I’m so, SO HAPPY to be back in Daevabad! This series is my absolute all time favourite and I have
missed the characters so much since the main trilogy ended a couple of years ago. I’ve been craving
more Daevabad stories ever since, so I’m thrilled that this short story collection is now out.

I listened to this as an audiobook as it’s currently the only way to consume the stories, but if you’re a
long time Chakraborty fan then you may recall Shannon releasing a PDF of short stories just after The
Empire of Gold came out. A lot of these stories were in that PDF, and so I had – of course – already read
them before. But I still loved listening to them and getting back with my favourite characters.

Dara and Muntadhir’s stories were obviously my favourites, but I’ve missed Nahri a whole bunch as well.
I also loved the prequel stories that showed other Daeva generations. I adore them so so much.

I can’t gush about this book enough. I absolutely CANNOT wait to get my hands on the hardback to add
to my collection. It’s not out until the autumn but I’ve obviously saved up for it and have preordered it.
How could I not??

If you are a fan of The Daevabad trilogy, you NEED this short story collection in your life.
Listening to this made me realise how much I really love this series and these characters and I would highly recommend you listen to this audiobook after you have finished the original trilogy.

Rating: 4/5
Narration: 5/5

Every fan of the Daevabad trilogy needs to get their hands on this collection of stories. Filling in a few gaps before, during, and after the series takes place, River of Silver is a gorgeous read that instantly reminds you exactly why the Daevabad trilogy is one of the best that modern fantasy has to offer.

One of Chakraborty's many talents is the fact that she can make you swiftly fall in love with her characters and sympathise with her villains. River of Silver helps flesh out some of the primary and secondary characters from the series, helping you to understand the actions and motivations that drive the plot of the trilogy.

I'd recommend picking this up after you finish the trilogy (and inevitably want more), as it will contain spoilers.

A set of bewitching tales to pull you back in the Daevabad World.
The book was set of multiple stories from the before and afters of the trilogy. For someone who has already read and loved the Daevabad Trilogy (The City of Brass, The Kingdom of Copper, The Emire of Gold) - this would be a relic to relish.

However, for the ones who have not read the trilogy yet, this would be a somewhat lost somewhat found world. A few of the stories mentioned in this book are spoiler-free but most of the latter half seems to be spoilers. Hence, better to read the series before diving into this one.

Overall a 3.5/5 for this addition to the Daevabad world

Yet another masterpiece by the Chakraboty.
I loved getting more of Daevabad pre history.
Still hope that there will be a separate story about Dara. 😭

Thank you so much for the opportunity to listen to this book.

The narrator was fantastic and it was so nice to be back in this world, I had a really great reading experience and I can't wait to see more from this author.

I adore this universe with my whole heart and getting to go back through these wonderful stories was just perfection. I read the original trilogy via audio, so this being released initially in audio format was perfect for me. That being said - I can't wait to get my physical copy, which is already on pre-order!

This collection had everything I didn't know I wanted from the Daevabad trilogy - cute stories featuring our favourites, but also the story of Nahri's parents and an alternative epilogue that I adored. Honestly, it just made me want to pick up the trilogy and reread them AGAIN.

5 glorious stars.

I really enjoyed being back in the world of the Daevabad trilogy via the collection of short stories in The River of Silver.
It’s been a while since I picked up any of the books in the series, so there were some smaller character names I’d forgotten. That said, this did not mean I enjoy it, just that I think I will enjoy and appreciate this more at the end of a reread of the series.
I love short stories that add history and world building to a story, but I ADORE short stories that offer domesticity and just a sense of normality. Books often show suffering and heartache as the actions in books cause a big impact on the characters’ lives, so short stories are a lovely opportunity to see the characters just breathe (and sometimes be happy).
As we focused on specific POVs during the series, I enjoyed reading about some of the side characters. This allowed the side characters to often feel more empathetic, or just to learn more about them and what makes them tick. They interacted alone or with the main characters. I also liked seeing the extra scenes with the main characters.
I think it added something to the book to have the timeframe added before each short story, so we could place where/when it happened in the series.
I look forward to rereading this at some point!

THE RIVER OF SILVER is a lovely collection of stories and scenes set in the world of Daevabad. Most are narrated by characters who don't narrate the trilogy, like Muntandhir, Jamsid, Hastet, and Manizheh, but there are some glimpses of life between the books for Ali and Nahri. Very usefully, each story is prefaced with a brief note explaining where it sits relative to the books, what books it spoils, and some background is applicable.

I really enjoyed returning to this world and getting a better understanding of these characters who play pivotal roles but are only viewed through others' eyes. Some antagonists soften a bit (though I still don't sympathise with them! Which might say more about me!) and there's the very sweet story of Nahri's parents in there too.

Seeing Jamshid and Muntandhir interact in the early days, watching the seeds of their relationship be planted, was so much fun. There wasn't ever the "confess feelings" scene, but I really liked seeing them get more page time to understand what brought them together emotionally.

There are also three stories set after the end of the trilogy, which will likely be fan-favourites. They help explain further what certain characters are doing post-conflict and how they are approaching their journey of healing. Plus a few important questions are answered...

I have a bad memory when it comes to the plot of books, so I suspect I would have had an easier time recalling the plot twists the stories were spoiling (or who two narrators were) if I'd read this on the heels of the other books. I was able to follow along easily enough despite this, but some of the lines might have hit harder if I remembered certain events in the story that was discussing them, rather than a line in a later one jogging my memory.

I now really want to go back and re-read the original trilogy after dipping a toe back into this world!

I have been dying for more Daevabad content ever since I finished The Empire of Gold and Shannon certainly delivered! This book was everything I wanted and more!

TW: suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, self harm, torture, attempted rape

I am completely enthralled by the Daevabad trilogy and so it was bittersweet when I finished The Empire of Gold but then Shannon blessed us with these stories. Stories of love and hope and even the darker parts were balanced with lighter elements. A perfect collection to see so much more of the world and characters in these stories.

So first about the audiobook itself, I love listening to the trilogy and was so glad that the same narrator was narrating this too. I love listening to her and how she brings the story to life. I think that even if you aren’t a huge fan of audiobooks this will be okay to listen to especially as we are already familiar with the story and characters.

Some stories Shannon had shared before on her website so I was familiar with some but some were brand new and I especially loved Duriya and Hatset’s stories. How these women carved a place for themselves in a world that barely made space for them. That they showed strength and bravery and fighting for something better. It was amazing to see these glimpses into the past, the younger versions of the characters we all know and see how they may have been different and what may have caused them to become the characters we see in the books.

My favourite stories were of course the ones of Alizayd, the scene we see set just before The Kingdom of Copper was so funny and we get more of a glimpse of him using his abilities and just more of him trying not to implode when girls throw themselves at him which is always hilarious to read.

But my favourite scene was of course that last story that Shannon had vaguely hinted at before and it was everything I wanted and more. It was such a beautiful story about love and taking that step to be vulnerable with someone you love even if it terrifies you. It’s about trust and respecting each others decisions and boundaries and it is about building something on a strong foundation of friendship and care.

It was the perfect story to end on especially as this is the last story we will be getting of these characters and we end on a note of hope and joy and love.

I have already listened to it multiple times especially that last story and I know that I will be coming back to these stories time and time again.

Where Do I begin? Charming. Dazzling. The senses fail to capture the awesomeness of this short story collection. A great gift for the fans. Personally, I can't wait to hold the physical copy in my trembling hands when it releases in October.

Readers who fall in love with a series will often go to seek out more from their favourite worlds and characters, usually turning to fanfiction to provide it. Missing scenes, epilogues, prologues - it's all another chance to immerse themselves in a fictional place they enjoy. And many, many readers fell in love with SA Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy.

Some authors choose to continue to release snippets about their creations in interviews or on tie-in websites - something I've always felt was somehow cheating. It's the way that these stories are told that draw people in, and often these throwaway factoids are inconsistent with written canon, which can be frustrating for fans who take these things seriously.

Chakraborty doesn't do that - instead she has given fans what they crave - her own hefty book of short(ish) stories from the world she created, featuring the characters that readers came to care about in the three long novels in the original trilogy. Once again I found myself transported to a world of djinn, a fantastical city with its own highly complex politics and history, in the company of characters so well known they seem real. Chakraborty is a wonderfully vivid author - I can see every inch of the world she describes - she really does make you feel as though you have travelled somewhere else.

There are fifteen stories in the collection, from a variety of viewpoint characters and spanning from before the original trilogy to after it. Each tale starts with a quick explanation of when it is set, which books it contains spoilers for, and sometimes how it came to be written e.g. if it was originally intended to be part of one of the novels but didn't fit in. Many are from the perspectives of the main players in the originals - Nahri, Ali, Jamshed and Dara, but there are others from that of secondary characters such as Zainab, Hatsut, and Manizeh.

It's a book for fans of the trilogy - not only are spoilers throughout, but you won't appreciate the stories without having read the original books. It's very much a gift to fans who want to extend their reading pleasure, rather than an introduction to the world. Like the trilogy itself, I did sometimes have to wrack my brain to remember what happened when and all the complicated facts and relationships, but it felt less troublesome in a book of short stories. My usual problem with short stories - that there's no time to form real bonds with the characters - doesn't apply here.

The audio book narrator has a North American accent and a voice that is well balanced and easy to listen to. She does voices for the different characters that are distinctive enough to differentiate between them in conversations but not silly or strained. In some ways it was easier to listen to than read, due to all the long unfamiliar names that I'd always slightly stumble over when reading myself. The flow was better in an audio book and the rich imagery of the language is well suited to the audio format. I enjoyed listening to a chapter as I went to sleep, closing my eyes and feeling as though I was there with the characters.

''The River of Silver' is essential reading for any fan of the series - it is well worth it. For readers who like fantasy fiction and haven't yet tried the original Daveabad trilogy, I would highly recommend it. Read it first and when you finish 'Empire of Gold' and wish you could have more, this book will be waiting for you. I don't know if this is Chakraborty's last word from the world of the djinn - I would quite happily read a second book worth of stories like this, and a third. Or maybe a more distant prequel or sequel or companion novel... certainly with an author this good, who has created a world full of possibilities, you can only look forwards to whatever comes next.

This was the perfect way to revisit some of my favourite character in Daevabad. I loved the original trilogy so it was so nice to see some stories set before, during and after the original books and learn more about some of the characters.

The audiobook was very good also, I read the original trilogy through audiobook also so it felt very familiar.

This was so good! It was great to be back in Daevabad! I loved all these short stories, about before and after the series, I want more now though! The narrator was amazing she just transported you right in to the story

I really enjoyed the Daevabad series and was delighted to hear that we were getting more from that world. This selection of short stories added depth and breadth to the original series, and I loved getting to see some events from before and after the main trilogy - especially the alternative epilogue and the additional Nahri scene from after Empire of Gold!
Overall, if you enjoyed the series, this is a really lovely addition which draws you right back in to the characters and immersive storytelling that makes Daevabad such a fantastic fantasy series to begin with.

Utterly fantastic and just what we all need right now.
I had the privilege of reading some of these stories when they were up on SA Chakraborty's website some time ago and it was a sheer delight to get to listen to them and the additional stories now. As someone who has always adored the audiobooks for this series this was probably the best format I could have thought of through which to absorb this book.
I would say that these stories, like the books themselves, are more about fleshing out some of the side characters and background stories rather than building out the world - which for me worked exceptionally well.
It was lovely to get more from some of the relationships in the original story and I feel like it all got a bit more gay which is always a win in my book! I listened and I smiled the whole time - except when I was having a little cry...
If I could give six stars I would. I would say get the audiobook if you are able, you don't want to delay reading this any longer than you have to!

“From the palace walls Hatset could see Daevabad stretched below, the city dazzling in miniature, the tribal boundaries sprawled across it all like a web, ensnaring the lives of tens of thousands.
“It’s breathtaking,” she said.”

S.A. Chakraborty welcomes us back to the magical land of Daevabad in all its beauty, its glory and even its hidden cruelty. The River of Silver is a delightful collection of stories which offer us glimpses into the events from before, during and after The City of Brass, The Kingdom of Copper and The Empire of Gold. Each story is told from the perspective of our beloved, and not so beloved, characters from the stunning Deavabad trilogy. This collection is being released as an audiobook, narrated by Soneela Nankani, but will also be published in physical formats later this year.

I personally have always found audiobooks hard to get into as I tend to lose concentration on them fairly quickly. Yet this was far from the case here as I devoured these stories as quickly as I could. Soneela Nankani offers a fantastic narration and injects so much emotion and nuance into each character’s voice, keeping me engaged throughout. I think it also helped that I already knew and loved this world and the characters and therefore I was more than eager to become immersed into their tales once again. This book also came at a point where I truly needed it, as the real world is falling apart, Chakraborty offered a much needed escape. I sat in my conservatory, a nice warmth coming from the sun at the window, headphones on, eyes closed, I was overjoyed to be transported back to my beloved Daevabad.

At the beginning of each story Chakraborty informs us of the timeline of the scene in relation to the Daevabad trilogy, and warns which book it will contain spoilers for. This was such a thoughtful touch, not only does it provide some context for each story, but for those who may not have finished the trilogy yet, they could easily avoid particular stories until they had.

The first story is a scene with Manizheh set decades before The City of Brass, and I began to see her character in a new light as Chakraborty shows us that right and wrong all depended on your perspective. In The Empire of Gold Manizheh boils with rage and unleashes a torrent of destruction, yes I understood her reasons but nonetheless loathed her actions. Yet in this story we witness Manizheh oppressed, emotionally abused and full of heartache. She is a mother giving up her child, stricken with the loss, and she‘s a sister watching her brother suffer at the cruel hands of the tyrant King Ghassan. Knowing Manizheh’s inner thoughts and feelings at the time of her ordeal certainly made me feel much more sympathy for her.

“Would you add that which I cannot tell you to your prayers?”
Rustam lifted his gaze to her again.
“Everyday, sister.”

This is the beauty of The River of Silver, each story is cleverly curated to give better insight into each character, whether they be side or main characters from the original trilogy. We see intimate, quiet moments where thoughts and feelings are explored in depth, where desires and longings are revealed. Voices are given to those such as Hatset and Zaynab, who previously had not had a PoV. In Zaynab’s story we see her put aside her fears, gather her courage and stand to defend her people. Through Hatset we see a determined new queen, and a more tender Ghassan who gives Hatset a surprisingly thoughtful gift. Each narrative adds even more to this already richly layered world, filling in the gaps or providing more backstory to all that unfolded in Daevabad.

“His closed eyes dimmed further, and Dara glanced up blinking to see Nahri standing before him outlined against the sun. She was dressed in her stolen clothes, beads of water still clinging to her cheeks and glistening in her hair. Suleiman’s Eye, she is beautiful. The sight of her left him feeling breathless, which of course was not possible, as Dara did not breathe.”

Chakraborty writes a mixture of stories which are poignant, heartwarming, heartbreaking and often very amusing. Some of my favourites included Jamshid meeting Mutandhir for the first time, Nahri and Dara at a market whilst travelling on their way to Daevabad, and my two absolute favourites were from the scene where Ali is in exile in Am Gezira and he goes to rescue a young girl: this had such a fairytale-esque atmosphere, and such a humorous ending. Then the last story which revolved around Nahri and Ali, set a year and a half after the events of The Empire of Gold, simply melted by heart. Each story may have separate narratives, but they were all connected by the theme of love in all its forms, ranging from a mother’s love, to romantic love, and sibling love.

As I headed back to a world of Djinn, of elemental magic, of zulfiqar's and luscious gardens, I felt enchanted once again. Chakraborty’s prose is dazzling, she brings these characters and the world of Daevabad to life with beauty and grace. The River of Silver is a must-have for any fan who wants to experience sweet and tender stories from all the charmingly crafted characters whom we already adore.

“I would do anything to be with you, and see you free of your duties and safe from this city’s awful murderous politics. But Jamshid didn’t say that, he already knew the answer. Daevabad came first.”

Audiobook ARC provided by Harper Voyager UK/Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. All quotes have been transcribed by myself for the purposes of this review, any mistakes are solely my fault.

The River of Silver is out in audiobook today, but you can preorder a hardback/paperback

The River of Silver by SA Chakraborty

An anthology novel collecting the various extra scenes before, during, and after The Daevabad Trilogy. Featuring chapters set from the point-of-view of the main and secondary characters, as well as a few who never had a voice. It was amazing going back to Daevabad! I truly loved it! I found myself once again captivated from beginning to end and it was mesmerising!

@sachakrabooks is a genius in her craft! Her writing enthrals me every time!!

The River of Silver released exclusively as an audiobook on March 1, 2022 in the US and UK, with physical and ebooks to be released in Autumn 2022.

Daevabad trilogy is one of my favourite fantasy series of all time so when I saw this book on Netgalley, I had to request it immediately.

This was everything I had hoped it would be. It is an anthology of short stories or rather scenes taking place before, during and after the ending of the original story. Some of these stories I absolutely loved and some of them were okay but all of them added so much layer to an already complex saga.

I was just glad to be back in this world with the characters that I absolutely adore and would die for. My favourites were all the Jamsid and Muntadhir moments that we got and also how Nahri's parents met each other. I truly think Nahri's parents deserves their own book.

I would highly recommend the audiobook!

S A Chakraborty is one of my autobuy authors, The Daevabad Trilogy is one of my all time favourite fantasy series so when we got the news that we would get another book I was ecstatic!

I devoured this audiobook in 24hrs. I couldnt listen fast enough! I absolutely adore Chakraborty's writing and having the chance to revisit Daevabad was such a treat! We get to witness events that take place before, during and after the main story in the trilogy. Chakraborty does an amazing job of portraying flawed yet nuanced characters. And though they make unquestionably dubious decisions that cannot be justified, getting insights to these characters thoughts and backstories at the very least, allows us to understand them a bit better. This book felt far too short for my liking, (am I greedy in wanting this one to be 500+ pages like the others in the series??) I could have kept on listening, the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing everything to life. This is undoubtedly a wonderful addition to the series and I hope, not the only one, as I would love some characters to get their own books as I think they still have such a fascinating story to tell. A short review as I am still processing, but I'll definitely be gushing about these books for years to come! In case anyone was still un doubt, I highly recommend to all (and of course the whole series)