The Daevabad Trilogy

Since September, a group of friends and I have been doing a read along for the Daevabad series in which we had a group chat, video chat at the end of each book, and followed eachtothers’ #thedaevabadbunch posts on intsagram.

The City of Brass was 100% a #bookstagrammmademedoit after seeing this high fantasy series all over instagram and people often saying it was one of the best series of all time. So we dove right in. In this blog post today ill give you my thoughts on each book and wrap it up as a series.

The City of Brass

The Kingdom of Copper

** spoiler alert ** “Go steal some happiness for yourself, my friend,” she said shortly. “Trust me when I say the chance doesn’t always come back.”

The City of Brass was a great book and a solid first installment to a series, but by the end I was still questioning some of the history and magic and how it all worked, even when I was flipping back and forth looking at the glossary.. it was just A-L-O-T.

The Kingdom of Copper starts back 5 years after the end of City of Brass. This I found to be great because if made the turn of event more believable, especially since this build up to a new war was taking place in different locations all over the map.

We follow 3 narratives this time:

Dara
After the epic ending of COB, we thought Dara was long gone, only to be brought back by Manizheh herself and her plans to over throw Ghassan and the djinn started out being exactly what Dara believed in, but now he’s questioning his loyalty, what it means to be daeva, and all he craves is freedom and to see Nahri again.

Ali
Having his Qaid title stripped and being banished from Daevabad, Ali find a new home in a village away from all that he knows. He’s found true friendship and a way to truly help those in the community.
After Ali’s terrible moment with the marid, there are things about him that have seemed to change, his attachment to the water dwelling creatures maybe isn’t quite over, and he will soon find out what it all stood for and what the marid wanted with him.
Ali is “called” back to Daevabad, and is ready to get in and get out… but Ghassan has other plans, so does his Mother, sister, and the woman he can never have, Nahri.
Ali puts his time in Daevabad to good use, helping Nahri build up a hospital from ruins, and try to find peace and unity between the djinn and the shafit.

Nahri
5 years after she takes an offer to the King, Nahri is wed to Muntadhir, the next in line to take Daevabad.
With a marriage full of secrets, Nahri spends most her time in the infirmary working on her skills as the Nahid.
Nahri has big plans for Daevabad, including resurrecting an old hospital from the grave that was built by her family, now partnering with the shafit to bring healthcare and support to all of Daevabad. Nahri and Ali put all their coin, time and effort into a hospital that could change everything.

This book was fantastic and made me understand why everyone was calling COB the Best Fantasy Series of All Time
Chakraborty does an amazing job intertwining true history, geography, and making it epic and magical.
I’ve never read a series that I was constantly at odds with characters, wondering if they are good or evil, wondering whose side I was on… but really that depends on your belief right? Just as it always is with war and politics.
I found many topics to be relatable to right now.
I fell in love with new characters and wanted to throw rocks at some of the old ones, but I just couldn’t get ENOUGH!
Muntadhir was a character I couldn’t get enough of. He had me frustrated, yelling at him, taking breaks to take a walk around the house, grab a snack, and come back hoping he made better decisions and then absolutely crying my eyes out.
Some questions were answered, but even more have appeared.

I cannot wait to start The Empire of Gold. Chakraborty I’m prepared for more emotional whiplash you creative genius You!

Rating:
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacing: steady through the whole book but punches you in the face the last 100 pages
Steam level: “Is it cold in here? It’s cold in her right?”

The Empire of Gold

” May I ask you a question? Back at the Euphrates… when I asked if you wanted to continue, and you took my hand… would you do it again? Should I have stopped and returned you to Cairo-“
” I would do it again Dara… I would take your hand a thousand times over.”

I am unsteady after reading the finale to this series.
Out of honesty I didn’t know what to expect… I found the beginning of this be a “slow build” and often read the same thing multiple times because I couldn’t focus.
BUT the second half of the book was action packed and full of answers and overwhelming emotions.

Empire of Gold still follows 3 POVs.
Dara- still struggling with his loyalty to Manizheh and the war she fights for their people, ad his conscience and heart, which tells him history is repeating itself… and the bloodshed is too much.

Nahri- after fleeing Manizheh to save herself, Ali and Suelman’s ring, she is back in her homeland of Cairo… but if the people she loves stands a chance, its up to her and Ali to fight for the djinn and shafits.

Ali- with new found power tide to the marid, Ali has to come to terms with his magic if he wants to save his kingdom… but with that he will have to sacrfice himself and his beliefs and see the marid for what they are. Ali is ready to fight for his family and create new alliances along side his best friend and the only love he knows.

The webbing of history, family, fantasy and war was so well done and written by S.A C.
I typically read YA fantasy so the switch felt a bit overwhelming and confusing at the beginning of the series, but the author does a great job giving you a reference in the back and also reiterating certain parts of the world building/history to help keep you on track.

I am extremely sad to be finished with this series and know I will be returning again someday and also recommending to friends.
My heart healed for Ali, Nahri, Jamshid, and Muntadhir in the end but I am still absolutely shattered by Dara… I need more… can I get a story made of happiness, healing and love for this gorgeous soul of a Daeva?!?!?!
I just wanted to hug them all….

I’d also like my very own shedu….

Would recommend if you like:
-world building
-politics
-some game of thrones-esque gore and war
-family drama
-a intricate magic system intertwined with history

What I missed:
-a couple hundred less pages, or maybe more spent on happiness for Dara, Ali, and Nahri
-a weeeeee bit more romance (ugh I know sorry)

Rating:
overall- 4.5 stars
steam- lets just say showing some wrist will send your favorites into a TIZZY
characters-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Overall:

I would recommend this series in all its glory. But don’t go into it looking to find romance and butterflies….

With this being my second series in high fantasy I would say its one I won’t forget and will visit again, gift to friends and family, and drool over fan art.

Love my Daevabad inspired items?

bookmark- Lauren Naylor Designs Co.

shirt- Blissfully Bookish