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Cover of The City of Brass by S. A. ChakrabortyThe City of Brass
Modern · Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult

The City of Brass

by S. A. Chakraborty
2017 · 532 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 13 hours to read · about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

In 18th-century Cairo, Nahri is a con woman who swindles Ottoman nobles. But when she accidentally summons Dara, a sly, mysterious djinn warrior, during one of her cons, she's swept into the magical city of Daevabad, a world of court intrigue and ancient rivalries where her heritage could be deadly.

Why it's worth reading

It opens S. A. Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy, a hugely popular fantasy inspired by Islamic history and mythology.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's the first of a trilogy. The politics are complex.

By the numbers

67.6Must-Read Score
  • Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Reads as

Moving, Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is The City of Brass worth reading?

Yes. It opens S. It ranks #1,577 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.6 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The City of Brass about?

In 18th-century Cairo, Nahri is a con woman who swindles Ottoman nobles. But when she accidentally summons Dara, a sly, mysterious djinn warrior, during one of her cons, she's swept into the magical city of Daevabad, a world of court intrigue and ancient rivalries where her heritage could be deadly.

How long does it take to read The City of Brass?

About 13 hours (532 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The City of Brass?

If you liked it, try The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang or A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.