The Queen of Days by Greta Kelly

Title: The Queen of Days

Author: Greta Kelly

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy/Steampunk

Series: N/A

Hardcover, 384 pages 

Publication: October 24, 2023 by Harper Voyager 
Source: Personal library 
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For Balthazar and his family of thieves, stealing a statue during the annual celebration of the god Karanis was just a good bit of fun…or a way to stick it to the governor who murdered his parents. And yeah, the small fortune in reward doesn’t hurt—even if his boss also hired the mysterious Queen of Days to join the crew as “the weapon of last resort...”

Whatever that means.

But Bal doesn’t know the ceremony isn’t simply empty words and dusty tradition; it’s true magic. The kind of magic that rips open a portal for the god himself. Only the idol that Karanis planned on using for a body now lies broken at the Queen of Days’ feet. And half of it is missing.

With the aid of a lovable brawler, a society lady turned bomb maker, a disgraced soldier, and a time-eating demon, Bal must hunt down the missing half of the statue if he has any hope of earning his money, keeping his crew alive…and perhaps even saving all of humanity. But as his journey sends him racing through the city—and across realities—he discovers that doing all this might just doom the city.

The city be damned. It’s time to kill a god.

MY THOUGHTS

I'm always looking for a good hiest novel and The Queen of Days delivered. Bal and his crew is hired to steal an artifact from the Governor's temple with one stipulation. They must aquire assistance from the infamous thief, The Queen of Days, Tass.

Bal and his crew thought The Queen of Days was nothing more than myths and legends since they've never personally seen her and they're born and bred of Cothis. Except she's real and not entirely human. In exchange for helping them retrieve the artifact, they must each give up a month's time of their life. From the get-go the assignment goes sideways when an ancient God inhabits the Governor's body and it seems like everyone in Cothis is after Bal, his crew and Tass.

I enjoyed The Queen of Days much more than I expected to. The main storyline of vengeful Gods trying to takeover the human realm has been done many times but what stood out from this novel were the characters. As I got to know more of Bal and his crew, his family and of Tass and her background I grew more invested in their lives and was rooting for them to take out the bad guy. However, the downside is this is a standalone so all that character development felt a bit surface level and rushed. The book was open ended but I could see more possible stories involving these characters. The stories are there and I hope the author gives these characters more stage time.

The Magic system was fascinating. Tass is a demigod, part god-part human and her life-force hinges on taking time from human or energy from the netherworld (I think). It was funny to see the Crew's realization that the Gods they worship are truly living beings and some of them resides alongside humanity in every day life and no one is the wiser. We met Tass's brother, Uncle and Grandfather...and I want to meet more of the family. Finger crossed for more books in this world!

Overall The Queen of Days was a great read. There's plenty of action and heart and characters you can't help but root for. If you love a fun and thrilling heist novel; I highly recommend Tbe Queen of Days!

 

 

 

Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

Title: Kingdom of Copper

Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Daevabad Trilogy # 2

Hardcover, 621 pages
Publication: January 22, 2019 by Harper Voyager
Source: Personal library
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Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad—and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe..

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

My Thoughts

I read and fell in love with The City of Brass when it first came out and the sequel, Kingdom of Copper was my most anticipated sequel. But as usual, life happens and the book sat unread on my shelf for years. Fast forward to now with the series completed I finally picked up Kingdom of Copper. The book jumps forward and five years has passed. Nahri married Muntadhir and is now a permanent fixture in the palace as she continues to learn and heal the people of Daevabad. While Ali is in exile dealing with his new powers and Dara is resurrected to once again be used as a weapon.

I’m shocked that I’m saying this but this book wasn’t good. Or my expectations were too high.  I’ll start off with what I enjoyed. I enjoyed the world-building and expansion. Readers are introduced to more characters and intricate layers to the world and magic. I liked learning about the history and backstory about the marids and nahids. After world-building is the characters. The characters are what made me love the first book so much but it seems like everyone did a complete 360!

Pardon my language but everyone was an asshole (except. Zaynab). Nahri may have married the king’s son, but let’s be real, she was still a prisoner. She kept going back and forth between her hatred and budding affection for the Qahtanis. It gave me whiplash. And while Nahri wanted to improve the lives of her people, her attitude has changed and not for the better. Nahri found her voice and backbone to stand up against the soldiers, Ghassan, and even her long lost mother but I think her time at the palace had made her feel untouchable thus arrogant. Muntadhir is a player but I adored him in City of Brass. The Muntadhir now is a shell of the man  he was before. He spent 90% of the book fooling around with everyone, getting shit-face drunk and hating life. Ali was his usual annoying self. I forgot how I  felt about Ali before but I am certainly not a fan of him now. I disliked how much he pines for Nahri. Why did Chakraborty have to insert a love triangle???! Why? It was pointless and irritating. Then there is Dara. I, like many readers loved Dara, the powerful Djinn warrior. That Dara is also gone. Dara in Kingdom of Copper is once again a puppet for someone else. What I don’t understand is if he is technically free and not under control of Solomon’s seal then why does he not turn on his ‘master’? He is literally repeating his past, doing things against his beliefs. Of all the characters in this book, with the exception of  Zaynab, Hatset, and Ali’s two friends who are the only ones with any redeeming qualities.

This book started off shakily and as the story progressed it got worst and worst. The last few chapters, leading up to the attack on the city was quite nerve-wrecking and full of action, but that didn’t save it. The carefully planned attack, went south real fast and hard. I didn’t like the turn of events and the revelations and ending were so-so predictable. I saw it coming a mile away.

I invested so much time and energy into the series that I am still determined to see the characters' story and journey through. Despite the book being such a disappointment. I just hope beyond hope that the third installment is nothing like the Kingdom of Copper.