The City of Brass – S. A. Chakraborty 2017 | 1st Edition

The City of Brass (2017) by S. A. Chakraborty is the first book in the Daevabad Trilogy, a richly imagined historical fantasy that weaves Islamic mythology, political intrigue, and magical adventure into a sweeping narrative. Set in the 18th century, the story follows Nahri, a cunning con artist in Cairo who accidentally summons a mysterious djinn warrior, Dara, and discovers her own supernatural heritage as a descendant of the Nahids, a powerful line of healers. Thrust into the hidden world of djinn, she journeys to the legendary city of Daevabad—a glittering, treacherous metropolis of six djinn tribes locked in ancient rivalries and oppressed by a tyrannical monarchy.

Chakraborty’s meticulous world-building brings Daevabad to life with its brass minarets, blood-fueled magic, and complex social hierarchies, while her characters grapple with themes of identity, colonialism, and the cost of power. Prince Alizayd, an idealistic royal torn between faith and justice, becomes an unlikely ally to Nahri as rebellion simmers in the city’s slums. The novel balances visceral action (sands that transform into fire, winged ifrits, and deadly political schemes) with deep emotional stakes, exploring how far characters will go to reclaim their pasts or forge new futures.

A Kirkus Best Book of 2017, praised for its “dazzling” Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy.

“Chakraborty doesn’t just build a world—she ignites it with the fire of a thousand djinn.” — NPR