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dawntin's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was not for me. The book’s message was good but heavy-handed. Each character was introduced with the traits that made them special (race, ethnicity, sexuality, occupation, etc.) and they all had superpowers, due to being the avatars of major cities. There were also pop culture references and snappy dialogue. This was cool and all, but I felt like the author tried way too hard to be quirky and inadvertently ended up playing into some stereotypes in the process of making these super-quirky diverse characters. Like, did the main Indian character really need to have math-related superpowers? Additionally, the avatar of Hong Kong literally being named Hong Kong and his accent being described as “Chinese-inflected British English” was straight up weird. The Black characters were fine though, maybe because the author is Black herself. Pacing was weird and the book wrapped everything up in like the last 20 pages. It felt like there was so much build-up before they saved the day, and when they did, I wasn’t even sure what was happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
book_gremlin42's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism, Misogyny, Classism, Sexism, Homophobia, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
artemis7's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Violence
brekaboujie's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I'd like to rate this book higher than I have, because I'm pretty sure I should have enjoyed it more than I did.
The premise is such an interesting idea (though I didn't realise the title wasn't a metaphor for a little while. That's on me) and the way it was written was snappy, packed full of adventure and tense scenes and all very myterious and exciting. All the characters were very unique and the author did a brilliant job of establishing their personalities really quickly. But I just had absolutely NO motivation to keep going. It wasn't even slow paced! I don't know why, but it never clicked with me at all, and I found it such a drag to get through. When I was reading it I was enjoying it and found it interesting, but then I'd put it down again and just not really care to keep going.
I'd definitely recommend it if you enjoy modern takes on fantasy! A really interesting idea that I wish grabbed me more.
The premise is such an interesting idea (though I didn't realise the title wasn't a metaphor for a little while. That's on me) and the way it was written was snappy, packed full of adventure and tense scenes and all very myterious and exciting. All the characters were very unique and the author did a brilliant job of establishing their personalities really quickly. But I just had absolutely NO motivation to keep going. It wasn't even slow paced! I don't know why, but it never clicked with me at all, and I found it such a drag to get through. When I was reading it I was enjoying it and found it interesting, but then I'd put it down again and just not really care to keep going.
I'd definitely recommend it if you enjoy modern takes on fantasy! A really interesting idea that I wish grabbed me more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Violence, Rape, Body horror, and Racism
No rape or sexual assualt actually happens, but there is an attempt and there is a scene where they view art depicting that, and the people presenting that art are pretty awful about it.fin_pilot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
secre's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really enjoyed Jemisin's 'The Broken Earth' series and was really looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, it just didn't catch me in the same way. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting, it has interesting characters and a tantalising narrative... but it didn't grip me. I don't think it helped that I found the opening chapters of the novel confusing and it took me a significant period of time to work out what was going on, but I think it's also down to the pacing and the constant switching between characters which made it difficult to pin down a narrative.
It's unique, I'll give it that. Set in a city trying to be born, New York has chosen five avatars, or protectors. Five individuals who will in turn become the city. Manny, or Manhatten, cold and ruthless, somehow threatening even though he doesn't remember his original identity. Bronca, or Bronx, with her mistrust and doubt, even as she becomes a community leader. Brooklyn, musician, lawyer and caretaker. Padmini, Queens, a quiet academic. And Aislyn, Staten Island, isolated and easily manipulated. Each hold a different power, each are rooted to a different section of the city. It's a multi-cultured mixing hub of individuals, as Jemisin points out, much like New York itself.
It's clever and holds a powerful message, but sometimes Jemisin falls into the trap of preaching rather than displaying and the moralising is too overt and self conscious. It's thought provoking and innovative, but it becomes bogged down in the message rather than the plot and therefore loses a lot of what could have been a tautly written plot. There's a lot of repetition as we see the same events through different characters eyes and a lot of bouncing around when it would have been better to be held by two or three main perspectives to pull the narrative forward.
In essence, this has a lot of potential. It's unlike anything I've read before, but it's trying to do too many things and suffers from a lack of cohesion leading to a lot of waffling before we get to the narrative. It's nowhere near as good as Jemisin's Broken Earth series which was frankly, spectacular.
It's unique, I'll give it that. Set in a city trying to be born, New York has chosen five avatars, or protectors. Five individuals who will in turn become the city. Manny, or Manhatten, cold and ruthless, somehow threatening even though he doesn't remember his original identity. Bronca, or Bronx, with her mistrust and doubt, even as she becomes a community leader. Brooklyn, musician, lawyer and caretaker. Padmini, Queens, a quiet academic. And Aislyn, Staten Island, isolated and easily manipulated. Each hold a different power, each are rooted to a different section of the city. It's a multi-cultured mixing hub of individuals, as Jemisin points out, much like New York itself.
It's clever and holds a powerful message, but sometimes Jemisin falls into the trap of preaching rather than displaying and the moralising is too overt and self conscious. It's thought provoking and innovative, but it becomes bogged down in the message rather than the plot and therefore loses a lot of what could have been a tautly written plot. There's a lot of repetition as we see the same events through different characters eyes and a lot of bouncing around when it would have been better to be held by two or three main perspectives to pull the narrative forward.
In essence, this has a lot of potential. It's unlike anything I've read before, but it's trying to do too many things and suffers from a lack of cohesion leading to a lot of waffling before we get to the narrative. It's nowhere near as good as Jemisin's Broken Earth series which was frankly, spectacular.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is one of the coolest books I've ever read.
It's so unique and innovative. The way Jemisin personified each borough of NYC was brilliant. The writing is descriptive and the world building is excellent, bringing each borough and character to life in this metaphor for gentrification. Each avatar had a separate and distinct voice from one another, and it's hard to choose a favorite (although the least favorite is obvious 😂 IYKYK).
Although I've never lived in the city, it's just a train ride away, so I'm sure it helps having experience with NYC and understanding the references. But if you've never been here, you can still enjoy the book for sure. The connections to the city are just a bonus for us New Yorkers.
This was just so damn cool and N.K. Jemisin is a genius and I need to get my hands on book two immediately.
It's so unique and innovative. The way Jemisin personified each borough of NYC was brilliant. The writing is descriptive and the world building is excellent, bringing each borough and character to life in this metaphor for gentrification. Each avatar had a separate and distinct voice from one another, and it's hard to choose a favorite (although the least favorite is obvious 😂 IYKYK).
Although I've never lived in the city, it's just a train ride away, so I'm sure it helps having experience with NYC and understanding the references. But if you've never been here, you can still enjoy the book for sure. The connections to the city are just a bonus for us New Yorkers.
This was just so damn cool and N.K. Jemisin is a genius and I need to get my hands on book two immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Cursing, and Homophobia
heini's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Suomennos oli hämmentävä. Ehkä ne ovat tyylikeinoja tai en vain ymmärtänyt, mutta lukukokemusta haittaa, kun jatkuvasti ilmaisut särähtävät korvaan. Puhutaan jonkun ensimmäisestä rodeosta; henkilö, jota alkuperäisteoksessa kuvaillaan ja nimitetään sanoilla 'strawberry blond man-bun' suomennetaan mansikanvaaleaksi hipster sämpyläksi; yleinen kirosana on paskapökäle ja joku on hullumpi kuin lepakonpaska (batshit crazy?).
Itse kirjasta: Seuraamme New York Cityn kaupunginosien ihmisavatareja, jotka ilmentävät suurkaupungin monimuotoisuutta.
Hahmot olivat mukavan ristiriitaisia ja oli mielenkiintoista, kuinka välillä ihmisen kauheista piirteistä tuli ominaisia ja "hyödyllisiä", osa tarvittavaa kokonaisuutta.
Tarina oli värikkäiden kertojiensa vuoksi hauska ja myös sivuhenkilöt olivat huippuja,
Valkoinen ja kirkkaus oli pahuuden ilmikuva, mikä on tietysti myös käänteinen kerrontaperinteen musta/pimeys=paha logiikalle, jota on ihonväriinkin sovellettu.
Kirjan yksi ydinkuvaus on, kuinka ennakkoluulot ja oletukset tuhoavat meitä (yksilöitä, yhteisöjä, yhteiskuntia) sisältä päin ja vain ruokkivat yhteisiä vihollisiamme.
Pelko, että ihmisyys tuhotaan kosmisessa maailmojen sodassa / pelko, joka syntyy kaikesta siitä "normaalista" tai normaaliksi hyväksystä (kauheista ja epämukavista asioista), jota arkemme ihmisinä ihmisten keskellä on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexism, Police brutality, Body horror, Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Rape, Addiction, and Abortion
Spiders or spider-like creatureskayberlyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
takarakei's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
First of all - I read this in combination with the audiobook - which is FANTASTIC! Absolutely phenomenal narration AND sound design/effects, it was almost like listening to a graphic audio dramatized version! So I can't recommend the audiobook enough (especially if you are someone who listens to SFF audio). Although I will note it was helpful to be reading along at parts due to the effects.
Now could I explain the dynamics of all that happens in this book? Absolutely not, it's one of those books where you just have to accept the concepts that are being presented to you without a lot of questioning. I mean, people becoming the embodiment of cities? weird concept. You just gotta go with it! Along the way you'll get discussions of race, art, and what it means to "belong" to a place.
If you're a NYC area person I def think this is an interesting read! Very NYC-prideful. I personally am NOT from NYC or know all that much about it, so I couldn't pick up on if there were any inaccuracies in any way, but Jemisin has lived there for a long time and did a lot of research so I trust that she got it right. I really enjoyed all the little history bits of information thrown in about the city.
There's no one out there really writing SFF like Jemisin, and I am very excited to continue with this series.
Now could I explain the dynamics of all that happens in this book? Absolutely not, it's one of those books where you just have to accept the concepts that are being presented to you without a lot of questioning. I mean, people becoming the embodiment of cities? weird concept. You just gotta go with it! Along the way you'll get discussions of race, art, and what it means to "belong" to a place.
If you're a NYC area person I def think this is an interesting read! Very NYC-prideful. I personally am NOT from NYC or know all that much about it, so I couldn't pick up on if there were any inaccuracies in any way, but Jemisin has lived there for a long time and did a lot of research so I trust that she got it right. I really enjoyed all the little history bits of information thrown in about the city.
There's no one out there really writing SFF like Jemisin, and I am very excited to continue with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Misogyny, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Colonisation, Abortion, and Police brutality