alanathehangry's review against another edition
5.0
N.K. Jemisin does it again. She landed herself as one of my favorite authors just from reading her Broken Earth series. The way she writes a story is so unique, crass, and served in your face. But also subtly, palm to palm.
This book is a love letter to New York City. It truly, truly is. I felt that as soon as I read the first few pages. Jemisin pours her love, hatred, and experience into this book, and from it, we get the unlike-any-other-place feel of New York.
The concept itself is such a creative idea. Not just the boroughs of New York, but how cities come to be, how they come alive. I loved the different powers of the boroughs too, and how they fit with what the borough embodies. I know this is vague, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers.
This book also reveals how important diversity is, how corporations are ruining mom and pop stores, and how racism is systemic. It doesn't do it in a preachy way, but it's there, living in the words on the pages as the characters try to figure out what the crap is going on.
This book is a wonderful clash of New York and sci-fi. It made me miss New York so much, living there, struggling there, being in it. New Yorkers will love this book, SFF fans will love this book. And if you're both, boy, you're in for a treat.
And now I have a book hangover about it.
This book is a love letter to New York City. It truly, truly is. I felt that as soon as I read the first few pages. Jemisin pours her love, hatred, and experience into this book, and from it, we get the unlike-any-other-place feel of New York.
The concept itself is such a creative idea. Not just the boroughs of New York, but how cities come to be, how they come alive. I loved the different powers of the boroughs too, and how they fit with what the borough embodies. I know this is vague, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers.
This book also reveals how important diversity is, how corporations are ruining mom and pop stores, and how racism is systemic. It doesn't do it in a preachy way, but it's there, living in the words on the pages as the characters try to figure out what the crap is going on.
This book is a wonderful clash of New York and sci-fi. It made me miss New York so much, living there, struggling there, being in it. New Yorkers will love this book, SFF fans will love this book. And if you're both, boy, you're in for a treat.
And now I have a book hangover about it.
ferris_mx's review against another edition
3.0
Saw that ending coming, I was going to ask related questions. 10/10 approve of handling SI. Overall though, this was definitely not my favorite Jemisin. A bit reductive, a bit boilerplate.
jonwesleyhuff's review against another edition
2.0
Oh, how this pains me. I've read quite a few books by Jemisin. And I'll readily admit I hold her to a higher standard when it comes to books. But I have to be honest, I REALLY struggled getting through this book. It was only because of a fairly good ending that I felt comfortable giving this two stars, because I was very close to giving it 1 star. If this had been by another author I would have given up halfway through. I believe this is a great idea in search of a better book. I can't help but feel like if this had just been left in the oven a little longer it could have worked better.
But what we have just did not work for me on many levels. For one thing, you really have to believe in the "legend" of NYC for this to work. I have not been to NYC. I'd love to go at some point. I just haven't had the chance. But I have spent my whole life being told how great it is in movies, TV, books, and music. Sometimes I'm swept away by this. But here? I literally rolled my eyes sometimes. And I think the key difference here is we are not really SHOWN why NYC is great. We are told it is. Again and again and again.
It's kind of hard to fathom how Jemisin, who I'd say is up there with the greatest world builders in fiction, created this if I'm honest. Look, some of this may just be me not connecting with the material. It happens. But I entered this book with SUCH good will and wanting to love it and the characters based on my past experiences. But all subtlety is lost here. I see other reviewers have accused the book of being didactic. I don't know. I can't begrudge the directness of some of the things in here. Sometimes, as a writer, I think you just want to speak plain. Especially about important things. Unlike the other books I've read by the author, this doesn't take place on some far-flung world. It's here and now, and I think it could be argued that a certain amount of directness is needed.
That being said... I just think there are some core writing issues here. Issues that maybe I wouldn't have noticed if all these other factors weren't at play. But I did. I was not swept along. I was just annoyed that at least half of the book is taken up by different characters confronting the same thing. There is some variation, sure. But it felt very repetitive. It's one of those instances where you suspect the author thinks the idea they're playing with is more novel or interesting than it really is. And there is SO much explaining. And things are explained again. And again. I just wanted to yell at the book "YES, I GET IT MOVE ON!"
I think this book would have been a great 6-book comic book series. Or a tightly-cut pilot for a TV show. As a book, it's the equivalent of watching a slow-moving Netflix series where it takes all season to finally get going in the last episode. And the stuff getting there just wasn't involving enough to warrant that approach.
Jemisin is a great writer. One of my favorites. So if this is your first exposure to her work, don't be put off. Every writer has their misses. And, for me at least, this was one of hers.
But what we have just did not work for me on many levels. For one thing, you really have to believe in the "legend" of NYC for this to work. I have not been to NYC. I'd love to go at some point. I just haven't had the chance. But I have spent my whole life being told how great it is in movies, TV, books, and music. Sometimes I'm swept away by this. But here? I literally rolled my eyes sometimes. And I think the key difference here is we are not really SHOWN why NYC is great. We are told it is. Again and again and again.
It's kind of hard to fathom how Jemisin, who I'd say is up there with the greatest world builders in fiction, created this if I'm honest. Look, some of this may just be me not connecting with the material. It happens. But I entered this book with SUCH good will and wanting to love it and the characters based on my past experiences. But all subtlety is lost here. I see other reviewers have accused the book of being didactic. I don't know. I can't begrudge the directness of some of the things in here. Sometimes, as a writer, I think you just want to speak plain. Especially about important things. Unlike the other books I've read by the author, this doesn't take place on some far-flung world. It's here and now, and I think it could be argued that a certain amount of directness is needed.
That being said... I just think there are some core writing issues here. Issues that maybe I wouldn't have noticed if all these other factors weren't at play. But I did. I was not swept along. I was just annoyed that at least half of the book is taken up by different characters confronting the same thing. There is some variation, sure. But it felt very repetitive. It's one of those instances where you suspect the author thinks the idea they're playing with is more novel or interesting than it really is. And there is SO much explaining. And things are explained again. And again. I just wanted to yell at the book "YES, I GET IT MOVE ON!"
I think this book would have been a great 6-book comic book series. Or a tightly-cut pilot for a TV show. As a book, it's the equivalent of watching a slow-moving Netflix series where it takes all season to finally get going in the last episode. And the stuff getting there just wasn't involving enough to warrant that approach.
Jemisin is a great writer. One of my favorites. So if this is your first exposure to her work, don't be put off. Every writer has their misses. And, for me at least, this was one of hers.
guerra_sio's review against another edition
4.0
New York is alive. Quite literally. But when the primary avatar is weakened in a fight against the Enemy during birth, the five boroughs rally together to find him and stop an inter-universal war
thatsoneforthebooks's review against another edition
5.0
I admittedly struggled through the first 50-70 pages, but this is such a beautiful love letter to New York, and to cities more broadly.
filliefanatic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
very cool concept, and well-executed! will i continue? probs not, but still worth the read
leweylibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
I'm not always the biggest Sci-fi fan, usually more of a fantasy girlie, but gosh this was so good. I highlighted so many parts, loved the super diverse characters and the thought put into them, and just the entire concept overall 👏 I feel like it was giving Sense 8 meets Good Omens meets multiverse of madness? Love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Body horror, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, War, and Sexism
judifernes's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? N/A
4.0