Bookseries Review: The Divine Cities by Robert Jackson Bennett

 

Title: City of Stairs

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Series: The Divine Cities, Book 1

Publisher: Del Rey

Release Date: September 9, 2014

ISBN: 9780804137171

Format: Paperback

Pages: 452s

4/5⭐

Summary

The city of Bulikov once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world, enslaving and brutalizing millions — until its divine protectors were killed. Now, Bulikov’s history has been censored and erased, its citizens subjugated. But the surreal landscape of the city itself, forever altered by the thousands of miracles its guardians once worked upon it, stands as a haunting reminder of its former supremacy.

Into this broken city steps Shara Thivani. Officially, the unassuming young woman is just another junior diplomat sent by Bulikov’s oppressors. Unofficially, she is one of her country’s most accomplished spies, dispatched — along with her terrifying “secretary”, Sigrud — to solve a murder.

But as Shara pursues the killer, she starts to suspect that the beings who ruled this terrible place may not be as dead as they seem, and that Bulikov’s cruel reign may not yet be over.

A tale of vast conspiracies, dead gods, and buried histories, City of Stairs is at once a gripping

spy novel and a stunningly original work of fantasy.

(From Goodreads.com)

My Review

I really liked the characters, the author did a very good job introducing them. Especially our main character, Shara Komayd. Even the characters' development throughout the the book just got better and better. There were also new characters introduced as time went on that contributed very well to the book's plot, all lovable in their own way, however, there are the characters you like significantly more than others. Some still have a place in my heart and I wish I could follow them even more!

At first, the book feels very historically but the further you get in the book the more fantasy it feels. In the middle of the book I was completely hooked and couldn't put the book down! 

The book has quite long chapters, which can sometimes feel lika it takes forever to get through them. But once you got started, you flew through chapter after chapter. The language is good and not too complicated. It's easy to get into a good flow when reading. 

I thought the plot was a bit slow in the beginning, but as I said, halfway through the book and you're completely hooked! One thing happens after another. The plot just kept expanding into something really epic.  You are on edge on several different occasions and you hope and keep your fingers crossed that everything will go well! At the same time, the characters surprise you and act in a way that you were not prepared for! Amazing!

This was my first book by Robert Jackson Bennett. I've wanted to read this book for so long and have only now finally done so! I'm not disappointed in the slightest, rather I wonder why I haven't read it earlier! I liked it a lot and I really recommend to read it! An absolutely fantastic book that contributes with many emotions, epic battles, unexpected happenings, amazing characters! A real roller coaster of a book!

Title: City of Blades

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Series: The Divine Cities, Book 2

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Release Date: January 7, 2016

ISBN: 9781848669581

Format: Paperback

Pages: 442s

4/5⭐

Summary

A generation ago, the city of Voortyashtan was the stronghold of the god of war and death, the birthplace of fearsome supernatural sentinels who killed and subjugated millions.

Now, the city’s god is dead. The city itself lies in ruins. And to its new military occupiers, the once-powerful capital is a wasteland of sectarian violence and bloody uprisings.

So it makes perfect sense that General Turyin Mulaghesh — foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumored war criminal, ally of an embattled Prime Minister — has been exiled there to count down the days until she can draw her pension and be forgotten.

At least, it makes the perfect cover story.

The truth is that the general has been pressed into service one last time, dispatched to investigate a discovery. For while the city’s god is most certainly dead, something is awakening in Voortyashtan. And someone is determined to make the world tremble at the the city’s awful power again.

(From Goodreads.com)

My Review

In this book, we get to follow Mulaghesh who we first met in the City of Stairs. She has lived a calm and harmonious life since the events of book one. But suddenly she is called in to carry out a mission that will hopefully be her last. I really like Mulaghesh as a character, she is described as old and worn out but she still has a lot of strength and will left and despite her disability she can handle more than you think. We are also introduced to new characters that help strengthen the events throughout the book. Robert Jackson Bennett really knows how to expose his characters to both hope, success and destruction. 

I didn't feel that this book had the same historical features in the beginning as book one. It felt more like the event continued right where book one ended. 

I liked the plot a little more in this book. Compared to the first book, it felt like this book had a better flow. It didn't feel slow in parts rather it just kept going and going and going...

The writing is still the same as book one. The chapters are rather long which makes it feel like it takes forever to get through a chapter. But in this case the plot makes it worth all those long chapters.

Another wonderful book by Robert Jackson Bennett. He keeps delivering amazing characters, explosive battles. He gives you characters to hope for and the next moment he takes the away. I can't get enough of his amazing storytelling!

Title: City of Miracles

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Series: The Divine Cities, Book 3

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Release Date: February 8, 2018

ISBN: 9780857053596

Format: Paperback

Pages: 439s

4.5/5⭐

Summary

Shara Komayd, once Prime Minister of Saypur, has been assassinated.

News travels fast and far, even to a remote logging town somewhere northwest of Bulikov, where the silent, shaven-headed Dreyling worker 'Bjorn' picks up the newspaper and walks out. He is shocked and grieved and furious; he's been waiting thirteen years for Shara, his closest friend, to reach out to him - to tell him to come home. He's always believed she was running a long operation, that there would be a role for him at the right time. Now he has no one else in his life, and nothing to live for - except to find the people who did this.

Sigrud wasn't there for the death of his daughter Signe, and he wasn't there when his old comrade Shara was murdered. Now Bjorn is dead and Sigrud is back. And he will find answers, for Shara, and for himself. He's made a promise . . .

(From Goodreads.com)

My Review

Book three and we get to follow Sigrud as he tries to get revenge on those who killed Shara Komayd. In previous books, Sigrud has mostly been a side character and to finally get to follow him as the main character is absolutely wonderful! We have been able to follow his development since book one and he has been through so much and we have been able to follow him through his setbacks, his feelings, his strengths and weaknesses. I didn't think much about him in books one and two but now in book three he really has a special place!

This book also feels less historical and significantly more fantasy! We are immediately thrown into a traumatic event that I was not prepared for to come so early. It really got the book going right away!

Throughout this series, the chapters are long, but through the course of the series you have gotten used to it, you get through them relatively quickly bacause the story is so engaging.

The plot of this book does not give us a quiet moment. The characters are exposed one after the other. The plot is very tragic and makes you very emotional at repeated times. Sigrud tries his best to keep the promise he has made but a lot of things stand in his way and a lot of things is not as the seem. We are tossed in the one big happening after the other. 

Books three is by far the best book in the series! With lots of tension, lots of hope and lots unexpected events happening!

Overall, I think Robert Jackson Bennett really delivers! He really know how to capture us readers. Once again, amazing characters, epic battles, lots of emotions. And the plot does not disappoint! It just keeps delivering!