Jemisin's The City We Became dazzles with imaginative urban fantasy, representing New York City through vibrant, diverse characters. Praised for its social commentary and inventive plot, some found the narrative's complexity overwhelming. While the pacing occasionally stumbles, the novel's originality and profound metaphors garner widespread acclaim.

A reader who enjoys The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin likely appreciates urban fantasy infused with social commentary. Fans of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere or China Miéville's The City & the City will find Jemisin's richly imagined New York City and its diverse, dynamic characters compelling and thought-provoking.

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin is a fantasy novel set in New York City, where five individuals, each an avatar of one of the city's boroughs, come together to protect their city from a cosmic threat that aims to invade and corrupt it. A homeless young Black man embodies the city as its primary avatar, and with the help of the other avatars, they battle shape-shifting creatures and navigate personal and external challenges to safeguard New York City. The book contains themes of violence, including attempted sexual assault and mentions of racism.

N. K. Jemisin

Adult

Novel

Great Cities

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore The City We Became reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The City We Became | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The City We Became and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The City We Became Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

The City We Became Prologue-Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 3-6

The City We Became Chapters 3-6 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 7-10

The City We Became Chapters 7-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-13

The City We Became Chapters 11-13 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 14-Coda

The City We Became Chapter 14-Coda Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The City We Became Character Analysis

theme

Symbols & Motifs

The City We Became Symbols & Motifs

Themes

The City We Became Themes

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The City We Became Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The City We Became Essay Topics

The City We Became

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The City We Became?

Reading Age

Book Details