The Empire of Gold
Series: The Daevabad Trilogy #3
Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Published June 11th 2020 by Voyager - GB

Goodreads Synopsis
The final chapter in the bestselling, critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.

Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.

But the bloodletting and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara’s dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies.

Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad’s deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. While Nahri finds peace in the old rhythms and familiar comforts of her human home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. Seeking support in his mother’s homeland, he discovers that his connection to the marid goes far deeper than expected and threatens not only his relationship with Nahri, but his very faith.

As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved . . . and take a stand for those they once hurt.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After the explosive ending of Kingdom of Copper, we find Ali and Nahri alone in the world, with Suleiman's seal ring, and the only magic left across their people. They know that they need to return to Daevabad, and rid their people of the horrific and tyrannical rule of Manizheh and her unnatural control over Dara. The plan is to get to Ta Ntry to where Ali's mother is in exile, build an army, and get back to Daevabad, but will that be enough? Can they both do it, with the seal at odds with Ali's marid magic, and come out the other side the same? While this is all happening, Manizheh is running Daevabad like a despot dictator, with civil war and unrest rife in the streets, and at war with the last Geziri and Shafit holdouts, under the leadership of Zaynab al Qahtani. Manizheh is falling more and more into chaos, and using blood magic and ifrit powers to keep a hold of her precarious rule. With Dara at her side, she uses her Afshin in any way she chooses, and it's likely Dara will be forever changed by the experiences.

I knew that this book would likely be a slog to get through, but I never imagined it would take nearly four weeks to read. I did really enjoy the book, but if I'm being completely honest, there were times when I just couldn't be bothered with it, and was bored. My attention wasn't gripped, and considering I read 29 books in May, it's clear I was putting this one off rather than devouring it like I expected. Nahri finding out more about who she really was, and coming into her own as a strong, powerful leader, was lovely to see. All of her scenes and chapters were engaging, and if hers had been the only pov, it would have been just as good. Ali's chapters were good too, and I do think he's my second favourite character. By god, does he undergo growth in this book, and I loved it. He and Nahri, too, have such a chemistry and witty banter, that I adored them together. Again, like in Kingdom of Copper, I found Dara's chapters the least enjoyable, and they were a little repetitive too. Everything was doom and gloom, with Manizheh being a tinpot dictator, and killing anyone she get a hold of. Okay, we saw her fall more and more into her evilness, but it was predictable.

For a 782 page book, it did feel like it, but the last 20% or so, I flew through, and it redeemed any negatives from earlier in the book. I honestly couldn't see how Shannon would tie up all the loose ends, but she did, and I'm so happy with how all my favourite characters stories ended. Any fans of this series already will enjoy this book, and should be happy with it's conclusion.

May 9-June 3, 2020

Rating
4 Stars