The City We Became

In the sprawling tapestry of N.K. Jemisin’s "The City We Became," New York City bursts to life as a living, breathing entity, but its birth is far from peaceful. When an ancient evil stirs beneath the city's streets, it's not just the metropolis that awakens to defend itself, but also its avatars—five protectors, each embodying one of the city’s distinct boroughs. As Manhattan grapples with an identity crisis, a bright grad student emerges from the subway to find his memory shrouded in mystery. With no recollection of his own name, he is drawn to the city's rhythm, its storied history, and its raw power—hallmarks of his newfound connection with the island's core. In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director finds herself drawn to cryptic graffiti—a cascade of colors that dance with ancestral voices and urban vitality, as if the streets themselves were communicating through paint. Over in Brooklyn, a determined politician and mother experiences the urban soundscape in a new way, her every stride resonant with the city's heartbeat, a testament to her own inner strength and the power she's been granted. As these ordinary New Yorkers face extraordinary circumstances, they must navigate their personal challenges while coming together to form a united front against the darkness threatening to unravel the city's very fabric. "The City We Became" is a genre-redefining novel that captures the diversity, chaos, and unity of New York. N.K. Jemisin, with her trademark ingenuity, crafts a modern-day epic where the metropolitan landscape serves as a battleground for the soul of the city itself. Each character, a reflection of the borough they represent, must embrace their destiny to become the champions New York needs, but whether they can rise to the challenge will determine the fate of all who call the city home. Epic in scope and visionary in execution, this novel is not just a tribute to the resilience and complexity of New York, but also a timely metaphor for the power of unity against division. "The City We Became" is a clarion call to cities everywhere: to awaken, to rise, and to thrive.

$26.99*