City of Stairs

De: Robert Jackson Bennett

Narrado por: Alma Cuervo

An atmospheric and intrigue-filled novel of dead gods, buried histories, and a mysterious, protean city- - from one of America's most acclaimed young fantasy writers. 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.

©2014 Robert Jackson Bennett (P)2014 Recorded Books

Bad editing

The story was interesting enough, even if the names/story lines can get confusing. The narration is decent but whoever did the editing/sound mixing really let the narrator down. Awkward pauses, words on top of each other, and not doing retakes if the narrator stumbled on a word.

solid book

the story itself is fantastic. the narrators switch a few times along with random changes in voice volume levels.

Exposition

A little too much exposition for my taste. Interesting story, and world, but it seemed like too much history being told in various ways.

Words can not say enough

This has become one my favorite fantasy books. The writing and narration we're both excellent. I was not bored for a moment. A perfect mixture of the fantastical, love, comedic relief and mystery(plenty of it)

Expert Storytelling

Well worth the time and money spent. Thanks for taking me to another world.

What happens when The Gods disappear?

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett will be high on my list of favourite books this year. A strange and fascinating world and its history with divinity myths, politics, rebellions and intrigue all woven together with the investigation of a crime as the basis. It lives up to all that is promised in the summary and introduces some well rounded, articulate, intelligent characters with whom you can empathise.

The book begins with a court scene in Saypur, the authoritarian and bureaucratic state separated by sea from the Continent it now rules. Once the dominant powers, under divine rule and protection, the states of the Continent are powerless and resentful. The Gods are gone, religion no longer officially acceptable and Saypur is a tough unforgiving master, remembering the wrongs it suffered long ago.

Shades of Stalinist Russia are all through this book, but there are many other cultural and political references that click as you read, clear echoes of our world's problems without being forced, as well as much wonderfully imaginative invention.

The beginning of the book may seem slow but the pace speeds up and towards the end certainly becomes a headlong rush against time nail-biting and nerve wracking in a good way.

The two female leads, Shara Thivani, the diplomat/spy and Mulaghesh, the local military commander in Bulikov were excellent characters. They were tough, resilient, practical, and Mulaghesh's wry humour in particular provided a balance with Shara's intense concentration and concern. Sigrud, the Dreyling, of unusual race made an effective bodyguard/companion was intriguing and deserves more exposure, I'm glad he will feature in further books of this series.

Other prominent and interesting characters were introduced and different emotions stirred. Be prepared for some serious Grim. Some of those old Gods were beneficent, as long as you obeyed the rules to the letter, and you may be showered with wonderful miracle treats – but retribution for an accidental slip was fast and cruel.

The narrator of this audible version, Alma Cuervo was excellent, she differentiated and enlivened all the characters perfectly and added to the overall enjoyment.

This is a complex and very rewarding book which has much of interest and detail to offer and enjoy. Look forward to the rest of the series coming to Audible and glad to recommend.

Great

Stellar world building. Moving plot. Could use more character development outside main character. Made me want to read the rest of the series.

Good plot. Good Characters. Satisfying end.

A unique take on magic and Gods, as well as racism, war, and inequality. Very intriguing world that is revealed.

Ok, but there were things I did not like...

The setting and plot of this book were quite good. Part political thriller, detective story, and spy tale, all set in a world of (mostly) dead Gods. Three things that kind of ruined the book for me. 1) the "romance" was more crass than anything and I didn't appreciate it at all. It felt shoehorned into the story to try to get some sort of emotional response, but it mostly just grossed me out. 2) The language/sexual references were too much. I know I am averse to that more than most, but I imagine most listeners would be turned off by that. 3) The appearance of an interesting character just before the book climax was honestly more disturbing than it needed to be, and the representation of religion felt like it was meant to mock people of faith. Certainly this is fiction and the religious characters are zealots, but the general vibe of the book felt pointed towards mocking real world religions. I don't think I will continue the series.

Complicated and mesmerizing

This book turned me into a Robert Jackson Bennett fan. It's a great story, well translated into an audiobook - Alma Cuervo's voice captures the Shara Thivani so perfectly. I won't try to explain the plot; suffice to say that City of Stairs is a complicated story of politics, inequality, subjugation, religion, gods and goddesses, love and death and sex; with beautifully rendered, unpredictable characters. I might listen to it again if only to fall in love with Shara Thivani all over again. Can't wait for the next installment!