Be careful what you wish for . . .

Book Review:  City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

Alone from a young age, Nahri quickly learned that she was

different from others.  Cairo is the only home she's ever known but she doesn't quite look Egyptian.  She can pick up any language she's introduced to, but she's never heard anyone speak the language she considers her own.  She has a natural talent for healing, helped by her mysterious ability to sense illness.  She uses her skills to swindle her way through life on the streets, dreaming of the day she can set aside enough money to attend school and learn how to be a proper physician.  She never believed in magic -- until the day she accidentally summoned an ancient djinn warrior while performing an exorcism.

Dara is the ancient djinn warrior summoned by Nahri.  He's annoyed.  He's even more annoyed when he realizes that he was summoned by a half-djinn girl with no knowledge of her heritage.  And that her improvised ritual not only summoned him, but also drew the attention of the ifrit -- seriously nasty beings.  He knows that he must get her to the magical city of Daevabad, as soon as possible.  She will be safe there.  He may not be.  There was a war among the djinn centuries ago and he was on the losing side.

In Daevabad, second-son Ali finds himself torn between his family and his beliefs.  Ali believes that all citizens of Daevabad should enjoy equal rights.  His father, King Ghassan, disagrees.  While there is plenty of disdain towards members of other clans, the one group despised by all are the shafits -- those of mixed human and djinn blood.  Because of their magical potential, they are not allowed to leave the city -- but because of their mixed blood heritage, they are not allowed to do more than scrape by.  Education and positions of influence, are not for them.  The city is simmering with tension.  

LOVED this book!  Incredible world-building -- the Daeva's history spans continents, thousands of years, and reflects a variety of cultural influences.  Rich, believable setting.  Interesting characters who are flawed enough to feel real.  Magic -- lovely, strange, terrifying magic.  Beautiful writing.  

Looking forward to the sequel, Kingdom of Copper, set to be published November of 2018.  I want to discover more about Nahri and how she came to be on her own in Cairo, with no memory of family.  I want to see what happens next with Ali.  I want to know more about Dara as well, although I was really disliking him at the end of this book -- I suspect he may be the most tragic figure in the story -- or the most despicable.