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kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
3.5
I wanted to like this novel more.
After all, what could be more fun than another Jemisin novel (especially after just completing her Broken Earth trilogy)? It has an original premise, unlike most any other fantasy I have read; it speaks powerful characters, rich in difference, all fairly realistic; it works not only Jemisin's natural dialogic rhythms, but also the credible and complex psychologies; more still, the antagonist of the novel comes straight from a 'legendary' source, theCthulhu mythos of Lovecraft , played on with Jemisin's declaratives on racial themes.
Perhaps it is because some of the writing here has fallen too predictably (if I were less forgiving, lazily) to genre formula. The 'cover-up' has a groan-worthy obvious name, the head-scratching innocent victims simply "cannot see" the evil, and the entire novel runs fairly close to a "gathering of the Fellowship" form: writing too heavily to the marketing of future books in the series rather than offering a satisfying story on its own.
A distracting read, at times entertaining, but I'm not certain I can read further on this series.
After all, what could be more fun than another Jemisin novel (especially after just completing her Broken Earth trilogy)? It has an original premise, unlike most any other fantasy I have read; it speaks powerful characters, rich in difference, all fairly realistic; it works not only Jemisin's natural dialogic rhythms, but also the credible and complex psychologies; more still, the antagonist of the novel comes straight from a 'legendary' source, the
Perhaps it is because some of the writing here has fallen too predictably (if I were less forgiving, lazily) to genre formula. The 'cover-up' has a groan-worthy obvious name, the head-scratching innocent victims simply "cannot see" the evil, and the entire novel runs fairly close to a "gathering of the Fellowship" form: writing too heavily to the marketing of future books in the series rather than offering a satisfying story on its own.
A distracting read, at times entertaining, but I'm not certain I can read further on this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Violence
blewballoon's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.0
I read this with a couple friends as a sort of impromptu mini book club. I would recommend it for a book club as there are a lot of interesting concepts in terms of the fantasy and social commentary. As one of my friends put it, this book definitely goes by the idea that "subtlety is for cowards" and most of the social commentary is completely overt. Our group was mixed in how much they liked how heavy handed it was. Some found it refreshing, others found it broke immersion in the story. One of the characters, to me, was especially unbearable and I would groan when I got to her chapters. The fantasy aspect of the human avatars of cities was amazing and I loved the concept of using constructs to channel their power.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Abortion
caspian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
nenatie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality
aryawolf's review against another edition
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Injury/Injury detail
voxelbee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
books_of_aly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Classism
go2hellstephanie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-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
5.0
Holy fucking shit. What a book. N.K. Jemisin may have just become my favorite author.
While I have visited New York many a time as a tourist, reading this story about the people who live and love there was amazing. The way Jemisin can world build a real city is just a testament to her skill. I was enthralled from the very first page, and during every errand I had to run, I just wanted to return back to this book.
Every character was unique and different and real, and I fell in love with the city and the city's avatars. Each one was more deep than the last and I loved a bit of all of them. I loved Manny's immediate love for the city he just arrived in and Bronca's begrudging care for everyone and Brooklyn's love of the music of the city and what makes New York New York and Padmini's love of math and eagerness to participate and help and even Aislyn's fear. I loved them all, and I am so, so glad that I picked this up (even as my ever growing TBR pile waits).
I am just truly in awe and I can't wait until the next part of this series.
While I have visited New York many a time as a tourist, reading this story about the people who live and love there was amazing. The way Jemisin can world build a real city is just a testament to her skill. I was enthralled from the very first page, and during every errand I had to run, I just wanted to return back to this book.
Every character was unique and different and real, and I fell in love with the city and the city's avatars. Each one was more deep than the last and I loved a bit of all of them. I loved Manny's immediate love for the city he just arrived in and Bronca's begrudging care for everyone and Brooklyn's love of the music of the city and what makes New York New York and Padmini's love of math and eagerness to participate and help and even Aislyn's fear. I loved them all, and I am so, so glad that I picked this up (even as my ever growing TBR pile waits).
I am just truly in awe and I can't wait until the next part of this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.0
The thing I loved the most about this incredibly original story was the way it was grounded in the gritty reality of New York, while building a phenomenal, elaborate fantasy world around it. I'm utterly intrigued by the story set up and can't wait to continue the trilogy. The idea that avatars of a newborn city are chosen based on their embodiment of that city's traits is wonderful to explore, and even better that New York's wildly different and multicultural boroughs are acknowledged as the city is split into separate avatars that must come together to face its threat. I felt a little bad for the rep Staten Island got though, at least at first!
The evil presence of the Woman in White is insidious and a great combination of creepy and hateful. But there is also a sympathy that underlies her actions, as you know she has experienced incredible loss somehow. I hope the process of a city's birth and the collateral damage surrounding it are explored in more detail in the rest of the series, as the lines of good and evil don't seem to be clear in this story and I'm sure more will come of it.
New York is one of my favourite places on earth, and the fact that it became the protagonists of this book just made it all the more enticing. And of course it made me desperate to go back there!
The evil presence of the Woman in White is insidious and a great combination of creepy and hateful. But there is also a sympathy that underlies her actions, as you know she has experienced incredible loss somehow. I hope the process of a city's birth and the collateral damage surrounding it are explored in more detail in the rest of the series, as the lines of good and evil don't seem to be clear in this story and I'm sure more will come of it.
New York is one of my favourite places on earth, and the fact that it became the protagonists of this book just made it all the more enticing. And of course it made me desperate to go back there!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Violence