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The City #1
The City
In her debut solo novel, Stella Gemmell, coauthor of the "powerful" (Booklist) conclusion to David Gemmell’s Troy series, weaves a dark epic fantasy about a war-torn civilization and the immortal emperor who has it clutched in his evil grasp.
The City is ancient, layers upon layers. Once a thriving metropolis, it has sprawled beyond its bounds, inciting endless wars with neighboring tribes and creating a barren wasteland of what was once green and productive.
In the center of the City lives the emperor. Few have ever seen him, but those who have recall a man in his prime, though he should be very old. Some grimly speculate that he is no longer human, if he ever was. A small number have come to the desperate conclusion that the only way to stop the war is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.
From the mazelike sewers below the City, where the poor struggle to stay alive in the dark, to the blood-soaked fields of battle, where few heroes manage to endure the never-ending siege, the rebels pin their hopes on one man—Shuskara. The emperor’s former general, he was betrayed long ago and is believed to be dead. But, under different aliases, he has survived, forsaking his City and hiding from his immortal foe. Now the time has come for him to engage in one final battle to free the City from the creature who dwells at its heart, pulling the strings that keep the land drenched in gore.
The City is ancient, layers upon layers. Once a thriving metropolis, it has sprawled beyond its bounds, inciting endless wars with neighboring tribes and creating a barren wasteland of what was once green and productive.
In the center of the City lives the emperor. Few have ever seen him, but those who have recall a man in his prime, though he should be very old. Some grimly speculate that he is no longer human, if he ever was. A small number have come to the desperate conclusion that the only way to stop the war is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.
From the mazelike sewers below the City, where the poor struggle to stay alive in the dark, to the blood-soaked fields of battle, where few heroes manage to endure the never-ending siege, the rebels pin their hopes on one man—Shuskara. The emperor’s former general, he was betrayed long ago and is believed to be dead. But, under different aliases, he has survived, forsaking his City and hiding from his immortal foe. Now the time has come for him to engage in one final battle to free the City from the creature who dwells at its heart, pulling the strings that keep the land drenched in gore.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
165 people are currently reading
3174 people want to read
About the author
Stella Gemmell
10 books137 followersStella Gemmell has a degree in politics and is a journalist. She was married to the internationally acclaimed and bestselling fantasy novelist David Gemmell and worked with him on his three Troy novels, completing the final book, Troy: Fall of Kings, following his death in 2006. She lives in East Sussex. The City is her first solo novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
June 19, 2025
Stella Gemmell writes very well and has a great imagination.
I took a long time to read this book, but then I'm a slow reader with very little spare time.
The City is a book that I can't find a good canditate for pointing at and saying 'it was like this'. I guess Glenda Larke's The Last Stormlord is the closest I can get.
It took a long time for me to engage with the story. I liked the city/sewer scenes more than the extended battle/war scenes - which is unusual for me. We're offered many points of view, some through characters who are short-lived or who we don't visit often or again. I never really took to any particular character. More than anything this book is about the city and the story.
A big strength to me was the skillful weaving together of many views and timelines all building our understanding of the plot in a non-linear way. About 75% of the way through the understanding, excitement, and pace build rapidly and I started reading in much bigger chunks.
The end benefited from being unpredictable and non-standard. It suffered a bit from being a touch confusing and introducing a lot of new information late in the game.
I return at the end to saying how pleasantly surprised I was by the quality of the writing on display here. I'm a big fan of David Gemmell's work and didn't want this book to prove a substandard effort trading off his name. It most certainly is not that.
I think The City will meet with a wide variety of response. I can see some people finding it to be among the best they've read and others fading away early on. I commend it to your attention - well worth a read.
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I took a long time to read this book, but then I'm a slow reader with very little spare time.
The City is a book that I can't find a good canditate for pointing at and saying 'it was like this'. I guess Glenda Larke's The Last Stormlord is the closest I can get.
It took a long time for me to engage with the story. I liked the city/sewer scenes more than the extended battle/war scenes - which is unusual for me. We're offered many points of view, some through characters who are short-lived or who we don't visit often or again. I never really took to any particular character. More than anything this book is about the city and the story.
A big strength to me was the skillful weaving together of many views and timelines all building our understanding of the plot in a non-linear way. About 75% of the way through the understanding, excitement, and pace build rapidly and I started reading in much bigger chunks.
The end benefited from being unpredictable and non-standard. It suffered a bit from being a touch confusing and introducing a lot of new information late in the game.
I return at the end to saying how pleasantly surprised I was by the quality of the writing on display here. I'm a big fan of David Gemmell's work and didn't want this book to prove a substandard effort trading off his name. It most certainly is not that.
I think The City will meet with a wide variety of response. I can see some people finding it to be among the best they've read and others fading away early on. I commend it to your attention - well worth a read.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
Want to read
August 1, 2024Stella Gemmell writes very well and has a great imagination.
I took a long time to read this book, but then I'm a slow reader with very little spare time.
The City is a book that I can't find a good canditate for pointing at and saying 'it was like this'. I guess Glenda Larke's The Last Stormlord is the closest I can get.
It took a long time for me to engage with the story. I liked the city/sewer scenes more than the extended battle/war scenes - which is unusual for me. We're offered many points of view, some through characters who are short-lived or who we don't visit often or again. I never really took to any particular character. More than anything this book is about the city and the story.
A big strength to me was the skillful weaving together of many views and timelines all building our understanding of the plot in a non-linear way. About 75% of the way through the understanding, excitement, and pace build rapidly and I started reading in much bigger chunks.
The end benefited from being unpredictable and non-standard. It suffered a bit from being a touch confusing and introducing a lot of new information late in the game.
I return at the end to saying how pleasantly surprised I was by the quality of the writing on display here. I'm a big fan of David Gemmell's work and didn't want this book to prove a substandard effort trading off his name. It most certainly is not that.
I think The City will meet with a wide variety of response. I can see some people finding it to be among the best they've read and others fading away early on. I commend it to your attention - well worth a read.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
I took a long time to read this book, but then I'm a slow reader with very little spare time.
The City is a book that I can't find a good canditate for pointing at and saying 'it was like this'. I guess Glenda Larke's The Last Stormlord is the closest I can get.
It took a long time for me to engage with the story. I liked the city/sewer scenes more than the extended battle/war scenes - which is unusual for me. We're offered many points of view, some through characters who are short-lived or who we don't visit often or again. I never really took to any particular character. More than anything this book is about the city and the story.
A big strength to me was the skillful weaving together of many views and timelines all building our understanding of the plot in a non-linear way. About 75% of the way through the understanding, excitement, and pace build rapidly and I started reading in much bigger chunks.
The end benefited from being unpredictable and non-standard. It suffered a bit from being a touch confusing and introducing a lot of new information late in the game.
I return at the end to saying how pleasantly surprised I was by the quality of the writing on display here. I'm a big fan of David Gemmell's work and didn't want this book to prove a substandard effort trading off his name. It most certainly is not that.
I think The City will meet with a wide variety of response. I can see some people finding it to be among the best they've read and others fading away early on. I commend it to your attention - well worth a read.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
February 28, 2017
The City is a beautiful debut and the perfect introduction for a fantasy author who has a lot to offer in the coming years.
I heard a lot of things about Stella Gemmell. About how she is heavily influenced from her late husband's work, how she is trying to step into his shoes, or even that she is taking advantage of her surname. Trust me when Ι say that this isn't the case. In her debut novel, Stella is carving her own path in what we call Epic Fantasy, and she is doing so with great skill, wonderful narration and unbound imagination.
The characters were well-crafted and diverse, with multiple POVs and timelines that were beautifully weaved together. The story though isn't about the characters, but about the city itself, as well as the situations and events that take place in it.
The story is a little slow at first, and with Stella's unique writing style it's a bit difficult to engage with the story (and especially with the characters) in an emotional level, but all in all, The City is a beautiful and well-promising novel, so I recommend it to every Epic-Fantasy reader.
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
I heard a lot of things about Stella Gemmell. About how she is heavily influenced from her late husband's work, how she is trying to step into his shoes, or even that she is taking advantage of her surname. Trust me when Ι say that this isn't the case. In her debut novel, Stella is carving her own path in what we call Epic Fantasy, and she is doing so with great skill, wonderful narration and unbound imagination.
The characters were well-crafted and diverse, with multiple POVs and timelines that were beautifully weaved together. The story though isn't about the characters, but about the city itself, as well as the situations and events that take place in it.
The story is a little slow at first, and with Stella's unique writing style it's a bit difficult to engage with the story (and especially with the characters) in an emotional level, but all in all, The City is a beautiful and well-promising novel, so I recommend it to every Epic-Fantasy reader.
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
April 13, 2013
OK. Looking at the name at the top of this review (not mine, the other one!), I know there will be some Epic Fantasy readers who are familiar with the surname.
So just to clear this up as we start, this is the first solo novel by Stella Gemmell, nee Graham, co-author of Fall of Kings, the retelling of the legendary Troy story, as well as book editor, principal researcher and the wife of the sadly deceased Fantasy author David Gemmell. This is her first solo novel.
That would suggest a pedigree, and it shows. The City is an ambitious book, a great, fat, sprawling Fantasy, with an emphasis on the 'Epic'. As it is Epic, the scale of this one is as you would expect: lots of characters, from many different aspects of city life. There’s Emperors, soldiers, underground sewage-rats (both actual and human), politics, religion and magic. And an awful lot of water.
The publicity blurb says:
“Built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, the City is ancient and vast. Over the centuries, it has sprawled beyond its walls, the cause of constant war with neighbouring peoples and kingdoms, laying waste to what was once green and fertile.
And at the heart of the City resides the emperor. Few have ever seen him. Those who have remember a man in his prime and yet he should be very old. Some speculate that he is no longer human, others wonder if indeed he ever truly was. And a small number have come to a desperate conclusion: that the only way to stop the ceaseless slaughter is to end the emperor's unnaturally long life.
From the rotting, flood-ruined catacombs beneath the City where the poor struggle to stay alive to the blood-soaked fields of battle where so few heroes survive, these rebels pin their hopes on one man. A man who was once the emperor's foremost general. A man, a revered soldier, who could lead an uprising and unite the City. But a man who was betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and is now believed to be dead...”
The nature of Epic Fantasy is that it is an immersive experience, that the reader spends time getting to know the place, the people, its myriad cultures, styles and customs. And in a large book usually much of the setup is spent doing that, so that when things start to happen, the reader can follow what’s going on and, perhaps more importantly, the reasons why. It is expected.
With such a place of the imagination, the author has the advantage of cherry-picking from throughout history to create a believable world. There’s a definite Romanesque feel to The City, with its nomenclature, social provision, battle tactics, social structure and its major social works, although in places there’s an almost Medieval aura, with its crowded streets, its glassmaking techniques and its marketplace selling, and the often highly decorative environment even suggests a degree of Renaissance styling. With such selective slipstreaming between different historical periods, The City is almost Mieville-esque in its character. It could be nearly anywhere in Fantasyland.
As a novel, The City works on many levels. Strangely, for a book named The City, we do not see much of the city, above ground anyway. There are tantalising glimpses of different elements, though there are not the lengthy details of names of streets and places like in, say, Scott Lynch’s stories. Much of the story is about what goes on below the surface, and in particular the vast submerged levels of the city that, like Troy, were just built over by successive generations.
The characterisation is first rate, although there were times when the characters names became a little interchangeable. The characterisation is a little less ambiguous than many readers might like at the moment, but it is the situation, and how these characters deal with it, that is the attraction here. As befits an Epic we have a range of characters with different points of view and motives. We are introduced to Bartellus, once known as Shuskara, an old man who once ranked as a general to the Emperor Araeon, but now a disgraced outcast, hiding in secret but wanting revenge for the murder of his family. He has taken up and adopted Emly, a lost child of the city’s voluminous sewers, as his own. Emly’s brother, Elija, is lost early in the book but now leads a raid into the city against the Emperor. On the part of the warriors we have Fell Aron Lee, company commander of the Maritime army of the West and female warrior Indaro, one of the Wildcats, whose battles against the Blueskins on the outskirts of the city are bloody and violent. The Emperor, as the character our protagonists rail against, makes an unusual and very interesting bad guy.
Using this broad societal assortment of individuals allows an epic plot to take shape. And the plotline, once it gets going, is great too. Admittedly, the book is a little slow to start with, but the last hundred pages of the book were un-putdownable. As the book continues, those disparate characters intertwine in their attempts to reach the plot conclusion. It must be said that, at times, their interweavings are a little too convenient, but there is no denying that the final denouement is very well done.
This is a tale of attempted assassination, of revenge and retribution, of loyalty, honour and comradeship, all bastions of Epic Fantasy. This one on the whole pretty much does what it aims to do. There is enough unresolved for there to be a sequel, although the book works pretty well as a standalone. In the end, the city in The City, battered and changed, still lives on.
I must say at this point, for those who didn’t know, I have, in other recent reviews, had issues with debut Epic Fantasy novels, which have often tried hard but failed to reach the standard I, as a reader, expect. If we count this as a debut, then this one blows the rest out of the water. Exciting, intelligent, emotional, there is so much here that the other debuts did not have. Though Fantasy readers will recognise elements of this, and even expect them, this is not a tale that goes through the motions, connecting A with B to make C, but instead something that is from the heart, and engages with the reader at many levels. It is what Stella has done with the tropes, and the skill she has used to tell the tale, that makes this one a success.
I was a little apprehensive as to whether this one would make the grade. It is much better than I worried it would be.
The City is a great page-turning read, that is worth sticking with through to the end.
So just to clear this up as we start, this is the first solo novel by Stella Gemmell, nee Graham, co-author of Fall of Kings, the retelling of the legendary Troy story, as well as book editor, principal researcher and the wife of the sadly deceased Fantasy author David Gemmell. This is her first solo novel.
That would suggest a pedigree, and it shows. The City is an ambitious book, a great, fat, sprawling Fantasy, with an emphasis on the 'Epic'. As it is Epic, the scale of this one is as you would expect: lots of characters, from many different aspects of city life. There’s Emperors, soldiers, underground sewage-rats (both actual and human), politics, religion and magic. And an awful lot of water.
The publicity blurb says:
“Built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, the City is ancient and vast. Over the centuries, it has sprawled beyond its walls, the cause of constant war with neighbouring peoples and kingdoms, laying waste to what was once green and fertile.
And at the heart of the City resides the emperor. Few have ever seen him. Those who have remember a man in his prime and yet he should be very old. Some speculate that he is no longer human, others wonder if indeed he ever truly was. And a small number have come to a desperate conclusion: that the only way to stop the ceaseless slaughter is to end the emperor's unnaturally long life.
From the rotting, flood-ruined catacombs beneath the City where the poor struggle to stay alive to the blood-soaked fields of battle where so few heroes survive, these rebels pin their hopes on one man. A man who was once the emperor's foremost general. A man, a revered soldier, who could lead an uprising and unite the City. But a man who was betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and is now believed to be dead...”
The nature of Epic Fantasy is that it is an immersive experience, that the reader spends time getting to know the place, the people, its myriad cultures, styles and customs. And in a large book usually much of the setup is spent doing that, so that when things start to happen, the reader can follow what’s going on and, perhaps more importantly, the reasons why. It is expected.
With such a place of the imagination, the author has the advantage of cherry-picking from throughout history to create a believable world. There’s a definite Romanesque feel to The City, with its nomenclature, social provision, battle tactics, social structure and its major social works, although in places there’s an almost Medieval aura, with its crowded streets, its glassmaking techniques and its marketplace selling, and the often highly decorative environment even suggests a degree of Renaissance styling. With such selective slipstreaming between different historical periods, The City is almost Mieville-esque in its character. It could be nearly anywhere in Fantasyland.
As a novel, The City works on many levels. Strangely, for a book named The City, we do not see much of the city, above ground anyway. There are tantalising glimpses of different elements, though there are not the lengthy details of names of streets and places like in, say, Scott Lynch’s stories. Much of the story is about what goes on below the surface, and in particular the vast submerged levels of the city that, like Troy, were just built over by successive generations.
The characterisation is first rate, although there were times when the characters names became a little interchangeable. The characterisation is a little less ambiguous than many readers might like at the moment, but it is the situation, and how these characters deal with it, that is the attraction here. As befits an Epic we have a range of characters with different points of view and motives. We are introduced to Bartellus, once known as Shuskara, an old man who once ranked as a general to the Emperor Araeon, but now a disgraced outcast, hiding in secret but wanting revenge for the murder of his family. He has taken up and adopted Emly, a lost child of the city’s voluminous sewers, as his own. Emly’s brother, Elija, is lost early in the book but now leads a raid into the city against the Emperor. On the part of the warriors we have Fell Aron Lee, company commander of the Maritime army of the West and female warrior Indaro, one of the Wildcats, whose battles against the Blueskins on the outskirts of the city are bloody and violent. The Emperor, as the character our protagonists rail against, makes an unusual and very interesting bad guy.
Using this broad societal assortment of individuals allows an epic plot to take shape. And the plotline, once it gets going, is great too. Admittedly, the book is a little slow to start with, but the last hundred pages of the book were un-putdownable. As the book continues, those disparate characters intertwine in their attempts to reach the plot conclusion. It must be said that, at times, their interweavings are a little too convenient, but there is no denying that the final denouement is very well done.
This is a tale of attempted assassination, of revenge and retribution, of loyalty, honour and comradeship, all bastions of Epic Fantasy. This one on the whole pretty much does what it aims to do. There is enough unresolved for there to be a sequel, although the book works pretty well as a standalone. In the end, the city in The City, battered and changed, still lives on.
I must say at this point, for those who didn’t know, I have, in other recent reviews, had issues with debut Epic Fantasy novels, which have often tried hard but failed to reach the standard I, as a reader, expect. If we count this as a debut, then this one blows the rest out of the water. Exciting, intelligent, emotional, there is so much here that the other debuts did not have. Though Fantasy readers will recognise elements of this, and even expect them, this is not a tale that goes through the motions, connecting A with B to make C, but instead something that is from the heart, and engages with the reader at many levels. It is what Stella has done with the tropes, and the skill she has used to tell the tale, that makes this one a success.
I was a little apprehensive as to whether this one would make the grade. It is much better than I worried it would be.
The City is a great page-turning read, that is worth sticking with through to the end.
August 28, 2015
I had high hopes for this fantasy book from Stella Gemmell, the wife of legendary heroic fantasy author David Gemmell, but unfortunately it never quite managed to live up to my lofty expectations. It turned out to be a fairly average fantasy read. It had its strong points. The story was intriguing enough and had a good balance of action and mystery, the world was an interesting one, and the characters were a complex enough bunch. It was the flaws that dragged this book into average territory. The story got off to a very slow start due to a mix of Stella Gemmell's strangely distant writing style, the fact that it introduced a large cast of characters, and the fact that the first few parts featured three separate time periods. The distant writing style also made it tough to fully engage with the story on an emotional level, though in fairness it did have a few moments.
The City is a vast and hungry nation that has been slowly expanding through the years as it consumes the land and nations that once surrounded it. For years the City has found itself besieged on all sides by an alliance of nations as they attempt a last gasp attempt to resist its expansion and plundering of the remaining tribes and city states. The City itself is a place full of mystery and is ruled by an Emperor, nicknamed the Immortal, who is rarely seen in public. When he does appear he always looks like a man in his prime. His enemies fear he might not even be human. Those enemies, from both within the City and among its allied besiegers, decide the only way to end the war that is slowly killing all the nations involved is to kill the Emperor. The rebels have a few different plots, but have pinned a lot their hopes on Shuskara, formerly a favoured General of the Emperor's who was betrayed long ago and is widely believed to be dead. Yet he still lives, a shadow of his former self, in the sewers beneath the streets of the City. The rebels need to rally him for once last battle as he is the only chance of swaying any resistance from inside the City!
I thought this was an OK read. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel or not. The pacing was not to my liking, but there was a few cool revelations towards the final third.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Simon Shepherd. He was nothing special, but gave a passable performance of the story.
The City is a vast and hungry nation that has been slowly expanding through the years as it consumes the land and nations that once surrounded it. For years the City has found itself besieged on all sides by an alliance of nations as they attempt a last gasp attempt to resist its expansion and plundering of the remaining tribes and city states. The City itself is a place full of mystery and is ruled by an Emperor, nicknamed the Immortal, who is rarely seen in public. When he does appear he always looks like a man in his prime. His enemies fear he might not even be human. Those enemies, from both within the City and among its allied besiegers, decide the only way to end the war that is slowly killing all the nations involved is to kill the Emperor. The rebels have a few different plots, but have pinned a lot their hopes on Shuskara, formerly a favoured General of the Emperor's who was betrayed long ago and is widely believed to be dead. Yet he still lives, a shadow of his former self, in the sewers beneath the streets of the City. The rebels need to rally him for once last battle as he is the only chance of swaying any resistance from inside the City!
I thought this was an OK read. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel or not. The pacing was not to my liking, but there was a few cool revelations towards the final third.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Simon Shepherd. He was nothing special, but gave a passable performance of the story.
March 17, 2017
Best fantasy novel I've read in YEARS. Perfect. And a proper story too, very few tomes about these days.
I have book 2 to read then I'll be reviewing both as a kind of dual thing. But this one definitely highly recommended.
I have book 2 to read then I'll be reviewing both as a kind of dual thing. But this one definitely highly recommended.
May 6, 2013
Review:
It was with split emotions that i took on reading this book. I had no direct experience of Stella's writing, as i have still not read the last ever Gemmell Troy novel that she completed for her Husband David Gemmell, for me reading that book means the end of all David Gemmell books. David Gemmell is the man who inspired my love of reading and every rich, powerful, educational, inspirational thing that has brought to my life, including many great friends.
I promised myself i would read Stella's book as if she was just another debut writer, i would avoid comparing her to DG (its only fair), it was an impossible task. I constantly found myself looking for and sometimes finding glimpses of the big man. (which is only natural, as i'm sure Stella had a huge influence on Davids books).
So The City: firstly Stella is an excellent writer, she has a depth of style that surpasses DG in complexity. She seems to use a similar muse or historical base to her story, in the same vein as DG. This City being (for me)the end of the mighty yet corrupt Byzantine empire. What Stella weaves from this base is a vastly complex dark city of levels and labyrinths, of darkness and greed. She builds characters who are heroic yet deeply flawed (and this was pure DG...but in a good way). Ultimately she builds a world that becomes as real as our own. If i had to pick a gripe its the over complex bounding around of the plot, it leaves the reader no respite if he/she wants to keep up with the plot. If i were to give some advice for a reader, find a weekend where you can sit with the book and not be disturbed, its a book that demands your complete and total attention, if you can do this you will keep up with the complex weaving of the plot, that all pulls together at the end in a gripping climax and wonderful multi dimensional characters.
so whilst im not the kid captured by the brilliance of DG any-more, i am a grown up who has been drawn in hook line and sinker by a new and very powerful voice in the world of fantasy.
Highly Recommended
(Parm)
It was with split emotions that i took on reading this book. I had no direct experience of Stella's writing, as i have still not read the last ever Gemmell Troy novel that she completed for her Husband David Gemmell, for me reading that book means the end of all David Gemmell books. David Gemmell is the man who inspired my love of reading and every rich, powerful, educational, inspirational thing that has brought to my life, including many great friends.
I promised myself i would read Stella's book as if she was just another debut writer, i would avoid comparing her to DG (its only fair), it was an impossible task. I constantly found myself looking for and sometimes finding glimpses of the big man. (which is only natural, as i'm sure Stella had a huge influence on Davids books).
So The City: firstly Stella is an excellent writer, she has a depth of style that surpasses DG in complexity. She seems to use a similar muse or historical base to her story, in the same vein as DG. This City being (for me)the end of the mighty yet corrupt Byzantine empire. What Stella weaves from this base is a vastly complex dark city of levels and labyrinths, of darkness and greed. She builds characters who are heroic yet deeply flawed (and this was pure DG...but in a good way). Ultimately she builds a world that becomes as real as our own. If i had to pick a gripe its the over complex bounding around of the plot, it leaves the reader no respite if he/she wants to keep up with the plot. If i were to give some advice for a reader, find a weekend where you can sit with the book and not be disturbed, its a book that demands your complete and total attention, if you can do this you will keep up with the complex weaving of the plot, that all pulls together at the end in a gripping climax and wonderful multi dimensional characters.
so whilst im not the kid captured by the brilliance of DG any-more, i am a grown up who has been drawn in hook line and sinker by a new and very powerful voice in the world of fantasy.
Highly Recommended
(Parm)
June 14, 2013
There was something about this book that kept me from loving it.
The premise was interesting, the world had me wanting to know more, the characters were realistic, and the setting was well thought out, but I just couldn't get excited about any of it.
The first hundred pages or so had me hooked, but by the end I wasn't really clear on what actually happened. Did the heroes win? Did the bad guys win? Did anybody win? The finish is still a bit of a mystery to me. Also, there was aspects to the way the story was told that I found annoying - there were times when things that were about to happen were revealed, mini spoilers if you like, that detracted from my sense of surprise when what I already knew was going to happen finally happened.
To give an example of this, one character was annoyed by another character, and as the scene closed was a line similar to "he didn't know how much her death would hurt him." So now it wasn't a case of if that other character would die but when, and that really did take some of the suspense away.
On the plus side, I am very happy to see the name Gemmell on the cover of a new fantasy book, so my dissatisfaction with this story hasn't (yet) deterred me from giving Stella another chance to make me a loyal fan - as I was of her husband.
The premise was interesting, the world had me wanting to know more, the characters were realistic, and the setting was well thought out, but I just couldn't get excited about any of it.
The first hundred pages or so had me hooked, but by the end I wasn't really clear on what actually happened. Did the heroes win? Did the bad guys win? Did anybody win? The finish is still a bit of a mystery to me. Also, there was aspects to the way the story was told that I found annoying - there were times when things that were about to happen were revealed, mini spoilers if you like, that detracted from my sense of surprise when what I already knew was going to happen finally happened.
To give an example of this, one character was annoyed by another character, and as the scene closed was a line similar to "he didn't know how much her death would hurt him." So now it wasn't a case of if that other character would die but when, and that really did take some of the suspense away.
On the plus side, I am very happy to see the name Gemmell on the cover of a new fantasy book, so my dissatisfaction with this story hasn't (yet) deterred me from giving Stella another chance to make me a loyal fan - as I was of her husband.
July 16, 2015
I hoped to love this, because I have enjoyed the late David Gemmell’s work (some of it more, some less), but this just went too slow for me. I don’t necessarily mind a slow build, but this was a trope salad: it felt like typical epic fantasy, and the prose didn’t elevate it above that. Sure, the prose and setting were decent, and some aspects of the setting were really well described — the darkness, claustrophobia and caution endemic among the sewer people, for example. But it was lacking… something. A spark, some originality, characters to love; any one of those things would have rescued it, for me.
So, at around 20% of the way, I confess I stopped reading. If you’re looking for epic fantasy, this might still be your thing; maybe if I was in the mood for something comfortingly traditional, it would’ve gone down okay. But I’ve got Raymond E. Feist and David Eddings and, indeed, David Gemmell, for traditional fantasy. I wanted something fresh, and The City wasn’t it. I didn’t expect Stella Gemmell to burst any major boundaries, but this story felt like it could be set in part of Feist or Eddings’ worlds, rather than a new fantasy world dreamed up entire.
So, at around 20% of the way, I confess I stopped reading. If you’re looking for epic fantasy, this might still be your thing; maybe if I was in the mood for something comfortingly traditional, it would’ve gone down okay. But I’ve got Raymond E. Feist and David Eddings and, indeed, David Gemmell, for traditional fantasy. I wanted something fresh, and The City wasn’t it. I didn’t expect Stella Gemmell to burst any major boundaries, but this story felt like it could be set in part of Feist or Eddings’ worlds, rather than a new fantasy world dreamed up entire.
June 16, 2013
I think the best way to describe this book is epic. It was truly epic. I know fantasy is usually epic, but here the word gets it's true meaning. The story is deep and feels complex. It's fascinating, and the world building and story telling was awesome.
It's about a an empire on feet of clay. A city slowly eating itself and spitting out soldier after soldier. Women thrown into the war machine until the only people left are maimed old soldiers and a few children. There is no time for making children when everyone is away fighting. Fighting for the enormous city and the emperor. Everything else if forgotten.
The story jumps in time after we meet 2 children and an old man. An old man of importance. After that we get to know a female soldier and learn more about the endless war. Gemmell is also good at inserting facts and history about why the city is like it is. Why it keeps on fighting and we learn more and more.
Bart and Em shows us the city itself and how life inside is not easy. Fell and Indaro shows us the war outside. There are threads everywhere in this vast book that slowly is being handled by someone. Pulling everyone together for one last showdown.
The book is not one I rushed through to know more. Instead I had to take it easy because that is just how it's told, how it has to be. And when I finished I was not sure, should I be happy? The ending is both a happy one and an uncertain one.
War and politics is what you get with this book. I also liked how she has taken from so much and put it together in a melting pot. Until I just can't say where from everything is (even if it is fantasy). There is Rome, the East and more. I was also interested in The Immortals, where did they come from? I do want more from this world.
I know I give 3s to everything cos 3s means it's good and that I enjoyed it. But this one has to get a 4 cos of the good writing.
It's about a an empire on feet of clay. A city slowly eating itself and spitting out soldier after soldier. Women thrown into the war machine until the only people left are maimed old soldiers and a few children. There is no time for making children when everyone is away fighting. Fighting for the enormous city and the emperor. Everything else if forgotten.
The story jumps in time after we meet 2 children and an old man. An old man of importance. After that we get to know a female soldier and learn more about the endless war. Gemmell is also good at inserting facts and history about why the city is like it is. Why it keeps on fighting and we learn more and more.
Bart and Em shows us the city itself and how life inside is not easy. Fell and Indaro shows us the war outside. There are threads everywhere in this vast book that slowly is being handled by someone. Pulling everyone together for one last showdown.
The book is not one I rushed through to know more. Instead I had to take it easy because that is just how it's told, how it has to be. And when I finished I was not sure, should I be happy? The ending is both a happy one and an uncertain one.
War and politics is what you get with this book. I also liked how she has taken from so much and put it together in a melting pot. Until I just can't say where from everything is (even if it is fantasy). There is Rome, the East and more. I was also interested in The Immortals, where did they come from? I do want more from this world.
I know I give 3s to everything cos 3s means it's good and that I enjoyed it. But this one has to get a 4 cos of the good writing.
July 6, 2023
(english version below)
Wer die Drenai-Saga von David Gemmell schätzt, wird ziemlich wahrscheinlich auch Gefallen an diesem Buch finden.
Ich mochte es sehr gerne.
If you appreciate the Drenai saga by David Gemmell, you will probably also enjoy this book.
I liked this book series by Stella Gemmell very much.
Wer die Drenai-Saga von David Gemmell schätzt, wird ziemlich wahrscheinlich auch Gefallen an diesem Buch finden.
Ich mochte es sehr gerne.
If you appreciate the Drenai saga by David Gemmell, you will probably also enjoy this book.
I liked this book series by Stella Gemmell very much.
July 20, 2021
De Stad is een intrigerend boek dat helaas nogal lijdt onder de schrijfstijl. De wereld is interessant, de lore veelbelovend, en het plot, hoewel slow-burning, spannend. Er zijn echter zoveel verschillende personages en perspectieven die allemaal, niet altijd lineair, door elkaar lopen dat het erg moeilijk is om alles goed bij te houden. Tel daarbij op dat de verteller niet altijd even betrouwbaar is, vaak bewust informatie achterhoudt, en zelfs aan het einde bij lange na geen volledige openheid geeft, en je blijft achter met een gevoel van frustratie. Desalniettemin kijk ik uit naar het tweede boek, want ik wil toch echt wel graag meer te weten komen over deze boeiende wereld.
July 24, 2013
The City. So this was one book that caught my eye while perusing the local bookstore. No doubt you are thinking the reason for that is the large, gold embossed surname plastered across the front cover. Gemmell. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Well that’s because this is the wife of the late David Gemmell, one of the most respected and revered authors in the fantasy genre. And, I hesitate and ashamedly have to admit, an author that I haven’t sampled as yet…
But back to the titular City. The City is never referred to anything but the City by the locals (or its enemies for that matter) but from what we are told it has stood there for untold ages, gradually being built up layer upon layer on itself, ever expanding its borders due to the century-long wars prolonged by the long-lived emperor, Araeon. So long lived in fact he also goes by the moniker of the Immortal which in turn means no rest for those wicked enemies of the city, the Blueskins.
The book begins literally in the bowels of the City, the flood-ruined catacombs where people simply known as Dwellers reside. Needless to say these people are the poorest of the poor who are forced to eke out a pitiful existence on whatever they can scavenge. Simply remaining alive from day to day becomes the main focus of the first two characters we meet, two siblings going by the name of Elijah and Emly.
Separated very early on from one another due to a sudden flash flood, Emly is rescued by a grizzled war veteran by the name of Bartellus, who ends up caring for the girl and becoming something akin to an adoptive father to her. The young boy, Elijah ends up finding his way out of the sewers with the help of another Dweller and ends up being shipped across to where the enemies of the City dwell.
Along the way we are also introduced to characters that form part of the local militia, foremost among them being Fell Aron Lee, a much esteemed Company Commander and Indaro, a fiery female warrior (and not just because of her flaming red hair). From their perspective we learn that the war is wearing every one down and from this a plan is hatched to try and stop this perpetual war and to bring down the Emperor once and for all…
So enough with the plot summary. Overall I thought The City was an interesting and exciting enough read with some characters that I really did feel for, Emly being the stand out for me. I think I am drawn to vulnerable female characters, those timid and gentle souls.
She used her words sparingly, as if she had merely a cupful which she offered to people a drop at a time.
At the start of the novel Emly barely says a word but as the story progresses she starts to come out of her shell a little more and starts to get a little self belief. Definitely some good character progression with her. Bartellus, the war veteran with a rather ‘interesting’ past was also very likeable so I couldn’t help but cheer him along. The remaining characters, while adequately written, just didn’t stand out to much for me.
My one gripe with The City is probably due to the fact that I have been majorly spoiled with books from Steven Erikson, Stephen R Donaldson and George RR Martin in the past. Their novels have worlds that feel real to me, the world building and myth creation second to none and seemingly mapped out from the very beginning. Whereas in The City it sounds like places, races, deities & the battle of 'this or that' have just been thrown in to give the perception of depth. Any mention of these types of things in the Malazan books would pique my interest and get me excited to learn more but here they are mentioned and the story simply moves on. Ah well, guess we can’t have everything we want all the time.
I do have one more thing to nitpick with The City and it’s a very small thing. Every now and again Stella would insist on shortening Bartellus to Bart which I thought was rather odd and also made me picture bloody Bart Simpson in my head. The setting for the novel seems quasi-ancient Roman so would they have done something like this? Told you it was a small thing but it annoyed me nonetheless.
While the book is said to be standalone the ending is left open enough for Stella to return to the City to pen a sequel. And because I liked the The City enough I would be happy to pick up another book by Stella Gemmell in the future.
3 stars
PS: It was the rather eye-catching image on the cover as well as the gold embossed 'Stella Gemmell' that forced me to part with my money in the first place :)
But back to the titular City. The City is never referred to anything but the City by the locals (or its enemies for that matter) but from what we are told it has stood there for untold ages, gradually being built up layer upon layer on itself, ever expanding its borders due to the century-long wars prolonged by the long-lived emperor, Araeon. So long lived in fact he also goes by the moniker of the Immortal which in turn means no rest for those wicked enemies of the city, the Blueskins.
The book begins literally in the bowels of the City, the flood-ruined catacombs where people simply known as Dwellers reside. Needless to say these people are the poorest of the poor who are forced to eke out a pitiful existence on whatever they can scavenge. Simply remaining alive from day to day becomes the main focus of the first two characters we meet, two siblings going by the name of Elijah and Emly.
Separated very early on from one another due to a sudden flash flood, Emly is rescued by a grizzled war veteran by the name of Bartellus, who ends up caring for the girl and becoming something akin to an adoptive father to her. The young boy, Elijah ends up finding his way out of the sewers with the help of another Dweller and ends up being shipped across to where the enemies of the City dwell.
Along the way we are also introduced to characters that form part of the local militia, foremost among them being Fell Aron Lee, a much esteemed Company Commander and Indaro, a fiery female warrior (and not just because of her flaming red hair). From their perspective we learn that the war is wearing every one down and from this a plan is hatched to try and stop this perpetual war and to bring down the Emperor once and for all…
So enough with the plot summary. Overall I thought The City was an interesting and exciting enough read with some characters that I really did feel for, Emly being the stand out for me. I think I am drawn to vulnerable female characters, those timid and gentle souls.
She used her words sparingly, as if she had merely a cupful which she offered to people a drop at a time.
At the start of the novel Emly barely says a word but as the story progresses she starts to come out of her shell a little more and starts to get a little self belief. Definitely some good character progression with her. Bartellus, the war veteran with a rather ‘interesting’ past was also very likeable so I couldn’t help but cheer him along. The remaining characters, while adequately written, just didn’t stand out to much for me.
My one gripe with The City is probably due to the fact that I have been majorly spoiled with books from Steven Erikson, Stephen R Donaldson and George RR Martin in the past. Their novels have worlds that feel real to me, the world building and myth creation second to none and seemingly mapped out from the very beginning. Whereas in The City it sounds like places, races, deities & the battle of 'this or that' have just been thrown in to give the perception of depth. Any mention of these types of things in the Malazan books would pique my interest and get me excited to learn more but here they are mentioned and the story simply moves on. Ah well, guess we can’t have everything we want all the time.
I do have one more thing to nitpick with The City and it’s a very small thing. Every now and again Stella would insist on shortening Bartellus to Bart which I thought was rather odd and also made me picture bloody Bart Simpson in my head. The setting for the novel seems quasi-ancient Roman so would they have done something like this? Told you it was a small thing but it annoyed me nonetheless.
While the book is said to be standalone the ending is left open enough for Stella to return to the City to pen a sequel. And because I liked the The City enough I would be happy to pick up another book by Stella Gemmell in the future.
3 stars
PS: It was the rather eye-catching image on the cover as well as the gold embossed 'Stella Gemmell' that forced me to part with my money in the first place :)
April 25, 2013
This is one of those rare books that you finish, put in the done pile and say "WOW".
Its an impressive achievement. Both clever and engrossing.
It is rich in well crafted characters, as some books are, but nearly every character in here has a point. There's very little said or done that does not have some significance to someone at some point. It is so cleverly plotted. Some characters you see grow up, some you see old (or older) reflecting on their earlier life, their losses, their achievements, their regrets, (all of which have relevance). Some characters don't remember, and things are slowly revealed to them (and you) as the story goes on). It's all so dam clever.
There's so many layers, so many story's (so many lives) that twist and thread through the other lives- this character knows that one, this one bumps in to that one and helps him, this one is the son of that one. All the information you're given is useful, not just filler. Not just some side story that makes the book bigger. What i always think of as - "A violent thing that happened on the way to..."
Stella really knows how to 'build' a story, I would have to say maybe better than some of the most prominent authors of our time. It was half way through this when I met a character, for the second time or so, that i really started to think , 'hey wasn't that that kid from...' You really need to pay attention to this one, not because it's a struggle to understand, but because its so clever and so rewarding if you give it that little bit more effort (no skimming!)
The world is obviously huge and well thought out, but it's not all dumped on you at once, merely mentioned in passing when relevant, and that also adds to the realistic feel the story has.
It's a brutal world, a brutal war, and you don't expect to reach the end of the story with many characters ... intact, but it's not unnecessarily violent or needlessly ruthless.
Again it feels like things are happening for a reason (in the big picture).
I was pleasantly surprised by how well Stella writes ALL her characters. All the males and females feel real, they act 'in character, which is often not the case. There are no weak links.
I find it very hard to fault this book. I get the feeling that a LOT of other authors are going to read it and feel sad about themselves (we know those creative ones are all so sensitive and vulnerable!) - because they'll just be sitting there, shaking their heads, saying to themselves - "there's just no way I could write this!"
It has a feeling of Guy Gavriel Kay (aside from it being a stand alone book) , both in that it just feels so well written, and that it feels real, as if she had gone and lived in the ruins of The City to get a feel for it to write the book.
Stella has clearly made her own, significant, individual mark here, with what feels, refreshingly (for a change)like a stand alone book. (it's not part of a series, but you never know).
Its an impressive achievement. Both clever and engrossing.
It is rich in well crafted characters, as some books are, but nearly every character in here has a point. There's very little said or done that does not have some significance to someone at some point. It is so cleverly plotted. Some characters you see grow up, some you see old (or older) reflecting on their earlier life, their losses, their achievements, their regrets, (all of which have relevance). Some characters don't remember, and things are slowly revealed to them (and you) as the story goes on). It's all so dam clever.
There's so many layers, so many story's (so many lives) that twist and thread through the other lives- this character knows that one, this one bumps in to that one and helps him, this one is the son of that one. All the information you're given is useful, not just filler. Not just some side story that makes the book bigger. What i always think of as - "A violent thing that happened on the way to..."
Stella really knows how to 'build' a story, I would have to say maybe better than some of the most prominent authors of our time. It was half way through this when I met a character, for the second time or so, that i really started to think , 'hey wasn't that that kid from...' You really need to pay attention to this one, not because it's a struggle to understand, but because its so clever and so rewarding if you give it that little bit more effort (no skimming!)
The world is obviously huge and well thought out, but it's not all dumped on you at once, merely mentioned in passing when relevant, and that also adds to the realistic feel the story has.
It's a brutal world, a brutal war, and you don't expect to reach the end of the story with many characters ... intact, but it's not unnecessarily violent or needlessly ruthless.
Again it feels like things are happening for a reason (in the big picture).
I was pleasantly surprised by how well Stella writes ALL her characters. All the males and females feel real, they act 'in character, which is often not the case. There are no weak links.
I find it very hard to fault this book. I get the feeling that a LOT of other authors are going to read it and feel sad about themselves (we know those creative ones are all so sensitive and vulnerable!) - because they'll just be sitting there, shaking their heads, saying to themselves - "there's just no way I could write this!"
It has a feeling of Guy Gavriel Kay (aside from it being a stand alone book) , both in that it just feels so well written, and that it feels real, as if she had gone and lived in the ruins of The City to get a feel for it to write the book.
Stella has clearly made her own, significant, individual mark here, with what feels, refreshingly (for a change)like a stand alone book. (it's not part of a series, but you never know).
December 15, 2017
Met heel veel nieuwsgierigheid ben ik aan dit boek begonnen. Lost het de verwachtingen in. Ja en neen. Het verhaal op zich vind ik wel leuk, maar soms springt het ook waardoor ik denk van "Ho, wacht eens even... ik ben de draad kwijt" om dan tot de conclusie te komen dat men een sprong naar de toekomt maakt. De schrijfster heeft dat wat mij betreft echt niet duidelijk aangegeven. Daar een sprong van 8 jaar naar de toekomst, daar weer terug naar het verleden ... pfff .... kan toch niet moeilijk zijn om even een subtiteltje te zetten met tijdperiode of over wie het gaat ....
Ze laat je door verschillende verhaallijnen gaan waarvan je denkt, hoe gaat dit ooit in elkaar passen ... en de twijfel toeslaat ... maar wat ben ik toch blij dat ik volgehouden heb. In de laatste pagina's valt elke puzzelstukje op zijn plaats en is niets wat het leek te zijn ... Tja... nu ben ik verplicht om dat tweede boek te kopen want eindigen doet het niet, dat staat vast :-)
Ze laat je door verschillende verhaallijnen gaan waarvan je denkt, hoe gaat dit ooit in elkaar passen ... en de twijfel toeslaat ... maar wat ben ik toch blij dat ik volgehouden heb. In de laatste pagina's valt elke puzzelstukje op zijn plaats en is niets wat het leek te zijn ... Tja... nu ben ik verplicht om dat tweede boek te kopen want eindigen doet het niet, dat staat vast :-)
July 6, 2013
This book is a scattered mess. It jumps haphazardly from one location and time to another, and while that aspect in itself is not a fault per se, it is with this. The author's writing is full of disjointed short constructions and repetitive words and phrasings. What looked like a promising read started out that way but rather than keep to the premise, it turns to the old trope: war. And more war.
It's compelling enough of a read not to write it off completely, but it has too many faults to be fully enjoyed.
It's compelling enough of a read not to write it off completely, but it has too many faults to be fully enjoyed.
September 22, 2013
Very disappointed in this after I eagerly looked forward to reading it. Unsatisfying, pointlessly convoluted, and rarely engrossing (I started and finished 5 other books in addition to numerous graphic novels and short stories while reading this one). Regretfully not a book I will recommend.
May 17, 2013
Read the Original Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/05/....
“An awesome, epic book. Unputdownable, engrossing and enthralling. A top notch Fantasy debut.” ~The Founding Fields
If you’re a fantasy fan, chances are you’ll have probably heard of David Gemmell and more than likely read at least one book by him. I can say that I actually own three of his Druss the Legend novels, but have only ever found the time to read Legend, which I really enjoyed. I don’t know why I got around to reading the next two books, but I still couldn’t help but marvel at his work. Naturally though, fans of David Gemmell will be wondering if Stella Gemmell can match the high calibre work of one of fantasy’s finest authors. And does she succeed? Yes. The City is mind blowingly awesome, managing to be one of the better books that I’ve read so far in 2013. It’s one of those novels that I couldn’t put down, and I came away wanting to see what book Gemmell could put out next.
"Built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, the City is ancient and vast. Over the centuries, it has sprawled beyond its walls, the cause of constant war with neighbouring peoples and kingdoms, laying waste to what was once green and fertile.
And at the heart of the City resides the emperor. Few have ever seen him. Those who have remember a man in his prime and yet he should be very old. Some speculate that he is no longer human, others wonder if indeed he ever truly was. And a small number have come to a desperate conclusion: that the only way to stop the ceaseless slaughter is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.
From the rotting, flood-ruined catacombs beneath the City where the poor struggle to stay alive to the blood-soaked fields of battle where so few heroes survive, these rebels pin their hopes on one man. A man who was once the emperor’s foremost general. A man, a revered soldier, who could lead an uprising and unite the City. But a man who was betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and is now believed to be dead…"
There is of course going to be comparisons made to David Gemmell, but it’s important to note that The City manages to be very superb indeed. Whilst Stella Gemmell has co-authored the Fall of Kings with David Gemmell, she’s never quite written a book on her own before, and The City ensures us that she can produce a top quality work on her own, rich with originality, strong characters and a captivating plot. Of course, this book is epic fantasy, but Gemmell manages to create a wonderful world in which it takes place. She captures everything from soldiers to Emperors and more, with a wonderful understanding of how characters work and what makes them tick.
All good epic fantasy books are immersive and The City is no different. The world-building is literally superb, with a believable creation enhanced with an inspiration from various eras of History, with most notably, a Roman-edged organisation of such things like military, and social standings, with a great tale that tells a tale that’s a lot more complex than David Gemmell’s Legend in plotting, with deeply flawed yet likeable characters and places them in a world that is as believable as the one that we live in.
The characters are, like the worldbuilding, a joy to read, but not quite as stand-out with times when they don’t feel as distinctive or as memorable as they should have been, probably due to the fact that we have a ton of POVs on display here. However. the amount of characters on display here also adds to the storyline, we get a wide range of perspectives to which we see the events unfold from, as the book deals with themes such as loyalty, revenge, honour and more – allowing for a complex and well crafted tale that mounts a strong challenge for one of the best fantasy novels of 2013.
The book also has the benifit of being a standalone, and the reader is not left hanging on waiting for a sequel as is common with most fantasy novels from debut authors. It’s refreshing to see an epic fantasy book that can be told as a single volume, and with such a sheer quality that is displayed here. If you’re a fan of the genre, then you should certainly consider picking this book up, for it is top notch.
VERDICT: 4.5/5
“An awesome, epic book. Unputdownable, engrossing and enthralling. A top notch Fantasy debut.” ~The Founding Fields
If you’re a fantasy fan, chances are you’ll have probably heard of David Gemmell and more than likely read at least one book by him. I can say that I actually own three of his Druss the Legend novels, but have only ever found the time to read Legend, which I really enjoyed. I don’t know why I got around to reading the next two books, but I still couldn’t help but marvel at his work. Naturally though, fans of David Gemmell will be wondering if Stella Gemmell can match the high calibre work of one of fantasy’s finest authors. And does she succeed? Yes. The City is mind blowingly awesome, managing to be one of the better books that I’ve read so far in 2013. It’s one of those novels that I couldn’t put down, and I came away wanting to see what book Gemmell could put out next.
"Built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, the City is ancient and vast. Over the centuries, it has sprawled beyond its walls, the cause of constant war with neighbouring peoples and kingdoms, laying waste to what was once green and fertile.
And at the heart of the City resides the emperor. Few have ever seen him. Those who have remember a man in his prime and yet he should be very old. Some speculate that he is no longer human, others wonder if indeed he ever truly was. And a small number have come to a desperate conclusion: that the only way to stop the ceaseless slaughter is to end the emperor’s unnaturally long life.
From the rotting, flood-ruined catacombs beneath the City where the poor struggle to stay alive to the blood-soaked fields of battle where so few heroes survive, these rebels pin their hopes on one man. A man who was once the emperor’s foremost general. A man, a revered soldier, who could lead an uprising and unite the City. But a man who was betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and is now believed to be dead…"
There is of course going to be comparisons made to David Gemmell, but it’s important to note that The City manages to be very superb indeed. Whilst Stella Gemmell has co-authored the Fall of Kings with David Gemmell, she’s never quite written a book on her own before, and The City ensures us that she can produce a top quality work on her own, rich with originality, strong characters and a captivating plot. Of course, this book is epic fantasy, but Gemmell manages to create a wonderful world in which it takes place. She captures everything from soldiers to Emperors and more, with a wonderful understanding of how characters work and what makes them tick.
All good epic fantasy books are immersive and The City is no different. The world-building is literally superb, with a believable creation enhanced with an inspiration from various eras of History, with most notably, a Roman-edged organisation of such things like military, and social standings, with a great tale that tells a tale that’s a lot more complex than David Gemmell’s Legend in plotting, with deeply flawed yet likeable characters and places them in a world that is as believable as the one that we live in.
The characters are, like the worldbuilding, a joy to read, but not quite as stand-out with times when they don’t feel as distinctive or as memorable as they should have been, probably due to the fact that we have a ton of POVs on display here. However. the amount of characters on display here also adds to the storyline, we get a wide range of perspectives to which we see the events unfold from, as the book deals with themes such as loyalty, revenge, honour and more – allowing for a complex and well crafted tale that mounts a strong challenge for one of the best fantasy novels of 2013.
The book also has the benifit of being a standalone, and the reader is not left hanging on waiting for a sequel as is common with most fantasy novels from debut authors. It’s refreshing to see an epic fantasy book that can be told as a single volume, and with such a sheer quality that is displayed here. If you’re a fan of the genre, then you should certainly consider picking this book up, for it is top notch.
VERDICT: 4.5/5
April 13, 2017
I`ve finished this some days ago.
I`ve read some of the negative opinions on this book and I really do not understand some of them.
But in the end the reading it`s a subjective matter and I guess that you have to be in the right mood to really enjoy a book.
I`ve read this one after the first Obama book and maybe I had more pacience with this one. But in truth the first part was very gripping, much better than the Metro novel, that also takes place in a subterranean area.
It has a wide range of characters, but not so much that you could feel lost and some of them are dying until the end, but this is life, you know?!... Not all of us make it through...On this level, the way the characters evolved, camed and go, the uncertainty of their life, this book has some of the good style of K.J.Parker`s.
It looks like a big book, but in the end it wasn`t so hard to get into, I loved the author style and I must confess that I haven`t read anything yet by her late husband, David Gemmell. Maybe that was a good thing because I hadn`t some way to compare them.
The novel has also some kind of a mystery in the end, wrapping all the things up in a satisfactory way with a lot of other threads unsolved and ready for a second book...
The action was in the same good tone of the novel with a high pacing evolution with very engaging stuff happening on many levels that quite doesn`t sustain, in my opinion, the impression of others of a slow book.
The magic is not a big factor here, only in the end of the book there are some out of the ordinary things, the novel has a more military fantasy shade to it, a lot of the pages concentrating on the war between the dwellers of the City and their outside enemies.
If you`re in search of a fresh new fantasy book with a lot of good things going on inside and a very good and compelling characterisation then go no further.
Four stars and a half.
I`ve read some of the negative opinions on this book and I really do not understand some of them.
But in the end the reading it`s a subjective matter and I guess that you have to be in the right mood to really enjoy a book.
I`ve read this one after the first Obama book and maybe I had more pacience with this one. But in truth the first part was very gripping, much better than the Metro novel, that also takes place in a subterranean area.
It has a wide range of characters, but not so much that you could feel lost and some of them are dying until the end, but this is life, you know?!... Not all of us make it through...On this level, the way the characters evolved, camed and go, the uncertainty of their life, this book has some of the good style of K.J.Parker`s.
It looks like a big book, but in the end it wasn`t so hard to get into, I loved the author style and I must confess that I haven`t read anything yet by her late husband, David Gemmell. Maybe that was a good thing because I hadn`t some way to compare them.
The novel has also some kind of a mystery in the end, wrapping all the things up in a satisfactory way with a lot of other threads unsolved and ready for a second book...
The action was in the same good tone of the novel with a high pacing evolution with very engaging stuff happening on many levels that quite doesn`t sustain, in my opinion, the impression of others of a slow book.
The magic is not a big factor here, only in the end of the book there are some out of the ordinary things, the novel has a more military fantasy shade to it, a lot of the pages concentrating on the war between the dwellers of the City and their outside enemies.
If you`re in search of a fresh new fantasy book with a lot of good things going on inside and a very good and compelling characterisation then go no further.
Four stars and a half.
started_finish_later
April 25, 2013took a look and the prose did not entice me in the least as it read very blandly, no emotion, no "salt and pepper' so to speak; flipped through the pages and read the last 10 pages and the epilogue and again I saw no reason to read more; seems to be a standalone epic but otherwise nothing to separate it from countless such published
July 6, 2013
Really good read, the story really picks up it pace after the first part. One of the best read of this year so far for me.
May 26, 2013
My full review can be found here:
http://wildersbookreview.blogspot.co....
http://wildersbookreview.blogspot.co....
May 31, 2013
In The City Stella Gemmell has crafted a compelling tale of war and intrigue, combining intense action with deft plotting and and original premise.
October 13, 2018
7.5/10
When I first met, I remember, David Gemmell through his books I became a fan of his from the first moment as he had a very unique talent that nowadays you can’t find very often. Through his characters, even though their flaws, he always managed to amaze you and to bring entertaining stories, which behind all they hid also many philosophical messages.
His career had a large impact on the genre of Heroic Fantasy that influenced as much the readers of his books, as also many writers and it's, really, no wonder why he was so much loved through his heroes, and why also his wife, Stella, decided to continue his legendary name.
However, when it comes to similarities, they all stop at the cover as Stella has managed, after magnificently closing the Troy trilogy, to bring in her first solo book with her own style an epic and complex story - as David Gemmell had never managed to do, although certainly he had a different style - with rich depth to the characters and to the world-building.
The City, built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, is vast, ancient and powerful. Through the centuries it spread beyond its walls and has stood against many wars.
It was once a great place, a holy place - until the Immortal Emperor came, a god among men, and brought only ruins, death and despair.
Today, the people, faced with an everlasting war, live in the sewers like rats, in a place where the laws are very different; for Bartellus though, a former general and a hero of the City who was betrayed, punished and forgotten in the mists of the past, it is a place of survival.
Bartellus’s fate however is keeping for him something he’ll not expect and when he rescues Emly, a little girl lost from her big brother in the waters of the sewers, he will try to give her a fair and honest life. Only that when his past gets discovered he will be faced with a new adventure and he will have to save this time not only himself and little Emly, but the entire City too.
On the other side, for Fell, the commander of the Wildcats platoon, and his loyal soldier Indaro things are much different as they will have to face in the battlefield the Blues, the eternal enemies of the City; a force, now, much more powerful than their own that through the centuries of the emperor's wars has cost them both more than anyone would expect, and have stripped all the near countries of every existence of life.
But, when Fell falls in the hands of his enemies he will be find himself on the way against with a rebellion that could bring the end of the emperor's rule; and also with a promise from his childhood for to the justice of a long-ago forgotten friend. However, behind all this lies a great secret and an ancient magic that may well bring them, as also the entire City, to their ultimate destruction.
Divided into seven parts Stella weaves this, truly, vast story through many points of view, bringing us against with many characters and an even larger world-building.
The book moves in a particularly slow pace, perhaps even a bit slower than what Tad Williams usually writes; nevertheless though her writing is what really stands out here as, through all her mastery, manages to give a great emphasis on the depth of the characters, as also to the world-building itself, and to make a uniquely complex story.
For her first solo book there is no denying that she had done not only an impressive, but an exceptional job also. However, where she lacks - and may also be, perhaps, a cause of frustration - is that, despite its complexity, she doesn’t give a lot of passion (or at least not getting through here enough) through the characters and when you are faced with such an enormous book it can prove at the same time and very tiring in the end.
Besides from that though, it's a pretty well-written book with Stella bringing all those elements that make an epic story and closing it with a particularly unusual finale that brings many twists, and leaving you also for a very promising continuation.
Overall, it is a large, complex book with Stella starting her own path in the world of Fantasy with an epic-scale story that leaves behind David Gemmell’s well-known heroic style - although certainly with some influences that can be noticed from those who are most experienced with his books; and with a world that still has many secrets to show us.
Ελληνική κριτική:
When I first met, I remember, David Gemmell through his books I became a fan of his from the first moment as he had a very unique talent that nowadays you can’t find very often. Through his characters, even though their flaws, he always managed to amaze you and to bring entertaining stories, which behind all they hid also many philosophical messages.
His career had a large impact on the genre of Heroic Fantasy that influenced as much the readers of his books, as also many writers and it's, really, no wonder why he was so much loved through his heroes, and why also his wife, Stella, decided to continue his legendary name.
However, when it comes to similarities, they all stop at the cover as Stella has managed, after magnificently closing the Troy trilogy, to bring in her first solo book with her own style an epic and complex story - as David Gemmell had never managed to do, although certainly he had a different style - with rich depth to the characters and to the world-building.
The City, built up over the millennia, layer upon layer, is vast, ancient and powerful. Through the centuries it spread beyond its walls and has stood against many wars.
It was once a great place, a holy place - until the Immortal Emperor came, a god among men, and brought only ruins, death and despair.
Today, the people, faced with an everlasting war, live in the sewers like rats, in a place where the laws are very different; for Bartellus though, a former general and a hero of the City who was betrayed, punished and forgotten in the mists of the past, it is a place of survival.
Bartellus’s fate however is keeping for him something he’ll not expect and when he rescues Emly, a little girl lost from her big brother in the waters of the sewers, he will try to give her a fair and honest life. Only that when his past gets discovered he will be faced with a new adventure and he will have to save this time not only himself and little Emly, but the entire City too.
On the other side, for Fell, the commander of the Wildcats platoon, and his loyal soldier Indaro things are much different as they will have to face in the battlefield the Blues, the eternal enemies of the City; a force, now, much more powerful than their own that through the centuries of the emperor's wars has cost them both more than anyone would expect, and have stripped all the near countries of every existence of life.
But, when Fell falls in the hands of his enemies he will be find himself on the way against with a rebellion that could bring the end of the emperor's rule; and also with a promise from his childhood for to the justice of a long-ago forgotten friend. However, behind all this lies a great secret and an ancient magic that may well bring them, as also the entire City, to their ultimate destruction.
Divided into seven parts Stella weaves this, truly, vast story through many points of view, bringing us against with many characters and an even larger world-building.
The book moves in a particularly slow pace, perhaps even a bit slower than what Tad Williams usually writes; nevertheless though her writing is what really stands out here as, through all her mastery, manages to give a great emphasis on the depth of the characters, as also to the world-building itself, and to make a uniquely complex story.
For her first solo book there is no denying that she had done not only an impressive, but an exceptional job also. However, where she lacks - and may also be, perhaps, a cause of frustration - is that, despite its complexity, she doesn’t give a lot of passion (or at least not getting through here enough) through the characters and when you are faced with such an enormous book it can prove at the same time and very tiring in the end.
Besides from that though, it's a pretty well-written book with Stella bringing all those elements that make an epic story and closing it with a particularly unusual finale that brings many twists, and leaving you also for a very promising continuation.
Overall, it is a large, complex book with Stella starting her own path in the world of Fantasy with an epic-scale story that leaves behind David Gemmell’s well-known heroic style - although certainly with some influences that can be noticed from those who are most experienced with his books; and with a world that still has many secrets to show us.
Ελληνική κριτική:
September 16, 2016
I’ll confess I’ve never read any of David Gemmell’s books – not deliberately I might add, they just never jumped out at me when in the bookstores as a “must read”. With David now sadly departed, his wife Stella has branched out into some storytelling of her own (having been David’s right hand person for so long).
This one was parked in Waterstone’s on a table of books with the general theme “Fantasy and Adventure”. The front picture looked good, the blurb sounded like my kind of tale and the price was nicely lower than it normally is (BOGOF offer). So off we go with Stella Gemmell’s debut novel The City.
The City is set in what I would describe as a “typical fantasy setting”, a medieval/non-technological version of our world where magic, exotic creatures and sword play are plentiful and widespread. Unsurprisingly the main setting is the eponymous City itself; vast, sprawling and utterly decrepit in more than one way.
For years the City has been engaged in countless battles, fighting enemies on many fronts while the inhabitants struggle to survive day-to-day. The City is broken, crumbling and on the verge of rebellion. The Emperor hasn’t been seen for years and a select few rule an unstable system plagued by the typical machinations of high-society families.
The plot weaves intricately through three or four narratives which appear at first to be unconnected but ultimately tie together, if not tightly then certainly well enough. Gemmell’s approach is slowly-softly and the story is allowed to breathe and grow, sometimes a touch too slow. The pacing however is generally pretty consistent and we are given plenty of time to get to know our protagonists.
Jumping between flashback and real-time narrative, we are given a glimpse into the histories and motivations of the main characters in a way that feels quite organic. Once you get used to the style. Gemmell keeps the number of critical characters down to a handful which helps; the old solider who isn’t all he appears (Bartellus), the famous general who is hiding a dark secret (Fell Aaron Lee) and the daughter of a once well respected family who is trying to escape her past (Indaro) are the most prominent.
There is a nice little plot twist about halfway through when you become aware that several of the seemingly unconnected characters share a common goal which eventually becomes the driving force of the story. What starts out as seemingly a simple attempt at rebellion becomes more complicated as we progress.
Throw in a few “immortal” beings, some political shenanigans of the highest order and a healthy dose of blood and gore and it becomes apparent that The City is a bit more sophisticated than might have first appeared.
The denoument is unusual too, in that the story ends rather abruptly once the main goal of the rebellion has been achieved – and we are left with very little sense of what will happen in the future. This feels like Book 1 of a series but it isn’t and you are left quite deliberately to your own imagination to determine what the fate of the City and its inhabitants will be.
Overall thoughts
This is an intriguing and interesting debut into the genre from someone who has been around these kind of stories for a long time. It shows an intelligence and an appreciation of the subtleties required to tell the tale, but also enough experience to add her own twist and make it somewhat different from “normal” books of this ilk. Personally I found it enjoyable but not gripping, I never became enthralled by the tale or the characters in a way I do with the likes of Sanderson, Hobb, Pratchett and Adams.
Would I read another of her stories? Yes I think I probably would. Would I rush out and buy it on day one? No I suspect I’d probably wait for another BOGOF offer first. It wasn’t bad at all, just not at the very top level.
Verdict: 4 stars out of 5
This one was parked in Waterstone’s on a table of books with the general theme “Fantasy and Adventure”. The front picture looked good, the blurb sounded like my kind of tale and the price was nicely lower than it normally is (BOGOF offer). So off we go with Stella Gemmell’s debut novel The City.
The City is set in what I would describe as a “typical fantasy setting”, a medieval/non-technological version of our world where magic, exotic creatures and sword play are plentiful and widespread. Unsurprisingly the main setting is the eponymous City itself; vast, sprawling and utterly decrepit in more than one way.
For years the City has been engaged in countless battles, fighting enemies on many fronts while the inhabitants struggle to survive day-to-day. The City is broken, crumbling and on the verge of rebellion. The Emperor hasn’t been seen for years and a select few rule an unstable system plagued by the typical machinations of high-society families.
The plot weaves intricately through three or four narratives which appear at first to be unconnected but ultimately tie together, if not tightly then certainly well enough. Gemmell’s approach is slowly-softly and the story is allowed to breathe and grow, sometimes a touch too slow. The pacing however is generally pretty consistent and we are given plenty of time to get to know our protagonists.
Jumping between flashback and real-time narrative, we are given a glimpse into the histories and motivations of the main characters in a way that feels quite organic. Once you get used to the style. Gemmell keeps the number of critical characters down to a handful which helps; the old solider who isn’t all he appears (Bartellus), the famous general who is hiding a dark secret (Fell Aaron Lee) and the daughter of a once well respected family who is trying to escape her past (Indaro) are the most prominent.
There is a nice little plot twist about halfway through when you become aware that several of the seemingly unconnected characters share a common goal which eventually becomes the driving force of the story. What starts out as seemingly a simple attempt at rebellion becomes more complicated as we progress.
Throw in a few “immortal” beings, some political shenanigans of the highest order and a healthy dose of blood and gore and it becomes apparent that The City is a bit more sophisticated than might have first appeared.
The denoument is unusual too, in that the story ends rather abruptly once the main goal of the rebellion has been achieved – and we are left with very little sense of what will happen in the future. This feels like Book 1 of a series but it isn’t and you are left quite deliberately to your own imagination to determine what the fate of the City and its inhabitants will be.
Overall thoughts
This is an intriguing and interesting debut into the genre from someone who has been around these kind of stories for a long time. It shows an intelligence and an appreciation of the subtleties required to tell the tale, but also enough experience to add her own twist and make it somewhat different from “normal” books of this ilk. Personally I found it enjoyable but not gripping, I never became enthralled by the tale or the characters in a way I do with the likes of Sanderson, Hobb, Pratchett and Adams.
Would I read another of her stories? Yes I think I probably would. Would I rush out and buy it on day one? No I suspect I’d probably wait for another BOGOF offer first. It wasn’t bad at all, just not at the very top level.
Verdict: 4 stars out of 5
May 18, 2016
I’d never heard of this book before Penguin Random House sent me the sequel, The Immortal Throne, to review. I borrowed this from the library a few weeks ago.
It took me a few days to get into this book. I think the problem was that I’d just finished two books from the Song of Ice and Fire series and they’re huge fantasy books. So going from them to another epic fantasy wasn’t the best idea but I pushed through it and am so glad I did.
The way the story was told was a little confusing at the start. Some chapters would start telling the background of a new character and then they died on the next page. Or some characters were called two different names. Once I got the names all figured out, why they had two names, and all the weird connections, I was drawn into this world.
I think Stella Gemmell killed more characters in The City than George R.R. Martin does on one book in his Song of Ice and Fire series. And that’s saying something. I’m not going to compare their books because there’s no point, the stories are so different. I think A Song of Ice and Fire was the first epic fantasy series I’ve read. The City is so good so I’m glad it’ll be the second.
The first half of The City was a little slow as all the characters were introduced and the plot to kill the emperor came together. After that things started to get really interesting and by the end of the book I was on the edge of my seat. There was so much action in the second half and especially at the end. So many twists that if I didn’t actually pay attention while I read (my mind can drift sometimes) that I would have missed things.
I’m not very good at reviewing fantasy books, which is why there aren’t many on here. I feel like because so much happens in them that I don’t know where to start my reviews. I definitely don’t want to give things away either so that also makes things really hard for me. I try to keep my reviews spoiler free. But I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy books.
I’m not sure how I’d never heard of this before because I do love fantasy books but I am glad I have now. I hope to read The Immortal Throne soon but I’ve had to give it a gap between this and the sequel. Not because it’s a bad book but because they’re just so big.
It took me a few days to get into this book. I think the problem was that I’d just finished two books from the Song of Ice and Fire series and they’re huge fantasy books. So going from them to another epic fantasy wasn’t the best idea but I pushed through it and am so glad I did.
The way the story was told was a little confusing at the start. Some chapters would start telling the background of a new character and then they died on the next page. Or some characters were called two different names. Once I got the names all figured out, why they had two names, and all the weird connections, I was drawn into this world.
I think Stella Gemmell killed more characters in The City than George R.R. Martin does on one book in his Song of Ice and Fire series. And that’s saying something. I’m not going to compare their books because there’s no point, the stories are so different. I think A Song of Ice and Fire was the first epic fantasy series I’ve read. The City is so good so I’m glad it’ll be the second.
The first half of The City was a little slow as all the characters were introduced and the plot to kill the emperor came together. After that things started to get really interesting and by the end of the book I was on the edge of my seat. There was so much action in the second half and especially at the end. So many twists that if I didn’t actually pay attention while I read (my mind can drift sometimes) that I would have missed things.
I’m not very good at reviewing fantasy books, which is why there aren’t many on here. I feel like because so much happens in them that I don’t know where to start my reviews. I definitely don’t want to give things away either so that also makes things really hard for me. I try to keep my reviews spoiler free. But I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy books.
I’m not sure how I’d never heard of this before because I do love fantasy books but I am glad I have now. I hope to read The Immortal Throne soon but I’ve had to give it a gap between this and the sequel. Not because it’s a bad book but because they’re just so big.
June 20, 2013
While this book isn’t perfect, The City is delicately balanced. There’s archeology and a deep sense of history that will most likely appeal to Malazan fans. There’s plenty of action and characters you aren’t going to forget anytime soon. That being said, Gemmell didn’t have complete control over the pace of her plot, which lagged at points. Furthermore, some secondary characters had a tendency to be forgettable, at best. While The City is a rather dark book, it ends on a very subtle, but hopeful and happy note. When I really thought about it, I found that delicate, subtle and hopeful note throughout the book. Gemmell manages to balance the dark with light, and the history with plenty of surface level action. The City is sprawling in scope and an epic in every sense of the word, with a delicate touch that I found incredibly appealing.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/06/...
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/06/...
June 14, 2013
I really, really liked this book, but I'm going to withhold "Love" because the ending went just a tad wonky, in my opinion. Not bad or anything; just a little pear-shaped. Great characters, great action, ancient mysteries, vivid setting, palpable suspense and quite epic in scope. Everything I love.
Being a stand-alone book was a big part of the attraction for me, but I have to honest: while it is a "stand-alone" story in the technical sense, I don't believe for a second that there won't be a sequel. Too many loose threads left attractively dangling.
Definitely recommended. I look forward to her future solo endeavors.
Being a stand-alone book was a big part of the attraction for me, but I have to honest: while it is a "stand-alone" story in the technical sense, I don't believe for a second that there won't be a sequel. Too many loose threads left attractively dangling.
Definitely recommended. I look forward to her future solo endeavors.
July 9, 2013
This book was uneven for me. The concept and the setting were both intriguing, and the prose was decent, but parts of the book were difficult to follow. The action scenes, of which there were many, were solid, but again the plot dragged on a bit and the conclusion was less satisfying than I'd hoped for.
Character was another uneven area. Several of the characters were extremely interesting, especially among the City's ruling elite, but most of the main cast were shallow and underwent little growth or change.
Overall, a book with great vision and ideas that suffered in the execution. Still a good read and I would pick up another Stella Gemmell.
Character was another uneven area. Several of the characters were extremely interesting, especially among the City's ruling elite, but most of the main cast were shallow and underwent little growth or change.
Overall, a book with great vision and ideas that suffered in the execution. Still a good read and I would pick up another Stella Gemmell.
November 18, 2017
This book took me a while to read, but I still really enjoyed it.
A lot of people on here have been saying Stella Gemmell isn't as good a writer and isn't on the same level as her husband which I've found unfair, she's a completely different person so therefore she's going to be a completely different type of writer, you have to look at her books from an unbiased point of view or you are just going to be disappointed.
I loved reading this book.
A lot of people on here have been saying Stella Gemmell isn't as good a writer and isn't on the same level as her husband which I've found unfair, she's a completely different person so therefore she's going to be a completely different type of writer, you have to look at her books from an unbiased point of view or you are just going to be disappointed.
I loved reading this book.
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