Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - The World We Make

Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin

46 reviews

brynalexa's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Similar to the The City We Became in that it was slow to start even though I was invested in the characters. I was getting worried toward the end that it was going to end in a marvel-like battle scene at the end which it did not and took a lovely turn. Very interesting concept and world that was very well researched.

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elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.5

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beccaand's review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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

4.75

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leweylibrary's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny 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

4.75

I still think the first one was better, but this was such a solid 2nd book. My only complaint is that I wish there had been more character development with all of the characters rather than the focus on just a few. I especially wanted more about Neek and Manny since they clearly were being set up to be in a closer relationship. I just didn't really feel like it made sense for them to based on what we did see from them. But it was cool seeing a lot of the other ones really start to come into their full selves and use their citiness to their advantage or at least for us to see how it affects and plays into their lives.

Regardless, all of the great themes from the first book continued just with the added ones of a populist POS candidate running for office and more involvement from other city avatars. I like the overall message that things that bind a place and its people together, even things as seemingly small as a song or a concept or construct, can defeat evil.

I'm not totally sure how I feel about the ending, so I might change my rating based on that later when I've had time to think about it. On one hand, how quick and dismissive it was made me laugh, especially in a sci-fi book with such high stakes lol but another part of me thinks that's an unsatisfying ending to a duology? Idk lol

Lastly

Manny better stay in Manhattan dang it because I don't want one of Chicago's avatars being someone who doesn't even want to be here and who sees Chicago as the second choice to New York 🙃

Especially since I felt like I identified so much with Manny in that he fell in love with the city he was new to so quickly.

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gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

4.0

This was very fun and well paced. Really loved listening to the audiobook version because the narrator breaths a lot of life into the unique voices of each POV.

I get that a lot may have changed for the original plan for this sequel because of the pandemic and politics IRL, but I’m glad we got the book at all. I also liked the interview in my version of the book with the author about how COVID influenced the writing of the books, as well as it’s contents.

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blewballoon's review against another edition

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dark funny 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

3.5

I may revisit this rating. As I said for the first book in the series, the writing and plot often follow the rule of "subtlety is for cowards" which both works and doesn't for me. Like the author's note at the end mentions, the unfortunate events in reality make the book more painful to read even though I think this sequel overall had more hopefulness (that sometimes feels like alternate reality wish fulfillment) than the first.

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