Well this was just fabulous. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Moira Quirk and Sid Sagar which I would highly recommend. They both narrated it well and the audiobook as a whole was well produced. It was the perfect book to listen to on audio as well; I felt like I was listening to ancient legends by a campfire.

I loved the whole concept of the story. I thought the alternate history and the time travel was an interesting idea, and I like how the author adds enough detail to make it clear it's set during the First World War, yet it's own unique location. There was so many descriptions of the brutal life in the trenches and the Woodlands of the medieval timeline, which really brought it to life. It was also very funny and witty, I was giggling like an idiot while reading.

I loved both Una and Owen. They have some strong character development throughout the story. Also the way the trauma they both experienced from war was sensitively depicted. Their romance was beautiful and slowburn and the yearning! So much yearning! This made me realise how starved I was for some good yearning.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and it's a new favourite of mine. I would definitely recommend.

ARC Review: I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Overall rating: 4 🌟 Now available on Kindle unlimited.

I thought this was a solid read. I loved the concept of the story, and I thought the world-building was a bit different with the mermaids and the witches' bargains and the curses. Everything was beautifully described and I could envision the story so clearly. The plot was well structured and engaging. There were so many plot twists, which made the story exciting to read.

I thought Alara was a strong protagonist. She was sassy and bold and I couldn't help but root for her. Unfortunately, I wasn't as invested in the love interest Tarben but I still enjoyed the romance.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I think I will continue with the series once book 2 released. Thank you to the author for sending me this ARC.

This isn't my usual genre at all (I prefer fantasy) but I ended up really enjoying this book. The premise of the book was intriguing and the characters were interesting. There were so many twists and turns, I couldn't stop reading. I would recommend. I'll definitely read more by this author in the future and I can't wait to watch the Netflix adaptation.

I read this with my book club. I absolutely adored this book. I believe this was Chakraborty's debut as well which makes it even better. The City of Brass had everything I could possibly want in a fantasy book.

The main strength of this book is the world-building, it was beautifully rendered and incredibly immersive. Because it was so well done, I was just able to swept away in the story. I like how Chakraborty blends Middle Eastern mythology with a historical setting: 18th century Cairo. She clearly did a lot of research because there was so much detail and I could visualise the setting so clearly.

The plot was epic. It was well paced and there was so much political intrigue. There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming. The characters were compelling and memorable. I loved both Nahri and Ali so much.

This is a new favourite of mine. I can't wait to start book 2.