City of Blades: A Novel

Robert Jackson Bennett

Jan 2016 · The Divine Cities Book 2 · Sold by Del Rey

About this ebook

A triumphant return to the world of City of Stairs.
 
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 with the potential to change the world--or destroy it. 
 
The trouble is that this old soldier isn't sure she's still got what it takes to be the hero.

Ratings and reviews

This one got a little lost in its own complexities. Bennett does a good job expanding the world he created in City of Stairs, and while this book can be read as a standalone, it probably shouldn't. The characters are recycled into new incarnations, and events from the previous book definitely inform the story. While the complexities are well handled, the overall explanation gets muddled, partially because it makes a cursory amount of sense, but doesn't really logically mesh with the world rules.

I enjoyed the first of this series immensely, and very much loved the perspective of the second from my favorite character. My only qualm would be the style of the dialogue, but there was really nothing wrong with it.

Bought this book expecting to read a chapter or two a night, try to get through it over the course of a week. I finished it in a day and a half.

About the author

ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT is the author of American Elsewhere, The Troupe, The Company Man, Mr. Shivers and City of Stairs. He lives in Austin with his wife and son.