City of Brass

City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty, 532 pages


This is a new fantasy series that is set in the Middle East. Most of the characters in this book are supernatural creatures or half human and half supernatural creatures. The City of Brass - Daevabad is inhabited by djinn.


Nahri is a bit of a con woman living in Cairo. She accidently reveals an ifrit and then conjures a djinn named Dara. She finds out she is half supernatural creature. Ifrit are chasing her while she travels to Daevabad with Dara. He has a complicated past. As they travel, they learn about each other and start to have feelings for each other.


Meanwhile, Alizayd is second son of the king of the djinns. He is trying to help the shafits but things get messy. The shafits are poorly treated mixed race people - half djinn and half human. He finds himself trying to navigate court politics.


Nahri and Dara arrive at Daevabad where Dara's past may catch up with him and Nahri finds out how important she is and she how rough her adjustment is going to be. Alizayd ends up befriending her. Dara and Ali clash with Nahri in the middle and she is forced to make some tough choices.


This book got me hooked pretty quickly and I didn't want to put it down. It doesn't say so but the way it ended points to a series. I can't wait for the next book. There was some mystery, some romance, some drama, and some action. I thought she did a really good job of creating her world and presenting well rounded characters. I could see people who don't normally read fantasy liking this one.