 stars. I got a bit lost in all the politics and all the scheming. Scheming to bring Ali back, to have him killed, to bring him to power. Scheming for Mauntadhir and Nahri to have children or be sure they did not have children. To build a hospital or to destroy it.
We got to meet Nahri's mom. I won't go into that so I don't spoil anything, but let's just say I wanted to love her, but she was much more complicated than just being a long-lost-mother.
The last 200 pages of the book were amazing! It was a lot more action than the first 400 pages. It was also a lot less confusing since the alliances and enemies were very obvious. The author did a great job of taking all the confusing bits from the first part of the book and bringing it all to a head in the end. I love that Nahri never loses her ability to think for herself, to read people, and to make the right choice even when it is hard. I loved the honor that Muntadhir finally showed near the end of the book as well. I won't say more so I don't spoil anything, but I really liked him in the end.
Now I just have to wait for the final book to come out to see how it all ends!
I loved this book, and I struggled with this book, it just depends on what page I was on. The ARC was over 600 pages. A lot of that dealt with the politics of which groups were in power and how they got
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there. I found that very hard to keep track of. Then again, I can't keep our actual world history straight, so that may very well have been an issue for me, but not for a reader with a better memory. In the back of the book, the author does give a helpful list - I wish I had paged through the book to notice that before I started reading. She lists all the Daevas, Geziris, Ayaanle, Sahrayn, Tukharistani, Shafit and Ifrit. I probably would have made a photocopy of that and used it as a bookmark to help keep track of where everyone would fit in politically.
There is also a glossary in the back that is just over 3 pages long. I would have referred to that rather often had I done a better job of looking over the book when I first started reading. Without that, picking out definitions in the context of the pages is very hard.
For example, Suleiman's Seal (ring) - depending on your perspective, is either a blessing or a curse, but I wasn't able to really pin down exactly what it was based on context alone. The definition:
The seal ring Suleiman once used to control the djinn, given to the Nahids and later stolen by the Qahtanis. The bearer of Suleiman's ring can nullify any magic. (Page 615-616 of ARC).
So, if a djinn is talking about it, it is bad. If a Nahid is talking about it, it is something that was stolen from them and they want it back. For a Qahtanis, it is a source of power. It seemed to become a trophy or a holy grail to seek for everyone.
So, for the first half of the book, I would have probably rated this 3 stars. I got a bit lost in all the politics and all the scheming. Scheming to bring Ali back, to have him killed, to bring him to power. Scheming for Mauntadhir and Nahri to have children or be sure they did not have children. To build a hospital or to destroy it.
We got to meet Nahri's mom. I won't go into that so I don't spoil anything, but let's just say I wanted to love her, but she was much more complicated than just being a long-lost-mother.
The last 200 pages of the book were amazing! It was a lot more action than the first 400 pages. It was also a lot less confusing since the alliances and enemies were very obvious. The author did a great job of taking all the confusing bits from the first part of the book and bringing it all to a head in the end. I love that Nahri never loses her ability to think for herself, to read people, and to make the right choice even when it is hard. I loved the honor that Muntadhir finally showed near the end of the book as well. I won't say more so I don't spoil anything, but I really liked him in the end.
Now I just have to wait for the final book to come out to see how it all ends!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa5127
*** I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ***
I loved this book, and I struggled with this book, it just depends on what page I was on. The ARC was over 600 pages. A lot of that dealt with the politics of which groups were in power and how they got
In the back of the book, the author does give a helpful list - I wish I had paged through the book to notice that before I started reading. She lists all the Daevas, Geziris, Ayaanle, Sahrayn, Tukharistani, Shafit and Ifrit. I probably would have made a photocopy of that and used it as a bookmark to help keep track of where everyone would fit in politically.
There is also a glossary in the back that is just over 3 pages long. I would have referred to that rather often had I done a better job of looking over the book when I first started reading. Without that, picking out definitions in the context of the pages is very hard.
For example, Suleiman's Seal (ring) - depending on your perspective, is either a blessing or a curse, but I wasn't able to really pin down exactly what it was based on context alone. The definition:
The seal ring Suleiman once used to control the djinn, given to the Nahids and later stolen by the Qahtanis. The bearer of Suleiman's ring can nullify any magic. (Page 615-616 of ARC).
So, if a djinn is talking about it, it is bad. If a Nahid is talking about it, it is something that was stolen from them and they want it back. For a Qahtanis, it is a source of power. It seemed to become a trophy or a holy grail to seek for everyone.
So, for the first half of the book, I would have probably rated this 3 stars. I got a bit lost in all the politics and all the scheming. Scheming to bring Ali back, to have him killed, to bring him to power. Scheming for Mauntadhir and Nahri to have children or be sure they did not have children. To build a hospital or to destroy it.
We got to meet Nahri's mom. I won't go into that so I don't spoil anything, but let's just say I wanted to love her, but she was much more complicated than just being a long-lost-mother.
The last 200 pages of the book were amazing! It was a lot more action than the first 400 pages. It was also a lot less confusing since the alliances and enemies were very obvious. The author did a great job of taking all the confusing bits from the first part of the book and bringing it all to a head in the end. I love that Nahri never loses her ability to think for herself, to read people, and to make the right choice even when it is hard. I loved the honor that Muntadhir finally showed near the end of the book as well. I won't say more so I don't spoil anything, but I really liked him in the end.
Now I just have to wait for the final book to come out to see how it all ends!
I loved this book, and I struggled with this book, it just depends on what page I was on. The ARC was over 600 pages. A lot of that dealt with the politics of which groups were in power and how they got
Show More
there. I found that very hard to keep track of. Then again, I can't keep our actual world history straight, so that may very well have been an issue for me, but not for a reader with a better memory. In the back of the book, the author does give a helpful list - I wish I had paged through the book to notice that before I started reading. She lists all the Daevas, Geziris, Ayaanle, Sahrayn, Tukharistani, Shafit and Ifrit. I probably would have made a photocopy of that and used it as a bookmark to help keep track of where everyone would fit in politically.
There is also a glossary in the back that is just over 3 pages long. I would have referred to that rather often had I done a better job of looking over the book when I first started reading. Without that, picking out definitions in the context of the pages is very hard.
For example, Suleiman's Seal (ring) - depending on your perspective, is either a blessing or a curse, but I wasn't able to really pin down exactly what it was based on context alone. The definition:
The seal ring Suleiman once used to control the djinn, given to the Nahids and later stolen by the Qahtanis. The bearer of Suleiman's ring can nullify any magic. (Page 615-616 of ARC).
So, if a djinn is talking about it, it is bad. If a Nahid is talking about it, it is something that was stolen from them and they want it back. For a Qahtanis, it is a source of power. It seemed to become a trophy or a holy grail to seek for everyone.
So, for the first half of the book, I would have probably rated this 3 stars. I got a bit lost in all the politics and all the scheming. Scheming to bring Ali back, to have him killed, to bring him to power. Scheming for Mauntadhir and Nahri to have children or be sure they did not have children. To build a hospital or to destroy it.
We got to meet Nahri's mom. I won't go into that so I don't spoil anything, but let's just say I wanted to love her, but she was much more complicated than just being a long-lost-mother.
The last 200 pages of the book were amazing! It was a lot more action than the first 400 pages. It was also a lot less confusing since the alliances and enemies were very obvious. The author did a great job of taking all the confusing bits from the first part of the book and bringing it all to a head in the end. I love that Nahri never loses her ability to think for herself, to read people, and to make the right choice even when it is hard. I loved the honor that Muntadhir finally showed near the end of the book as well. I won't say more so I don't spoil anything, but I really liked him in the end.
Now I just have to wait for the final book to come out to see how it all ends!
Show Less
LibraryThing member m_mozeleski
5 years has passed since the end of the last novel. An appropriate amount of time for things to progress and other things to be set up. I think this was very well-written. Some DRAMA, but so well set up. I appreciate that there's so much lost in communication and that several of the characters
I do feel somwhat bad for a couple of the royal family members, but then I remember they're all assholes, and frequently make stupid decisions...yeah. This is a wonderful book.
AND THAT TWIST AT THE END.
I have to wait at least three days before I get the last book in the series in my hands! Ahh!!
I can't wait. The food descriptions continue to hit that spot, making me a bit hungry, but that is just the sign of a well-described meal...I love it.
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frequently try to make the same thing happen without knowing the other person wants it to happen. Just wonderful.I do feel somwhat bad for a couple of the royal family members, but then I remember they're all assholes, and frequently make stupid decisions...yeah. This is a wonderful book.
AND THAT TWIST AT THE END.
I have to wait at least three days before I get the last book in the series in my hands! Ahh!!
I can't wait. The food descriptions continue to hit that spot, making me a bit hungry, but that is just the sign of a well-described meal...I love it.
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LibraryThing member Shrike58
With the first book in this trilogy I probably damned it a little bit with faint praise by calling it "pretty damn good but not great," on the basis that it seemed to be afflicted with a few too many data dumps. In the middle book the question is how the main characters are going to fare with the
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churn of social and political conflict that is Daevabad, as the stresses seem to constantly increase with almost no hope in sight. Rest assured, Ms. Chakraborty detonates the explosion in the climax of this book. If you enjoyed the first book there is no reason for you not to enjoy this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member BillieBook
I should have waited. I should have waited until Book Three was almost here before I read this one. Because that ending resets the game board AGAIN and I am not sure that I can wait a year to find out the endgame. Who lives? Who dies? How the hell does this end well for anyone? I am going to be on
So. Good.
If you're a fan of sweeping epic fantasy, you need to read this series.
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tenterhooks for at least a year—probably more since there's a 95% chance they won't do ARCs of the finale and it may take Chakraborty longer to write and get right, anyway.So. Good.
If you're a fan of sweeping epic fantasy, you need to read this series.
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LibraryThing member Jayeless
This book had me rapt. It was full of political intrigue and scheming, in a way that reminded me of the best aspects of A Game of Thrones (but honestly this series is more enjoyable). With all the world-building groundwork having been accomplished in the first book, this one can afford to be much
Much of this book revolves around the main characters' efforts to do the right thing (mostly struggle in support of the oppressed shafit, and against blind tribalism) when they live in a society filled with powerful people who want to thwart every such effort. King Ghassan is, like in the first book, ruthlessly tyrannical, but the forces conspiring against him are just as bad. It makes for compelling reading and I'm very keen to move on to the third book now, to see what happens next.
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faster-paced, and is all the better for it.Much of this book revolves around the main characters' efforts to do the right thing (mostly struggle in support of the oppressed shafit, and against blind tribalism) when they live in a society filled with powerful people who want to thwart every such effort. King Ghassan is, like in the first book, ruthlessly tyrannical, but the forces conspiring against him are just as bad. It makes for compelling reading and I'm very keen to move on to the third book now, to see what happens next.
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LibraryThing member PoppyM
This story is a delight and I can't wait to dive into the final book in the series.
The author really stepped up the tension in book 2, creating so many twists and adds to the lore, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. The world-building is incredible and I'm
If you love mythology, fairy tales, fantasy, political intrigue, characters coming into their own, and a bit of romance, you'll probably adore this book.
The author really stepped up the tension in book 2, creating so many twists and adds to the lore, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. The world-building is incredible and I'm
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invested in all characters. If you love mythology, fairy tales, fantasy, political intrigue, characters coming into their own, and a bit of romance, you'll probably adore this book.
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LibraryThing member oregongirl1985
I really love the palace intrigue, characters, plot twists and the world the author created.
LibraryThing member deslivres5
In one word: scheming.
Second book of the trilogy, with the magic and intrigue of palace life continuing.
Nahri seems to have accepted her lot in her new life: she acquiesces... until she doesn't!
Third book awaits!
Second book of the trilogy, with the magic and intrigue of palace life continuing.
Nahri seems to have accepted her lot in her new life: she acquiesces... until she doesn't!
Third book awaits!
LibraryThing member The_Literary_Jedi
Returning to Daevabad and the rich world of Djinn and Deava, the story takes place at least 5 years following "City of Brass."
Nahri is the Banu for Geziri ruler Ghessan and works in the infirmary with her assistant Nesreen. She's become more skilled with her healing abilities. Nahri is also now
As the story continues, Manizheh is gathering men and power with Dara to invade Daevabad and get rid of Suleiman's Curse. Dara is torn at what happened on the lake with Nahri, Jamshid, and even Ali. He goes along with Manizheh's plan but refuses to allow himself to give over to his natural form which is much like an Ifrit.
During the story, Nahri discovers an old ruined Nahid hospital and three ex-slaves living there. She decides to make it her goal to rebuild the hospital. Out in the desert, Ali has been living his life away from his Geziri royal title and finally stopped looking over his shoulder for assassins. But, we readers know that won't last. He is tricked into returning to Daevabad.
Once all the characters are in Daevabad, the story slowed down a lot for me. Ali was his typical pretentious sanctimonious self. Muntadhir was a drunk ass, Jamshid was a poor guy caught in the middle, Nahri was a seething mess of emotions, and Ghessan was also a dick. I had trouble following along at points - I was listening to the audiobook again - and I think this was the problem. If I missed something or didn't understand it, going back was too annoying with audio versus being able to flip back a page or reread a single paragraph. Another thing in this series is the parallel timeline. Daevabad is a magical hidden city and Nahri is from Cairo, Egypt during a time when guns are present as well as the French [I'm assuming Napoleonic invasion?]. I get so invested in the magic and myth of the Djinn that when something is thrown out about Nahri's past, I would get tossed out of the story.
There is a lot of interaction between all characters in Daevabad and within Manizheh's camp. The political stakes are high and when it comes, the action is exciting. The ending fell a little flat for me or I guess I was thinking something slightly different was going to happen. I think I'll try to read the book for the last one and see if it makes more sense and flows a bit better for me.
**All thoughts and opinions are my own. I listened to this audiobook through my Libby app and local library branch.**
Nahri is the Banu for Geziri ruler Ghessan and works in the infirmary with her assistant Nesreen. She's become more skilled with her healing abilities. Nahri is also now
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married to Ghessan's heir, Muntadhir.As the story continues, Manizheh is gathering men and power with Dara to invade Daevabad and get rid of Suleiman's Curse. Dara is torn at what happened on the lake with Nahri, Jamshid, and even Ali. He goes along with Manizheh's plan but refuses to allow himself to give over to his natural form which is much like an Ifrit.
During the story, Nahri discovers an old ruined Nahid hospital and three ex-slaves living there. She decides to make it her goal to rebuild the hospital. Out in the desert, Ali has been living his life away from his Geziri royal title and finally stopped looking over his shoulder for assassins. But, we readers know that won't last. He is tricked into returning to Daevabad.
Once all the characters are in Daevabad, the story slowed down a lot for me. Ali was his typical pretentious sanctimonious self. Muntadhir was a drunk ass, Jamshid was a poor guy caught in the middle, Nahri was a seething mess of emotions, and Ghessan was also a dick. I had trouble following along at points - I was listening to the audiobook again - and I think this was the problem. If I missed something or didn't understand it, going back was too annoying with audio versus being able to flip back a page or reread a single paragraph. Another thing in this series is the parallel timeline. Daevabad is a magical hidden city and Nahri is from Cairo, Egypt during a time when guns are present as well as the French [I'm assuming Napoleonic invasion?]. I get so invested in the magic and myth of the Djinn that when something is thrown out about Nahri's past, I would get tossed out of the story.
There is a lot of interaction between all characters in Daevabad and within Manizheh's camp. The political stakes are high and when it comes, the action is exciting. The ending fell a little flat for me or I guess I was thinking something slightly different was going to happen. I think I'll try to read the book for the last one and see if it makes more sense and flows a bit better for me.
**All thoughts and opinions are my own. I listened to this audiobook through my Libby app and local library branch.**
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LibraryThing member Eclipse777
This is far superior to the first book , I love my court intrigue.
LibraryThing member SamMusher
Turns out I don’t care that much. The characters are still fretting about the same things and the elaborate multigenerational war is still elaborate and...meh? I got 150 pages in and there’s still so much AND another book. I’m not invested enough in where everyone ends up.
LibraryThing member farrhon
Djinns aren’t real people and the author can’t make real characters
LibraryThing member wanderlustlover
Fall 2021 (October);
~ Rating: 3.5, but no round up
I absolutely shouted in joy when we got our third POV person in this book.
I have to admit this book wandered more than I expected it to, and I found myself in a lot of problems with the book's time jump. Not specifically with the jump itself, but
I was disappointed to realize it was only "one other child" with the Nahid blood, because the other way would have made far sounder political sense. Two people is easy to kill, but a collective of hidden Nahid's you don't know who are would be much harder to hide and much harder to kill out entirely, again. Especially when you're talking about saving a race of people, not just a brother and a sister. I do appreciate who it was (and in that, I hope we get his being *very angry* next book about being put through so much pain and trauma by those who knew he could heal it in seconds basically).
Dara remains the character I'm most invested in and I spend a lot of time, wince-worthily, feeling like I'm watching someone so used to the domestic abuse situation they've been stuck in that they don't know how to get out it, not when they dream of more, and not even remembering to fight back when they are treated as an object to be owned.
I'm really hoping that this book is not heading us toward actually being the love triangle I would expect a normal YA book to have already taken us to/through in books one. And yet? We got several more uses of "my friend" used by each about the other, ~~but~~ also now Ali has started fumbling, blushing, and pointing out how beautiful Nahri is, while constantly reminding himself he's thinking jealously about his brother's wife. #sigh
There's so much more here, too. I was right about Manizah and Kaveh. My heart ached for Nisreen, but I still felt like somehow Nahri & Nisreen's relationship hadn't changed at all from the end of book one to five years later, given Nahri still never chose to confide in her or trust her any more than in the last book. I love that we got to see 3 more of the surviving Djinn. It was a little surprising to see Kaveh's cruelty parallel and match so perfectly with Ghassan.
I'm still on the fence about whether to read book 3, so we'll see in time.
~ Rating: 3.5, but no round up
I absolutely shouted in joy when we got our third POV person in this book.
I have to admit this book wandered more than I expected it to, and I found myself in a lot of problems with the book's time jump. Not specifically with the jump itself, but
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with the writing that made the characters act like they didn't have five years of history between their current placement and the end of the last book. History not existing between people, and things people never said or did or heard about that didn't make any sense.I was disappointed to realize it was only "one other child" with the Nahid blood, because the other way would have made far sounder political sense. Two people is easy to kill, but a collective of hidden Nahid's you don't know who are would be much harder to hide and much harder to kill out entirely, again. Especially when you're talking about saving a race of people, not just a brother and a sister. I do appreciate who it was (and in that, I hope we get his being *very angry* next book about being put through so much pain and trauma by those who knew he could heal it in seconds basically).
Dara remains the character I'm most invested in and I spend a lot of time, wince-worthily, feeling like I'm watching someone so used to the domestic abuse situation they've been stuck in that they don't know how to get out it, not when they dream of more, and not even remembering to fight back when they are treated as an object to be owned.
I'm really hoping that this book is not heading us toward actually being the love triangle I would expect a normal YA book to have already taken us to/through in books one. And yet? We got several more uses of "my friend" used by each about the other, ~~but~~ also now Ali has started fumbling, blushing, and pointing out how beautiful Nahri is, while constantly reminding himself he's thinking jealously about his brother's wife. #sigh
There's so much more here, too. I was right about Manizah and Kaveh. My heart ached for Nisreen, but I still felt like somehow Nahri & Nisreen's relationship hadn't changed at all from the end of book one to five years later, given Nahri still never chose to confide in her or trust her any more than in the last book. I love that we got to see 3 more of the surviving Djinn. It was a little surprising to see Kaveh's cruelty parallel and match so perfectly with Ghassan.
I'm still on the fence about whether to read book 3, so we'll see in time.
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LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
Loved this second volume in this series! Chakraborty does a wonderful job of bringing this universe to life. The characters are well rounded and interesting, and the story is never predictable. Now, to wait for installment 3!
LibraryThing member newnaturalmama
One of the best new fantasy series in awhile
Awards
Ignyte Award (Shortlist — 2020)
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Shortlist — 2022)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2019)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-01-01
2019
Physical description
5.04 inches
ISBN
0008239444 / 9780008239442
Local notes
Nahri's life changed forever when she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad, she needed all of her grifter instincts to survive. Now, as Nahri embraces her heritage and her power, she must forge a new path. Exiled for daring to defy his father, Ali is adrift on the unforgiving sands of his ancestral land, hunted by assassins and forced to rely on frightening new abilities that threaten to reveal a terrible family secret.