This was everything I wanted it to be, a wonderful book in a wonderful setting. I took my time reading it, as entranced with Daevabad as I was with the first novel, City of Brass.

Everything in this book is just turned up to eleven. Magical creatures and magic itself played a relatively minor part in Brass, here they are central to the story, and their exploration and their uses are portrayed brilliantly. In Brass, Nahri was isolated, with few allies, now, five years later, she is utterly alone among the enemies who despise her.

Chakraborty knows her medieval islamic culture, and it shows. Her delicate unpicking of the threads she wove in the first novel is just a delight to read.

I don't have much else to say, this is brilliant. A high point in my reading this year.