3.24k reviews for:

The City & the City

China Miéville

3.9 AVERAGE

gailbird's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

lori85's review against another edition

3.0

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I was hoping for something similar to Michal Ajvaz's The Other City but was rather disappointed. The concept and story were interesting but the prose was very dry compared to Perdido Street Station, which I loved.

achro's review against another edition

3.75

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

bookblues's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

patrick_dale91's review against another edition

3.0

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A pretty good book, that essentially has an incredible setting but a pretty standard plot. The world that Mieville creates is nothing short of astinishing: two cities that split but occupy the same space. It sounds absolutely insane but Mieville displays great skill and control in delivering believability. It's essentially a murder mystery, apart from it's unclear whether the victim has been murdered in Beszel or Il-Qoma. The revelation of the cities occupying the same space comes slowly, and then over many pages is explained so believably. The brilliance and execution of this idea alone is worth the read itself. As said above, the murder mystery story is simple (perhaps this is needed in a relatively complex setting?) but it's very readable. 7/10

olavboi1003's review against another edition

3.75

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

apfaff1994's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

bowdaddy's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

abrahams's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

noreiller's review against another edition

4.5

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No