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The Burnished City #3
Rebel Blade
From one of the most exciting new voices in fantasy comes the satisfying conclusion to Davinia Evans's wickedly entertaining debut trilogy full of monsters, mayhem, dangerous society ladies, and a dragon who holds the fate of the most famous alchemist of all in her claws.
Siyon Velo has given magic back to the Mundane. But with it, monsters of myth have awoken and begun to cause chaos in Bezim and, of course, Siyon is left to take the blame. Hunted high and low, Siyon struggles against the rising tide of mystery, magic and mayhem threatening the city that's turned its back on him.
In the Flower District, Lady Sable has unleashed chaos. But in the Avenues, Anahid is desperate to keep her sordid secrets hidden just a little longer. Or at least until Zagiri can make her introduction to high society. With scandal stalking the sisters and the threat of a rising revolution on their hands, the best–or worst– they can do may not be enough to save their city...
In the end, the Alchemist must rise, or Bezim will burn.
Siyon Velo has given magic back to the Mundane. But with it, monsters of myth have awoken and begun to cause chaos in Bezim and, of course, Siyon is left to take the blame. Hunted high and low, Siyon struggles against the rising tide of mystery, magic and mayhem threatening the city that's turned its back on him.
In the Flower District, Lady Sable has unleashed chaos. But in the Avenues, Anahid is desperate to keep her sordid secrets hidden just a little longer. Or at least until Zagiri can make her introduction to high society. With scandal stalking the sisters and the threat of a rising revolution on their hands, the best–or worst– they can do may not be enough to save their city...
In the end, the Alchemist must rise, or Bezim will burn.
424 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2024
26 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Davinia Evans
3 books138 followersDavinia Evans was born in the tropics and raised on British comedy. With a lifelong fantasy-reading habit and an honours thesis in political strategy, it was perhaps inevitable that she turn to a life of crafting stories full of sneaky ratbags tangling with magic. Dee lives in Melbourne, Australia, with two humans (one large and one small), a neurotic cat and a cellar full of craft beer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 4, 2025
Rep: bi/pan mcs, nonbinary side character
Galley provided by publisher
Rebel Blade brings to a close probably one of the most enjoyable fantasy series of recent years. Every book in the Burnished City series is an exciting thrillride of a story, with characters that you’ll love from the very first page. Having just read a couple of books where the characters don’t register at all, this is the kind of series that I can highly appreciate. To be honest, there’s not much more I can say about this one that I didn’t say about the previous two. Everything that I loved about them was the same here, and I think it was a very satisfying conclusion to an excellent series.
Galley provided by publisher
Rebel Blade brings to a close probably one of the most enjoyable fantasy series of recent years. Every book in the Burnished City series is an exciting thrillride of a story, with characters that you’ll love from the very first page. Having just read a couple of books where the characters don’t register at all, this is the kind of series that I can highly appreciate. To be honest, there’s not much more I can say about this one that I didn’t say about the previous two. Everything that I loved about them was the same here, and I think it was a very satisfying conclusion to an excellent series.
December 29, 2024
I’m so sad that I found this conclusion to the trilogy to be so disappointing.
The first half of the book was just Siyon, Anahid and Zagiri floundering and not doing anything. Having the three main characters being so stagnated in the final book of a trilogy was deeply frustrating.
As the book went on, I cared less and less about Siyon and whatever was going on with him. It was so annoying that every time we were with Siyon he just was repeating the same thing again and again and not going anywhere or doing anything.
Anahid sticking her head in the sand, while understandable, was incredibly boring for over half a book. Having said that, Anahid’s story was the only one that kept me mostly engaged through the book.
Zagiri is a character I liked less and less in each book. And when she made exactly the same mistake in this book as the previous one, this time with even worse (but hardly surprising) results, and somehow didn’t suffer any consequences, I was less than impressed.
Yeva not suffering any consequences for her actions in either book, was possibly even more irritating than Zagiri getting off so lightly. She just got to go back to her homeland despite having killed how many people?
Events that should have been exciting or key moments in the book felt strangely muted and didn’t have the bang I’d expected - especially Siyon’s execution and the monsters attacking the hippodrome - and so didn’t have the resonance I think they were supposed to. They felt too overwhelmed by the overblown descriptions and that muddled and dulled them.
The ending felt rushed and the political conclusion… naive and unrealistic. Avarair’s complete about turn felt totally unearned and utterly bizarre.
Zagiri being the champion of the lower classes - and them just being so grateful to her - rubbed me completely the wrong way. It’s one thing for Zagiri to recognise the inequality of her society and want to do something about it, it’s quite another to have her have be the champion of the downtrodden and for none of them to be instrumental in the plot (apart from Mezin blowing up the ball, which… you know, isn’t great - the only really named character from the lower city who had any real bearing on the plot, is the one who plants a series of bombs and kills dozens of people). It just felt wrong.
I really enjoyed the first two books and I’m so sad that the finale just didn’t hit for me.
The first half of the book was just Siyon, Anahid and Zagiri floundering and not doing anything. Having the three main characters being so stagnated in the final book of a trilogy was deeply frustrating.
As the book went on, I cared less and less about Siyon and whatever was going on with him. It was so annoying that every time we were with Siyon he just was repeating the same thing again and again and not going anywhere or doing anything.
Anahid sticking her head in the sand, while understandable, was incredibly boring for over half a book. Having said that, Anahid’s story was the only one that kept me mostly engaged through the book.
Zagiri is a character I liked less and less in each book. And when she made exactly the same mistake in this book as the previous one, this time with even worse (but hardly surprising) results, and somehow didn’t suffer any consequences, I was less than impressed.
Yeva not suffering any consequences for her actions in either book, was possibly even more irritating than Zagiri getting off so lightly. She just got to go back to her homeland despite having killed how many people?
Events that should have been exciting or key moments in the book felt strangely muted and didn’t have the bang I’d expected - especially Siyon’s execution and the monsters attacking the hippodrome - and so didn’t have the resonance I think they were supposed to. They felt too overwhelmed by the overblown descriptions and that muddled and dulled them.
The ending felt rushed and the political conclusion… naive and unrealistic. Avarair’s complete about turn felt totally unearned and utterly bizarre.
Zagiri being the champion of the lower classes - and them just being so grateful to her - rubbed me completely the wrong way. It’s one thing for Zagiri to recognise the inequality of her society and want to do something about it, it’s quite another to have her have be the champion of the downtrodden and for none of them to be instrumental in the plot (apart from Mezin blowing up the ball, which… you know, isn’t great - the only really named character from the lower city who had any real bearing on the plot, is the one who plants a series of bombs and kills dozens of people). It just felt wrong.
I really enjoyed the first two books and I’m so sad that the finale just didn’t hit for me.
January 7, 2025
do I have so many gripes about too many characters and too much plot and too many things that amounted to nothing in the end? sure. did I have the greatest time in the world reading this series? absolutely!
December 8, 2024
Going into the end of a trilogy is such a daunting task. Knowing that it’s the end leaves so much to be resolved and sorted and explored all in the final installment, and often times it can be disappointing. That is absolutely 1000% not the case with this one. I have adored this world and these characters since Notorious Sorcerer and what a stunning conclusion.
Following the end of Shadow Baron and so much uncertainty, Rebel Blade picks up at a bit of a jump later, where our main characters are trying to piece together all their broken plans from Salt Night. Rebel Blade carries so much within its pages and I wanted to savor every second of it, while it also had my heart pounding madly for a good chunk.
Once again, this book is a testament to the strength of these characters. Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid face so much in this book, along with many of the side characters we have gotten to know. There are so many moments of pain and joy balanced throughout, and so much in between. They are all so authentic to the way we have gotten to know them, and they have so much development within this last installment. It was such a treat to see them all face their challenges and barriers, finding out how to do things in their own ways, and becoming so truly themselves.
There is so much hope within this story, at its heart a story about the magic of impossibility. It is a story filled to the brim with wanting and yearning and hoping for more, for better, for something. That all comes to life through one of the other characters: the city of Bezim itself. The way that Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid each navigate what the city is to them in this book builds upon what has already been set forth and takes it to soaring new heights. There are so many layers woven in for each of them that represent so much of Bezim, what it is and what it could be.
I could probably go on for days and days and days about my love for this book, but I’ll stop here for now. I already cannot wait to reread it. Without a doubt, it’s a 5⭐️ read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.
Following the end of Shadow Baron and so much uncertainty, Rebel Blade picks up at a bit of a jump later, where our main characters are trying to piece together all their broken plans from Salt Night. Rebel Blade carries so much within its pages and I wanted to savor every second of it, while it also had my heart pounding madly for a good chunk.
Once again, this book is a testament to the strength of these characters. Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid face so much in this book, along with many of the side characters we have gotten to know. There are so many moments of pain and joy balanced throughout, and so much in between. They are all so authentic to the way we have gotten to know them, and they have so much development within this last installment. It was such a treat to see them all face their challenges and barriers, finding out how to do things in their own ways, and becoming so truly themselves.
There is so much hope within this story, at its heart a story about the magic of impossibility. It is a story filled to the brim with wanting and yearning and hoping for more, for better, for something. That all comes to life through one of the other characters: the city of Bezim itself. The way that Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid each navigate what the city is to them in this book builds upon what has already been set forth and takes it to soaring new heights. There are so many layers woven in for each of them that represent so much of Bezim, what it is and what it could be.
I could probably go on for days and days and days about my love for this book, but I’ll stop here for now. I already cannot wait to reread it. Without a doubt, it’s a 5⭐️ read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.
December 24, 2024
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!! love this series so much and for once the third book didn’t disappoint and it really pulled through with all that it promised! ughhhhh it’s all so great, very happy about this!
May 8, 2025
A fantastic conclusion to the Burnished City Trilogy.
November 17, 2024
GIVE ME AN EXTENDED EPILOGUE OR NOVELLA PLEASE
November 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the eARC
I've waiting for this book for months, no a year ! I loved the first book, filled with love, actions and a great sense of presence from the world. The second book was great too, though I struggled abit because the narrative shifted from being mainly about Siyon's adventure to following more heavily on Zagiri and Anahid.
This is the case in this third book too, as was to be expected. If I like Anahid, or learned to love her throughout the second book (I liked her in book one but nothing more), Zagiri is still a character I struggle with. She is a great character, acting as she should for her personality, but I tend to get annoyed with very adolescent and revolutionnary's behavior when it has so much impulsiveness in it. Zagiri is filled with impulsivity. She wants to change things, struggle against the constraints of her society and acts rashly, with big consequences for people around her. It is believable, it is well done, but I can't love her. Her narrative arc was the strrongest in this book, I think, like book two was more about Anahid, while book one was mainly focused on Siyon.
To get back to out primary main character (who shares a few traits with Zagiri, let's face it) I still love him, though I was less enthralled this time. Maybe because the plot on his side is stagnating a bit, as he struggles with his powers and the weight bearing down on him. There are very nice moments with him, and he is the character I am the most invested in, if we forget about another character that doesn't have that much presence on page (but who is permeating the story in his own way). In fact, I would say Siyon's narrative is a bit like a farewell, tying up lose ends in his life as he tries to resolve the planes issues.
Plot wise, 'Rebel Blade' pursue the previous books' quick pace, with lagging moments with a few characters at times, but overall working correctly. The world is less present for me in this tome, maybe because we have less intervention from other planes and a bigger focus on the political rouages (a good thing, but not my thing). There aren't big explanations about how things work on the magic side, even if we have clues helping to piece it all together. I quite liked it, but it might annoy other people.
We have quite tense moments from the three point of views, nothing very surprising since the story prepares it well. I would have liked that the notesbooks and something they can do would have been exploited better, showing more on page, but it is only a little complain, coming from a romantic heart.
The ending is fitting as well, quite satisfying for me, especially the last few pages.
Overall, a good ending to a series with a strong start, where I would have liked to have more one characters even if the two other storylines were great too !
I've waiting for this book for months, no a year ! I loved the first book, filled with love, actions and a great sense of presence from the world. The second book was great too, though I struggled abit because the narrative shifted from being mainly about Siyon's adventure to following more heavily on Zagiri and Anahid.
This is the case in this third book too, as was to be expected. If I like Anahid, or learned to love her throughout the second book (I liked her in book one but nothing more), Zagiri is still a character I struggle with. She is a great character, acting as she should for her personality, but I tend to get annoyed with very adolescent and revolutionnary's behavior when it has so much impulsiveness in it. Zagiri is filled with impulsivity. She wants to change things, struggle against the constraints of her society and acts rashly, with big consequences for people around her. It is believable, it is well done, but I can't love her. Her narrative arc was the strrongest in this book, I think, like book two was more about Anahid, while book one was mainly focused on Siyon.
To get back to out primary main character (who shares a few traits with Zagiri, let's face it) I still love him, though I was less enthralled this time. Maybe because the plot on his side is stagnating a bit, as he struggles with his powers and the weight bearing down on him. There are very nice moments with him, and he is the character I am the most invested in, if we forget about another character that doesn't have that much presence on page (but who is permeating the story in his own way). In fact, I would say Siyon's narrative is a bit like a farewell, tying up lose ends in his life as he tries to resolve the planes issues.
Plot wise, 'Rebel Blade' pursue the previous books' quick pace, with lagging moments with a few characters at times, but overall working correctly. The world is less present for me in this tome, maybe because we have less intervention from other planes and a bigger focus on the political rouages (a good thing, but not my thing). There aren't big explanations about how things work on the magic side, even if we have clues helping to piece it all together. I quite liked it, but it might annoy other people.
We have quite tense moments from the three point of views, nothing very surprising since the story prepares it well. I would have liked that the notesbooks and something they can do would have been exploited better, showing more on page, but it is only a little complain, coming from a romantic heart.
The ending is fitting as well, quite satisfying for me, especially the last few pages.
Overall, a good ending to a series with a strong start, where I would have liked to have more one characters even if the two other storylines were great too !
February 16, 2025
This book was not as fun as the first and not as good as the second. I felt the characters procrastinated for 300 pages, with the last 100 being them finally making shit happen.
I was disappointed that the main three barely interacted. The cast was bloated — I barely remembered who anyone was — and I felt Avarair was severely under-utilised. This book just didn't really make sense and was poorly paced, which is a shame!
I still had some fun because I still love the characters (hence the three stars), but this was disappointing.
I liked the dragon and Balian.
I was disappointed that the main three barely interacted. The cast was bloated — I barely remembered who anyone was — and I felt Avarair was severely under-utilised. This book just didn't really make sense and was poorly paced, which is a shame!
I still had some fun because I still love the characters (hence the three stars), but this was disappointing.
I liked the dragon and Balian.
January 10, 2025
Disappointing ending to a strong trilogy. If you skip the Siyon bits, the book is better.
January 11, 2025
2.75
This book completes a trilogy that just snowballs upon itself. There is so much happening plotwise that there is no time to learn about the characters. It's unfortunate, because I do enjoy almost all of the characters and their perspectives. We are told in brief snatches what they're feeling but only a few of the impactful moments truly felt that way to me. There is no time to dwell on the characters because there is such hurry to get to the next plot point, the next thing happening. Some of the characters remain 2 dimensional because we're not able to spend any time with them. The side characters are reduced to the surface mannerisms and aren't fleshed out. There are several introduced in this book and I can describe the whole of their character in a sentence each.
This book is entertaining, but only in the fact that it's a breakneck read that wraps up most of the plotlines introduced. I have a lot of issues with characterization (and a lingering love interest that had no chemistry with the main character in the first book but keeps popping up and also can communicate from the void for some reason now? Boring to keep him around. The idea of him is much more powerful than the actual character.)
Almost none of the characters seem competent, which can be fine sometimes, but most of the main characters rely on the antagonists messing up or Siyon to do something crazy; they stumble from mistake to victory easily and somewhat predictably. None of their wins feel earned except maybe the final one, and a lot of their mistakes are not punished or even accounted for. I have a particular issue with Zagiri's plotlines. She is made out to be very important, but I think her character really lacks any depth. We're just told about it and can maybe fill in the details among the many gaps left open by skipping to one disaster after another.
Overall, this is a weaker book than the other two, but it *is* very entertaining if you've enjoyed the series so far. The last 1/4 of this book is much better than the middle parts. Bezim and the setting is very intriguing and I hope there is a plan for more books based in this world.
This book completes a trilogy that just snowballs upon itself. There is so much happening plotwise that there is no time to learn about the characters. It's unfortunate, because I do enjoy almost all of the characters and their perspectives. We are told in brief snatches what they're feeling but only a few of the impactful moments truly felt that way to me. There is no time to dwell on the characters because there is such hurry to get to the next plot point, the next thing happening. Some of the characters remain 2 dimensional because we're not able to spend any time with them. The side characters are reduced to the surface mannerisms and aren't fleshed out. There are several introduced in this book and I can describe the whole of their character in a sentence each.
This book is entertaining, but only in the fact that it's a breakneck read that wraps up most of the plotlines introduced. I have a lot of issues with characterization (and a lingering love interest that had no chemistry with the main character in the first book but keeps popping up and also can communicate from the void for some reason now? Boring to keep him around. The idea of him is much more powerful than the actual character.)
Almost none of the characters seem competent, which can be fine sometimes, but most of the main characters rely on the antagonists messing up or Siyon to do something crazy; they stumble from mistake to victory easily and somewhat predictably. None of their wins feel earned except maybe the final one, and a lot of their mistakes are not punished or even accounted for. I have a particular issue with Zagiri's plotlines. She is made out to be very important, but I think her character really lacks any depth. We're just told about it and can maybe fill in the details among the many gaps left open by skipping to one disaster after another.
Overall, this is a weaker book than the other two, but it *is* very entertaining if you've enjoyed the series so far. The last 1/4 of this book is much better than the middle parts. Bezim and the setting is very intriguing and I hope there is a plan for more books based in this world.
December 29, 2024
This was such a good final book in the Burnished City Trilogy. I really enjoy Evans' writing style in general, it's beautiful and detailed but also just very easy to read. There is considerably less humour in this third book then especially the first one of the series, but it's understandable because the stakes have never been higher. All our main characters - sorcerer Siyon and the sisters Zagiri and Anahid - get satisfying conclusions to their arcs that felt truly earned. Anahid remains my favourite of the three and I felt like she had the strongest arc overall, but I really enjoyed Zagiri this time around. Siyon, really, was the only one that I felt a little meh about for most parts of the book, because he barely moves the plot at all. While all the other characters move along their arcs, he seems to stagnate for most of the story, struggling with his new powers. I really did enjoy where he ends up though, and the romantic at me was especially happy.
I did feel like some of the relationships built up in the first and second book were kind of swept to the side, which felt jarring at times. But still, all in all, definitely a fun, creative and utterly charming fantasy trilogy that sticks its landing with this final book.
many thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the arc!
I did feel like some of the relationships built up in the first and second book were kind of swept to the side, which felt jarring at times. But still, all in all, definitely a fun, creative and utterly charming fantasy trilogy that sticks its landing with this final book.
many thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for the arc!
August 20, 2025
okay - the review....the first book started out okay - interesting characters but vague world building as I was never really sure what the planes were or what the ultimate goals were regarding Siyon and the other characters who control (?) magic. Then there is this side story of two sisters who want to change their lives and world and because they come from the power elite have more ability to try for these changes.
the second book was a waste of time in my opinion. This entire story could have been trimmed to one book or maybe two but this was something that often happens with the middle book in a trilogy - it kills time and action. And in this case, for me, even muddied the waters even more regarding Siyon. What is this barrier - sorry I just didn't get it.
the third book - two completely different stories - Siyon is ...I don't know where -again I guess I lost interest in what he was trying to do and at the end am not sure what he achieved - except flying with a dragon ???? as for the two sisters - this takes up most of the book and yay they get what they want but by then I didn't care. Over all this was not for me - it broke down into two completely different stories with nothing really binding them together.
the second book was a waste of time in my opinion. This entire story could have been trimmed to one book or maybe two but this was something that often happens with the middle book in a trilogy - it kills time and action. And in this case, for me, even muddied the waters even more regarding Siyon. What is this barrier - sorry I just didn't get it.
the third book - two completely different stories - Siyon is ...I don't know where -again I guess I lost interest in what he was trying to do and at the end am not sure what he achieved - except flying with a dragon ???? as for the two sisters - this takes up most of the book and yay they get what they want but by then I didn't care. Over all this was not for me - it broke down into two completely different stories with nothing really binding them together.
May 11, 2025
4.25/5
A great conclusion with a bittersweet but hopeful ending.
The friendship was still amazing even though the characters weren't too often together but when they were it felt like an actual friendship.
I also liked that even though there is a lot of very important things going on regarding the whole city the author didn't put the social reforms on the back burner but made a point to say that this is the moment to change things. Of course sometimes things go wrong and I would have loved to strangle some characters a bit but it was realistic and I like how the protagonists dealt with it.
A great conclusion with a bittersweet but hopeful ending.
The friendship was still amazing even though the characters weren't too often together but when they were it felt like an actual friendship.
I also liked that even though there is a lot of very important things going on regarding the whole city the author didn't put the social reforms on the back burner but made a point to say that this is the moment to change things. Of course sometimes things go wrong and I would have loved to strangle some characters a bit but it was realistic and I like how the protagonists dealt with it.
March 18, 2025
If i think about the biggest symptoms of second book syndrome, what do you think of? Characters that seem to have reversed most of the growth from the last book? Pacing that meanders until it jumps to a set of conclusions right at the tail end?
This is the first time I've read the conclusion to a trilogy and felt like it had second book syndrome. And after two incredible novels I'm so disappointed this is how the trilogy went out. Two of the three plotlines in the novel tread far, far too close to those in Shadow Baron. But more disappointingly they do so in a way that feels like both of those characters just forgot the lessons from the novel, and were starting almost fresh from the first book. You then get most of the way through the novel at a plodding pace before all of the plot lines get rapidly tied together in a way that is cliche and doesn't feel earned. And as for the endings .
I'm still excited for whatever Davinia Evans puts out next, but this was a rough ending for an otherwise incredible series
This is the first time I've read the conclusion to a trilogy and felt like it had second book syndrome. And after two incredible novels I'm so disappointed this is how the trilogy went out. Two of the three plotlines in the novel tread far, far too close to those in Shadow Baron. But more disappointingly they do so in a way that feels like both of those characters just forgot the lessons from the novel, and were starting almost fresh from the first book. You then get most of the way through the novel at a plodding pace before all of the plot lines get rapidly tied together in a way that is cliche and doesn't feel earned. And as for the endings .
I'm still excited for whatever Davinia Evans puts out next, but this was a rough ending for an otherwise incredible series
March 20, 2025
I was excited reading the first book, ignored the cracks in the second one, but unfortunately, this final volume did not stick the landing for me.
It was charming to follow characters who don't always know what they're doing at first, and rooting for them finding their places in the narrative of Bezim as they go along. But by book three, I expected a little more progression and not retreading the same character arcs again, just with slightly different stakes this time. The story became predictable, which was something I couldn't say about the first two books.
Especially among the supporting case, most of the characters never really became more than brief outlines, and in some cases were kind of discarded. Still baffled that Nihath had no more than two scenes and Tehroun didn't get a single mention at all. Mayar was reduced to some vague background magician despite being so front and centre in book 2. And Daruj was more talked about than an actual participant. It's especially strange because the author did care enough to put in little details like the fact that he apparently took care of Siyon's blade for him, but also had him do nothing while his blade brother was being executed. Even between Zagiri and Anahid, the relationship felt more surface level than before, and I think a big reason for that is that the characters had very little time interacting with each other this time around. (Zagiri and Siyon had one single scene together and then never saw each other again. Mind-boggling choice.) Midnight's posse read like convenient NPCs helping you along the way but not much else. And the less is said about whatever that half-baked "romance" between Siyon and Izmirlian, the better. Anahid had the best plot in that regard because at least Laxmi was fun to have around.
The bravi were somehow both very present and also completely underused. I loved them as a concept during the first novel and was frustrated they were treated almost like Zagiri's personal army towards the end. Rather than going into the politics of the Avenues and crowning an azata queen of the bravi, I'd have preferred spending more time within their ranks and seeing a rebellion from their midst instead.
Which is also true for Anahid and her Flower District/barony business. Again, she probably had the most interesting narrative despite the constant repetition of previous character beats, and I'm glad she did not do a 180 and bacome a baroness herself, but once again, we have an, even if disgraced, azata pretty much running the show. Makes me wonder how much their rebellion actually accomplished.
On another note: I lost whatever understanding I had of the geography in this book. The city kept growing and shrinking as was required by the plot, moving the big landmarks closer together whenever the characters needed to speedwalk between them. I still have no concept of the size of the population either, as the azata also seemed to grow or shrink in numbers as necessary, and the rest of the population simply got labelled "the people of Bezim". (Let's not even get started on the fact that so many of the azatas died and everyone just moved on, with Mezin the only one to actually get punished for it. Did we ever get clarity on whether it was actually Avarair funding the whole thing??? I assume so given his whole demeanour afterwards but Zagiri never made good on her promise to see everyone involved, including herself, brought to justice. And who the hell gave Avarair the power to just yield to some random barely adult -- with her arm in a sling no less, unless anyone somehow forgot! --in the name of an entire political faction anyway?)
It's a shame, I was really looking forward to reading the conclusion to this story, only to be kind of let down by the way we got there. I'm also not sure why this turned into a dragon rider story at the very last minute. I love dragons as much as the next fantasy nerd but I did not understand the logic behind this decision.
It was charming to follow characters who don't always know what they're doing at first, and rooting for them finding their places in the narrative of Bezim as they go along. But by book three, I expected a little more progression and not retreading the same character arcs again, just with slightly different stakes this time. The story became predictable, which was something I couldn't say about the first two books.
Especially among the supporting case, most of the characters never really became more than brief outlines, and in some cases were kind of discarded. Still baffled that Nihath had no more than two scenes and Tehroun didn't get a single mention at all. Mayar was reduced to some vague background magician despite being so front and centre in book 2. And Daruj was more talked about than an actual participant. It's especially strange because the author did care enough to put in little details like the fact that he apparently took care of Siyon's blade for him, but also had him do nothing while his blade brother was being executed. Even between Zagiri and Anahid, the relationship felt more surface level than before, and I think a big reason for that is that the characters had very little time interacting with each other this time around. (Zagiri and Siyon had one single scene together and then never saw each other again. Mind-boggling choice.) Midnight's posse read like convenient NPCs helping you along the way but not much else. And the less is said about whatever that half-baked "romance" between Siyon and Izmirlian, the better. Anahid had the best plot in that regard because at least Laxmi was fun to have around.
The bravi were somehow both very present and also completely underused. I loved them as a concept during the first novel and was frustrated they were treated almost like Zagiri's personal army towards the end. Rather than going into the politics of the Avenues and crowning an azata queen of the bravi, I'd have preferred spending more time within their ranks and seeing a rebellion from their midst instead.
Which is also true for Anahid and her Flower District/barony business. Again, she probably had the most interesting narrative despite the constant repetition of previous character beats, and I'm glad she did not do a 180 and bacome a baroness herself, but once again, we have an, even if disgraced, azata pretty much running the show. Makes me wonder how much their rebellion actually accomplished.
On another note: I lost whatever understanding I had of the geography in this book. The city kept growing and shrinking as was required by the plot, moving the big landmarks closer together whenever the characters needed to speedwalk between them. I still have no concept of the size of the population either, as the azata also seemed to grow or shrink in numbers as necessary, and the rest of the population simply got labelled "the people of Bezim". (Let's not even get started on the fact that so many of the azatas died and everyone just moved on, with Mezin the only one to actually get punished for it. Did we ever get clarity on whether it was actually Avarair funding the whole thing??? I assume so given his whole demeanour afterwards but Zagiri never made good on her promise to see everyone involved, including herself, brought to justice. And who the hell gave Avarair the power to just yield to some random barely adult -- with her arm in a sling no less, unless anyone somehow forgot! --in the name of an entire political faction anyway?)
It's a shame, I was really looking forward to reading the conclusion to this story, only to be kind of let down by the way we got there. I'm also not sure why this turned into a dragon rider story at the very last minute. I love dragons as much as the next fantasy nerd but I did not understand the logic behind this decision.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
***Thank you to Orbit Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience with the finished paperback, which I purchased.***
***THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS FOR REBEL BLADE. READ ON AT YOUR OWN PERIL.***
I really wanted to love this finale to The Burnished City trilogy. Unfortunately, Rebel Blade just did not live up to my expectations. Notorious Sorcerer was fun and fresh, while Shadow Baron had masterful world-building and characterization. The first half of this end to the trilogy was an absolute slog to get through. It felt like nothing happened while the characters wallowed. Things picked up in the latter half, though, and it mostly stuck the landing.
For most of the first half of Rebel Blade, very little happened. The characters were in hiding or licking their wounds from the events of the previous book. Some planning took place and a bit of scheming. However, nothing very exciting happened. It was all quite boring. That being said, it did make sense for the characters to take a step back and regroup. It just didn’t make for very compelling reading. Once things kicked off, I had more fun with the story. The planning and execution of the revolution was interesting, and I appreciated the role of each character in making it possible.
Siyon spent most of his time in Rebel Blade coming to terms with his new power, running from the authorities, and missing Izmirlian. The new world-building regarding the Power of the Mundane was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out alongside Siyon. However, much of it didn’t really make sense. The specifics of how or why the powers worked just seemed really nebulous. I appreciated Siyon’s arc of learning to accept change as part of necessary growth. It tied back nicely into his origin story. The reunion with a certain someone felt a bit too forced, almost like it was only there because the reader would expect it. I was happy to see Siyon get a happyish ending, though.
After reading Rebel Blade, Anahid is still my favorite character of the series. I loved her journey to overcome the limitations placed on her by society. I do wish she would have spent less time in the beginning of this novel trying to avoid taking the responsibility of being baron. Her maneuvers through both azatani society and the seedier parts of Bezim were always so compelling to read. She eventually found a way to help stabilize her district in her own way through compromise and manipulation. Of course, having Laxmi stand menacingly over her shoulder probably helped too. lol. They were such a great duo.
Oh, Zagiri. I’ve always admired her fire and her desire to make Besim a better place for everyone who lives there. She had to grow up a lot in this book. I was so frustrated with her stubbornness and impulsivity, at times. She made some really poor choices in Rebel Blade, but she seemed to finally learn from them the hard way. By the end, her persistence paid off. She managed to bring the people together to demand a say in how they were governed. Consequently, her story was an excellent critique of top-down power structures and highlighted the struggle for a more equal world.
Overall, Rebel Blade wasn’t the exciting conclusion I was hoping for. However, I did appreciate where the characters and Bezim ended up. I just wish the additions to the world-building had been a bit more concrete, and the pacing could have been better. With all this in mind, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
See more of my reviews and other bookish content on my blog.
***THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS FOR REBEL BLADE. READ ON AT YOUR OWN PERIL.***
I really wanted to love this finale to The Burnished City trilogy. Unfortunately, Rebel Blade just did not live up to my expectations. Notorious Sorcerer was fun and fresh, while Shadow Baron had masterful world-building and characterization. The first half of this end to the trilogy was an absolute slog to get through. It felt like nothing happened while the characters wallowed. Things picked up in the latter half, though, and it mostly stuck the landing.
For most of the first half of Rebel Blade, very little happened. The characters were in hiding or licking their wounds from the events of the previous book. Some planning took place and a bit of scheming. However, nothing very exciting happened. It was all quite boring. That being said, it did make sense for the characters to take a step back and regroup. It just didn’t make for very compelling reading. Once things kicked off, I had more fun with the story. The planning and execution of the revolution was interesting, and I appreciated the role of each character in making it possible.
Siyon spent most of his time in Rebel Blade coming to terms with his new power, running from the authorities, and missing Izmirlian. The new world-building regarding the Power of the Mundane was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out alongside Siyon. However, much of it didn’t really make sense. The specifics of how or why the powers worked just seemed really nebulous. I appreciated Siyon’s arc of learning to accept change as part of necessary growth. It tied back nicely into his origin story. The reunion with a certain someone felt a bit too forced, almost like it was only there because the reader would expect it. I was happy to see Siyon get a happyish ending, though.
After reading Rebel Blade, Anahid is still my favorite character of the series. I loved her journey to overcome the limitations placed on her by society. I do wish she would have spent less time in the beginning of this novel trying to avoid taking the responsibility of being baron. Her maneuvers through both azatani society and the seedier parts of Bezim were always so compelling to read. She eventually found a way to help stabilize her district in her own way through compromise and manipulation. Of course, having Laxmi stand menacingly over her shoulder probably helped too. lol. They were such a great duo.
Oh, Zagiri. I’ve always admired her fire and her desire to make Besim a better place for everyone who lives there. She had to grow up a lot in this book. I was so frustrated with her stubbornness and impulsivity, at times. She made some really poor choices in Rebel Blade, but she seemed to finally learn from them the hard way. By the end, her persistence paid off. She managed to bring the people together to demand a say in how they were governed. Consequently, her story was an excellent critique of top-down power structures and highlighted the struggle for a more equal world.
Overall, Rebel Blade wasn’t the exciting conclusion I was hoping for. However, I did appreciate where the characters and Bezim ended up. I just wish the additions to the world-building had been a bit more concrete, and the pacing could have been better. With all this in mind, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
See more of my reviews and other bookish content on my blog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
ARC provided by Orbit Books via Netgalley for an honest review.
This third and final book in the series was just as good as the others. This is a series that has not received the love and attention it deserves. I am hoping that that changes now that the final book is out as I think the author deserves a chance to publish more books.
The story is still told from three perspectives, although one is a bit more prominent in each book. The first book, Notorious Sorcerer focused on Siyon, and his struggles to learn and control his magic. The second book, Shadow Baron, was focused on Annahid and her struggles to fit into the new world that she found herself in. This final book is focused on Zagiri and her growth as a young woman and finding her true self among all of the chaos. But even though one character stuck out a bit more than the others, we got wonderful endings for all of them.
Siyon is still my favorite of the group. He is such an interesting character that faces many challenges in this series. In this book in particular he is struggling to understand and control his new powers, while feeling the weight of his responsibilities to his city and himself and grieving the loss of his boyfriend. And on top of everything else the city officials want to kill him. He has a tough time in this one, but pulls it all together to a spectacular ending.
Annahid also struggles in this part of the story. She is trying to hold her position in society as well as run her nefarious business without angering the other barons. She also struggles to help her sister Zagiri, but has to keep her distance because of society looking down on her business. She does a masterful job of manipulating those around her to changing their ways and helping her to achieve the goal of changing the city for the better.
Zagiri had a tough time in this book. Her impulsiveness and the choices that she makes were hard to understand. But she so wants to change things for the better that she was often blinded as to what the consequences of her actions could be. She kind of makes up for all of that at the end of the book, when she finally makes a stand and helps to make the city a better place after all.
This book was like the others in that it has a quick pace for the most part, but there are times when it lagged. I really enjoyed all of the political intrigue and the struggles that the characters went through felt realistic and made me want to root for them. There was a lot less world building in this book, which is understandable as most of that was taken care of in the first two books. It did make some of the book confusing though, as it has been awhile since I read the first two books. The writing continues to be beautiful and rich and I loved the dialogue and action scenes as well.
A very nice ending to a wonderful epic fantasy. This is one you should consider reading if you like magical worlds, interesting characters and a fast paced story that will leave you wanting more.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
This third and final book in the series was just as good as the others. This is a series that has not received the love and attention it deserves. I am hoping that that changes now that the final book is out as I think the author deserves a chance to publish more books.
The story is still told from three perspectives, although one is a bit more prominent in each book. The first book, Notorious Sorcerer focused on Siyon, and his struggles to learn and control his magic. The second book, Shadow Baron, was focused on Annahid and her struggles to fit into the new world that she found herself in. This final book is focused on Zagiri and her growth as a young woman and finding her true self among all of the chaos. But even though one character stuck out a bit more than the others, we got wonderful endings for all of them.
Siyon is still my favorite of the group. He is such an interesting character that faces many challenges in this series. In this book in particular he is struggling to understand and control his new powers, while feeling the weight of his responsibilities to his city and himself and grieving the loss of his boyfriend. And on top of everything else the city officials want to kill him. He has a tough time in this one, but pulls it all together to a spectacular ending.
Annahid also struggles in this part of the story. She is trying to hold her position in society as well as run her nefarious business without angering the other barons. She also struggles to help her sister Zagiri, but has to keep her distance because of society looking down on her business. She does a masterful job of manipulating those around her to changing their ways and helping her to achieve the goal of changing the city for the better.
Zagiri had a tough time in this book. Her impulsiveness and the choices that she makes were hard to understand. But she so wants to change things for the better that she was often blinded as to what the consequences of her actions could be. She kind of makes up for all of that at the end of the book, when she finally makes a stand and helps to make the city a better place after all.
This book was like the others in that it has a quick pace for the most part, but there are times when it lagged. I really enjoyed all of the political intrigue and the struggles that the characters went through felt realistic and made me want to root for them. There was a lot less world building in this book, which is understandable as most of that was taken care of in the first two books. It did make some of the book confusing though, as it has been awhile since I read the first two books. The writing continues to be beautiful and rich and I loved the dialogue and action scenes as well.
A very nice ending to a wonderful epic fantasy. This is one you should consider reading if you like magical worlds, interesting characters and a fast paced story that will leave you wanting more.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
January 19, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed Notorious Sorcerer but hadn’t read Shadow Baron – an omission I didn’t appreciate until I was some way into Rebel Blade. While I was aware that a number of major events had taken place that I hadn’t known about, at no time was I left floundering as Evans is far too accomplished a writer. Indeed, I was impressed at the elegance with which she caught up her readers, for giving quick reminders of who has done what to whom, especially when the character cast is so big and sprawling without losing narrative drive takes technical skill. While I wouldn’t advise you to pick this one up without having read at least one of the previous books – apart from anything else, you’re missing out on a treat – Evans doesn’t leave her readers flailing if you do decide to crash this series from the wrong end.
I was intrigued to see the character progression. It’s always the mark of good writing when each main character undergoes major changes in response to the adventures they’ve been exposed to and I was pleased to see how all three of the main characters have been affected. The Notorious Sorcerer of the first book is a lot less brash and frustrated, which is hardly surprising given what happened to him. But I was particularly interested in how both Anahid and Zagiri cope after having rebelled against the confining life of a respectable highborn matron. Evans has depicted two strong-willed, spirited women who find themselves in difficult situations that undermine their self-belief and way of life. The clarity and vividness of the characterisation is impressive, given what else is going on.
This is an epic fantasy adventure, set in a busy port city where there is a huge gulf between rich and poor. Within the story, Evans successfully depicts these differences alongside all sorts of fantastical adventures around the use of magic and its impact on Bezim. The denouement is well handled with plenty of page-turning action and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and where it left our characters and their ongoing journey. All in all this enjoyable finale to The Burnished City trilogy marks Davinia Evans as One to Watch. Highly recommended for fans of epic sword and sorcery fantasy adventures within a cityscape. While I obtained an arc of Rebel Blade from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
I was intrigued to see the character progression. It’s always the mark of good writing when each main character undergoes major changes in response to the adventures they’ve been exposed to and I was pleased to see how all three of the main characters have been affected. The Notorious Sorcerer of the first book is a lot less brash and frustrated, which is hardly surprising given what happened to him. But I was particularly interested in how both Anahid and Zagiri cope after having rebelled against the confining life of a respectable highborn matron. Evans has depicted two strong-willed, spirited women who find themselves in difficult situations that undermine their self-belief and way of life. The clarity and vividness of the characterisation is impressive, given what else is going on.
This is an epic fantasy adventure, set in a busy port city where there is a huge gulf between rich and poor. Within the story, Evans successfully depicts these differences alongside all sorts of fantastical adventures around the use of magic and its impact on Bezim. The denouement is well handled with plenty of page-turning action and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and where it left our characters and their ongoing journey. All in all this enjoyable finale to The Burnished City trilogy marks Davinia Evans as One to Watch. Highly recommended for fans of epic sword and sorcery fantasy adventures within a cityscape. While I obtained an arc of Rebel Blade from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
December 3, 2024
In this city, money might be power, but true legitimacy comes from public spectacle.[loc. 2521]
Finale of the Burnished City trilogy, following Notorious Sorcerer and Shadow Baron. After the changes that swept through Bezim at the climax of Shadow Baron, Siyon Velo -- the Sorcerer, the Alchemist, the Power of the Mundane -- is lying low, blamed for the turmoil and upheaval ... and for the monsters converging on the City, drawn by the power he's unleashed. Meanwhile, Anahid is settling into her role as Lady Sable, and watching her little sister Zagiri attempt to overthrow the azatani, the ruling class, from her position of privilege.
If the first novel focussed on Siyon and the second on Anahid, this is very much Zagiri's story. She's not always a great judge of character, and wanting more power for the common folk of Bezim is an admirable goal that nevertheless attracts some shady individuals. Zagiri's impetuous nature and her bravi love of risk bring her, via tribulations major and minor, to a public duel at the Hippodrome. But even Zagiri can be upstaged...
Rebel Blade catches up all the threads of the previous novels and weaves them into epic. (Nearly all the threads: a couple of minor characters vanished without trace.) There are treacheries great and small, surprise reveals of identity, and Establishment figures rejecting their roles. And there is happiness, sometimes in surprising forms, for our three protagonists. I loved the revolutionary vibes, the notebooks, the determination to maintain masks literal and metaphorical: I loved the varied careers open to women, and the resolutions of old pain.
And of course I now want to reread the whole series, from Siyon's first impossible act...
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 03 December 2024.
December 18, 2024
Rebel Blade is the final book in the Burnished City Trilogy and is a suitably satisfying conclusion to an excellent series.
We return to Bezim which is still protected by Siyon's barrier formed of the Mundane however this has issues for him and the other magic practitioners in the city. Whilst Siyon is busy avoiding capture, Anahid or Lady Sable is consolidating the reputation of her house whilst attempting to elude discovery of her connection with the Flower district from her Azantani peers. Zigiri is still looking for a way for the government of Bezim to be more inclusive - however she is still straying down a rebellious, seditious and dangerous path.
All three of our key players have struggles to overcome, actions to own and guilt to bear as the path to change is never smooth. In this book Siyon, although vital, takes a step back in the narrative. His struggle to come to terms with becoming a Power and how to manipulate the Mundane energy without losing himself is all consuming. Anahid and Zigiri's storylines rise to the top, particularly Anahid who owns her actions and affects change on her terms whilst navigating the political waters of Bezim with ease.
This has been one of my top series over the past few years and now complete I will be on a reread, I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy but want something a little different.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC. All views are my own.
We return to Bezim which is still protected by Siyon's barrier formed of the Mundane however this has issues for him and the other magic practitioners in the city. Whilst Siyon is busy avoiding capture, Anahid or Lady Sable is consolidating the reputation of her house whilst attempting to elude discovery of her connection with the Flower district from her Azantani peers. Zigiri is still looking for a way for the government of Bezim to be more inclusive - however she is still straying down a rebellious, seditious and dangerous path.
All three of our key players have struggles to overcome, actions to own and guilt to bear as the path to change is never smooth. In this book Siyon, although vital, takes a step back in the narrative. His struggle to come to terms with becoming a Power and how to manipulate the Mundane energy without losing himself is all consuming. Anahid and Zigiri's storylines rise to the top, particularly Anahid who owns her actions and affects change on her terms whilst navigating the political waters of Bezim with ease.
This has been one of my top series over the past few years and now complete I will be on a reread, I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy but want something a little different.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC. All views are my own.
March 9, 2025
There's always an element of anxiety about the final book in a trilogy: will it stick the landing? Will the author manage to tie up all the loose ends left hanging previously but without messing up the pacing? I'm delighted to say that Rebel Blade does a solid job of finishing off this particular series.
The basic premise of the book, if you've read the previous two, is that we're dealing with the repercussions of various people's actions: the titles of the respective books give away that after one focussed on Siyon and another on Anahid, this time it's Zagiri who's going to be at the heart of things (not that the others don't get to play a significant role).
Her plotline revolves around her desire to change how her city is governed and needs to learn or revisit a bunch of different skills to do it, as well as trying to get some very unlikely allies to work together. This was the area with my one caveat about this book which mean it's probably not quite as enjoyable a read as the previous two - at one point something pretty horrific happens but there don't seem to be all that many consequences for the people responsible. Zagiri is a slightly less 3-dimensional character than Anahid or Siyon, so at times her character struggled to carry the plot in a way that made sense 100%.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.
The basic premise of the book, if you've read the previous two, is that we're dealing with the repercussions of various people's actions: the titles of the respective books give away that after one focussed on Siyon and another on Anahid, this time it's Zagiri who's going to be at the heart of things (not that the others don't get to play a significant role).
Her plotline revolves around her desire to change how her city is governed and needs to learn or revisit a bunch of different skills to do it, as well as trying to get some very unlikely allies to work together. This was the area with my one caveat about this book which mean it's probably not quite as enjoyable a read as the previous two - at one point something pretty horrific happens but there don't seem to be all that many consequences for the people responsible. Zagiri is a slightly less 3-dimensional character than Anahid or Siyon, so at times her character struggled to carry the plot in a way that made sense 100%.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.
December 9, 2024
How do I put into words my feelings about the Burnished City trilogy? Perhaps it will tell you enough that I never write reviews on goodreads, but I am here to leave one because I *loved* this series beyond measure. It is such a stunning tapestry of character development, worldbuilding, and wisdom, and rarely have I seen the loose plot threads in a complicated story be tied up in a way that’s both neat and also makes space for the complexity of life.
I love all of these characters, from Siyon, Anahid, and Zagiri to Daruj and Mayar and down to many of the minor side characters. Their varied wants and desires and struggles felt so real. This is also a book that gives space for human mistakes, human fallibility, and humanity’s lack of wisdom in groups, but circles back around to remind us - they are all still people.
Finally, the city of Bezim is its own character throughout this trilogy, and it is both a place that feels utterly unique and also, by this point, so comfortably familiar. Bezim’s energy and personality and different factions all feel so alive, like it’s a place I just walk out my door and step into.
Rebel Blade was a stunning finale to this wonderful trilogy; this is a story that I’m going to keep with me for years to come.
I love all of these characters, from Siyon, Anahid, and Zagiri to Daruj and Mayar and down to many of the minor side characters. Their varied wants and desires and struggles felt so real. This is also a book that gives space for human mistakes, human fallibility, and humanity’s lack of wisdom in groups, but circles back around to remind us - they are all still people.
Finally, the city of Bezim is its own character throughout this trilogy, and it is both a place that feels utterly unique and also, by this point, so comfortably familiar. Bezim’s energy and personality and different factions all feel so alive, like it’s a place I just walk out my door and step into.
Rebel Blade was a stunning finale to this wonderful trilogy; this is a story that I’m going to keep with me for years to come.
December 26, 2024
Sticks the landing on a hugely impressive debut series. A plot driven by revolution and social change, neither of which go quite as anyone intended.
Of the 3 main characters, Zagiri remains the least interesting but does the most to move the plot forward, and her hamfisted idealism actually leads to some interesting character development. Anahid and her plotline remain my favourites, pitch perfect for the cautiously daring, hypercompetent character the two previous books establisher her as. And Siyon's further exploration of where he's ended up as the power of the mundane is put across in notably different prose style than the other two perspectives; more dreamlike, closer to stream of consciousness. A really effective way to convey his different way of experiencing the world.
Best supporting actor award goes to Bezim itself; it'll be going on the list of great fantasy cities. If the detail isn't worldbuilt to Sandersonian levels of obsession, the vibe and the feel of the place is just right. Excellent stuff, can't wait to see what Evans does next.
Of the 3 main characters, Zagiri remains the least interesting but does the most to move the plot forward, and her hamfisted idealism actually leads to some interesting character development. Anahid and her plotline remain my favourites, pitch perfect for the cautiously daring, hypercompetent character the two previous books establisher her as. And Siyon's further exploration of where he's ended up as the power of the mundane is put across in notably different prose style than the other two perspectives; more dreamlike, closer to stream of consciousness. A really effective way to convey his different way of experiencing the world.
Best supporting actor award goes to Bezim itself; it'll be going on the list of great fantasy cities. If the detail isn't worldbuilt to Sandersonian levels of obsession, the vibe and the feel of the place is just right. Excellent stuff, can't wait to see what Evans does next.
January 14, 2025
Rebel Blade is the logical conclusion to the Burnished City trilogy. As always, Evans does an amazing job of building tension and making connections from seemingly unrelated events throughout the novel. Her character development is a joy to read and the city itself really does feel alive.
I think the reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because the ending of the book is a little unimaginative? Maybe that's not quite fair; she sets up some very big dominoes throughout the whole series (especially in the beginning of Rebel Blade), and while some of them pay off not all of them do. Parts of the plot felt very rushed near the conclusion, and I do wish Siyon's storyline had a little bit more to it? Like it felt a little 1-dimensional and I wasn't fully satisfied with it.
However, I still think this book is fantastic and I highly recommend this series as the characters are SO easy to fall in love with (Anahid! You can do no wrong my love) and the political machinations are highly relevant to today.
Honestly I would rate this book a 4.5/5 if GoodReads let us do half stars but overall a fantastic novel and a good end to an even better series.
I think the reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because the ending of the book is a little unimaginative? Maybe that's not quite fair; she sets up some very big dominoes throughout the whole series (especially in the beginning of Rebel Blade), and while some of them pay off not all of them do. Parts of the plot felt very rushed near the conclusion, and I do wish Siyon's storyline had a little bit more to it? Like it felt a little 1-dimensional and I wasn't fully satisfied with it.
However, I still think this book is fantastic and I highly recommend this series as the characters are SO easy to fall in love with (Anahid! You can do no wrong my love) and the political machinations are highly relevant to today.
Honestly I would rate this book a 4.5/5 if GoodReads let us do half stars but overall a fantastic novel and a good end to an even better series.
March 23, 2025
Great conclusion to the trilogy! I loved the character development throughout the series. They are full-blooded and complex and they and their agenda feel so real that one can understand all their motivations and sympathize with them easily (even if it leads to disaster).
Bezim, the Burnished City, feels like a character too and its amazing how good Evans is at showing the city's (and its people's) struggles and how intricate everything in it is connected.
While social justice is a theme throughout the series, especially this book feels like it was written for 2025 and the fights a lot of us have to fight all over the world right now.
Be like Zagiri and use the fire in your heart to bring the change that is needed!
Bezim, the Burnished City, feels like a character too and its amazing how good Evans is at showing the city's (and its people's) struggles and how intricate everything in it is connected.
While social justice is a theme throughout the series, especially this book feels like it was written for 2025 and the fights a lot of us have to fight all over the world right now.
Be like Zagiri and use the fire in your heart to bring the change that is needed!
January 14, 2025
A+ no notes. Have thoroughly enjoyed all three books of this series and seeing it come to a close is a little sad since you know, it's an ending, but I loved the ride so much. Siyon remains my favorite, but I love Zagiri so much in this book. World building continued to be excellent and I just love this series.
Ending spoiler:
Ending spoiler:
January 26, 2025
Pretty good but was a bit hard to get into. Also a bit predictable although some crazy things also happened. I really appreciated the 3 POVs because Velo’s was boring and confusing while the others’ were quite enjoyable.
December 3, 2024
I’m glad I got to read this ARC. It’s a good series! Wraps up solidly in this one. I hope to see more by this author. I like character driven fantasy novels and that seems to be her strength. I’ve wanted to know what happens next to her characters. Good solid setting too. They’re fun reads I think this trilogy a solid choice for someone looking for a series that’s just a fun time and doesn’t take itself over serious.
March 2, 2025
First book was great, second book felt like the start of a completely different unrelated story (but with the same characters), and then the third book just sort of repeated the story of the second book and I can’t even explain what the ending was about. Loved the characters and the world, but the underlying story just wasn’t there for me. If I had known how poor the last book would be, I wouldn’t have started this series. Sorry to the author and those giving it 5 stars.
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