The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) – S.A. Chakraborty

Haven’t read the first novel, The City of Brass? Check out my review!

Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 640
Release Date: January 22, 2019

Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad—and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe.

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

In my opinion, the mark of a great fantasy novel is whether or not my interest is held during the more mundane parts of the novel. These are the parts where readers simmer in the world and live in the day-to-day happenings of the political landscape where it almost feels as if nothing is happening. This takes up a large chunk of the novel. So I’m happy to report, The Kingdom of Copper kept my attention from the first page of the novel until the last page.

Other readers may find the sequel slower paced, however The Kingdom of Copper strikes a delicate balance between action, political intrigue, and precise character and relationship development.

As with the previous novel, Chakraborty’s writing is beautifully all encompassing blanketing the reader in atmosphere with lush and vivid descriptions. Chakraborty’s writing is easily one of the best aspects of the trilogy. I’d recommend this based on her writing alone.

The Kingdom of Copper adds Dara’s perspective to the mix along with Nahri’s and Ali’s. Though his perspectives are far and few between, I enjoyed the intimate look at his personality and psychology. I definitely fall into the camp of those who think Dara can be redeemed. Though, his redemption depends on his actions in the final book, The Empire of Gold.

Overall, The Kingdom of Copper is an incredible sequel that expands upon the first novel while setting up an explosive finale for The Empire of Gold.

 

Have you read The Kingdom of Copper? What did you think?