Book Review: 'The City Of Brass' by SA Chakraborty

A fantasy novel, and debut from author SA Chakraborty, initially set in 18th century Egypt, blending real world history and fantastical magic.

'The City Of Brass' follows Nahri, a young con woman, who uses her street skills to con and swindle the nobles of the Ottoman occupied Egypt to survive day to day. But when she manages to somehow summon a djinn warrior during a seance con job, Nahri's life is about to change for good!

I enjoyed this story, the first of a trilogy, as I like my fantasy stories with a hint of the real world making them more grounded and relatable. I also like the fantastical elements, especially when they're based on the mythological, in this case it's the Middle Eastern mythologies of djinn, magic and more. It's a mix that, for me, sucks me into the cultures and lore of the story I'm reading. This blend works really well here as we're introduced to the magical world through Nahri, as she flees from the only place she's known as home, Egypt in the 18th century, to the magical kingdom of Daevabad, a place that she only thought lived in stories and legends.

But there's a lot more than just the magical aspect, there's also the political too. We see this from the viewpoint of Prince Alizayd al Qahtani, second son of the king of Daevabad, and the other point of view throughout the book. He's a total contrast to Nahri. Where she is more carefree and feisty, and although a little younger than Nahri, Ali is more uptight but also has a habit of speaking without thinking. He's also juggling his responsibilities in the court of his father with his secret activities, going against his father's rule and funding services for the oppressed people of the kingdom. Things seem to going well for Ali, but the arrival of Nahri and Dara, the djinn warrior she summoned earlier, begins a run of complications that threatens to dismantle Ali's efforts.

It's a fast paced story that changes gears and slows down in middle when they reach the kingdom of Daevabad, when the political intrigue and YA love triangle between Nahri, Dara and Ali comes to the fore, before quickening up again towards the end. It's an enjoyable read that drew me into the story, characters and settings quickly, with some good character development and world building, making it a very lived in world with a rich history of lore. Definitely worth picking up.

Available from Harper Collins plus