The empire of gold

Review by Booklist Review

At the end of Kingdom of Copper (2019), Nahri and Ali fled Daevabad with Suleiman's seal. But with it comes a consequence: magic has all but disappeared. Nahri and Ali plot their quest to return even though that means facing Nahri's mother, a healer-turned-dictator who uses brutality and bloodshed to take over their beloved city. Once again, the chapters switch among Nahri, Ali, and Dara, all of whom realize that there is no such thing as a purely moral choice in an immoral world and that they must face the fates they've been desperately trying to escape. Nahri is no longer Cairo's small-time con artist, instead coming into her own as a true healer and leader. Ali, once overshadowed by his brother, uses his own talents and charisma to sway allies to his cause. The novel also never loses sight of those who are most hurt by war, the shafit, djinn-human subjects who are the first to lose as royals vie for power. With musical prose, majestic settings, and an epic story, Chakraborty's finale to a trilogy will ignite passion in her many fans. Fervidly recommended to all readers of the fantasy genre.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

The centuries-long power struggle for the magical kingdom of Daevabad comes to a head in the marvelous final adventure in Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy (after The Kingdom of Copper). Healer Nahri awakens back home in 18th-century Egypt, with no memory of how she got there from Daevabad. The temptation to stay in her comfort zone is nearly impossible to resist when weighed against returning and joining the fight to take back the devastated djinn city. But exiled Daevabad prince Ali is stranded alongside Nahri and will do whatever it takes to find his way back home to avenge his family and restore their rule. Both Nahri and Ali run up against the sins of their ancestors when deeply buried secrets come to light, revealing Nahri's true parentage and Ali's family debt. Chakraborty pulls off an astonishing balancing act as her multifaceted characters navigate the complex politics of her beautifully painted world, but she relies on some too-convenient plot devices to tie up all the loose ends, slightly cheapening the otherwise satisfying conclusion. Still, this mammoth finale is a worthy finish to a beloved series. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (July)

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Review by Library Journal Review

Daevabad has fallen to Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her commander Dara, who was resurrected. But he conquest left the city devoid of magic and unstable. Dara's battlefield experiences have him wondering about the truth of what he is doing, facing demons of the past and enemies in the present. Nahri and Ali barely escaped from Daevabad to Cairo, where Nahri finds her human past holds some comfort; she is upset with the knowledge of those she left behind and their suffering. Ali is also determined to rescue his city, turning to his mother's homeland and his connection with the marid. But that connection may cause more upheaval in not only Ali's relationship with Nahri, but his own beliefs. Other connections and truths come to light, forcing Ali, Nahri, and Dara to make choices to determine their futures, along with that of all in Daevabad. VERDICT Chakraborty (The City of Brass) brings her epic fantasy series to a stunning conclusion. Rich details, familial ties, and magical politics sing in this lush world built from Middle Eastern history and imagination. [See Prepub Alert, 12/9/19.]--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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