2 for the price of one
This Week's Recommendation(s)
The City of of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper ~ Lara Elena Donnelly
I've always had more than a bit of a soft spot for the mythologies of the Middle East. Egypt in particular, and I know I'm not alone in my fascination. In my case, however, it stems from childhood memories of the glimmer of brass and the glitter of glass and the rich scent of perfume in the Khan El Khalili. From skinning my knee scrambling around the Great Pyramids. From baby-sitting duties while touring the Valley of the Kings. My childhood bookshelf included tall, slim, illustrated volumes about the traditions of the Pharoahs and how hippos were the most dangerous thing in the Nile.
Although I'm sure both my childhood and current knowledge of Arabian mythology are more than a little bit localized and lacking in any real depth - it does give me a deep appreciation for S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad Trilogy. The books are full of djinn and daevas and rukhs and marids - a host of supernatural beings that even in my voracious reading of fantasy, rarely seem to get to feature in stories without being a novelty, separated from their own lore.
If that doesn't convince you - this series has accomplished the opposite of a series which shall remain nameless did to me. It presents political and emotional conflict from multiple sides of the conflict, and made me empathize with every single side.
Although I'm sure both my childhood and current knowledge of Arabian mythology are more than a little bit localized and lacking in any real depth - it does give me a deep appreciation for S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad Trilogy. The books are full of djinn and daevas and rukhs and marids - a host of supernatural beings that even in my voracious reading of fantasy, rarely seem to get to feature in stories without being a novelty, separated from their own lore.
If that doesn't convince you - this series has accomplished the opposite of a series which shall remain nameless did to me. It presents political and emotional conflict from multiple sides of the conflict, and made me empathize with every single side.
Read if: You are or ever were very fond of Egyptology, or the Middle East. You're looking for a fresh approach to fantasy. You enjoy a well-written multi-character-viewpoint story. You're willing to get overly emotionally attached to a lot of characters who make a lot of mistakes.
Warnings: Violence. Strained family relationships. Betrayals all over the place, even accidental ones. Did I mention violence?
If you're still on the fence, City of Brass is frequently on sale digitally. You can delve into this amazing world for less than a coffee. You can even drink some coffee and read! Really, is there any better idea? (Unless you drink tea. Tea is better.) This series is phenomenal. It's complicated but not, "I have no idea what's happening complicated." It's colorful, riveting, exciting, suspenseful and full of engaging characters that are flawed enough to be relatable but decent enough you'll still root for them, even if you're not sure what side you should root for.
ReplyDeleteThere is a time for tea (and it's when you can no longer reasonably drink coffee!). You're right, the complexities of the series are as beautifully handled as the rotating viewpoints!
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