WOMS: The City of Brass

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I’ll be honest with y’all: I almost didn’t write this post. The fact it’s published at all is a miracle.

My new job has been one of the levels of Dante’s Inferno—or hell.

It leaves me so stressed and exhausted by the time I come home, I have little left in me to give to writing. Unfortunately, with the past few weekends (holidays, birthdays, family events, etc.), I haven’t be able to catch up with drafting posts, or even read.

But enough kvetching. That’s not why we’re here! (At least not this week…)

No; we’re here because I read an incredibly immersive and mystical wonderment that is S. A. Chakraborty’s The City of Brass.

This introductory book to a world full of danger and magic around every corner, inspired by Islamic mythology, was breathtaking. I’ve already started her second book in the Daevabad Trilogy, The Kingdom of Copper, and I’m just in love.

I’m so glad I finally started reading this series; it’s been on my TBR for ages, but I’ve never really gotten around to it for whatever excuses I made. What made me finally pick it up was a suggestion from my new friend, Kalyn Josephson, who compared some of its elements to my own manuscript.

I’m so glad I did. This book is the quintessential worldbuilding narrative I had been craving for a while. Though it’s something between historical and portal fantasy, not a true secondary world, the atmosphere of Chakraborty’s words is so vivid, her world feels real, as though you’re transported across the hot deserts and misty jungles to Daevabad.

And not just her setting; her characters, too.

I adored her main character, Nahri, how feisty she is, how ambitious. I probably liked her best because of how she was introduced. That first chapter was exquisite, and immediately had me hooked—all because of her. (Also, an excellent study for first chapters.) She’s the type of person I would want to have my back if we were ever caught in a fight. Dara and Ali are equally compelling, but I’m biased to Nahri.

Though there are elements of a romance, it’s not as dominating nor prominent as one might think, or at least what I expected. However, I think the subtleties play well with the narrative. I’m not sure if I wanted more or less, but I’m interested to see how it might flux with the next instalments in the series.

I will say the ending caught me by complete surprise; really the entire book. I think besides her atmospheric worldbuilding, that’s what I appreciated the most about Chakraborty’s story: I had no idea what was coming. There’s political schemes, ancient curses, tribal tensions, romantic interludes all wrapped up in one story. You have no idea what’s coming next, nor where you’re going, but you can’t stop reading because of how engrossed you are with Chakraborty’s lush prose.

Overall, if you’re looking for that next epic fantasy to give you a magic fix steeped in ancient lore and civilisations, I cannot recommend The City of Brass enough. Its depth and richness will enchant you until the end.

What about you? Have you read The City of Brass? What did you think? What other fantasy novels have you read lately based on other ancient mythologies? Do you have any suggestions of other atmospheric books I should read? Let me know in the comments below!

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