City of Stairs

a novel

by Robert Jackson Bennett

452 pages

English language

Published 2014

ISBN:: 978-0-8041-3717-1
Goodreads:: 20174424

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(11 reviews)

"The city of Bulikov once wielded the powers of the gods to conquer the world, enslaving and brutalizing millions--until its divine protectors were killed. Now Bulikov has become just another colonial outpost of the world's new geopolitical power, but the surreal landscape of the city itself--first shaped, now shattered, by the thousands of miracles its guardians once worked upon it--stands as a constant, haunting reminder of its former supremacy. Into this broken city steps Shara Thivani. Officially, the unassuming young woman is just another junior diplomat sent by Bulikov's oppressors. Unofficially, she is one of her country's most accomplished spies, dispatched to catch a murderer. But as Shara pursues the killer, she starts to suspect that the beings who ruled this terrible place may not be as dead as they seem--and that Bulikov's cruel reign may not yet be over."-- From back cover.

1 edition

Kadomi@buecher.pnpde.social reviewed City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

Absolutely phenomenal book

5 stars

This book was one of my favorite reads this year, completely blew me out of the water. Absolutely phenomenal.

Now imagine what if India (Saypuri) had been colonized by power-hungry Europeans (Continentals) who had mighty gods on their side helping them. Now imagine a young hero rising up to create a god-killing weapon, ending the colonial rule, and instead creating a new empire suppressing the former rulers and their beliefs.

That's pretty much the setting in a nutshell. After the Divinities were killed by a hero called The Kaj, parts of their cities disappeared in a catastrophic event, especially in Bulikov, the now-called City of Stairs. It is here that Ambassador Shara comes to investigate the death of her fellow Saypuri scholar, and finds herself flung into a conspiracy to bring the Divinities back. It's murder mystery meets fantasy meets political conspiracies, and it was outstanding.

PaperbackReader reviewed City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

Review of 'City of stairs' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Nice twists, nice medley of genres. Some twists I guessed, some I didn't. I think I'll look forward to Book 2. :)

Orlion reviewed City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

Review of 'City of stairs' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A city whose gods were killed decades before; a culture oppressed and forbidden; a murder that points to a conspiracy with international implications: all this and a heroine that drinks more tea than China can produce!

City of Stairs is a spy-thriller-fantasy novel with socio-political themes. It is well-paced, entertaining, and includes horrific and explosive action along with its intrigue. Really, it's just an enjoyable book.