Refuge for the Jinn

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nahri grew up in Cairo , Egypt almost dirt poor. Surviving by wits, she makes a living as a healer and a thief. She recently discovers Zar dancing as a way to Exorcise jinn. Her latest dance attracts the attention of the vile ifrit, evil demon like Jinn. Arriving at the city of the dead in Cairo and looking for way to escape the evil Ifrit she accidentally summons a warrior deva, who fought in the Jinn Deava wars of long ago.

At first Dara is rather disgusted to be dealing with a human, later he thinks she is shafit, half jinn and half human. Her Jinn blood is royal, descended from a line of strong Jinn healers her Dara vows to protect her but in order to protect her they must get to daevabad. There she will be safe from the jinn. There is but one problem, Dara is an outlaw there.

Arriving in the city after battling Ifrit and dragon in the desert they cross the Marid cursed lake. Once they get their the King of the city reveals that Nahri is full jinn. She is the last of healers. Once she gets to the city that is when the intrigue begins.

Daevabad is a city in turmoil. It used to belong to the Fire Worshipping Daeva but the Quatanis took it over. The remaining Daeva live in a state of privilege and discrimination at the same time. The other group is the shafit, half jinn half human they face constant discrimination and they live in poverty. The Tanzeem is an organization that’s helps them /but also plots terrorist attacks. Ali the King Ghassans youngest son from an Ayanle wife helps the shafit .Ayanle are another tribe of Jinn.

Plenty of conflict as King Ghassan tries to get Nahri to/marry Mutandir his oldest son. Yet Ali becomes friends with her and starts to develop a real affection for her. In the end crossed loyalties spark a confrontation of unreal proportion. THe Quatanis may have thee city but the Daeva want their city back and they are tired of being pushed around.

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