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The City of Dusk

By Tara Sim
Series: The Dark Gods
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3.61 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 4,150 ratings, 1,142 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The City of Dusk by Tara Sim is set in a richly detailed fantasy realm where four heirs to powerful houses are driven by their shared goal to take control of their world. As they navigate political machinations and dark magic, they must confront hidden truths and make pivotal choices amidst rising tensions and ancient secrets. Their intertwined fates may determine the future of their city and the entire realm.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to richly layered worlds with powerful deities and intricate political intrigue. Fantasy enthusiasts who appreciate a blend of magic, conflict, and complex character dynamics will find themselves immersed in its vivid narrative and diverse cast of characters.

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THE CITY OF DUSK is the first in a dark epic fantasy trilogy that follows the four heirs of four noble houses - each gifted with a divine power - as they form a tenuous alliance to keep their kingdom from descending into a realm-shattering war.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'A glorious tapestry of magic and murderous gods' - BuzzFeed News

'Fans of A Darker Shade of Magic and All of Us Villains will want to pick this up' - BookRiot

'A delightful, complex, intimate yet explosive debut adult fantasy' - Strange Horizons

DARKNESS FALLS. GODS RISE.

The Four Realms - Life, Death, Light, and Darkness - all converge on the City of Dusk. For each realm there is a god, and for each god there is an heir.

But the gods have withdrawn their favour from the once vibrant and thriving metropolis. And without it, all the realms are dying.

Unwilling to stand by and watch the destruction, the four heirs - Angelica, an elementalist with her eyes set on the throne; Risha, a necromancer fighting to keep the peace; Nikolas, a soldier who struggles to see the light; and Taesia, a shadow-wielding rogue with a reckless heart - will become reluctant allies in the quest to save their city.

But their rebellion will cost them dearly.

Set in a world of bone palaces and shadow magic, of vengeful gods and defiant chosen ones, The City of Dusk is Tara Sim's crackling adult fantasy debut.

Series: The Dark Gods

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  • The City of Dusk
    'A glorious tapestry of magic and murderous gods' - BuzzFeed News 'Fans of A Darker Shade of Magic and All of Us Villains will want to pick this up' - BookRiot 'A delightful, complex, intimate yet explosive debut adult fantasy' - Strange Horizons DARKNESS FALLS. GODS RISE. The Four Realms - Life, Death, Light, and Darkness - all converge on...
    By Tara Sim
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Midnight Kingdom
    Fans of RJ Barker and Anna Smith Spark, rejoice! The divine will have their war - and not all will survive it. Scattered across the realms, the four noble heirs walk a dangerous path, attempting to undo the damage the gods have wrought. Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel, and Nikolas, the reluctant soldier, find themselves stranded in the realm of eternal...
    By Tara Sim
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Midnight Kingdom
    Fans of RJ Barker and Anna Smith Spark, rejoice! The Midnight Kingdom: The divine will have their war - and not all will survive it. Scattered across the realms, the four noble heirs of Nexus walk a dangerous path, attempting to undo the damage the gods have wrought. Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel of House Lastrider, and Nikolas, the reluctant soldier...
    By Tara Sim
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Pre-order
    The Dawn Throne
    Gods don't stay dead for long. In the aftermath of the chaos and tragedy of Godsnight, the recovering heirs struggle to determine their next moves. But when Phos, the god of light, stages an attack on their home in a bid for cosmic control, the heirs decide to take the fight to Phos's own realm of Solara. Yet Solara hasn't...
    By Tara Sim
    Paperback
    $2799
    Pre-order
    Out 15 Sep 2026

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Tara Sim's adult debut is praised for its intricate tapestry of magic and gods, offering a promising start to a new series. The narrative is noted for its unexpected depth, with a complex and immersive world-building compared to works like A Darker Shade of Magic. It features diverse, often queer, protagonists and an engaging plot that appeals to fans of epic, dark fantasy. The book's complexity and detailed storytelling have been highlighted, with readers particularly enjoying its ensemble cast and world.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399704137

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hodderscape

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 400g

Pages: 576

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series: The Dark Gods Tara Sim

About the Author

Tara Sim is the author of The City of Dusk, the Scavenge the Stars duology, and the Timekeeper trilogy who can typically be found wandering the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she's not chasing cats or lurking in bookstores, she writes books about magic, murder, and mayhem. Follow her on Twitter at @EachStarAWorld, and check out her website for fun extras at tarasim.com.

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    Fans of RJ Barker and Anna Smith Spark, rejoice! The divine will have their war - and not all will survive it. Scattered across the realms, the four noble heirs walk a dangerous path, attempting to undo the damage the gods have wrought. Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel, and Nikolas, the reluctant soldier, find themselves stranded in the realm of eternal...
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  • The Midnight Kingdom
    Fans of RJ Barker and Anna Smith Spark, rejoice! The Midnight Kingdom: The divine will have their war - and not all will survive it. Scattered across the realms, the four noble heirs of Nexus walk a dangerous path, attempting to undo the damage the gods have wrought. Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel of House Lastrider, and Nikolas, the reluctant soldier...
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    Now in paperback! The sequel to the LGBT phenomenon Timekeeper continues the dangerous dark adventure of an alternate Victorian world where time is controlled by clocks. Clock mechanic Danny Hart knows he's being watched. But by whom, or what, remains a mystery. To make matters worse, clock towers have begun falling in India, though time hasn't stopped yet. He'd hoped...
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  • Chainbreaker
    Age range: 14+ The sequel to the LGBT phenomenon Timekeeper continues the dangerous dark adventure of an alternate Victorian world where time is controlled by clocks. Clock mechanic Danny Hart knows he's being watched. But by whom, or what, remains a mystery. To make matters worse, clock towers have begun falling in India, though time hasn't Stopped yet. He'd hoped...
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    Gods don't stay dead for long. In the aftermath of the chaos and tragedy of Godsnight, the recovering heirs struggle to determine their next moves. But when Phos, the god of light, stages an attack on their home in a bid for cosmic control, the heirs decide to take the fight to Phos's own realm of Solara. Yet Solara hasn't...
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