Book Review: CITY OF STAIRS by Robert Jackson Bennett (The Divine Cities Trilogy # 1)

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Historians should be keepers of truth. We must tell things as they are -- honestly, and without subversion. That is the greatest good one can do... you must ask yourself -- what truth do you wish to keep?"

Booklovers on budgets know this feeling all too well: when you only buy the first book in a series, to "test the waters," only to find out that it's soooooo awesome, you regret not buying the others when you had the chance!

That's me after this incredible book! But my pain is more intense, because the series isn't being sold in any of the bookstores in my country and it seems like I'll have to wait years before I can get my hands on books 2 and 3, huhuhu. T.T

But I'll wait. Because that's what people in love do. True love waits.

AND I AM DESPERATELY IN LOVE!!!

"City of Stairs" is the best fantasy book I've read this past year, it makes the 5 star rating I've given others look paltry because there was just SO.MUCH.TO.LOVE in this book!

"Beware of any religion that teaches that hate is holy, that every part of being human is wrong."

Part fantasy, part philosphy/theology/political science commentary, and 100% writing genius... Bennett brings us to a world where the divine exists side-by-side the mundane, where people in power commit murder to hide truths coming to light, and miracles do happen.

In this world... centuries ago, a subjugated godless people rose up against the race of men protected by their Divinities. And mortals successfully killed those gods.

But can gods truly die?

"Were the Divinities... an embodiment, perhaps, of a national subconscious?... When they spoke to the Divinities, were they speaking to giant reflections of themselves?"

This is a perfectly written book if ever there was one, with no word, no page falling below the highest standards of pacing, dialogue, and rising action! Coupled with intelligent banter, insightful words of wisdom, and all-too-human flawed characters fleshed out so as to leap to life... I did not want to leave this world! I did not want this book to end!

I suppose you can tell from the number of exclamation marks and my rambling style how EXCITED I am about this book, hehe. Where do I sign up to request that local booksellers include this series in their shelves? A quick Google search reveals that this book has won multiple awards, which is why I'm so baffled at why it's not locally available!

I shall be counting down the days until I can secure copies of Books 2 and 3... and in the meantime, I shall re-read this immediately, because YES IT'S JUST THAT DARN GOOD.

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