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The Divine Cities #1-3
The Divine Cities Trilogy
A special omnibus edition, collecting all three books of Robert Jackson Bennett’s acclaimed Divine Cities trilogy in a single volume.
In a world where terrifying, capricious gods once walked the earth, enslaving and brutalizing millions, three unforgettable protagonists struggle to come to terms with the mysteries these divinities left behind— and to make sure these cruel masters do not rise again.
In City of Stairs, an unassuming young woman named Shara Thivani arrives in Bulikov, the city that once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world. Officially, she is just another junior diplomat, dispatched by the city’s new colonial masters; unofficially, she is one of her country’s most accomplished spies, on a mission to solve a murder. As she pursues the killer, she begins to suspect that the gods who once guarded Bulikov are not as dead as they seem, and that the city’s cruel reign may begin anew.
In City of Blades, General Turin Mulaghesh—foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumored war criminal, ally of an embattled prime minister—is pressed into service one last time, investigating a terrifying discovery in the city of Voortyashtan, once the stronghold of the god of war and death. Voortyashtan’s god is most certainly dead, but something is awakening in the city. And someone is determined to make the world tremble at the city’s awful power once again.
In City of Miracles, the formidable, seemingly unkillable Sigrud je Harkvaldsson returns from self-imposed exile on a mission of revenge, only to find himself embroiled in a battle that may be beyond even his abilities to win—a secret, decades-long war that will force him to confront the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself.
with an excerpt from Foundryside
In a world where terrifying, capricious gods once walked the earth, enslaving and brutalizing millions, three unforgettable protagonists struggle to come to terms with the mysteries these divinities left behind— and to make sure these cruel masters do not rise again.
In City of Stairs, an unassuming young woman named Shara Thivani arrives in Bulikov, the city that once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world. Officially, she is just another junior diplomat, dispatched by the city’s new colonial masters; unofficially, she is one of her country’s most accomplished spies, on a mission to solve a murder. As she pursues the killer, she begins to suspect that the gods who once guarded Bulikov are not as dead as they seem, and that the city’s cruel reign may begin anew.
In City of Blades, General Turin Mulaghesh—foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumored war criminal, ally of an embattled prime minister—is pressed into service one last time, investigating a terrifying discovery in the city of Voortyashtan, once the stronghold of the god of war and death. Voortyashtan’s god is most certainly dead, but something is awakening in the city. And someone is determined to make the world tremble at the city’s awful power once again.
In City of Miracles, the formidable, seemingly unkillable Sigrud je Harkvaldsson returns from self-imposed exile on a mission of revenge, only to find himself embroiled in a battle that may be beyond even his abilities to win—a secret, decades-long war that will force him to confront the last mysteries of Bulikov, the city of miracles itself.
with an excerpt from Foundryside
1647 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2018
426 people are currently reading
1248 people want to read
About the author
Robert Jackson Bennett
32 books22.4k followersRobert Jackson Bennett is a two-time award winner of the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel, an Edgar Award winner for Best Paperback Original, and is also the 2010 recipient of the Sydney J Bounds Award for Best Newcomer, and a Philip K Dick Award Citation of Excellence. City of Stairs was shortlisted for the Locus Award and the World Fantasy Award. City of Blades was a finalist for the 2015 World Fantasy, Locus, and British Fantasy Awards. His eighth novel, FOUNDRYSIDE, will be available in the US on 8/21 of 2018 and the UK on 8/23.
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August 16, 2018Kindle sale alert! $2.99 for the entire trilogy, August 16, 2018. Link to US Amazon because the GR link doesn't take you to the right place: https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Cities-...
The first book has been on my TBR for ages so I'm excited for this one!
The first book has been on my TBR for ages so I'm excited for this one!
April 9, 2019
It’s a rare occasion when I’m introduced to a new author and completely floored by their talents. This is one of those occasions.
Robert Jackson Bennett has had a prolific career over the past decade: a two-time winner of the Shirley Jackson award for Best Novel, and various nominations for the Locus, World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Hugo Awards. Although I’ve been familiar with his presence in the fantasy community, I wasn’t exposed to any of his work until I picked up City of Stairs a couple of weeks ago.
I won’t make that mistake again.
The Divine Cities trilogy is an unforgettable series that has propelled Bennett’s books into “insta-buy” status for all his future works.
This is the first time I’m combining multiple books into one review, so I’ll briefly explain the premise of the series, then talk a bit about each entry, some overall themes, and finally some takeaways.
For centuries, the Continent was the central hub of the world. It was the only land where gods lived, and their countless miracles helped shape new realities and religions across the land. Meanwhile, across the sea, the residents of Saypura are treated like second-class citizens and been under the control of the Continentals for centuries. While the Saypurans could not reap the benefits of having gods on their land, they tried to make up for their lack of miraculous events by developing their technology at an exponential rate. Sixty years ago, a Saypuran discovered a way to invade the Continent, kill their gods, and free his countrymen. But when the gods were destroyed, most of their miracles were thrown into disarray: realities were bent, cities crumbled, and the laws of physics became unreliable. This allowed the Saypurans to escape their enslavement and take control of the decimated Continent. The Saypurans then outlawed any mention of the past gods, and now use their technological prowess to prevent the Continentals from gathering and rebelling.
This setting is immediately appealing as it shows how two neighboring countries have a long-simmering feud, with each experiencing the role of ruling and being ruled by the other. I was reminded of Guy Gavriel Kay’s Tigana when discovering that the Saypurans were not letting the Continentals access records of their own history, thus stealing away part of their identity. There is a simmering hatred and resentment that infests the politics, religious freedoms, trade routes, and military presence between the two nations.
As City of Stairs begins, Shara, a Saypuran investigator, is sent to the Continent to find a fellow Saypuran scholar who was murdered while researching Continental theology. Shara travels with her secretary and bodyguard, a skilled Nordic-like Dreymar named Sigrud, who is exceptionally gifted at getting his hands dirty. The book takes on the tone of a police procedural, and shares interesting revelations and world-building exposition through natural, unforced conversations. There is also a high level of intrigue, and the book asks intelligent questions that may or may not be solved over the long term.
City of Blades can best be described as a military fantasy mystery, and one of my favorite supporting cast members from the previous book is thrust into the spotlight. Mulaghesh is a world-weary but noble Saypuran army captain who is sent to a remote region of the Continent to track down a missing Saypuran foreign affairs agent. This agent has discovered a buried substance of great importance that is somehow linked to the miracles of the dead gods, and it could have huge implications on the economic development of the Continent at large. There is also a substantial time jump in the story, picking up nearly a decade after City of Stairs ends. Some major characters return, while others are absent from the narrative. Like City of Stairs, City of Blades utilizes the first half of the book in solving a mystery. The cast expands, the lore deepens, and the stakes are raised. While this book was my least favorite of the three, it also presents one of the trilogy’s strongest traits: nearly all the minor characters are given depth and agency, reinforcing the feeling that the world doesn’t just revolve around the actions of our main cast. However, in a couple of instances it felt like Bennett was bending his own rules to fit the story he was telling, giving me the sense that he was retconning the rules of his world for the narrative to make sense.
While the first two books are a slow burn, City of Miracles explodes right out of the gate. My pulse was pounding by the end of the first chapter, and it became immediately apparent that Bennett was saving his best for last. A great many mysteries are brought to light as we learn more about the Divine, their true intentions, what provokes and influences them, and what their legacies are after they are gone. I won’t go into any plot details, but I will say that City of Miracles is a story about reflecting on the difficult choices one makes, and if it is ever possible to find redemption. It is an emotionally complex and deeply satisfying conclusion to one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read.
A few thoughts on the series as a whole:
- The Continent felt Slavic, Saypura felt like a proxy for India, and the Dreymar people were clearly influenced by Scandanavia. I briefly researched the history of these regions to see if there were any direct correlations with the events in the books, but came up empty. If some of these events are based in fact, please send me a note to let me know!
- It was refreshing to follow characters who start in the mid-to-late 30’s and age into their 50’s and 60’s by the end of the third book. The conversations, relationships, and interactions are mature and thoughtful, reflecting the wisdom that comes with those extra years of experience.
- Another refreshing aspect was how the story never felt the need to rely on action scenes to keep the pace moving. The action scenes were used sparingly, but when they do arrive, they are massively entertaining. Let me emphasize this again: massively entertaining.
- This series addresses many different types of conflict, and it does not dally or overstay its welcome before its answers are presented. It is an incredibly satisfying read. There’s also more than a fair share of solid humor sprinkled throughout.
- There’s equal representation of the sexes without calling attention to itself. Sexism simply did not exist in any aspect of the story. Many of the power positions (judges, foreign affairs agents, political leaders, etc.) were women, while many men took on the roles of assistants and secretaries. It was never pointed out, it was just the way it was.
- All three books were written in the present tense. It took some getting used to, but quickly became a non-factor in the enjoyment of the story.
- The word “magic” is never used. Miracles exist because of the Divine. Anything with supernatural, reality-bending traits stems from Divine influence.
- The relationship between Sigrud and Shara was a joy to read. They are so close, and all pretenses are absent from their conversations. You can tell that they’ve worked together for decades and see each other’s true selves. The familiarity and maturity of their affection is realistic and appealing. Bennett is gifted at showcasing the many raw emotions on display in this series: affection, instability, remorse, self-hatred, loyalty.
The Divine Cities trilogy is quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It treats its audience with the same respect and consideration as it shares with its cast. It is a rich, lovingly-crafted world that is both thematically complex and wonderfully entertaining. Shara, Mulaghesh and Sigrud have all been ensconced in my personal Fictional Character Hall of Fame, and I will miss them dearly. If you’re looking to discover something new, something original, and something memorable, then this is the series you’re looking for.
9.5 / 10
Robert Jackson Bennett has had a prolific career over the past decade: a two-time winner of the Shirley Jackson award for Best Novel, and various nominations for the Locus, World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Hugo Awards. Although I’ve been familiar with his presence in the fantasy community, I wasn’t exposed to any of his work until I picked up City of Stairs a couple of weeks ago.
I won’t make that mistake again.
The Divine Cities trilogy is an unforgettable series that has propelled Bennett’s books into “insta-buy” status for all his future works.
This is the first time I’m combining multiple books into one review, so I’ll briefly explain the premise of the series, then talk a bit about each entry, some overall themes, and finally some takeaways.
For centuries, the Continent was the central hub of the world. It was the only land where gods lived, and their countless miracles helped shape new realities and religions across the land. Meanwhile, across the sea, the residents of Saypura are treated like second-class citizens and been under the control of the Continentals for centuries. While the Saypurans could not reap the benefits of having gods on their land, they tried to make up for their lack of miraculous events by developing their technology at an exponential rate. Sixty years ago, a Saypuran discovered a way to invade the Continent, kill their gods, and free his countrymen. But when the gods were destroyed, most of their miracles were thrown into disarray: realities were bent, cities crumbled, and the laws of physics became unreliable. This allowed the Saypurans to escape their enslavement and take control of the decimated Continent. The Saypurans then outlawed any mention of the past gods, and now use their technological prowess to prevent the Continentals from gathering and rebelling.
This setting is immediately appealing as it shows how two neighboring countries have a long-simmering feud, with each experiencing the role of ruling and being ruled by the other. I was reminded of Guy Gavriel Kay’s Tigana when discovering that the Saypurans were not letting the Continentals access records of their own history, thus stealing away part of their identity. There is a simmering hatred and resentment that infests the politics, religious freedoms, trade routes, and military presence between the two nations.
As City of Stairs begins, Shara, a Saypuran investigator, is sent to the Continent to find a fellow Saypuran scholar who was murdered while researching Continental theology. Shara travels with her secretary and bodyguard, a skilled Nordic-like Dreymar named Sigrud, who is exceptionally gifted at getting his hands dirty. The book takes on the tone of a police procedural, and shares interesting revelations and world-building exposition through natural, unforced conversations. There is also a high level of intrigue, and the book asks intelligent questions that may or may not be solved over the long term.
City of Blades can best be described as a military fantasy mystery, and one of my favorite supporting cast members from the previous book is thrust into the spotlight. Mulaghesh is a world-weary but noble Saypuran army captain who is sent to a remote region of the Continent to track down a missing Saypuran foreign affairs agent. This agent has discovered a buried substance of great importance that is somehow linked to the miracles of the dead gods, and it could have huge implications on the economic development of the Continent at large. There is also a substantial time jump in the story, picking up nearly a decade after City of Stairs ends. Some major characters return, while others are absent from the narrative. Like City of Stairs, City of Blades utilizes the first half of the book in solving a mystery. The cast expands, the lore deepens, and the stakes are raised. While this book was my least favorite of the three, it also presents one of the trilogy’s strongest traits: nearly all the minor characters are given depth and agency, reinforcing the feeling that the world doesn’t just revolve around the actions of our main cast. However, in a couple of instances it felt like Bennett was bending his own rules to fit the story he was telling, giving me the sense that he was retconning the rules of his world for the narrative to make sense.
While the first two books are a slow burn, City of Miracles explodes right out of the gate. My pulse was pounding by the end of the first chapter, and it became immediately apparent that Bennett was saving his best for last. A great many mysteries are brought to light as we learn more about the Divine, their true intentions, what provokes and influences them, and what their legacies are after they are gone. I won’t go into any plot details, but I will say that City of Miracles is a story about reflecting on the difficult choices one makes, and if it is ever possible to find redemption. It is an emotionally complex and deeply satisfying conclusion to one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read.
A few thoughts on the series as a whole:
- The Continent felt Slavic, Saypura felt like a proxy for India, and the Dreymar people were clearly influenced by Scandanavia. I briefly researched the history of these regions to see if there were any direct correlations with the events in the books, but came up empty. If some of these events are based in fact, please send me a note to let me know!
- It was refreshing to follow characters who start in the mid-to-late 30’s and age into their 50’s and 60’s by the end of the third book. The conversations, relationships, and interactions are mature and thoughtful, reflecting the wisdom that comes with those extra years of experience.
- Another refreshing aspect was how the story never felt the need to rely on action scenes to keep the pace moving. The action scenes were used sparingly, but when they do arrive, they are massively entertaining. Let me emphasize this again: massively entertaining.
- This series addresses many different types of conflict, and it does not dally or overstay its welcome before its answers are presented. It is an incredibly satisfying read. There’s also more than a fair share of solid humor sprinkled throughout.
- There’s equal representation of the sexes without calling attention to itself. Sexism simply did not exist in any aspect of the story. Many of the power positions (judges, foreign affairs agents, political leaders, etc.) were women, while many men took on the roles of assistants and secretaries. It was never pointed out, it was just the way it was.
- All three books were written in the present tense. It took some getting used to, but quickly became a non-factor in the enjoyment of the story.
- The word “magic” is never used. Miracles exist because of the Divine. Anything with supernatural, reality-bending traits stems from Divine influence.
- The relationship between Sigrud and Shara was a joy to read. They are so close, and all pretenses are absent from their conversations. You can tell that they’ve worked together for decades and see each other’s true selves. The familiarity and maturity of their affection is realistic and appealing. Bennett is gifted at showcasing the many raw emotions on display in this series: affection, instability, remorse, self-hatred, loyalty.
The Divine Cities trilogy is quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It treats its audience with the same respect and consideration as it shares with its cast. It is a rich, lovingly-crafted world that is both thematically complex and wonderfully entertaining. Shara, Mulaghesh and Sigrud have all been ensconced in my personal Fictional Character Hall of Fame, and I will miss them dearly. If you’re looking to discover something new, something original, and something memorable, then this is the series you’re looking for.
9.5 / 10
Read
August 14, 2018Holy shite! Went to pre-order Foundryside (b/c rejected for ARC *sniff*) and...
Divine Cities trilogy bundle is $2.99!!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Anyone else have the 3 books in DTB like me? Manna from heaven, folks... ;-)
Divine Cities trilogy bundle is $2.99!!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Anyone else have the 3 books in DTB like me? Manna from heaven, folks... ;-)
January 15, 2021
**An epic fantasy trilogy in the oldschool sense, driven by its robust and deep mythology to create a believable world for the characters and the reader to inhabit**
I went back and forth on the stars for this. In the end, I gave it five stars for sheer scope alone. Are any of the three individual books five-star reads on their own? Hrm, the second one maybe, but only maybe
However, I think it's fair to say that the whole trilogy is greater than the sum of its parts. Because this kind of book, regardless of other qualities, is about escapism. And Bennett created a huge world, populated it with three-dimensional characters, and let them run around doing cool stuff
The Divine Cities feel vast. I bought into the world--and I bought into the mythology in a *big* way, what can I say I'm a sucker for a really good invented mythology (even if it does feel that parts were jury-rigged on in books 2 and 3; Bennet isn't Steven Erickson). More importantly, I got to live in the Divine Cities for a week. While there are flaws in plotting and prose, a book that can make me hang out in its world for a week is worth the full five stars for me
"'The world is a coward,' he thinks. 'It does not change before your face; it waits until your back is turned, and pounces….'"
"It is a fool who lives his life believing the waves upon which he sails shall remember him. The seas know nothing. This makes them beautiful. And this makes them terrible."
"From her arms hang all the tides and all the storms of all the seas, and all the dawns and sunsets; from her back there hangs a cape of all the births and all the deaths, both those that have come and those that have yet to be; and about her waist is a skirt composed of all the frantic desires that time would not pass by, the wish that all these moments, however beautiful or brutal, would persist, and linger, and continue. And at the bottom of this skirt is a broad, black hem, cutting all these wishes short."
"'There is rice whisky in the washroom,' says Sigrud, 'if you would like some.'
"'Mm? What? You hid booze in my room?'
"'I have booze hidden all over the place. Dead drop training has its uses beyond espionage.'"
"'It’s unfair that the dead leave us,' she says. 'But it’s worse that they never really go away.'"
I went back and forth on the stars for this. In the end, I gave it five stars for sheer scope alone. Are any of the three individual books five-star reads on their own? Hrm, the second one maybe, but only maybe
However, I think it's fair to say that the whole trilogy is greater than the sum of its parts. Because this kind of book, regardless of other qualities, is about escapism. And Bennett created a huge world, populated it with three-dimensional characters, and let them run around doing cool stuff
The Divine Cities feel vast. I bought into the world--and I bought into the mythology in a *big* way, what can I say I'm a sucker for a really good invented mythology (even if it does feel that parts were jury-rigged on in books 2 and 3; Bennet isn't Steven Erickson). More importantly, I got to live in the Divine Cities for a week. While there are flaws in plotting and prose, a book that can make me hang out in its world for a week is worth the full five stars for me
"'The world is a coward,' he thinks. 'It does not change before your face; it waits until your back is turned, and pounces….'"
"It is a fool who lives his life believing the waves upon which he sails shall remember him. The seas know nothing. This makes them beautiful. And this makes them terrible."
"From her arms hang all the tides and all the storms of all the seas, and all the dawns and sunsets; from her back there hangs a cape of all the births and all the deaths, both those that have come and those that have yet to be; and about her waist is a skirt composed of all the frantic desires that time would not pass by, the wish that all these moments, however beautiful or brutal, would persist, and linger, and continue. And at the bottom of this skirt is a broad, black hem, cutting all these wishes short."
"'There is rice whisky in the washroom,' says Sigrud, 'if you would like some.'
"'Mm? What? You hid booze in my room?'
"'I have booze hidden all over the place. Dead drop training has its uses beyond espionage.'"
"'It’s unfair that the dead leave us,' she says. 'But it’s worse that they never really go away.'"
dnf
September 19, 2020I am putting this on hold at 10%.
The writing is amazing, but the storyline isn't holding my attention. I have read through reviews that have said the ending chapters are where it gets exciting, but do I really want to go through a book not excited until the end?
Thus the decision to put back for now.
The writing is amazing, but the storyline isn't holding my attention. I have read through reviews that have said the ending chapters are where it gets exciting, but do I really want to go through a book not excited until the end?
Thus the decision to put back for now.
January 8, 2024
Good overall, and the world building is p fun, but it does feel like it drops off enough in the 3rd book to leave only a mild impression.
November 4, 2020
I quite enjoyed this trilogy (which really needs to be read together, I think: the first volume in particular gains a lot from what we learn about Sigrud in the later books). Bennett writes excellent action scenes, he's good at political intrigue, his plotting is solid, and the central characters are always memorable. Plus, the way he conceptualizes the gods of his world, the powers they wield and what's left behind after their fall, is interesting and unusual. The gods were from the Continent, and with their help it conquered the rest of the world, until somebody from the oppressed state of Saypur figured out how to kill the gods. When the first book opens, the shoe is on the other foot, with the Continent, ravaged by the aftermath of the gods' deaths, occupied by Saypur. So at first it seems that the trilogy is about colonialism and imperialism and how they are bad no matter who is doing them, which is partly true. But what makes the trilogy really interesting is that Bennett doesn't just stop there. His main characters are all, in some way and like it or not, politicians, who are fighting for the possibility of self-determination for everybody in the world. But, as the Continent's experience makes clear, self-determination may not be particularly meaningful in a world of godlike powers. Even though the big six gods are gone (although each book centers around the question of whether or not that's actually true), various godlings and godlets are scattered around, not to mention objects imbued with the gods' powers. How can this situation, in which some individuals can command vast powers, be made compatible with democracy? (The analogy with money and our democracy is fairly straightforward, I think.) Unfortunately, Bennett's answer is not particularly interesting -- I would argue that it is in fact basically a cop-out
October 12, 2018
Summary: For centuries, the people and gods of the Continent ruled the world with iron fists and reality-warping magic. They held the god-less people of Saipur in cruel slavery. Around eighty years ago, a Saipuri resistance leader discovered how to kill a god, and proceeded to do so with enthusiasm (and a rebel army). When the gods died, all their civilization-sustaining magic died, too, and the Continent went to extreme hell: plagues, famine, floods, fractures in reality. Now, Saipur is the world’s dominant civilization. They rule the Continent, and are ever in fear that the gods or their powers might return and wreak havoc on a world which is now mostly science-based and consistent. This trilogy tells three stories in which that happens, while also examining the systemic ways that exerting power over others, and being oppressed by power, shape people and societies for generations. Also, there’s a fascinating setting which combines an early 20th-century tech level with low-level magic, interesting political intrigue, and protagonists of the sort you don’t often see in genre fantasy.
Thoughts: Good books are not super-rare, but it’s not common to find books that are good in the particular way these are. Yeah, they have good plot, good characters, an interesting and unusual setting, decent if not spectacular prose, and they’re well worth reading on those counts alone. But what elevates the series for me beyond “good” is the way Bennett uses the stories to examine systemic issues of how history and the shifting tides of national power impact people and societies, in secondary-world fantasy context. The only other examples I can remember reading of large-scale social forces being treated so effectively in the context of a magic-heavy setting which are also good and entertaining fantasy stories (that’s a crucial qualifier) are Daniel Abraham’s Dagger & Coin series, and Max Gladstone’s Craft series. That I’m making that comparison should tell you everything you need to know.
But if you do need more, here are some tidbits. The protagonists of the first two books are character types who do not usually get to be SFF heroes. City of Stairs is headed up by a nerdy bureaucrat. Okay, she is also a spy, but she the analytical, operation-planning type spy, not the James Bond type. (She’s got a henchman for the Bond-type stuff.) City of Blades’s protagonist is an older female soldier, disabled and retired from active duty. And she is the best. The third book’s hero is the henchman from the first book, and while he’s not a bad main character, he’s definitely more of the usual fantasy-adventure hero type. But two out of three ain’t bad.
Escapist Rating: 4/4
Recommended for: People who liked both Max Gladstone’s Craft and Abraham’s Dagger & Coin, Fans of structuralism, People who like to read about awesome female characters, People who enjoy interesting and original worldbuilding
Dis-Recommended for: People looking for a fluffy read: these aren’t, like, grimdark or anything like that, but they are dense
Thoughts: Good books are not super-rare, but it’s not common to find books that are good in the particular way these are. Yeah, they have good plot, good characters, an interesting and unusual setting, decent if not spectacular prose, and they’re well worth reading on those counts alone. But what elevates the series for me beyond “good” is the way Bennett uses the stories to examine systemic issues of how history and the shifting tides of national power impact people and societies, in secondary-world fantasy context. The only other examples I can remember reading of large-scale social forces being treated so effectively in the context of a magic-heavy setting which are also good and entertaining fantasy stories (that’s a crucial qualifier) are Daniel Abraham’s Dagger & Coin series, and Max Gladstone’s Craft series. That I’m making that comparison should tell you everything you need to know.
But if you do need more, here are some tidbits. The protagonists of the first two books are character types who do not usually get to be SFF heroes. City of Stairs is headed up by a nerdy bureaucrat. Okay, she is also a spy, but she the analytical, operation-planning type spy, not the James Bond type. (She’s got a henchman for the Bond-type stuff.) City of Blades’s protagonist is an older female soldier, disabled and retired from active duty. And she is the best. The third book’s hero is the henchman from the first book, and while he’s not a bad main character, he’s definitely more of the usual fantasy-adventure hero type. But two out of three ain’t bad.
Escapist Rating: 4/4
Recommended for: People who liked both Max Gladstone’s Craft and Abraham’s Dagger & Coin, Fans of structuralism, People who like to read about awesome female characters, People who enjoy interesting and original worldbuilding
Dis-Recommended for: People looking for a fluffy read: these aren’t, like, grimdark or anything like that, but they are dense
April 6, 2024
In the world of Divine Cities there are three major players: the Continent, blessed and controlled by living gods and their miracles; neighboring Saypur, that has no divinities but is technologically advanced; and finally the remote and free of gods Dreyling States that devolved into piratical kingdoms.
For centuries the Continent enslaved and terrorized Saypur with a legion of divine monstrosities, until the Kaj invented a way to kill the gods and the tables turned. Now the Continent is a horrid mess, with miraculous structures falling apart and even the weather changing, and furious Saypur in charge of its former oppressor.
Over the course of several decades in the three books the technology improves from early industrial age to modernism, e.g. crossbow to machine gun. Politics are complicated, with one faction seeking retribution and another trying to break the cycle of violence.
In the center of the story are very well fleshed out, seriously nuanced characters. A genius Saypuri historian gets murdered in Bulikov, the capital of the Continent where all six Divinities united a long time ago after centuries of internecine conflict. The city sustained unimaginable damage after the killing of some of the gods. Divine history is verboten and the natives are not too pleased, with some groups secretly trying to bring the surviving gods out of hiding and rebuild the empire.
A young Saypuri intelligence operative, who is also a former student of the murdered historian, and her Dreyling enforcer arrive to investigate. Lots of musings about the nature of power are interspersed with exciting action and even some humor.
The second book similarly deals with the nature of death and memory, and is a lot darker and utterly heartbreaking. The reformed Dreyling States want to be a major player and bid on building a new port city in the dangerous colonial hinterlands in order to open commercial access to the Continent. A retired general is sent to investigate a miraculous find and uncovers a rats nest of abuse and corruption.
The final book is bringing in generational change. The old guard do what they can to protect the children and usher in the new world. The main focus is on growing up and learning forgiveness.
The writing is competent, sometimes downright poetic. The ideas are well considered and memorable. The world building is great and the characters are well developed. Plot wise I have some issues with the final book. While the first two are pretty much self-contained, the last one seems to be retconning some of the previous action and has a couple of significant plot holes.
For centuries the Continent enslaved and terrorized Saypur with a legion of divine monstrosities, until the Kaj invented a way to kill the gods and the tables turned. Now the Continent is a horrid mess, with miraculous structures falling apart and even the weather changing, and furious Saypur in charge of its former oppressor.
Over the course of several decades in the three books the technology improves from early industrial age to modernism, e.g. crossbow to machine gun. Politics are complicated, with one faction seeking retribution and another trying to break the cycle of violence.
In the center of the story are very well fleshed out, seriously nuanced characters. A genius Saypuri historian gets murdered in Bulikov, the capital of the Continent where all six Divinities united a long time ago after centuries of internecine conflict. The city sustained unimaginable damage after the killing of some of the gods. Divine history is verboten and the natives are not too pleased, with some groups secretly trying to bring the surviving gods out of hiding and rebuild the empire.
A young Saypuri intelligence operative, who is also a former student of the murdered historian, and her Dreyling enforcer arrive to investigate. Lots of musings about the nature of power are interspersed with exciting action and even some humor.
The second book similarly deals with the nature of death and memory, and is a lot darker and utterly heartbreaking. The reformed Dreyling States want to be a major player and bid on building a new port city in the dangerous colonial hinterlands in order to open commercial access to the Continent. A retired general is sent to investigate a miraculous find and uncovers a rats nest of abuse and corruption.
The final book is bringing in generational change. The old guard do what they can to protect the children and usher in the new world. The main focus is on growing up and learning forgiveness.
The writing is competent, sometimes downright poetic. The ideas are well considered and memorable. The world building is great and the characters are well developed. Plot wise I have some issues with the final book. While the first two are pretty much self-contained, the last one seems to be retconning some of the previous action and has a couple of significant plot holes.
August 11, 2019
Book 1: City of Stairs.
The Saypuri rule the Continental city of Bulikov which simmers with resentment. Continental citizens remember that the gods called Divinities once made them the masters of this city (and the empire). Saypuri bureaucrats who are now their overseers are almost universally hated. After a Saypuri academic is murdered in Bulikov, Shara Thivani (aka Ashara Komayd), an intelligence operative and friend of the murder victim Dr. Pangyui, arrives to investigate the crime with her hulking secretary Sigrud. Dr. Pangyui's research might have been unorthodox and controversial, but is that what got him killed?
Most of the story is told from the POV of the character Shara and occurs in the city of Bulikov. The prose is straightforward with a mostly informal tone, and is easy to read. The plot is somewhat complex particularly in the latter half of the book. It does take a while to figure out who the characters are, what the historical background is, and how the magic system works — which seems to be based primarily on divine power and magical objects. Although there are many action scenes, the book isn't graphic or dark. My main criticism of this book involves the way that the climax and ending is handled. It left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.
Book 2: City of Blades.
General Turyin Mulaghesh is forced out of retirement to find the missing Sumitra Choudhry in Voortyashtan, the city of blades. Sumitra was sent to study some newly discovered ore with miraculous properties but disappeared from the nearby military base without a trace. Politics in this region are complicated and the Saypuri military are primarily there to prevent local factions from all-out war and to protect the workers who are dredging the new harbor.
The plot of this book appears to be a crime investigation story, and although this is part of a trilogy, the storyline doesn't seem to overlap at all with the first book except for a couple of characters that appear in both (only one character has more than a minor appearance in both books). This story is not one I'm interested in and frankly this book is not as well written as the previous one. Thus after reading four chapters, I've decided to DNF the rest of the trilogy. Perhaps I'll pick it up again some other time when I'm in the mood to read a crime novel.
The Saypuri rule the Continental city of Bulikov which simmers with resentment. Continental citizens remember that the gods called Divinities once made them the masters of this city (and the empire). Saypuri bureaucrats who are now their overseers are almost universally hated. After a Saypuri academic is murdered in Bulikov, Shara Thivani (aka Ashara Komayd), an intelligence operative and friend of the murder victim Dr. Pangyui, arrives to investigate the crime with her hulking secretary Sigrud. Dr. Pangyui's research might have been unorthodox and controversial, but is that what got him killed?
Most of the story is told from the POV of the character Shara and occurs in the city of Bulikov. The prose is straightforward with a mostly informal tone, and is easy to read. The plot is somewhat complex particularly in the latter half of the book. It does take a while to figure out who the characters are, what the historical background is, and how the magic system works — which seems to be based primarily on divine power and magical objects. Although there are many action scenes, the book isn't graphic or dark. My main criticism of this book involves the way that the climax and ending is handled. It left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.
Book 2: City of Blades.
General Turyin Mulaghesh is forced out of retirement to find the missing Sumitra Choudhry in Voortyashtan, the city of blades. Sumitra was sent to study some newly discovered ore with miraculous properties but disappeared from the nearby military base without a trace. Politics in this region are complicated and the Saypuri military are primarily there to prevent local factions from all-out war and to protect the workers who are dredging the new harbor.
The plot of this book appears to be a crime investigation story, and although this is part of a trilogy, the storyline doesn't seem to overlap at all with the first book except for a couple of characters that appear in both (only one character has more than a minor appearance in both books). This story is not one I'm interested in and frankly this book is not as well written as the previous one. Thus after reading four chapters, I've decided to DNF the rest of the trilogy. Perhaps I'll pick it up again some other time when I'm in the mood to read a crime novel.
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January 20, 2024The Divine Cities Trilogy
QUICK REVIEW
This is my 2023 Roman Empire. Whatever the F*** that means. But wow good stuff. If you love world building and characters, deffo read and enjoy.
LONG REVIEW
Intro
I admit it took me some time to actually read this despite the series being lauded and applauded on various recommendation sites. I am afraid the synopsis just wasn’t very sexy! However, I got to reading it last week and I could put it down nor read it fast enough. Especially loved the method Robert Jackson Bennet (Author) used - little articles throughout the book as a plot device to promote exposition. A very sexy book. 4.6/5
World-building
Imagine cities that are alive, a continent full of wonders and god-like beings worshipped as denizens. Then delve into the history where this continent has used its miracles and gods to conquer and enslave the rest of the known world. Interestingly, this is not where the author chooses to take us. Instead, we get transported to a post-god era where a colony of this Continent found a way to kill the gods and won the successive war. To tell you more would be to ruin a lot. But what happens to an entire continent of miracles and miracle reliant people when their gods cease? 4.8/5
Plot
If one was to say the author had the ending planned at the start of the very first book.. I would believe them. The first book is a mystery with a great amount of exposition. The second book is a mystery with less exposition and more introspective looks into characters, The third is a mystery with a doomsday feel. As you can see, the consistent theme is thriller. The books do an incredible job of dangling the answer in our noses. Allowing us to smell, taste and feel it but never see it whole. A fine method. 4.1/5
Characters
From Shara all the way to Mugladesh, you see their humanity, burdens and much more. Robert lets us see into their inner most conflicts from the very get go while giving each of them a distinct feel. There is a overall sadness to each character and their longing for something akin to redemption/happiness but that’s for you to find out :). 4.8/5
QUICK REVIEW
This is my 2023 Roman Empire. Whatever the F*** that means. But wow good stuff. If you love world building and characters, deffo read and enjoy.
LONG REVIEW
Intro
I admit it took me some time to actually read this despite the series being lauded and applauded on various recommendation sites. I am afraid the synopsis just wasn’t very sexy! However, I got to reading it last week and I could put it down nor read it fast enough. Especially loved the method Robert Jackson Bennet (Author) used - little articles throughout the book as a plot device to promote exposition. A very sexy book. 4.6/5
World-building
Imagine cities that are alive, a continent full of wonders and god-like beings worshipped as denizens. Then delve into the history where this continent has used its miracles and gods to conquer and enslave the rest of the known world. Interestingly, this is not where the author chooses to take us. Instead, we get transported to a post-god era where a colony of this Continent found a way to kill the gods and won the successive war. To tell you more would be to ruin a lot. But what happens to an entire continent of miracles and miracle reliant people when their gods cease? 4.8/5
Plot
If one was to say the author had the ending planned at the start of the very first book.. I would believe them. The first book is a mystery with a great amount of exposition. The second book is a mystery with less exposition and more introspective looks into characters, The third is a mystery with a doomsday feel. As you can see, the consistent theme is thriller. The books do an incredible job of dangling the answer in our noses. Allowing us to smell, taste and feel it but never see it whole. A fine method. 4.1/5
Characters
From Shara all the way to Mugladesh, you see their humanity, burdens and much more. Robert lets us see into their inner most conflicts from the very get go while giving each of them a distinct feel. There is a overall sadness to each character and their longing for something akin to redemption/happiness but that’s for you to find out :). 4.8/5
January 11, 2026
„We are all but moments“
Auf der Suche nach einer durchdachten packenden, magischen und gereiften Geschichte, die dich hemmungslos mit den 3 Protagonisten verbindet und es dir schwer macht, wieder von ihnen Abschied nehmen zu müssen?
Hier ist sie!
Eine Fantasie-Trilogie, so vielschichtig und tiefgreifend, voller Konflikte, Intrigen, Politik und Friedenssehnsüchten... und Wunder.
Bennett macht es uns schwer und leicht zugleich. Wir werden hineingeworfen in eine fremde, mysteriöse Welt, die einst von Göttern beherrscht wurde, die aber bereits getötet sind und mit ihnen ihre Wunder. Eine Welt voller fremder Namen, Orte, Personen.
Leicht fällt es durch den Schreibstil des Autoren, seine Fähigkeit, uns ganz nahe mit den 3 Hauptpersonen zu verbinden. Schon zu Beginn sind wir mitten hineingeworfen in diese fremde und doch irgendwie vertraute Welt.
Es ist eine Geschichte danach. Die grossen Konflikte, monumentalen Kriege scheinen vorbei, die Menschen dürfen nun ganz unabhängig ihren Weg beschreiten.
Oder sie müssen es. Aus dieser Grundlage heraus muss sich die philosophische Frage stellen, wer wir als Menschen sind, was unsere Fähigkeit ausmacht und inwieweit wir fähig sind, Macht nicht zu missbrauchen. Bennet bleibt nahe an der Realität, indem er voraussetzt, dass der Mensch es nicht so einfach kann.
Es ist aber vor allem auch die Geschichte von Menschen, die bemüht sind, ihr Trauma zu bewältigen und dabei immer wieder in neue fallen. Dies macht wohl die magische Verbindung zu den Hauptpersonen aus, es fordert von uns die Ebene des Mitgefühls ein, wir fühlen buchstäblich ein.
Ich habe mich Bennet hier sehr gerne anvertraut, da er mich schon von der ersten Zeile an in einen Geschichte eingewoben hat, mit dem Versprechen, sehr tiefgründig und umfassend aufgezeigt zu bekommen, was möglich ist.
Ich habe schon sehr viel Fantasie geniessen dürfen. Diese Trilogie zählt für mich sicher zu den Spitzenreitern.
Auf der Suche nach einer durchdachten packenden, magischen und gereiften Geschichte, die dich hemmungslos mit den 3 Protagonisten verbindet und es dir schwer macht, wieder von ihnen Abschied nehmen zu müssen?
Hier ist sie!
Eine Fantasie-Trilogie, so vielschichtig und tiefgreifend, voller Konflikte, Intrigen, Politik und Friedenssehnsüchten... und Wunder.
Bennett macht es uns schwer und leicht zugleich. Wir werden hineingeworfen in eine fremde, mysteriöse Welt, die einst von Göttern beherrscht wurde, die aber bereits getötet sind und mit ihnen ihre Wunder. Eine Welt voller fremder Namen, Orte, Personen.
Leicht fällt es durch den Schreibstil des Autoren, seine Fähigkeit, uns ganz nahe mit den 3 Hauptpersonen zu verbinden. Schon zu Beginn sind wir mitten hineingeworfen in diese fremde und doch irgendwie vertraute Welt.
Es ist eine Geschichte danach. Die grossen Konflikte, monumentalen Kriege scheinen vorbei, die Menschen dürfen nun ganz unabhängig ihren Weg beschreiten.
Oder sie müssen es. Aus dieser Grundlage heraus muss sich die philosophische Frage stellen, wer wir als Menschen sind, was unsere Fähigkeit ausmacht und inwieweit wir fähig sind, Macht nicht zu missbrauchen. Bennet bleibt nahe an der Realität, indem er voraussetzt, dass der Mensch es nicht so einfach kann.
Es ist aber vor allem auch die Geschichte von Menschen, die bemüht sind, ihr Trauma zu bewältigen und dabei immer wieder in neue fallen. Dies macht wohl die magische Verbindung zu den Hauptpersonen aus, es fordert von uns die Ebene des Mitgefühls ein, wir fühlen buchstäblich ein.
Ich habe mich Bennet hier sehr gerne anvertraut, da er mich schon von der ersten Zeile an in einen Geschichte eingewoben hat, mit dem Versprechen, sehr tiefgründig und umfassend aufgezeigt zu bekommen, was möglich ist.
Ich habe schon sehr viel Fantasie geniessen dürfen. Diese Trilogie zählt für mich sicher zu den Spitzenreitern.
June 18, 2025
The Divine Cities have all the components of an excellent fantasy series: solid world-building, and done in a show rather than tell style; interesting magical system, one that is a remnant of gods who once walked the earth; complex characters, from the three protagonists who take turns as the mains of each book and a cast of multidimensional supporting characters who interplay to add depth to the stories; and plots that engage on multiple levels, starting with a crime or mystery that needs investigation from by protagonist of the book to a deeper mystery of the divine that is uncovered in the solution and links together an overall plot for the series. The series blends into its fantasy, police procedural, and political intrigue within a world balancing different cultures and belief systems. Within this world , each in their turns, Shara Thivani, Turin Mulaghesh, and Sigrud je Harkvaldsson, take on a battle against the divinities. The first two books open slowly, unfolding the crime that brought the protagonist into the city at a suspense-filled pace only to kick up to high gear in the later part of the story culminating in an epic-level confrontation. The last book, however, starts with a gut punch and maintains that intensity through its last chapters. This series, like everything else that I have read from this author, was well written and captivating start to finish and like everything else I've read from Robert Jackson Bennett, I highly recommend it.
July 18, 2019
City of Stairs, my first read from author Robert Jackson Bennet was amazing! There's something about a story with characters trying to survive in a cataclysmic world that's moved on. I also love a good mystery. This book has both. I don't restrict my reading to any particular genre. Instead, I'm a sucker for anything with memorable characters & a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat until the end. 466 pages but reads longer due to the depth of the writing.
City of Blades, my second read from author Robert Jackson Bennet was again, amazing! After reading the first book in the trilogy(?) I had no choice but to keep reading. 498 pages but reads longer due to the depth of the writing.
City of Miracles, my third read from author Robert Jackson Bennet was, as always, amazing! After reading the first two books in the trilogy(?) I had no choice but to keep reading. 451 pages and reads longer due to the depth of the writing. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018)
City of Blades, my second read from author Robert Jackson Bennet was again, amazing! After reading the first book in the trilogy(?) I had no choice but to keep reading. 498 pages but reads longer due to the depth of the writing.
City of Miracles, my third read from author Robert Jackson Bennet was, as always, amazing! After reading the first two books in the trilogy(?) I had no choice but to keep reading. 451 pages and reads longer due to the depth of the writing. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018)
May 13, 2020
One the rare cases where I actually want to go back and read this trilogy again. Truly an engaging and fascinating fantasy series with a lot of references to real cultures that don't always get much play in these kinds of work (e.g. Russian, Eastern European). While the stories have a great pace with interesting characters that really grow as the trilogy moves forward, where Bennett really shines is the world building and the deep dive into the history/mythology about gods and how things got to where they are in the present day. In fact, it would be a cool addition if Bennett did an addendum to the series that dives even further in this direction a'la Fire and Blood from the GOT series.
The other thing that shines is how visual the writing was. I easily imagined this world in my head when reading the books, while at the same time thinking how great this would look as a Netfilx movie.
The other thing that shines is how visual the writing was. I easily imagined this world in my head when reading the books, while at the same time thinking how great this would look as a Netfilx movie.
December 11, 2023
I picked up this trilogy somewhat randomly, because I remembered I'd liked Foundryside and I recognized the author's name. I am so glad that I did--this trilogy is right up my alley with fantasy political intrigued told through personal stories. Each book begins the same way with a person murdered/missing, but because each book has a different protagonist, the tones and approaches of the characters vary greatly. Because the protagonists know each other, there is also an interesting effect of characters who we see from the outside in one book, we get to know from the inside in another, albeit spread out overtime. The third book was not quite as strong for me, because it introduced am antagonist I wasn't all that interested in, but it makes up for that in the POV of Sigrund and the wildly cathartic ending.
April 1, 2019
2 and a half stars.
The history of the gods was the most interesting bit, what little there was, and jumping main characters all 3 books I think the story suffered from it a little.
The last Divine Being, Orvos, was sidelined on the excuse she didn't want to be changed by belief. But if she just smote Norkov at any point not in the middle of a crowd or even IN one and didn't announce herself how the hell would anyone know what happened? As it played out he was in her hidey hole with no one around. No one would have a clue what happened but the people who know about her. So it's some kind of 'it has to be this way' BS I guess.
The history of the gods was the most interesting bit, what little there was, and jumping main characters all 3 books I think the story suffered from it a little.
The last Divine Being, Orvos, was sidelined on the excuse she didn't want to be changed by belief. But if she just smote Norkov at any point not in the middle of a crowd or even IN one and didn't announce herself how the hell would anyone know what happened? As it played out he was in her hidey hole with no one around. No one would have a clue what happened but the people who know about her. So it's some kind of 'it has to be this way' BS I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2019
Spectacularly unique world and magic systems. 3 novel's are quite distinct, with focus on different characters in each. City Of Stairs was my favorite, especially for its protagonists. A strong sense of pogniency infuses these stories as much is lost while little is sometimes gained. The futility and inevitability of war and its human consequences are fully explicated from different perspectives. I loved the ideas, and divine mysteries. I felt that the stories dragged a bit in places, and i lost interest foyr a while during the final book. Nevertheless, recommended, as really original.
December 17, 2020
4.35
The last time I enjoyed a trilogy as much as this one from an unheard author was Brandon Sanderson many years ago.
RJB chooses to tell his story with a different protagonist each book. It's a very difficult task that most authors are unable to pull off but he was able to keep me engage with each book. (Pierce Brown tried this approach, sorta, in Iron Gold but was not able to pull it off as effectively)
The first book was the strongest and the follow-ups were still excellent but a notch down. The one critique I would have is that I do not believe he was able to tie all the stories together. You could have enjoyed any of the books stand alone.
The last time I enjoyed a trilogy as much as this one from an unheard author was Brandon Sanderson many years ago.
RJB chooses to tell his story with a different protagonist each book. It's a very difficult task that most authors are unable to pull off but he was able to keep me engage with each book. (Pierce Brown tried this approach, sorta, in Iron Gold but was not able to pull it off as effectively)
The first book was the strongest and the follow-ups were still excellent but a notch down. The one critique I would have is that I do not believe he was able to tie all the stories together. You could have enjoyed any of the books stand alone.
September 9, 2018
Finished City of Miracles, and a satisfying ending it was to a great trilogy. Sigrud is on a mission of revenge of Shara's murder, and to protect her daughter, Tatanya from the assassins. Along with his usual taking care of business in a violent way, we discover the mysteries of Sigrud, as he finds out some secrets about himself. Questions I had from previous books are answered about the Divinites and their miracles, as the stories are knitted together. What we end up with was a thought provoking, beautifully written ending, that brings a tear to the eye.
January 9, 2019
So what do you do after the divine are deposed?
Like any story this long, it had some down moments but I found that the world described was fascinating up to the end. World building was well blended with a brisk story line. Readers are immersed in a world where the time of divinities is past and the world must deal with the lingering presence of their worshippers and their persistent miracles. He characters are flawed and believable and you find yourself being truly interested in their stories. A very good read and highly recommended.
Like any story this long, it had some down moments but I found that the world described was fascinating up to the end. World building was well blended with a brisk story line. Readers are immersed in a world where the time of divinities is past and the world must deal with the lingering presence of their worshippers and their persistent miracles. He characters are flawed and believable and you find yourself being truly interested in their stories. A very good read and highly recommended.
January 21, 2019
Pretty remarkable series. Complex world, relatively believable characters and a story that twists and turns. Usually im not into fight centric SciFi and this is very much the core of it, but the reasons for the fights, the creativity and logic in how and against whom make it quite good. My main pull was still the world and history, philosophical discussions and character development. I feel it is a feat if in a book about constant end of world threats the personal struggles while dealing with the physical ones are still the dominant theme and well done.
March 7, 2020
Overall 4 stars. The first two books center around some really awesome women! And one is even older than your typical heroine. I was pretty surprised, because you know, male author.
Unfortunately,
Ultimately I had a pretty good time with these books. Honestly I was dreading reading an entire omnibus at once but the series didn't dip in quality.
Unfortunately,
Ultimately I had a pretty good time with these books. Honestly I was dreading reading an entire omnibus at once but the series didn't dip in quality.
September 24, 2018
Perfect trilogy, addressing all topics through and through
Enjoyed it from beginning to the end. Extremely original world building, fantastic characters with in depth traits. Going from one volume to the other worked seamlessly and I enjoyed the fact that each volume had its own yet different main character. The plot spans several decades which makes it even more interesting in my opinion. I definitely would recommend getting your hands on all three volumes!
Enjoyed it from beginning to the end. Extremely original world building, fantastic characters with in depth traits. Going from one volume to the other worked seamlessly and I enjoyed the fact that each volume had its own yet different main character. The plot spans several decades which makes it even more interesting in my opinion. I definitely would recommend getting your hands on all three volumes!
February 6, 2019
I picked this up because Brandon Sanderson had good things to say about Bennett as a new author. This trilogy was a little slow out of the gates, but the ideas and world building were solid and the character development was good. I enjoyed the experience of the characters growing and changing over time, and the concepts of gods, worship and culture played out in an interesting way. I'm looking forward to continuing with his next series.
May 14, 2019
The "3" rating is a compromise between a "4" for the writing and world building and a "2" for my actual enjoyment overall. I think what it missed for me is any real investment in the characters. I was interested, but not emotionally invested. In a way that's just as well, since all three of these books would have made me cry if I'd been really into them.
As it was, I was interested enough to keep reading, and ended up with a "liked it" not a "loved it" feeling.
As it was, I was interested enough to keep reading, and ended up with a "liked it" not a "loved it" feeling.
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August 18, 2019I RLY ENJOYED THE DIVINE CITIES TRILOGY.
DD
THE WORLDBUILDING IS FAIRLY GOOD, AND A LOT OF IT FOLLOWS THE ACTIONS OF OLD OR MIDDLE AGED WOMEN, WHICH IS PRETTY UNIQUE.
LOL I LIKED THE FIRST TWO BETTER THAN THE LAST ONE.
I LIKED THE FIRST AND LAST BETTER THAN THE 2ND.
I THINK I'M BIASED TOWARDS &MULAGHESH; BECAUSE SHE LOST AN ARM.
I REALLY LIKED CITY OF STAIRS.
M2! THE SEQUELS ARE VERY MUCH MORE OF THE SAME, WHICH ISN'T A BAD THING.
DD
THE WORLDBUILDING IS FAIRLY GOOD, AND A LOT OF IT FOLLOWS THE ACTIONS OF OLD OR MIDDLE AGED WOMEN, WHICH IS PRETTY UNIQUE.
LOL I LIKED THE FIRST TWO BETTER THAN THE LAST ONE.
I LIKED THE FIRST AND LAST BETTER THAN THE 2ND.
I THINK I'M BIASED TOWARDS &MULAGHESH; BECAUSE SHE LOST AN ARM.
I REALLY LIKED CITY OF STAIRS.
M2! THE SEQUELS ARE VERY MUCH MORE OF THE SAME, WHICH ISN'T A BAD THING.
December 19, 2018
Just kept settling into a wonderfully expansive story every time I turned it on. So much scope and the characters were wonderful. Alma Cuervo is masterful in the telling, such consistency with the voices, it really brought the characters to life with distinct personalities. Just terrific. Really enjoyed this trilogy.
September 30, 2018
A slow burn can start an inferno
This omnibus edition was a fun read of all three novels. Each focused primarily on a different character. Each was slow to get going as the mystery and countless twists unfolded. The battles were great. The world building was phenomenal.
This omnibus edition was a fun read of all three novels. Each focused primarily on a different character. Each was slow to get going as the mystery and countless twists unfolded. The battles were great. The world building was phenomenal.
September 26, 2018
What a great read
Just finished the trilogy .... Wow! It was one of those reads I hate putting down. For a new blend on fantasy, magic, plot, strong character development... get and read the trilogy.
Just finished the trilogy .... Wow! It was one of those reads I hate putting down. For a new blend on fantasy, magic, plot, strong character development... get and read the trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews