The Empire Of Gold - The Daevabad Trilogy (3)

Ok, after the ride that was The Kingdom of Copper and where it ended in the second book, I picked this one up immediately and basically rode the wave till the book ended. It was a pretty satisfying end for the trilogy, I love the way it ended if I am being honest even if this is not a five star read, again. Oh, well. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager, I have had the pleasure of reading this ahead of its release (kinda). Frankly, I would have cried had I not had the third book in hand when I finished the second one. It’s that kind of cliffhanger. Anyway! Onto the last book in the series! If I am being honest, no matter how good the first two books in the series were, I was a bit afraid of this one and as I read on, I was becoming more worried as chapter after chapter unveiled things I did not think of imagining. I was really worried about 60% in as to what was actually going to happen. I was just worried that after such a good run so far, it would end on not so good note. It starts where the second book left off, Daevabad is out of Ghassan’s control, Manizeh has the control now and with Dara by her side. The result of this is Nahri and Ali escaping the city and in effect robbing Daevabad and its counterparts losing all magic entirely. Turns out, Suleiman’s Seal is not supposed to leave Daevabad’s borders. They are trying to find a solution that does not end in more bloodshed and more political disasters. Meanwhile, Dara has to live with the fact that despite him wishing for otherwise, he is, once again, responsible for another massacre. As the story moves, we see Dara realising that while he might have thought that it was his duty to follow the Nahids, it’s not perhaps the best life choice he had made in a while. Manizeh is ruthless and unnecessarily cruel and it’s affecting Dara’s beliefs and faith. As for Nahri and Ali, their relationship took a different turn than I was ready for. Ali’s crush was not a secret but it had grown into something more and what’s more, Nahri had finally started to see him as something else other than her friend-turned-enemy-turned-ally and I would rather it stayed platonic, but I can kinda see how it was going to happen anyway? It’s not my favourite part of the book and it kinda overshadows their actual friendship that was slowly growing. I wish it was explored more. On the other hand, I absolutely loved Dara’s arc on this one, I finally got a story where the girl doesn’t end up with a thousand year old guy simply because he was hot. Mind you, there’s far more to Dara than this but you know what? I don’t think Nahri and Dara could have lasted in the long run, they had differing opinions on how things should be/should have been. That’s what happens when there’s a literal thousand years of age difference. Speaking of relationships, I wish Muntadhir and Jamshid got a better more clear ending than the one we got, while I understand that they were clearly secondary characters and got a better ending than I could have hoped for, my greedy heart still wants more. As far as Al-Qahtani siblings are concerned, oh, goodness, what a brilliant trio they make! I loved their growth as a whole and just…so many feels! Now, let’s talk about character growth because there’s some that I had issues with. Dara was not one of them! He had such growth in this one, his chapters were so filled with tension and conflicting thoughts and feelings and I loved them. I might not have liked the fact that it took him a long time to realise that just because the Nahids demanded it, it did not mean it was the right thing to do. However when taken into consideration the sheer number of years he had spent thinking just that, I can see how some hard truths took time to be comfortable with. In Ali’s case, not talking about romance, it was him realising that his family and his heritage is more than his own perceptions of it. I especially loved the way we got to see Marid magic and how very vast the world really was compared to just the politics of Daevas. Nahri’s is perhaps the only growth that isn’t super drastic or momentous. We already knew her feelings about the Daevas and the djinns and the shafits and that was nothing new. However her birth origins were! They came out of nowhere after it being established throughout the trilogy. Okay, we are nearing the end of the review. It’s long, I know. So, I love that this book also followed the slow beginning, letting us settle in the mood and then it just lifts and lifts and then the action goes BAM! Then you are really in it for the ride, and what a ride this one was! From about seventy percent till the end, so much happened! I can’t begin to tell you how much actually happened. It’s just one long explosion. Yeah, let’s call it that. I loved the way this story ended, I loved that there was room for growth, for future for the characters of the series but also for the world of the Daevas. I absolutely loved Dara’s concluding story arc, it couldn’t have been more perfect, it is something I really, really appreciate. Thank you for this, S. A. Chakraborty! Nahri’s story also ended on a note that I am not terribly sad about, it’s the best ending she could have had and that stands for Ali too! It is not smooth sailing and it is, at times, a bit slow and meandering (don’t worry tho! I like my books like that! Especially fantasy ones) but overall, I really loved this trilogy with all my heart. Flaws and all. Flaws are just that touch of imperfection this series needed, I think. It’s just great and I am already thinking of ways to read it again. How much time should pass before a re-read, do you think?

And the trilogy ends. 'May the fires burn brightly for you'! I cannot stop marvelling at how wonderfully this tale ends. Chakraborty's extensive research and minute detailing is remarkable. From the very beginning of The Empire of Gold, the story captures the readers attention. Confused and devastated Nahri and Ali navigate the alleys of Cairo. But their heart remains in Daevabad. Daevabad with its magic gone, grows more foreboding and dull. Manizheh and Dara make dire attempts to unite the kingdom - yet the tension grows more intense. Nothing seems to be working even with the help of ifrit. The politics grows intense and I found myself unable to stop even as long chapters ended. The emotional grit, middle Eastern mythical creatures kept me hooked till the very end. There's magic, drama, betrayal, love, righteousness and political currents all packed in. The characters Nahri, Ali and Dara grew on me like my dear friends. Their every trial made my heartache for them. I can vouch that there was not a moment of dullness this novel. And the ending was satisfying and so glorious. All those who love a good fantasy fiction grab a copy now.

A fitting end to a beautiful series. It doesn't aim to please everyone, and yet, one cannot imagine any other way it could have ended while doing justice to each beloved character.

I never write reviews for books, but this trilogy deserves every word of praise. An unexpected marvel, that I discovered through an Insta post and ordered the first book to see if it was worth the hype. Now 3 months later, writing this review after finishing all the 3 books and having ordered ‘River of Silver’ too. All the characters in the book are special. The last part is so well crafted, patiently stiching the end the trilogy deserved.

Very engaging. A fitting end to the brilliant trilogy. We get to know so much more about the characters and their history. The magic is just spectacular. Can't wait for these to come in movie adaptations.

This book was such a roller coaster ride.. And I absolutely loved every bit of it.. This is hands down one of the best fantasy series I have read!!!

The story line that began in the first book is carried forward, however, the plot does loose its tautness and even though it is a fantasy set in a non-conformist environment (arab and islamic) it does hold attention for the reader to want to finish the triology.

Hefty book! Arrived in a great condition! Spoilers on the back cover 😂 that's my fault for buying this before reading the previous installment. And timely delivery! Yay for COD too!

Amazing characters who you just have to care about. Dry, clever humour. Magical creatures. A touch of romance. A wild ride of a story.

’That made it worse, this passing of a barbed baton between women who, no matter how clever, how powerful, would always be known by the men to whom they were attached.’ A rich, immersive Middle Eastern inspired fantasy world; a cast of complex characters who you’ll fall for, shudder at the thought of and even potentially long to throttle on occasion. A wondrous array of fantastical beings, intense political scheming and calamitous religious clashes; ’The Empire Of Gold’ has it all, although if you’ve read the rest of ’The Daevadbad Trilogy’ you probably already expect that. Within this final instalment in the series all of those elements come together to form a truly epic series finale that is one of those rare books that feels worthy of the word perfection. Needless to say I was a major fan of this one. There are a lot of elements about this book, and series in general, that I feel like I could gush about. Much of the features that I’ve highlighted within my introduction I’ve covered within my previous reviews though so I’m going to focus mainly upon the elements that are more specific to this final instalment. With that in mind I’m not going to say too much about individual characters but I do want to highlight how fantastically crafted some of their developmental journeys within this finale are. My favourite characters continued to delight me whilst the villains of this one made my stomach churn with despair. And then you have these revelations concerning a couple of characters that are so beautifully handled. Secrets from the past - sometimes an incredibly distant past at that – are revealed in a believable and moving manner whilst shifting ideologies are displayed so gradually over time. To show how someone caught up in fanatical beliefs and prejudice ways of thinking can start to see cracks and slowly open their eyes, its glorious how its handled here. Believable, unrushed and utterly devastating to behold. Whilst I’m on the subject of devastation – this book has an absolute mountain of it. Every time you think things can’t get anymore calamitous, they do. The scope of destruction within this book is stomach churning. Yet at the very same time there are some smaller, more singular horrors that still managed to shine through. This book doesn’t just get beneath your skin by showing how staggering the numbers can be within war, it also depicts many of the small, individual horrors that can get loss in the chaos of such staggering statistics. Plus it does so whilst poignantly depicting how those on both sides of a conflict believe themselves to be the hero and victim; as well as how both sides can cross horrific boundaries. Like the previous book within the series this one is split into three perspectives: Nahri, Ali and Dara’s. Once again they’re wonderfully crafted and come together to show you whats happening within the Daevabad world at large. There are additional perspectives that perhaps could have been interesting to see but, although I’d have loved to have seen what was going on with Zaynab for instance, it truly didn’t feel necessary. What you get tells this tale perfectly. Finally the way that everything ties up within this one was truly mesmerising for me. It was emotional, hard hitting, edge of your seat stuff. I think many readers will agree that sometimes series finales can feel a little anti climactic given the scope of what’s come before with odds feeling a little too easily overcome. That truly didn’t seem to be the case here. I wouldn’t be describing it as perfect if it didn’t truly feel that way to me but it did; devastation and all. So ultimately I think it goes without saying that I whole heartedly recommend ’The Empire Of Gold’ its a beautiful and devastating final instalment within ’The Daevabad Trilogy’. It has high stakes, major revelations and a lot of gut clenching moments. It’s penned beautifully and takes place within a vibrant world that, despite its clashes, I’ve come to love. Needless to say I utterly adored this and consider it to be one of my all time favourites now. I can’t wait to finally check out the author’s adult book because if it’s anything like this I’m in for one hell of a treat. ’Find your happiness, little thief. Steal it and do not ever let it go.’

I absolutely devoured this book. 🧡

>>>>>My Synopsis (Review follows): <<<<< At first glance, Nahir appears to be an average girl. Take a second glance, and you will probably notice her eyes--they're unnaturally black. If you take the time to take a closer look, however, and really see her, you'll notice there is nothing average or ordinary about her. Nahir lived on the streets of Cairo from the age of five speaking a language no one else knew or had ever heard. She didn't remember much about her parents or where they hailed from. Living on the streets, she survived anyway she could. She could smell a con from a mile away because she'd used most of them. Six years ago, however, everything changed. While attempting to hold a zar, a traditional ceremony meant to deal with djinn possession, she decided to sing one of the songs in her native tongue (thinking it would sound unusual and eerie) when a disembodied voice responded to her in that same language--the one no one else had ever known. Since that fateful day, her life has been caught up in a series of twists and turns, ups and downs, and life altering decisions. She'd been whisked away to a magical hidden world and discovered djinn, magic, and wonderfully terrifying magical creatures she could never have conceived of were real. She also learned she was somehow a part of it all. Now, just as Daevabad, the magical city Nahir had been spirited away to, finds itself in the middle of civil unrest, she finds herself back in Cairo faced with another life altering decision--should she stay or should she go back? Yet, the decision is not entirely hers alone. Somehow she and Ali, the djinn prince, were transported to Cairo together, and Ali is not doing all that well. "Do you know how many times I've had to do this? Forget healing; my specialty should be having my life destroyed and then being forced to rebuild from nothing." (...) "I'm so tired," she said, her voice cracking. "Everything I build gets broken. My life in Cairo. My dreams for Daevabad. I give everything--everything--I have. Only for someone to come along and smash it. It's all for nothing. Nothing." >>>>>My Review: <<<<< This is the third and final book in the Daevabad Trilogy, and I am very sad to see this tale end. If you haven't read any of the previous books do not start with this one. It begins where the last book left off, and the events in each book build upon those in the last. If you don't read the previous books you'll find yourself utterly lost and won't enjoy the tale as much as you should. That said, I always worry that when the last book in a series comes out that it won't keep up with the momentum and bookish goodness of the previous books before it. I am happy to say this one passed the test and delivered a wonderful and magically delicious ending. I absolutely loved it. While I tried to devour this one in one sitting, it boasts nearly 800 pages, sadly, I had to take some time to sleep before continuing through to the end of the saga. If you can manage to hold out to the end, however, your sacrifice will be well worth it. It's been six years since Nahri was whisked away to Daevabad, and a lot has happened. Her skills as a healer have become stronger, she's gained friends and family, but could it be her forever home? Orphaned at an early age and living off the streets in Cairo she'd never truly felt she fit in anywhere, but Daevabad has been the closest she's ever come. Not all she's experienced in Daevabad has been pleasant. She's been lied to, betrayed, used as a pawn, but she's also grown in so many ways. She's stronger and wiser than when she first arrived, and now, she finally has the chance to decide her own fate. She'll have to do it, however, without her magical healing abilities. For whatever reason, magic is gone, and she and Ali will have to survive using nothing but their wits and resourcefulness. If they decide to return to Daevabad, they'll have to travel halfway around the world just as regular humans would. There will be no shortcuts. There is no doubt that the kingdom of Daevabad is in trouble with Manizheh vying to be the kingdom's next ruler. Nahri and Ali have been granted a reprieve from the chaos, but eventually Ali, if not both of them, will need to return. What I liked about the situation in Daevabad is that it mimics life. Someone can seem like they'd be the perfect leader, but until they come into power you truly don't know how they'll handle things. They may have a hidden agenda that will be revealed only after they take control. Promises may be broken. Still, people will follow them because they won't believe the person they believed in is capable of doing whatever it is they do. Some will never be able to wrap their head around it. The story also captures the complex emotions that motivate people to do things they'd never think themselves capable of doing whether that be for the better good or bad. I must say I enjoyed the contrast between Nahri and Manizheh. They found themselves in somewhat similar situations, but handled themselves in very different ways. In many ways I felt they were two halves of the same coin, but, oh, how their perceptions on things varied. I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. The story started out slow and steady, but consistently gained momentum like a wave until it crested and everything came crashing down. The world building was phenomenal. I felt like I'd stepped into another world that I didn't want to leave. The characters were relatable, complex, and multidimensional. Twists and turns were thrown at you from all directions keeping things interesting and ensnaring the reader under the tale's beguiling spell. If you're looking for a story to escape reality for just a little while, this may just be the trilogy for you. I absolutely loved it and HIGHLY recommend it. While there is a little romance in this novel, it is not the focus of the story, therefore, I'm forgoing my romance rating on this one. Did I mention I loved this trilogy? lol Definitely in my top 10, maybe even 5 trilogies/series. If you're wondering--Yes, I bought this one. I couldn't help myself, but originally I was given an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. That in NO way altered or affected my review or rating. The Daevabad Trilogy is definitely a keeper that would make for an excellent book club discussion.

What a spectacular 3rd book to the trilogy. So many questions answered, and loose ends cut. It was such an incredible fast pace heavy plot. And very satisfying conclusion.