Reviews with content warning for Hate crime - The City We Became

Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

44 reviews

akblair's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

There are aspects of this I really love but overall I feel like it tries to do too much- worth a read if you love NYC, though. Loses some points from me for sound effects and music in the audiobook- but if you’re in to that I suppose it’s well done.

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lilcoppertop's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

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therainbowshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

The avatars of New York and its boroughs find themselves awakened all at once. Yesterday, they weren't New York, just New Yorkers, and today they're facing an uncertain future, racism, gentrification, and an interdimensional being that wants them dead, all while figuring out how to be a city filled with millions of people. I absolutely loved this book, and it quickly slid onto my favorites list.

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entazis's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was fun, engaging, high on action and non-Euclidean weirdness ;)

Also, I listened to the audibook and the narrator Robin Miles did such a great job with vocal modulation, not to mention that the book has different audio effects which makes the production quite epic.

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swordsandsapphicsyay's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

5.0

N. K. Jemisin's imagination is unparalleled. The concept of having people become avatars of cities that are born, and otherworldly forces at work that want to stop this process from happening, is brilliant. The world-building and the characters are so well-developed. These people are unique and have their charming qualities and quirks, but they're also human beings that suddenly became boroughs of New York and they have flaws that they recognize as being there. Jemisin also brilliantly wove throughout the story core issues that attack the fundamentals of being a person that isn't privileged with being straight, white, male, etc. Racism, sexism, homophobia, white supremacy and colonialism, are just a few key issues that are prominent in these characters' navigation of both New Yorks. I wish I could say more but the scope and brilliance of this story just has me searching for words and coming up short, so just read this story to find out how amazing it is.

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sfbookgirl's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny informative 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

4.0

This is my first book by N.K. Jemisin and I can’t wait to add more of her books to my shelf. The City We Became is magical, hilarious, and a big love letter to New York City. In present-day NYC, each of the five boroughs is represented by an avatar, a real person. Together, they must come together to fight against a white, evil serpent creature threatening to tear their city apart.

The story is crazy, weird, and a bit confusing at times. I definitely recommend this book to more well-versed sci-fi and fantasy readers as it takes some patience to understand the world that Jemisin has built. Nevertheless, I had so much fun reading this book, and I think I would have really, REALLY enjoyed it if I was a New Yorker. (New York friends: Please read this book). Jemisin tackles many important issues like gentrification and racism with a modern sci-fi twist that will keep you simultaneously nodding *YES* and laughing your face off. Also, make sure to brush up on your knowledge of H. P. Lovecraft before delving into this one. Your efforts will be rewarded.

P.S. Hi Ms. Jemisin, can you write one about San Francisco next?

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny informative tense slow-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

4.25

This book was really inventive and interesting. I read the short story that formed the base of this novel, and I like the way it was expanded. I have never read a book with a Lenape character, and it is so important that one was included. This was beautifully diverse and funny overall.

It was also super intense. The white supremacist groups and individuals mobilized by the enemy hit very close to home. I also observe that the book was clearly in conversation with Lovecraft. The ending was

definitely a deus ex machina, but I still liked it. I just hope there isn’t a contingent trying to have a redemption arc for Aislyn but I mean cmon there probably is one isn’t there.

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