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skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
By the end of this book I really enjoyed it! For a while there it felt a little too slow and repetitive, and like I just didn't appreciate it enough because I don't know NYC at all. But it was definitely interesting and engaging overall and I'm glad I read it. I love the idea here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Genocide, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Colonisation
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 wasdefinitely 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.
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
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
keen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
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? Yes
2.5
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The concept of concepts being personified is something I'll always love and feel should be explored more often. This book was an adventure from the start to finish, and even made me feel for characters who you're supposed to dislike.
As for negatives: sometimes this book got a little too preachy. I will say, I think this may be because the characters of the books are more or less personified concepts, but I don't think that entirely fixes my issue. The issue being that it feels like each character has to preach to the audience about what is good or bad. How calling a woman a "bitch" is sexist, how cutting off a woman is sexist, that racism is bad, that cops are scary, etc. I'm a black trans-masc person and will always appreciate representation, but when the only transgender man in the book is brought in for a few pages, gives some speech about the transphobia he's faced (and later has a small panic that someone found out he's trans), it gets tiring. Sometimes I just want to read a book about diverse characters without needing to be reminded that the world at large hates you.
Secondly, which I can't go into as much detail with, it feels like character development wasn't that focused on in the book. The one who got the most development in my opinion was Staten Island, and unless the sequels expand more on her, she got done the dirtiest. This isn't helped by how sudden the ending is. Everything moves so fast. Conflict sky-rockets, we're thrown into the middle of it, a few pages later, it's over and everything is happy and nice. I suspect this is so the drama the next book brings hits hard, but currently? It's just unsatisfying. I believe a book in a series, or at least the first book of a series, should be strong on its own. It's not fun to read a story, get invested, then be thrown into a brick wall until the author's finishing painting the door, leading into the next story. At least slow me down a little?
As for negatives: sometimes this book got a little too preachy. I will say, I think this may be because the characters of the books are more or less personified concepts, but I don't think that entirely fixes my issue. The issue being that it feels like each character has to preach to the audience about what is good or bad. How calling a woman a "bitch" is sexist, how cutting off a woman is sexist, that racism is bad, that cops are scary, etc. I'm a black trans-masc person and will always appreciate representation, but when the only transgender man in the book is brought in for a few pages, gives some speech about the transphobia he's faced (and later has a small panic that someone found out he's trans), it gets tiring. Sometimes I just want to read a book about diverse characters without needing to be reminded that the world at large hates you.
Secondly, which I can't go into as much detail with, it feels like character development wasn't that focused on in the book. The one who got the most development in my opinion was Staten Island, and unless the sequels expand more on her, she got done the dirtiest. This isn't helped by how sudden the ending is. Everything moves so fast. Conflict sky-rockets, we're thrown into the middle of it, a few pages later, it's over and everything is happy and nice. I suspect this is so the drama the next book brings hits hard, but currently? It's just unsatisfying. I believe a book in a series, or at least the first book of a series, should be strong on its own. It's not fun to read a story, get invested, then be thrown into a brick wall until the author's finishing painting the door, leading into the next story. At least slow me down a little?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Addiction and Abortion
for_esme_with_love's review
adventurous
funny
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
4.5
I loved Jemisin's short story collection How Long 'Till Black Futures Month, and was so excited to hear that she expanded the first story into a full book! The City We Became follows the avatars of five different NYC boroughs as they attempt to combat an evil force that uses police, real estate, and neonazi groups to wage war against the city. Chock-full of insider New York jokes and cheeky symbolism, it is a exciting adventure that does not bother to disguise its larger commentary. At its heart, The City We Became is a love letter and a challenge to a vibrant, frustrating, magical city.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Car accident
sarahholliday's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Far and away the best book I've read this year. Jemisin is an absolute genius! This story is absolutely brimming with creativity, innovation, incisive commentary, and brilliant world building. I've never read anything like it.
Even if the plot doesn't sound like "your thing," I guarantee you this book is worth reading. I can't wait to see how Jemisin expands the story in future installments.
Even if the plot doesn't sound like "your thing," I guarantee you this book is worth reading. I can't wait to see how Jemisin expands the story in future installments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual violence
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