The Kingdom of Copper

Chakraborty plunges right back into the action set up in The City of Brass with uneasy alliances, bitter rivalry, and explosive secrets in this richly developed fantasy set in an alternate 18th-century Egypt. In the aftermath of a thwarted escape and ensuing battle, heartbroken series heroine Nahri weds the king’s heir; Prince Ali, seen as a threat to the king, is exiled and flees into the desert ahead of assassins; and Nahri’s mother, Manizheh, uses warrior Dara’s ring to recall him into service. Five years pass and Nahri remains in Daevabad, trapped by a vicious king who’s using the lives of her people to force her compliance. But Ali’s return sets in motion a chain of events that pushes the kingdom to the brink of civil war and intersects with Manizheh’s campaign to recapture the city. Nahri must decide whom to trust when, once again, she is surrounded by death and betrayal. Chakraborty raises the tension and the stakes with emotional dilemmas that bring out the best and worst in these conflicted characters. This intriguing fantasy series appears to be well on its way to an exciting conclusion. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (Jan.)