The start of a promising fantasy-trilogy, «The City of Brass» had me reading until the early morning hours.
S. A. Chakraborty tells the story of Nahri, a young orphaned woman making her living as a con-artist in 18th century Cairo until she accidentally summons a demon and a djinn in a ceremony designed to ban harmful spirits. Her world is turned upside down as she flees Cairo alongside Dara, the djinn, towards Daevabad, mythical city of the djinn and center of simmering feuds and schemes, where their arrival threatens to overthrow the carefully held balance.
I loved the exotic setting, the numerous fantastical characters, the way Chakraborty switches perspectives and enhances the suspense, and the unforeseen turns her story takes. It is a gripping, exciting tale she spins and I cannot wait to start reading the rest of it!
