Nonya Bidniss reviewed The City We Became by Jemisin N. K. (Great Cities, #1)
The City We Became by N.K. Jemison
4 stars
Content warning Spoilers
A unique fantasy story of struggle against an eldritch horror by the diverse "avatars" of New York City as the city is "born" as a sentient entity. The enemy is an alien intelligence, so alien that it comes from another dimension and can't really be contemplated due to its "wrongness." Its manifestation in this world is simply: whiteness. It's a parasitic, devious, violent, very white entity who claims if it doesn't destroy this world, its own world will die. I was ok with being hit over the head with the symbolism, since sometimes I miss subtle stuff. It's been said this book is about gentrification...it seemed to me it's also about white colonization. An otherwise three-star story but I'm giving four stars for its unique ideas & world building.