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takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
In the author's note N.K. Jemisin wrote that she had a hard time finishing this series (and switched it from a trilogy into a duology) because the things she wrote about in book 1 became reality. I can totally understand losing motivation, and indeed it was eerie to read about - it really did not seem like fiction.
Unfortunately the struggle was felt while reading. The pace of the book was a bit slow - not a lot happening from each character's pov until towards the end. It felt a little meander-y and I wasn't super engaged overall. The political storyline in particular I did not find super compelling. I did really enjoy the 'interruption' chapters that visited the other cities & really emphasizing just how young the US (and NYC) is. I found the ending to be a bit too tidy also. I really loved the first book, so it's a shame this one didn't quite meet that high bar.
These remain fantastic audiobooks, they really are almost like graphic audios with sound fx! If you're going to read this series and enjoy audiobooks I highly recommend those.
Unfortunately the struggle was felt while reading. The pace of the book was a bit slow - not a lot happening from each character's pov until towards the end. It felt a little meander-y and I wasn't super engaged overall. The political storyline in particular I did not find super compelling. I did really enjoy the 'interruption' chapters that visited the other cities & really emphasizing just how young the US (and NYC) is. I found the ending to be a bit too tidy also. I really loved the first book, so it's a shame this one didn't quite meet that high bar.
These remain fantastic audiobooks, they really are almost like graphic audios with sound fx! If you're going to read this series and enjoy audiobooks I highly recommend those.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia, Gun violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Homophobia
rnbhargava's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
I really loved this sequel. My minor issue with it is that some aspects of it just kind of end a bit conveniently. Some parts, that’s amusing. Others, it felt like a slightly hastened storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Car accident, Misogyny, Classism, Confinement, Deadnaming, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
There are scenes where cities are put at risk en masse. There’s examples of characters that are clearly analogous to far right, kind of racist, supposedly religion based politicians. The idea of the soul of a city, the distinct things that give them personality is a big theme in this. The avatars are emblematic in the best ways possible. I overall love this duology. Frankly, I kind of hope Jemisin still makes it into a trilogy one day.quarkie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Gosh, reading this book reminded me why the previous one was also a 5 star read. Jemisin's writing is pure poetry. It has this amazing lyrical flow to it, such that it is easy to get lost in. I read this book in 2 days. It was amazing.
What I liked: Each character has such a strong point of view, and is so multi-dimensional. They feel so effortlessly real. Jemisin puts them in so many (terrible, awful, amazing, beautiful, human) true-to-life situations, and they respond in a way that feels both real and true to their characters. I feel like I know each character - not that I know a specific individual that is just like them, but they serve as true avatars of not only their boroughs but for their populations. So many of the thought processes and comments that characters make are so relatable, and I see them played out daily. Nothing in the book "just happens" - everything has a cause as well as an effect. The storylines are tight and pacing is great. And I just can't get over how beautifully written it was.
What I didn't like: I think my only complaint was that while some of the pop and political cultural references feel fresh now (in 2024), but I'm not sure how well some of them will age.
Concepts that will stick with me: In a way, this book personifies racism, xenophobia, and gentrification by turning it into a singular entity that can be taken on and beaten. This is a comforting thought. It explores the concept of "personality gentrification", or as I came to think of it, gentrification of the soul. It also deals with what happens what the gentrifier meets with gentrification. It also shows how someone can be seen as "nice" by one set of people (and actually be genuinely nice to them), but also participate in oppressive structures that hurt everyone, including the people they are nice to. It's a haunting exploration of the fragility of xenophobes (especially the well-meaning ones), and the mental and emotional work people have to put in to deal with that.
What I liked: Each character has such a strong point of view, and is so multi-dimensional. They feel so effortlessly real. Jemisin puts them in so many (terrible, awful, amazing, beautiful, human) true-to-life situations, and they respond in a way that feels both real and true to their characters. I feel like I know each character - not that I know a specific individual that is just like them, but they serve as true avatars of not only their boroughs but for their populations. So many of the thought processes and comments that characters make are so relatable, and I see them played out daily. Nothing in the book "just happens" - everything has a cause as well as an effect. The storylines are tight and pacing is great. And I just can't get over how beautifully written it was.
What I didn't like: I think my only complaint was that while some of the pop and political cultural references feel fresh now (in 2024), but I'm not sure how well some of them will age.
Concepts that will stick with me: In a way, this book personifies racism, xenophobia, and gentrification by turning it into a singular entity that can be taken on and beaten. This is a comforting thought. It explores the concept of "personality gentrification", or as I came to think of it, gentrification of the soul. It also deals with what happens what the gentrifier meets with gentrification. It also shows how someone can be seen as "nice" by one set of people (and actually be genuinely nice to them), but also participate in oppressive structures that hurt everyone, including the people they are nice to. It's a haunting exploration of the fragility of xenophobes (especially the well-meaning ones), and the mental and emotional work people have to put in to deal with that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation and Cursing
Moderate: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Transphobia, Colonisation, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death
beccaand's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Gun violence, Transphobia, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Body horror
Moderate: Police brutality
kirstenf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Racism, Death, Classism, Violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
jaan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This isn’t Jemisin’s best work. I agree with a lot of other criticisms I’ve seen people level at it—the dropped plot threads, the sameness of each chapter’s narrative structure, the sometimes-colonialist mindset the author can slip into (I had to work to like Padmini. I think Jemisin got immigrant narratives all wrong.), the fact that her antagonist isn’t actually clear and is often self-contradicting, the sometimes unpolished/juvenile writing, etc.
But! Jemisin has nothing left to prove, at least for me—Broken Earth is masterful. She is a brilliant and gifted storyteller, and I’m happy she cares enough about her stories to make sure that, when push comes to shove, she tells them. At the end of the day, The World We Make goes by fast and is incredibly indulgent, and I enjoyed reading it.
But! Jemisin has nothing left to prove, at least for me—Broken Earth is masterful. She is a brilliant and gifted storyteller, and I’m happy she cares enough about her stories to make sure that, when push comes to shove, she tells them. At the end of the day, The World We Make goes by fast and is incredibly indulgent, and I enjoyed reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
rainbowyeticorn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is the third book of the series. The first is a short story, which the following two books including this one being full length novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Confinement, and Bullying
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Colonisation, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Ableism
I really loved this series so much. The narrator does such a fabulous job bringing all the characters to life. I highly recommend reading the audiobook version over the print version or maybe reading and listening to both at the same time because in my opinion this is the best way to experience this fabulous book!therainbowshelf's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.75
A super fun conclusion to this epic story! I'll miss meeting all of the city avatars and watching New York fight an otherworldly entity that weaponizes hate, political unrest, and corporate stores. I feel like I wanted a little more from the ending than this whole Digimon-esque wrapup, but was not deebly disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Transphobia, Gun violence, Deportation, Xenophobia, and Classism
a_kt's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this book builds on a lot of what made the first book so unique and interesting. It expands on the "rules" and worldbuilding of the original while also keeping things mysterious and tense. I really liked the inclusion of other cities as characters as well, even though we only got short snippets of them.
Like many other reviewers on here I did find the ending of this book to be somewhat anticlimactic, and I really wish this series was going to be a trilogy as originally planned. However, after reading the Acknowledgements at the end I understood why Jemisin felt such burnout on this series and decided to make this end instead. I really love the premise of these books, and Jemisin's writing is top notch (as usual), I can only hope that we get a spin off or some type of sequel at some point in the future, although I will be happy to read whatever she feels like publishing.
If you read and enjoyed the first in the series, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go. If you were on the fence about the first one, you can probably skip this sequel but you would be missing out in my humble opinion.
Like many other reviewers on here I did find the ending of this book to be somewhat anticlimactic, and I really wish this series was going to be a trilogy as originally planned. However, after reading the Acknowledgements at the end I understood why Jemisin felt such burnout on this series and decided to make this end instead. I really love the premise of these books, and Jemisin's writing is top notch (as usual), I can only hope that we get a spin off or some type of sequel at some point in the future, although I will be happy to read whatever she feels like publishing.
If you read and enjoyed the first in the series, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go. If you were on the fence about the first one, you can probably skip this sequel but you would be missing out in my humble opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Body horror and Police brutality
lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have to say that I didn't quite like this as much as The City We Became, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I feel like the villains got off a little too easy. And in a real world full of injustice, it would be nice to see justice served in fiction, but that is my moral code speaking. Aislyn is not likable in the first book and doesn't improve much here (which makes her an interesting character, but a bit harder to root for). This book felt lighter than the first one in content and action. My main complaint is I wanted more of the characters interacting. They are fun together! Things felt like they could have been fleshed out more. I really enjoyed seeing the other cities and the interesting revelation about Manny's family back in Chicago. It's such a fascinating conceit to have avatars for cities. If by some chance you have read this series, but not Jemisin's How Long 'Til Black Future Month?, the first story in that collection (which is excellent) is a prologue to this duology, where we see NYC being born. Well worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Gun violence, and Classism