First of all, thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This review contains spoilers for The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper, and minor spoilers for The Empire of Gold.

This book was such a delight. I started reading this series a month ago, and read all three books in sequence, so you can only guess how hyped I was for this last one after getting so immerse in the absolutely fantastic world S. A. Chakraborty created. I had great expectations, and The Empire of Gold managed to exceed them.
I could go on and on about the intricate narrative, the amount of details in description, the amazing care for the worldbuilding, but I’ll settle for saying how amazingly planned this series was. All the details given to us in The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper, remanences of dialogues that we might not have paid attention, the entire development the main characters (and others as well) had – all of it contributed to a closed ending, so very satisfying and coherent with everything that was presented to us since the beginning. If there were loose ends, it was because Daevabad’s future remains open, thriving in the beautiful direction our beloved characters pointed to.
And the characters! Like The Kingdom of Copper, here we have three main POVs (and prologue by Manizheh’s POV): Nahri, Ali and Dara, very well distributed between them. With Nahri and Ali together in Cairo, but with different feelings about what happened in Daevabad, it was very important we got to see both of their thoughts, even if they were together for most of the time, experiecing the same events but with different outtakes on them. Dara’s POV was our door to the chaos Daevabad was in since Manizheh’s conquest at the end of The Kingdom of Copper.
I disliked Dara since The City of Brass. He was racist, blind about every flaw his tribe had, very condescending and overly protective towards Nahri, in a way that didn’t make her grow and thrive on her own, pretty much wanting to place her in a level where she would have been a worshipped doll and nothing more. He was frustrating because of his blind devotion. But that was exactly the point of his character: he is extremely dislikable, but he has a brilliant character development. In this book, Dara continues on the path he set himself into in The Kingdom of Copper; we see the doubts that grew on him in the second book become bigger to a point he can no longer create excuses for, and reading this growth was extremely satisfying. His ending was perfect.
Nahri became my favorite character in this book. I loved everything about her in The Empire of Gold. The small things that I was frustrated with about her in the first two books made the most sense here, and I could see that it was a path that she needed to follow in order to heal herself and be able to help others. Her growth is beyond words. It’s incredible to look back and see the girl from The City of Brass, who couldn’t bring herself to trust anyone, than see the girl from The Kingdom of Copper, who thought that she couldn’t allow herself even a bit of happiness because somehow it would be taken from her, and then see the woman she grew into, surrounded by people that love her and allowing herself to care. The way she embraced her roots, fought her inner doubts, and became the leader her people needed in times of tyrants – it was such a delight. Nahri is exactly what Daevabad and the Daevas needed, exactly the protagonist I needed to read about – probably one of my favorites of all times. I am so proud of her.
And Ali! Oh, my beautiful, dutiful, dumb and obtuse baby. I love him so much. The boy we met in The City of Brass, rash and eager to help but unable to, still remains, but much more mature and conscious about his own actions and its consequences. His journey of understanding, acceptance and self-sacrifice was beautiful. He used to see the world as black and white, extremes of right and wrong, but he found himself in the middle of it, trying to do the right thing for the people who most needed but still contributing to prejudice for other tribes, and was torn apart by a revelation that shook his beliefs. He had to reevaluate his thoughts, his relationship with his faith, with himself and others – and it was so well done. Since the beginning he was a favorite of mine because of his intelligence, his desire to help others, his obtuseness with expressing feelings, his growing affection for Nahri that started at friendship and slowly became attraction. In that regard, his relationship with Nahri was perfect. I love how they started as enemies, bound together for convenience, treating each other as marks, but slowly started to trust each other and grew to a friendship and partnership that both cherish so much. They support and cheer for each other, bending all the common sense that a bond between a Nahid and a Qahtani could never thrive. Ughhhh I just love them, period.

After talking so much, I want to repeat once again: it was perfect. A perfect and coherent ending for an amazing series, probably one of my favorite trilogies all time.

What a journey, I can’t thank the author enough for bringing me along!
This is an incredible coming of age series. The main characters grow so much in the three novels and following their path is incredible.
Empire of Gold is full of action, but also of sweet and heartbreaking moments (yes, I had to hold back my tears more than once!).

The world the author has created is full of wonder and her characters are engraved in my heart (seriously I’m crying right now because this incredible journey in Daevabad has come to an end)

Nahri is an incredible strong female lead and it was hard to see her break down at times, but she always found a way to move on and do her best, not for herself, for her people. It is so easy to empathize with her as she has had such a hard beginning in life, and nobody has truly been on her side. Not even her Afshin as she has just realized he is on Manizheh’s side. After such a bad start it is no wonder she has a hard time to trust and this will show throughout the book, although she will slowly learn that some people are worth it.

Speaking of Dara, I love him, but he has been a pain in the ass since book two, and now I want to strangle him. His devotion to the Nahids is infuriating since we know, and he knows they have caused him nothing but harm and are actually NOT TRUSTWORTHY!!!! WAKE UP DARA!!!! -> that was my mantra the whole book…

Ali on the other hand grew on me. I already liked him, but in Empire of Gold he truly impressed me. His commitment and the sacrifices for his people are inspiring. Ali’s and Nahri’s chapters were my favorites.

Jamshid, I have no shame to say, is my favorite and I wish we could have had more of him in the book and especially more moments between him and Muntadhir, because gosh wasn’t it the best love story in the book?

I will not be talking about all the characters since we have new once as well, but they were all well build and had a lot of depths. I especially liked the development of the Qahtani siblings.

Now I like a bit of romance in my books and although this book did not focus on it, it had his fair share. The most important being kind of a love triangle between Nahri, Dara and Ali. So I have to confess that my main interrogation for this book was ‘Who is Nahri going to end up with?’ She had such a great love for Dara and a profound friendship with Ali that everything could have happened. In the end, am I satisfied? I would say yes, the end made a lot of sense after everything that happens in Empire of Gold, but had you told me the ending after I finished Kingdom of Copper my answer would have been quite different.

This was truly one of the best trilogies I have ever read. The culture, the world building, the characters, everything was perfect. It kind of makes me want to write a paper on how Daevabad reflects our society today…

When I read City of Brass last year, it wowed me like no other book had done before in a very long time. Kingdom of Copper was no exception, but Empire of Gold, wow. I was so happy to receive an E-Arc of this book so a huge thank you to HarperVoyager!

This has to be one of my favourite series ever, the world building, the magic, the characters and their growth, the brilliant plot, everything about the final instalment is great. The Empire of Gold takes place after the events of Kingdom of Copper and it's straight into it, it's a true epic fantasy.

It's been interesting to see the progression of the story and how it's gone to from the events of the City of Brass to the final events in the Empire of Gold,

I'll definitely be revisiting Daevabad from time to time. Huge FIVE stars from me.

Countless days spent wondering how this series will end and here we are, with a phenomenal conclusion that was expected of the author.

There is a civil war brewing in Daevabad and the rich and powerful are putting out their final cards in hopes to win over the other. ‘The Empire of Gold’ is a tale of ambitious conquests, bloodshed, and forbidden magic. It is also about coming to terms with oneself (in reference to Nahri, Ali, and Dara who are surrounded by mysteries regarding their heritage and powers). Ali’s fate in this book was unexpected (that has a lot to do with Marid magic, my favorite kind for some reason) and his character development is splendid. Banu Nahri stands out with her wit and wisdom and her quick & smart decision-making skills. Dara is his usual self, the weapon with no freedom to make his own decisions.

Chakraborty gives us an epic adventure that has marid magic, mythical creatures, pirates, and political allies coming together to save Daevabad. The author answers all the questions in the best way possible, the characters are as fresh as I remember them to be in the first book, and the loose ends are tied up neatly.

Chakraborty’s writing is detailed, atmospheric, and engaging. The plot keeps you guessing until the very end and gives you countless moments where you have to hold yourself still and hope for the best. There’s so much hope at the end of the book and our characters make some great choices (unless we are talking about Ali, who as Nahri points out, is reckless and confused). A meticulously planned plot, that has been executed with grace and charm, ‘The Empire of Gold’ is the conclusion this trilogy deserves.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Empire of Gold is the last book in the Daevabad Trilogy, and this world is so complex and life-like, the other 2 books so well-thought and gorgeously written, that The Empire of Gold had a lot to live up to. I’m glad to say it did – Chakraborty managed to give all her characters well-deserved and well-rounded endings, addressing the causes of inequality in civil unrest that moved the bulk of the trilogy’s plot.
That being said, I think this book is Dara’s book – and, given that he definitely is not my favourite character in the trilogy, it was a bit of challenge to go through his chapters. Dara goes through so much in this book, struggling deeply with what he was brought up to believe in and the harsh reality of Manizheh’s rule. I believe he got the most fitting of all endings a character such as he could get, on the rocky path towards atonement and dealing with all the monstrosities he did in the name of the Nahid cause.

Ali’s role in The Empire of Gold is very central as well, as we get deeper and deeper into the marid connection of his Ayaanle heritage. Ali is much more open in regards to his feelings in the events of this book – although he’s still charmingly clueless in some aspects – and has to come to terms that he will never be the perfect example of a djinn prince (perhaps because he realizes those examples are not real and are unattainable). He gets better at seeing nuance and seeking for a third path, and his temper and modesty makes some of the softest and funniest scenes in this book.

Lastly, but definitely not least, we have Nahri, who has to deal with her shafit heritage and her place in the magic world. She is more vulnerable and open, and through her relationship with Ali and Jamshid we get a closer look of how Nahri can be in her protection of those she holds dear. Her commitment to Daevabad is, at the beginning, somewhat reluctant, but once she realizes she cannot abandon her people she becomes its fiercest defender. I found Nahri’s journey to be the most compelling of the three characters, because it is about being kind to yourself as well as to others, to be tough and at the same time be open to love, to be afraid in the face of change but go forward with it, when it is for the best.

My only drawback with this book is its rhythm – something I believe it shares with the other 2 books of the series. We spend a lot of time in the setting up for the “real” action, so much that a lot happens either off-page or so quickly it seems a little rushed. It can be a little tiring, because of that, but I think that the book excels in so many other aspects that this can be largely overlook and does not impact the enjoyment of the book as a whole. I loved The Empire of Gold, and it was amazing being in the Daevabad universe, with its intricacies and complexities so close to the real world. Absolutely go for it, if you’re into adult fantasies in which politics and real world problems are at the front.

I don’t know what I can say about this book that isn’t incoherent crying or too spoilery for a spoiler-free review. Let me, instead, try to write a love letter to the ending of The Daevabad Trilogy.

First of all, I did not expect to read this so soon! Thank you to Harper Voyager for allowing me to read The Empire of Gold few months early. I am truly honoured.

*Claps hands* Ok, if you haven’t read The City of Brass or The Kingdom of Copper, that’s fine. I’ll talk a little bit about the plot, but ultimately, I’ll talk about everything else.

The Deavabad Trilogy is set partly in Cairo, Egypt, during the time of Napolean rule, and partly in Deavabad, a multicultural city of Djinns, Daevas and Shafit (part Djinn, part human). I won’t get into the specifics of Daeva and Djinn, but they are essentially the same, however follow different doctrines and have their own faiths. There are also Djinn and Daevas from different regions/countries.

In The Empire of Gold, everything that has been building up throughout the previous two books is coming to an end, and it could end very, very badly. But! We have two main characters that I absolutely adore, and one that I have grown to love over the course of the trilogy. Nahri and Ali, my heart goes out to both of you. Strong, powerful, yet kind and caring and so empathetic, these absolute cinammon rolls are the reason why I love this trilogy so much. Especially during this book, where they’re now on this journey, united together.

And I do have a soft spot for Dara.

But, he’s a character with morals that may not align with yours. He’s sworn to protect those he believes are fighting the good fight. Plus, he’s so stubborn and righteous that he comes across as not very open-minded. But trust me, it makes for good character development.

I loved how complex the plot is. It’s not about how easy or hard it is to follow; I never feel lost in these books. What might seem confusing at the beginning, will make sense the longer you stay in this world. Taste the soft, sweet doughy treats in one of district’s souks, feel the sand between your toes, smell incense burning at the fire alters. Once you become immersed into Daevabad, the sooner you’ll realise that you don’t want to leave.

I am, of course, so upset that my first visit to Daevabad is over. I won’t be able to read these books for the first time ever again. But, it doesn’t mean I’m never going back. A series like this is one you can never finish and just leave. You’ll come back, wanting to feel its warm embrace as you explore the story countless times. Plus, I reckon each time will feel different to the last visit.

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 STARS⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Nahri, Dara, Ali, Zaynab, Fiza and Queen Hatset. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: Ghassan (and another but I won’t say for fear of spoiling)⁣⁣⁣
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𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦: This book is delightfully vivid and gorgeous. The writing style captures you from the very moment you begin, whether you’re in Cairo with Yaqub or in Daevabad with Nahids and Qahatanis. The intricacy of the world-building coupled with the inspiration of Islamic stories makes the final story a wild and attention-grabbing journey. ⁣⁣⁣
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The characters! S.A. Chakraborty did a fantastic job at creating well-defined character arcs. She planted seeds of the characters in my heart and allowed them to grow over these three books—for all their faults you still find a way to love them. Nahri, Zaynab, Fiza, Queen Hatset, these women are all individual and powerful in their own ways. Ali and Dara both serve a purpose beyond their romance with Nahri. These characters are important and wonderfully messy; they’re easy to love and hate. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦: I will say that I enjoyed how EoG resolves the barely present love triangle.⁣⁣
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𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥: readers looking for an Islamic inspired high fantasy story to latch onto their hearts.

eARC provided by NetGalley , thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for gifting me this book!

Dizzying, unpredictable, magical. An Arabian fantasy I have always NEEDED to read. This series is a new world that completely captivates you from page one.

The Empire of Gold by S.A Chakraborty
Book 3 of the Daevabad Trilogy
Publish Date: 11th of June 2020
Cover Rating: 9/10
Adult – Fantasy – Magic – Arabian-Inspired – Mythology


IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
Book 1 -The City of Brass: 4/5
Book 2 -The Kingdom of Copper: 4/5

IS THE FINAL BOOK IN THE SERIES ALWAYS THE WORST? (Spoiler free as usual!)

I mean if you have made it to book three, OBVIOUSLY, you like the series right? This book took me on a joy ride. So many aspects of the story were finally explained and even took on a new level. It cannot be denied how stunningly well-crafted this series is. The world is so richly and beautifully imagined and brings to life everything of the Cairo-esque world of my dreams. From the different tribes, to the glorious cultures. I lived and breathed this world. I am so amazed at this authors amazing talent, for a debut series - it’s mind-blowing.

For me I felt the story of Nahri , Ali and Dara had a satisfying ending in this final book. I was not blown away entirely but I think that is because I think parts of the story were really dragged out and I wonder if it could have been better as a duology, I think certain revelations would have had more impact and the story could have flowed better. I loved the rich details and intimate insights into the world but the story itself in parts felt very stretched out and many times from book two, I would often feel my mind wondering. But overall this is a gorgeous story and I would urge anyone to read it and step into this world.



WHO SHOULD READ IT?
I personally was hooked from page one. This series if great for anyone that is brand new to Adult or New Adult Fantasy or someone that wants a different setting and original voice in fantasy fiction
Rating: 3.9/5
Series overall: 4.3

Shannon is a master of storytelling. Her world building is immaculate and the way she develops her characters is amazing. She has made them so complex.

I loved everything about this whole series. The representation. The story. The challenges the characters faced. It is truly one of those stories that will stay with me.

You can tell that Shannon really researches her books, and is well versed in history. I love seeing it — I also follow her on social media and just love the stuff she shares. She really seems like an all round great person, and I am honoured to support her by buying her books and shouting about them!!

Anyone who has not read this book series, and loves fantasy, MUST. It has become one of my favourites.

I know Shannon is working on a new story, and my oh my, I CANNOT WAIT. TAKE MY MONEY!! Can’t wait to see what else she comes up with.

I will be posting this review on goodreads when I go on it. Thank you so much for sending the e-book to me.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After the explosive ending of Kingdom of Copper, we find Ali and Nahri alone in the world, with Suleiman's seal ring, and the only magic left across their people. They know that they need to return to Daevabad, and rid their people of the horrific and tyrannical rule of Manizheh and her unnatural control over Dara. The plan is to get to Ta Ntry to where Ali's mother is in exile, build an army, and get back to Daevabad, but will that be enough? Can they both do it, with the seal at odds with Ali's marid magic, and come out the other side the same? While this is all happening, Manizheh is running Daevabad like a despot dictator, with civil war and unrest rife in the streets, and at war with the last Geziri and Shafit holdouts, under the leadership of Zaynab al Qahtani. Manizheh is falling more and more into chaos, and using blood magic and ifrit powers to keep a hold of her precarious rule. With Dara at her side, she uses her Afshin in any way she chooses, and it's likely Dara will be forever changed by the experiences.

I knew that this book would likely be a slog to get through, but I never imagined it would take nearly four weeks to read. I did really enjoy the book, but if I'm being completely honest, there were times when I just couldn't be bothered with it, and was bored. My attention wasn't gripped, and considering I read 29 books in May, it's clear I was putting this one off rather than devouring it like I expected. Nahri finding out more about who she really was, and coming into her own as a strong, powerful leader, was lovely to see. All of her scenes and chapters were engaging, and if hers had been the only pov, it would have been just as good. Ali's chapters were good too, and I do think he's my second favourite character. By god, does he undergo growth in this book, and I loved it. He and Nahri, too, have such a chemistry and witty banter, that I adored them together. Again, like in Kingdom of Copper, I found Dara's chapters the least enjoyable, and they were a little repetitive too. Everything was doom and gloom, with Manizheh being a tinpot dictator, and killing anyone she get a hold of. Okay, we saw her fall more and more into her evilness, but it was predictable.

For a 782 page book, it did feel like it, but the last 20% or so, I flew through, and it redeemed any negatives from earlier in the book. I honestly couldn't see how Shannon would tie up all the loose ends, but she did, and I'm so happy with how all my favourite characters stories ended. Any fans of this series already will enjoy this book, and should be happy with it's conclusion.

The Empire of Gold is a story that deserves a Gold Medal.

The story picks up straight from The Kingdom of Copper, there is no break in the drama and the action. As the story is told in four points of view, Nahir, Ali, Dara and Banu Manizeh  (Banu Manizeh POV is minimal). The reader is taken on a journey through the characters eye. Where you see them grow, lose, love, hurt and hope.

Dara point of view is the darkest as he battles with his actions and duties. As they weigh heavy on Dara shoulders. All three lead do some sort of soul search but Dara does the most.

Ali and Nahir have some sweet/cute moments between them throughout The Empire Gold. I enjoyed the moment where they were thinking about the other, those unguarded moments when they are truthful to themselves.

The Empire of Gold continues to build on the magical world that S.A Chakraborty has created. It was fascinating to learn more about Ali and Nahir heritage. As well as seeing the magical community outside of Daevabad.

S.A Chakraborty has beautifully weaved a compelling story that brings this amazing series to a fantastic conclusion. I always worry when a series I love is coming to an end that I will hate how it finishes. But I needn't have worried, I won't say anything more as I don't want to spoil the ending.

Ali and Nahir have really grown as characters throughout the series. I have always like Nahir, but Ali I was never sure on. But he truly stepped up in The Empire of Gold and become a great man.

My Favourite aspects of The Empire of Gold;

The revelations
The Actions/battle scenes
Time away from Daevabad and the other locations.
medical
My Rating for The Empire of Gold is 5 out of 5.



Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collin for granting my wish. And supplying me an E-book copy of The Empire of Gold for a fair and honest review.

It's difficult to describe how perfect this series is and The Empire of Gold closes the trilogy in a satisfying and powerful manner. The character development is one of my favourite aspects and the main character arcs are explored even further in this book. The world-building is richly descriptive and the prose is beautiful. Please read this series if you haven't yet!

Cards on the table, I was terrified to read this final instalment of the Daevabad trilogy, how could it possibly live up to the amazing first and second books? But I knew I had to find out how this story ended so I pulled on my big girl pants and got to reading. 

Sidebar: I had the audiobooks for the first two books and I highly recommend that format especially if these books seem a little daunting to you. They are exceptionally well narrated. 

One of the real strengths of this series is the characters. For a story so epic and sprawling, the cast of characters doesn't actually feel too huge, and the fact that there are only two or three perspectives means that it's always clear who's story is important. As a person who struggles to keep track of multiple POV books and epic fantasy with a lot of politics, I never felt lost in this narrative - so much so that I actually think it would be possible to pick this book up even with a long gap between reading the previous book and now - not something you often find with epic fantasy. These characters are all amazingly written, they have their strengths and their failings and, despite the fact that there are 101 other things going on in this book, Chakraborty manages to give them some intense character growth within this book.

That's probably one of the things that impresses me most about this series as a whole if you handed me The City of Brass and then had me read the final few chapters of The Empire of Gold like some kind of bookish sadist then it would probably blow my tiny mind as to how on earth the story got to that place. But across the whole story everything just makes sense, pieces fall into place just as they need to and it's hugely satisfying - especially given how many books have had endings that just fall flat. Whichever aspect of this story you are invested in - I think you'll find something satisfying in this conclusion.

Now, I read this in a day, because apparently, I am a bookish masochist, but I've heard from a couple of other people that it can drag a bit towards the middle - which I can imagine, but the ending is very good so I would say persevere! I think it will in part depend on which characters you are invested in - and what aspects of the world you want to find out about. 

I just...adored this series from start to finish - and I couldn't have been happier with the ending than I was. It was pretty much everything I like in fantasy rolled into one. I genuinely can't wait to read what comes next from this author - and now I have to go and find a new trilogy to obsess over in the meantime!

My rating: 5/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own. 

The Empire of Gold comes out June 11th

EXCELLENT sequel to The Kingdom of Copper. LOVED every minute of it. All the answers were given, good pace, exciting story continued.
I couldn't ask for more. If you haven't read this series, you should!

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

I think this was definitely my favorite installment in the series. I really liked the way the story progressed. I've grown to love these characters and I'm glad I read this series. Overall, it was a satisfying ending, in my opinion.

The only thing I've had trouble with with this series is that some things seem so convenient and easy. Like, something would happen, it would put me in the edge of my seat, and then it would just get resolved so easy. It was difficult being emotionally invested in what was happening when I knew that in the following chapters everything would be just fine.

After finishing Kingdom of Copper and THAT cliffhanger, I was desperate to read Empire of Gold.

Empire of Gold picks right back up where Kingdom of Copper finished off. We start with a prologue from Manizheh who has a beautiful and heartbreaking card up her sleeve regarding her daughter. This first chapter, while giving an insight into Manizheh and her plans for Daevabad, sets the tone for this book in promising a devastating and action packed story.

As with the previous two books, the storytelling is sublime. Each character is rich and tangible and the world so descriptive, you can imagine it in your mind. I love that within this book we see some other stories develop further with characters that were passing mentions in the other two books. I wanted more of the fiery Queen Hatset and we got it as well as introducing some rather interesting new characters like Fiza and Sobek.

We’re back in Cairo in this book which feels like a beautiful full circle for Nahri, having trained as a healer back in the Nahid hospital to be back on the streets where we first met her, in a place that she calls home. We also pay a visit to the famed Ta Ntry and a few other places where mentioning will spoil the story!

I really feel for Nahri, having been dragged to a magical city and trying to fit in while dealing with both Djinn and Shafit heritage. As a Nahid, she belongs in Daevabad but as the little thief, she belongs in Egypt. She is torn, much like many of our heroes in stories between duty and what her heart wants. She goes through many revelations in this conclusion and my heart was aching for her. She handles everything brilliantly and always looks to the bigger picture and allows herself small moments of joy. She is a unique character and I love her wit and heart.

Daevabad itself is in civil war, each tribe separated and locked behind their gates after the conclusion of Kingdom of Copper. The Geziri’s suffering the most due to Manizheh’s vapour which decimated their population, that was only a taste of what she is capable of. Each leader thinks that they are doing what is right for the people negating the fact that an equally cruel tyrant has taken over their city in yet another vicious cycle. The biggest victims are the people, being slaughtered and this seen as a price for freedom. The actions scenes in this are both breathtaking and disturbing. Chakraborty paints ruly chaotic, epic battle scenes while allowing for no detail to be missed.

This really is an epic conclusion. You can see when you read this how the first two books set up this last stand. Nahri and Alizayd whose friendship blossomed, who are now tasked with saving Daevabad from Manizheh to Darayavahoush, our ever suffering Afshin. I have a massive soft spot for Dara, he had his choices taken away from him and has to suffer the repercussions of that for all of this years. That being said Ali grew on me over this trilogy, I love his purity and righteousness, he hates to cause a scandal and it’s a beautiful awkwardness that I adore!. This book is filled with love, betrayal, discovery, friendships and heart stopping, gasping moments.

A thrilling conclusion to a spellbindingly beautiful story, Chakraborty is a genius. You won’t want to put it down.

A small part of me wishes for a different end (more for my own selfish love) but it was the perfect conclusion that left me fulfilled and teary at the same time. I really hope that we get to visit Daevabad again one day, but for now this was beautiful.

Massive thank you to HarperCollins for letting read this book early, it was truly a gift.

I don't think I have adequate or even coherent words to say just how much I adored this book.

750 pages that somehow feels like maybe 400, perfect pacing, perfect conclusion, and Chakraborty broke and mended my heart multiple times.

This book was perfection for me and I thank the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC I read in exchange for my honest, but very fangirl-ish, review.

I don't even know what to say about this book, it was utter PERFECTION!!!
If you know me at all you’ll know how much this series means to me. I’ve fallen in love with this world and characters since I've discovered this series from @b00kdragon, she was always gushing about it on her bookstagram page 😁
Now that I’ve read it I can definitely say that it solidifies the trilogy as one of my all time favorite book series ever.
This book had everything I could have wanted and more.

What I love most about it is the character development.Dara has been my favorite character since his very first appearance in The city of brass and his ending - and his last scene with Nahri - made me cry so many tears of happiness that I had to stop reading, I couldn't see the words lol😭🤣. For me, his ending is the ending every antihero/villainous character should have!!!

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the absolute perfect conclusion to the most amazing trilogy I have ever read! This review will contain spoilers for the first two books so please don’t read this if you haven’t read the first two books. I have tried to keep this review spoiler free!

Before I start my review let me just say, I love Alizayd with my whole heart and I will forever be thankful to Shannon for bringing him to life and giving me the complex nuanced Muslim rep of an apologetically practicing young Muslim I had been craving.

This whole trilogy is phenomenal and Empire of Gold was an absolutely amazing conclusion which simultaneously left me satisfied and yet left me craving more stories of all the amazing characters. The story starts where The Kingdom of Copper ends which was a nice surprise as I had no idea what to expect with how much time had passed. But The Empire of Gold starts exactly where book two ends so we see the aftermath of everything that happened in The Kingdom of Copper.

Shannon’s writing is extraordinary, I am completely immersed in the world that she has created, I can almost touch and taste everything and any and all food references left me craving it all. Her world building is absolutely phenomenal and in this book we get to explore new places that are part of the Daevabad world including Ta Nytry and all I want to do is go on holiday there, it sounds incredible.

This trilogy has some of the most complex characters I have ever read and they all make you see their side of the story which makes it more complicated as to who you want to root for. No character is perfect, they all make bad decisions, things they regret and they all have to deal with the consequences of these decisions. It made each of them more compelling to read.

We get the point of view of Nahri, Ali and Dara so we see what is happening both in Daevabad through Dara and outside Daevabad through Ali and Nahri. Through Ali and Nahri we see them trying to recover after ending up in Cairo and their chapters are much more light hearted and at times absolutely hilarious and it contrasts starkly with Dara’s point of view which is really dark and at times very difficult to read.

I found myself going back to reread Ali and Nahri’s chapters and their banter and awkward flirting and skirting around their complicated feelings and honestly it was a joy to read. The first half of The Empire of Gold has some of my favourite scenes in the whole trilogy, especially chapter nine. I love that chapter with my whole heart!

Nahri’s story arc was so wonderful to read. She goes from a con artist in the streets of Cairo to leading a rebellion and fighting for justice for all in Daevabad. I loved watching her grow throughout the trilogy. She has been through so much and because of her circumstances she finds it hard to trust people and open up to anyone in case she gets hurt but watching her slowly open up to Ali was so wonderful to see. She deserves to have someone in her life that she can trust and depend on and who won’t hold her back or dictate her life.

Ali is of course my favourite character in the whole trilogy, it’s no secret how much I love him and watching him grow from the naïve teenager to the man we see by the end of the trilogy was truly wonderful. He is still socially awkward and has the absolute worst timing but he learns and grows so much throughout the books. He is still unapologetic in practicing his faith yet he has learned that Islam is not black and white and there is a lot more nuance to the religion than he initially believed. He also learns a lot about his families past and heritage which also affects him in many ways. Especially in chapter thirty seven I felt for him so much. His story by the end is one of a man who will rebuild his home and care for it’s people and he is still driven by social justice but just like he is there for Nahri, Nahri is also there for him to ground him when he may get carried away with his ideas of change.

Dara’s story arc was fascinating to read, I really do not like him, he spends so much of the book saying how he has been made into a weapon, which is true and I hate how the Nahid council manipulated him into becoming who he is, yet it takes him far too long to learn and take a stand for himself. There is a scene where he is talking to Kartir about this and Kartir tells him to instead think of all those victims who died and to try to atone for his mistakes and I just wish he had learnt that earlier. I wanted him to realise that actually the shafit or jinns weren’t the ones who caused his life to become what it was it was in fact the Nahid council and to spend more time thinking about how to make amends for his actions. I felt like screaming ‘please Dara use your brain’ at him many times! It got to the point where it was very difficult for me to empathise with him anymore but there was a chapter that despite everything I truly felt for him and could not believe that Manizheh actually did that. But Shannon’s writing is truly exceptional that she created such a complex character that people see in so many different ways.

We learn a lot and have many questions answered that have been on our minds since reading the first two books and yet I wanted more. If Shannon had written a thousand page book I would have happily read it, I am not ready to leave Daevabad. I am especially not ready to leave Ali, Nahri, Muntadhir, Jamshid and Zaynab. I want to know more I want to follow their lives post Empire of Gold. I especially wish we had gotten to see Muntadhir’s or Zaynab’s point of view in this book. It would have been so interesting too see what was happening in other parts of Daevabad and these two siblings trying to work out how to save everyone from within.

I also loved seeing Ali and Nahri’s relationship develop over the trilogy. I loved how they were rivals and initially hostile towards each other and were forced to be around each other and ended up becoming friends and slowly we see something more. The fact that despite them developing more than friendship feelings for each other doesn’t stop them being friends was so wonderful to see. Ali is of course smitten (though he constantly denies this). Nahri slowly develops more feelings for Ali in Empire of Gold and when anyone points this out she also denies it but I really loved seeing such a healthy relationship in a book. Ali expects nothing from her, he knows that she finds it difficult to let people in and he lets her decide where their relationship goes. And of course the awkward flirting was absolutely hilarious to read. No smooth lines between these two idiots and I loved them for it!

Shannon ended the trilogy beautifully, it isn’t a happily ever after, instead we get to see a hopeful new beginning for all of the characters as they navigate their lives with all the changes that will inevitably happen. This trilogy will forever hold a special place in my heart and I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion.
I have so much I want to know about their lives at the end but I also love the ending. I could talk about this book forever, there is so much more I want to say but I don’t want to spoil anyone so this will have to do for now.

PS. I will never be ready to leave Daevabad so I am praying that Shannon returns here one day but I am also very excited about reading her next series which will involve pirates!

Every 5 years or so, I read a book, usually a series of books, that I can’t stop thinking about, and this right here is the finale of my latest obsession. Over the past two years, I spent sleepless nights making up theories, whole days drawing fanart until my carpal tunnel started complaining, weekends discussing the fandom with like-minded people online… I even made normie friends read it, more or less forcibly. And now the series is over, but my thoughts are still revolving around it. I’m sure it’s going to occupy my mind for a long time yet, and of how many other books can I say that?

After the sudden cliffhanger at the end of The Kingdom of Copper, Nahri and Ali, magically transported back to the shores of the Nile with Suleyman's ring in tow, have to choose between hiding in the relative safety of Cairo or taking action against Daevabad's conquerors, now that the world of djinn is left empty of magic. Back in Daevabad, Dara assists Manizheh in establishing what he believes to be a new dynasty of rightful Nahid rule, yet starts to doubt her good intentions towards her subjects - and slowly finds himself serving yet another tyrant.

There are so many great additions in EoG to the already overwhelming world of djinn that I have lost count, but just for you to get an idea: we get a deep dive into Marid lore (which deserves a whole fantasy novel of its own, minimum), slave-djinn solidarity at its finest, shafit pirates, human sacrifices, demonic possession, a visit to Cairo, digusting medical procedures (that are still practiced to this day), exquisitely heartbreaking romance, and more. I can promise you, The Empire of Gold is the final installment everyone wished for, and I can’t imagine a single reader who won’t be content with this resolution.

S.A. Chakrabroty, like many authors before her, had the thankless task of writing an ending that would satisfy most of her fans, and all that in the middle of a shipping war, but she managed to do everyone justice with closing chapters I did not in the least expect. Beforehand, I had anticipated lots of the scenes and plot twists (always watching them unfold with great satisfaction, as one does when there have been just enough hints and foreshadowing, theorizing and late-night talks with friends), but I did not see that coming. And oh, I cried.

Dara remains one of my favourite characters of all time. [insert "the power that he has, the intelligence that that has, the clearance that he has" reaction image] His plotline goes beyond even my expectations, but there is more character development in unexpected places, and extra page time for some beloved deuteragonists the fandom had barely gotten to know before.

I still have my problems with this book: For one, I felt like this installment oddly relied on sexualized content more than the previous two, which threw me off a little. [Ali's eroticizing every part of Nahri's body constantly was making me uncomfortable pretty quick. (hide spoiler)] And there were parts that circled in on themselves – „I just told character A that [very important thing], now I have to make up my courage to tell character B that [same very important thing], but oh, they were told by someone else already! So the plot can continue now.“ I was glad about the book’s length, savouring every extension of the trilogy, but feel that there were moments that called for a bit of cropping.

I’ll admit it: The middle third of this novel dragged somewhat, and I kept counting the pages between Dara’s POV chapters, which were without doubt the darkest, most depressing of them all (I do like books hurting me). I could also sense the author's intent to change the reader's opinion of a character and/or situation behind some of the scenes, which I do not appreciate. Besides, I still have burning questions that need answers [Now, how exactly was Dara brought back a second time? Are there rules to how the slave curse is transferred from one master to the next? Why couldn't the asexuality spectrum be explored further here??? (hide spoiler)], so that I briefly considered rating EoG down to four stars, but… who am I even kidding?

Of course the ending made me sad. [“broken immortal being spending their days alone in exile for all eternity“ is a hateful trope. (hide spoiler)] Still, I got to know so many lovely people in the Daevabad fandom whom I can’t imagine not talking to on a regular basis by now, was offered amazing opportunities to develop as an artist, and participated in a fan community the way I always wished I could but I had never done before. I’m leaving Daevabad deeply grateful for the many experiences it gifted me with – imaginary and not – and hope to see many others enjoy it the way I did. I’ll make sure to return again.

Normally, I write and publish reviews in a matter of hours to days after finishing a book, but I had to think over this one for literally months. The Empire of Gold made me scream. It made me sob. In the end, emotion is all I ask for, and I definitely received it. I can hardly put into words what these books made me feel. But as I said: I like books that hurt a little.