The City of Brass

This story is thick with politics and religion that make it painfully slow.

I disliked every character by the end of this book. The Ali POVs were especially difficult to get through, as he's an incredibly self-righteous religious fanatic.

I wish I had DNF'ed this one. I kept hoping it would turn around, but it did not. The cliffhangers didn't give me any confidence that the second installment would be worthwhile.

I'll give it 2 stars only because it taught me a little mythology I was previously unfamiliar with. Otherwise this story left me in an absolutely terrible mood.