Title: City of Brass

Series: The Daevabad Trilogy

Author: SA Chakraborty

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for…

Nahri is on her own in Cairo and is basically a con artist, but she also has a real ability to sense illness in people. In one of her cons she accidentally summons a djinn, Dara, who tells her who she really is and takes her to Daevabad.

Along the same timeline, we also meet Ali who is the son of the King who doesn’t like how his father’s regime treats Shafits, half djinn, half human people. (I hope I have all the spellings right as I listened to it!)

As I said above, I listened to this book and, at first, I wasn’t sure it was the right format for this story for me. I was a bit confused at points with all the different magical groups, political issues but then it all sort of slotted into place, not sure if it was me or not! 

But as soon as Nahri arrived at the Palace, I was hooked to every word! I love Dara is all I have to say!!!

Onto book 2 for me!

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Here we are with my 2nd update of 2022! Doesn’t January feel like a month with 85 days in it?!!! It felt like it was dragging all month!

There’s not much to report here really, nothing has happened apart from run of the mill work and school!

My reading year has got off to a great start with 13 books read in total for January. I’ve been like a reading machine because that’s more than I normally read!

On the blog, I had a spurt of reviews to catch up on so they’ve been posted in the last week and a bit (sorry for the amount!) and I have a few that I’ll post in February.

What I’ve Read

Defending Elysium and Evershore by Brandon Sanderson
See my reviews here

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Daughters of Nri by Reni K Amayo

My reviews for the above will be published soon!

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Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
This is a reread so you can read my original review that I’ve updated here where I go on about my love for Thomas and basically hate for Audrey Rose!!!!

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I also gorged a series!

Broken Bonds, Savage Bonds and Blood Bonds by J Bree

See my reviews here, here and here.

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Bookish Arrivals

The Witcher (with that horrible sticker!)
The Extraordinaires by TJ Klune

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In case you missed it…..

Review – Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Review – Wolfsong by TJ Klune
Review – Gleam by Raven Kennedy
Reviews – The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare
Reviews – Cytonic, Evershore, Defending Elysium by Brandon Sanderson
Review – Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Review – City of Brass by SA Chakraborty

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Coming up next week…..

Review – The Iron Sword by Julie Kagawa
Review – Daughters of Nri by Reni K Amayo
Features – Romancing the Rascal, Radiant, Rad and Rake
Review – The Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Review – Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

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What have you read lately?

Title: Gleam

Series: Plated Prisoner #3

Author: Raven Kennedy

King Midas made me the woman I am today. Notorious. Unattainable. His.

The thing about being confined is that you believe it’s to keep the bad out… Until you realize it’s about keeping you in.

I’m now in a strange kingdom surrounded by liars, with no allies of my own, but I won’t sit idly by and let myself wither. No, there’s something that’s bloomed from the pit of my repression. Something dark. Something angry.

But the last thing I expected was for my anger to call out to him. King Ravinger.

He’s sinister and powerful and entirely too seductive. I’ve learned my lesson with trusting manipulative kings, so why does my chest constrict every time he’s near? I need to tread carefully, or I’m at risk of losing much more than just my freedom.

Regret and revenge war inside of me, and I need to figure out a plan fast before I get tangled up in the schemes of kings and queens.

Because I won’t be caught in a cage again. No, this time, It’ll be me setting the trap… I just hope my heart comes out of this unscathed.

‘I probably look like the same gilded saddle, the same gold-touched favored. But if you look closer, you might see the gleam in my eye.’

Wowee!! <— I’m not sure I’ve ever used that word before!

So same as book 2, I devoured this in a day!

We have new scenery, new players who are just lustful for power as Midas and secrets and lies are revealed aplenty!

There are 2 things that shone out in this book for me. One was Auren’s character growth! It was immense and I was totally here for that!

The second was Rip and Auren together. They make my heart sing like a little birdie at dawn!

One thing I didn’t get from this story was I really wanted to know more about Rip. Where he came from, how he got to where he is…..all of it!!

I can’t believe I have to wait for May for the next book!

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Title: Queen of Air and Darkness

Series: The Dark Artifices #3

Author: Cassandra Clare

What if damnation is the price of true love?

Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.

‘Some lights were never meant to burn for long.’

That line gutted me. I’m still absolutely gutted.

We have a family in total grief. And grief makes you do things you would never normally do.

Julian and Emma find themselves changed and have a trip to Fairie, the world we know and somewhere else. (Yes, I’m being cryptic!!)

Kit and Ty find themselves in a very weird situation of their own making and maybe find a bit more of themselves.

But I was totally here for Mark, Keiran and Cristina. 100% here for them! I love them more than Emma and Julian who really, I was a bit meh about!!!!

And of course, there’s a battle of good and evil but who will triumph and what will be lost?

Well of course you’ll need to read to find out but I can tell you this story was long one, it was a great read and I was hooked.

All the old faves are here (would’ve been perfect of Will had popped up!!!) and after that ending  I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Evershore (Skyward Flight #3)

Defending Elysium

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Evershore – see the blurb here.

Back with the Skyward Flight and this time from Jorgen’s point of view.

Jorgen has lost a lot in a short time, he’s ready to fall apart but he can’t, answers and solutions are needed and he’s the right guy for the job!

There’s loads of action, was emosh and a total journey for him and the Kitsen (I adore them!!)

I also adore Arturo and Alanik. I need more! They need their own novella!

Need that last book now, countdown begins!

Defending Elysium – see the blurb here.

I felt like I needed to read this to complete my knowledge of this world and the author says himself that he felt it was time to talk about Jason and his story, and how it related to Spensa and her story. And to be honest, I can’t get enough of the world!

Although short, this story gives us insight to the beginnings of Jason Write. Of an interesting fact about Jason but I won’t spill that here and it’s probably not what you think.

I’m not sure but from what I learned in Cytonic to what was here, I can piece a bit more together.

‘The Phone Company had arrived.’

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic = New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

Discovering new authors is one of the reasons I love getting book boxes. They introduce me to books and authors that I might not have read!

Here’s a selection I discovered in 2021:

❤ Cassandra Clare
❤ TJ Klune
❤ Susan Ee
❤ Katherine Arden
❤ Zoey Draven
❤ Destiny Soria
❤ Elizabeth Lim
❤ Xiran Jay Zhao
❤ Cari Thomas
❤ Deborah Harkness

Title: Lord of Shadows

Series: The Dark Artifices

Author: Cassandra Clare

Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?

A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love.

Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?

Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.

When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

So I went straight into book 2 as I needed more!

The Cold Peace has hurt so many people and it carries on……with the Blackthorns and some others helping in the fight to put an end to it.

This is what we’ve got here:

* We have the Faeries back in full force,
* We have the leader of the Wild Hunt trying to romance a Shadowhunter (and I bloody loved that!!),
* We have Magnus and Alec in their gloriousness,
* We have a disgusting group called The Cohorts who sicken me to my very core,
* We have Julian and Emma making me want to punch things,
* We have Emma who makes me realise she really is the number 1 bad a,
* We have Kit, Livvy and Ty who I have fallen in love with,
* We have Mark, Kieran and Cristina who I love with everything I have. I keep picturing Kieran looking like Legolas and that makes it even better!!!!

Read this.
Really.
Read it.

Oh but jeez that ending devastated me!

Title: Lady Midnight

Series: The Dark Artifices

Author: Cassandra Clare

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

I’m back in the world of the Shadowhunters! I had a couple of months break and now I’m ready for more!

This series primarily follows Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn and the whole Blackthorn clan are featured. I love them! A family with so much grief but they’ve stuck together, all because of Julian. Such a weight on a young boys shoulders.

I’m not going to talk about plot, but characters. If you want the plot you’ll need to read it!!

My faves = Kieran and Mark. Talk about heart singing! I would forgive Kieran for anything!!! I loved every time Mark spoke in his old style Faerie talk, bought a smile to my face!!

Emma and Jules, omg the tension!!! This author seems to torture her characters with love. I am here for it but the bloomin angst, I could punch something!!

‘If my heart was a canvas, every square inch of it would’ve painted over with you.’

Gaaaah the agony of my heart!

Another great start to a series in a series….and was lovely to see Tessa and Jem again (but Will remains my fave ever!!!)

Title: Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Series: The Celestial Kingdom #1

Author: Sue Lynn Tan

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

First of all, can we all take a moment to appreciate this beautiful cover…..I love it!

Xingyin is the daughter of the banished Chang’e, who flees to save their lives and hopefully to change their lives.

Xingyin ends up in the Celestial Kingdom with Prince Leiwei and what follows is a journey badically of self discovery.

Here are a few bits:
* The world building is utterly fab,
* The writing is so good, 
* The romance is cute but the dreaded triangle!
* Loved Xingyin, Leiwei and Wenzhi for different reasons!!!
* The pacing was fast, then slow……I did find it dragged a bit in the middle.

The ending had my heart melting and shouting I can’t wait! What will come next?!