City of Stairs – The Divine Cities Trilogy #1

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
Genre: Fantasy
452 pages
Publisher: Random House, 2014

Synopsis
A Black sheriff. A serial killer. A small town ready to combust.

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’s history has been censored and erased, its citizens subjugated. But the surreal landscape of the city itself, forever altered by the thousands of miracles its guardians once worked upon it, stands as a 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 — along with her terrifying “secretary”, Sigrud — to solve a murder.

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.

A tale of vast conspiracies, dead gods, and buried histories, City of Stairs is at once a gripping spy novel and a stunningly original work of fantasy.

My review
City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett is a fantastic novel that masterfully blends fantasy, suspense, political thriller, and science fiction. It had been sitting on my TBR shelf for quite some time, and I’m thrilled I finally picked it up. The book’s description promised an atmospheric, immersive fantasy world with hints of the otherworldly and strange—and it delivered beyond my expectations. City of Stairs is a sophisticated and thought-provoking mix of magic, mystery, and philosophy, offering an intricate blend of different genre elements.

The story was exceptionally well crafted, and I found myself constantly shifting loyalties as the journey unfolded. Initially, I believed one side was evil, only to later switch perspectives and realize that almost all of the characters had ulterior motives—or perhaps it’s simply that everyone is inherently human. Although the plot didn’t pick up momentum until after the first third of the book, I never lost interest. I was completely captivated by the complexity of the world.

Bennett’s world-building is nothing short of phenomenal. While the story starts off slowly, this is largely due to the author’s meticulous effort to immerse the reader in the intricate details of his setting. The writing is extraordinary, and what the book may lack in action, it more than compensates for with its rich world-building and the intrigue of past events, coupled with the anticipation of what’s to come. Bennett meticulously layered this world, leaving no detail overlooked in creating a living, breathing society, complete with a complex history. From politics and religion, to the consequences of persecution and oppression, every aspect is explored, resulting in an atmospheric, compelling, and original world.

City of Stairs is an impressive novel, and Bennett’s writing and world-building instantly captivated my imagination. Although this book is the first in a trilogy, it offers a satisfying conclusion and can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. I don’t often read fantasy, but the next time I’m in the mood for it, I’ll definitely dive into City of Blades, the next installment in the series!

My recommendation: read it!