Review: The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1)
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4 stars. A young Egyptian thief with emerging special powers accidentally calls a warrior to her side - a warrior who belongs to a species only remembered in ancient myths and stories. As she tries to wrap her head around why / how / who she really is, and embarks on a journey to her homeland, a young and well-intentioned prince in a brass city learns how cruel and complicated the world - all worlds - can be. Both become wrapped up in a dangerous political game full of mayhem, magic and monsters.
This was wonderful, full of colors and impressive creative elements. Bear in mind - the world is complicated and the terminology takes some getting used to. But the twists and turns are totally worth it. It's WAY too great to be a debut and I'm happy to say that I learned from it.
Along those lines - this book's exploration of big themes (themes like racism, sexism, tradition, religious conflict, power, loyalty, etc.) is not subtle. It doesn't come across as preachy, thank goodness, but a lot of things happen - a lot of characters interact a certain way, or behave a certain way - simply because of social tradition or because it's expected and what people are used to. Two species hate each other because they are "ancestral enemies;" protocol is followed because "that's the way we do things;" references to ignorant prejudice, racial slurs and social injustice abound.
It's not subtle, as I said, but it is done carefully so that - essentially - everyone has a point, or a motivation, or a reason. That doesn't make it okay, but it makes a powerful statement about the complexities of a connected world.
If I had one complaint, it would be that the author takes us deep into Trope Town almost immediately. I was delighted by the complexity of the protagonist, the deeply detailed setting, and yes, I was delighted by the zombies and flaming swords, but I rolled my eyes at the instant undercurrent of romance. Can we not, for once? In a book full of such sophisticated writing / world-building, it stood out like an extra amateur sore thumb.
But people should read this, because it represents the unrepresented. It illustrates places and ideas rarely illustrated in mainstream literature. It depicts these places and ideas and people with a deft and reverent touch. It cinematically illuminates a rich and colorful and exotic world. I couldn't put it down and I can't wait to sink into the second one.