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woodedbooks's review against another edition
I had high hopes for this book as I had been recommended it and have heard great things about the author. It felt too cliche and whilst I enjoyed the writing, the plot didn’t compel me to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
5 ⭐ CW: violence, substance use, homelessness, xenophobia, racism, homophobia, sexual assault
"Don't sleep on the city that never sleeps, son, and don't f*cking bring your squamous eldritch bullshit here."
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin is book one in the Great Cities series. As with everything I've read by Jemisin, this blew me away. Jemisin is an expert worldbuilder, and the fact that she worldbuilt on top of our existing world only serves as another added layer to the story, and there are many layers to this book.
Jemisin imagines a world where cities that are large enough and old enough eventually become sentient and are "born" into the world through the use of human avatars that are literally the embodiment of that city. We focus on the birth of New York City, but something goes wrong with the birth, and the avatar is badly weakened against an interdimemsional eldritch horror of a parasite.
New York is different from other cities. Instead of just one avatar, New York has five, one for each borough: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Jemisin has used stereotypes as foundations for each borough's personality, but she reminds us "Lesson one of New York: what people think about us isn't what we really are," and in that way also subverts the stereotypes.
Remember that Eldritch Horror? Or as one of the characters says, squigglebitch. The parasite is also sentient and has taken human form in order to better infect the city to prevent a successful birth. Squigglebitch could be seen as an allegory for gentrification or white feminism.
I honestly could go on about every aspect and detail of this book, it was so incredible. Layers Upon layers of meaning and themes. We also have great diversity among the representatives of the boroughs, including Staten Island being a racist, xenophobic white girl too afraid to get on the ferry. Perhaps people actually from New York might take offense to the way they are portrayed or maybe connect with it?
I will for sure be reading the next book when I can get it in paperback.
"Don't sleep on the city that never sleeps, son, and don't f*cking bring your squamous eldritch bullshit here."
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin is book one in the Great Cities series. As with everything I've read by Jemisin, this blew me away. Jemisin is an expert worldbuilder, and the fact that she worldbuilt on top of our existing world only serves as another added layer to the story, and there are many layers to this book.
Jemisin imagines a world where cities that are large enough and old enough eventually become sentient and are "born" into the world through the use of human avatars that are literally the embodiment of that city. We focus on the birth of New York City, but something goes wrong with the birth, and the avatar is badly weakened against an interdimemsional eldritch horror of a parasite.
New York is different from other cities. Instead of just one avatar, New York has five, one for each borough: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Jemisin has used stereotypes as foundations for each borough's personality, but she reminds us "Lesson one of New York: what people think about us isn't what we really are," and in that way also subverts the stereotypes.
Remember that Eldritch Horror? Or as one of the characters says, squigglebitch. The parasite is also sentient and has taken human form in order to better infect the city to prevent a successful birth. Squigglebitch could be seen as an allegory for gentrification or white feminism.
I honestly could go on about every aspect and detail of this book, it was so incredible. Layers Upon layers of meaning and themes. We also have great diversity among the representatives of the boroughs, including Staten Island being a racist, xenophobic white girl too afraid to get on the ferry. Perhaps people actually from New York might take offense to the way they are portrayed or maybe connect with it?
I will for sure be reading the next book when I can get it in paperback.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Drug use, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Racism, and Homophobia
brianneh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Racism, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
grimmarray's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
Possibly one of the most interesting mixes of Lovecraftian horror and, to put it in simplest terms, identity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia and Body horror
Minor: Classism and Injury/Injury detail
sas_lk's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't have words. I want to be in N.K. Jemisin's brain. This novel is the definition of a masterpiece. There are literally no faults, this woman is incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, and Police brutality
eslsilver's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
immovabletype's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Abortion, Cancer, Colonisation, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Fatphobia, and Rape
jessalex610's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was one of the weirdest strangest, and yet most fascinating books I’ve ever read, I think. The premise of these city avatars and re birthing of New York as they fight off this weird extra dimensional Enemy is so weird and so interesting.
the only qualms I have with this book is that 1) the pacing is off. I feel like there were parts where Jemisin lingered too much into the whole, reminiscing of how awesome New York is and then every other important plot point, like the fight scenes, and the encounters with the enemy, feel a little too rushed, especially at the end . I also think 2) that there were some lines that were a little too corny that it took me out of the story entirely because of how ridiculous it was, but that’s just personal taste. also 3) the whole twist with Veneza at the end makes no sense!and I am so confused as to how she went from this avatar Ally with the same role as Madison and the checker cab, to suddenly: Oh she is now an honorary avatar and honorary borough of NYC as Jersey City right when Staten Island doesn’t want to cooperate like what?? the conclusion is logical, but there was little to no build up to it, so it’s just threw me off entirely, and I really wish that that premise was built more earlier.
Overall, it’s not quite a four-star book but it’s definitely way better than 3/3.5 and I am very excited about the fact it’s a trilogy because I will definitely be reading the sequel . And I think this is a great book for those who want to get into fantasy but are intimidated by the whole “building a whole New World in your head as you also follow the plot “aspect of fantasy reading.
the only qualms I have with this book is that 1) the pacing is off. I feel like there were parts where Jemisin lingered too much into the whole, reminiscing of how awesome New York is and then every other important plot point, like the fight scenes, and the encounters with the enemy, feel a little too rushed, especially at the end . I also think 2) that there were some lines that were a little too corny that it took me out of the story entirely because of how ridiculous it was, but that’s just personal taste. also 3) the whole twist with Veneza at the end makes no sense!
Overall, it’s not quite a four-star book but it’s definitely way better than 3/3.5 and I am very excited about the fact it’s a trilogy because I will definitely be reading the sequel . And I think this is a great book for those who want to get into fantasy but are intimidated by the whole “building a whole New World in your head as you also follow the plot “aspect of fantasy reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
fox_at_the_circus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I love the concept of this book, that cities have souls, avatars that protect them, that are them. It's something I've never read before.
I loved the avatars of New York. They were all well-written and brought their own issues and world views to the table. It was interesting to read all their different ideas and approaches to finding themselves as the chosen ones. They needed a while to figure things out and work together, but in the end they did it because New York is their home and they will fight for it. I also enjoyed the other city avatars and I'm excited to see, who else we'll get to know in the next book in this series.
The Woman in White was a great villain. The way she used the hate people already have in them and oppressing structures that are in our world, to manipulate people and get what she wants, makes her really effective and realistic. It really drove home the points of the book.
I loved the avatars of New York. They were all well-written and brought their own issues and world views to the table. It was interesting to read all their different ideas and approaches to finding themselves as the chosen ones. They needed a while to figure things out and work together, but in the end they did it because New York is their home and they will fight for it. I also enjoyed the other city avatars and I'm excited to see, who else we'll get to know in the next book in this series.
The Woman in White was a great villain. The way she used the hate people already have in them and oppressing structures that are in our world, to manipulate people and get what she wants, makes her really effective and realistic. It really drove home the points of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Xenophobia, and Violence
Minor: Police brutality, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse
ethen_rey's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Transphobia