Libby really said here are all your holds on books longer than 500 pages, delivered at the same time! I put The City of Brass on hold a few weeks ago because I saw S.A. Chakraborty was hosting a panel at the National Book Festival and thought that maybe I should read something of hers in case I decide to attend. I'm glad I got around to reading this, as it's been on my TBR for a while, but I'm also not sure how eager I am to continue the series. I also read this book during the first week of classes, which could've affected my motivation, but I think my interest in it would probably be the same regardless. Nahri never expected to be anything more than a con-woman, but when she accidentally summons a djinn warrior to her side, she discovers that fate may have more in store for her than she ever anticipated. Now Nahri is caught in a desperate race to the legendary Daevabad, the city of brass, with brooding, secretive Dara at her side and no idea what the future may hold. This book started off with a bang, and I was drawn in immediately, but after the 40% mark, the pacing slowed so drastically that I lost interest pretty quickly. Some of the issues for me were that we alternated between Nahri's POV and Ali's, and while Ali's had political intrigue, they were slower and less high stakes (initially). However, both POVs dragged from about 40% to 80%, and even at 80%, I was just ready for the story to be over. There weren't too many major twists, although I did appreciate some of the shock factor that came with the ending. As some other reviews noted, I also don't think I fully grasped the plot and all of its intricacy; I think a glossary with just simple definitions and maybe a character list would've helped me a lot. I did like a handful of scenes a lot, but unfortunately, they were pretty scarce. The ending and some of its implications intrigued me, but I know the next book is even longer, and I'm not that invested at the moment. I liked the cast of characters, but I struggled to connect to some of them. Nahri was a cool protagonist; I'm always a fan of watching characters come into their magic, even if it can be a bit cliché at times. She did lose a bit of personality in the second half, but hopefully the original Nahri returns for book 2. I had mixed feelings about Dara. I liked him at first with his mysterious nature, but he quickly reminded me of an SJM love interest (not a compliment), and I got the ick. I like his backstory; I do not like his personality. Ali was a bit boring at first, but I like where his arc progressed, and he's the main reason I want to read book 2 eventually. I don't remember most of the side characters because none of them really stood out to me. Even though they fleshed out the world, I didn't feel connected to any of them. The City of Brass is the first book in a lush fantasy trilogy with vivid worldbuilding, complex characters, and an intricate plot, perfect for fans of epic fantasy that transport you to other worlds. 3.5/5