The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin comes back at it with her speculative fiction with her New York City Avatars. A stunning second and final installment of The Great Cities series.

Summary

The avatars of New York City - living embodiments of the city’s boroughs - face a new and insidious threat after temporarily defeating the cosmic Woman in White. A powerful Enemy still looms, working through a mayoral candidate whose rhetoric of xenophobia, “law and order,” and gentrification threatens to reshape the city from within. As the avatars struggle to maintain unity, they confront not only supernatural dangers but also the real‑world forces of authoritarianism, systemic racism, and anti‑urban sentiment that seek to fracture the city’s identity.

The group must navigate political upheaval, personal conflicts, and the growing realization that the Enemy’s reach extends far beyond New York, endangering other great cities and the very fabric of their world. Their fight becomes a testament to community, resistance, and the power of collective identity as they work to protect their city and imagine a more equitable future.

Rating 5/5

Most of the time, sequels don't get as good ratings as the first book, but I couldn't put this one down. Jemisin blends myth, magic, and social commentary to conclude the Great Cities duology with urgency, compassion, and sharp wit.

The novel's emotional core lies in the relationships among the avatars - messy, human, and fiercely loyal. Their dynamic reflects the tension and beauty of New York itself (from what I imagine from a Southerner. Jemisin must really love NYC).

What makes the lore exceptional is its coherence: every magical rule, every city‑spirit, every interdimensional threat reinforces the central idea that places are alive because people make them so. It’s a system that feels vast yet intimate, fantastical yet fiercely relevant, and it lingers long after the final page.

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