Funbride, beautifully written and great intro into this authors world... makes me wanna give similar books to this a chance and grow my repitor

What can I say about the finale of this trilogy without spoiling books 1 and 2? Honestly, not much at all.

What I will say is that The Burnished City is one of the most original fantasy series I have ever read, constantly leaving me guessing and wondering what the rules of *this* world is, as it doesn’t follow any one archetype that I as a fantasy reader have come to expect, or even a formula whatsoever. And while I never fully understood the *how* or *why* of the magic involved, my fascination and wonder at each new magical reveal was never dimmed. Just, freaking cool, and seemingly without any limits to what mythology or system was used to imagine it – and I love that. So much.

There are three protagonists in this trilogy, a sorcerer and two women in his circle of friends. And I love these women. I would read many more stories about these women and their attempts to bridge the gaps between the vast social classes represented in the City. The sorcerer – this book wasn’t his strongest showing, though his magic remains captivating.

I do not and have not given a single flying f*** about the one romance that has been withstanding throughout the series – because *reasons*. And I don’t appreciate the attempt made to weigh it more heavily than other intrapersonal relationships, especially given one half of the couple is not as present as the emotional attachment stressed would have you think. But that’s a personal preference thing.

Overall, a solid 4-star series across the board, and while this wrapped up many loose ends previously established, it did feel slightly weaker and less grand than its predecessors.

***Thank you to Orbit Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience with the finished paperback, which I purchased.***

***THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS FOR REBEL BLADE. READ ON AT YOUR OWN PERIL.***

I really wanted to love this finale to The Burnished City trilogy. Unfortunately, Rebel Blade just did not live up to my expectations. Notorious Sorcerer was fun and fresh, while Shadow Baron had masterful world-building and characterization. The first half of this end to the trilogy was an absolute slog to get through. It felt like nothing happened while the characters wallowed. Things picked up in the latter half, though, and it mostly stuck the landing.

For most of the first half of Rebel Blade, very little happened. The characters were in hiding or licking their wounds from the events of the previous book. Some planning took place and a bit of scheming. However, nothing very exciting happened. It was all quite boring. That being said, it did make sense for the characters to take a step back and regroup. It just didn’t make for very compelling reading. Once things kicked off, I had more fun with the story. The planning and execution of the revolution was interesting, and I appreciated the role of each character in making it possible.

Siyon spent most of his time in Rebel Blade coming to terms with his new power, running from the authorities, and missing Izmirlian. The new world-building regarding the Power of the Mundane was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out alongside Siyon. However, much of it didn’t really make sense. The specifics of how or why the powers worked just seemed really nebulous. I appreciated Siyon’s arc of learning to accept change as part of necessary growth. It tied back nicely into his origin story. The reunion with a certain someone felt a bit too forced, almost like it was only there because the reader would expect it. I was happy to see Siyon get a happyish ending, though.

After reading Rebel Blade, Anahid is still my favorite character of the series. I loved her journey to overcome the limitations placed on her by society. I do wish she would have spent less time in the beginning of this novel trying to avoid taking the responsibility of being baron. Her maneuvers through both azatani society and the seedier parts of Bezim were always so compelling to read. She eventually found a way to help stabilize her district in her own way through compromise and manipulation. Of course, having Laxmi stand menacingly over her shoulder probably helped too. lol. They were such a great duo.

Oh, Zagiri. I’ve always admired her fire and her desire to make Besim a better place for everyone who lives there. She had to grow up a lot in this book. I was so frustrated with her stubbornness and impulsivity, at times. She made some really poor choices in Rebel Blade, but she seemed to finally learn from them the hard way. By the end, her persistence paid off. She managed to bring the people together to demand a say in how they were governed. Consequently, her story was an excellent critique of top-down power structures and highlighted the struggle for a more equal world.

Overall, Rebel Blade wasn’t the exciting conclusion I was hoping for. However, I did appreciate where the characters and Bezim ended up. I just wish the additions to the world-building had been a bit more concrete, and the pacing could have been better. With all this in mind, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Oh, Bezim, what a treat it is to step back onto your rooftops and cobbled stones

Rebel Blade was such a fun, satisfying conclusion to Evans' Burnished City trilogy. More than anything, I think readers who've stuck around for three books have stuck around for Siyon, Zagiri and Anahid--because they're so incredibly lovable! Siyon remains one of my favorite contradictions of humorous savvy, and intense self-doubt. It's been so, so satisfying to see him grow into his talents (and his relationships)! Zagiri, I think, has grown the most into herself over the course of three books. She's so funny and grounded, and any interaction any character has with her is immediately engaging and fun. Anahid is my personal favorite--I think it's impossible not to admire her quick wit and strong sense of self and duty, but also her pursuit of More (even just her pursuit of FUN, like girl YES).

I think it's clear that this is a character-driven story, and Evans is a SPARKLING character writer. I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Davina has done it again. Rich storytelling set in a city brimming with life, filled with lovable characters you can't help but root for. Rebel Blade is a perfect continuation of the story of Bezem and those who live there. If you're looking for a book with amazing queer representation, strong female characters, and found family this is it.

Wraps up solidly in this one. I hope to see more by this author. I like character driven fantasy novels and that seems to be her strength. I’ve wanted to know what happens next to her characters. Good solid setting too. They’re fun reads I think this trilogy a solid choice for someone looking for a series that’s just a fun time and doesn’t take itself over serious.

DNF. I've been struggling with this one for ages - I found myself reluctant to start it, and when I eventually did, every page felt like a slog. Every time I set it down, I had no interest in picking it up again, even as the specific stakes and plotlines of the book started to make themselves known. While I intellectually appreciate Zagiri's plotline, I have no emotional investment in it; her entire arc of Changing Bezim For the Better has always felt kind of wishy-washy to me, as though Evans wasn't confident in her approach to Societal Progress, or maybe was trying to compromise between different approaches so as not to alienate readers? Zagiri's refusal to use violence, for example, is very believable, but seems incredibly naive - and even though in book two she had the idea of being violent towards industry and factories to get the law she wanted passed, she just...let that fizzle out, and is apparently not going to try it again. She doesn't build up a collection of allies, she doesn't arrange strikes or protests, she thinks she can do it all on her own. I think this makes sense - she's super privileged, her whole life has taught her that she should just be able to wave a hand and make it happen - but it's not fun to read.

Anahid is clearly going to end up a Baron. Siyon - I have no clue where his arc is going, and I don't care. I just wasn't getting any kind of urgency from his story - or anyone else's - and no passion, either. None of it was making me feel anything; and there's the plodding, slogging sense of everything taking two or three times as long as it needs to. Maybe this series would have been better off as a duology instead? I don't know.

I'm very sad that a trilogy that started off so strongly has fizzled out like this. But I don't want to pick Rebel Blade up again, so I'm not going to.

Going into the end of a trilogy is such a daunting task. Knowing that it’s the end leaves so much to be resolved and sorted and explored all in the final installment, and often times it can be disappointing. That is absolutely 1000% not the case with this one. I have adored this world and these characters since Notorious Sorcerer and what a stunning conclusion.

Following the end of Shadow Baron and so much uncertainty, Rebel Blade picks up at a bit of a jump later, where our main characters are trying to piece together all their broken plans from Salt Night. Rebel Blade carries so much within its pages and I wanted to savor every second of it, while it also had my heart pounding madly for a good chunk.

Once again, this book is a testament to the strength of these characters. Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid face so much in this book, along with many of the side characters we have gotten to know. There are so many moments of pain and joy balanced throughout, and so much in between. They are all so authentic to the way we have gotten to know them, and they have so much development within this last installment. It was such a treat to see them all face their challenges and barriers, finding out how to do things in their own ways, and becoming so truly themselves.

There is so much hope within this story, at its heart a story about the magic of impossibility. It is a story filled to the brim with wanting and yearning and hoping for more, for better, for something. That all comes to life through one of the other characters: the city of Bezim itself. The way that Siyon, Zagiri, and Anahid each navigate what the city is to them in this book builds upon what has already been set forth and takes it to soaring new heights. There are so many layers woven in for each of them that represent so much of Bezim, what it is and what it could be.

I could probably go on for days and days and days about my love for this book, but I’ll stop here for now. I already cannot wait to reread it. Without a doubt, it’s a 5⭐️ read for me.

Good series! Wraps up solidly in this one. I hope to see more by this author. I like character driven fantasy novels and that seems to be her strength. I’ve wanted to know what happens next to her characters. Good solid setting too. They’re fun reads I think this trilogy a solid choice for someone looking for a series that’s just a fun time and doesn’t take itself over serious.

Davinia Evans’s Burnished City trilogy is a fabulous blend of magic, politics, and personal growth, and REBEL BLADE brings the whole thing to a stellar end.

The stakes rise at every turn as the three central characters—two sisters and the wannabe-alchemist they befriend—feel their way through what it takes to master magic, remake a city, or redefine a life, as their goals dictate. None of them has a template to work from, their society being what it is. Each of them messes up in enormous, life-changing ways as they struggle both with social limitations and their individual hang ups. It’s SO STRESSFUL, and SO GOOD, and SO REAL.

Seriously, y’all, Evans nails how HARD all this is, and she maintains that all-important balance between the personal and the mythic while she does it. Every time I worried she was gonna make things too abstract for my fantastical tastes, which could’ve also provided her and her characters with an easy out, she brought it back around to the people involved. It’s so well done on every level.

This third book also helped me realize that the series as a whole highlights how some things end, and that’s okay. The people, places, and ideas that are important to you in one moment may not stay with you forever. It’s all right to move on. It’s all right to come at things from another angle once you have a better sense of who you are as a person; what you need as a social creature; how those around you view things.

TL;DR: this series is awesome and you want to get it RIGHT NOW if you’e been craving fantasy that perfectly blends the personal, the political, and the magical. Start with NOTORIOUS SORCERER and have yourself a binge-read.

This third and final book in the series was just as good as the others. This is a series that has not received the love and attention it deserves. I am hoping that that changes now that the final book is out as I think the author deserves a chance to publish more books.

The story is still told from three perspectives, although one is a bit more prominent in each book. The first book, Notorious Sorcerer focused on Siyon, and his struggles to learn and control his magic. The second book, Shadow Baron, was focused on Annahid and her struggles to fit into the new world that she found herself in. This final book is focused on Zagiri and her growth as a young woman and finding her true self among all of the chaos. But even though one character stuck out a bit more than the others, we got wonderful endings for all of them.

Siyon is still my favorite of the group. He is such an interesting character that faces many challenges in this series. In this book in particular he is struggling to understand and control his new powers, while feeling the weight of his responsibilities to his city and himself and grieving the loss of his boyfriend. And on top of everything else the city officials want to kill him. He has a tough time in this one, but pulls it all together to a spectacular ending.

Annahid also struggles in this part of the story. She is trying to hold her position in society as well as run her nefarious business without angering the other barons. She also struggles to help her sister Zagiri, but has to keep her distance because of society looking down on her business. She does a masterful job of manipulating those around her to changing their ways and helping her to achieve the goal of changing the city for the better.

Zagiri had a tough time in this book. Her impulsiveness and the choices that she makes were hard to understand. But she so wants to change things for the better that she was often blinded as to what the consequences of her actions could be. She kind of makes up for all of that at the end of the book, when she finally makes a stand and helps to make the city a better place after all.

This book was like the others in that it has a quick pace for the most part, but there are times when it lagged. I really enjoyed all of the political intrigue and the struggles that the characters went through felt realistic and made me want to root for them. There was a lot less world building in this book, which is understandable as most of that was taken care of in the first two books. It did make some of the book confusing though, as it has been awhile since I read the first two books. The writing continues to be beautiful and rich and I loved the dialogue and action scenes as well.

A very nice ending to a wonderful epic fantasy. This is one you should consider reading if you like magical worlds, interesting characters and a fast paced story that will leave you wanting more.

I have really loved this world and the characters who inhabit it, always looking forward to the next in series. I’m truly sad that it’s over but I do have to admit that this third book wasn’t my favorite. While I did like Anahid’s bits, I found that Zagiri’s propensity for repeatedly making the same mistakes frustrating and Siyons parts to be repetitive to the point where I ended up skimming the last 20%. While the endings for all three were satisfying, getting there was a bit of a slog.
I’ve recommended the trilogy on the past, even bringing the first volume to book swap, and I’d continue to do so because the first two books are incredible but with the caveat that people just look at a summary of the third. It really upsets me to write this review for Evans’s work, which I generally love so much and which I’ll certainly read more of in the future but the agreement is honesty so here we are.

As my idol Mary Poppins says, “quite satisfactory.” This was a good ending to a fun series with several interwoven plot lines and characters that all work well together. I’m looking forward to following this author through whatever she does next.

Rebel Blade is the third and final book in The Burnished City trilogy. I absolutely adore this series so much! I pretty much binge read the first two books and eagerly anticipated the final installment. I really liked the world the author created and I adore the characters. I really enjoyed how the characters changed throughout the series; it was amazing to see their development. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and I highly recommend it to every fantasy reader. I can't wait to see what Davinia Evans has in store for her future projects! Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

I had never heard of this series before so thank you netgalley for putting it on my radar.
Considering this is the conclusion to a trilogy I had to get my hands on the first 2 books and read through those first before I could get to this one. And I will say it was a satisfying ending. The series itself didnt quite click with me like I expected it would based on the description and how lovely the covers were but I did enjoy the authors writing and the story was an interesting read.

Thanks to netgalley and orbit for an eARC. Great story, character development and world development. Highly recommend. Can't wait for more. Highly recommend to all.

Wonderful conclusion to this series. Siyon is now the Power of the Mundane, hunted by the powers that be for freeing the dragon, desperately trying to keep his city and it's people safe and hiding in the slums he thought he left. Anahid is busy trying to keep the flower district safe, run her house and to keep from being dragged into Baron politics. You can just guess how well that is working out for her. Zagiri is finally ready to hand up her saber and become an azata in high society. It's her only way into recognized adulthood and respect to her ideas of sharing power with the rest of Bezim. However, it's boring and draws her back into the webs of domestic terrorism that scared Salt Night. Has she learned from that? probably not. This is an exciting book with the right amounts of intrigue and politics. Siyon is on the cusp of becoming something, something truly unique and powerful. But where will that take him? Zagiri is the real star of this book as it is her drive that can bring true change to Bezim. Lots of excitement, energy and mystery in this novel. It is brilliantly written and a very exciting read. Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for letting me get an early peak for an honest review.
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