Review: The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem

The Jasad Crown

Sara Hashem

(The Scorched Throne #2)

Publication Date: July 15, 2025

Paperback, 688 pages, Orbit

Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Goodreads

In the thrilling conclusion to the Egyptian-inspired Scorched Throne duology, a fugitive queen may be the key to restoring her lost kingdom of Jasad, but it could cost her everything and everyone she loves.

 

Held deep in a mountain refuge, Sylvia has been captured by the Urabi, who believe she can return their homeland to its former power. But after years of denying her legacy and a forbidden alliance with Jasad's greatest enemy, Sylvia must win the group's trust while struggling to keep control of both her magic and her mind.

 

In the rival kingdom, Arin is caught between his father's desire to put down the brewing rebellion and the sacred edicts he's sworn to uphold. Arin must find Sylvia before his father's army, but his search will call into question the very core of Arin's beliefs about his family and the destruction of Jasad.

 

War is inevitable and Sylvia cannot abandon her people again. The Urabi plan to raise the Jasadi fortress, and it will either kill Sylvia or destroy the humanity she's fought so hard to protect. For the first time in her life Sylvia doesn't just want to survive. She wants to win. The fugitive queen is ready to come home.

My Review

Wow. That's all I can think to say about Sara Hashem's The Jasad Crown. I think I sobbed through the final two hundred pages of this book. If you want an emotional gut punch of a fantasy story with vibes similar to S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad and Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, combined with a tension-filled romance reminiscent of series like Serpent & Dove and The Crimson Moth, then you should definitely pick up The Scorched Throne duology.

Book two starts about where book one left off, with Sylvia's magic and lineage having just been revealed and Arin struggling to deal with the fallout of Sylvia being on the loose and all the political upheaval that creates. Book one stayed in Syliva's POV, but in this installment, we get three additional POVs: Arin's, Sefa's, and Marek's. And honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed each character's chapters. There wasn't a POV that dragged the plot down.

There was also plenty of action. There were badass sword and magic scenes with battles and monsters throughout. There was also pining. I love some pining. Especially when it's paired with actual enemies to lovers. Sylvia and Arin kick the crap out of each other, and I giggle and kick my feet every time. Now, the book did have a slight flaw in that some tasks did seem a bit too conveniently resolved, but I easily rolled with it. I wasn't going to question it too hard when I was having such a good time. The ending was also lovely, though it was abrupt. I wanted more! I guess I'll just have to see what Sara Hashem releases next. Sigh. I hope there's something new soon!

I honestly adored this duology, and I think I forgot how much I loved it because there was a big gap between release dates. In fact, that's probably my only real criticism. I didn't do a reread, so I couldn't remember the world or side character details, like the lands' histories and the monsters. I wish there had been more "refresher" language to subtly remind the reader what happened in book one.

Overall, The Jasad Crown is a fantastic sequel and series finale. If you need a book to destroy you, this is it. Add it to your TBR. But obviously read book one first and book two immediately after. You'll enjoy the journey. I'm actually very excited to reread these books one day and hurt my soul all over again, and that's something I don't say very often after just finishing a book.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Born of Blood and Ash

Jennifer L. Armentrout

(Flesh and Fire #4)

Publication Date: August 13, 2024

Hardcover, 770 pages, Blue Box Press

Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Goodreads

 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes the thrilling conclusion to her beloved Flesh and Fire series…

 

The line between love and obsession has never been wider.

 

While Sera is finally free of Kolis and back with those she loves, not everything is calm. Memories of all she’s endured still haunt her, but Sera finally has hope for a future with the other half of her heart and soul. Nyktos desires, loves, and accepts every part of her—even the monstrous bits she still battles.

 

More than ever, Sera and Ash have everything under the realms to fight for, and Nyktos has no doubt Sera is fit to be the Queen of the Gods. But she must find that faith within herself if they hope to convince the other Courts to support them against Kolis and make Iliseeum and the mortal realm better, safer places for all.

 

But as Sera begins to piece together the importance of her bloodline and the true meaning behind the foreboding prophecy, it becomes clear that everything that has happened and is yet to come is much bigger than Kolis and his dark obsessions.

 

They cannot help but wonder exactly how much influence the Fates have had and what their ultimate goal is. What Sera does know for sure is that they can trust very few—including her.

 

A battle between the gods is brewing, and heartbreaking losses are imminent with the true Primal of Death strengthening. With a family of the heart willing to battle by their side, can Sera and Nyktos stop Kolis before he destroys the realms, or will it all disappear in a fiery inferno of blood and ash?

 

And the line between justice and vengeance has never been so thin.

My Review

Spoiler warning: This is the 4th book in a spinoff series. There won't be any major spoilers if you're familiar with the FBAA world, but there might be a few.

This one managed to surprise me. Not because I don't normally like JLA's books (I actually love them and own too many), but because I'm more of a Kieran/Poppy/Cas girly than a Sera/Nyktos girly. I've historically had a tougher time with the Flesh & Fire books simply because my main trio isn't involved. But honestly Born of Blood and Ash was great! All of the storylines for both series have really started forming and coming together.

  Sera has just become a baby primal in this one and is dealing with some traumatic events from previous books. But she's being her badass self through it all. I found her reluctance to talk to others relatable. Nyktos/Ash was also badass. He was sweet too. And all the side characters always make me smile. And yes, that includes Callum. The other three major villains aren't smile worthy though. Kolis is a very bad primal. He needs a timeout. 🤭

 Everything in this last book just flowed so smoothly with only a bit of a rush in the last 100 pages. I was certainly never bored despite it being a 720-page brick. I do recommend finding a recap somewhere though if you haven't done a reread lately. Like the Visions of Flesh and Blood chapters. Recaps definitely helped me appreciate the story more.

 Overall, I'm gonna miss baby Reaver and Jadis. And all the messiness Attes manages to find his way into. I can't believe there are only two more planned books left in this main series. It hurts. I may not survive when it officially ends.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco

Court of Wanderers

Rin Chupeco

(Reaper #2)

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

Hardcover, 448 pages, S&S/Saga Press

Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+/Polyamory, Fantasy

Goodreads

 

Remy Pendergast and his royal vampire companions return to face an enemy that is terrifyingly close to home in Rin Chupeco’s queer, bloody Gothic epic fantasy series for fans of Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree and the adult animated series Castlevania.

 

Remy Pendergast, the vampire hunter, and his unexpected companions, Lord Zidan Malekh and Lady Xiaodan Song, are on the road through the kingdom of Aluria again after a hard-won first battle against the formidable Night Empress, who threatens to undo a fragile peace between humans and vampires. Xiaodan, severely injured, has lost her powers to vanquish the enemy’s new super breed of vampire, but if the trio can make it to Fata Morgana, the seat of Malehk’s court—dubbed “the Court of Wanderers”—there is hope of nursing her and bringing them back.

 

En-route to the Third Court, Remy crosses paths with his father, the arrogant, oftentimes cruel Lord of Valenbonne. He also begins to suffer strange dreams of the Night Empress, whom he has long suspected to be Ligaya Pendergast, his own mother. As his family history unfolds during these episodes, which are too realistic to be coincidence, he realizes that she is no ordinary vampire—and that he may end up having to choose between the respective legacies of his parents.

 

 Posing as Malek and Xiaodan’s human familiar, Remy contends with Aluria’s intimidating vampire courts and a series of gruesome murders with their help—and more, as the three navigate their relationship. But those feelings and even their extraordinary collective strength will be put to the test as each of them unleashes new powers in combat at what may be proven to be the ultimate cost.

My Review

Court of Wanderers was going to be one of my most anticipated books of 2024, but I got to read an ARC in October!!! And since this is only a duology, I was able to finish this amazing series in less than one year! It's such a bittersweet moment, and I'm going to miss Remy, Zidan, and Xiaodan. Ugh. That's the sad part about duologies and bingeing series, the magic is over too quickly. But, these books have captured my vampire-loving, fantasy-obsessed heart, so a reread may come in the very near future.

The three main characters are all back for this sequel, and they're trying to navigate their new relationship while dealing with bad vampires and undead monsters. Remy, as always, is a cinnamon roll in knight form, and I LOVE that his is the only POV we get. Too often authors use dual POV and it takes away from the mystery of the other characters, especially when it comes to romantic tension. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a romance. It's a fantasy similar in vibes to The Witcher, Empire of the Vampire, and even Van Helsing, the Hugh Jackman gothic paranormal film (not the original Dracula character). But all of those also have some interesting romances within the overarching storyline, and there's plenty of action, politics, and scheming to keep everyone entertained.

As for our other two characters, Zidan and Xiaodan, they're trying to figure things out. Zidan with leadership thrust upon him, and Xiaodan with her unreliable powers. I just adore these three characters' dynamics. One kind-of human, two vampires, and a lot of trouble.

 With the plot, everything was so fast-paced, in a great way. I devoured it all. And even though I did forget a few details between reading book one and book two, it was very easy to get back into the world and story. It's a digestible fantasy. I will say that the ending was a little crazy and convoluted. Nothing terrible per se, but I would have preferred a little less chaos in that last 10%, or at least another chapter or two to settle things down after the craziness. There were also a few too many villain monologues, which made those last chapters a bit cheesy. Still loved the book, however.

All in all, I read Silver Under Nightfall in August of 2023 and got to read Court of Wanderers in late October, and now I feel like no other book will live up to this story. I want more! Ugh! Just give me domestic Remy, Zidan, and Xiaodan scenes, Rin Chupeco. Please! But anyway... Trust me, if you're a fan of The Witcher, Empire of the Vampre, Van Helsing, From Blood and Ash, or any other vampire paranormal story, this duology should be your next read.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes

The Last Watch

J. S. Dewes

(The Divide #1)

Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Paperback, 480 pages, Tor

Genres: Adult, Sci-Fi

Goodreads

The Expanse meets Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes' fast-paced, sf adventure The Last Watch, where a handful of soldiers stand between humanity and annihilation.

The Divide.

It’s the edge of the universe. Now it’s collapsing—and taking everyone and everything with it.

The only ones who can stop it are the Sentinels—the recruits, exiles, and court-martialed dregs of the military.

At the Divide, Adequin Rake, commanding the Argus, has no resources, no comms—nothing, except for the soldiers that no one wanted.

They're humanity's only chance.

My Review

Sometimes a book doesn't hook you in for a few chapters, or even for the first hundred pages. J.S. Dewes's The Last Watch hooked me in from the opening line! To be completely honest, that's a rare feat for me. I'm the type who doesn't get fully captured until I've gotten to know the characters a little more. So thank you, Dewes, for giving me a laugh with that LOL-worthy beginning!

The Last Watch is told from two different characters' points of view. The first is Cavalon, a trouble-making royal prince who's just trying to do his cinnamon-roll best in a space (pun-intended) that's trying to kill him. His banter and wit are absolutely hilarious, and his antics made me both feel sorry for him and roll my eyes at the same time. I felt like he needed a hug or two.

The other point-of-view character is Adequin Rake. Unlike Cavalon, she didn't immediately suck me in. She seemed a bit of a stickler for the rules and too hesitant to make snap decisions for a spaceship captain. Though, in her own words, she's not exactly a captain. Adequin quickly became a badass boss however, and I loved every second of it. Her protectiveness of her crew is just perfection. No exaggeration when I say her and Cavalon's dynamic had me smiling constantly. She tries to protect the poor fool from his own faults, and he just wants to prove himself useful to her.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the other crew members. Everyone played a part in getting the job done, and I believe every side character had me feeling some emotion at one point or another.

As for the plot of The Last Watch, it was a little slow after the first couple of chapters, but then $hit hit the fan. So much happened so quickly, and I didn't know how anyone was going to make it out of any of the situations in one piece. I mean, I love me some spaceship explosions, but these were so crazy and my poor little heart just couldn't take it! I didn't want any character hurt.

While overall the action was great, there were some instances, like with any good sci-fi book where scientific (or made-up scientific) terms are used to explain events and actions taken by the characters, that could be a bit disorienting for non-sciency minds like mine. Especially when spaceships are the setting. But again, I'd expect nothing less than some crazy technical jargon in a well-written sci-fi. I just wish my brain was smart enough to actually comprehend what everything means. 😫

I now know that this space-romp adventure has a sequel coming soon, and I've already requested it on NetGalley. I am 100% in for future installments in this series! Consider me a non-official member of Adequin Rake's crew. There's no way I could miss out on any quests undertaken by this particular team. They already made me tear up at the end, and I'm totally ready to rally behind them when things undoubtedly continue to go sideways.

All in all, the comparison of this book to The Expanse and Game of Thrones is correct, especially for fans who love the "stranded and underfunded warriors at the edge of the universe" storyline like with GoT's Night's Watch. I'd also say that The Last Watch has a lot of crossover appeal to young adult readers of series like The Illuminae Files or The Aurora Cycle, maybe even Red Rising. Honestly, The Last Watch is simply pure fun with some space fighting and time hiccups to keep readers on their toes.

*Note: I received an ARC of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea

TJ Klune

Publication Date: March 17, 2020

Hardcover, 398 pages, Tor Books

Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Goodreads

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

My Review

I’m pretty sure I could leave this review as “incoherent sobbing,” and it would be 100% accurate to how I feel about The House in the Cerulean Sea. It’s such a beautiful book. So loving. So sweet. So needed in the crazy times we live in.

The protagonist, Linus Baker, is a case worker for government-controlled magical orphanages. He’s dedicated to his job, and he loves what he does and the way he can help his charges. Honestly, he’s so naïve and adorable. I’ve never felt that way about a rotund, balding, forty-year-old man before, but that’s what Linus is. And I’m so glad TJ Klune gave readers an older protagonist to follow; it’s such a breath of fresh air.

Unsurprisingly, when Linus gets assigned to a new orphanage, he becomes attached to its inhabitants. I don’t want to give anything away by saying who the children are and what they can do, as it’s better if you go into it blind like I did. I will say I had a favorite magical child, though. He hid under beds and had amazing career goals.

Now, the reason I took off half a star is because I wanted just a little bit more from the romantic relationship than I got. For some readers, less romance is good, but I like it. I’m a sucker for the happily ever afters. This book isn’t a romance, though. It’s about found families. I simply think Linus and Arthur deserved more time alone together. Their interactions made me smile.

Oddly, the overall tone of this book reminded me strongly of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Obviously, this book is much happier, but there’s a vibe in Unfortunate Events that makes it seem as if it simultaneously takes place in the past and present. Plus, there are orphaned children with unique skills, so the comparisons there are obvious.

Overall, this book is totally different from what I normally read. I had just heard so much about it, and I loved Klune’s Green Creek series. So if you’re wary of reading outside of your comfort zone, don’t be. This book will make you forget you even have one. It’ll also leave you a bawling, incoherent mess, but that’s just a given when reading about cute, magical children. Oh, and it's perfect for middle-grade, teenage, or adult readers. It's a tale for anyone who needs some happiness in their lives.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire

Jennifer L. Armentrout

(Blood and Ash #2)

Publication Date: September 1, 2020

Paperback, 576 pages, Blue Box Press

Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Goodreads

A Betrayal

Everything Poppy has ever believed in is a lie, including the man she was falling in love with. Thrust among those who see her as a symbol of a monstrous kingdom, she barely knows who she is without the veil of the Maiden. But what she does know is that nothing is as dangerous to her as him. The Dark One. The Prince of Atlantia. He wants her to fight him, and that’s one order she’s more than happy to obey. He may have taken her, but he will never have her.

A Choice

Casteel Da’Neer is known by many names and many faces. His lies are as seductive as his touch. His truths as sensual as his bite. Poppy knows better than to trust him. He needs her alive, healthy, and whole to achieve his goals. But he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. Working with Casteel instead of against him presents its own risks. He still tempts her with every breath, offering up all she’s ever wanted. Casteel has plans for her. Ones that could expose her to unimaginable pleasure and unfathomable pain. Plans that will force her to look beyond everything she thought she knew about herself—about him. Plans that could bind their lives together in unexpected ways that neither kingdom is prepared for. And she’s far too reckless, too hungry, to resist the temptation.

A Secret

But unrest has grown in Atlantia as they await the return of their Prince. Whispers of war have become stronger, and Poppy is at the very heart of it all. The King wants to use her to send a message. The Descenters want her dead. The wolven are growing more unpredictable. And as her abilities to feel pain and emotion begin to grow and strengthen, the Atlantians start to fear her. Dark secrets are at play, ones steeped in the blood-drenched sins of two kingdoms that would do anything to keep the truth hidden. But when the earth begins to shake, and the skies start to bleed, it may already be too late.

My Review

I shouldn’t be reviewing this book right now. I have 10+ other books I need to be writing reviews for, but I desperately want to talk about this one. JLA, you’ve done it to me again. You’ve turned me into an obsessed fangirl over fictional characters. And in this case, morally gray fictional characters. Yeah, Poppy and Cas aren’t terrible people, but they’re not as nice and uppity as some of JLA’s other protagonists. It’s refreshing, but can sometimes be conflicting. In a good way.

While this installment in the series didn’t have a ton of plot, it was still a fast-paced, super easy read. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is mostly about Poppy and Casteel running from the bad guys and giving some background information on who everyone is and what terrible deeds they’ve done in the past. Also, there are the feeeeeelings. Poppy and Cas are so angsty. I love it.

This brings me to my favorite part of the story: the relationships. So, if it’s not obvious, I really enjoy Poppy and Cas’s romance. Poppy is p*ssed at Cas and stabs him on a regular basis. LOVE IT. And Cas is broody, apologetic, and protective. Again, LOVE IT. However, JLA introduced a new concept that I really, REALLY want to come to fruition somehow someway. The bond relationship that’s mentioned has me hoping beyond hope that Kieran gets more page time in the sequels. A polyamorous relationship written JLA style would be awesome! Especially if it means protective Casteel to both of the other bond members. If nothing happens with this, I’m not sure why JLA would even mention it in the book. Like why even go there if nothing comes of it? I’m probably hoping for too much, but it would just be so cool to have a REAL love triangle in a fantasy romance series.

Though I did love 90% of this novel, there’s a small 10% that I’m slightly confused about. Is there a difference between vampry and an Ascended? I’m sure this was mentioned at some point, but sometimes the history explanations had me zoning a little. Same for the gods and goddesses explanations. Which brings me to the ending. It was great. Major cliffhangers all around, but I feel like I missed something in terms of the significance to all of the goddess history. This didn’t affect my enjoyment too much, because I’m still way more interested in the romantic relationships (and possible actual love triangle) than the powers and vampires, but it was befuddling nonetheless.

All in all, this is just another JLA series I’m addicted to. She’s given me sexy aliens, sexy demons, sexy gargoyles, sexy demigods, and now sexy vampires. I can’t wait to see what kind of sexy comes next. After she finishes this series, of course.

Oh, and bonus points for that GORGEOUS cover.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns

Margaret Rogerson

Publication Date: June 4, 2019

Hardcover, 453 pages, Margaret K. McElderry

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

My Review

If you love books about books and characters similar to Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices trilogy, then this story is definitely for you. It has magic and demons and cats and romance. It has everything a booklover could want.

I adored Sorcery of Thorns. I actually tabbed lines (which I rarely, if ever do) because it has so many beautiful sentences and paragraphs about books. Rogerson’s quotes are great for readers. They just make reading so much more magical. The quotes combined with the Victorian-esque fantasy world really lend to the Clockwork Angel feel.

Like I mentioned, the characters of the book are super similar to Tessa and Will, not in species, but in demeanor. Elisabeth is totally Tessa Gray. She’s strong, brave, and loves reading. I very much enjoyed her. And Nathaniel is a cinnamon roll more so than Will was, but he’s still pretty similar in his tragic backstory—just no fear of ducks. Plus, Nathaniel is bi! Though we don’t really get anything more than a brief mention of it. Boo…

The only character I didn’t really care for in this story was the villain. He wasn’t super villainy. Actually, he was kind of predictable, and he needed more substance, especially towards the end. Speaking of the end, the chapters before the final chapters were somewhat hard to follow at times. Maybe it was just me, but it was difficult to picture what Elisabeth was doing when everything was going to hell. Despite this, the actual true ending hurt me. It was very dramatic, in a good way. And the books! The library! Not gonna lie, they made me cry. Books are such a generous creation.

All in all, Sorcery of Thorns destroyed me. It made me cry. It made me laugh. And it ripped me to pieces. What else should I have expected from a book about books? I loved it.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

The City of Brass

S.A. Chakraborty

(The Daevabad Trilogy #1)

Publication Date: November 14, 2017

Hardcover, 533 pages, Harper Voyager

Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical

B&N | Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for...

My Review

Wow. So I haven’t had any strong reactions to reading a book in years. But this book. Whew. This book’s ending made me ANGRY. In a fantastic way. And I loved every moment of it. Almost. I actually kind of felt like the little boy in The Princess Bride when Westley dies. Remember him? Yeah, that was me.

We start The City of Brass by following Nahri’s POV. She’s a con artist in 18^th century Cairo, so when she summons a djinn warrior with a snarky attitude, I was hooked. I love me some romantic tension. Things were a little jarring, though, when the POV switched to Ali. At first I was wary, since his chapters were taking me away from Nahri and Dara’s storyline, but I quickly grew to love his viewpoints just as much as theirs. Each time either Nahri’s or Ali’s chapters ended, I was sad. I wanted to stay with the character longer. I give major props to Chakraborty for being able to make me disappointed each time a viewpoint ended.

Basically, I loved all of the characters. Even the evil ones. Ghassan is the evil ruler every evil ruler in fantasy dreams of being. (He’s actually logical at times and that’s what makes him so bad.) Dara is the mysterious bad boy with a humorous side. Ali is a clueless cinnamon roll, and Nahri is a strong woman who looks out for herself. I love it. It also helps that these main characters aren’t the leaders of the revolt that’s happening within the djinn city. All of these characters are kind of just stuck in the middle of this terrible situation. Of course, this may develop differently in the second book, but I appreciated the idea that not every fantasy protagonist is the leader of the rebellion.

Now, I do have to admit that while the beginning was a very fun adventure, with Nahri running to the city of Daevabad and Ali navigating his political family, the middle of the story did slow the pace down quite a bit, as both characters were put into the political minefield and there was a dip in the action scenes. But that ending. Oh boy, that ending. HOLY COW! It was chaotic and insane. I had the most visceral reaction I’ve ever had reading a book. Chapter 27 was heart-stopping. Needless to say, I’ll be buying books two and three. I must know what happens to these precious characters.

One reason I’m not giving this book five whole stars, despite the fact that it’s the only book in a long time to make me so unbelievably worried for a character that I had to spoil myself by looking up the sequel’s description on Goodreads, is that the world-building was a little confusing at times. The djinn/daeva have a complicated history that I’m still not entirely sure exactly how everything played out and when. I wish there was a timeline in the book for reference. But some minor confusion didn’t stop me from devouring this beautiful story.

All in all, if you’re a fan of YA fantasy books, read The City of Brass. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy books, read The City of Brass. If you’re a fan of djinn and less mainstream fantasy creatures read The City of Brass. Just read it.

*Note: I received a copy of this book at BookCon 2018. This in no way affected my opinion/review.