Seriously, the world building in this was so cool and inventive. I really loved the magic system, and the social commentary was extremely relevant. It got a bit info-dumpy around the 2/3 mark for me, and somehow the ending didn't seem as epic as the beginning, but overall I really enjoyed it too!

"The City We Became" was my first foray into the worlds of N.K Jemison and what a while ride it was. For someone craving something different in the world of SyFy and Fantasy this filled the need quite nice. I've never read a book that managed to weaponize Gentrification. That was different. It also had me asking questions like, would my city LA (not really my city since I live an hour and some change away) have one or many avatars? Who would embody LA? Here is a question, in terms of head cannon how do you picture New York and Crew? If this were turned into a movie who would you cast? In terms of my head cannon at first I saw Ne Ne leeks then MC Lyte as Brooklyn. My head cannon eventually settled on MC Lyte. If I were gender swapping I could see Mos Def as Brooklyn. Rita Moreno was who I pictured as Bronca and Lee Thomson as New York. I didn't have definitive head cannon for Manny. Then again that's the nature of Manhattan right?

I love how excited you are about it 😭 it’s definitely on my tbr now!

I read this and loved it!! It was my first experience with N.K. Jemisin. I am about half way through The Fifth Season and am loving it!!! 😍

Omg. I can't wait to read this. I didn't read any of her other works. I started the fifth season but there was an aspect that was really triggering for me so I had to put it down. But this books seems perfect. I am from NYC and absolutely in love with this city. When I heard of this book a felt like " about time someone realized this city is magic". My only petty grevience is that I don't like the cover and I was wondering if there might be another edition sometime.😂

Thanks for the great review! I've never read anything by Jemisin but was planning on reading this book next month for Shelf Space. The idea of rhe Bourroughs personified sounds awesome.

I recently heard about your channel in Shannon's (That's So Poe) shoutout video, and I'm so glad! Loved this review, and can't wait to read this work. I love the idea of having avatars embody parts of a city (particularly with NYC). The Broken Earth trilogy is also the only thing I've read from Jemisin at this point (though I have plans to read other work, particularly How Long 'Til Black Future Month?).

I was excited to see this video! You are the second person I have seen take about it. My own video with it in it will be up later this week. It was a n amazing read for me and I’m glad I own it so I can reread it.

I started this vid but didn't finish because I am just so excited to read this book, and I want to go into it without knowing anything. I'm so glad you loved it, I trust your opinion!!

I finally went and bought a copy of this! I love her writing and I'm hoping to read it this fall. Thanks for your thoughts! It sounds fantastic.

I have this book. I got it right when it came out which also happened to be the beginning of the shutdown here (I'm in NYC). I just couldn't handle a book about the City right at that moment, but now that I've seen your video its going straight to the top of my TBR.

I got kind of hung up on the characters introductions in the first 2/3 but enjoyed the climax. I liked all of the characters and thought they were interesting people but am not used to so much of the beginning of a book being devoted to introducing them 😅 I DNF'd "The Fifth Season" after I spoiled myself for the twists at the end but would like to return to the series, eventually, so I'm still hoping to join the N.K. Jemisin fanclub. (I liked your review and I'm glad I found your channel!)

Ahhh yay!!! You have me sooo excited to read it next month!! 😍❤️

i've been hearing so many different things about this, but i'm excited to give it a try nevertheless! i loved "the fifth season" and i'm looking forward to finishing the rest of her broken earth trilogy.

My copy just arrived in the mail last night and I am so excited to get to it!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book. I hope to read it soon :)

I just started reading the Green Lantern Farside comics that she wrote and I love them! I'm excited to pick this up

I haven't read it yet, but your review is making me even more excited to get to it!

I just finished the proluge of the book and came to check the review , so hyped to read further now .

This has been on my TBR waiting for your review! Now I can read it. Actually listen because I’m doing Audible for this one. Thanks

Just finished it yesterday. The concept of the story and the way Jemisin writes are so unique and I really liked it. There were some pacing issues for me because the story followed so many storylines. Overall loved it.

YES I already put a hold on it at my library and I'm so excited to pick it up

I ordered this online a week ago. I’m so excited to read it!

I have this book sitting on my shelf, I bought it maybe a year ago after I heard it was well received, but I never actually got around to reading it. I always thought the book seemed pretty thin for a fantasy novel and the idea of it being a stand-alone book (which I thought it was back then) kind of put me off reading it. But now I think I should pick it up again!

This book sounds so intriguing! I really want to get to it soon!❤️

Thanks for sharing. I just finished it and am still processing it. Where do you think the story will go in the second and third books?

Oooh this review makes me want to get to this book asap! I also wanted to let you know I heard about another book that seems to center on language. Every Sky a Grave by Jay Posey looks promising and has words as weapons, so I thought you might be interested 🙂

I have this on hold at my library and I cannot waaaaaiiit 💕💕

Read it and also loved it! I know its not necessarily accesible world building what she does dropping us into things but I really like it and I just love how she uses words and in this one the characters were next level

I'm so excited to read it! Thank you!

I’m looking forward to reading this one!

Fantastic review

i am so excited to read this!

Can’t wait to get this!

What you're saying about the world building being bumpy from the start might stem from it being built from a first chapter that was written as a short story, and then expanded into a novel.

I loved this book!

yeeeees! it was so good!!!

😊💛

Aislyn made me so maaaaadddd

It sounds kind of metaphysical, which is definitely my thing. I like the idea of the cities as living 'beings' as well, definitely adding this one to my list.

💖