Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

113 reviews

zombiezami's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Ableism, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Abortion

eve_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

 Overall Thoughts:
⁕ Like a lot of her other books, you don’t really understand what’s going on at first. Jemisin slowly feeds you info and keeps you hooked on the mystery of it.

⁕ It seems like SO much research went into this book in regards to the Burroughs of NYC and their distinct cultures and institutions. It was such an interesting read from the perspective of someone who’s never been there.

⁕ Jemisin flawlessly stitches together multiple perspectives in the third person; which is super impressive on its own, but even more so given the complex topics discussed and the varying identities of her characters.

⁕ A lot of the magic/superpower elements in this book are based in metaphysical and conceptual realms. It’s probably just cuz I’m new to Sci-Fi, but I had trouble envisioning these things sometimes.

To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online
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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Police brutality

Additional Content Warnings: white supremacy, gentrification,

katie_the_librarian's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Murder

Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Slavery, Xenophobia, Police brutality, and Islamophobia

nullandvoidlibrary's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

I really liked most the characters and their characterizations, I loved how alive the writing felt, and the concept is really cool that felt very fleshed out. There was an element of the story that could have gone a certain way that I think (at least in my experience) is common for stories that have this element, but I was really surprised and delighted to see this book do the opposite. The first thing I thought when I finished this book was that I need more now, and I will eagerly await the sequel.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Alcoholism

malloryfitz's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Abortion

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Police brutality

anactualcat's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Transphobia and Antisemitism

lisacanteven's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book is a couple of things that I have had trouble finding in a book: unique and abstract. I loved the plot of this book and the use of personification. As unique as it was, I never had trouble understanding. Jeminison writes so beautifully and clearly. I have lined up some of her other books to read this year.

The only reason I took off a star is because the pacing seemed a bit off. For 3/4 of the book they are going in circles and having the same conversations over and over for pages and pages at a time. It felt very slow and very redundant. The last 1/4 of the book was a punch in the gut and a great setup for sequels.

I finished the last 50 pages on audio because I was just struggling to keep going. It was very enjoyable on audio, and if I ever reread for the sequels I will do so on audio. The audiobook is a production and more than a reading. I definitely recommend the audio. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicide, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

librarianmage's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you N.K. Jemisin for this at-times-painful-yet-ultimately-cathartic ride.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Racism

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, and Police brutality

Minor: Sexual assault and Islamophobia

kenchingfox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

leannj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Amazing. Showstopping. Wonderful. Highly recommend the audiobook, because while there was like one choice the narrator made that I disagreed with, the sheer production quality of the audiobook was impeccable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Alcoholism and Emotional abuse