What a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy! I loved how the story was able to tie together all of the characters and their storylines into a satisfying conclusion. The world-building for the whole series has been great, and I loved learning more about Arabian cultures, food, and fashion. I won't give out any spoilers, but I really appreciated how Dara's ending was handled. He didn't necessarily get his HEA, but it seemed fitting for the character development we've seen from the beginning. Ali's journey through the Marid world was an interesting twist, and I'm still torn on how I feel about its addition. On one side it built out his journey in terms of how he viewed Dijin and Marid culture, but some aspects of it seemed more contrived to advance the story. Overall it was a great conclusion to a well build trilogy.

If you got hooked on Chakraborty's Deavabad series like I did, you'll definitely want to check this one out. It opens with Nahri and Ali inexplicably on the edge of the Nile near Cairo. It follows Nahri, Ali, and Dara as they scheme, quest, and fight for their vision of the best future for Daevabad, the daevas, the djinn, and the shafit.

Manizheh commits some truly atrocious acts in order to steal and maintain power, and Dara needs to reconcile his service to his beloved Nahids with the actions his current Nahid is taking to consolidate power. In the meantime, he's her weapon - and on the opposite side of the war, facing Nahri, Ali, and their allies. We get a taste of the rest of the magical world of the daeva, djinn, and marid as Nahri and Ali make their way back to Daevabad. Ali learns more about his heritage, as does Nahri - and they both undergo some trials to win their path back to their city and their goal of uniting all the magical peoples of Daevabad.

This installment is narrated by Nahri, Dara, and Ali, which no doubt contributed to its length, and some uneven pacing. There were a few times I put it down, not eager to pick it back up again, but I am glad I stuck with it. The last third is especially exciting and I wouldn't have missed the resolution for anything.

Recommended for fans of the Daevabad series.

A fitting end to a long journey! This trilogy probably has near 2000 words in it and yet it felt surprisingly well-paced, with characters you really learn to care for over the course of three books. Love the world of Daevabad and all of its mythology. Excited to see what Chakraborty does next!

I'll be honest and admit that I was hesitant to start this story. As anxious and excited as I was to read it, I almost didn't want to because I didn't want this incredible trilogy to end. Alas here we are. I picked up this book, with the highest of hopes and the greatest of expectations. I was not disappointed. The cliff hanger ending of The Kingdom of Copper left me with no clue of how this story would begin or end. I had my hopes because I have a love/hate relationship with all of these characters but in the end I wanted to see Nahri and Ali defeat her mother. But I was completely torn with Dara and his complicated history and the way it affects his present. Needless to say I made my way through this book and the ending was extremely satisfying and not at all what I expected. Does it have to end? All good stories must. I'm extremely happy that in this last book of the trilogy nothing was lacking. The storytelling, world building and character development were still incredible. The journey to the end is one I am glad I was able to take part in. Chakraborty can tell a story and she did that with this trilogy.

Chakraborty's beloved characters and magical world of Daevabad has come to an end, in this mesmerizing and heart wrenching conclusion of The Daevabad trilogy.

“I’m coming back, Nahri,” he promised. “You’re my Banu Nahida. This is my city.” His expression was defiant. “Nothing will keep me from either of you” - S.A. Chakraborty, The City of Brass

The vivid writing instantly transported me back to the magical world of Daevabad. No longer in Daevabad, Nahri and Ali journey across the Nile to Cairo to Ta Nytry. This stirred up some bittersweet memories and reunions from The City of Brass for me. Dara, powerful but yet powerless, brought back from the dead multiple times by now, to be Manizheh's weapon. This was such an emotional read, to experience the grief and loss the main characters went through. To see them struggle and not lose themselves to despair and guilt. Be prepared and have some tissues nearby.

Over the years, Nahri and Ali's relationship have evolved from tolerance to friendship to attraction. If you were to ask me if I saw this coming in The City of Brass I would have told you no, not going to happen. While the romance never stole the spotlight, it was brewing, and both had to deal with external (Muntadhir, duty, loyalty) internal (guilt, inability to let oneself love) obstacles and uncertainty. It's a slow burn romance that leads to something special and long-lasting.

Throughout, I kept wondering where the story would take me. The plotting and scheming is so large-scaled, that the revelation that this has been in the making for a very long time was so good! Finally, no longer left in the dark, our characters heritage and pasts come to light, exciting twists and betrayals. Under Manizheh attempt to rule, it is pure chaos and bloodshed. Daevabad, an ancient magical city now in ruins, and the main characters who must find a way to unite and end it all.

Nahri, Ali and Dara, all come out of this in their own way, and left me completely satisfied. It has been an emotional and enchanting journey, and it saddens me that it has come to an end. I will miss this world very much.

S.A. Chakraborty managed to create a concluding novel that brings so much new history and lore to her world, and yet manages to perfectly wrap up the story she had began to tell in The City of Brass.

In this book, the stakes are raised tenfold. The throne of Daevabad is at stake and the lives of every person in the city are in the balance. And it was glorious!

S.A. Chakraborty is a master at writing political intrigue as the members of the different djinn and Daeva quarters interact, and yet, that was also one of her greatest weaknesses in previous novels, in my own opinion. In The City of Brass, there were times where it felt like the plot was halted at times for politics and for characters to learn and understand what was going on. This might not have been a problem for many who like stories that focus more on such topics, but for me personally, I found that the story could drag.

This was fixed, to an extent, in The Kingdom of Copper but the balance between action and politics was entirely perfect in The Empire of Gold. There was so much happening, so much is revealed, so many plans and schemes and they flowed seamlessly in a way that made the passage of those 800 pages fly by.

As always, my favorite part of any book is the characters.  Nahri and Ali were great. I admit, I never really loved Ali until this book. I thought him alright in book one. I liked him in book two. But boy, does Ali shine in this novel. He was just to precious for this world. Nahri too was as always an interesting character and I really enjoyed watching her journey after having her world come crashing down so many times.

Then there was Dara. I had to devote a section to him alone. He got the most development, I think. He is such a tragic character, his story such a devastating tale of enslavement, loneliness, and bloodshed. He could have been so much more than the dreaded Scourge if his world had allowed it. 

All the other characters were equally wonderful. I've always liked Hatset, Ali's mother, for her fierce love and protectiveness toward her children. In fact, I've always liked all of Ali's family (minus his murderous father). Zaynab and Muntadhir play minor roles but strong roles. And all the characters meet along the way are just as interesting and likable.

Overall, I am so happy to have seen this trilogy gets such a conclusion. I recommend this series to anyone who likes a good political heavy fantasy with interesting characters and creative worldbuilding.

I am highly looking forward to whatever S.A. Chakraborty writes next!

I wound up finding it quite difficult figuring out what to write out of a genuine worry of spoiling anything for fellow fans of the Daevabad trilogy who have gotten just as invested in this unique world and the journeys of Nahri, Ali, and the many other characters that they have grown to love, hate, or feel hopelessly torn over. However, I at least feel that I can say this with the utmost enthusiastic praise - S.A. Chakraborty brings her magnificent trilogy to the most epic and satisfactory end that one could possibly hope for.

Spoiler warning: please note that The Empire of Gold is the third book in a trilogy. Since I pretty much have to discuss where some characters are when the book begins, there will be spoilers for The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper. I would recommend completing the entire Daevabad trilogy before reading this review, but then again, not your mom.

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
The Empire of Gold is the third book in the historical fantasy trilogy titled The Daevabad Trilogy. The Daevabad Trilogy centers on the city of Daevabad and the factions who wish to rule it. Our way into Daevabad was Nahri, former professional con-woman from 18th century Cairo. Nahri has healing powers that she discovers are inherited from her Nahid family. Early in The City of Brass, she meets/kinda resurrects Dara (short for Darayavahoush), a legendary, terrifying djinn warrior. They go to the legendary city of Daevabad, where six djinn tribes once ruled. There, they meet a number of political characters, most notably Aliyazad (Ali), second son of the king, our third point-of-view character. The three of them clash throughout the first and second books, in ways best described by the books themselves.

S.A. Chakraborty - The Empire of GoldS.A. Chakraborty – The Empire of Gold
As The Empire of Gold opens, Daevabad is rocked by the violent regime change that closed The Kingdom of Copper. Nahri has accidentally brought herself and Ali back to Cairo and, considering the state Daevabad was in when they left, she thinks they might be better off if they stayed. However, both Ali and Nahri feel like they can’t leave Daevabad to its new leaders, especially since they suspect they accidentally turned off magic in Daevabad on the way out.

Speaking of Daevabad, Nahri and Ali suspected correctly: magic is gone. Dara and his new Nahid leader, Nahri’s exiled mother Baru Manizeh, try to pick up the pieces and control Daevabad. However, Baru Manizeh’s tactics aren’t what one would expect from a famous healer, and Dara is torn between the leader and the people.

Plot Development
The Empire of Gold was a well-written and paced book. Even though a lot happens, this installment did not remotely feel like it contained 700+ pages. It doesn’t even feel like it’s overstuffed. I read it, in a few sittings, in just three days. It makes sense why it seems like this book moves rapidly. The situation in and around Daevabad rapidly shifts, and the plot shifts with it without making it seem over-dramatic.

It feels like I’m not saying a lot about the plot. That’s because it feels inappropriate to discuss major plot developments that would be spoilers for the earlier books. I recommend you start this trilogy from the beginning and read pretty much straight through. You won’t regret it.

Conclusion – The Empire of Gold gives The Daevabad Trilogy a Solid Landing
The Empire of Gold is an excellent ending to an excellent trilogy. It’s action-packed, and the story shifts in ways that aren’t quite twists, but can still surprise. The ending feels completely earned, without being too gleeful or too devastating. If Chakraborty really wanted, she could go back to Daevabad and write more about the world after the chaos. There’s possibly a door or two open left for her to do that. However, if she never does, the series will not suffer.

I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Are you going to read The Empire of Gold? Has this review convinced you to pick up The Daevabad Trilogy?

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It isn't easy to end a series well, especially one with such an epic scope, but Chakraborty nailed it with The Empire of Gold. Full of adventure, intrigue, danger, unexpected twists, mythological beings, well-developed villains, and romantic angst, this book offers a fantastic continuing story and perfectly bittersweet ending.

Every book in this series has been 5 stars for me and it really deserves to get more attention. Inspired by Islamic history and mythology, brought to life with complex characters you want to root for or love to hate, this is a brilliant series and the conclusion does not disappoint. Find out what happens to Nahri, Ali, and Dara as they interact with forces beyond themselves and make impossible choices. Do be aware that there is quite a lot of violence among other things, so check content warnings if you need them. I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy. This is no way impacts my review as all thoughts and opinions are my own.

S.A. Chakraborty did it again! Sometimes I find conclusions to not be worth the build up, but oh boy did Empire of Gold deliver!!! We follow Nahri as she finally confronts the mother that abandoned her, Ali as he confronts the prejudices he grew up with, and Dara as he battles with who he was when last the Nahids were in power now that they have risen again. We get pulled from page one through action, progress, and heart break as our favorite Daevabadis discover who they truly are and figure out what they are willing to give up for the city and the people they love.

<I>Thanks to NetGalley for a providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.</I>

I probably liked this book least in the series, but I think for the reasons that most people are going to be very happy with the conclusion of the trilogy. I was disappointed to see this adult book series that deals with difficult topics and a bloody war conclude with a very neat & tidy Disney ending. I'm sure many readers will be thrilled that all the main characters have happy endings, but for me it came off as incredibly unrealistic. And Manizheh, who had been a nuanced villain in the previous book, just becomes a charactercher of evil in this one. I am glad this was the last book as Chakraborty's own established (very interesting) magic rules were starting to become pretty fuzzy around the edges to conveniently keep characters around.

I also wasn't thrilled with some of the "big reveals" in this book because they just undid previous ones. I find using a reveal that goes like this: "Remember how you thought A, but then discovered it was B? Ha! It was really C all along!" to be on the lazier side of writing. I found one of the reveals that did this to be particularly irritating as the only purpose it seemed to serve was to further the "Nahri is actually perfect" narrative.

I think this could have been a really powerful story if Chakraborty had been able to commit to more difficult decisions for her characters. However, I will say that she did do a good job of closing this chapter of Daevabad while leaving it naturally open for another series and I would not necessarily be against reading that.

I cannot rate this final book in the Daevabad trilogy high enough. We fell in love. We cried. We sobbed. We laughed. It was everything we wanted and more we didn’t know we needed.

Empire of Gold picks up moments after Kingdom of Copper ended. Nahri and Ali find themselves washed up on the shores of the Nile, just outside of Cairo. Magic is gone and Daevabad is in upheaval. Nahri, Ali, and Dara all face difficult choices and must come to terms with the consequences for themselves - and the magical community at large.

Empire of Gold follows a similar path to City of Brass, and watching our characters walk such a similar path 7 years later serves to compare and contrast how they have changed - and how they haven’t. The real strength of The Daevabad Trilogy has been the beautiful, complex, and often morally grey characters, and they continue to shine here. Complex world building, complicated politics, and wonderfully imperfect characters come together once again to weave a lush, fantastical ending that fans of the series won’t be able to put down.

I’m absolutely terrible at finishing series but, after the ending of The Kingdom of Copper, I needed to know what happened to all of my favorites. Luckily, The Empire of Gold was the absolutely perfect ending to this amazing series. I’m very rarely fully satisfied with how a series ends but this one hit all of the right notes for me. I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters and this world but I know I’ll be revisiting them again soon for a reread.

If you like high fantasy, I’d absolutely recommend picking this series up! And I’ll be preordering the author’s new series, which is a historical fantasy pitched as Sinbad the Sailor meets Oceans 11.

*Disclaimer: I received a digital advance copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Let me tell you - the Daevabad Trilogy ends perfectly. It was bittersweet reading the last pages and saying goodbye to some of my favorite characters of all time.

THE EMPIRE OF GOLD picks up immediately after the chaotic and dramatic events of THE KINGDOM OF COPPER. Nahri and Ali find themselves in Egypt and unsure of their next steps. With magic gone from Daevabad, Dara struggles to comprehend and support Manizeh's new repressive reign. The lives of other characters hang by threads which I will not spoil.

S.A. Chakraborty effortlessly weaves together important themes in Islamicate/Middle Eastern history and culture with great character development, madcap pacing, and shocking twists (my jaw hit the floor MANY times). When I first assigned my students THE CITY OF BRASS, many chose to write about the suppression of the shafit and Daeva under Ghassan and how it paralleled with politics in the Middle East both past and present. I wish I could talk to those same students about EMPIRE. Dara's arc is very grim in comparison to Ali and Nahri's but Chakraborty does an excellent job breaking down what happens over a conquest, how rulers can have the best intentions but still harm their people, and what it means to follow one's conscience.

Chakraborty expands the world of Daevabad in exciting ways by taking readers to new parts of the map, introducing characters from regions not yet traveled to, and also integrates pre-Islamicate folklore and religion. For any writer who wants to write a fantastical/revisionist history of a time period or place and do it well, I would start with the Daevabad Trilogy as their first reading assignment.

Where some series end on sour or less than perfect endings, I loved how EMPIRE wrapped up threads and also left me imagining what happens next for our beloved characters. If Chakraborty ever wanted to write a duology or another trilogy with these characters set 10, 20, 50 years in the future, I would be the first person in line to buy it.

This is a series that I’ve taught to my undergrads and always recommend to friends and other fantasy fans.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I knew this book would be nothing less than amazing. As a writer, S. A. Chakraborty is something otherworldly. She has the capability to weave a really great story and take it in such interesting and fun directions.I loved City of Brass and I was just floored by The Kingdom of Copper because they are both an amazing set in such an intricate storyline. Chakraborty is such an intelligent writer who ends this trilogy in the perfect way--after taking us for such a crazy ride from beginning to end. A great book in a great series, and a definite must have for all libraries, and a definite read for any lover of fantasy or just a good damn book.

I could didn't see any of the coming. Well, like one or two but not the major things. Wow. I completely loved this. While you can not really say a lot without giving away things because this book has so much new information and scenery. We FINALLY get to know the history of some of the characters.
And a year jerking goodbye from others. This was by far one of the best ends to a series and I would enjoy if we get some novellas out of it to see how things are going for some of the parties in the story.

A very satisfying, if slightly gory, resolution to a tale that has a little something for everyone: Political intrigue, romantic intrigue, magical intrigue, and more magic just for fun.

This is the best book I have read all year. S. A. Chakraborty ends this trilogy in brilliant fashion. I cannot recommend this trilogy enough to anyone and everyone.

While I’m terribly sad this series is over, I cannot wait to read anything and everything this author will write in the future.

The book hangover from this story is absolute. Thank you for writing such an amazing series!

Thank you to netgalley for the early copy, I will continue to recommend this series to my customers for years to come,

The end of a series is always a little bittersweet but when it came to The Empire of Gold, I was happy. Not that it ended because these books are fabulous, but that the characters finally found some peace.

Well, you know, most of them. It’s a fantasy filled with war and political intrigue, there’s going to be casualties and these books have a lot of characters.

It’s hard to avoid spoilers for the previous books this far in a series so if you haven’t read them, I recommend stopping here rather than reading further.

The Kingdom of Copper ended with me dying to know what happened next. It left all three point-of-view characters in precarious positions with the threat of a final conflict, one last battle, ever looming. And… I struggled with the first third of the book. If I’m being honest, it’s probably closer to the first half. Don’t get me wrong, the book is good but I wasn’t connecting with it like the first two books which I couldn’t put down from start to finish. The Empire of Gold is a bit slower. There’s a lot of character development which was great, but it slowed the pacing down a bit for me in the first half.

That said, there came a point in the story that everything exploded. This wasn’t just a final epic battle. And it all comes back to the characters. Each had a choice they had to make that would affect them for the rest of their lives and watching them struggle to reach that point was both beautiful and nerve-wracking.

I had so much respect for Nahri in this book. Here is a young woman who just wants to live her life, who has the responsibility of a kingdom on her shoulders that she never asked for. And she just takes it all in stride. She makes mistakes and they have consequences, and as a reader, I was right there alongside her and it was… powerful.

Also the romance was A+. Minimal in a way that felt natural to the characters and the events transpiring but also so sweet and the burn was on point. It felt earned.

Then there’s Alizayd. You know, while I didn’t dislike him in The City of Brass, I can’t say he was my favorite character either. I warmed up to him in The Kingdom of Copper but I was ALL in by the time I got to this book. He changed so much over the course of the series and seeing him finally accept parts of himself, accept his own desires, and realize his place in the world… perfect.

And finally, there’s Dara.

I… struggled with his chapters. He went from being my ship with Nahri in book 1 to a character with his own goals and motivations in book 2, but in The Empire of Gold he went dark. His chapters as he examines everything he was raised to believe, to be, everything he fought for and had to believe to mentally survive, it goes to a place of morality the books hadn’t quite hit on in this way until now. I didn’t enjoy his chapters as much as the other characters but they were needed. He needed it to grow as a character. And I think it ultimately made the ending that much more satisfying.

Because, really, that’s what I’m looking for in a final book of a series. A good ending. Sure, I want the story to build up even more, keep the tension high and the stakes higher than previous books, but it all comes down to the ending and it makes or breaks a series.

The Empire of Gold made it and then some. It was, by far, the best ending I could have hoped for based on how the books play out. There’s just enough of the unknown that you can imagine how things might be beyond the page, but it’s also satisfying as a reader to see this chapter close for these characters and this world.

If you had any doubts about this series, or were waiting on the reviews for the final book before starting, just stop reading now and go grab a copy of The City of Brass and GET READING! I haven’t had a series ending hit me like this since A Conjuring of Light finishing out the Shades of Magic books. 12/10 would recommend the Daevabad Trilogy and honestly all future works by S.A. Chakraborty because I have no doubt they’ll be amazing.