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.

Magic can be beneficial but there's always a cost

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursala Le Guin.  Sparrowhawk had great magical talent but his reckless pride led him to tamper with magic beyond his training and he loosed a terrible shadow upon the world.  The tragic consequences of his actions sober him.  He applies himself to his studies and grows into a wise mage resolved to capture the shadow and send it back to whence it came.

LOVED this book.  A wonderfully told coming of age story.  A believable story of transformation.

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursala Le Guin.   Believed to be the reincarnation of the last high priestess, a young girl is taken from her family and consecrated to the service of the Nameless Ones.  She is isolated and taught the dark rituals she is expected to lead.  Ged (Sparrowhawk) comes to the tombs in search of the lost Ring of Erreth-Akbe.  Arha (Tenar) discovers him and traps him, outraged by his sacrilege.  Her anger gives way to curiosity, however, and she begins to question everything she has been taught.

More horrifying than Ged’s coming-of-age story.  While Ged (Sparrowhawk) brought something terrible into the world, Tenar is ripped from her family when she is only 6 years old and indoctrinated into an evil cult.  And yet, despite this, she is still able to question what she has been taught and choose her path.

The Farthest Shore by Ursala Le Guin.  Magic is fading quickly from the lands of Earthsea and no one knows why.  Songs are being forgotten and people are going mad.  Archmage Ged (Sparrowhawk) chooses a young prince to accompany him as he searches for the cause.

Le Guin adds more detail to her wonderfully developed world of Earthsea.  She continues to introduce interesting characters.  That said, I struggled a bit with this story.  The Big Bad annoyed me — I think I expected someone Bigger and Badder.  And I didn’t quite get some of the motivations.  I didn’t like the ending — not that it should have ended differently, I just didn’t want it to end the way it did.

Tehanu by Ursala Le Guin.   Le Guin revisits the character Tenar, perhaps the only character more haunted than Ged.  It’s been years since she left the Tombs with Ged; she’s now a widow.  She takes in a severely injured child and names her Therru.  And Ged returns.  Immediately following the events of The Farthest Shore, the dragon Kalessin brings him to Gont, unconscious and near death.  Tenar nurses him back to health . . . but not to his former power.  That is gone.

This was an interesting departure for the series.  Ged has no power; his sense of self is shattered.  And he, Tenar, and Therru are targeted by another Big Bad who has ample magic.  The danger feels more threatening this time around.