There are a lot of similarities to the Djinn city and society that parallel our own, with problems that are very relatable. I’m usually a fast reader, but this book made me savor each and every word without wanting to miss even a single one. The way the events played out and politics sucked everybody and everything in a unstoppable whirlpool that I might have even stopped breathing during the read. It certainly is done very realistically and I can see the same dynamics play out even in today’s modern world.Īll leading to one of the most engrossing and dramatic climax I’ve read. The second half takes places solely in the city of Daevabad and it’s all about the political dynamics within the city and how the introduction of our protagonists rock the delicate balance. The creatures and races are fascinating and the interplay between them takes much of the first half.

The plot moves at a sedate pace initially as we get to know the world, the characters, the history all woven into the tale with not much overt info dumping. At the end, it certainly was a disappointment to have been pulled away from the rich desert city and back into my tiny apartment.

Every page, I actually got to live in Daevabad and it sure was a wonderful experience. The way the culture is described sans the mundane actions is something I found refreshing. The middle eastern setting is done just perfectly and Daevabad is just as perfectly woven as a top class tapestry from that era. If you like a well written low fantasy with lots of political/social intrigue and good characters, dive right in!Īfter finishing, the freshest impression in my mind is that of the spectacular worldbuilding. I had to kick myself for putting this off this long. She only wishes to one day leave Cairo, but as the saying goes… She knows the trades she uses to get by are just tricks and sleights of hand: there’s nothing magical about them. Many wish their lives could be filled with such wonder, but not Nahri.

Where magic pours down every street, hanging in the air like dust. Of cities hidden among the swirling sands of the desert, full of enchantment, desire and riches. Among the bustling markets of eighteenth century Cairo, the city’s outcasts eke out a living swindling rich Ottoman nobles and foreign invaders alike.īut alongside this new world the old stories linger.

The city of brass trilogy