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City of Stairs

The Divine Cities Book 1

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City of Stairs

By: Robert Jackson Bennett
Narrated by: Buffy Davis
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About this listen

 You've got to be careful when you're chasing a murderer through Bulikov, for the world is not as it should be in that city. When the gods were destroyed and all worship of them banned by the Polis, reality folded; now stairs lead to nowhere, alleyways have become portals to the past, and criminals disappear into thin air.

The murder of Dr Efrem Pangyui, the Polis diplomat researching the Continent's past, has begun something and now whispers of an uprising flutter out from invisible corners. Only one woman may be willing to pursue the truth - but it is likely to cost her everything.

(P)2015 WF Howes Ltd©2014 Robert Jackson Bennett Epic Fantasy

Critic reviews

Robert Jackson Bennett deserves a huge audience. This is the book that will earn it for him. A story that draws you in, brilliant world building, and oh my God, Sigrud. You guys are going to love Sigrud
Smart and sardonic, with wry echoes from classic tales mixed up in an inventive, winning narrative. [Bennett is] a master of the genre
City of Stairs is brilliant
City of Stairs is a smooth novel of near perfection and the best Epic Fantasy novel I've read this year. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough
[Bennett's] clever selection of detail, the honesty and depth with which he describes his characters, and his ability to use so many disparate elements to transcend genre set him apart from the crowd. 9/10
A memorably surreal urbanscape. . . . Readers seeking a truly refreshing fantasy milieu should travel to Bulikov, and welcome its conquest
With nods to Neil Gaiman's slumbering deities, Ursula K. LeGuin's two-faced political schemers and China Miéville's labyrinthine worlds, City Of Stairs is a compulsively readable and thought-provoking tale that confirms the author as one of the genre's most exciting talents. 4/5
I'm honestly not sure I have anything to criticise, or even nitpick over. From start to finish, this is tightly written, expertly plotted, marvellously paced and just plain fun to read. 5/5
Complex, ever evocative, this is the novel as fireworks. Seductively addictive
City of Stairs definitely makes my list of favourite fantasy novels . . . Excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. 9.5/10
With City of Stairs, Bennett has probably written the perfect blend of fantasy and crime fiction. Everything works . . . one of the best books of the year. A must read.
City of Stairs is deliciously unsettling
A delightful urban fantasy that travels through a city full of Escher-like staircases and alternate realities. . . . A diverse and entertaining cast of old gods fleshes out the ruins of this mysterious city, and Shara's hit-man secretary delivers nonstop action
Entertaining yet thought-provoking. . . . Entrancing characters, exciting descriptions and piercingly clear action keep the story moving swiftly and surely to a satisfying conclusion
[An] incredible journey through a wondrously weird and surprising world. . . . I found myself both delighted and fascinated as every layer was slowly unpacked. Just the right mix of awesome
Bennett is plainly a writer in love with the world he has built-and with good cause. It's a great world, original and unique, with a scent and a texture, a sense of deep, bloody history, and a naturally-blended magic living in the stones
An excellent spy story wrapped in a vivid imaginary world
All stars
Most relevant
A little overlong, and it slightly drags in places, but this is a brilliantly original fantasy.
The world building is good, as is the twisty turny plot. It's peripherally simiar to Richard Morgan's series of fantasty, but with a lighter tone and a great deal of heart.
Highly recommended.

Fantastic narration of a fantastic story

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there are some really cool characters, ideas, and concepts in this one but in some way it just falls short. it is lacking SOMETHING! I can't put my finger on what but I feel it is ultimately overrated and forgettable

just ok - don't understand the hype!

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I stopped and restarted this audiobook three times before I decided to stick to it as I was listening while driving so reading wasn’t an option. Truly awful, overly acted narration and the intonations and characterisations unbearable. Names are difficult anyway but she sounded like it was the first time she was trying to pronounce them every time. Truly felt like she read it out loud for the first time, so disappointing as the story is amazing. Read the book if you can and skip the audiobook!

Great story, AWFUL narration

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the story was good and original. loved the world created. interesting characters.

the story teller was really poor. inaudible at some points and sloppily read key exciting passages. she didn't get me excited about the book and didn't sound like she enjoyed it at all. real shame.

author did well weaving threads of references back into the book to provide a well thought out complex story.

the political side I was far less interested in than the exciting divinity side. not sure why it felt like steam punk. felt like a better fit for fantasy, especially with Sigrid.

wouldn't read another if similar reviews, but will follow authors next books. amazing imagination.

dry but good story, poor performance

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Took a while to get used to the narrator but we'll worth the wait. Good

Excellent listen.

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