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monkeyboystiff's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting idea, although the plot didn't quite hold weight. Not sure if it would have been as compelling if the central idea of overlapping cities wouldn't have been so imaginative. Ending a little odd, not quite clear exactly what Breach was in the end. Wonder if I would have understood what was going on if I hadn't read a summary of the book before I started
shlapo's review against another edition
3.75
Creative language and concept, and true to the noir procedural. However, it never felt like it fully explored the implications of the two cities, only left the reader to do that on their own. It also felt a little repetitive to just have Borlu move from city to city to city, each time winning over a partner.
offworldcolony's review against another edition
2.0
For me it wasn't a good jumping in point for China Mieville. I'm currently reading Perdido Street Station and I'm LOVING it. The City & The City has a great premise but I found it dull and confusing to read. I'm almost annoyed at myself for finishing it instead of chalking it up to a sunk cost half way through.
rickypitz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mercourier's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love the concept more than I love the characters. It feels like the only story this author definitively finishes.
jcarolm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tregina's review against another edition
4.0
As always, China Miéville is a master of blending the known and the familiar with the strange and the extraordinary.
sridevi93's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
testaroscia's review against another edition
4.0
I seem to really love books about Cities and looking back at my "read" list they tend to live firmly in the Fantasy category, from [b:Neverwhere|14497|Neverwhere (London Below, #1)|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348747943l/14497._SX50_.jpg|16534] to [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities, #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675]. This book manages to superimpose two Cities on each other and blends a 1960's Berlin divided, with a sort of end of century Prague feel, with modern settings. It is a police procedural in structure but it is very imaginative and rich so that the "whodunnit" is not even really all that important. I think i will revisit this one in a few years
mh_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5