Call number
Genres
Publication
New York : Orbit, 2022.
Description
"Every great city has a soul. A human avatar that embodies their city's heart and wields its magic. New York? She's got six. But all is not well in the city that never sleeps. Though Brooklyn, Manny, Bronca, Venezia, Padmini, and Neek have temporarily managed to stop the Woman in White from invading--and destroying the entire universe in the process--the mysterious capital "E" Enemy has more subtle powers at her disposal. A new candidate for mayor wielding the populist rhetoric of gentrification, xenophobia, and "law and order" may have what it takes to change the very nature of New York itself and take it down from the inside. In order to defeat him, and the Enemy who holds his purse strings, the avatars will have to join together with the other Great Cities of the world in order to bring her down for good and protect their world from complete destruction"--… (more)
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Science Fiction — 2024)
Utopia Award (Nominee — 2023)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Science Fiction and Fantasy — 2022)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2022-11-01
ISBN
9780316509893
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member Shrike58
Having been looking forward to this novel for most of the year, I have to admit that I was a little underwhelmed. Yes, Ms. Jemisin's prose is as impeccable as always, and I still like the high concept of the story, but this book has a bit of schematic quality for me. I still like how it all was
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wound up. Since it turns out that Jemisin could not make herself write three books set in this milieu, as it was too much like real life (totally understandable), one thought came to mind: Maybe there was never three books to be mined out of this concept, and it should have always been a diptych. Oh well, better luck next time. Show Less
LibraryThing member lavaturtle
This is an awesome followup to [The City We Became]. We get more plot for all our protagonists, and things come to a good satisfying conclusion. The setting continues to be really cool, and even expands the world-building a bit. And it's a love letter to New York that is unapologetically political
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and real about the forces at work in the world. I love it! Show Less
LibraryThing member amberwitch
This comes across as a very earnest book with very little nuance or self awareness.
As a reader I don’t appreciate being bludgeoned with one dimensional ideological messages on page after page.
The first person narrator has a very jarring voice, which interferes with my immersive experience and
As a reader I don’t appreciate being bludgeoned with one dimensional ideological messages on page after page.
The first person narrator has a very jarring voice, which interferes with my immersive experience and
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is grating and annoying. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
*Free e-book ARC received from the publisher through Edelweiss Plus - thank you!*
New York City has survived its birth, and the avatars of the city as a whole and most of its boroughs are working together against R'lyeh, the Woman in White whose superiors threaten the very existence of the
Where reading the first book felt like reading about a parallel universe, there are some definite references to our world in what NYC is fighting - gentification, racism, and a Republican mayoral candidate backed by "Proud Men" and others. Though Covid is never mentioned, readers will see how the events of the past couple of years have impacted the writing of Book #2, and Jemisin is not subtle in presenting her views on the dangers the city (the U.S., in microcosm) is facing. I enjoyed seeing the avatars now confident in their powers, the personalities of the boroughs, and seeing how the story wrapped up.
New York City has survived its birth, and the avatars of the city as a whole and most of its boroughs are working together against R'lyeh, the Woman in White whose superiors threaten the very existence of the
Show More
multiverse. But R'lyeh is still a thread, and Neek, Manny, and the others may need to convince the other, older cities to help them since the enemy is no longer playing by the rules.Where reading the first book felt like reading about a parallel universe, there are some definite references to our world in what NYC is fighting - gentification, racism, and a Republican mayoral candidate backed by "Proud Men" and others. Though Covid is never mentioned, readers will see how the events of the past couple of years have impacted the writing of Book #2, and Jemisin is not subtle in presenting her views on the dangers the city (the U.S., in microcosm) is facing. I enjoyed seeing the avatars now confident in their powers, the personalities of the boroughs, and seeing how the story wrapped up.
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LibraryThing member ShellyS
This read just like what it is, the second book of a duology that was supposed to be the middle book of a trilogy, but isn't because reality got too weird. The loose story ends from book one are mostly tied up as are the character arcs, while providing a solid foundation for the future of New York
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City and the multiverses. But what was delightfully and surprisingly weird inn book one is just the accepted reality now and while each main character gets a pov chapter, most feel a bit rushed. Even the secondary plot focusing on New York's mayoral election seems Jemisin's prose still sparkles with personality and I'm glad I read the book. It's a fast read and I did enjoy it. I just wish it could've been what it could and should have been. Show Less
LibraryThing member froxgirl
The sequel to the outstanding The City We Became, this followup reveals the avatars of the five boroughs of NYC, plus Jersey City, plus Neek (NYC), minus Staten Island (for a while) still fighting valiantly against the invasion and takeover by R' lyeh, a/k/a Sqigglebitch, a/k/a The Woman in White.
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They are joined by international metropolises as well, and Brooklyn runs for mayor against a very Trump-like candidate. There's plenty of humor, and the author's acknowledgement and her recognition of the devastation of covid alone is almost worth the price of admission. As a generally non-sci fi reader, I appreciate that Jemisin doesn't play with spaceships and AI, but allows human power and greed to seethe through her characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is the 2nd book in The Great Cities duology. I borrowed a copy of this on ebook from my library.
Thoughts: I adored "The Cities We Became" and was eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in this series and it was definitely worth the wait! This book continues to take
I love the strange multi-dimensional power that NYC is fighting against. This power takes the form of "sameness" and violence and it is trying to make all of New York "corporate white sameness" and take away what makes New York City...well New York City. There are heavy themes of gentrification and xenophobia throughout and this makes for a story with some very heavy political commentary.
The writing here is amazing. This ends up being a fairly complex story with complicated ideas, but Jemisin made it easy to read and understand. I absolutely loved the characters here; there are a lot of them to follow but, again, Jemisin makes that easy to do. I enjoyed how the whole Woman in White invasion ties to a strange metaphysical multiverse and how we get to delve into that in this book as well.
I think the only thing I am a bit disappointed about here is that this is the end of the series. I would have loved to read about other cities and even more about how the boroughs and Neek settle in and go about running NYC. This is an amazing world and, with all the cities all over the world, there are so many amazing stories that could be told. I hope Jemisin changes her mind and picks this world up again at some point.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this conclusion to the Great Cities duology. This is a fascinating world with some amazing ideas. I love the world, the characters, and the crazy extra-dimensional threat. Things are wrapped up very nicely in this book but I would love to see more books about other cities in this world. Both books in this duology are highly recommended!
Thoughts: I adored "The Cities We Became" and was eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in this series and it was definitely worth the wait! This book continues to take
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place in NYC, as our newly awakened city and boroughs try to take out the Woman in White once and for all. Previous to this I had read Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy (liked it) and the first book of her Dreamblood duology (wasn't a fan of this one). I am hoping to read her Broken Earth trilogy in 2023.I love the strange multi-dimensional power that NYC is fighting against. This power takes the form of "sameness" and violence and it is trying to make all of New York "corporate white sameness" and take away what makes New York City...well New York City. There are heavy themes of gentrification and xenophobia throughout and this makes for a story with some very heavy political commentary.
The writing here is amazing. This ends up being a fairly complex story with complicated ideas, but Jemisin made it easy to read and understand. I absolutely loved the characters here; there are a lot of them to follow but, again, Jemisin makes that easy to do. I enjoyed how the whole Woman in White invasion ties to a strange metaphysical multiverse and how we get to delve into that in this book as well.
I think the only thing I am a bit disappointed about here is that this is the end of the series. I would have loved to read about other cities and even more about how the boroughs and Neek settle in and go about running NYC. This is an amazing world and, with all the cities all over the world, there are so many amazing stories that could be told. I hope Jemisin changes her mind and picks this world up again at some point.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this conclusion to the Great Cities duology. This is a fascinating world with some amazing ideas. I love the world, the characters, and the crazy extra-dimensional threat. Things are wrapped up very nicely in this book but I would love to see more books about other cities in this world. Both books in this duology are highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member Letora
The boroughs of New York may have won their last battle with the Women in White, but she is far from gone. Hovering over Staten Island, she’s brewing up new ways to strike out against the city. With her influence, a new mayoral candidate is taking the stage, spewing racism and bigotry, and he is
Once again the audiobook was a phenomenal listen. Being able to hear the various accents of the characters added to the experience. Not to mention the tactfully placed sound effects and modifications to voices that incorporated environment, pitch, and tone. I highly recommended giving this a listen. I’m sure it would be a great read, but the audio will definitely make it all the more enjoyable.
It never ceases to amaze me how N.K. Jemisin can take modern world politics and put a fantasy spin on them. Politics are usually the last thing I enjoy in a book, but the writing just pulls you in and makes you connect on a whole nother level. The amount of care and ingenuity that goes into each battle, and each struggle, makes the reader feel deeply for the characters and the fate of New York. It shows how people can band together to fight for their homes, their culture, and all the things that make them who they are. But it also shows the reverse, the darker sides of humanity, the ones that disregard the individual and want uniformity. The irrational need to purge anyone who is different. The hatred and depth of xenophobia in The World We Make are startling and hit home with the radical thinking that has been brought to light in recent years. It’s terrifying and eye-opening.
The World We Make also expands on the world-building of The City We Became, introducing readers to other awakened cities. Readers will travel around the world meeting a new host of personalities and opinions. It is a fascinating adventure learning snippets about different cultures and how they view the enemy. And while New York may be full of different cultures, they certainly are due to learn a lesson about other cities and how they handle themselves.
Once again N.K. Jemisin has created an engrossing and captivating tale of culture and social awareness. If you pick up this book, brace yourself for the stunning draw of real world politics into a fantasy setting. This book is chilling in how it connects to recent events and will pull readers in with the drive to find out how the characters endure each new challenge. Once you pick up this book, you won’t be able to put it back down again until you’re finished.
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swiftly winning over the populace turning New York on its heels. Brooklyn, Manny, Bronca, Venezia, Padmini, and Neek are going to have to think of a plan fast. Before they lose connections to their city and another universe is destroyed.Once again the audiobook was a phenomenal listen. Being able to hear the various accents of the characters added to the experience. Not to mention the tactfully placed sound effects and modifications to voices that incorporated environment, pitch, and tone. I highly recommended giving this a listen. I’m sure it would be a great read, but the audio will definitely make it all the more enjoyable.
It never ceases to amaze me how N.K. Jemisin can take modern world politics and put a fantasy spin on them. Politics are usually the last thing I enjoy in a book, but the writing just pulls you in and makes you connect on a whole nother level. The amount of care and ingenuity that goes into each battle, and each struggle, makes the reader feel deeply for the characters and the fate of New York. It shows how people can band together to fight for their homes, their culture, and all the things that make them who they are. But it also shows the reverse, the darker sides of humanity, the ones that disregard the individual and want uniformity. The irrational need to purge anyone who is different. The hatred and depth of xenophobia in The World We Make are startling and hit home with the radical thinking that has been brought to light in recent years. It’s terrifying and eye-opening.
The World We Make also expands on the world-building of The City We Became, introducing readers to other awakened cities. Readers will travel around the world meeting a new host of personalities and opinions. It is a fascinating adventure learning snippets about different cultures and how they view the enemy. And while New York may be full of different cultures, they certainly are due to learn a lesson about other cities and how they handle themselves.
Once again N.K. Jemisin has created an engrossing and captivating tale of culture and social awareness. If you pick up this book, brace yourself for the stunning draw of real world politics into a fantasy setting. This book is chilling in how it connects to recent events and will pull readers in with the drive to find out how the characters endure each new challenge. Once you pick up this book, you won’t be able to put it back down again until you’re finished.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Anniik
TW/CW: Language, violence, body horror, fantasy violence, police violence, sexual talk and situations
RATING: 5/5
REVIEW: I had been looking forward to this book since I finished The City We Became. It was such a unique premise for a story – unlike anything I’d ever read before – and I was
The World We Make picks up a couple of months after the end of The City We Became. I can’t give a lot of plot description without spoiling that book, but it works as a continuation of that story, picking up the plots and characters where they had been left and heading towards an exciting conclusion.
One of my favorite things about Jemisin’s writing in these two books is how she isn’t afraid to confront the politics and current events that clearly shaped some of the chapters in this book. Some people might not like this, of course, but I think it adds a lot to the story as a whole. But if you want a book that doesn’t tackle anything important, this book isn’t it.
The worst thing about this book is just that I’m sad it’s the last one in this universe! I would have loved to read more about the other cities, and what happens to all the new cities that were preparing to be born. I guess it’s a good thing, though, if the worst thing you can say about a book is that you wish there were more of it!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for good science-fiction/urban fantasy. You won’t be disappointed!
RATING: 5/5
REVIEW: I had been looking forward to this book since I finished The City We Became. It was such a unique premise for a story – unlike anything I’d ever read before – and I was
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dying to know how the story ended. This is that book, and it succeeded in everything that I wanted it to.The World We Make picks up a couple of months after the end of The City We Became. I can’t give a lot of plot description without spoiling that book, but it works as a continuation of that story, picking up the plots and characters where they had been left and heading towards an exciting conclusion.
One of my favorite things about Jemisin’s writing in these two books is how she isn’t afraid to confront the politics and current events that clearly shaped some of the chapters in this book. Some people might not like this, of course, but I think it adds a lot to the story as a whole. But if you want a book that doesn’t tackle anything important, this book isn’t it.
The worst thing about this book is just that I’m sad it’s the last one in this universe! I would have loved to read more about the other cities, and what happens to all the new cities that were preparing to be born. I guess it’s a good thing, though, if the worst thing you can say about a book is that you wish there were more of it!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for good science-fiction/urban fantasy. You won’t be disappointed!
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LibraryThing member Gwendydd
This is a fun follow-up to The City We Became, and provides a satisfying (if a bit rushed) ending to the series. It will be interesting to see how this holds up in a few decades: it is clearly born out of our very specific political moment with the rise of fascism and threats to democracy. I hope
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that before long, this book will feel very dated and its anxieties irrelevant. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
In this sequel, the war against the Lovecraftian horrors determined to exterminate living cities (and humanity) accelerates, with white supremacists on the side of death and NYC struggling to get the other cities to fight on its side. I would have liked it a bit better if the machinations of cities
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didn’t mean that the people of NYC “had” to vote in the right mayoral candidate, but it has lots of city pride and found family. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin is the end of the Great Cities duology. While I loved the first book, I was less impressed with this one. With its focus on the individual avatars instead of the city as a whole, it felt more like a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive story. The choppiness
The World We Make was a bit of a letdown for me. The series resolution was too simple after all the buildup over two books. It wasn't the ending I expected, but it was all a little too pat and not satisfying.
What was satisfying was Robin Miles' performance. Once again, she kills it with the different personas she adopts for each avatar. Even a Midwesterner like me can easily recognize the different identifying accents of the boroughs. These distinct personalities are the high points of the novel, and I would gladly read something narrated by Ms. Miles again.
I didn't enjoy The World We Make as much as I expected. I waited for the action to pick up, for the avatars to come together for another big battle. Instead, I had to wade through each avatar's personal crisis to get to an ending that felt too easy. This is the third book by Ms. Jemisin I've read, and I've had mixed feelings about two of them. I want to keep trying to find that one Jemisin novel that will make me a fan, but I'm beginning to fear that her writing style is not for me.
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of the plot made the reading experience less enjoyable. The World We Make was a bit of a letdown for me. The series resolution was too simple after all the buildup over two books. It wasn't the ending I expected, but it was all a little too pat and not satisfying.
What was satisfying was Robin Miles' performance. Once again, she kills it with the different personas she adopts for each avatar. Even a Midwesterner like me can easily recognize the different identifying accents of the boroughs. These distinct personalities are the high points of the novel, and I would gladly read something narrated by Ms. Miles again.
I didn't enjoy The World We Make as much as I expected. I waited for the action to pick up, for the avatars to come together for another big battle. Instead, I had to wade through each avatar's personal crisis to get to an ending that felt too easy. This is the third book by Ms. Jemisin I've read, and I've had mixed feelings about two of them. I want to keep trying to find that one Jemisin novel that will make me a fan, but I'm beginning to fear that her writing style is not for me.
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LibraryThing member jazzbird61
Do yourself a favor and get the audio version. Robin Miles BLEW me away!