[Review] The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

Series: The City of Daevabad #1

Rating: 4.5 stars

Published: November 17th 2018

Goodreads Synopsis:

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...

This was one of my first reads of 2018, and it was such a good way to start the year too! The City of Brass features such a lush, immersive world, and the dual pov of Prince Ali / Nahri was wonderfully constructed.

Nahri is a con artist from the streets of Cairo, who accidentally summons a djinn warrior by the name of Dara. Together, they set off towards the city of brass, the great Daevabad, for Nahri to get the answers she's always had about her past. Prince Ali is the second son of the king of Daevabad, and brother of the heir Prince Muntadhir. He seeks to reform the corrupt policies against the shafit (who a mix of human/djinn) in secret. The trio soon realizes that their paths intertwine more closely than expected.


I particularly enjoyed Ali's development over the course of this story? He's just trying his best to keep everyone happy. And his relationship with Nahri! From mutual hatred to mutual respect! And hopefully something more along the lines of friendship in the sequel. Plus Ali's plot line uncovers a lot of deep set political issues and intrigue I definitely want to read more about.

The only qualm I have was towards the Nahri/Dara's romance, which was a little too insta-love for me. They only had a couple of scenes and then declare their true love for each other (which I can get, if they spent more time together). However, their banter is sweet.

"Rejecting hospitality is a grave offense among my people," Dara warned.
Mostly to appease him, Nahri took a small sip. The wine was cloyingly sweet, more like a syrup than a liquid. "Is it truly?"
"Not at all. But I'm tired of drinking alone."

The story itself was so vivid and it was as though the city of Daevabad was alive itself. I wanted to read more, but alas, I will wait with anticipation for the sequel.