City of Miracles had a lot to prove. As the novel that would be the end of The Divine Cities trilogy, it had a lot to live up to, especially considering just how damn good both City of Stairs and City of Blades were. (Seriously, read those books.) But did it deliver?

City of Miracles takes place 13 years after the end of City of Blades. Since then, Sigrud has been on the run following the events at the end of that novel. Living as a woodsman, Sigrud is pulled out of retirement after learning that a friend from his past has been tragically murdered. Now he must find her daughter and keep her safe, all while finding the one responsible and preventing the end of the world. So yeah, the story is pretty par for the course with this series.

But how does it hold up? The easy answer is that if you are in any way invested in this series, then City of Miracles is a welcome and fitting conclusion. The book delivers on everything you would expect from one of these novels. The mystery is intriguing, the characters and their stories compelling, and the pacing will grip you from start to finish.

That's not to say that it's perfect. For myself personally, the ending felt more like a prologue to something else than a finale to a trilogy. With the way the world is left at the end, I couldn't help but feel that there is more story to tell. I feel like a second epilogue would have done the trick, one taking place years after the final chapter. I just couldn't help but feel that something was missing at the end. Some sense of closure after everything the book had put me through.

Maybe that was the intention.

City of Miracles is absolutely worth your time. In fact, I would say that City of Miracles is worth starting the trilogy from the beginning if you haven't read any of these books yet just to get to this one. So, maybe get to it?

An excellent finale to an amazing series. Will certainly be recommending this title to my fantasy loving customers who are looking for something a little different than the average epic or heroic fantasy. I cannot wait to see what Robert Bennett has up his sleeve next. Loved it!

Robert Jackson Bennett is back with the third installment of his Divine Cities sequence, and so ends one of the most brilliant and extraordinary fantasy series in recent times. First, we were introduced to this incredible world of Divinities and miracles in City of Stairs, joining protagonist Shara Komayd as she fearlessly stood against a god. That was soon followed by the even more impressive City of Blades, a thrilling mystery starring the indomitable General Turyin Mulaghesh. And now, with The City of Miracles focusing on the fan favorite Sigrud je Harkvaldsson, the trifecta is finally complete.

When I first read the synopsis though, my reaction was pure shock. Our beloved Shara Komayd, the character who was the glue that held this series together, dead? Surely it had to be a mistake. Or a trick. But that is indeed the way the story starts, with the news of Shara’s assassination being the catalyst that sparks Sigrud into action. For years he had been living alone in hiding, silently punishing himself for the brutal crimes he had committed. However, Shara’s murder changes everything. To avenge his dearest friend, he would return from his self-exile and risk his life to hunt down those responsible.

But the investigation soon leads Sigrud to uncover a lot more behind Shara’s death. Someone very powerful had arranged for her assassination in order to get their hands on some dangerous knowledge, for Shara had been working on a secret project right before she was killed. Not even her closest friends and allies had any idea what she was up to, but there were just enough clues left behind for Sigrud to find the next step. To his dismay, they lead him to a list, on which the name of Shara’s own daughter appears. Clearly, the girl is in danger, but no one has known the whereabouts of Tatyana Komayd since even before her mother’s assassination. Shara had made sure to keep her daughter safely hidden away from the public eye, but unfortunately, those protections are about to come under threat. To keep Taty safe, Sigrud must find her before the enemy gets to her first, but how does one keep ahead of enemy who is quite literally everywhere?

This might come as no surprise, but once again, character development was the clear standout for me. Before I continue though, I must confess, I’d never really been that taken with Sigrud. While I have nothing against the character, it has always mystified me why he is so popular. After all, it’s not like the fantasy genre is lacking in large, hulking berserker types who always come off as calm, quiet, and collected—until they are not. Sigrud is a great character, but just…nothing special. Sure, we saw slight character growth from the first book to the second, but that was still not quite enough to convince me he’s that much more than another cookie-cutter archetype. Hence this is why City of Miracles delighted me. Here, not only are we given a deeper, more intimate look into Sigrud’s inner workings, we also get to witness how he is ultimately transformed by the experience. He might have not reached Mulaghesh-levels of awesomeness, true—but I was still nonetheless impressed with the evolution of his story arc.

Next, I must praise the excellent plot. Following the trend set by the previous books, City of Miracles is another blend of fantasy and mystery, leavened with a dash of action and suspense. Calling it a revenge story might be accurate, but it also belies the complexity behind Sigrud’s mission. His hunt for Shara’s killers is only the tip of the iceberg; discovering what his old friend was up to—and how her secret project ties into the fate of Continent itself—is the real meat of this tale. The mystery is also constantly shifting into thriller territory, and one of my favorite scenes even reads like something straight out of Mission: Impossible. I love the way Bennett combines all the different themes, taking the trappings of traditional fantasy and giving them a modern makeover. The Divine aspect is also further explored in this one, and the revelations to come out of it are epic to say the least.

Of course, there’s a lot more I can say about the story, and especially about the new characters, but I’m afraid anything more would be risking spoilers. Suffice to say it was a good book, and though City of Blades still holds the distinction of being my favorite of the series, City of Miracles was certainly no slouch either. Only time will tell if the author will ever return to this world, but for what it’s worth, there’s a strong sense of closure to this one. If this is indeed the end, there’s no doubt in my mind that The Divine Cities got the send-off truly worthy of its scope, imagination, and impact. I will be looking forward to Bennett’s next project with great enthusiasm.

Shara Komayd has been assassinated and, although it has been thirteen years since he last saw her, Sigrud de Harvaldson vows to hunt her killer down and exact revenge. But he soon discovers that since he left Shara, she was involved in actions and events that he couldn’t possibly have guessed or anticipated and he now finds himself way over his head – he had thought his biggest problem would be finding the villain but that, it turns out, is only the beginning of his story.

City of Miracles by author Robert Jackson Bennett is the third and final installment in The Divine Cities series and oh what an ending it is. Bennett expands on the world he first created in City if Stairs and added to in City of Blades, a huge and complex world in which he seamlessly blends the modern and the mundane with the fantastical full of gods and demi-gods, amazing cities and architecture, and fully-realized and mostly sympathetic characters who made it easy to care about their fates. This final book is action-packed and engrossing and kept me glued to the page from beginning to end. It answers many of the questions raised in the first two books about the gods and their children and who Sigrud really is. This is, yes, a story full of violence, loss, and heartbreak but there is also quiet moments, redemption, and even a little humour.

Although City of Miracles could be read as a standalone, much of the story is tied to events from the previous books and the story wouldn’t have the same impact. Besides, this a great series, each book expanding on the world and its inhabitants, and it would be a shame to miss it all. That aside though, this is a very satisfying end to the series and I can’t recommend it highly enough for fans of really really well-written and engrossing fantasy.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

RJB man, this book made me SO SAD. City of Miracles was a very strong installment in the Divine Cities series and I was so happy to finally have a book largely about Sigrud. I wasn’t really expecting what I got from this book and in no way do I mean that negatively. I didn’t have anything specific in mind… but what I read was surprisingly introspective.

Sigrud je Harkvaldsson has been through much in his life. From a painful stint in the worst of prisons to the loss of his daughter and everything in between, Sigrud had begun to feel that he deserves the punishment he has endured and that he would remain in exile the remainder of his life. When news that Ashara Komayd, his former partner and friend, has been assassinated, Sigrud chooses to leave his exile and avenge her death. This is a simple enough task, but it is of course complicated by the fact that a new god seems to be rising in Bulikov and threatens the existence of the only two people Sigrud cares about in this world- Tatyana Komayd and Ivanya, her adopted aunt.

City of Miracles had a good storyline and I thought it was a much more personal story than perhaps the first two simply because there seemed to more of a focus on Sigrud, Tatyana, and Ivanya. There were some emotionally charged scenes and RJB had my eyes welling up with tears on a few occasions throughout. The plot and the new divine villain were done well as expected, though it felt somewhat more shallow than the plot of City of Stairs and City of Blades.

Overall, I thought City of Miracles was a fine installment and think it makes for a nice conclusion to the series (I haven’t been able to find definitive answer on whether this is the final book, but it felt like a conclusion). I would also like to mention that I read this in print/ebook format whereas I had the audio format of the first two books. For me, it worked just as well in print as in audio except now I have a better grasp of how all the names and locations are spelled! I’m pretty pleased with how things turned out and I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone who hasn’t had the good fortune to pick it up yet!

What can I possibly say about such a profoundly moving book? I can say how deeply sorry I am that I haven’t, yet, read the first two books in this series, City Of Stairs and City Of Blades. I can say that if you prefer lighter, fluffy reads, this may not be for you. This is a story that will make you feel deeply, will make you think…deeply. The incredible talent of the author, Robert Jackson Bennett, has woven this fantasy around and around, twisting it into a perfect reflection of our own reality. Much like our own, the world he has created is a constant battle between powerful Gods and human governments, all trying to shape, shove and push their way to greater and greater power, vying for the devotion of mankind.

A tricky thing, to be a politician: to plan not for tomorrow, or the day after that, or the day after that, but for a way of life ten, twenty, fifty years down the line.)

Gods fight and devour each other while governments fight and suppress their people, where the rich get richer and the poor get restless. Whether its gods or governments…

…power doesn’t change. It just changes clothes.

Sigrud je Harkvaldsson is the ultimate warrior. When he learns of the death of the former Prime Minister, the woman who was his friend and ally, and the only person he had trusted for many years, he comes out of his self-imposed exile to find and punish those responsible for her death. Sigrud is blessed, or cursed, with the ability to fight through any battle, bruised, bloodied and scarred…but alive. Trained in all the subversive skills, he travels through an incredible world, looking for and finding the truth behind Shara’s murder. He finds more. He finds that no matter how many wars are fought, there is still another battle to come. Another fight to win. More people to love…and lose if they fail.

Because all things are subservient to time.

This story reached me on a level I didn’t expect. I was invested in Sigrud and all his friends and allies from the beginning to the end. This is the only book in the series I have read, and it stood on its own very well. There were a couple of reference to earlier events that took just a while to figure out, but it all became clear before the stunning finish. Whether you start from the beginning or read this one as a stand-alone, I give this book my highest recommendation. This story will live with me forever.

Enjoy!

2shay

After reading the first two books in the series, I thought that the author had already hit the highest point in the series he could hit. The second book was definitely that highest point. However, this book provided a great closure to an awesome trilogy. The characters are interesting and hold true to themselves throughout the trilogy with the world building upon the changes they have created in the world's societies. All in all I would highly recommend this series to any lovers of the fantasy genre.

A great continuation in this series. Original and fast paced!

City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett comes out May 2nd, and if you’re not reading it by May 3rd I’m going to scowl at you SO HARD.

This book is a kind of James Bond fantasy but with emotionally impactful action and a whole lot of depth. Nothing wrong with pure escapism, of course, but this isn’t it.

You know what? Fine. Just read it for the outstanding action sequences. It works on that level better than pretty much anything else out there.

City of Miracles is the final book in The Divine Cities trilogy, and closes things out very nicely. It departs in tone from the previous two books, but not in a bad way. In fact, the change is very welcome and we get a nice endcap to Shara and Mulagesh’s stories. It’s a better end to the trilogy than we probably deserve. Every book in The Divine Cities series is fantastic and that’s pretty damn impressive.

Plus, I mean, it’s Sigrud. This is a book all about Sigrud, and it’s a book worthy of him.

So.

*watches you until you click the ‘buy’ button*

A boy chases laughter through the city. Followed by a presence he can’t see the boy keys in on laughter, any laughter, and throws himself desperately toward it looking for shelter or a way out. In a land once ruled by miracles the unnamed boy uses the only one he has at hand hoping for it to prove useful just one more time. And when finally hitting a laughter that rings a bit false…

And with this captivating scene City of Miracles begins.

One of the finest fantasy series of the decade is getting its conclusion. And with it some major questions will finally be answered, especially those surrounding Sigrud, a character who always stole the reader’s attention but never was able to get out of the other protagonists’ shadows. But City of Miracles doesn’t lazily ride off into the sunset, oh no. In City of Miracles the action is turned all the way up, all the feels are given at regular doses, and (spoiler alert) there are miracles abound. Yes, questions will be answered. And a whole wide world of questions will be left to wonder about.

This has been a series in which every book felt like it belonged in the same series yet all were very different in tone. City of Stairs had action but was more focused on the mystery and a real sense of wonder. City of Blades somehow ups the mystery and politics. And City of Miracles feels like a summer blockbuster until one looks back and realizes it couldn’t never work without the reader already being invested in the wonder and magic of the world.

This works for and against the narrative in some ways. It is a very different feel than the first two books and it is almost jarring to jump right into the action. Sigrud is a tougher character to follow and relate too than either Shara or Turyin Mulaghesh before him; his near invulnerability compared to their very human nature is not always endearing. And while those all important explanations eventually come I found that I preferred Sigrud when the more diminutive Shara was still the most dangerous person in the scene.

BUT, and this is a big but, those reservations I had eventually were for naught. And it would take major spoilers to explain why but Sigrud’s humanity does start to show, and eventually becomes the key to everything. City of Miracles isn’t necessarily a tear-jerker but the emotions do start to run high. And while the action never really slows it is always action with intelligence; each scene builds on the last and each piece of information Sigrud and his supporting cast learns will be needed to stop the new threat.

What a threat it is too. Villains have not really been present in this series before. The Gods were slaves to their nature; capable of much destruction but just as tied to the people expectations as they were to their own whims. But the new threat is certainly evil. World destroying evil. Yet even this creature, most evil seen in the series, has just enough humanity to make a reader hope for redemption

As a series conclusion City of Miracles was all I could hope for in a series I never wanted to see end. Though City of Stairs has remained my favorite of the trilogy each successive book has added much to the story. Sigrud dominates the page but here both Shara and Mulaghesh (plus some important newish characters) get their own successful conclusions. And I can’t help think I am due for an entire series reread sometime in the very near future.

4 Stars

A near perfect 5/5 stars, and that goes for the entire trilogy. As satisfying and complete as anyone could have expected. Great characters, superb world-building, lots of action, but also profound thoughts on faith, loyalty, and duty, with particular insights into the pitfalls of colonialism.

This third and last of this series begins with a shocker and a heartbreak.

Sigrud je Harkvaldsson, after thirteen years of waiting for contact from Shara Komayd, his former partner, sets out alone to solve a crime that strikes very close to home--after a lifetime of hard strikes.

We get to meet Shara's adopted daughter Taty, and meet the great Mulagesh again, as Sigrid battles assassins and the Divine in order to get justice. The stakes accelerate, and there are some terrific action scenes, vividly described, along with Bennett's patented insights into aging, violence, the agony of losing children and friends and family . . .

The end is a heartbreak of another kind, piercingly poignant, ending a truly terrific series.

Readers could begin here, but I strongly suggest reading the first two books. For one thing, they are excellent, and also, Bennett builds on them so very, very well.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s Divine Cities comes to a satisfying conclusion in City of Miracles. Each of these books, featuring a different lead character, has told the story of what happens when a world faces a radical change in its power structure. Gods used to rule this world directly, until a subjugated people learned to kill them. Humans stepped into the power vacuum, but in City of Miracles, we learn that a little bit of the divine survived. And that little bit of the divine is hungry for revenge.

Sigurd je Harkvaldsson has appeared in both of the other two books in this series, City of Stairs and City of Blades, but now he takes a turn as protagonist. It’s been thirteen years since the end of City of Blades and Sigurd has been hiding out after the terrible things he did when he daughter was killed. After he learns that his old partner and friend was killed by an assassin, he comes out of his self-imposed exile to take revenge. This quest for vengeance becomes the start of a strange, bloody odyssey in which Sigurd is forced to face the worst of his inner demons and take on the most powerful enemy he’s ever encountered.

City of Stairs and City of Blades both featured either the old gods themselves or the remnants of their power. City of Miracles features the children of those old gods. Those children have been keeping their heads low since their parents were killed, but one of them has decided that it’s now time to seize whatever scraps of divine power they can and take on their parents’ role as master of reality. What begins as a story of revenge slowly becomes one of what one should do when one has the power to remake reality.

The Divine Cities trilogy is an original, gritty fantasy series that I have enjoyed from the very first page and City of Miracles is a brilliant end to the tale. I marveled at the way Bennet brought all of the loose threads of all three novels together after building everything up to a fever pitch. I was up way past midnight finishing this book because I just could not put it down.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration. It will be released 2 May 2017.

While I liked a lot about City of Miracles, I'm disappointed to say I didn't necessarily like the third book of The Divine Cities. It's imaginative and well-written, and bears all the hallmarks of Robert Jackson Bennett's other novels, but the more contemporary and civilized the series gets, the less compelling I find it.

Despite the magic, the swords, and the gods, this instalment is less epic fantasy and more action thriller. It's set in a city so advanced, it's almost recognizable as a contemporary second-world location, complete with highrise hotels. The technologies are far more advanced than in the first two books, right down to the public transit system that serves as a key set-piece for the action.

The other challenge for me here is that Sigrud is a bit cold/thin to be a lead protagonist. He made for a great silent sidekick in the first book, but he doesn't have the personality to drive a story on his own. That said, he fits the action hero mold very well, and would make for a far better cinematic protagonist, but here I found myself having a hard time really getting invested in his plight.

City of Miracles isn't a bad book, not by any means, it just wasn't the book I wanted following the five-star read that was City of Blades.

Loved having a book from Sigrud's point to of view after he is "re-activated" following a death.

It wraps up the trilogy well but leaves the door open for more stories set in the world.

City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett- This is the third volume in Robert Jackson Bennett's Cities series, following City of Stairs and City of Blades, a trilogy that takes place on a world once ruled by powerful divine creatures, who have been cast out, but the power of their miracles persists and has a strong effect on the people and the places of their lost domains. Each book has their own main character and this time it's Sigrud, the henchman and fixer for the Prime Minister and former spy, Ashara Komayd, who was foremost in the first book. This tale centers around the children of the divine, who have been left to roam the world, not knowing of their origins nor as powerful as their ancestors. One such child has found out about his family tree and is being tortured by ruthless people to do their bidding, he makes his escape and becomes more powerful because of the harshness of his treatment and his ability to absorb other divine children's powers into his own. Sigrud is tasked to save a young girl from this now completely mad mini-god, and save the world while he's at it. And for Sigrud that can only mean bullets will fly, blood will flow, and his black blade will drink its fill. Always inventive, always entertaining, this book is on par with the other two and a great addition to the Cities saga. Actually, it is more of a sequel to the first book, the second book, while dealing with same characters and similar circumstances, can be seen as a stand-alone entry. But that's just a quibble. Bennett packs a lot of story into each book and has done some dazzling world building along the way. I like the fact that it reads like science fiction as well as fantasy with fantastical elements juxtaposing with a real-world feel. I just hope it's not the last one! Here's more Cities on the horizon!

The Quill to Live turned two recently (go us!), and I decided I wanted to do a special review to celebrate our anniversary. I think the best tribute to the site is to review a book we really loved, or maybe talk about something that we have never seen before, or maybe talk about a big upcoming book. Luckily for us, Robert Jackson Bennett was able to provide all three in one package. City of Miracles, the third and final book in The Divine Cities trilogy, comes out later this year (May 2nd in the US) and we were lucky enough to get an advance copy. When we got the ARC in January, I sat on it for about two months (much to the ire to one of the editors) because I was afraid to read it. I had spoken to Bennett and he confirmed that City of Miracles is indeed the end of the line for this story, and I was not ready for it to be over. I wasn’t worried about it being good, I knew it was going to be good, I just didn’t want it to be over. I eventually found the courage to open it up and it was everything I wanted it to be. All good things must come to an end, and this series is most certainly a good thing.

Before I go on, if you have not read City of Stairs or City of Blades – please go do so. There are some mild spoilers ahead and they are two of the best books I have ever reviewed (or read, for that matter). Read them and come back!

City of Miracles picks up our story a few years after City of Blades left off. Our story this time follows Sigrud, spy and major player in both the previous novels, as he moves from a supporting role to the lead man. The book opens with Sigrud on the run for past crimes, when he finds out that his dear friend and partner, Shara, has passed away. This death comes as a huge shock to Sigrud, who has been waiting on a call from Shara for years to tell him he can come back to society – cleared of his crimes. Sigrud travels to Shara’s last known location, dusts off his rusty spy skills, and gets to work finding out what caused the death of his friend and partner. Every Divine Cities book is as much focused on an overarching mystery as on fantasy, and City of Miracles was my favorite enigma to unravel. The book takes everything you have learned about Bennett’s world in the previous two novels and asks you to apply it to new problems. City of Miracles continues to ask new questions and expand the boundaries of what we know about this universe.

The book nails all my usual metrics (characters, worldbuilding, action, creativity, humor, prose, and overarching themes), but instead of talking about the panoply of standard literary measures that City of Miracles nails, I want to talk about a few things it does that are extremely rare. When Bennett originally released the back of the book plot blurb for City of Blades I was disappointed. The book was going to jump forward years, the setting was going to change a bit, and we were going to get a different cast of characters (though many return). I loved the way City of Stairs’ story came together at the end tying everything together, and I wanted more of that story. City of Blades ended up telling a different, but equally incredible, story that once again blew me away. Learning from my presumptions of book two, when I saw City of Miracles once again was a different setting, cast, and time I said “sure, I know it’s going to be amazing”. It is. However, what I didn’t realize was that Bennett was playing a long con on me. On top of being a beautiful book in its own right, Miracles does a great job weaving all three books into one tapestry and it is one of the best and most emotional journeys I have been on. You get to watch a world, and its people, grow and change – which is a rare thing. It gave me hope in our current literary landscape filled with grimdark novels that toll the bell for the end of humanity, and I loved it.

Speaking of emotional journeys, Miracles continues the trend of being an emotional roller coaster that made me cry for both happy and sad reasons. There is something special about The Divine Cities, in that they don’t really feel like escapism pieces. Despite their fantastical settings, their magic filled cities, and their memorable and lovable characters, their lessons just hit a little too close to home for me to be brushed off as fun reads. These books will show you a great time, but also make you think and introspect a lot. I got to see some of my truly deepest fears play out across Miracles’ pages and I think Bennett made me realize they are as real as I imagined. But the power of Bennett’s writing is that not only did he bring these terrors to life, he showed me how to face them. Sigrud’s story was probably my favorite from the trilogy, and just like the other two will break your heart in half. Miracles had one of the best endings I have read to a series, rivaling those of my other top series (Malazan and The Black Company) which had a lot more time to build up to their fiery conclusions. City of Miracles is perfect from start to finish and will be one of the best books to come out in recent memory.

It should be fairly obvious that I am going to give Miracles a perfect ten at this point, but Bennett has achieved more than a perfect conclusion with his latest novel. I have a lot of series that rival this for “all time favorite”, however all of them usually have a few places where I thought it could be slightly improved. The Divine Cities is the first series I have ever read to get perfect tens straight through, with no areas that I think could have been improved. If you haven’t picked up these books yet, I implore you to correct that mistake. Now please excuse me, I am going to go order the rest of Robert Jackson Bennett’s work.

Rating:

City of Miracles – 10/10
The Divine Cities – 10/10

Not my kind of book, but I can definitely appreciate it.

If you’re new to the world of Bennett’s Divine Cities series, you should go read the first two novels, City of Stairs and City of Blades. Immediately. And when you’ve been completely sucked in by the political power struggles, complex characters, and fascinating conflicts between a modern world and gods thought long dead, you’ll be glad to know that the newest title in the series, City of Miracles, is just as impossible to put down. It’s full of dangerous people seeking vengeance against humans and the divine, lost children with unimaginable powers, and a terrifyingly powerful adversary whose very existence may bring about the destruction of reality itself. I recommend this for readers who want their existential questions wrapped in suspenseful fantasy with detailed world building and a heavy dash of intrigue.