Imagine being an angel tasked with the destruction of a city crafted over centuries by a demon. But this demon, in her final act of defiance, curses a fragment of herself to linger with you forever. Cast out by your own kin, you find yourself returning to the ruins of that same forgotten city, only to discover the demon tirelessly rebuilding it. Against all reason, you can’t resist helping her—but when she lashes out and demands you leave for 50 years, you obey, driven by unshakable devotion.

When you finally return, shaped by your years among humanity and bringing refugees whose homes have been destroyed, she demands something unimaginable. Not only must you beg for their safe haven within the city, but you must also surrender your wings—the very essence of your freedom. You allow her to sever them willingly, grounding yourself forever. Over time, amidst shared pain and fragile hope, the two of you find a kind of peace together, eventually raising a beautifully chaotic trans child.

And that’s just a glimpse of this breathtaking tale. I can’t even begin to do it justice—please, read this story!

The City in Glass was another great read from Nghi Vo, I don't know where they get their ideas, but I have been blown away by everything they right. The premise of this one was really interesting and of course the follow through was 10/10. I look forward to seeing what they do next!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

The City in Glass is a story of grief, extended in an order of magnitude when it is a whole city being grieved across centuries. Nghi Vo's mastery of language and ability to create sympathetic characters outside of the boundaries of good and evil allow for a deep exploration of what it means to miss not only people, but the place that was created by their presence and the essence of their having lived.

"They need a home, and every city needs people," he said at last.

What a weird and glorious book.

It's perfection. Utter perfection. This is a top 10 read of 2024.

I'm in awe.

“We are here. Do not forget us. Do not leave us.”

Nghi Vo, author of the acclaimed novellas The Empress of Salt and Fortune and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, returns with The City in Glass, a standalone story about a demon, an angel, and a fallen city. Together, throughout the decades they will try to unearth the past of the city of Azril and begin to shape its future. The novel explores themes such as grief, love, and the passage of time through the lens of immortal beings thus making it thought-provoking and poignant.

The author’s prose is undeniably beautiful, with lyrical and captivating descriptions that paint a vivid picture of the fantastical city of Azril. Vo’s ability to weave intricate metaphors and symbolism throughout the narrative creates a dreamlike atmosphere that permeates the entire story. On another note, the central characters, a demon named Vitrine and an unnamed angel, present an intriguing dynamic. Their relationship, evolving from enemies to sort-of lovers, is an extreme slow burn that adds depth to the narrative.

However, the novel’s strength in prose and atmosphere are somewhat offset by its weaknesses in plot and character development. The story follows a non-linear timeline and focuses more on “vibes” rather than a traditional narrative structure. While this approach works for some readers, others may find it challenging to engage with the story fully. The lack of substantial world-building outside of Azril and the limited character development, may also leave some readers wanting for more. At around 200 pages, the book is relatively short, but its pacing can feel slow at times, especially for those who prefer more plot-driven narratives, and thus making it seem longer than it is.

All in all, The City in Glass, is a beautifully written, atmospheric novel that will appear to readers who appreciate lyrical prose and don’t mind a less conventional narrative structure. However, those who seek a more traditional fantasy story with extensive world-building and character development might find it lacking. It’s a book that demands patience and willingness to immerse oneself in its unique style and pacing.

I did not expect this to give me Romance Feelings, and it did? This felt like This Is How You Lose the Time War except it isn't epistolary and it's only half as confusing and it's somehow even darker. Vo's writing is so evocative and lush and I love it - this is borderline purple prose but it feels fitting in this unsettling reflection on love and judgement and violence. This is entirely character-driven, as time stops and starts and flashes back fairly seamlessly to show us glimpses of the people our main character has loved through her too-long life. Vitrine, you absolutely ruthless, heartsick creature, I love you (but please don't love me back).

A few of my favorite quotes:

" 'Mine,' she said, and then she turned to shout it to the city in a voice that could be heard only by the dead, the listening, and the cats."

"Vitrine loved her city like demons and cats may love things, with an eye towards ownership and the threat of small mayhem."

"This is how you break yourself into a thousand pieces that are all equally wrong and unloved."

"The bitterness rose up in his voice like the taste of clove through sugar candy, something sharp and significant. She liked him best with it, because sugar alone was so dull and plain and because once you have mixed a drop of clove into a vat of sugar, nothing in the world could take it out."

"I love you so, I love you best," she whispered, nipping firmly at his ear. "I will walk in you, and I will care for you, and I will bring the whole world to rejoice in you."

Moments of success, but also a bit of heavy handedness in quite a few places. The book may have done better as a novella, or a series of episodes/images. So highly descriptive that it feels in places that it wants to be poetry, but those passages also tend to stop the narrative almost to a halt.

I received an advance review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

Nghi Vo does an excellent job of drawing the reader into a story that spans centuries. It was a story that was equally beautiful and haunting. The kind of story that sits inside you for days after you've read it. Vitrine's character was so deeply fleshed out and well done. The characterization nailed that otherworldy, non-human quality to Vitrine's desires, emotions, and motivations. The angel was a delightful study in becoming more with oneself and yet losing other aspects of oneself. The City in Glass was a beautifully written bit of prose that delighted the senses through it's detailed world building and character development. It was a deeply satisfying read that I'll continue to think about for weeks yet. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for something with excellent characters, interesting concepts of world building, and ultimately a love story between a demon, an angel, with the backdrop of a beautiful city. It left me equally devastated and delighted in the end. Utterly delightful and captivating.

3.5 stars

The City in Glass is a story that I feel like I should have enjoyed a lot more than I did. This is a stunning contemplation of grief, anger, deities, and history. Nghi Vo's writing is beautiful and I was immediately intrigued by these characters. She excels at capturing the otherworldly, inhuman nature of the angel and demon in this city. I thought the way this book treated the passage of time was a particularly clever detail.

Unfortunately, the book leaned a little bit too far toward "all vibe no plot" for me. I wanted just a little bit more story and world-building from this because I was so interested in the nature of these characters. I also did not feel the romance plot in this story at all which made the ending fall a little flat for me. The angel character either needed to have his own perspective or just needed to be fleshed out more as a character. Because I didn't really know or care about the only other character or substance in this book, it felt like something was missing.

this was written so incredibly beautifully, from the first page i knew it was going to be a masterful read.
it gets you right from the beginning with the mysterious character you are following, to what happens immediately to her city.
the cyclical nature of meeting more and more people, descendants of characters that our mc got to know and who died, how she grew to love them just as she had loved the previous people.
if anything, the ending was a little short, but delivered some good payoff and another point to the cyclical structure.

For those of us still chasing that “This is How You Lose the Time War” high, Nghi Vo offers us THE CITY IN GLASS (Tordotcom, 224 pp., $24), a fantasy love story between a demon who nurtures a human city and the destroying angel who levels it to the ground.

The demon Vitrine has long made the city of Azril her home, manipulating human families and guilds as the individuals flicker in and out of life like so many fireflies. Then four angels descend and, for reasons we never learn, burn everything and everyone into ash. Wounded and howling with grief, Vitrine manages to curse one of the angels as they depart — chaining him to her city with a piece of her own heart. Now they’re trapped together, inescapably bound, tormented and tormenting by turns.

The one thing Vitrine and the angel have on their side is time — time for a city to be reborn, time for the grief that loomed over the early pages to become more ache than injury. This is an enchantingly mutable world, layered with microstories, where even the most stubborn immortal can change without realizing it.

Wow. This novella really packed a punch. Absolutely a must buy. Angels, demons and destruction - oh my!!!

Gorgeous writing as always from Nghi Vo! A story that packs a punch despite its short format. I love Vo's novellas, and will always pick them up!

An epic story spanning centuries or love and devotion between a demon, the city she loved and created, and the angel who destroyed said city and helped rebuild it and in love and sacrifice gave his wings to that very demon.

Yes, that's right, that angel gave his Wings for that demon and the safety and shelter of his people.

With the beautiful writing and fable like quality you come to expect from Nghi Vo, this short book packs so much beauty and feeling into so few pages.

I loved this very unlikely family and the city they claim.

4.75 stars, this book made me cry. I need Nghi Vo to please let me breathe and stop it with the books that make me cry (never stop).

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for this EArc. All opinions are my own.

This is one of those 'all vibes, no plot' books. Okay, there's sort of a plot, but there doesn't seem to be an end point for the most part and the prose is content to meander and linger, so if you're the kind who needs things to move along, this may not be for you.

Having said that, I love so many things about this book. The concepts presented here are mind-blowing. From a demon who looks after a city, to the people and the ghosts existing there, to the in-depth world-building and the cycles of life and death, to the concept of a cursed angel, there were certainly a lot to admire and think about. This isn't a very thick book (200+ pages), but every page was an enriching experience.

I can respect an author who puts in effort to build an immersive world, and in this aspect Nghi Vo does not disappoint. Azril had its own culture and history; it almost felt alive. After its destruction Vitrine wanted her new city to be an exact version of what was lost, and whenever we looked through her memories of the people, the culture, and the buildings that were wiped out, one couldn't help but to feel Vitrine's grief.

Anyway, in the course of rebuilding the city, Vitrine had to deal with the pesky angel who's now stuck with her (because she cursed him). Initially I didn't think very much about the angel and was on Vitrine's side when she told him to sod off, but over time he grew on me. There was a segment in which he kept trying to protect a certain character from getting killed, and it was almost funny.

However, I do think that the relationship between Vitrine and the angel could be better handled. For the most part she just kept pushing him away and punishing him, and they didn't have enough interactions for me to buy into any sort of relationship between them. The two of them as friends and/or co-parents of the city? Sure. But I'm not 100% convinced with that ending, as wonderful-sounding (in theory) as it is.

I've seen people compare this book to 'This Is How You Lose The Time War'. Honestly, I don't know; I see the similarities, but I also feel that these two books have different things going for them. All in all, if you're looking for some cool ideas, beautiful writing, and contemplation on life and history, this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley for the readers' copy.
If Nghi Vo writes it, I’m going to read it.
Vo remains the queen of writing the most lyrical prose about the full spectrum of emotions (I always end up crying). Her characters draw you in to the point it feels magnetic. Her writing is so singular, meticulous, and simply beautiful.

3 STARS

CW: grief, violence, blood, death (including of animals)

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (I'm super late so this book is already out. Trying my best to catch up with my ARCs now.)

Nghi Vo writes so lyrically that, somehow, all of her work catches my attention in that regard. This book sounded interesting and I certainly enjoyed my time reading it. But, unfortunately, it didn't hit the spot as well as her Singing Hills Cycle does, which - I want to stress - does not mean that the book is not good. Because it is but I would describe it as having a quiet plot, it is very internal and I was missing some excitement to absolutely love it.

Needless to say, Nghi Vo is an expert crafter of worlds and a poet when it comes to writing style. I really enjoyed the vision and emotion of Azril that was evoked through the eyes of the main character Vitrine and her feelings for the angel that she is in opposition with. I was somewhat reminded of Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer duology regarding setting and characters. (Although, of course, the two books are very different.)

Overall, I definitely enjoyed the story, especially due to the emotional writing. The Singing Hills Cycle is still more to my liking but I'd still recommend you pick this up if it sounds interesting to you. One thing I absolutely adored was how well the story was rounded out. The final page really elevated the story a little more which I always love a lot.

Readers follow a Demon who watches over the city of Azril. She sees the children of her city through different trials and watches as they celebrate the city. However Angels come and destroy it then she locks herself in a bond with an Angel who's people broke her own. As the city changes and rebuilds centuries go by where there is ruin, then new life and she sees how different the past is from the future.
Beautiful writing with great imagery and a very interest premise

Nghi Vo did it again and what a masterclass of poetry and sensibility. Romance fantasy and enemy to lovers as it should be. This historical and almost archeological approach of a city is nothing short of extraordinary.

Vo’s prose and imagination are always breathtaking, but what struck me about City in Glass was the delicate precision of every detail. More than anything else I’ve read of Vo’s, this book felt like a deliberate work of art, something that has been created so carefully, so exactingly, over a long period of time. The picture it conjures in my head is of a watchmaker using tweezers and a loupe to put every minuscule gear exactly where it needs to be.

(I don’t, at ALL, mean that City in Glass feels manufactured – there’s no sense that this is synthetic, false. Only that it’s the work of a master craftsperson, and you can almost glimpse, or understand, how much craft and skill went into making it.)

Beyond that, I don’t have much to say about it. It’s beautiful, of course. My breath caught in my throat on the very first page, as we see the angels coming to the city. I enjoyed reading it immensely. But I don’t feel like I got it – maybe my head’s too foggy to analyse what I read, or maybe Vo was saying things I didn’t hear. I was kind of disappointed that for most of the book, the city is in ruins – somehow I didn’t realise that would be the case – because I was most enchanted with the descriptions of the city while it was alive, and then the glimpses we got of its flourishing past. But I loved the casual queerness, I want to wrap the prose around me like a velvet blanket, and the ending surprised me enormously – which delighted me. (Love it when I can’t see the end coming!)

Strongly recommended, but you should look elsewhere if you want some smart analysis of this one!