#kingdomofcopper

Author: S.A. Chakraborty

Published by: Harper Voyager

Pages: 620

Format: Hardback

My Rating ★★★★

In Daevabad, where djinn can summon flames with a snap of their fingers, where rivers run deep with ancient magic, and blood can be as dangerous as any spell, a clever con artist from Cairo will alter the fate of a kingdom.

Nahri’s life changed forever when she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad, she needed all of her grifter instincts to survive. Now, as Nahri embraces her heritage and her power, she must forge a new path.

Exiled for daring to defy his father, Ali ids adrift on the unforgiving sands of his ancestral land, hunted by assassins and forced to rely on frightening new abilities that threaten to reveal a terrible family secret.

As a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s brass walls to celebrate, a power in the desolate north will bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates…

My thoughts:

The Kingdom of Copper, the sequel to S. A. Chakraborty’s magnificent The City of Brass largely takes place five years after the events of the first book.

There’s a prologue at the beginning of the book which details the immediate aftermath for each of our three main characters. However, the major bulk of the novel takes place several years after Dara’s ‘death,’ Ali al Qahtani’s possession by the marid and subsequent exile, and Nahri’s political arranged marriage to the crowned prince of Daevabad.

Without giving too much away, our three main characters: Nahri, Ali and Dara are all very separated and living completely different lives than when we last saw them in the first instalment. They have each grown tremendously during the five years, and now all have very different goals. In The Kingdom of Copper, we witness each of these characters embark on a journey quite unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before.

This was such a phenomenal instalment and such a treat to read. This is part two in the Daevabad trilogy, an own voices Muslim Fantasy series that takes place in the historical setting of the early 1800s. It is such a beautiful Middle Eastern story, and I enjoyed how the author has yet again been able to tie in so much of the culture’s folklore in an absolutely beautiful way through her storytelling.

This is a story about djinn, and magical cities, and people being able to harness powers that they don’t fully understand. This is also a story about oppression, and privilege, and the terrible things people are willing to do in the name of pure blood. The mixed bloods in this world, shafits, are treated horribly and without a second thought.

For me, The Kingdom of Copper was simply impossible to put down, because I was so enthralled on every page. This 600+ page book is completely packed with action, and I never wanted it to end. I love S.A. Chakraborty’s writing, and I think she really expertly crafts three very different characters, with three very different perspectives, all of which I completely delighted in.

The story is fantastic, the characters are wonderful, and the messages and representation within are so important in achieving such an absorbing and unique read. This book is entertaining, thrilling, heartfelt and powerful. I highly recommend this series - I found The Kingdom of Copper such an addictive and entertaining read. I loved it just as much as the first book. Now I really can’t wait to get started on the third and final part with The Empire of Gold.

Overall reaction:

i made a lil comic out of @leafy-m ‘s fanfic, “The List” ❤️✨

“Alizayd al Qahtani.” The syllables fell from his mouth like someone else was speaking them. Tiamat blinked, the great marid mother actually looking surprised, and so he repeated the words more firmly. “My name is Alizayd al Qahtani.”

Tiamat regarded him. He couldn’t tell if she looked annoyed or pleased.

So be it, she declared.