The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

The City We Became (The Great Cities, #1)

by N. K. Jemisin

'A glorious fantasy, set in that most imaginary of cities, New York' Neil Gaiman on THE CITY WE BECAME

'The most celebrated science fiction and fantasy writer of her generation... Jemisin seems able to do just about everything'
NEW YORK TIMES

'Jemisin is now a pillar of speculative fiction, breathtakingly imaginative and narratively bold'
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Five New Yorkers must band together to defend their city in the first book of a stunning new series by Hugo award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.

Every city has a soul. Some are as ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City? She's got five.

But every city also has a dark side. A roiling, ancient evil stirs beneath the earth, threatening to destroy the city and her five protectors unless they can come together and stop it once and for all.


'The most critically acclaimed author in contemporary science fiction and fantasy'
GQ

'N. K. Jemisin is a powerhouse of speculative fiction'
BUSTLE

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

Share

The City We Became is the first in a new series by N.K. Jemisin, a brilliant author that we all should cherish more. Or at least, that is how I feel about it. The Great Cities series is science fiction with a strong city focus.

Every city has a soul, though most people don't know how to listen for it. In New York City's case, it has five souls. Each one is carefully hidden away to best protect all we know and love. However, a great danger is rising, and it will take all five souls to protect the city and stop this horrible darkness.

“People who say change is impossible are usually pretty happy with things just as they are.”

N.K. Jemisin has done it again. The City We Became is a bold and brilliant read, one that I'm sincerely struggling to describe. I'm so happy I grabbed it when I had a spare credit for BOTM club, though honestly, I really should have read this beauty much sooner.

What I can say is that The City We Became is by far one of the most unique books I've read this year. Since this will likely end up being my second to the last novel read this year, I would like to think that is saying something!

“This is the lesson: Great cities are like any other living things, being born and maturing and wearying and dying in their turn.”

I love the idea of a city having human avatars. More than that, I adore that New York has more than one. It makes sense on so many levels, and I honestly couldn't get enough of this story or the characters it portrayed.

There is something so essential and so human about this read. It's not perfect because people aren't perfect. But it was the perfect read for me, and sometimes that is more than good enough.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 December, 2021: Finished reading
  • 30 December, 2021: Reviewed
  • Started reading
  • Finished reading
  • 30 December, 2021: Reviewed