City We Became - books.exposed

English language

Published Aug. 8, 2020 by Little, Brown Book Group Limited.

ISBN:: 978-0-316-50988-6

In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power. In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it's as if the paint is literally calling to her. In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels. And they're not the only ones.

10 editions

L.A. reviewed The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin (The Great Cities Duology, #1)

Timely fantasy

5 stars

I have another N.K. Jemisin book in my tbr pile, but I read this one first, from the library. It is the first book of hers that I heard about and wanted to read.

It was really good. I feel like I read this book at the right time. There is a lot of action lately to bring communities together to survive and potentially fight a "big bad." I feel like this book really gets the idea of community, but in a fantastical way. There is a familiar sense in the main goal of the characters. Luckily the story is fantasy and so, while much of this feels familiar, there is a distinct magical theme, almost comic bookish, that keeps the story from being too real.

The story reminds me a bit of Umbrella Academy. But, it is certainly its own thing. I'll leave it at that so …

I have another N.K. Jemisin book in my tbr pile, but I read this one first, from the library. It is the first book of hers that I heard about and wanted to read.

It was really good. I feel like I read this book at the right time. There is a lot of action lately to bring communities together to survive and potentially fight a "big bad." I feel like this book really gets the idea of community, but in a fantastical way. There is a familiar sense in the main goal of the characters. Luckily the story is fantasy and so, while much of this feels familiar, there is a distinct magical theme, almost comic bookish, that keeps the story from being too real.

The story reminds me a bit of Umbrella Academy. But, it is certainly its own thing. I'll leave it at that so I don't spoil anything.

Subjects

Fiction, fantasy, contemporary
New york (n.y.), fiction