Extra Scenes

The Daevabad Trilogy #2.5

by S.A. Chakraborty

In addition to the main trilogy books, there have been a number of alternate, deleted, or extra scenes involving the main characters that have been posted online by the author. Some were pre-order bonuses, fluff written during the Covid-19 quarantine, or old scenes that got cut from the final book script.

As a treat for readers in the lead-up to the publication of The Empire of Gold, S.A. Chakraborty compiled these scenes into a 181-page PDF and released it on her website in May 2020.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Novella, Historical, Historical Fantasy, Adult

181 pages, ebook

Published May 20, 2020

About the author

S. A. Chakraborty is the author of the critically acclaimed and internationally best-selling The Daevabad Trilogy. Her work has been nominated for the Locus, World Fantasy, Crawford, and Astounding awards. When not buried in books about thirteen-century con artists and Abbasid political intrigue, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and re-creating unnecessarily complicated medieval meals. You can find her online at www.sachakraborty.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @SAChakrabooks, where she likes to talk about history, politics, and Islamic art. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and an ever-increasing number of cats.

Reviews

[Ellie]

when SA Chakraborty said a few deleted scenes were available on her website, I expected 4 or 5 short scenes over 10 or so pages, NOT 181 PAGES OMFG ;-;

I'm here for all of them, but especially those Muntadhir and Jamshid POVs, I'll be honest

also LOL that Dara POV that showed how whipped for Nahri he was from quite early on, I'm wheezing

(*leaving this unrated because they're extra/deleted scenes)

[lookmairead · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can’t deny what a nerdy gem this is for the series.

[aikaterine · Rating 4 out of 5]

↠ Book #1: The City of Brass Review ★★★★★
↠ Book #2: The Kingdom of Copper Review ★★★★★

I decided to read this right after The Kingdom of Copper so that the last thing I read of this series and characters is whatever finale The Empire of Gold ends up having.

Although I usually get extremely bored over short stories, I don’t regret this decision in the slightest, because most of these extra scenes were gems that I was beyond excited I got access to, especially the last 3 Nahri, Ali and Zaynab POVs!! *starry eyes*

And, now, I’m even more anxious to jump to the third and final book of this wonderful series!

Link to the extra scenes.

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[Nikita Afsar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was lovely, some of these I wished were in the actual books because they were just that good and added so much to the story and the characters

[yenna]

this was fun, it was interesting to read alternative scenes that didn’t make the cut™ and was nice to read from some additional perspectives as well - even if they weren’t fully nuanced but I’m not complaining - hell she put this up as a pdf when she could have published this as a full novella let’s be real

[Lira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more!!! Preferably post-trilogy extra scenes uwu

[Lennie ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all these extra little stories and deleted scenes. It was really interesting seeing into the minds of other characters like Jamshid, Muntadhir & Manizheh.

I made the decision to read it before Empire of Gold and I think that's probably the best way to do it but you don't need to read any of them to read Empire of Gold, if that makes sense?

Also major love to S A Chakraborty for dropping these for free on her website when, at 181 pages, she easily could've sold it as a novella 💜

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a gift for those who wanted some perspectives of Muntadhir, Jamsheid or Zaynab.

[Solveig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet short stories that give us a more complete picture of everything going on according to different characters. Perfect for reading after Empire of Gold because it will lessen a little the huge book hangover left. I don't want to ever leave this world and characters!!!

[Gabi Leoncini · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was literally perfect.

I've been putting off reading this because once it was over, so was Daevabad. But holy fuck was it good; the bonus content I didn't know I NEEDED.

I cried because of course I did. This series, man. THE BEST.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting to read a little more of the Daevabad world make it hurt just a little less now it’s all over 😅

Such a great opportunity to be able to read from familiar POVs (Ali & Nahri) but also brand new ones! Not to mention, the gems that are embedded within these extra scenes. Massive thank you to Shannon for uploading these to her website and allowing Daevabad fans to read them for free! 💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Nura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly to release all this, for free, is stunning - definitely recommend if you're eagerly awaiting EoG (or just finished it!)

[Elika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jam & Dhiru’s POV

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

   What better way to ease out of a book hangover than to immediately seek out all the extra information possible that the author has put out there? After cruising Ms. Chakraborty’s website and all but fawning at the amazing artwork (alternate covers, official images, and fan art all included), my mouth dropping open at the extensive lists of references/inspirations/etc., I naturally had to hunt down this PDF of extra scenes – thank goodness someone updated the link in the Goodreads comments so I could access it!
   It was an excellent visit down a sort of memory lane, with deleted scenes from both The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper, as well as extra scenes from other POVs than our usual ones of Dara, Nahri, and Ali. There’s a variety of moments on offer, including my personal favorites: the ones where we get a look at “side” characters: Muntadhir, Jamshid, and Zaynab. Even Manizheh’s scene was quite compelling: a look at the woman who would do anything to protect her son, her people, and her city, despite the cruel, oppressive world that kept trying to break her as it did her brother Rustam.

Contents and brief glance of each:
1) Manizheh POV, birth of Jamshid
2) Muntadhir POV, seeing Ali being formed to be a warrior and first meeting with Jamshid
3) Jamshid POV, Jamshid helping Muntadhir to escape a bad situation. Oh, and there are mushrooms involved.
4) Dara POV, some of his journey with Nahri from Cairo to Daevabad
5) Jamshid POV, just after the assassination attempt on Ali, Jamshid spoils for a fight asking Muntadhir some hard questions and later a bit of a heart to heart with his family’s houseguest Dara
6) Ali POV, he must rescue a girl from an earth monster under the sea, a story straight out of folktales
7) The Scout, alternative prologue for The Kingdom of Copper, trouble stewing in northern Daevastana
8) Nahri POV, “meeting” Elashia, and witnessing yet more injustice towards shafits in the city
9) Nahri POV, some memories and more about how her marriage with Muntadhir evolved
10) Ali POV, working on the Nahid hospital and a careful conversation with someone who once considered him pretty much their only friend
11) Zaynab POV, immediately following the release of the bronze mist and her trying to step into a role she was not prepared for

   I can see how these pieces didn’t fit with what was ultimately published, or were just plain extra scenes, as for several of them, I felt the characters were ever so slightly “off” – like ideas/feelings seemed to be revealed a little earlier/stronger than they ended up being in the books. Though, this could also be because I was reading this after having finished The Empire of Gold, and as such, I was out of step with the events and states of the various characters for when these excerpts/extras happened. I could definitely see the appeal to reading these excerpts, for example, while waiting for The Empire of Gold to be published, or even just before reading it now that it is out. And I very much enjoyed getting these glimpses, getting to see more of the nuances of the different interpersonal relationships between people. Notably Muntadhir and Jamshid – I found myself surprised reading the trilogy how much those two and the particulars of their secret relationship were peaking my interest, and was very happy to see more of it detailed here. Especially since towards the end of Empire of Gold, I was really, really hoping to get a couple Jamshid POV chapters. Chakraborty delivered here!
   All in all, I’m very glad I learned about these extra scenes, was able to get access to it, and read it. I also, naturally, shared the information with my book club, so maybe I won’t be the only one who will have read it by this Friday’s Zoom meeting! Reading it has also helped ease the book hangover, and I think I’ll even be able to start a different book tonight. I might go for something non-fiction just to kind of keep my fantasy world in Daevabad for a few more days.

[Natália Pinheiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO GAZEBO

[SabrinZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great addition to the books.
I was a bit disappointed to see so little of certain characters, but these extra scenes provided just that.

[queenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 181-page pdf wasn't as much as the average daevabad novel, but it was definitely worth everything considered that the author even put it on her website free of any purchase!! Like that's the best thing I've ever known!!
While I must confess, the only two things I really hoped to be present in this book was a little bit more on Rustam and Duriya and the al Qahtani siblings (other than Ali). While the latter was fulfilled, in a way, I really wanted to read more of Rustam and Duriya. There were small snippets that hinted them; Manizheh's first chapter where Rustam appears in the near end. And also when Muntadhir "gifts" Nahri Rustam's belongings, which included a painting of Duriya beside a jute plant. I know the fact that it really was her mum wasn't mentioned; this was released a month before The Empire of Gold after all; I can't help but start fangirling on that little mention. XDDD

Anyway, I'm really hoping for more POV's and really awesome stories in the final and corrected version!! Can't wait to read that!!

[Sammm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains 10 "stories." Rating it a 4 because, while I think it's already a thoughtful treat (the alternative being not publishing this at all,) since some had been "reworked on," I had assumed they would then fit into series as extra scenes (or ones that didn't make the cut; similar to extra, but slightly different imo;) alas, some that stated having been tweaked, to my understanding, still contains stuff that contradict canon, so like an alternative deleted scene. (That itself is fine, just that if you've tweaked it, why not like... tweaked it all the way?) Yes, yes, please don't hound on me, like I said, it's so much better than having nothing at all, it's not like I'm ungrateful, I enjoy the stories, and what I just wrote is an honest opinion, albeit maybe on the nitpicking side.

That said, I feel like Jamshid almost have enough material to star his own chaptered novella, just saying lol. Full breakdown of the content eventually to come.

[Bilyana Mihova · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a refreshing one, that’s for sure. I loved Muntadhir, Jamshid and Zaynab’s POVs. I’m feeling nostalgic knowing that this is the last piece of The Daevabad Chronicles i will ever get to read but still it was really nice. Now, it’s high time i bid my farewells with it and start anew with something else.

[Yiska Chana (Jessica) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted a book retelling important moments of the story from muntadhir’s perspective and that’s just a little of what this extra had to offer. It also gave insight into his relationship with Jamshid which had me glued to my screen.

[Aleena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★

A great addition to the Daevabad trilogy, with new POVs from supporting characters. Having said that, I can see why some of the scenes were deleted and preferred the direction that is taken in the books.

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a PDF of these pages by the author, I was over the moon to read extra scenes from the Daevabad world but these stories I discovered are the same ones of The River of Silver but those are edited a bit more with extra information and acknowledgment by the author.

My River of Silver review:

Manizheh
Her story after ghassan’s wife died and she gave birth to her son secretly and met muntadhir who hates her and blames her for the death of his mother

Muntadhir
Zayneb is in her early teens and misses both of her brothers, Ali is 11 and is training hard, Jamshid is assigned to muntadhir.

Jamshid
Muntadhir is partying hard, they fell for each other 😒

Dara
Dara and Nahri are in a bazaar and she is stealing everything, and she tells him how poor she was, and he feels sorry for her and makes her food

Jamshid
I hate how he blames Ali for everything and how he forced himself on muntadhir. Dara and Jamshid are talking later on about muntadhir. Dara kidnapped Nahri

Ali
Ali is in exile and helps a woman held by a demon underwater, the girl is called Abla, her father offers her to Ali

The scout
Awful man, he rapes a daeva women and manizeh kills him

Nahri
Nahri shares her marriage with muntadhir and how awful it felt, and how it made Ali’s letters mean so much more. Muntadhir tries to win her over by gifting her rustum’s sketchbook

Ali
I love how Ali is so attracted to Nahri he can’t help it, how he sniffed her perfume while they worked in the garden 🪴

Zaynab
Zaynab finally admitted that Ali should be king and she is right when ghassan is killed and both her brothers go missing as the palace is conquered


A few stories are missing also the alternative ending. Here's what's included in the river of silver:

Duriya
The Mlukiah ملوخية story of duriya and rustum is so cute

Hatset
When she first came as a bride to daevabad, she regretted her haste in accepting the proposal once she met the nahids

Muntadhir
Nahri and muntadhir celebrate their divorce at the end. She asks over Ali. I really wanted a royal wedding and happily ever after for both Nahri and Ali. I can’t understand this romance between muntadhir and Jamshid.

Alternative ending
Dara is looking for the missing slaves and wants to free them. Zaynab, aqisa and dara go together to hunt creatures.

Nahri
After a year and a half afterward; I love Ali, it’s his birthday and Nahri got him a gift and a birthday party. A mask made of salt, a marriage mask. *I’m screaming* Nahri is still healing emotionally and Ali is patient.

[Dr. Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many points of view I enjoyed here, Jamshid, Muntadhir, Zaynab... I hope in the new project that will come out of this, we'll see more of Dara too, there are still many obscure or underused points in his storyline 🤞🏻

[Delia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Add some depth of some to the characters and this universe. The scenes and moments the authors imagine that never get to the book because they “are not necessary”, yet the still live inside of her mind and now —thankfully—the readers.

[Firas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the different perspectives. Would love to read something more like this!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read anything and anything in this world and with these characters, because everything I do read is just so great.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection. Eye-opening: if this is the stuff that gets cut, how do you make decisions like that?

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth a read if you loved the series.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thankful for these extra snippets. It definitely help readers understand the minor characters whose POVs aren't present in the actual books.

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

give me all the Daevabad content!!!!!!