B. Calahan’s Reviews > The City of Brass > Status Update

Just about at the end… I feel like the story lines are messy. Such potential that got lost in the sauce. The story/character arcs diverted instead of converging. Lowkey kinda disappointing. Like where did the shafit oppression and rebellion go? What about Ali’s discontent w/ the system? Palace magic & Nahri’s presence? The ifrit? Felt like the book was trying to juggle too much in the last 3/4 of the book.

Political shenanigans = ensued. Nahri getting caught up in all the machinations of everybody? Like I need girlboss to snap out of it and pick back up her ally-cat ways. Like she craves freedom, but as she said, is caught up in the dream of being a Nahid. Also, where tf did the oppressed shafit storyline go? Bring it BACK. I need Nahri exposed to the oppression and stereotypes- we’re getting crumbs but i need more

Ok so clearly in the last 10 pages we got a lot of lore that’s starting to connect. I LOVE a good plot/hidden history slow burn that’s revealed to the reader throughout the various characters POVs. It’s the best for hidden foreshadowments, which I’m a sucker for. Nahri/Dara just got through the city gates and entered the Grand Bazaar. Excited to see how the city literally reacts to Nahri’s presence.

so many thoughts, this book could go so many really cool ways with the hidden politics and history. Ali was just shown the Nahid crypt… r the Qahtanis in league with the ifshin, have they both been killing the Nahids? Clearly the history of the Qahtani is not as rosy as seen through Ali’s perspective. I hope the truth reveal isn’t a flop. Love a good “rulers write the history” trope

Ok I’ve got my predictions: is the city of brass a prison? Bc it sure feels like it with the tall walls made of BRASS which can contain lead, plus the deadly lake around it and clear militarized government???? Seems suspicious to me. It’s a least a prison for the shafit, which will be interesting to see how Nahri reacts to the clear oppression present. Also Ali is an adorable idiot like babes PLZ use ur brain

Liking this so far, and I’m liking both the story lines of Ali and Nahir, but I definitely wish the Nahir chapters just ~more~. Like I get they’re traveling (which I LOVE travel tropes) but I want more depth. Maybe it’s because I just finished Earthsea which is like the end-all of travel plots. Anyways, I want Ali to b a baby gay but doubt that’ll happen.