skybridge

babewiththepower.bsky.social · @babewiththepower.bsky.social@bridge.neodb.net

Rated The World We Make 8/10

My review for book 1 was less than enthusiastic, but I'm glad I continued through for completeness sake and read this book. While it was a good 100 pages less, it was definitely more interesting and packed a lot more in the plot. Mostly, I think it was tighter and the previous book had already established all the characters, so it was able to get on with the action. It didn't surprise me to read in the Acknowledgments that Jemisin had both struggled to finish book 1 and wasn't sure whether to write any more in the series. The rise of Trump and the occurrence of the COVID pandemic understandably effected New York City massively and therefore effected a series that was a love letter to it. She is right, though, in having pushed through because in the end this is a fictional version of the city and it could include or exclude any aspect.<br/><br/>I personally read it as an analogy of racism and fascism incursions in current times and it works without bringing in either of those events. If anything, when Jemisin probably somewhat lost her way in finishing book 1, much of that book could also be tightened or parts removed and merged with book 2. Together they would make a great stand-alone book. The plot in book 2 included more interaction with the other city avatars and thankfully a lot less of the NYC avatars together and bickering. That was so off-putting for me in the first book. It would've been great to see more of the other city avatars, more interaction with them than just Mannahatta going hat in hand for help, one by one, before the big final major scene. And that final scene, as Neek says, damn! respect! It never occurred to me that outcome could happen, but it also was written to seem not possible.<br/><br/>It just occurred to me that The Great Cities series would've worked where each book could be a stand alone for different cities, either the ancient history cities or the new soon-to-come cities in the Americas. The tragedy of Atlantis, even if you know how it ends, would still be worth at least a novella! Actually, the idea of individual city books makes me think of the Anne Rice series The Vampire Chronicles. I suppose it can still be done albeit in a different medium since the reason I made sure to read these books right away was because of the news that its rights had been bought to make a series. I hope it actually happens. So many possibilities remain with this creative view of cities.

#book

Published 2026-08-18 17:59 UTC · bridged from Atmosphere