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A review by deidra_shadetreereads
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
2nd Read Update: 5 of 5 stars DAMN I already want to read this again. I need to know how this is gonna wrap up in a duology instead of a trilogy. I don't doubt Nora but I need to know. So much of this was prophetic in a way we couldn't have known in 2020. When I read this the 1st time, I had just gotten laid off and I'd only read The Fifth Season and a possible Emergency Skin. And let's be honest, my nose was already wide open. At this point, I've read everything but The Dreamblood Duology and the novella that's in the ebook edition of The Inheritance Trilogy bind up. All that to say my adoration of Jemisin's storytelling has only grown. Auto-preorder without question now and forevermore.
Another thing I gotta say is more than Aislyn got on my nerves this time. It's definitely because I know nothing about The Bronx but Bronca's hesitation irked my soul! And then Padmini's...idk...her sheepishness was aggy to my spirit as well. And I'm not sure if I could give y'all a favorite character now. Veneza is still at the tippy but Manny is giving major Scorpio energy and I like it.
UPDATED: had to go ahead with 5 stars. Had to!
Gaaaaah! This was so so so good. I was in the middle of reading The Obelisk Gate (the second in another series by Jemisin) but I put it down when my preorder of this book came in. The synopsis says enough to get you in the door but Jemisin’s storytelling and characters defy summary (IMO). I won’t say more than what you can find in the description w/r/t the plot. That said, I loved the “found family” trope and Veneza was my favorite character.
I loved all the rep in this book! I felt like I knew everyone. Though I’ve only visited NYC once in my life. It was post 9/11 with a motley crew of friends btw and we stayed on Manhattan island, obvi. But still, I felt like I knew Manny, Bronca, Brooklyn, Padmini, and even Aislyn. Paulo and Hong felt familiar too. Jemisin’s world building and characters are just unmatched. Period. Again, I felt like I knew the City. I felt like I was on the streets watching all this go down. Feeling it all go down.
Did we talk about the dope af cover?! *chef’s kiss*
Basically, I’m fiending for the next book already. Send help.
Another thing I gotta say is more than Aislyn got on my nerves this time. It's definitely because I know nothing about The Bronx but Bronca's hesitation irked my soul! And then Padmini's...idk...her sheepishness was aggy to my spirit as well. And I'm not sure if I could give y'all a favorite character now. Veneza is still at the tippy but Manny is giving major Scorpio energy and I like it.
UPDATED: had to go ahead with 5 stars. Had to!
Gaaaaah! This was so so so good. I was in the middle of reading The Obelisk Gate (the second in another series by Jemisin) but I put it down when my preorder of this book came in. The synopsis says enough to get you in the door but Jemisin’s storytelling and characters defy summary (IMO). I won’t say more than what you can find in the description w/r/t the plot. That said, I loved the “found family” trope and Veneza was my favorite character.
I loved all the rep in this book! I felt like I knew everyone. Though I’ve only visited NYC once in my life. It was post 9/11 with a motley crew of friends btw and we stayed on Manhattan island, obvi. But still, I felt like I knew Manny, Bronca, Brooklyn, Padmini, and even Aislyn. Paulo and Hong felt familiar too. Jemisin’s world building and characters are just unmatched. Period. Again, I felt like I knew the City. I felt like I was on the streets watching all this go down. Feeling it all go down.
Did we talk about the dope af cover?! *chef’s kiss*
Basically, I’m fiending for the next book already. Send help.