The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
Summary
Five New Yorkers must come together to defend their city from an ancient evil in this stunning new novel by Hugo Award-winner and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.
Every great city has a soul. Some are as ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City? She’s got six.
But every city also has a dark side. A roiling, ancient evil stirs in the halls of power, threatening to destroy the city and her six newborn avatars unless they can come together and stop it once and for all.
Book Setting: New York City
Lower East Side: Pablo’s apartment is in this neighborhood.
New York Public Library: New York hangs out here one day to avoid getting caught by the Enemy and the NYPD.
The Williamsburg Bridge: The Enemy destroys this bridge in one of the battles.
Inwood: The neighborhood where Manny’s apartment is.
Penn Station: Manny has his first vision here after getting off a train.
FDR Drive: Manny and the Enemy have an altercation here.
Inwood Hill Park: Manny has his second altercation with the Enemy here.
Shorakkopoch Rock: Brooklyn helps Manny during his altercation with the Enemy here.
St. George Terminal: Aislyn attempts to take a ferry from Staten Island to Manhattan but has a panic attack.
Bronx Art Center: Bronca is the Director here and it is where she first meets the Enemy.
Jackson Heights: Queens is from this neighborhood.
Bridge Park: Bronca shows Veneza that she is the Bronx here.
Bedford-Stuyvesant: Brooklyn grew up here and now owns two brownstones in the neighborhood.
Brooklyn Latin: Jojo, Brooklyn’s daughter goes to school here.
Hunts Point: Bronca’s neighborhood.
College of Staten Island: Aislyn attended college here.
City Hall Station: The Primary is in a deep sleep within this station.
Heartland Village: Aislyn’s neighborhood.
Charging Bull: Brooklyn, Queens, Bronca and Veneza are teleported back here after the altercation with the Enemy in Staten Island.
Brighton Beach: The entire New York gang enjoys a summer day here after the events of the book.
Reviews
"It's a glorious fantasy, set in that most imaginary of cities, New York. It's inclusive in all the best ways, and manages to contain both Borges and Lovecraft in its fabric, but the unique voice and viewpoint are Jemisin's alone."
- Neil Gaiman
"The City We Became takes a broad-shouldered stand on the side of sanctuary, family and love. It's a joyful shout, a reclamation and a call to arms."
- The New York Times
"A love letter, a celebration and an expression of hope and belief that a city and its people can and will stand up to darkness, will stand up to fear, and will, when called to, stand up for each other."
- NPR
