Thankyou to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and the author, S A Chakraborty, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Empire of Gold in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such an imaginative storyline. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and the series. You can't help but be drawn into the lives of the central characters.
Well worth a read.

It can be difficult to satisfactorily conclude a trilogy, especially one with as many twists, turns, complications, war crimes and massacres as Chakraborty: who inherits the ashes of the old world? How do you build out of the remnants? Yet this is as rich and textured as its preceding novels, as fantastic, as clever. The revelations feel earned, as does the happy ending; there is a careful management here, to achieve this, and to settle both the matters of the realm and the heart. An exquisite novel.

BOOK REVIEW: The Empire of Gold by @sachakrabooks

5 Stars

What an ending to this incredible series! The Daevabad trilogy has made me rethink my star system it is THAT good. Most other past 5 star rated books don't even compare! I am a huge fan of middle eastern fantasy and this is the best one around.
The Empire of Gold thankfully lived up to the first 2 books in the series and had me gripped from the first letter to the last. S A Chakraborty is an absolute writing legend and I cannot wait to see what we get from her next.
I don't want to say too much as I walked in with zero spoilers and I want you to do the same.
What I will say is that this was a wild ride. It had me hanging onto my seat and my hat and touched every single one of my emotions. The imagination to pull off fantasy with this kind of depth is incredible. It also requires amazing writing, characters that readers will connect with and twists and turns that you don't see coming. The series had all this in abundance but especially The Empire of Gold.
I can't see how anyone can read this series and not instantly give it 5 stars.
Okay I will stop gushing now! I have been more harsh with ratings recently so you know I really mean this!

If you love fantasy READ THIS. In my opinion, everyone should!

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So, this is the final book in the trilogy which means I'm not going to say much at all because I don't wait to risk spoiling it for anybody.

Suffice to say though, this is a perfect ending to the trilogy and I was very satisfied with how things ended.

I really won't say any more, and honestly don't really need to as the first two books were so fantastic that knowing this doesn't let you down is all you really need.

Such an amazing book and satifying end to the series. Over the past few years I have fallen heavily in love with Chakraborty's writing and The Empire of Gold does disappoint (not that I ever thought it would!).

I am so excited to see what is next in Charkraborty's brain and writing, if only I could get my hands on it quicker!

What an amazing end to a fantastic series, I couldn’t wait to start this book and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I can’t recommend this series enough.

Ok, after the ride that was The Kingdom of Copper and where it ended in the second book, I picked this one up immediately and basically rode the wave till the book ended. It was a pretty satisfying end for the trilogy, I love the way it ended if I am being honest even if this is not a five star read, again. Oh, well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager, I have had the pleasure of reading this ahead of its release (kinda). Frankly, I would have cried had I not had the third book in hand when I finished the second one. It’s that kind of cliffhanger. Anyway! Onto the last book in the series!

If I am being honest, no matter how good the first two books in the series were, I was a bit afraid of this one and as I read on, I was becoming more worried as chapter after chapter unveiled things I did not think of imagining. I was really worried about 60% in as to what was actually going to happen. I was just worried that after such a good run so far, it would end on not so good note.

It starts where the second book left off, Daevabad is out of Ghassan’s control, Manizeh has the control now and with Dara by her side. The result of this is Nahri and Ali escaping the city and in effect robbing Daevabad and its counterparts losing all magic entirely. Turns out, Suleiman’s Seal is not supposed to leave Daevabad’s borders. They are trying to find a solution that does not end in more bloodshed and more political disasters. Meanwhile, Dara has to live with the fact that despite him wishing for otherwise, he is, once again, responsible for another massacre. As the story moves, we see Dara realising that while he might have thought that it was his duty to follow the Nahids, it’s not perhaps the best life choice he had made in a while. Manizeh is ruthless and unnecessarily cruel and it’s affecting Dara’s beliefs and faith.

As for Nahri and Ali, their relationship took a different turn than I was ready for. Ali’s crush was not a secret but it had grown into something more and what’s more, Nahri had finally started to see him as something else other than her friend-turned-enemy-turned-ally and I would rather it stayed platonic, but I can kinda see how it was going to happen anyway? It’s not my favourite part of the book and it kinda overshadows their actual friendship that was slowly growing. I wish it was explored more. On the other hand, I absolutely loved Dara’s arc on this one, I finally got a story where the girl doesn’t end up with a thousand year old guy simply because he was hot. Mind you, there’s far more to Dara than this but you know what? I don’t think Nahri and Dara could have lasted in the long run, they had differing opinions on how things should be/should have been. That’s what happens when there’s a literal thousand years of age difference.

Speaking of relationships, I wish Muntadhir and Jamshid got a better more clear ending than the one we got, while I understand that they were clearly secondary characters and got a better ending than I could have hoped for, my greedy heart still wants more. As far as Al-Qahtani siblings are concerned, oh, goodness, what a brilliant trio they make! I loved their growth as a whole and just…so many feels!

Now, let’s talk about character growth because there’s some that I had issues with. Dara was not one of them! He had such growth in this one, his chapters were so filled with tension and conflicting thoughts and feelings and I loved them. I might not have liked the fact that it took him a long time to realise that just because the Nahids demanded it, it did not mean it was the right thing to do. However when taken into consideration the sheer number of years he had spent thinking just that, I can see how some hard truths took time to be comfortable with. In Ali’s case, not talking about romance, it was him realising that his family and his heritage is more than his own perceptions of it. I especially loved the way we got to see Marid magic and how very vast the world really was compared to just the politics of Daevas. Nahri’s is perhaps the only growth that isn’t super drastic or momentous. We already knew her feelings about the Daevas and the djinns and the shafits and that was nothing new. However her birth origins were! They came out of nowhere after it being established throughout the trilogy.

Okay, we are nearing the end of the review. It’s long, I know. So, I love that this book also followed the slow beginning, letting us settle in the mood and then it just lifts and lifts and then the action goes BAM! Then you are really in it for the ride, and what a ride this one was! From about seventy percent till the end, so much happened! I can’t begin to tell you how much actually happened. It’s just one long explosion. Yeah, let’s call it that. I loved the way this story ended, I loved that there was room for growth, for future for the characters of the series but also for the world of the Daevas. I absolutely loved Dara’s concluding story arc, it couldn’t have been more perfect, it is something I really, really appreciate. Thank you for this, S. A. Chakraborty! Nahri’s story also ended on a note that I am not terribly sad about, it’s the best ending she could have had and that stands for Ali too!

It is not smooth sailing and it is, at times, a bit slow and meandering (don’t worry tho! I like my books like that! Especially fantasy ones) but overall, I really loved this trilogy with all my heart. Flaws and all. Flaws are just that touch of imperfection this series needed, I think. It’s just great and I am already thinking of ways to read it again. How much time should pass before a re-read, do you think?

I can’t even put into words how much I loved this final chapter of this series. What an amazing adventure that I wish I could re-read for the first time.

Thank you for this granted wish it made my entire year!

Highly highly recommend this series!

I never let myself get hopeful when it comes to the last novel in a series, it never ends well. Empire of Gold was different, this was everything I wanted and didn't know I needed. This series has only gotten better with every book and it's become one of my favourite series because of this.
In Empire of Gold we are given even more exploration of Chakraborty's world; it's history, it's interesting magical system, and it's complex political situations and religious beliefs. Finally having an explanation for certain elements of the plot just make me more excited to go back and read all three back-to-back to pick up on the clues I may have missed before. The fact I'm that I am already looking forward to going back and reading them all again is a testament to how good this series and it's ending is.
I feel like all the characters had good, solid development; nothing too left of field turned up for anyone. Honestly it was so refreshing to see an author lay the groundwork for the ending throughout the series and actually go through with it, rather than throwing in an unexpected plot twist that is only there for shock factor.
I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the end of this fabulous series, but I can't praise this series, and this book, enough. Definitely one of my favourites for a long time. Well paced, exciting, and heartbreaking all at once

As this book is the final in the trilogy, I want to be very careful not to drop any spoilers for anyone who has not yet read the first two books. As such this is a review of the series as a whole.

Set in the Middle East, this story follows the tale of Nahri who has grown up in Egypt. Nahri has no family and has learnt to do what she must to survive. However, Nahri has abilities that give her a bit of an edge.

One night Nahri accidentally summons a Daeva, who rescues her when her activities bring the attention of the repugnant Iftit. Nahri's Daeva hero Dara, is sort of like a genie but not, some of the tribes of his race call themselves Djinn. Although there is no lamp, those who enslave the Daeva or Djinn are able to bend them to their will and force them to use their magic for any number of unspeakable horrors.

Nahri's tribe are Nahids and they were believed to have died out. Dara is an Afshin, bound to protect the Nahids. As such he undertakes a journey to take Nahri to the city of Daevabad, where all of their kind are supposed to live with their most solemn law being not to interfere with the human world. This is where he believes she will be safe. However, Nahri soon realises that she will need all her instincts to survive the political intrigue at play in Daevabad.

Each of the books in this series held me utterly captivated. The first book I devoured in two days without stopping. The second book was more like three days and the final book I took two weeks on purpose as I feared a 'Kill your darlings' type scenario in the final book.

Although I think you can tell that the author is a fan of series like A Song of Ice and Fire, The Hunger Games, Mistborn, etc - I think if I were to write a fantasy series you would be just as likely to see evidence of the brilliant fantasy authors who inspire me, and the series does not read as derivative, it actually feels quite unique and complex, with a fantastic creation of a fantasy world that is nestled inside our own.

I cared deeply about all the characters. I cried at the end and felt the loss of the missed opportunities of the characters as if they were real people. What I would love to see is a second trilogy, set a few hundred years after the ending of this one - similar to Brandon Sanderson did with the Mistborn series.

First off, this is the third book in a series, so this review might contain spoilers for City of Brass and Kingdom of Copper, but I'll try and avoid any for Empire of Gold in my excitement.

After unleashing a terrible punishment on the city, Manizheh and her weapon, Darayavahoush, ostensibly have control of Daevabad. Nahri and Ali have fled with the seal of Suleiman and have ended up back in Egypt, with no magic and no idea not only how to return to Daevabad, but also had to take back their city. That is, if Nahri even wants to.

This was the ending to a series that I loved that just felt so incredibly satisfying. I often get to the end of fantasy novels and have a vague sense of dissatisfaction - either things are wrapped up too 'happily ever after' or a little too neatly. But the way things were left here was completely the right decision. We'd reached the end of the story that we needed and we could trust the characters to do the best they could without us.

And let's talk about those characters for the moment. The books have always been about Nahri, Dara and Ali, and have always been written from their POV. They've effectively been the love triangle of this story, but it has always been written in the most mature way. That means that at times it is nasty, and manipulative, and unreciprocated. In this book, it feels as though Chakraborty has finally decided what stance to take on this and, by delving deeper into the characters than before, how they will react to these changes.

And it's no different here - at the end of the previous novel, Dara was left in Daevabad, and Nahri and Ali were whisked off to Egypt. Dara finally takes on the role of being an important player that's been denied him before, and he's such an essential voice and eye for what's happening in Daevabad. And what's happening there is dark and nasty and a slow spiral out of control with Dara trapped in the heart of it. He's been a hard character to like at times, but this whole arc means that he is at least easier to understand.

Yet, despite Nahri and Ali basically spending most of the novel together, every single chapter from either of these characters is just perfection (for me). The previous book, Kingdom of Copper, showed the beginning of tentative bonds and mutual respect between the two, which only solidifies here in the third book. The attraction is there too, but it doesn't dominate the story. Which is even more important as Ali's character just couldn't permit that and Nahri couldn't allow herself either. They have also gone through something incredibly traumatic together and are helping each other to heal - even if there are some complaints that the romance wasn't really there previously, it doesn't mean it can't result from that shared experience. And it doesn't matter what they do or do not become beyond the end of the book - it's just the genuine perfection of their bond that matters throughout - they mean that much to each other.

And finally the story itself. In some ways it gets even more complicated than the previous book, with the marid and the peris having slightly more bemusing levels of involvement. And ones that I'm not convinced all the characters fully understand by the end of it. But it didn't feel like we were missing out - it just felt like we were experiencing the slow reveal of Daevabad's own confusing history.

I loved that we got to see more of the world outside of Daevabad too. By slowly introducing different parts of this complex world and geography book by book, you really gain a feel for the detail and sheer imagination that has gone into this. However, I would have liked for the Turkharistanis, Agnivashi and Sahrayn to have had the opportunity to play a greater role in all of the books, not just this last one.

There's something about this book that has a lot more weight behind it that the previous ones. And I think part of that is a much clearer concept of faith and belief. And how faith and self-identity are very much entwined, and not just for Ali, but for Dara too, with his belief in the Nahids. It felt like there was a lot more poured into this book, and it really made so much of what the characters felt and experienced come to life.

So much of this book is such a slow burn, and I imagine some people would find it just a bit too long but, because I didn't want the story or the characters to end, I was there in mind and spirit for the whole journey and so satisfied with those unexpected conflicts towards the end and, finally, that ending itself.

Now I need to clear some shelf space so I can buy the physical copies...

Empire of Gold was an anticipated read because I had loved the first two books and after that ending in The Kingdom of Copper, I was very excited to read. This book was emotional, heartbreaking and the ending was bittersweet but definitely good.

The Characters
This book took the characters on a personal journey and we see how all the characters come onto their roles. They are so different from where they started off in The City of Brass but I have come to adore these characters and I really liked the characters arcs’ in this book.

My favourite character since book one has been Nahri and I loved her even more in this book. Her strength, vulnerability, loyalty and love towards the other characters came across so well and it was simply wonderful. Her character arc was *chef’s kiss*. She stays one of the best and complex heroines and I adore her!

I have been particularly loving Dara’s arc since The Kingdom of Copper and was intrigued by how it would be taken forward in this book. I am so glad to say that I was not disappointed. I LOVED reading about him and the way his character has been written in this book. My heart was always hammering when reading his POVs. Honestly, all the Dara fans and the non-Dara fans, this book is going to make you adore this character.

Ali is not a character I liked but surprisingly I did not completely dislike his character in this book. His character arc and POVs got really intriguing in this book and I was glad how self-confident he became. I also loved the complex bonds between the Qahtani siblings and their fierce loyalty for each other. Zaynab has a bigger part in this book and she’s amazing to read about! Another character I absolutely loved is Jamshid, an absolute sweet and beautiful character.

The only thing which I wasn’t fond of at all was how the nature of Ali and Nahri’s relationship happened. It did seem out of place at times.

The World Building and Plot
The world building was stunning as always with all the kingdoms and descriptions. The vibes of the book were atmospheric and I loved how some of the scenes were written which made it very intriguing to read.

The plot was good but when mixed with the slow pacing it definitely lacked in some places. That’s not to say it isn’t good but it seems stretched. The second half of the book is where the plot thickens and once I was past that part I couldn’t stop reading the book until the end.

The Writing Style and Pacing
The writing was beautiful. I loved how well it went with the whole feel of the book. The pacing was slow and it’s a lot like The City of Brass pacing. It’s slow for the first half and then become medium paced in the later part. The ending was stunning and I couldn’t stop reading it nor could I stop crying because it was emotional and bittersweet and in a way fitting.

There are themes of war, betrayals, inter generational trauma and social justice and in a way you will be able to relate it to the world we live in too. The world in this book is complex and the characters are just as layered. It gets dark in a lot of scenes but it’s also hopeful, resilient and focuses on choosing the right thing however difficult. This mixed with the fantasy element makes this an awesome read.

Overall, the Daevabad Trilogy is a fantastic and epic series with beautiful world building, layered morally grey characters and filled with politics and secrets. This is a book for all the fantasy lovers out there who love these elements and want to truly live in a book world for long because this series will definitely stay with you when you read it.

This is probably the hardest review I’ve had to write and it’s taken me so long to actually sit down to write it. I always find endings so hard to deal with, especially when it comes to a series I love as much as this one. I can’t imagine a more beautiful or fitting conclusion to such an epic trilogy. I’ll try my best to make this review a decent length because trust me I could write an entire essay if I was given the chance!

Much like the first instalment in the trilogy City of Brass, the sequel, Kingdom of Copper ended on such a cliffhanger and leaves all of the characters in dire straits. The novel is split into two distinct sections of sorts; one thread following Ali and Nahri and the other thread following Dara and Manizheh as they deal with a Daevabad in ashes. I enjoyed the fact that as always we got multiple pov chapters and get to check in and out with the different characters and settings.

I liked that Empire of Gold picks up just after with Ali and Nahri finding their feet in Cairo, and both having to consider whether to return to Daevabad at all. Their desire for a simple life, with it’s everyday joys and challenges calling to them, contrasting sharply against the complexities of life in Daevabad and the difficulties of the situation they fled. I liked these parts a lot as it forced Nahri to return to the place she grew up – a place which was so formative for her and shaped her in so many ways and make some realisations about who she is and where she really belongs. I think what struck me here was that we get to see who Ali and Nahri might have been had they been dealt a different hand and it was kind of sad and wistful.

One thing I maintained right from the start though, was that I wanted Ali and Nahri to remain just friends throughout the series. It’s not too often that we see a depiction of characters – especially male and female characters, remain strictly platonic, yet still have a loving friendship so I was a bit disappointed that the story took the more romantic route with these two here. I loved Ali and Nahri’s friendship in the previous books so much and while it was clear that Ali has feelings for her, Nahri never appeared to reciprocate so it felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped to me. I read an excellent post over on Fadwa’s blog – here – which sums up my exact thoughts on this, suggesting that they have more of a trauma bond and physical attraction than something inherently romantic or based in wanting to pursue a real relationship. (At least on Nahri’s part)

As much as I love Ali, I did think that the chapters in his perspective dragged…a lot. I was interested to see how his connection with the marid would play out and what this meant for him, but there was just SO MUCH TIME spent on this and it got a bit tedious for me, especially the bits where he’s actually underwater and negotiating with certain forces down there. I liked that we got some answers and how this tied in to his mothers side of the family, that was well thought out for sure but I feel this could have been more concise and less drawn out.

Dara. Oh Dara. What can I even say? Dara is a character who I loved almost immediately from the very first book and his character arc has caused me so much pain, like on a real level. Having been shaped and treated as nothing but a mindless weapon for literal centuries, his sense of duty and morals are skewed based on what his masters, the Nahids wanted. Did I want him to come to the realisation that he’s so much more than a weapon and get the redemption arc he so clearly deserves way quicker? Yeah I did, but I honestly cannot fault the way Chakraborty made it happen. It wasn’t easy and he had to work for it, and this made it feel so much more realistic and well earned to me. I loved how this played out so much, it was well written, in character and just felt so true to what this trilogy is all about.

What’s also important to note here, is that all the wrong that Dara has done isn’t just magically absolved in this book or the ending. While you can understand his motivations – to a certain extent anyway, he isn’t just given a free pass and you see this both in his internal struggle as well as how other characters respond to him. I liked where we leave off, he has redeemed himself but there’s still more he needs to do, and so he sets off to do that, no matter how long it takes and I loved this. It is kind of heartbreaking in many ways but it also feels right.

Chakraborty has spoken many times about how she’s interested in exploring how otherwise good people can do terrible things and how this can be justified, and this is so accurate with characters like Manizheh and Kaveh, her lifelong love. It’s tragic seeing her spiral and become the antithesis of everything she could have been, due to her own trauma and tremendous loss. Of course, this doesn’t justify any of what she does, but it does add more complexity to her character than her just being a cartoon, evil villain with one dimensional motivations. This trilogy also speaks to how much we’re willing to overlook and excuse someone’s actions, just because we love them *shoots daggers at Kaveh here* There has to be a line and sadly, many of the characters only realise this when they’re too far beyond it to rectify their terrible lapses in judgement.

I liked that once more, we got some more insight into the side characters; Zaynab, Muntadhir and Jamshid, and got to see their stories wrap up and even coincide with other characters from the series. I need a Zaynab and Aqisa spin off in my life and a Muntadhir and Jamshid one, or even a short story about them would suffice.

I think one of my favourite things about this book, if not my absolute favourite, was how it all ended. I felt like every character was taken care of and it wasn’t cheap in anyway, it felt so true to each of them and I liked where we left off. I felt like they had all developed so much from when we first meet them in City of Brass and it felt like a genuine reflection of character growth and satisfying arcs, this is no easy feat in such a complex trilogy so I really appreciated how Chakraborty drew this all together. Certain things were bittersweet but this fit with the tone of the book/s and I love an ending which gives you a little bit of a gut punch one moment but then soothes the ache in the next. It felt like an end befitting the journey and I was satisfied, sad for sure but satisfied.

Overall, I thought this was such a great end to this trilogy and I can see a lot of people being satisfied with it for the most part. There were a few things I would have liked to see go differently and a few elements which just didn’t gel with me as much but I still really loved this book. I miss these characters and this world so much already but I’m so excited that it will live on in the hearts and minds of readers and we’ll also be getting an opportunity to see it on screen via the Netflix adaption, which I’m equal parts excited and nervous for.

And so we come to the end of the Daevabad Trilogy journey. I was lucky in that I started reading this series last year rather than when it first came out, so I haven’t had long to wait at all.

Short notes are:

I’m so glad/thankful it’s so long
I love Fiza
I cried
Spoilers for books one and two will be beyond this point.


Nahri’s mother, Manizheh, is alive after all. She had faked her death in order to escape Ghassan and has been plotting her revenge ever since.

Dara, too, is alive. Taken from the peacefulness of death once more as well as from his sister’s side, he is returned to the land of the living… and not only that, he has been freed from Suleiman’s curse so he has powers no other Daeva or even the Ifrit can access. He is now the most powerful weapon available, and Manizheh is quick to utilise this. Their entry back into the palace will be assisted by Kaveh who has always been Manizheh’s greatest supporter, and is even more so after Ghassan’s refusal for Kaveh’s son to be allowed help after taking the arrow’s for Ghassan’s son. From then, Kaveh too has been plotting the downfall of Daevabad ever since.

At the end of the second book Manizhen, Dara, and Kaveh take everything at their disposal and put it together – the warriors they’ve trained, the deals they’ve made with the otherworldly creatures (ifrit and ghouls) and any other tools at their disposal (a bit of wily bargaining with the marid, and an unspeakably evil vapour created by Manizhen that targets the relics Daeva keep on their person at all times, enters the wearer’s body and kills them from the inside). With this, they storm the city. Buildings are destroyed with magic, the royal guards are separated and slain, and King Ghassan is killed by the vapour – as are thousands more, as the vapour seemingly has no limit or way to stop it searching for more relic-wearer’s to take, and Mannizhen plan’s to take back Suleiman’s ring and her rightful place to rule Daevabad.

However, although throughout the second book they’ve been bickering and disagreeing at almost every turn Nahri, Muntadhir, and Ali are united in doing what is best for the people of Daevabad. They are sick of Ghassan’s cruel reign, but also know that Manizheh’s rule will be no better. Sick of the violence and the suffering they are trying to do what’s best for everyone… and if that’s getting to the ring before Manizheh can, and Nahri forcing it on Ali and then pulling him off a ledge and into a lake… then… that’s what has to happen.

Only the lake takes them on a journey… and they wake up back in Nahri’s home. Egypt. Thinking Muntadhir sacrificed himself for them, that their parents are all awful people, and the shock that Dara is both somehow still alive and has somehow grown even more evil over the past few years… it’s all a bit much for anyone to take. And that’s where the second book ended.

The third starts with Ali and Nahri in Egypt. Nahri has returned as she left it; bruised and bloodied, no possessions to her name, and left only to her wits once more. They don’t know how they got there or how to get back, and start to think… do they have to go back? What’s there for them anyway? Nahri has throughout the last two books been caught wishing she could go home many times, and Ali has always had an obsession with the human world after all…

You’ll just have to read to find out what Egypt has in store for them, as well as the rest of the book.

It’s hard, sometimes, with high fantasy with such incredible world building as this, as to how the end of a fantastic trilogy will go. Will it manage to tie up all loose ends, leave us feeling satisfied that everything our beloved characters went through was worth it, will it seem believable and that any and all character actions remain realistic?

The answer in this case, is yes.

Now I need to have a lie down. I feel emotionally washed out and exhausted after finishing, and I loved it so much.

Such a perfect and satisfaying conclusion to this epic series. It's going to be hard to say goodby to all its characters, but I felt like this story had a good ending and all the questions have been answered.

The difference between Dara's and Nahri/Ali's chapters are very deep : while Dara's are grim and we follow him into a world of violence where good and evil are intertwined, those of Nahri and Ali are lighter with a growing romance. That's one of the things I was afraid of and I would have prefered if their relationship stayed platonic ; however, it didn't bother me that much. I enjoyed reading Dara's POV and seeing him gradually understand the gravity of his Nahid's acts and beginning questionning Manizeh. He has to face consequences of his acts as well.

The whole tension of the book builds itself until everything explodes during the last quarter : the conclusion is incredible, wraps up the whole story while giving us the answers of all these questions unanswered, and I had a hard time to put this book down.

Excellent novel and fantastic end to the series. Personally, I would have liked more of a follow-up chapter than was given, but that's only because I find the world so interesting that I want to hear about everyday lives after the conclusion of the story!

Overall
I love how consistent this series is with narrators. From the first book the story has been told through 3 eyes; Ali, Nahri and Darra. In the third and final instalment, the story is still being narrated by Ali, Nahri and Darra.

Story
This book starts straight after the previous book and there is no gap between. The fight over Daevabad is not over yet.

Nahir and Ali are on the run trying to find a way of making the world (their world) a better place. Ali is struggling with his water magic and a solution is found. All the while Dara is in Daevabad trying to make the coup work and trying to heal the city under the rule of Manizheh.

Magic wise its so cool! Darra has gained a lot more magic than in the first book and is using it. There is also a part in the beginning without any magic and the effects are fascinating. Its shows how much of this world is actually based on magic.

There are also the new addition of some magical creatures and I wish there was more of it.

Summary
I loved this series so much!

I can't wait to see what the author does next!

Can we have a spin-off with Dara, please?

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. HarperVoyager for granting my wish of an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Empire of Gold’ by S. A. Chakraborty in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher: “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.”

In order to avoid spoilers for the earlier novels, ‘The City of Brass’ (2017) and ‘The Kingdom of Copper’ (2019), I will not mention the events that led to this final book. However, it is a proper trilogy that should be read in order.

I had preordered its audiobook edition and listened alongside reading the eARC. This allowed for an immersive experience.

S.A. Chakraborty has drawn on the rich mythology and folklore of the Greater Middle East to create the magical kingdom of Daevabad and its denizens. Before her young protagonist, Nahri, is transported from the human world to the hidden city of the djinn, she lives in Cairo at the time of Napoleon’s invasion anchoring the story at a specific time in human history.

As with the other books the narrative points of view cycle between Nahri, the young con woman, Dara, the djinn warrior that she accidentally summoned in ‘The City of Brass’, and Ali, the younger prince of the royal family ruling Daevabad.

Each volume also includes a handy list of main characters and places as well as a glossary following the main text. The author’s website provides more background information on the books and an impressive list of primary and secondary sources linked to the historical period and the folklore and mythology.

Chakraborty’s world-building is excellent and flows very naturally. I felt completely transported by her lyrical prose and descriptions. In terms of new magical creatures, I was delighted by the inclusion of the crocodile Sobek and the shedu Mishmish, a winged lion of Assyro-Babylonian myth.

Having recently read the previous two books of the trilogy, I found this a very satisfying conclusion and resolution to the trilogy’s mysteries. While there is romance at the heart of the trilogy, it is restrained with minimal angst. There is also an emphasis throughout upon family, friendship, and loyalty. There is also faith though it is subtly conveyed and always with respect. While there are some gruesome scenes of horror these felt appropriate given the context.

Overall, this is one of the best works of historical fantasy that I have read. It also brought back fond memories of reading ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ when I was young.

S. A. Chakraborty’s love of Islamic culture and mythology is evident throughout the trilogy. I will be looking forward to her future projects as well as continuing to widely recommend the Daevabad Trilogy.

Daevabad has fallen, and Nahri is miles away in Cairo. After fleeing her ancestral home, alongside Ali, she is haunted by the past which continues to follow her. Together, they are determined to return to their homeland, but not without facing the truth behind their own history. Back in Daevabad, Dara struggles to regain control alongside Manizheh in a city stripped of its magical core.

The Empire of Gold deserves a better review than I could ever write. This book wastes no time, kicking right back into action where Kingdom had ended. Nahri wakes up in an abandoned village with Ali, losing life every second. Thus, begins their journey back home, back to Daevabad, which entails a wild adventure that involves fighting sea creatures, evading pirates and rehashing old family feuds. Then you slip the script over to Dara, whose chapters are less adventurous and more dangerous as Dara finds himself pushed to the very end yet again, but now under the command of Manizheh. Empire is the series’s most cruellest novel, no matter who is your favourite, someone will get hurt. (And that was me in the form of Jamshid and Muntadhir.)

I was a little worried about Empire because it had a lot stacked up against it, especially being the finale to an expansive trilogy. The contrast between Nahri and Ali’s seemingly calm chapters in comparison to Dara’s dark and sinister moments where he is struggling to stay true to his beliefs and values felt quite strange at first. Depends on the reader, but you can either find the contrast quite comical or something of a relief, I place myself firmly in the middle.

From the very beginning of the series, where Nahri accidentally summons Dara, this series has always been character-driven, and Empire is no stranger to a vast cast of characters that pull at your heartstrings. Nahri learns more about her ancestry, which brings up even more questions than answer, Ali’s past truly comes to haunt him, and Dara is slowly falling apart while trying to follow the leader he thought he believed in. Nahri quite literally retraces her steps, and it was quite emotional seeing her back in her human home and the cost of having to leave it for the sake of her future. Dara is a fan favourite, and I understand why but, personally, for me, I wasn’t all that invested in him, though I did have a lot of empathy for him. His story is quite heartbreaking. But don’t get me wrong, I love how Chakraborty handled his character, it was quite possibly the only ending I ever expected for him, but if I had to rank the trio, he would undoubtedly come last.

I realised in my previous reviews I never mention Jamshid at all! And he’s one of my favourite characters in the series. He really grew on me because I didn’t pay much attention to him for a while and during my re-read of Brass, I really saw him in a whole new light! Jamshid has been Muntadhir’s bodyguard for over a decade, and his part in this story really comes to light in this book. While we reunite with some old faces, we also meet new ones, and they all really shine through. It’s a shame this is the finale because I so would’ve loved to have read more about them all. The thing I noted about the series and its expansive map was that we, as readers, never really get to experience much of it in the story. While Nahri and Ali aren’t gallivanting across the world, we do get to see some already mentioned places in this one, which was quite lovely.

Overall, Empire builds on the strengths of its previous novels, especially in its worldbuilding. The world of Daevabad is unreal, just when you thought you knew everything, new revelations are thrown back at you, and the whole world has you spinning again. The story of Nahri might end here, but the ending is genuinely the greatest one we would have possible be given. I don’t think I was truly ready to see the end of this world, but it is a satisfying ending and worth the read.

- Contains spoilers for the previous books in the series -

Daevabad is back in the hands of a Nahid, but Banu Manizheh's bloody takeover of the city doesn't mean that she is in full control of the citizens. With the legendary warrior Dara at her side, Manizheh fights to bring everyone into her regime.
Nahri and Ali have escaped from Manizheh and find themselves in Cairo, Nahri's former home. Ali is determined to save his people and city, but he needs to gather support in order to overthrow Manizheh.
Can Nahri leave Cairo behind again in order to save Daevabad and her friends from her mother?
Will Nahri and Ali be able to gather enough people to help them stop Manizheh?

To say that I was nervous to read The Empire of Gold would be an understatement. The series had already cemented itself as one of my favourites and I was worried that the ending would disappoint me. However, I shouldn't have worried.
There are a lot of words I could use to describe The Empire of Gold - compelling, delightful, action-packed, heart-wrenching, heart-warming, complex, extraordinary . . . I could go on but there is one word that sums it up - PERFECT. I could not have asked for a better ending to the trilogy and The Empire of Gold is without a doubt my favourite end to a trilogy/series, second only to The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The plot was fantastic and kept me guessing. I had no idea what was going to happen, but I was happy with the ending and thought that everything came together brilliantly. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book. I swore and cried (a lot), and felt my stomach sink and my heart soar several times.
The characters are among my all-time favourites, Nahri and Dara especially, but I also love Ali as well as many of the secondary characters. They will definitely stick with me for a long time and I loved how witty and relatable they all were.
I have to applaud the author for all the planning she did because it must have taken ages to plot everything so intricately.
The world the Daevabad trilogy is set in is very complex and intriguing and I would love to read more books set in it.
I'm so pleased that I loved this book and I would definitely recommend this series to fantasy fans.
My only warning to people wanting to read this series is that there are a lot of terms introduced in the first book, The City of Brass, and it took me a while to wrap my head around them.
I can't wait to re-read this series so that I can experience the magic of Daevabad all over again.

Overall, this was the perfect end to the series.