Book Review | The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) by S.A. Chakraborty

The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2)

by S.A. Chakraborty

My Review for Book #1: The City of Brass

Return to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel to THE CITY OF BRASS.

Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her familyand one misstep will doom her tribe.

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid, the unpredictable water spirits, have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

My Review for Book #1: The City of Brass

My Book Rating

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

My Book Review

The Kingdom of Copper proved to be an excellent sequel that, to my utter surprise, captured my attention even more intensely than the first installment in the series!

In fact, I was so invested in this novel and series that I kept imagining all the exciting ways the story could turn and twist towards. But, S.A. Chakraborty still managed to blow my mind by the end.

The story of this novel begins 5 whole years after the events of The City of Brass, finding our heroine, Nahri, having been forcefully married to Emir Muntandhir. In the meantime, Ali has been living with his new companions in Am Gezira, far away from Daevabad. This soon changes, however, when he is forced to return to the city from which his father exiled him.

Surprisingly enough, apart from Nahri and Ali's Points of View (POVs) this story also features chapters by a third voice, that of Dara, who, yes, has been resurrected by none other than Nahri's own - evil - mother, Manizheh.

Thankfully, his chapters weren't as frequent throughout the novel, and mainly served to give us a heads up of Manizheh's plans to take over the city and how she planned to do this... Because, let me tell you, the way was extremely creative on the author's part but completely sociopathic on Manizheh's part.

As you might have guessed already, I'm not particularly fond of Nahri's mother, although I will admit that I came to like Dara from his narratives. Other characters that made their appearance for the first time or more frequently and I immensely enjoyed reading about where Hatset, Ali's mother, Jamshid, whose scenes with Muntadhir were so so cute, and Zaynab, who earned my respect with her loyalty to her brothers.

On the contrary, Muntadhir momentarily lost my respect with his childish behavior and his antagonism towards Ali. Not to mention the fact that I totally don't want Nahri to end up with him... Despite the fact they're married, that is...

Regarding the pace and plot, it flowed flawlessly, jumping some months ahead between a few of the chapters, so that the story would progress quickly but meaningfully, an element I actually appreciated. 

S.A. Chakraborty's writing was even more impeccable than in the first book, and I found myself unable to put this novel down, even in the - not so - early hours of the day. In fact, I stayed up more than once in order to read more of my favorite characters, anxious to find out how their story would unfold.

All in all, an amazing book that made me even giddier about this world and characters than the first book, and even more excited to jump straight to the final installation!

Find this book here:

(for free INT'L shipping)

Find the rest of the Series here:

The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2)

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Book Depository for free INT'L shipping

The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3)

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My Review for Book #1: The City of Brass

Book Review | The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty

The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1)

by S.A. Chakraborty

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 Book Rating

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

My Book Review

This was unbelievably good. So good that it made my favorites list after nearly two years without any new additions!

The story starts unfurling in Cairo, Egypt, with the talented young con artist Nahri showing us her skills in surviving in tumultuous times by, well, conning rich men and women. Her world, however, turns upside down when she accidentally summons a powerful djinn, who recognizes her ancestry and sweeps her away to the majestic city of Daevabad. From then on, a grand adventure begins...

I have to admit that I'm always terrified when I want to read such a popular book, with so many controversial reviews! Perhaps I was in the perfect mindset, or perhaps these are the books, stories, writing styles, and heroes I like reading the most...

Nonetheless, this novel blew my mind and made me crave to read the next installment immediately -- something that *never* happens, may I add...

I can get why some people might not be fond of this book, given that the pace seemed a bit slow at times and almost too fast at other points, but I witnessed everything as a way to build up the world and the characters and the dynamics between the different djinn tribes, so that you can really understand what's going on beneath the surface.

For me personally, this element of patient world building, made me appreciate both the intricate times and the characters' beliefs and actions. And, yes, even those that I didn't particularly like.

And, speaking of characters, I loved how there's no black and white, no one hero was purely good or purely evil, they really felt like real people with far more complex personalities, in a way that made it impossible for me to judge their decisions. And, through the aforementioned patient and detailed world building, I was also able to partially understand everyone's actions as well, not just those of the narrators -- Nahri and Ali.

I can see all these incredible elements only unfurling more in the next novel, with this society's intriguing dynamics being even more complicated than in this first installment, and I just couldn't be more excited!

Find this book here:

(for free INT'L shipping)

Find the rest of the Series here:

The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2)

Amazon US

Book Depository for free INT'L shipping

The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3)

Amazon US

Book Depository for free INT'L shipping

Book Review | Bone Crier's Moon (Bone Grace #1) by Kathryn Purdie

Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie

The first book in the Bone Grace series.

Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die. 

My Book Rating

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

My Book Review

I originally gave this 2,5 stars but decided on rounding it up to 3 stars, because honestly, it was a great story with an excellent premise, even if its execution wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

That doesn't mean, however, that someone else won't love this.

Bone Crier's Moon narrated the story of Sabine, Ailesse and Bastien. Sabine and Ailesse are Bone Criers, ferriers of the spirits to the afterlife. Those 'creatures' are called to kill their soulmates before they are able to take on their duties. Bastien's father was the victim of one of those 'White Ladies', and on his way to avenge him, his plans go sideways. Like, really sideways!

Honestly, the story and the Bone Criers' legend sound so interesting and intriguing, and the White Ladies sound so badass and right up my alley. Their magic is based on the bones they collect by killing three animals and taking on their most prominent power. Pretty controversial, if you ask me, and not exactly my favorite magic system, given that animal cruelty is a big no-no for me. However, it was unique to what I've read before and made me wonder whether the legend of those Dames Blanches actually exists.

Considering, the sole (POV-wise, but really, only one more boy was present in the book) male hero's plan to begin his quest for revenge but have his plan go way different, the plot would be warmly welcomed, if properly executed.

However, something felt missing regarding the writing style. I didn't really manage to connect with the story or the characters. In addition, the world-building felt a little bit lacking and while it was properly described, I felt like the focus was solely on Ailesse and Bastien. And, to be fair, I liked Sabine much more.

Which brings us to the characters, who felt somewhat unrealistic and flat to me. I was only rooting for Sabine, who was actively trying to save Ailesse throughout the book, although in some questionable ways. Ailesse felt more like a typical teenager with mother issues to me, while Bastien was... just there.

To be honest, my review might seem a little harsher than my actual thoughts on the book are.

I feel like the insta-love and predictability were too big throw-offs for me, but otherwise not a bad experience. Just not one that would make me to keep reading the series.

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Find The Sequel Here

Bone Crier's Dawn (Bone Grace #2)

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