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!!!).