The Empire of Gold

S. A. Chakraborty

2020 • 816 pages

Ratings110

Average rating4.5

Daevabad has fallen.

After a brutal conquest stripped the city of its magic, Nahid leader Banu Manizheh and her resurrected commander, Dara, must try to repair their fraying alliance and stabilize a fractious, warring people.

But the bloodletting and loss of his beloved Nahri have unleashed the worst demons of Dara’s dark past. To vanquish them, he must face some ugly truths about his history and put himself at the mercy of those he once considered enemies.

Having narrowly escaped their murderous families and Daevabad’s deadly politics, Nahri and Ali, now safe in Cairo, face difficult choices of their own. While Nahri finds peace in the old rhythms and familiar comforts of her human home, she is haunted by the knowledge that the loved ones she left behind and the people who considered her a savior are at the mercy of a new tyrant. Ali, too, cannot help but look back, and is determined to return to rescue his city and the family that remains. Seeking support in his mother’s homeland, he discovers that his connection to the marid goes far deeper than expected and threatens not only his relationship with Nahri, but his very faith.

As peace grows more elusive and old players return, Nahri, Ali, and Dara come to understand that in order to remake the world, they may need to fight those they once loved . . . and take a stand for those they once hurt.

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Genres

Moods

Series

Featured Series

3 primary books7 released books

The Daevabad Trilogy

The Daevabad Trilogy is a 7-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2017 with contributions by S. A. Chakraborty and Shannon Chakraborty.

The River of Silver: Tales from the Daevabad Trilogy

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Audrey Meihak

I think it's somewhat fitting that I finished reading this book 1 year to the day after it was published. Chakraborty definitely earned all 5 paw prints on this book, although it was quite a fight for a while.

This series had heartbreak, betrayal, sacrifice, and prejudice. It ended with everyone having happy endings, but not quite in the way that I had expected in the beginning.

I don't know that I would have ever visited Daevabad, had it not been for this reading challenge. If I did, it would have been extremely far down on my list, and only because of the stunning covers. (That alone is reason enough for me to buy them, just don't tell my husband WINK)

This book was so LOOOOOONG! Halfway through this book (and the other 2, actually), I found myself getting bored. I powered through though, and I'm so glad I did. I listened up to Nahri's last chapter and the epilogue this morning, and it was hard to listen to it. I didn't want it to end!

June 11, 2021

The Speculative Shelf

It took me longer than I'd care to admit to make my way through this hefty tome, but I come away satisfied and content with the way everything is brought to a close. The Empire of Gold brings this expansive trilogy to a rousing conclusion.

The journeys of our three main characters are given plenty of time to breath, while being really well-balanced against each other. Chakraborty's writing continues to impress and it flows beautifully once again in this book. I'm excited to see what Chakraborty writes next, as this trilogy is such an impressive achievement, especially as a debut.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.

September 5, 2020