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I have never read any of Jemisin's work, but I've been on a sci-fi kick over the last few years, and this story seemed more accessible than her Inheritance Trilogy. Plus, I was able to pick up a copy in a Buy-2-Get-1 deal when I was in the UK last spring (after months of no shipping to Belarus/no English bookstores -- I went a bit crazy hahaha). I finally got around to reading it, starting it during my break last week.
This book reminded me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman, but more tightly plotted. I never really liked AG, but I've read it a few times, and to me, the book felt like it couldn't decide if it would be about Shadow or the War of the Gods, and as such, I had a hard time making an emotional connection. Plus, there are some elements of Gaiman's writing present there that absolutely squick me out. This book, despite having five distinct POVs it shuffles among, felt much more coherent. I was able to invest in each of the characters. Not equally, but enough to really care about the characters. I did NOT realize that this book is the first in a planned trilogy (the second book, The World We Make, is out now). My own fault for not paying attention. I've been more focused on Asian SFF books in the last few years. I'm not sure I would have chosen this book from my TBR pile if I had known. I am glad I read this one, but I'm going to wait a while before finishing the trilogy. Thankfully, it doesn't end on a bonkers cliffhanger, so I feel okay setting the world aside for now, but I suspect once I've given the story time to settle, I will want to pick up book two. Maybe I'll buy it when I go home for the summer.
Despite the lukewarm feel of the above paragraphs, I did like the way this story grappled with ideas of identity, xenophobia, politics, culture, and fear. There were some uncomfortable moments in which the story took a hard look at things like the alt-right, colonialism, and white supremacy, but at the same time, they didn't get in the way of the story, which can be a tricky needle to thread.
If you've never read any of Jemisin's other books but want to try, and if you're interested in SFF (this book balances the sci-fi elements of parallel universes with the fantasy element of people becoming avatars of the city), I think you should pick up this book. Let me know what you think if you do.
Here is a description from the author's website:
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.
This book reminded me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman, but more tightly plotted. I never really liked AG, but I've read it a few times, and to me, the book felt like it couldn't decide if it would be about Shadow or the War of the Gods, and as such, I had a hard time making an emotional connection. Plus, there are some elements of Gaiman's writing present there that absolutely squick me out. This book, despite having five distinct POVs it shuffles among, felt much more coherent. I was able to invest in each of the characters. Not equally, but enough to really care about the characters. I did NOT realize that this book is the first in a planned trilogy (the second book, The World We Make, is out now). My own fault for not paying attention. I've been more focused on Asian SFF books in the last few years. I'm not sure I would have chosen this book from my TBR pile if I had known. I am glad I read this one, but I'm going to wait a while before finishing the trilogy. Thankfully, it doesn't end on a bonkers cliffhanger, so I feel okay setting the world aside for now, but I suspect once I've given the story time to settle, I will want to pick up book two. Maybe I'll buy it when I go home for the summer.
Despite the lukewarm feel of the above paragraphs, I did like the way this story grappled with ideas of identity, xenophobia, politics, culture, and fear. There were some uncomfortable moments in which the story took a hard look at things like the alt-right, colonialism, and white supremacy, but at the same time, they didn't get in the way of the story, which can be a tricky needle to thread.
If you've never read any of Jemisin's other books but want to try, and if you're interested in SFF (this book balances the sci-fi elements of parallel universes with the fantasy element of people becoming avatars of the city), I think you should pick up this book. Let me know what you think if you do.
