“History is a funny thing. The more you study it, the more you realize that every generation has its own version of the truth.”
— Müjdat talks about the nature of historical record.
Archivist's Choice
City of Stairs
Robert Jackson Bennett (2014)
Genre
Fantasy / Mystery / Science Fiction
Reading Time
10-12 hours
Key Themes
See below
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In a city where dead gods left behind forgotten miracles and suppressed history, a spy must solve a murder that threatens to bring back the divine powers that once enslaved the world.
Synopsis
Shara Thivani, a junior diplomat and secret spy for the Saypuri government, goes to the occupied city of Bulikov to investigate the murder of Professor Vukhov, a Saypuri scholar studying Bulikov's forbidden history of dead gods. With her secretary, Sigrud, Shara explores the city's strange, miracle-scarred places, which still show physical signs of its former divine protectors. As she finds divine residue and forbidden knowledge, Shara realizes that Vukhov's murder is part of a large conspiracy involving the 'Pangyui,' a cult that wants to bring back Bulikov's gods.
Shara and Sigrud race to find ancient divine artifacts, learning that one of Bulikov's gods, the God of the City, is not dead but dormant, kept alive by a hidden network. They confront the cult, led by Pangyui, who plans to fully awaken the God of the City and restore Bulikov's oppressive rule. Sigrud's past with the gods and his people's suffering adds personal stakes. The story's peak happens at the city's vast Stairs, where the God of the City fully awakens. Shara, using her intelligence and a risky plan, cuts the connection between the awakened god and its power source, effectively 'killing' the god a second time. After this, Bulikov starts a new path toward self-rule, free from Saypuri oppression and the threat of its own vengeful deities.
Reading time
10-12 hours
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Mysterious, Intriguing, Dark, Thought-provoking
✓ Read this if...
You love intricate world-building, a blend of fantasy and spy thriller, and a protagonist who wins with intellect rather than brute force. Perfect for fans of complex mysteries set in unique, post-apocalyptic magical societies.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer traditional high fantasy with clear magic systems, or if you dislike political intrigue and morally gray characters.
Plot Summary
A Diplomat's Arrival and a Scholar's Murder
Shara Thivani, a Saypuri diplomat and secret spy, arrives in Bulikov, the capital of the Continent. She is with her large, quiet secretary, Sigrud. Her official job is to watch Saypuri interests, but she is really there to investigate the murder of Professor Vanya, a Saypuri scholar studying the Continent's forbidden history. Vanya was killed in his hotel room under strange conditions, with signs of a powerful, non-human force. The Saypuri government, which conquered the Continent centuries ago after the 'Divinity's Ruin'—the death of their gods—is very worried about any signs of divine influence. This makes Vanya's death a politically sensitive event. Shara soon realizes that local officials, especially Minister of Culture Efrem Pangyui, are making her investigation difficult, suggesting deeper secrets in the city.
Uncovering Divine Residue and Forbidden Knowledge
Shara starts her investigation by looking at Vanya's research and the crime scene. She learns that Vanya was studying the 'miracles' left by the dead gods, which still subtly change reality in Bulikov, despite Saypuri efforts to remove them. Her questions lead her to Saypuri military commander General Mulaghesh, who, despite her rough manner, helps and offers insight into the Continent's past and the Saypuri occupation. Shara also meets Turyin Mulaghesh (General Mulaghesh's niece), a former student of Vanya and a Continent-born woman, who helps Shara find the city's hidden historical sites. They find that Vanya was close to uncovering a secret about the Divinity's Ruin and the remaining divine power, a truth the Saypuri government has tried to hide.
The Hunt for the Divine Artifacts
As Shara investigates further, she learns that Vanya was looking for specific divine artifacts, possibly linked to the gods' deaths. Her search takes her to places marked by divine influence, including the 'Stairs,' a huge, seemingly endless staircase that defies natural laws, and the 'Bridge of the Divine Blade.' During her search, Shara and Sigrud face more danger. Shadowy figures attack them, showing that someone is trying to stop them from finding the truth. Sigrud, with his combat skills, is helpful in these fights, protecting Shara from assassins. They discover that a group within the Continentals, possibly led by Pangyui, is also looking for these artifacts, hoping to bring back their gods or use their power for a new uprising against Saypur.
The Reveal of the Living God
Through her investigation and Vanya's notes, Shara makes a discovery: one of the Continent's gods, the Lord of the Stairs, is not truly dead but dormant, trapped within the colossal Stairs that dominate Bulikov. Vanya had been working on a way to awaken or interact with him. This explains the strange events and the powerful forces at play. Shara realizes that the Divinity's Ruin was not a full destruction but a planned suppression, and that the Saypuri government has been living a lie, fearing the gods' return. Vanya's murder was likely an attempt to keep this ancient god from being disturbed or awakened, either by Saypuri hardliners or by Continentals hoping to control him.
Pangyui's Plan and the Continental Cult
Shara confronts Efrem Pangyui, who reveals he is a strong Continental nationalist. He leads a secret cult dedicated to bringing back the gods. He believes that by awakening the Lord of the Stairs and other dormant divine beings, they can restore the Continent and overthrow Saypuri rule. Pangyui admits to planning Vanya's murder because the scholar was close to understanding the true nature of the Lord of the Stairs and might have accidentally revealed Pangyui's plans or even awakened the god too soon. Pangyui has been collecting the scattered divine artifacts, not just for their power, but as keys to unlock the dormant divine beings. He sees Shara as a threat to his plans for a new divine uprising.
Sigrud's Past and Personal Stakes
As the conflict grows, Sigrud's past comes to light. He is from Saypur, but from a remote, 'primitive' area that was destroyed by one of the Continent's gods during the old wars. His family and village were wiped out, leaving him with a deep hatred and fear of divine power. This personal tragedy drives his loyalty to Shara and his efficiency in dealing with anything related to the gods. He sees the gods as destructive forces that must stay dead. His experiences give him a unique, harsh view of the conflict, and he is set on preventing any return of divine power, even if it means extreme actions. His past drives his actions and makes him a strong, if mysterious, ally.
The Confrontation at the Stairs
Pangyui begins a ritual to fully awaken the Lord of the Stairs, believing this will give him control over the god's power and start a Continental revolution. Shara, Sigrud, and General Mulaghesh, who has joined their cause after realizing Pangyui's extreme beliefs, race to the Stairs to stop him. The Stairs are a wonder of divine engineering, constantly shifting and defying physics, making the climb dangerous. They meet Pangyui's followers, who are fanatically dedicated to the resurrection, leading to intense battles within the surreal Stairs. Shara knows that if Pangyui succeeds, the results for both Saypur and the Continent would be terrible, sending the world back into divine warfare.
The Awakening and the Divine's Choice
Pangyui's ritual partly works, and the Lord of the Stairs begins to awaken, appearing as a huge, non-physical being of great power. The god is not fully under Pangyui's control, and its reawakening threatens to break reality. Shara realizes that killing the god is not an option, nor is letting Pangyui control it. She understands that the gods, in their original form, were not just destructive but also beings of creation and order, though on a frightening scale. She tries to talk to the awakened god, trying to understand its nature and purpose, while Sigrud fights off Pangyui's remaining followers and tries to control the god's influence. The god's mind is vast and alien, struggling to understand the changed world.
The Second Divinity's Ruin
Realizing that the Lord of the Stairs, if fully awakened, would lead to another devastating divine war, Shara makes a difficult choice. Instead of letting the god rampage or be controlled, she finds a way to put it back into dormancy, or 're-kill' it in a controlled way. She uses her diplomatic skills, Vanya's research, and a desperate appeal to the god's nature, convincing it to withdraw from the world. Sigrud, despite his hatred, helps, understanding the greater good. This act is a second 'Divinity's Ruin,' but one made by humans, not by another god. Pangyui is defeated, his plans ruined, and the Lord of the Stairs returns to its sleep, but not without leaving a lasting impression on Shara.
Aftermath and a New Beginning
Afterward, Shara skillfully manages the political situation, making sure the full truth of the Lord of the Stairs' awakening stays hidden from both Saypur and the Continentals. She portrays Pangyui as a lone extremist and keeps the story that the gods are dead. General Mulaghesh, impressed by Shara's actions, becomes a reluctant ally in this cover-up. Shara then uses her new influence to support more self-rule for Bulikov and the Continent, pushing for a fairer relationship with Saypur. She arranges for Turyin to lead efforts to responsibly manage the remaining divine sites, making them part of Bulikov's future instead of suppressing them. Shara and Sigrud, having faced a god, leave Bulikov, changed by their experiences, with a quiet understanding of the fragile peace they have made.
Principal Figures
Shara Thivani
The Protagonist
Shara evolves from a loyal government agent enforcing Saypuri dogma to an independent thinker who challenges her nation's historical narrative and works to forge a more just future for the Continent.
Sigrud
The Supporting
Sigrud maintains his core mission of fighting divine influence but finds a new purpose in protecting Shara and ensuring a stable future, evolving from a purely destructive force to a guardian of a fragile peace.
General Mulaghesh
The Supporting
Mulaghesh transitions from a rigid enforcer of Saypuri rule to a pragmatic ally who helps Shara uncover and manage the truth of the gods, demonstrating a willingness to challenge the status quo for the greater good.
Efrem Pangyui
The Antagonist
Pangyui remains steadfast in his fanaticism, ultimately failing in his attempt to resurrect the gods and being exposed as a dangerous zealot.
Vanya
The Mentioned
Though dead, Vanya's intellectual legacy continues to unravel the mysteries of the Continent, posthumously achieving his goal of revealing the truth.
Turyin Mulaghesh
The Supporting
Turyin grows from a nervous informant to a leader responsible for integrating Bulikov's divine history into its future, embracing a path of careful preservation rather than blind resurrection.
The Lord of the Stairs
The Antagonist
The Lord of the Stairs is awakened from dormancy but is ultimately convinced by Shara to return to slumber, demonstrating a complex, non-human agency and a capacity for choice.
The Other Five Gods
The Mentioned
Their influence, though posthumous, shapes the entire narrative, representing the historical conflict and the lingering threat of divine power.
Themes & Insights
History, Memory, and Truth
The novel explores how history is written, hidden, and remembered, especially after conquest. Saypur has erased the Continent's divine history, banning books and destroying monuments, creating a widespread forgetting. Shara's investigation makes her question the official Saypuri story, showing that 'truth' often serves power. The remaining 'miracles' of the gods are physical reminders of a hidden past, proving that history, even when erased, leaves lasting marks. The story asks who controls history and what happens when inconvenient truths reappear, especially when they challenge current power.
“History is a weapon, Shara. And it can be a very dangerous one.”
Colonialism and Resistance
The book's main conflict comes from Saypur's conquest of the Continent. Saypur rules Bulikov as an occupying power, forcing its culture, language, and laws while suppressing Continental identity and history. The Continentals, in turn, live under resentful rule, with figures like Pangyui representing extreme resistance, wanting to violently overthrow their oppressors by bringing back their old power. The story explores this relationship, showing the conquerors' arrogance and the conquered's desperation, and the ethical problems both sides face after colonialism.
“We are a conquered people, diplomat. We do not forget.”
The Nature of Divinity and Power
The novel questions common ideas about gods, showing them not as kind beings but as forces of nature, capable of great creation and terrible destruction, often uncaring about human suffering. The Saypuri see them as monsters, while Pangyui's cult sees them as saviors. Shara's journey makes her deal with the true nature of their power—a power that warps reality, yet also has a strange, alien intelligence. The book asks if divine power can ever be controlled or if humanity is meant to be crushed by it, and explores the terrifying effects of bringing such forces back into the world.
“A god is a power, Shara. Not a being. And powers are meant to be used.”
Identity and Self-Discovery
Shara's personal journey connects with her investigation. As she learns the truth about the gods and Saypur's history, her identity as a loyal Saypuri citizen is challenged. She must reconcile the atrocities done by the Continentals with the suppression by her own people. Sigrud's past shows how his identity was shaped by divine destruction, forming his entire view of the world. The Continentals, without their history and gods, try to redefine their group identity. The novel suggests that true identity, for both individuals and nations, means facing and accepting the full, often uncomfortable, truth of one's past.
“You think you know your country, Shara. But you only know the story they let you hear.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Divinity's Ruin
A historical event that serves as the foundational backstory for the world.
The Divinity's Ruin is the cataclysmic event centuries before the story's start, where Saypur claims to have killed the Continent's six gods. This event cemented Saypuri dominance and is the cornerstone of their national identity and their control over the Continent. It acts as a powerful MacGuffin, as the entire Saypuri government is built on the premise that the gods are dead and gone. Shara's investigation challenges this foundational myth, revealing that the 'Ruin' was not a complete eradication, making the event a source of both historical mystery and present danger.
Divine 'Miracles' and Scars
Physical remnants of divine power that subtly warp reality in Bulikov.
These are the lingering effects of the gods' presence and power, even after the Divinity's Ruin. They manifest as impossible architectural features (like the Stairs that defy gravity), reality-bending phenomena, and subtle distortions in nature. The Saypuris actively try to 'un-miracle' them, but they persist, serving as constant, undeniable reminders of the gods' existence and power. These 'miracles' are not just environmental details; they are crucial plot points, guiding Shara's investigation, revealing the gods' true nature, and providing the setting for many of the book's most fantastical and dangerous scenes.
The Suppressed History
The deliberate erasure of Continental history by the Saypuri government.
The Saypuri government has systematically suppressed and censored all records of the Continent's divine past, banning books, demolishing monuments, and rewriting history. This acts as a major source of conflict and mystery. Shara's mission is to uncover this hidden history, which is not merely academic but directly impacts the present political stability and the potential resurgence of divine power. The suppression highlights the theme of history as a weapon and the dangers of ignorance, as the truths hidden away prove to be far more complex and dangerous than the official narrative suggests.
The 'Secretary' as a Combat Role
Sigrud's role as a bodyguard is disguised by a mundane title.
Sigrud's official title as Shara's 'secretary' is a deliberate misdirection. While he performs some administrative tasks, his primary and almost exclusive function is that of a highly skilled, incredibly powerful bodyguard and enforcer. This device highlights the dangerous nature of Shara's true mission and the need for covert protection in a politically volatile environment. It also creates a stark contrast between his unassuming title and his formidable, often brutal, capabilities, adding to his enigmatic character and surprising impact on the narrative.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“The gods are dead, but their shadows linger. And sometimes, those shadows are more dangerous than the gods themselves.”
— Shara reflects on the lingering influence of the dead Divinities.
“Fear is a powerful motivator. It can make you do things you never thought you were capable of, both good and bad.”
— Shara considers the motivations behind people's actions.
“Every secret has a cost. And the bigger the secret, the higher the price.”
— Shara uncovers more about Bulikov's past.
“You can't erase the past, but you can choose how you live with it.”
— Shara contemplates the aftermath of the Divine War.
“Justice isn't about vengeance. It's about balance.”
— Shara discusses the nature of true justice.
“Power corrupts, but the lack of power corrupts absolutely.”
— Shara considers the dynamics of political control.
“It's easy to destroy. Much harder to build.”
— Shara observes the state of Bulikov.
“Sometimes, the greatest strength is knowing when to ask for help.”
— Shara learns to rely on her allies.
“The world isn't black and white. It's shades of gray, and sometimes, those shades are very, very dark.”
— Shara grapples with moral ambiguities.
“Memory is a fickle thing. It can betray you, or it can save you.”
— Shara reflects on the importance and unreliability of memory.
“Progress is not inevitable. It must be fought for, every single day.”
— Shara considers the ongoing struggle for a better future.
“The greatest lies are often the ones we tell ourselves.”
— Shara confronts her own biases and assumptions.
“There are always other ways to solve a problem. You just have to be brave enough to look for them.”
— Shara encourages creative problem-solving.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'City of Stairs' follows Shara Thivani, a junior diplomat and secret spy from the Saypuri dominion, as she investigates the murder of Professor Varma in Bulikov. Bulikov was once a mighty city ruled by powerful gods, or 'Divinities,' who conquered the world, but their powers were 'killed' in a cataclysmic event known as the Blink. Shara's investigation uncovers deep conspiracies, the lingering influence of the supposedly dead Divinities, and the true, brutal history of Bulikov's past reign.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
