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The City We Became

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( 73,552 ratings, 12,144 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin is a thrilling sci-fi fantasy that explores the concept of cities having living avatars. As New York City comes to life, five characters across its boroughs must unite to fend off an ancient evil threatening the city's existence. It's a unique blend of urban fantasy and a love letter to New York.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy urban fantasy with a unique and imaginative twist. It explores the concept of cities as living entities and blends rich, diverse characters with a gripping, fast-paced storyline.

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The City We Became

An astonishing new fantasy tale from the record-breaking, triple Hugo Award-winning author of The Fifth Season. Five New Yorkers must band together to defend their city from an ancient evil in the first book of a stunning new series by New York Times bestselling author N. K. Jemisin

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin is a mesmerising dive into an urban fantasy that harmoniously melds the mystique of city life with the grandeur of speculative fiction. Set in the vibrant and pulsating city of New York, this is the first book in an electrifying new series by the acclaimed Hugo award-winning author.

In this narrative, New York City is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing entity with its very soul manifesting through five diverse boroughs. Each borough is personified by an avatar—five unique New Yorkers who, unknown to each other, must band together when an ancient, malevolent force threatens their beloved city. The ensemble cast, consisting of the avatars for Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, navigates the complexities of their lives whilst realising that they are the city's last line of defence. As they grapple with this revelation, the fate of New York dangles precariously in their hands. Their unity is the only hope to thwart the sinister, primordial evil lurking beneath the city's surface.

Jemisin’s exceptional narrative flair offers readers a richly detailed world where each borough’s character shines through, reflecting the mosaic of cultures, histories, and spirits that define New York. The tale is an ode to the resilience, diversity, and indomitable spirit of the city's inhabitants.

'A glorious fantasy, set in that most imaginary of cities, New York' - Neil Gaiman

'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

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

'N. K. Jemisin is a powerhouse of speculative fiction' - Bustle

Award Recognitions:

  • Winner of Best Fantasy at the Audie Awards
  • Winner of the BSFA Award for Best Novel
  • Shortlisted for the Hugo Awards
  • Nominated for the Nebula Awards

Also by N. K. Jemisin:

The Inheritance Trilogy

  • The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
  • The Broken Kingdoms
  • The Kingdom of Gods

The Dreamblood Duology

  • The Killing Moon
  • The Shadowed Sun

Series: The Great Cities Series

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin is widely praised as breathtakingly imaginative and narratively bold. Reviewers describe Jemisin as a celebrated and critically acclaimed voice in speculative fiction, often hailed as a powerhouse and a significant writer of her generation.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356512686

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 July 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 333g

Pages: 480

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About the Author

N. K. Jemisin is the first author in history to win three consecutive Best Novel Hugo Awards, for her Broken Earth trilogy. She is a MacArthur 2020 Genius Grant Fellow. Her work has won the Nebula and Locus Awards, and the first book in her current Great Cities series, The City We Became, is a New York Times bestseller. Among other critical work, she was formerly the speculative book reviewer at the New York Times. In her spare time she's a gamer and gardener, responsible for saving the world from Ozymandias, her dangerously intelligent ginger cat, and his destructive sidekick Magpie. Essays and fiction excerpts are available at nkjemisin.com.

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