The City of Brass

Like other reviews, I bought this book listed as “very good condition” and it didn’t come with the dust jacket. I feel like that’s very important information as I would not have bought it if I had known.

Copy was advertised as being in good quality, but 90% of the cover had flaked off to show foil underneath and every page was dogeared, with many stained.

I ordered a hardcover like-new edition. I received a beat-up paperback ARC copy. Not impressed.

You will not regret purchasing this book! From chapter two (which takes no time to get to) it was hard to put down. S. A. Chakraborty has a gift for vivid description without overusing words to make you see into her world. The world building was amazing, the pacing perfect, the action fast paced, and a few times I found myself laughing out loud, cringing at the naivety of Ali, or gasping at something totally unexpected befalling a major character. Although it does not end on a cliffhanger (in my opinion), there are several questions posed that need to be answered in the sequels. I look forward to finding out! What I also liked is that, without trying too hard, the author makes you care for the characters without knowing everything there is to know about them just yet. Things I disliked: there was some “tell instead of show” regarding the development of relationships between characters. We’d be in a moment and then told in so many words that weeks have gone by and now they care for each other when it would’ve been cool to see that slowly develop throughout the book. I did like how strong the female lead is, how human-like Dara was, and how the plot was not easy to predict. Can’t wait to devour book two!