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mklmy's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, and Police brutality
dannythestreet's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cursing and Racism
anindistinctaccountant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Car accident, Classism, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, and Cultural appropriation
bookishpriest's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An interesting dip into ideas about the lives of cities, if a very familiar path to follow for a short while.
Graphic: Cursing and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
jakepasseri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
rachel_here's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Here we follow Coda (though he remains nameless in The City Born Great), a homeless young adult awakening as the avatar of New York City. Like any living creatures, great cities must be born once they are ready to, or die trying. The avatar must learn to listen to the city and help it blossom in the face of creatures who want to kill new life as soon as it emerges.
The concept of this short story is pretty interesting and makes for a solid premise for a urban fantasy series, while also tackling themes of racism among others. Having found the rest of The City We Became a bit dull when it came to character voice, I was glad that The City Born Great / the prologue gave Coda a lot of personality which bled through his narration. I had troubles picturing the fight scenes or really following the action though; but Coda's artistic soul and his drive to live, rather than merely survive, made him an interesting character to see the city of New York through.
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
anouks_books's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and Racism