Shadow Baron

The Burnished City #2

by Davinia Evans

Strap in for a thrilling adventure in the sequel to Davinia Evans's wickedly entertaining debut fantasy that follows our favorite irreverent alchemists, high society ladies, and swashbuckling street gangs as they wrestle with the nature of reality itself. 

Siyon Velo might be acknowledged as the Alchemist. He may have even stabilized the planes and stopped Bezim from ever shaking into the sea again. But that doesn’t mean he has any idea what’s he doing—and it won’t be long before everyone knows it. 

To make things worse, mythical creatures once confined to operas and myths are spotted around Bezim. A djinn invades Zagiri's garden party, and whispers of a naga slither across Anahid's Flower District card tables. Magic is waking up in the Mundane. It’s up to Siyon to figure out a way to stop it, or everything he’s worked hard to save will come crashing down.

Praise for The Burnished  

"I loved getting lost in this dazzling debut." ―Shannon Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass

“A firework of a fantasy vibrant, explosive, deliciously dangerous, and impossibly fun.” ―Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

"Sheer, glorious fun!" ―Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

The Burnished City
Notorious Sorcerer
Shadow Baron
 

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Fiction, LGBT, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adult, Queer Lit

464 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2023

About the author

Davinia Evans was born in the tropics and raised on British comedy. With a lifelong fantasy-reading habit and an honours thesis in political strategy, it was perhaps inevitable that she turn to a life of crafting stories full of sneaky ratbags tangling with magic. Dee lives in Melbourne, Australia, with two humans (one large and one small), a neurotic cat and a cellar full of craft beer.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastically fun follow up to the first book.

WARNING: This review may contain spoilers for the first book, Notorious Sorcerer

I really love this world and its characters. The three stars of the series - Siyon, Zagiri and Anahid - have their own things to deal with yet they lean easily on one another, allowing their stories to intertwine without losing any drama. Siyon is dealing with his new role of Alchemist, Zagiri is trying to change policy to make Bezim a more equal city and Anahid finds herself dealing with a role she never expected to have.

Anahid really shone for me, this time around. Her story was fantastic and I really enjoyed seeing her develop more and more courage to be her own person. It's done really cleverly; nice and subtle. There was still plenty of drama to keep things interesting, but it was also fun just seeing her take on all these new challenges.

Siyon disappointed a little, but it's not entirely his fault. He freely admits he has no idea what he's doing, but it does mean his storyline is a bit of a confusing mess. Bits and pieces of magic without any decent explanation of what's going on. So I did at times find it a little pale a story in comparison to Anahid's, but it was still interesting to learn a little more about the magic/alchemy of this world and even meet some new characters (and creatures) through Siyon.

Zagiri is such a fantastic character, and even her political scheming couldn't bore me. She has pure intentions and the politics frustrated me on her behalf, making things a little more tricky. I wasn't too entertained by the rebellion talk, but it was great to see Zagiri developing, too, from who she was in the first book.

The storytelling is casual and easy, progressing things in an entertaining manner. There's a nice balance of viewpoints, and always something interesting happening. Some great moments, and a fantastic ending that's got me hanging out for the next one!

Really loved this book. Didn't enrapture me quite as much as the first - likely because I knew what level of entertainment to expect, this time around - but it was plenty of fun and a worthy follow up. I'm looking forward to what happens next.

[charlotte, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rep: bi/pan mc, nonbinary side character

CWs: gore, misogynistic violence

Galley provided by publisher

Shadow Baron is a sequel that I’ve been highly anticipating ever since finishing its predecessor last year. It’s a sequel that’s just as compelling as the opening book in this series, and one that leaves me already wanting more. (See, this is the issue with ARCs, you read them so early that suddenly the next book is even further away!)

In the interests of being spoiler free, this review is going to sound a lot more like a general series review. Which, okay I’ll admit, is intentional — it’s not possible to stress accurately just how much I need people to be reading this series. You’re missing out in a huge way and you don’t even know it!

Read my full review on instagram.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy guacamole. This was such a fun ride. I really enjoyed Notorious Sorcerer, but at times the intense world building made the pace feel slow and hard to follow. While there's a little bit of that in Shadow Baron, with new characters, on the whole, this book jumps right into the action and stays there, and you have the benefit of knowing how the world works.

I also really enjoyed how each character grew from book 1 to book 2. The star of this book far and away is Anahid. We got a glimpse of her frustration and goals in Notorious Sorcerer, and she sort of stumbles into her newfound life in Shadow Baron, but it's incredible. I want more of her in book 3. (I am very glad there will be a book 3! Not only do I want Siyon and Izmirlian to find each other and for all the loose ends to be tied up, but I just really enjoy this world.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an eARC of Shadow Baron in exchange for my honest review.

[anna b · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are so fun! I love these characters so much, even when there are too many of them to be as fleshed out as I want. I love this silly fantasy world, with its magic and its politics and its never really expanded or explained stakes or origins or anything.

Anahid, I would do anything for you.

I did take a star off because of my absolute befuddlement when I turned the page to the epilogue and there was just No Concern????? about the Thing, you know, that they didn't really um address or get under control there at the end???? So I guess we'll all just be pretty stressed about that until book 3.

[Dylan Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know that there is a series I am currently more excited about than this one, and one that I feel is being slept on more by fantasy fans. Shadow Baron completely decimates the second book slump with an exhilarating and surprising story that continues to flesh out the city of Bezim and it's dazzling cast of characters.

The big three Siyon, Zigiri and Anahid all get more to do here and I loved each of their individual stories so much. Anahid in particular has my whole heart and is one of my favourite characters from any book I've read in ages. Seeing her chase the things that she wants and tap into her shrewdness, and her rage, and her desire for more from her life was so fucking satisfying. Some very fun new characters were added to the board in this book and some of them had some really exciting reveals and relationships with the existing cast. I missed the romance from the first book, but I really liked how it's loss was felt here and I'm hopeful to see it reignited in book three.

I really appreciate the consolidation of setting in this series too, by focusing in so tightly on just the city of Bezim you really get a feel for it as a place, and you're able to meet all kinds of people who live there and really get entrenched in the politics and the lifestyle. Second world fantasy can often be pretty sprawling in scope so I appreciated that aspect of it-- it reminds me a bit of Strange the Dreamer in that regard, one of my all time favourite novels.

All this to say I really encourage everyone to check out this series--it has great characters, a great setting, an exciting and unexpected story line with great female and LGBT characters. I'm going to be pushing it down everyone's throats for the foreseeable future.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What do you think about everything that's going on, anyway? ... About the city. About beings coming from other planes. About monsters. About all the other weird things.”
Ehann shrugged uncomfortably. “It's Bezim. Everyone comes here, from everywhere. Why shouldn’t they? We have a lot of strange stuff — alchemy, bravi, a cliff through the middle of the city. I don't know, I've never been anywhere else, but this seems fine. Even if it's getting stranger." [p. 269]

The second in the trilogy that began with Notorious Sorcerer, this is as complex and richly imagined as Evans' debut, though the pace seemed slightly less headlong: or perhaps that's because I'm more familiar with the characters, and more invested in what happens to them next.

In the previous book, street-rat Siyon Velo became the Alchemist and the Power of the Mundane, bringing the four planes back into balance for the first time in centuries. Siyon has achieved the impossible: now he's confronting the merely inconceivable -- the reform of the laws against alchemy, and unravelling the knots of secrecy that surround the quartet of Barons who oversee Bezim's criminal underworld. Siyon is still mourning Izmirlian, the lover he sent into oblivion, and adjusting to very different ways of working as his abilities are affected by his new status.

Siyon is not the only character changing careers. Neglected wife Anahid Joddani's gambling habit brings her an unexpected prize, and a plethora of decisions about its disposal. Assuming she even wants to be rid of it: it offers her a whole new arena for her business acumen and her organisational gifts -- and a kind of freedom not previously available to her. Anahid's sister Zagiri, meanwhile, is pursuing her ambition to become one of the people with the power to make a difference: but is that the thing that matters most, when it comes to the crunch? There are new characters, too, some of them outsiders from beyond the city (I especially liked Mayar, from the Khanate), and some at the very heart of Bezim's aristocracy.

I love the atmosphere, with all the nautical metaphors to remind us that Bezim is a trading port as well as a cultural hub. And I found it massively refreshing that so much has changed, in the city and for the protagonists, since Notorious Sorcerer: I'm sure there could have been dozens of stories about Bezim set within the status quo of the previous novel, but that novel's climax has vast and tangible effects. Eagerly looking forward to the third novel (and hoping that next time I get a review PDF that's not unreadably jumbled!)

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just going to be a quick review, but I love this series in its entirety. I think it’s an incredibly *fun* and fresh fantasy. We get POV chapters from Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid this time around, and I really just love them all.

The supporting cast is equally great, and it was lovely to see more of the characters introduced in the first book as well as some new faces.

I have to give a shout out to the world building as well. The first book really just throws you right into the middle of the world, but it works. And we get to delve even deeper into the world in Shadow Baron. The talk of alchemy and sorcery, and the political and socioeconomic classes, the different planes, and so on, all make for a rather intricately built world, but it never feels too tedious or dry.

Lastly, I’m pretty sure I tear up every. single. time. that Siyon talks about Izmirlian 😭

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of The Burnished City series.
I loved this. There's more magic - with a few mythical creatures added to the mix - more political intrigue, and the characters are even stronger.

Right now, on to book 3.

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great sequel! When I read the first book I had a bit of a hard time truly getting invested in the story right at the beginning, I felt like it was moving so quickly that I didn't have time to truly ruminate on the characters and settle into the world. A part of me worried that that pacing might be repeated in the second book, but I'm so happy to see it wasn't! I'm not sure if that was simply because I did have that investment going into this book, or if I just found the story moved at a better pace. Either way, it was a win.

As always I adore these characters, they're easy to root for and I love discovering new layers to them as the story unfolds. Izmirilian was my favourite from the first book and that only grew with this one. The humour and easy banter is also a highlight.

My biggest complaint from the first book was the world building felt like it was missing a little oomf. There was always *more* that could have been dug into, and I think this book stepped that up a notch. I found the world much more immersive, it felt like the political landscape of the world mattered more, and it kept me engaged with the story much easier.

overall it was a great to return to this world, and I'm excited to see where the story continues to go. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In answer to the calculated magic systems of Brandon Sanderson and his ilk, Evans brings to us a world that *thinks* the spectacular can be measured and wielded like a science. Infact, the world is learning that the rules have changed or were never hard and fast to begin with. It is a book about a culture in tumult, not just from this upheaval and rediscovery or what magic is but from the social/racial system that has kept a few well fed and free and everyone else... well. Much of this book will sound familiar.

We read books where the magic system is opaque (tolkein) and others where it is very exact (leguin, sanderson) but rarely do we read about societies in flux. Where everyone is going through the process of figuring out that they had it all wrong in the first place and that, actually, magic cannot be fully and deeply explained by theorems and rule sets. It is something wilder and emotional.

LOVE Anahid. What an incredible character arc.

[Birte · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

I really love these characters most of all. The development in this book was amazing and I loved where they ended up. I saw some reviews saying that Siyon is too aimless but I think because of the situation he is in that makes the most sense. It would be great if he got a day off at some point cause the man is too stressed but I liked how he tried to do what everyone expects him to do.
Zagiri and Anahid were so great because they both did things they didn't think they wanted to do and they did, in my opinion, really well.
Anahid especially did something towards the beginning that I was literally screaming because I loved it so much.
I also generally really liked the set-up because it reminded me in spirit about The Well of Ascension, and I liked how the author handled that.
And just like the first book I really loved the friendship between the protagonists and the absolute trust they have in each other.

[Abi Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into Shadow Baron but once I did it was worth it! Notorious Sorcerer was my favorite title of 2022 and I couldn't wait to get my hands on Book Two. I did miss Siyon and Izmirlian's relationship however I felt Evans did a fantastic job with keeping this key character part of the novel although he of course couldn't be in the main plot.
I am fascinated to see how Evans handles this plotline in book 3 and look forward to seeing Siyon again hopefully next year in the last book in the trilogy

[Madison | ReadingWraynbow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey you. Yeah you. READ THIS BOOK

there aren’t enough words to describe how much I ADORE LOVE WOULD DIE FOR these characters.

And the way Davinia makes you begrudgingly admire characters you absolutely refused to previously? Insane.

This is a series for people who love found family, being unabashedly your true self, fighting for yourself, and just the coolest magic. And fighting for justice and against injustice and seeming against all odds UGH ITS SO GOOD

Pls read it okay? Pls 🙏🏻

[Caitlyn Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m loving this series. This book fleshed out a lot of the side characters, and imbues flavour into the world building. I did find it a little on the pedantic side in terms of length and detail regarding the politics, but it equally adds to the atmosphere and you can skim where it doesn’t suit you.

I really like Siyon; I originally was finding it annoying that he was so clueless yet was seemingly “the chosen one”, but part of what makes him fascinating is he’s got absolutely no clue what he’s doing at any time. He operates on vibes alone wearing his stupid purple coat and we love him for it.

Anahid and Zagiri are fleshed out significantly in this second instalment. I find Anahid interesting, and her owning a flower house she got through a card game was a great story beat.

Let’s talk about Midnight — who the hell was that guy and why was he like that? Spooky stuff. Never really explained (Midnight was the dragon’s keeper?) but fascinating nonetheless. Siyon’s response to just go “get the hell away from me” to Midnight was honestly commendable. Siyon doesn’t suffer from “let’s go talk to the mysterious guy shrouded in darkness”; he says I’ve cast my boyfriend into the abyss between astral planes and I’ll send you there as well if you don’t behave. Woosh, be gone.

I’m excited to see how Siyon’s powers develop in the third book, and to see the conclusion of this great series!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow Baron was a good follow up to the Notorious Sorcerer, just maybe not quite as good.

First the good…

Annahid became one of my favorite characters, her storyline and character development has been intriguing and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Siyan dealing with what this new power brings was well put together

But…

I thought Zagiri almost got lost a bit in this book.

I also wish that the socio-political and economic world has been flushed out more. When it’s brought up it feels a bit lackluster due to not having depth.

As always I loved the way it is written and the story itself is enjoyable, just missed a few things that would have made it great in my mind.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it more than the first. Anahid’s character development and the darker plot points worked well.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just kept waiting this whole book for my boy Izmirlion to make a reappearance 😩 Maybe book 3

Decent, I struggled with this one a little bit. I like Siyon’s stuff. I’m still trying to figure out how Anahid really ties in. A lot of h r story in this and book 1 doesn’t seem to tie in to the main plot well.

[Talenyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bezim loves nothing more than a spectacle. And what a brilliant spectacle the debut installment of The Burnished City trilogy, Notorious Sorcerer, was! With her complex world-building and compelling characters, Evans set the bar terribly high for her sophomore novel, Shadow Baron. Unfortunately, I’m not certain it lived up the test.

Shadow Baron felt like a shade (pun intended) of its predecessor. Many of the details that I loved in the first book — like the fact that the older MCs (Siyon & Anahid) continue to find adulting quite difficult — lost their sparkle as the sequel dragged on. This was, I think, largely an effect of the slow and circuitous pacing. The MCs' confusion and frustration just didn’t seem to have forward momentum. Instead the plot meandered its way right off the Scarp into darker waters at around the 85% mark and flat out ran to the (still ambiguous) ending from there.

Another issue, which may be more personal than structural, is that the story felt constrained by its setting. Unlike the previous novel, this story happened entirely within the familiar confines of the Burnished City. There was no further exploration of the Mundane and very little mention of the other three planes. I assume the focus was meant to be on the class struggle in Bezim, which may be critical to the plot in part three. But it was definitely a (disappointing to me) tone shift away from epic fantasy-style adventure.

Despite my gripes, the writing and the plot still show great promise. So I'm willing to bet that this second book will impact differently (and better) when I (re)read all three books in a row once the final installment is published. I'll update my review at that time. For now, I give this 3.5 stars and would still recommend the series based on the strength of the first book.

Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this ebook.

[The Library Ladies · Rating 4 out of 5]

(originally reviewed at thelibraryladies.com )

Reading my review for “Notorious Sorcerer,” you wouldn’t be blamed for being a bit surprised that I’m back with a review of the second book in what appears to now be a trilogy. Well, when this one popped up as a review option, I went back to check out my review of the first one and decided that, given the specific struggles I had there, it might be a good idea to give the second book a chance. Notably, I struggled with the pacing of the first book.

The first one sped along in a way that I believe I described as “galloping.” Fast paced story can work well in a lot of ways, but in this case, it hindered my ability to truly connect to the characters. But this is also why I wanted to check out the second book. Character-wise, a decent amount was done in the first book to lay the foundation of who these people are, so I was hopeful that my connection to their stories would root me more firmly in place. And, for the most part, I was right about that, as I did enjoy this book more than the first.

Beyond the fact that I was helped for having already been introduced to this world and these characters, I do think there were some solid improvements in the overall quality of this book. The pacing did actually seem to flow better, being still quick but not so fast-paced that it left me feeling overwhelmed and unable to really settle into the reading experience. I also thought the world-building was improved this go-around. I was interested enough the first time, but I definitely remember wishing that things had been a bit more fleshed out and elaborated upon. And thankfully, that came through here as well. The slower pace also allowed for many of the elements and ideas presented in the first book to truly come to life, and I felt better able to center myself in the world that had been created.

Our main characters spent much more time apart in this second outing. This will likely work well for some readers, and not as well for others. I enjoyed it, as I think their individual storylines, largely disconnected from one another, left me better able to truly appreciate the character building that was going on for each of them. This was probably the aspect of the book that felt most “middle book” like. Some of the plot lines didn’t feel as important as others, but it was clear that the goals of these story points had more to do with moving the characters along a larger arch than it did with the storyline itself. As a character reader, I was happy with this. I also enjoyed the closer focus on the politics of this world and how our characters were needing to work within and without the system to bring improvement to this world.

Overall, I had a fun time with this book and enjoyed it more than the second one. Fans of the first book will likely enjoy the deeper look into this world, though some may be frustrated by how much time our characters spend apart. Readers who had mixed feelings about the first book, may still want to give this second one a go, as I feel it was a stronger story, overall.

Rating 8: An improvement in pacing and world-building, this second book in the trilogy will be a hit for fans of this series!

[Chris Monceaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Shadow Baron other than I loved it?! There's so much to talk about, and this story built upon the world and characters in truly spectacular ways. It also fixed one of the only major issues I had with the first book, the frantic pacing. There was A LOT going on in Notorious Sorcerer, and it made things seem jumbled and confusing at times, especially with all the complex world-building. The plot of Shadow Baron moved forward at a steady pace and was much easier to follow from the beginning.

The world-building in Shadow Baron was fantastic. It shed light on so many of the mysteries from the first book while also setting up some fascinating ramifications for the next installment. I enjoyed the focus on Bezim and its history. The mundane magic/alchemy was expanded upon greatly, and there were some pretty amazing feats accomplished along with all the new magical creatures popping up. I did miss getting to see the other planes, but the additions to the understanding of the mundane realm more than made up for it. I also really liked the increased focus on Bezim's politics and the barons' role in the society.

Shadow Baron added depth to the characters, as well. Siyon was still a disaster bi icon. lol. He struggled to understand his new powers and the impacts of his decision to become the Power of the Mundane. He was constantly flying by the seat of his pants, even when he tried to plan, and his attempts at fixing things may have ended up causing more problems than he solved. He was chaotic and fun to follow, just as in Notorious Sorcerer. He also experienced grief and loneliness from losing Izmirlian, and there were some beautiful moments that made me feel his loss and understand the reasons he loved Izmirlian so much, which I didn't really grasp in the first story.

Zagiri also had a really interesting story in Shadow Baron. She decided to finally take on some responsibility so that she could make a difference for unregistered alchemists in the city. Her POV provided an inside look at the inner workings of Bezim's government while also allowing for the exploration of how best to reform a broken system. Zagiri struggled with the patience required to change the system from within and had to decide whether burning the whole thing down would be the better option. Her story explored the ethics of revolution in a really profound way that kept me hooked to see the path she chose.

Anahid was the star of Shadow Baron, which made me so happy. I loved her story in Notorious Sorcerer, and this book took her quest to live life on her own terms to a whole new level. She's spent most of her life stifled by trying to be the perfect Azatani woman, and I enjoyed seeing her throw off those shackles in exciting new ways. She slid farther and farther into the seedier sides of Bezim, but that's all I'll say because her journey is best experienced first-hand. The only thing that didn't really work for me was her fling. It felt way too abrupt. I am curious to see what becomes of it in the next book, though.

Overall, Shadow Baron was an excellent sequel that added so much depth to the world-building and characters. It had a great balance of action and character moments with a steady pace that completely drew me into the story. It surpassed my expectations, and I definitely recommend it! Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

See more of my reviews and other bookish content on my blog.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notorious Sorcerer was one of my top reads of 2022. I loved the magic system and the characters. The stakes felt so real to me, and I was absolutely heartbroken at the end. Do not read this review if you haven't read the first and don't want spoilers.

Shadow Baron picks up pretty soon after the events of the first book, and Siyon is now the Alchemist. He is the source of the mundane and, for some reason, he can now see threads of power as they relate to all planes. He still wants massive change because unregistered alchemists are still being arrested, and Siyon is still fighting for them. Siyon is also mourning the loss of Izmirlian and is haunted by the loss. He keeps dreaming of him and suffocating darkness. But maybe the darkness is not a dream as creatures from other planes are breaking through and delving into the mundane.

Siyon is tasked with protecting Bezim, or the council will only crack down more on the lower classes of alchemists because it can't be the rich azatani causing any problems. The main characters, Siyon, Anahid, and Zagiri, are a little more disconnected this time around as they each explore their storylines. Siyon and Zagiri are thrown into politics and class warfare, whereas Anahid wins a flower house at a card game and is thrust into the criminal underworld of Bezim. They each come together at different points, but Anahid is very separate from the other main storylines. I liked her B plot, but it was a little loose when it came to being looped back into the main storyline.

Anahid's storyline was a great story and really outlined the powerlessness of women (even rich women) in Bezim. She really comes into her own and allows herself to want more for herself. However, I still didn't love the storyline because I felt like it didn't really develop any plot. Maybe it will mean more in the next installment, but for now, it was just a lot of character development that didn't seem like it mattered to the story.

Siyon's exploring what the power of the mundane and pulling power into Bezim made me keep turning the page after page. There were a few moments of frustration where I just wanted the character to make a decision, but I understand his wariness. Shadow Baron was a much more political book, highlighting the differences in classes and how different strata of people in Bezim interact with the magic of the world. There could have been more exploration of these differences, but overall I was happy with the storyline, and I can't wait for the next book.

[Svea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Notorious Sorcerer", the first in Davinia Evans' The Burnished City series, was a complete surprise hit last year. I absolutely loved it, it was fun and creative with very cool lore and loveable complex characters, So of course I was more than happy to get the chance to read the sequel, "Shadow Baron" - and yeah, the fun continues!

"Shadow Baron" is a worthy sequel. All the things I enjoyed in the first book are still present, with the action turned up a notch. Siyon returns as the main protagonist, now thanks to the events in book 1 in a very different, much more powerful and responsible position. He has to both navigate the politics and find a solution to a new problem emerging from his actions as the different planes seem to become more unstable and unwanted visitors from them keep popping up in the city and causing chaos and mayhem. And all the while he's still grieving Izmirlian, whose involvement in the story despite not being part of it himself is really well done. Zagiri is back again, too, and her storyline is mostly a political one as well as she tries to change things for the less fortunate people in society, struggling at the same time with herself being part of the elite oppressing them. To be honest, her storyline was the weakest in the book and I sometimes thought it was a little too all over the place where it could have been much more poignant. Then there's Anahid, probably my favourite of them all, who suddenly finds herself entangled with the criminal underworld of the city. I absolutely loved her development in this book.

The plot is fast-paced and fun, the action exciting. A lot is happening especially in the final chapters and I did sometimes find myself hoping things would slow down just a little to let the events, and the characters, breathe for a moment. The world building gets expanded on, though admittedly especially the political landscape and sociological intricacies of Bezim society felt a bit superficial (which was most notable in Zagiri's chapters - which is probably why they were my least favourite).

Still, it was entertaining all the way through and I cannot wait for the third book.

Many thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the arc!

[Sonia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building on the promise of Notorious Sorcerer the author has deepened the world building, and delivered a cracking next installment in The Burnished City series.
We are reunited with our key leads, Siyon, now the Power of the Mundane, Zagiri, securing a clerkship to create change and Anahid, breaking free of the strict rules of behavior of the Azatani. The story continues not long after the last novel ended.
Siyon is struggling to find his place and authority as Power of the Mundane, and although it has solved some of the problems from Notorious Sorcerer it has led to new problems. These include incursions from other planes, new magical creatures appearing in the midst of everyday life and means Siyon must get a grip on his new powers before disaster befalls Bezim.
Zagiri has finally taken the first steps into the political world led by the Azatani council. She has become a clerk to a prestigious task force and looks for ways to create change from within the system. Her views are widened by association with visitors from the North who have a very different view of rights of the individual - is revolution the only path for change?
Finally Anahid, the perfect Azatani woman who appears to effortlessly navigate the complex alliances and politics of her class. In Notorious Sorcerer she was introduced to the gambling card game of carrick, one which she soon mastered. Her love of the game continues and in a match with one of the heirs to the Shadow barons (think criminal underworld) she wins Sable House in the flower district. This has so many implications as she begins her journey into a double life that must remain secret if her social status is to be maintained.
All these journeys weave together into an unforgettable book and I thoroughly recommend this. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC, all views are my own. Due to formatting issues on Kindle it took a little longer to read this than would normally be the case as I had to resort to the pdf version.

[torchlight reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to Bezim in Davinia Evans' sophomore novel, Shadow Baron, where about two months have passed since the ending of Notorious Sorcerer and the exciting events this entailed. Siyon Velo is now the Power of the Mundane and he may have stabilized the planes, but he doesn't really know what he's doing – and it won't be long before everyone catches on to that. But then, mythical creatures are spotted around Bezim: a djin appears at a garden party, and there are rumours of a naga in the Flower District, Bezim's red light district. Magic is waking up in the Mundane, and Siyon has to find a way to stop it.

In Shadow Baron, we follow Siyon, Zagiri and Anahid, as they navigate different facets of Bezim society. Street gangs and underground barons, alchemists and sorcerers, society events and gambling tables, this book lets you delve into a multilayered city that springs off the page – I found myself transported to the streets of Bezim. The second book builds on the world created in the first, and while the pace of the narrative seems slower, we get a deeper insight into the politics and the workings of society in this world. Anahid, whose rebellion against societal standards started in Notorious Sorcerer, is performing a veritable balancing act living a double life. I absolutely adored her story arc in this second instalment and many of her parts were amongst my favourite in this book. Throughout, my heart was bleeding for Siyon, who seemed entirely out of his depth, trying to work out his responsibilities as the Power of the Mundane whilst being consumed by grief and longing. Zagiri’s POV contributed a lot to highlighting the political workings of Bezim’s society, as she navigated the system and tried to achive her desired outcomes.

This was an easy 5⭐ from me, with the conclusion of the trilogy taking up an immediate top spot on my list of most anticipated titles for 2024.

[Cassidy | fictionalcass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been eagerly awaiting this book since finishing Notorious Sorcerer, and I am so thankful that I was able to get an arc from Orbit through NetGalley!

I wanted to tear through this book to get answers, but ultimately ending up savoring it because I simply did not want it to end. We pick up two months after the events of Notorious Sorcerer, and things are once again going awry in Bezim. Shadow Baron takes us on a much more political based journey than the first book, and I especially loved Zagiri’s POVs as she navigates the system and figures out how to make things work. Siyon is trying to find his footing as the Power of the Mundane while also caught in a loop of grief and pining. Meanwhile, Anahid lives an intense double life and slays while doing so.

I really enjoyed this book!! It was definitely a slowdown compared to the first one, but I really loved learning more about Bezim and the way that the world opened up so much more. There are also some great new characters that added some interesting elements, particularly Mayar and Balian. The stakes seemed a lot higher in this installment, and things definitely took some darker turns as the characters tried to find answers.

All things considered, this is truly Anahid’s book. She absolutely stole the show. Hers were my favorite sections and I absolutely loved the journey she was on, and the growth we saw in her character. I loved Siyon’s parts of course, but my heart was hurting for him missing Izmirlian, and Zagiri’s sections didn’t quite get to the same depths as Anahid’s. I did not expect Anahid to be my favorite character by the end of this, but I am so happy to say she is. She is the moment.

This book is a rock solid 5⭐️ for me, and I will be rereading when I get a physical copy, and then desperately awaiting news of book three.

[debchan · Rating 1 out of 5]

the only reason i didn't DNF this was bc i'm out rn and i have no other books with me rn and this was only slightly better than doing absolutely nothing

it's just not the story, the characters, the setting, or the prose for me. i can acknowledge that bc so many people have loved this. i have come to find i'm just not interested in these characters and so there wasn't much to hold me into the story. did anything really meaningful happen? not really except for the last like 30 pages.

siyon was borderline annoying. it was like evans was trying a bit toooo hard to make him likeable. who acts like that irl? or even what kind of behavior is this? idk when i don't find the main character compelling it's hard to find the story interesting too. like at least fervent hatred keeps me going.

zagiri: i wish she spent more time in politics. but then her reasoning was to be good and make changes for the better. ugh so boring. i like her but her "not like other girls" attitude was tiresome. funny how she pops up running around like an excited puppy always when she's needed the most.

anahid: yeah she's cool she's becoming her own person. i like the sister representation here. that's literally all i can say about her.

so wasn't interested, the lack of izmirlian maybe? i very much wanted to like it as well. maybe reading The First Law trilogy and the Age of Madness trilogy between this and notorious sorcerer ruined my expectations. like now all i want are awful characters doing terrible things and nonstop action. all that to say wrong place wrong time for me. i might read the last book but only for the potential siyon/izmirlian stuff. you couldn't get me to care about the djins and the planes and whatnot.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.


'But maybe. Maybe.'

Well I sure hope he can do it because SHSHSJSJSJSJSDH


I need book three immediately. This was a brilliant sequel. I had such a fun time and I'm so invested and proud of all the MCs and Mayar and the good eggs and all the flowerhouse people.

It's a 4.5 because why did Anahid go for THAT GUY?! It's not like she didn't have options! It kinda makes sense for her character and arc but WHY HIM?! It felt a bit out of nowhere 🤷🏼

Despite that I loved this on so many levels and I need Siyon and Izmirlian back together again in book three. I need it like it's oxygen 😭
Siyon was just so sad and stressed and grieving throughout this and just struggling and feeling lonely and just 🥹 they better reunite PROPERLY! I don't doubt you Siyon but I also want him making regular visits to Izmir whilst also coming back to deal with things but then also leaving to be happy with his man. 🤞🏻I fucking cried at THAT scene. That teeny tiny brief scene. My gods. I'm a mess.

Zagiri I'm so proud. Anahid you go glen coco. My favourite sister duo is slaying.

Also the action and epicness and holy shit moments in this were fire. I hope we get more.

This left enough mystery for the series to still continue in a third book which I'm excited to see. The characters don't know much about what's happening and we're figuring it out with them as we go. And I love that!

This review is mostly just me being in my feels but I really loved this.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was reasonably impressed with the first in The Burnished City series, and book two, Shadow Baron, continues in a similar vein. While I don’t believe it really did anything radically different in terms of expanding the world, it’s a fairly solid bridge between books in other ways.
The characters in particular remain relatable, especially in terms of how they navigate their world, with each of them taking on different, albeit still somewhat interconnected journeys. Siyon’s story was particularly compelling, dealing with class warfare, as well as struggling to make it within a cutthroat world where he doesn’t entirely know what he’s doing. Anahid goes on a side quest into the underworld, and her arc explores the dangers women in Bezim face (paralleling those they can face in the real world).
The story throws you in right away, picking up not long after the first book left off, and it wasn't hard to get into it. I did feel the length at points, as there were moments where the pacing was off. However, I mostly felt the book was worth the read and avoided the second-book slump.
I enjoyed this installment overall, and look forward to what’s to come in the next book. I recommend this book if you enjoy high/epic fantasy.

[readerinthedesert_(SaraBeth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good!! I am so upset that I can't dive right into book 3! I loved the first book in this series and now that the world has been fully established this book just took it to higher heights! I could see the enire city in my mind from the mangroves of the lost district to the caves of the walled cliffs it is an amazing place! This absolutely did not fall into the second book syndrome, it compelled our characters and the story further forward and had some very surprising plot twists, and interesting new characters. We also got to see more of our original team; from Siyon finally coming into his own, to Anahid who really stepped outside her comfort zone, to Zagiri who finally decided to step into the world of adults even if she did so kicking and screaming, and without quite losing her hold on her teenage endeavors. It was a wild ride! I wish I could say more but spoilers! Read these books!

Syion discussing Anahid and Zagiri "It was an idea. It was more that he'd had before the sisters had arrived. They weren't even alchemists. But they were canny and clever in their own ways." And they definitely prove that throughout the book!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another riveting adventure in the city of Bezim with Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid. Their stories were a lot less obviously interwoven and more independent this time around, but each shone in their very own way. All three find themselves in new scenarios having to learn and occupy new roles in their lives and navigate hurdles along the way.

Like its predecessor, I felt the pace was pretty fast. However, unlike it, the danger and barriers to some characters felt a lot less tangible and imminent this time with much more bureaucracy for them to navigate. Although a little disappointing and not surprising the bravi are mostly absent (including Daruj), new characters Balian, Mayar, and Yeva add new challenges, alliances, and the flair of their own personalities, intriguing pasts, and plans of their own.

Siyon has new mysteries of the planes to solve and his own new power and position to reckon with. When the city's urban legends and ancient myths come to life and join the present Power of the Mundane, Siyon is on the scene flailing about and making shit up as he goes. As always. As we love him best.

Underlying it all is Siyon's grief. It was painted with gentle strokes of watercolor, touching so many scenes with a light hue of sorrow and leaving a lasting impression behind. I could feel Siyon's heartache and wistfulness without falling too deep, too far, too heavy into it. It was perfect.

I can't wait for the next book! I hope Izmirlian and Siyon find each other again, please!