The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

Have you ever loved a city so much it hurt? Felt its pulse thrumming through your veins, its history etched into your bones? Nghi Vo’s “The City in Glass” takes that love affair and cranks it up to eleven, weaving a tale of passion, destruction, and rebirth that’ll leave you breathless.

Picture this: a demon who’s head over heels for a city, an angel who brings it crashing down, and the centuries-long dance between them as they rebuild from the ashes. It’s not your typical romance, folks, but then again, Vo’s never been one to color inside the lines.

A Glimpse into Azril’s Glittering Streets

The Demon’s Playground

Meet Vitrine, our demon protagonist. She’s not your run-of-the-mill hellspawn, though. Nah, this lady’s got style, sass, and a love for the city of Azril that puts most human relationships to shame. Vo paints Vitrine with strokes both bold and delicate, crafting a character who’s equal parts nurturing mother and capricious trickster.

One minute she’s encouraging revolutionaries, the next she’s savoring the chaos of a good old-fashioned riot. It’s a balancing act that keeps you on your toes, never quite sure if you should cheer for Vitrine or fear her. But damn if you don’t end up loving her anyway.

The City That Never Sleeps (Unless It’s Razed to the Ground)

Azril itself is a character in its own right, and what a character it is! Vo’s world-building is nothing short of intoxicating. You can practically smell the spices wafting from the markets, hear the clash of swords in the practice yards, feel the press of bodies during the wild Summersend festivals.

The City in Glass is actually a city of contrasts—opulent and squalid, ancient and ever-changing. The author drops tantalizing hints of its history throughout, little breadcrumbs that’ll have you begging for a whole separate book just on Azril’s past. (Seriously, Vo, if you’re reading this, I’d buy that in a heartbeat.)

When Angels Attack (It’s Not as Heavenly as It Sounds)

The Fall of Azril

Just when you’re getting comfy in Azril’s vibrant embrace, Vo pulls the rug out from under you. The angels descend, and holy hell (pun intended), do they bring the pain. It’s a gut-punch of a scene, made all the more devastating by how attached you’ve grown to the city and its people.

The destruction is visceral, almost painful to read. Vo doesn’t shy away from the horror, but there’s a strange beauty in the devastation too. It’s like watching a supernova—terrible and awe-inspiring all at once.

An Unlikely Pairing

Enter our angel, nameless but far from faceless. He’s the instrument of Azril’s destruction, but Vo quickly complicates things. This isn’t a simple tale of good versus evil. The angel is bound to the city by Vitrine’s grief-stricken curse, setting up a centuries-long push and pull between them.

Their relationship is… complicated, to say the least. There’s attraction, sure, but it’s tangled up with hatred, guilt, and a weird sort of co-dependence. It’s messy and raw and utterly captivating.

Rebuilding from the Ashes (With a Side of Sexual Tension)

A City Reborn

The bulk of the The City in Glass focuses on Azril’s slow rebirth, and it’s here that Vo’s talent really shines. We jump through time, watching generations rise and fall, each leaving their mark on the city. It’s like a time-lapse of a flower blooming, except the flower is made of stone and dreams and the occasional bloodstain.

Vitrine and her angel are constants throughout, their push and pull shaping Azril as much as any human hand. It’s a dance of creation and destruction, love and hate, that spans centuries.

Love in the Time of Reconstruction

Let’s talk about that relationship, shall we? Because hoo boy, it’s a doozy. Vitrine and her angel have chemistry that could power a small nation. Their interactions crackle with tension—sexual, adversarial, and everything in between.

Vo walks a tightrope here, never letting things get too comfortable between them. Just when you think they might be warming up to each other, boom! Someone’s wings get ripped off. It’s that kind of book, folks.

Themes That’ll Haunt Your Dreams (In a Good Way)

The Nature of Love and Obsession

At its core, “The City in Glass” is an exploration of love in all its forms. There’s Vitrine’s all-consuming passion for Azril, which borders on obsession. There’s the twisted affection that grows between demon and angel. And then there are the countless human loves that flicker throughout the centuries—brief but no less intense.

Vo challenges us to consider: What does it mean to truly love something? Can love be destructive as well as nurturing? It’s heady stuff, wrapped up in a package of fantasy and romance.

The Weight of Memory

Memory is another big player here. Vitrine’s book of names becomes a powerful symbol, a way of holding onto the past even as the world changes around her. The contrast between her immortal perspective and the fleeting lives of humans is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

There’s a bittersweet quality to the whole novel, a recognition that nothing lasts forever—except maybe the love of a demon for her city.

Vo’s Prose: A Love Letter to Language

Can we take a moment to appreciate Nghi Vo’s writing? Because damn, this woman can string words together like nobody’s business. Her prose is lush without being purple, evocative without being overwrought.

She has a knack for sensory details that bring Azril to life. You don’t just read about the city—you experience it. The taste of mourning honey, the feeling of rain-slick cobblestones under bare feet, the sound of a thousand voices raised in the ganli dance. It’s intoxicating.

A Few Nitpicks (Because No City is Perfect)

Look, I loved this book. But in the interest of fairness, I’ve got a couple of small gripes:

• The time jumps can be disorienting. Vo covers centuries in a single chapter sometimes, and it can be hard to keep track of where (or when) we are.
• Some readers might find the pacing slow, especially in the middle sections. This isn’t a action-packed thrill ride—it’s a slow burn that rewards patience.
• If you’re looking for a traditional romance with a neat, happy ending… this ain’t it, chief. The relationship between Vitrine and her angel is complex and often unsettling.

The Verdict: A Mesmerizing Journey Through Time and Emotion

“The City in Glass” is a triumph of imagination and craft. Nghi Vo has created a world that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page. It’s a love story, yes, but one that transcends the usual boundaries of the genre.

This novel isn’t for everyone. It demands engagement from its readers, asking you to grapple with big ideas and complex emotions. But for those willing to take the journey, it offers rewards beyond measure.

If you loved Vo’s previous works like “The Empress of Salt and Fortune” or “Siren Queen,” you’ll find familiar threads of queer representation and lush world-building here. Fans of authors like China Miéville or Catherynne M. Valente will also find plenty to love in Azril’s glittering streets.

So grab a copy, find a cozy spot, and prepare to lose yourself in the winding streets of Azril. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking at your own city with new eyes afterward. After all, who knows what demons might be lurking, ready to fall in love with the world you’ve built?