I discovered N.K. Jemisin through The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms trilogy. Loved the first two, was very ‘meh’ about the third. Then The Fifth Season erupted onto the scene and blew my mind with such a creative fantasy, Jemisin became an auto-buy author. She hasn’t disappointed me yet and The World We Make is another excellent entry in her list of works.
In Jemisin’s world, cities have the ability to awaken. When enough people live in them, when the idea of the city’s identity becomes a belief across the world, the city becomes a living entity. A person is found who best embodies the virtues and vices of their City and they become its avatar. New York City, full of strong personalities and distinct boroughs doesn’t spawn a single avatar. Instead, New York is a collective.
Newly born, New York is facing an interdimensional threat intent on wiping out human existence. Awakened cities are a threat to the multi-verse and must be annihilated. In The City We Became a battle has been fought against the city R’lyeh and things currently seem to be at a stalemate. Life as an avatar has become easier as they settle into their roles. However, some of their lives have become more complicated as outside forces are making life as difficult as possible for them. Padmini, avatar of Queens, has been threatened with losing her ability to stay in the United States. Brooklyn, avatar of same borough, is facing losing the brownstone townhomes her family has owned for years. And a new candidate has joined the mayoral race, riding a wave of right-wing ideology tainting the very fabric of New York.
Jemisin’s “Great Cities” trilogy is unlike any fantasy I’ve read before. It’s an interesting concept of cities coming to life and fascinating magic that the Cities’ avatars can wield. It is also a love letter to New York and for those who have been there, I can only imagine how comfortable and familiar these books would feel. I highly recommend this series and eagerly wait for whatever book Jemisin has coming out that I will be auto-buying!
Note: Title for the review shamelessly stolen from Jemisin’s personal trainer, Tanya of Power Moves. In the acknowledgements Jemisin says,
“And last but not least, many thanks to my personal trainer, Tanya of Power Moves, who pushed hard for me to name this book, New City, Who Dis? I tried, T. I really tried.”
