The City of Brass (Everyone Should Read this Book) | Book Review

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By: S.A. Chakraborty

The Daevabad Trilogy #1 | 533 Pages | Pub. 2017

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The City of Brass at a Glance

  • Overall Rating: ★★★★★
  • Heroine: The female Aladdin we NEEDED
  • Dude 1: You had one job, Ali!!!!!
  • Dude 2: MAKE BETTER CHOICES!
  • Brutality: A child was melted to a boat. WTF

Pairs Well With

The Genie

  • ½ oz simple syrup
  • 1 oz sloe gin
  • 1 oz gin
  • Crushed ice
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • Mint leaves

Our Review

“I am not a human.” – Teagan, after reading this book.

To say that we loved this book would be an understatement. We are so broken. This book ruined our souls and we don’t know who we are anymore. This book was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Sure, we hate what it did to us emotionally, but it was pretty life-changing and we regret nothing. If you are sitting their asking yourself “should I read this book?” the answer is YES. Stop what you’re doing and read it now!  You’ll fall in love with this story, the characters, and the world.

Why You Will Love This Book (Spoiler Free, but Wine Induced)

City of Brass starts off with a bang – female con artist, an exorcism, ZOMBIES, magic carpet rides! You’ll be hooked from the get-go, we guarantee it.

The worldbuilding was vivid and you will find yourself entrenched in the city of Daevabad. The descriptions of the different tribes, their customs, the rivalries, the history. All of it was captivating, brutal, but captivating. This diverse fantasy story deserves so much more hype and appreciation!

“If you say I can’t tell you, I swear on my mother’s name I will stab you with your own knife.”

Nahri, oh we love Nahri. If there is anything we truly love in a book it is a solid and feisty female character. Nahri checks every box and more. She is practically Aladdin, running around the streets of Cairo, kind of doing exorcisms. She does have powers, but since she isn’t a moron, she knows how to use them and not make a scene. Nahri stands up for her beliefs and will yell right in your face if you are an idiot. #MUCHLOVE

Dara. We hate you and we love you. Dara is an asshole, but he is also such a doll. He knows all of Nahri’s buttons and pushes them to get her attention. Nahri is obviously his weakness and breaking all of his own rules looks good on him. The love he has for his people and Nahri slayed us. 

Plus, he is super hot.

“I’m coming back Nahri. You’re my Banu Nahida. This is my city. Nothing will keep me from either of you.”

Ali. Alright, this Prince Ali Fabulous He IS NOT.

Unlike Aladdin, this is not a Prince you should take a magic carpet ride with. You should not trust this slimey dude. Ali had such promise, he loves his family and his God, but ultimately he ends up a disappointing little racist. But since every book needs a villain and Ali is a complicated one that’ll keep you flipping pages.

The way this book portrays racism and systematic oppression is powerful. We find it hard to believe this is Charkaborty’s first novel because her writing makes you feel as though you are a part of this world and gear up to join the revolution.

The Mystery. There is so much mystery surrounding Nahri’s heritage, Dara’s past, and the whole epilogue situation. You won’t be able to put this book down because you’re going to be dying to know the answers to all these questions!

Beware spoilers ahead….

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SPOILERS

The last 20% of this book destroyed us. Honestly, we probably would’ve been okay if it ended with both Ali and Dara (Racist MFers) dead and Nahri queen of the universe. But this is not a standalone so we are excited to see what Nahri does next.

GOD DAMNIT, ALI. You had one job. Everyone knows you don’t give out your real name in fantasy books. It’s like giving out your social security number. YOU DON’T DO IT, you peasant.

Now Ali is the creepy guy from Pirates of the Caribbean and we are not sorry for him.

And Dara, you little Tamlin shit. Don’t think we aren’t going to call you out on your shit just because you went and freaking died. We didn’t even get a chance to be properly angry at you for going all caveman apeshit crazy before you turned to ash so we are doing it now. So, first off how dare you. Second off HOW DARE YOU.

Omg the poor peri that died!! Why!?!?!!

Have you read City of Brass? Let us know what you thought in the comments!

Drink Up - Teagan & Jess

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46 thoughts on “The City of Brass (Everyone Should Read this Book) | Book Review”

  1. It’s on my to-read list and it sounds incredible. I love that it deals with racism and systemic oppression as well as having fantastic characters. It sounds amazing. Great review!

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  6. So glad you loved this! I was actually going to start reading it yesterday. I was SO sure that I purchased the e-book when it was on sale. I couldn’t find it at all. Now, I need to get my hands on it!

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  12. City of Brass has been on my to read/ to buy list since it’s release but I just never got around to it… As you do! Now I know I have to go out and get this book immediately because a female Aladdin and emotional turmoil? Sign me the hell up!

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. I SO need to read this one. I have owned it for months but somehow never got around to reading it. Your review (as much as I could read it before reaching the spoilery part) makes me even more excited for it!

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  24. I read this book finally! And it took me a while to find your review on the first book, since I was curious and I am laughing out loud at the spoilers section at the end! You two have literally echoed my thoughts on Dara and Ali , calling them racist monkeys..lol..well said 😀 And I agree, my favorite character in the first book is Nahri too.

    Also, Im super confused with all the political storm going on in Daevabad. Its like everyone thinks they’re the victim and want to be saved/avenged or elevated. I couldn’t figure out whose team I was on. Just like Nahri, all I wanted to do was chill a little..lol

    P.S.- I just found out that your blog features two writers – Jess and Teagen, instead of one, because I landed on your main page searching for this review! haha..glad I know that now 😀

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