The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty

Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publishing Date: January 22
Genre: fantasy
ISBN: 9780062678133
Rating: ★★★★★

With Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. 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.

Five years after the traumatizing attack on those Nahri held most dear, Nahri is married to the emir, trying to establish a home for herself in a kingdom run by a controlling madman, and searching for that spark of inspiration and hope for Daevabad’s inhabitants. Ali, meanwhile, has been exiled to the sands, and is struggling to control his new water magic, twisting it to be useful for the people of the desert rather than something to cause destruction. As a generation celebration draws near, Ali is summoned home and Nahri must work alongside him to restore a ruined hospital, a symbol of peace and hope for the city. Little do they know that a warrior is in their midst, and every fine thread they’ve grappled to hold onto will snap in the blink of an eye.

The Kingdom of Copper was one of my most anticipated reads for 2019. I adored the first of the trilogy, and this book held up to my expectations. It’s just as heart-pounding, adventurous, political, humorous, and heart-breaking! Nahri is fully immersed in court culture, trapped in a golden cage and struggling to find a way to express herself without fear of Ghassan’s wrath and tyrannical power. She’s also grown in her magic as well, and I thoroughly loved the way the palace speaks to her and answers her call. While The City of Brass introduced us to the politics and magic of this world, Kingdom of Copper immerses us further into its history, the way prejudices run deep, and introduces us to the vast array of creatures and their abilities. From beginning to end, I was immersed in the magic of these pages. The fate of Daevabad lies in the family drama at the heart of the city.

Thank you, Harper Voyager, for providing the galley for review!

The rest of the review will contain spoilers. If you have not read The City of Brass yet and would like to remain unspoiled, please do not read below the break.

I was so hesitant of Ali in the first novel, but Ali grew in his isolation to be a powerful, strong-willed, passionate, just man. He was passionate in the last, but seemed so disconnected from everything––very rose-colored-glasses kind of disconnection, one you’d expect from a prince––and this time around his exile worked to his benefit. I enjoyed seeing him again and watching his struggle between family, honor, duty, and all people of Daevabad play out. 

Also, DARA IS BACK. I had no idea what to expect, but it was not his reappearance in this novel. This poor Afshin is destined to fight and die, fight and die, and never find peace. This time, his Nahid is Nahri’s mother––yes, the one we thought was long dead. And boy does she have a deadly plan in motion that, in theory, sounds great but execution of it seems very similar to Ghassan’s own wrath, no matter how she spins it.

And our Nahri is in the middle of all this mess. Her grief for Dara, her disrespect for her husband, her anger and awe for Ali, and her desire to unite djinn and shafit and create grassroots peace… This was a family drama from beginning to end. While the first book gave us a world, this second installment places us right in the center of it, and it is bloody, delicate, and complicated. It’s exactly the kind of fantasy I enjoy! 

But THAT ENDING. Chakraborty…how am I supposed to wait for the next book after that? And where is my happy ending for Dara and Nahri? I’m eagerly anticipating the next in this gorgeous and exciting trilogy!

This qualifies as book 1 in my TBR challenge.