The City we Became

Locations
Call Number: Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K., Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	Due 05-05-2024
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	Due 05-17-2024
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	Due 05-16-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Jemisin, N. K.	4-week checkout	Due 05-01-2024

"The prologue was originally published in a slightly different version as 'The city born great' on Tor.com in 2016"--Title page verso.
"Five New Yorkers must come together in order to save their city from destruction in the first book of a stunning new series by Hugo award-winning and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin. Every great city has a soul. Some are ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York? She's got six. When a young man crosses the bridge into New York City, something changes. He doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. But he can feel the pulse of the city, can see its history, can access its magic. And he's not the only one. All across the boroughs, strange things are happening. Something is threatening to destroy the city and her six newborn avatars unless they can come together and stop it once and for all"-- Provided by publisher.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Fiction Profile
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

5/5 stars submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on June 12, 2021, 9:43pm Jemisin is a brilliant writer, period. She is ALSO a brilliant author of color who uses her voice to tell a story that is different and diverse and shines light from a different angle than much of what exists in the SF/fantasy world. Her characters live in a diverse world, see things from non-white lived experiences, and talk about it in real ways… sometimes up front and in-your-face and sometimes in quiet understatements that I think I understand because I’ve worked hard to learn what it is that my white upbringing didn’t expose me to. I’m sure I miss at least as much as I see. This is the importance of diverse reading for white readers… but again, Jemisin is worth reading because she is an absolute BRILLIANT storyteller who creates amazing, well-rounded characters with depth and nuance who function in a world that she generates out of an imagination that I would give my left arm to have. This first book of an expected trilogy starts us into the world of cities that come alive, and welcomes us to New York City’s birth. I suspect people who love NYC will love aspects of this book even more than I did… part of the strength of the book is the nuances of the boroughs, which I had to learn. Their subtle differences create tension that had me anxious throughout my reading, always wanting to move to the next chapter to find out who else was doing what. It is rare that a book makes me feel like that, and it was a gift.

I genuinely don’t understand Manny’s final confrontation (not going to spoil it here… and I’ve asked on the GoodReads page, so I might update my review if I learn something that reframes my understanding). But basically, in a book that was brilliant in addressing race, Jemisin made a choice with Manny’s final confrontation that surprised me a lot (knowing history), and that was personally distracting. People who don’t have the same knowledge would probably just think it was a logical and exciting scene. Overall, the book’s ending was powerful.

I can’t wait for the next book, and will absolutely read the rest of the series.

Imaginative and Engaging! submitted by akhalvey on August 4, 2022, 2:12pm This a great example of fantasy that doesn't even feel like fantasy because the characters are so real and the world building is so natural. Such a fun read! Easy to get through, yet engaging and unique. A can't miss!

My favorite Jemisin so far submitted by berkleya on June 27, 2023, 2:51pm Loved The Broken Earth trilogy, but this was more fun--a much easier, more straightforward read--I loved it, and I'm not even a New Yorker. Anyone who is would love it even more! Tons of borough-specific details and characters--fantastic!

New York Lovers’ Treat submitted by khrobinson on July 2, 2023, 7:12pm This book was an incredible homage to New York City and all of its complexities. It was also an accessible sci-fi read for someone just beginning to dabble in the genre. Looking forward to the sequel.