Robert Jackson Bennett

The city of Voortyashtan was once the home of the goddess of death, war and destruction, but now it's little more than a ruin. General Turyin Mulaghesh is called out of retirement and sent to this hellish place to find a Saypuri secret agent who's gone AWOL in the middle of a mission. But the ghosts of past wars have followed her there, and soon she begins to wonder what happened to the souls in the afterlife when the gods were defeated by her people, the Polis. Do the dead sleep soundly in the land of death? Or do they have plans of their own?

A Novel

City of Blades

'Robert Jackson Bennett deserves a huge audience' - Brent Weeks, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Prism. Do the dead sleep soundly in the land of death - or do they have plans of their own? Nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award 2016. 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. But that was then. Now the god is dead and the city lies in ruins, a wasteland of sectarian violence and bloody uprisings. So it makes perfect sense for General Turyin Mulaghesh, foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumoured war criminal, ally of embattled Prime Minister Shara Komayd, to be exiled here - but she's not just eking out her days in this hellhole till retirement. She's on one final mission, to find a Saypuri secret agent who's gone AWOL. The trouble is, that this old soldier isn't sure she's still got what it takes to be the hero . . . A triumphant return to the world of A City of Stairs. 'Loud, bold and uncompromisingly ambitious' - Upcoming4.me

Sade A

A+++++++ BITCHES!!!
IF YOU TALK SMACK ABOUT THIS BOOK, I WILL SMACK YOU IN YOUR DREAMS. JK
but not really.
GENERAL TURYIN MULAGHESH RULES & YOUR FAVES COULD NEVER....

Janice Hopper

This book swept me along, and I didn't want to put it down. I probably overspun one whole bobbin of fiber because I was trying to read and spin at the same time.

The whole notion of a world where the local gods were killed off, but still managed to leave some sort of trace behind is a little odd and somewhat interesting. But the characters are vivid and interesting. The whole setup is fun, and Bennett's writing propels you along through the story. Watching General Mulaghesh come back into her own after her "retirement" is good. I love stories about competent people, and Mulaghesh is brave, bold, AND competent. And, at one point, almost god-like.

I confess I find the setting (sort of a pseudo-Slavic world with lots of military action) a little off-putting. But that's me. The excellence of the writing rides over my mild queasiness about it.

I'm not putting many details here, because there's a lot to cover. Dead gods; dead souls who were promised an afterlife and are PISSED they didn't get the one they wanted; a murder mystery; military atrocities; etc.

I've dawdled over starting this book and the first in the series, but as soon as I start reading, I honestly don't know why I dawdled. This is good stuff.

Didi Chanoch

Robert Jackson Bennet's City of Stairs was one of my favorite books of 2014, so I was very much looking forward to the sequel. Taking place a few years after the events of CoS, this is not a book I would recommend as a jumping on point. While Bennet does an admirable job filling in the gaps for new readers, much of the book's resonance comes with knowledge of some of the characters. Plus, it spoils CoS, which is not a thing you want to do.

So how does CoB stand up to its predecessor? Extremely well. This book pushed many of my personal buttons and evoked very powerful emotional responses. The characters, new and old, are great, and the mystery - while some elements of it are somewhat predictable - is complex and rewarding. 

To my mind, City of Stairs should have been a Hugo Nominee in 2015 (which, if one removes the various slate nominees, it would have been), and I think City of Blades may be one in 2017. If it isn't, then we will have had quite an amazing year of fiction.

Anna

Livia

Amazing, beautiful, brutal, honest, spectacular, epic, gory, bloody. I can't even think of any cohesive sentence to describe my thoughts about this book, it's all gone. Just know that this is one of the best second books in a trilogy, definitely my top 10.

Celeste Richardson

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions. 

“Dying nobly is preferable to living savagely.”

I’m completely blown away by Bennett’s world building. City of Blades thrilled me and surprised me and cut me to the quick with its rich character development and lore. I cared so much about the characters, and felt every emotion they felt as I read. Bennett’s world is unlike any I’ve ever come across; he absolutely excels at creating both empathetic characters and compelling mythology and history to add a depth and uniqueness to his writing that I believe to be rare.

“O, the things we kill for our dreams, forgetting all the while we shall wake up to find them naught but dust and ash!
What fools we are to pretend that when we walk to war we do not bring our loved ones with us.”

City of Blades picks up five years after the events of City of Stairs. General Turyin Mulaghesh has retired at long last. Or, at least, she thought she had. She’s roped into one final job by a friend who won’t take no for an answer. Against her better judgement, she returns to a part of the world she hoped to never revisit, in order to investigate a mystery completely outside her realm of expertise.

“Chains are forged of many strange metals. Poverty is one. Fear, another. Ritual and custom are yet more. All actions are forms of slavery, methods of forcing people to do what they deeply wish not to do.”

Mulaghesh is a complete different main character from Shara in City of Stairs. Where Shara has made a weapon of her wits, Mulaghesh is herself a weapon. After enlisting in the military at the tender age of sixteen, Mulaghesh has spent the rest of her life in military service and retains the body of a fighter despite her years. But while Mulaghesh isn’t Shara, she’s no slouch in the mental department. She’s a straight shooter and a clear thinker, and all she wants to do is serve and protect. I found her to be the epitome of who a soldier should be. 

“A soldier serves not to take, they don’t strive to have something, but rather they strive so that others might one day have something. And a blade isn’t a happy friend to a soldier, but a burden, a heavy one, to be used scrupulously and carefully. A good soldier does everything they can so they do not have to kill. That’s what training is for. But if we have to, we will. And when we do that we give up some part of ourselves, as we’re asked to do.”

Books from the perspective of a warrior of Mulaghesh’s type and caliber rarely make it into my list of favorites because it’s not a lifestyle I can at all relate to, but this book is definitely an exception. And while she is a warrior, she is first and foremost a soldier, and she does an exemplary job of demonstrating the difference. The inner struggles Mulaghesh deals with regarding her past and what it means to be a soldier really resonated with me, and I found her incredibly compelling. Middle aged women of the armed forces aren’t often represented as main characters, and I loved the life experience she brought to the table. She wrestled with remorse and duty and honor, and those struggles were deep and real.

“Killing echoes inside you. It never goes away. Maybe some who kill don’t know they’ve lost something, but they have.”

While Mulaghesh is the central character, she is by no means the only one. We have return characters from the previous book as well as brand new characters. I won’t reveal any names, but I was incredibly impressed at the depth and development Bennett wrested from side characters in this story. There were events I found completely shocking because of how well developed some such characters were. This isn’t a world where departed loved ones spring back to life or where the consequences of your actions are wiped away because you perform a heroic deed. Bennett’s world is gritty and dark and real, and sorrow doesn’t pass you by just because you’re important. Everyone has demons they’re fighting and struggles they might never overcome.

“‘Deserve.’ How preoccupied we are with that. With what we should have, with what we are owed. I wonder if any word has ever caused more heartache.”

Once again we are presented with a mystery that remains a mystery until Bennett is ready for his reveal. I appreciate so much that so far, there is nothing remotely predictable about this trilogy. We also get more background of the fascinating mythology of the Divine. The religious element of this series feels so original to me, and is more thought provoking than any other fictional religion I’ve come across.

“People often ask me what I see when I look at the world. My answer is simple, and true. Possibilities. I see possibilities.”

I highly recommend this series if to any fantasy fan, and if you enjoy more philosophical, cerebral fantasy, this is definitely the series for you. Rarely have I read such a strong second installment in any trilogy. I can’t wait to see how Bennett concludes this story in City of Miracles.

Another buddy read with the ever lovely TS. Happy to report that we both enjoyed this installment as much as we did the first!

Sarah Escorsa

Previous rating: 10-12 pathetic little stars. 

  New rating
: 22.245668963 stars (and a half). Now that’s more like it.

➽ And the moral of this reread is: I want to be Voortya when I grow up. Just so that my epitaph can read: 
  “EMPRESS OF GRAVES
MAIDEN OF STEEL
DEVOURER OF CHILDREN
QUEEN OF GRIEF
SHE WHO CLOVE THE EARTH IN TWAIN”
Sounds much grander and a lot more nefarious than “Requiescat in Boring Pace,” methinks.



See what I mean?

✉ A Very Private Message to Robert Jackson Bennett: it’s the third time I read this book. Maybe it’s time you stopped breaking my black withered heart into tiny little pieces? Thank thee kindly.

• Book 1: City of Stairs ★★★★★
• Book 3: City of Miracles ★★★★★

 

[April 2017]

• Damn it All to Subaquatic Hell my Despicable Reading Buddies Actually Enjoyed Book 1 and Want to Read this One Too The End Must Be Near Buddy Reread (DiAtSHmDRBAEB1aWtRtOTTEMBNBR™) with some people of uncharacteristically good taste over at BB&B •

➽ 
  And the moral of this reread is
:

If 

a = I want to marry General Turyin Mulaghesh

and

b = I want to marry Sigrud je Harkvaldsson

and 

c = I want General Turyin Mulaghesh to marry Sigrud je Harkvaldsson

then 

a + b + c = Houston, we have a problem we need a harem. Oh wait, I already have one. Ha.






[Original review: February 2016]

♦ Yet another Wow BR with my Wow Girls Choko and Maria over at BB&B ♦ 

Actual rating: 10 stars? 12 stars? Who the hell even knows?

No, City of Blades wasn't as mind-blowingly amazing as City of Stairs. Except that it was. Yep. This doesn't make any sense? It shouldn't. Especially since City of Blades was actually even more mind-blowingly amazing than City of Stairs. Except that it wasn't. Still not making sense? Good. Death by confusion, that's what I'm aiming for here. But anyway. The difference between the two instalments in this OMG-you-have-to-read-it-now series is: City of Stairs left me speechless -as proven by my Super Short I Have Nothing To Say Review (SSIHNTSR™), while City of Blades left me emotionally drained. And man, how I love feeling like I've been punched in the gut repeatedly. Makes me feel alive and stuff, you know.



Please note I am slightly less hairy than the guy getting delightfully punched in the gut here. Because yes, you can be both nefarious and hairless. I mean, I do have hair on my head. It's the rest of me that's slightly less hairy. Just thought I'd let you know.

By the way, did I mention this was going to be another SSIHNTSR™? I did? Good. I lied again. In my defense, I'll have you know I really really really wanted to write a short review here, but couldn't (yes, this is a message from Sarah from the Future. The Sarah that just finished writing this could-have-been-short-but-wasn't-review.) I couldn't because this book is so AWESOME-AMAZEBALLS-DANG-I-LOVE-IT-SO-MUCH-RIGHT-IN-THE-FEELS-THIS-IS-SO-BLOODY-BRILLIANT-I-THINK-I-STOPPED-BREATHING-FOR-A-WHILE-THERE (AADILISMRITFTBISBBITISBFAWT™) that I couldn't keep my big mouth shut. I just felt it my duty to try and convey how exactly AADILISMRITFTBISBBITISBFAWT™ this book is. Kind of like my new mission in life and stuff. Anyway, I'm awfully sorry about this. I promise I'll behave from now on (view spoiler)[I no longer have to tell you when I'm lying, do I? Good. It gets pretty monotonous after a while (hide spoiler)].

Okay, let's do this. Take a big breath, people, this one is going to be long and boring. Or boring and long. Take your pick.



What made City of Stairs Bloody Amazing were the unique, complex world-building and extremely thought-provoking themes developed by RJB. And the very cool characters. And the intriguing, fast-paced plotline. And the twists and revelations. And stuff. What makes City of Blades Bloody Amazing? Bloody Amazing Characterization, that's what. Complex doesn't even begin to cover it. Gut-wrenching either. I don't know how to explain it, really. RJB is so talented he makes you feel like you ARE the characters. I think Choko said it best when she mentioned being viscerally connected to them. And that is why, dear friends, the book is so emotionally draining. Because, let me tell you, this is no Fluffy Bunnies and Pastel-Colored Rainbows Land. Here the characters have been broken and traumatized (both physically and mentally) by years of war and soldiering. The atmosphere is dark. Much darker than in City of Stairs. And the mood is very reflective. You get to the heart of the characters, of their innermost feelings and motivations. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this book is all Blah Blah Blah Heaven, please-someone-kill-me inner ramblings, and zip zilch nada zero fun. Do you seriously think I'd be fangirling about this book, had that been the case? Don't you know me at all? Think, people. Think. There is a LOT of action here. There are uber cool gruesome fights. And a very intriguing plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. And this is where RJB excels. He manages to mix thought-provoking themes, action, deep insight on his characters and pure entertainment. Let me tell you, this guy is a genius.



So I was looking for a gif to illustrate the fact I might be getting a tinsy little bit carried away and found this. It doesn't have anything to do with anything but I kind of like the "a lazy lobster is an endangered lobster" philosophy. Besides, how often to you come across Filipino proverbs?

Would you look at me?! I was going to talk about the newest member of my Cool Chicks Harem and got lost along the way. Shame on you, RJB, for writing such awesome stuff and making me get off track. Not that I need awesome stuff to get off track. I mean, even Mermen manage to get me off track. And we all know how NOT awesome these Mermen wannabes were, right? Right. My point is, getting off track is my other missions in life. But I digress. So. The newest member of my Cool Chicks Harem? Who made it directly to my top 10 favorite heroines of ALL TIMES? Ladies and gentleman, please meet retired General Turyin Mulaghesh. You gotta admit, the woman has seen better days: she's past her prime (a female heroine who is past 50? I LOVE you RJB) and is one-armed. She is damaged, blunt, badass, heart-breaking, ass-kicking, disenchanted, lonesome, fierce, sometimes lost, ever-cursing and deliciously grumpy. But most importantly, you know what she is? Seriously amazing AMAZING. The other characters in the story are all pretty awesome but General M. here? The woman is seriously amazing AMAZING. Ooooops, did I say that already? Too bad. So one question remains unanswered here. Which one? This one: Turyin Mulaghesh, will you marry me? Very private message to all my Goodreads Wives (GW™): don't worry, I still love you. You're no longer #1 is my heart, that is all. Please feel free to sob and despair now.



Just one more thing before I let you resume your boring daily activities: what I love most about RJB's stories is how thought-provoking they are (I know I've said this before but I don't care. Ha.) There aren't as many underlying themes in this book as there were in City of Stairs, but they are just as absorbing. I've mentioned before that City of Blades was about war and soldiering. It is not only about how wars affect soldiers, but also how it affects populations and to a greater scale, humanity. It is also a reflection on what is justifiable when it comes to war, and what isn't. Is anything justifiable? Can bad deeds committed in the name of the greater good be forgiven? Is redemption possible? Can one ever forgive his/herself for his/her past actions, no matter how disreputable? What does being civilized mean? Who are we to say what cultures are or aren't more civilized than we are? DAMN. I LOVE THIS STUFF.



You knew this was coming, right? Sorry, I had to let it out at some point.

What makes all this even more AADILISMRITFTBISBBITISBFAWT™ (please don't tell me you forgot your acronym dictionary again?!) is that you can feel this amazing world growing one page at a time. RJB builds it brick by brick, adds layer upon layer, and makes it more complex and more fascinating as the story develops. Did I already say this guy was a genius? I guess I did. Do we need to talk about sleeping lobsters again? I think we don't (view spoiler)[We could definitely talk about lobster costumes, though. Yeah, lobster costumes are cool. Just ask dear William here:

 (hide spoiler)]

I have the feeling that some people will think this is a disappointing follow-up to City of Stairs. The mood is more contemplative, more intimate. It is more sober, too. Some people are probably going to think the pace is slower. Some people might even think it boring. HAHAHAHAHA. Well some people are hilarious. And some people are so dead wrong it must hurt. What disastrous lives they must lead. It's so good to be me, and be right all the time.

So where does that leave us? That leaves us at me starting to feel the Divine Cities withdrawal symptoms kicking in. RJB, you better start writing the next instalment SOON. Otherwise I might consider going all Hamster Ninja Bitch on you. And believe me, that is not a pretty sight, and definitely not something to look forward to. As for you, dear people who are still with me and surprisingly alive after holding your breath for so long, all I have to say is:

Sheila

What an emotional ending! Turyin Mulaghesh is an incredible character with one hell of a PTSD redemption arc. This book was an interesting perspective on the fallout of the Battle of Bulikov that happened 5 years previous in City of Stairs.

Sahi K

“What fools we are to pretend that when we walk to war we do not bring our loved ones with us.”

Good sequels are usually hard to come by. Good sequels to great first books are rare. This is one such book. It’s not as complicated and not as twisty as City of Stairs but that doesn’t make this book any less fantastic. While the first book was more about world building, Bulikov and the Divines especially Kolkan, here the story shifts to Voortyashtan, ass-end of the universe, armpit of the world. This book is also about Mulagesh and her exploits.

It’s been five years since the Battle of Bulikov and General Mulagesh has retired to the island of Javrat, away from humanity. She is forced out of her retirement by Shara, who is now the Saypuri Prime Minister, to go on a secret assignment to Voortyashtan. Another secret operative deployed there, investigating a recently mined ore which has unexplainable conduction properties, has gone missing. Mulagesh travels to Voortyashtan on the pretext of a final tour before retirement and tries to secretly gather information about the missing Choudary. She is helped a little by Signe, daughter of Sigrud, CTO of Southern Dreyling Company, a genius engineer trying to clear up the Solda river and build a harbor to better connect Saypur with the Continent. Mulagesh also meets General Biswal, her old commanding officer who is now the regional governor of Voortyashtan.

This book gives us a lot of history. The divinity we get to know more about is obviously Voortya, the Goddess of warfare and death. The truth about sentinels, the deadly soldiers of Voortya, and the atrocities they committed upon the Saypuri slaves is explained in such a horrid way that it disgusts you. The book goes into great detail about their armor, their strength, their methods, their motivations and their expectations from their Goddess and the afterlife.

“What wild promises we make in order to justify the worst of decisions.”

In this backdrop, we get to know a lot about Mulagesh’s past; her military history, the killings that weigh on her mind even after decades, her relationship with Biswal and the horrors of war. Amidst the story, there is a lot of commentary about war and peace, killing, the toll it takes on the soldiers, the motivations and justifications behind war etc. But nowhere does the author come across as preachy. The narrative and commentary are very organic, forcing the reader to contemplate the consequences of war – in the book as well as the real world.

“The world may not go on forever. But that doesn’t mean we cannot try to make tomorrow better.”

The strength of the series is definitely the world building and its rich history but the best part of this book is Mulagesh herself. Her struggles with the actions of her past, her PTSD, her evolution through the decades – it is all very gut wrenching – but what makes her amazing is what she comes to believe is the duty of a soldier and purpose of war, and how she uses this belief to destroy the enemy hell bent on annihilating humanity. The relationship between Sigrud and Signe is also explored well and I expect to know more of how the tragedies in his life will affect him.

“When the world grinds you down, you pick a handful of fires to hold close to your heart.”

Next task for me – find the last book and read it ASAP.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Nat Welch

I found this very different feeling than the first book, much more character growth, but also very sad. I liked how you could probably read this without the first book (but you shouldn't the first book is so good!).

Luke Kanies

A great sequel. I like that it switched characters, but built on the same world. The main protagonist was comfortably flawed, very human, and never comfortable. Again a deep dive into the downsides of empire, plus a healthy mix of the consequences of industry, and how you really can’t separate them, either economically or socially.

And plus just a fun read.

Kareema A Godhrawala

When I read the first page, I felt relieved. The writing style, which I didn't pay attention too in the first book had apparently made a great impression on me. And THE COVER. My favorite cover of all time and the texture of it is also my favorite, so it was just a joy to hold and read. The grey paper oddly suited the way this book was written so that was good? It's astonishing how much a book is improved simply by the format it is in.

The ideas in this book are so unique to the fantasy genre. It's so original and so well done. The whole book is very chaotic, you hardly know where it's going and you just follow along what the characters and what they are doing, and then it clicks, and it's so damn satisfying to finally understand what was going on all along. It is a very compelling story with amazing world-building and interesting ideas. 

The characters are strong and intelligent and the camaraderie between them was endearing. Especially Sigrud and Turyin? I loved seeing their friendship and their mutual respect of each other and their capabilities. And Signe? Especially after all that Sigrud had been through, seeing him with his daughter was heart-rending. They all have their stories and I enjoy the fact that these characters have been living a life and what we are reading is a scene of their life, and it was done very convincingly in this book. 

There were scenes in this book that I re-read the dialogue or the description out loud because I loved it and it brought such pleasure to read it. There were scenes where I had to try hard not to skip paragraphs because the scenes were so intense and I was so IN IT and my heart had been beating fast. The GRAND scenes in this book are truly grand and so wondrous to read. 

One criticism. I really would have liked to know more about the tribes and their conflict and how that was resolved/ more detail into that.

Ben Nathan

This series is something else. Such great characters and world building. Even when you figure out part of the mystery, there are other things that you don't quite figure until you're told. The writing is top notch and I am really loving these books.

City of Blades A Novel

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