This was one of the weirdest strangest, and yet most fascinating books I’ve ever read, I think. The premise of these city avatars and re birthing of New York as they fight off this weird extra dimensional Enemy is so weird and so interesting.

 the only qualms I have with this book is that 1) the pacing is off. I feel like there were parts where Jemisin lingered too much into the whole, reminiscing of how awesome New York is and then every other important plot point, like the fight scenes, and the encounters with the enemy, feel a little too rushed, especially at the end . I also think 2) that there were some lines that were a little too corny that it took me out of the story entirely because of how ridiculous it was, but that’s just personal taste. also 3) the whole twist with Veneza at the end makes no sense!

and I am so confused as to how she went from this avatar Ally with the same role as Madison and the checker cab, to suddenly: Oh she is now an honorary avatar and honorary borough of NYC as Jersey City right when Staten Island doesn’t want to cooperate like what??

  the conclusion is logical, but there was little to no build up to it, so it’s just threw me off entirely, and I really wish that that premise was built more earlier. 

Overall, it’s not quite a four-star book but it’s definitely way better than 3/3.5  and I am very excited about the fact it’s a trilogy because I will definitely be reading the sequel . And I think this is a great book for those who want to get into fantasy but are intimidated by the whole “building a whole New World in your head as you also follow the plot “aspect of fantasy  reading. 

I love the concept of this book, that cities have souls, avatars that protect them, that are them. It's something I've never read before. 
I loved the avatars of New York. They were all well-written and brought their own issues and world views to the table. It was interesting to read all their different ideas and approaches to finding themselves as the chosen ones. They needed a while to figure things out and work together, but in the end they did it because New York is their home and they will fight for it. I also enjoyed the other city avatars and I'm excited to see, who else we'll get to know in the next book in this series.
The Woman in White was a great villain. The way she used the hate people already have in them and oppressing structures that are in our world, to manipulate people and get what she wants, makes her really effective and realistic. It really drove home the points of the book.

If there was ever a love letter to NYC in novel form, The City We Became is it! I think N.K. Jemisin really nailed it in the head with this book. I can't explain in great length the absolute glee I experienced while reading this book because the FDR Drive was a major setting in this novel and I grew up living right next to it!! That's the representation I never knew I needed until I had it. I felt a surge of New York pride after reading this book :) You nailed it, Jemisin!! 

I LOOOOOOOVED the symbolism carefully interwoven in The City We Became. There are these horrific monstrous creatures popping up all over New York City taking the form of mega cops (YUCK!!!! CAN YOU LITERALLY IMAGINE ANYTHING WORSE), Karen's, and greedy, lifeless corporations taking over NYC's food, music and art culture. And the way that the city's chosen avatars fight back? Through the personification of what makes each of their boroughs so unique. I thought it was so spot on and I can't wait to see more of that in the sequel. 

If you watched The Eternals (the Marvel movie) and loved it, then definitely read this book. There are some similarities between the two, but not so much that you feel like you've already "seen" this story before. Just keep in mind that the chapters are really long (30-40 pages minimally) and that this book is book one of a completed duology and not a trilogy like my (and probably yours) copy claims. I think that if the chapters were just a little shorter and this book featured faster pacing for the plot, then it would've been an easy 5 star read. Nonetheless, it was really good as is and I'd absolutely recommend to all (but especially New Yorkers!!!). 

I'm definitely already biased towards N.K. Jemisin, but this was a fantastic work of urban fantasy and speculative fiction. I believe the first chapter of this book was first published in her book of short stories (or it was revealed to me in a dream, because somehow I recognized it) but the full experience was incredible and so well written. This is one of those books that starts with a concept that makes you groan a little at how corny it might be, but then turns out to be incredibly clever in ways that keep making you stop and reconsider. Or hits you with the magic and scaling system that just click into place so perfectly it's like okay, every new development just makes SENSE. Thank you, I'll have another.