kirstenf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Racism, Death, Classism, Violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
bookiecharm's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Police brutality, Racism, Transphobia, Classism, and Violence
rainbowyeticorn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is the third book of the series. The first is a short story, which the following two books including this one being full length novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Confinement, and Bullying
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Colonisation, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Ableism
I really loved this series so much. The narrator does such a fabulous job bringing all the characters to life. I highly recommend reading the audiobook version over the print version or maybe reading and listening to both at the same time because in my opinion this is the best way to experience this fabulous book!therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
A super fun conclusion to this epic story! I'll miss meeting all of the city avatars and watching New York fight an otherworldly entity that weaponizes hate, political unrest, and corporate stores. I feel like I wanted a little more from the ending than this whole Digimon-esque wrapup, but was not deebly disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Transphobia, Gun violence, Deportation, Xenophobia, and Classism
a_kt's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this book builds on a lot of what made the first book so unique and interesting. It expands on the "rules" and worldbuilding of the original while also keeping things mysterious and tense. I really liked the inclusion of other cities as characters as well, even though we only got short snippets of them.
Like many other reviewers on here I did find the ending of this book to be somewhat anticlimactic, and I really wish this series was going to be a trilogy as originally planned. However, after reading the Acknowledgements at the end I understood why Jemisin felt such burnout on this series and decided to make this end instead. I really love the premise of these books, and Jemisin's writing is top notch (as usual), I can only hope that we get a spin off or some type of sequel at some point in the future, although I will be happy to read whatever she feels like publishing.
If you read and enjoyed the first in the series, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go. If you were on the fence about the first one, you can probably skip this sequel but you would be missing out in my humble opinion.
Like many other reviewers on here I did find the ending of this book to be somewhat anticlimactic, and I really wish this series was going to be a trilogy as originally planned. However, after reading the Acknowledgements at the end I understood why Jemisin felt such burnout on this series and decided to make this end instead. I really love the premise of these books, and Jemisin's writing is top notch (as usual), I can only hope that we get a spin off or some type of sequel at some point in the future, although I will be happy to read whatever she feels like publishing.
If you read and enjoyed the first in the series, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go. If you were on the fence about the first one, you can probably skip this sequel but you would be missing out in my humble opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Body horror and Police brutality
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
okay, wow. Didn't think this series could get any better, but yeah. I loved this so much.
Also, Manny's family KNEW about Cities?? AAAHHH.
Spoiler
You can't just bring up BEYONCE and then not address that again?? Or was I reading too fast and missed it?Also, Manny's family KNEW about Cities?? AAAHHH.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Deportation, and Police brutality
Minor: Death
debhawk84's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
What a sequel!!! I know Norah fought tooth and nail to get to the end of this one and had originally planned for it to be a trilogy, but a duology works for me! There was so much more action and tension that I couldn't put the book down! And I loved seeing so many other cities' personalities. This was a really cool idea. I'm glad it worked so well!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Police brutality, Racism, and Xenophobia
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
5.0
I am absolutely baffled to know that this book was a rush job, Jemisin deciding to turn it into a duology instead of a trilogy, because holy shit, it was GOOD. The Great Cities duology reads like a love letter to NYC and it touches my heart as someone who grew up in Queens (and is also from India just like Padmini! Does that mean I could be an avatar of Queens? I would love to think so!), but the stakes were even higher in this book than the last that I flew straight through this book on my day off. So much happens, I just couldn't put it down!
While I was reading the physical copy, I also had the audiobook and Robin Miles does such a superb job that I listened to the audiobook AND read the physical hardcover at the same time. If you're a fan of a book with special effects and background noise and even the BOSS BATTLE MUSIC during action-packed scenes, go for the audiobook, for sure.
N.K. Jemisin's writing is absolute magic. This addresses a lot of topic Real Life Situations like deportation threats from ICE, white supremacy and racism built into systems such as real estate and policing, gentrification, even family dynamics that are rough to deal with like a bigoted father and an ultimatum-setting mother. While it was rough going reading through some of it, other aspects like the dialogue, and introductions to other city avatars were a delight to read. I mean, she even gives NYC subway rats dialogue: "We caused the Black Plague, bitch, who the fuck you think you are?"
Even if it seems like the second book was rushed (I couldn't tell but others could?) I highly recommend this duology if you love: amazing narration in audiobooks, NYC, found family tropes, QUEER found family even, stories featuring amazing middle-aged women, BIPOC stories, anything that gives a middle finger to racist ass Lovecraft.
While I was reading the physical copy, I also had the audiobook and Robin Miles does such a superb job that I listened to the audiobook AND read the physical hardcover at the same time. If you're a fan of a book with special effects and background noise and even the BOSS BATTLE MUSIC during action-packed scenes, go for the audiobook, for sure.
N.K. Jemisin's writing is absolute magic. This addresses a lot of topic Real Life Situations like deportation threats from ICE, white supremacy and racism built into systems such as real estate and policing, gentrification, even family dynamics that are rough to deal with like a bigoted father and an ultimatum-setting mother. While it was rough going reading through some of it, other aspects like the dialogue, and introductions to other city avatars were a delight to read. I mean, she even gives NYC subway rats dialogue: "We caused the Black Plague, bitch, who the fuck you think you are?"
Even if it seems like the second book was rushed (I couldn't tell but others could?) I highly recommend this duology if you love: amazing narration in audiobooks, NYC, found family tropes, QUEER found family even, stories featuring amazing middle-aged women, BIPOC stories, anything that gives a middle finger to racist ass Lovecraft.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gun violence, Deportation, Police brutality, and War
catapocalypse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
A good conclusion to the duology, though it does show that it was a bit rushed to its conclusion. Jemisin notes in her Acknowledgements that reality took the wind out of her sails by the end, which is very understandable. But being Jemisin, it's still good, and there's still a sense of the fun she had writing the first one.
Looking forward to what she does next, as ever!
Looking forward to what she does next, as ever!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Deportation and Police brutality
ethen_rey's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Genocide and War
Minor: Transphobia