RaveThe MantleJemisin may tell readers what her book’s purpose is right off the bat, but the magnificent rollercoaster that is The City We Became quickly reveals that this urban fantasy is enigmatic and multilayered. With fantastical characterization and fluid transitions, Jemisin employs a modern inflection of magical realism ... Jemisin uses sparkling imagery and enigmatic character development to bring these characters alive and show the different experiences and perspectives in Manhattan ... Jemisin meticulously creates a personality for each borough, primarily through the main characters being unsure of who they are and seeking out that information from their surroundings. It’s an extremely smart choice, metaphoric for the reader experience, and the unique experience of living in New York City ... Fantasy as a literary genre rarely represents voices and narratives of color. The space is in desperate need of stories that are led by black and brown voices. It’s something I’ve never seen before, and why this novel is extremely important. By showing these ethnically diverse perspectives in a City that is one of the world’s cultural epicenters, Jemisin ushers in a fanbase that is typically not catered to in the fantasy and science fiction space. This is what makes this novel particularly special. Setting these narratives within a fantasy novel shows black and brown readers that they exist in this space. This genre is just as representative and accessible to them as it is to their white counterparts ... A whirlwind novel you’ll read over and over again, The City We Became marks the start of an evolution in fantasy and speculative fiction, led by the incomparable N.K Jemisin.
