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The Cityborn
Two young individuals must uncover the dark secrets of their stratified city in this suspenseful sci-fi standalone
The metal City towers at the center of the mountain-ringed Heartland, standing astride the deep chasm of the Canyon like a malevolent giant, ruled with an iron fist by the First Officer and his Provosts in the name of the semi-mythical Captain. Within its corroding walls lies a stratified society, where the Officers dwell in luxury on the Twelfth Tier while the poor struggle to survive on the First and Second, and outcasts scrabble and fight for whatever they can find in the Middens, the City's rubbish heap, filling the Canyon beneath its dripping underbelly.
Alania, ward of an Officer, lives on Twelfth. Raised among the privileged class, Alania feels as though she is some sort of pampered prisoner, never permitted to explore the many levels of the City. And certainly not allowed to leave the confines of the City for any reason. She has everything a young woman could want except a loving family and personal freedom.
Danyl, raised by a scavenger, knows no home but the Middens. His day-to-day responsibility is to stay alive. His sole ambition is to escape from this subsistence existence and gain entrance to the City--so near and yet so far out of reach--in hopes of a better life.
Their two very different worlds collide when Alania, fleeing from an unexpected ambush, plunges from the heights of the City down to the Middens, and into Danyl's life.
Almost immediately, both of them find themselves pursued by the First Officer's Provosts, for reasons they cannot fathom--but which they must uncover if they are to survive. The secrets they unlock, as they flee the Canyon and crisscross the Heartland from the City's farmlands to the mountains of the north and back again, will determine not only their fate, but the fate of the City...and everyone who lives there.
The metal City towers at the center of the mountain-ringed Heartland, standing astride the deep chasm of the Canyon like a malevolent giant, ruled with an iron fist by the First Officer and his Provosts in the name of the semi-mythical Captain. Within its corroding walls lies a stratified society, where the Officers dwell in luxury on the Twelfth Tier while the poor struggle to survive on the First and Second, and outcasts scrabble and fight for whatever they can find in the Middens, the City's rubbish heap, filling the Canyon beneath its dripping underbelly.
Alania, ward of an Officer, lives on Twelfth. Raised among the privileged class, Alania feels as though she is some sort of pampered prisoner, never permitted to explore the many levels of the City. And certainly not allowed to leave the confines of the City for any reason. She has everything a young woman could want except a loving family and personal freedom.
Danyl, raised by a scavenger, knows no home but the Middens. His day-to-day responsibility is to stay alive. His sole ambition is to escape from this subsistence existence and gain entrance to the City--so near and yet so far out of reach--in hopes of a better life.
Their two very different worlds collide when Alania, fleeing from an unexpected ambush, plunges from the heights of the City down to the Middens, and into Danyl's life.
Almost immediately, both of them find themselves pursued by the First Officer's Provosts, for reasons they cannot fathom--but which they must uncover if they are to survive. The secrets they unlock, as they flee the Canyon and crisscross the Heartland from the City's farmlands to the mountains of the north and back again, will determine not only their fate, but the fate of the City...and everyone who lives there.
405 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2017
About the author
Edward Willett
174 books119 followersEdward Willett is an award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
Born in Silver City, New Mexico, Willett lived in Bayard, New Mexico and Lubbock and Tulia, Texas, before moving to Weyburn, Saskatchewan with his family when he was eight years old.
He studied journalism at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, then returned to Weyburn as a reporter/photographer for the weekly Weyburn Review, eventually becoming news editor. In 1988 he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, as communications officer for the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and in 1993 he became a fulltime freelance writer. He still resides in Regina.
Willett is now the author or co-author of more than 60 books, ranging from computer books and other nonfiction titles for both children and adults, to science fiction and fantasy for all ages.
His science fiction novel Marseguro (DAW Books) won the 2009 Aurora Award for best English-language science fiction or fantasy book by a Canadian author. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer. He has been shortlisted for the Aurora Award and Saskatchewan Book Awards multiple times.
His most recent novels include Worldshaper and Master of the World, the first two books in his new series Worldshapers, and The Cityborn, a stand-alone science fiction novel from DAW Books; the Masks of Aygrima trilogy, YA/adult crossover novels published by DAW and written as E.C. Blake; the five-book YA fantasy series The Shards of Excalibur, published by Coteau Books; and the stand-alone YA fantasy Flames of Nevyana (Rebelight Publishing). He's also the author of the Peregrine Rising duology for Bundoran Press (Right to Know and Falcon's Egg).
Other novels include SF novel Lost in Translation (DAW Books), Terra Insegura (sequel to Marseguro, DAW Books), Magebane (DAW Books, written as Lee Arthur Chane), YA SF novels Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, and The Chosen; and YA ghost story The Haunted Horn.
Shadowpaw Press recently released his short story collection Paths to the Stars and re-released Spirit Singer, a YA fantasy that won a Saskatchewan Book Award and other awards.
His non-fiction titles run the gamut from science books for children on topics as diverse as Ebola Virus and the Milky Way to local history books like Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw for Red Deer Press, awarded a Municipal Heritage Award by the City of Regina in the education category and A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, published by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). He's also written biographies for children of Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Andy Warhol, Orson Scott Card, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
You can find Ed online at www.edwardwillett.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @ewillett.
His is represented by literary agent Ethan Ellenberg (www.ethanellenberg.com).
Besides being a writer, Willett is a professional actor and singer who has performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan, hosted local television programs, and emceed numerous public events.
He's married to a telecommunications engineer and has one daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 5, 2017
Here is my full review for Fresh Fiction:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
If you liked Wool by Hugh Howey, you may dig this one as well.
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
If you liked Wool by Hugh Howey, you may dig this one as well.
April 23, 2017
"The Cityborn can save us, but there are so many things that could go wrong."
Actual Rating: 3.5
The Cityborn is actually (dare I say it) somewhat unique for me in the science fiction meets dystopia book world. There is a city located in a huge floating structure. Within this structure's walls, there are 13 levels. And, each level represents a thinly veiled caste system. The 1 level is were the least amount of resources and jobs are allocated. Its problems range from poverty to drug trade. The walls have long since been torn down due to overcrowding. There are no opportunities and reproductive rights are managed. Protests will leave you kidnapped and incarcerated before being tortured to death. As we go up in floors, the accomodations and opportunities get better. The exception is the 10th floor...that is where the prison is. The prison is actually a death sentence as no one ever comes back from the 10th floor. On the 12th floor live the officers, individuals in the upper crest of society that control and manage the whole kit and caboodle. The officers answer to one person-- the First Officer-- a corrupt and power hungry individual who has cloned himself into madness. There is no going "up." The world outside of the city is worse. It is a wasteland housed in the dump site of the city's trash. Gangs control this world and there is no rule of law accept what it takes to survive.
The cityborn could change all of this. The cityborn is a project and this project, by necessity, must span 20 years before coming to fruition. It is a project that will save a society. Or at least, it will save the hierarchy of that society's positions. But whether the cityborn are meant to save the city or the city's important denizens is irrelevant because the city is dying.
However, there are those who seek change. There are those who fight for freedom in this oppressive system. And they do not want the First Officer to succeed with the cityborn. A plot is hatched and the downtrodden execute it. Now they must dodge discovery for the next 2 decades until the cityborn are ready to be used. And in this time, motivations can be corrupted, the living project can develop a mind of its own, and enemies can ruin everything.
What this book HAS:
Character Development.
Unique World Building.
Full Bodied Plot.
What this book DOES NOT HAVE:
A Ton of Action.
A Fast (or even Moderate) Pace.
Background Plot/Information.
Lyrical Prose.
Reader Beware: this book is SLOW going for the 2/3rds or so. Like the cityborn project itself, the book spans 20 years and follows the two surviving cityborn from infancy to maturity.
The best part about this is that you get to see the mind and attitudes of these two kids grow and their character's develop in real time.
The bad part about this is that the book is a study in anticipation: you have no idea what is going on and can only guess the real players behind the power struggle and what it could mean for this destroyed world.
Another point of disfavor is that the only characters that where really developed where our two main kids. The rest where pretty much background data that would come out to (admittedly) enrich the story and then fade away again. The problem with this is that the secondary characters where the driving force for the entire plot. The main characters where only there at all and in their situations because of all the other characters' machinations.
Additionally, when we discover what the city actually IS at the end, the author stops there. He does not fill in the much needed intel about how the city came to be needed in the first place. Something happened. Something tragic (this is a dystopia after all.) We never get to learn the what, how, or why of that event. And given that this is meant to be a standalone novel, I had a real problem with not knowing.
On the upswing of things, the two main characters were well developed and I could not help but want to see where they ended up. The plot was intriguing and well rounded with enough tidbits and questions sprinkled throughout the chapters that I wanted to keep reading despite the languorous pace of the majority of the novel.
And, when the novel picked up the pace...it really picked up the pace. We go from watching to kids grow up to watching them fight for their lives. If the majority of the plot is a study in anticipation, it quickly turns into an action-a-minute-in-the-fight sort of tale. Definitely a slow build to a major explosion.
At this juncture of my review, you may be asking yourself why I rated it so highly? Entertainment, my friends. Whether or not this book had merit, I enjoyed the tale. It was unique. It was interesting. It was well developed. It had a few minor foibles, sure. And this is not a mesmeric tale by any means, but I certainly found the dichotomy of lives fascinating even when told in the plan language prose that Edward Willett uses.
Recommendation: Definitely a worthy read for the avid science (more science than fantasy here folks...by a large margin. In fact, do not expect fantasy at all) fiction enthusiast.
THIS ARC WAS PROVIDED VIA NETGALLEY FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Actual Rating: 3.5
The Cityborn is actually (dare I say it) somewhat unique for me in the science fiction meets dystopia book world. There is a city located in a huge floating structure. Within this structure's walls, there are 13 levels. And, each level represents a thinly veiled caste system. The 1 level is were the least amount of resources and jobs are allocated. Its problems range from poverty to drug trade. The walls have long since been torn down due to overcrowding. There are no opportunities and reproductive rights are managed. Protests will leave you kidnapped and incarcerated before being tortured to death. As we go up in floors, the accomodations and opportunities get better. The exception is the 10th floor...that is where the prison is. The prison is actually a death sentence as no one ever comes back from the 10th floor. On the 12th floor live the officers, individuals in the upper crest of society that control and manage the whole kit and caboodle. The officers answer to one person-- the First Officer-- a corrupt and power hungry individual who has cloned himself into madness. There is no going "up." The world outside of the city is worse. It is a wasteland housed in the dump site of the city's trash. Gangs control this world and there is no rule of law accept what it takes to survive.
The cityborn could change all of this. The cityborn is a project and this project, by necessity, must span 20 years before coming to fruition. It is a project that will save a society. Or at least, it will save the hierarchy of that society's positions. But whether the cityborn are meant to save the city or the city's important denizens is irrelevant because the city is dying.
However, there are those who seek change. There are those who fight for freedom in this oppressive system. And they do not want the First Officer to succeed with the cityborn. A plot is hatched and the downtrodden execute it. Now they must dodge discovery for the next 2 decades until the cityborn are ready to be used. And in this time, motivations can be corrupted, the living project can develop a mind of its own, and enemies can ruin everything.
What this book HAS:
Character Development.
Unique World Building.
Full Bodied Plot.
What this book DOES NOT HAVE:
A Ton of Action.
A Fast (or even Moderate) Pace.
Background Plot/Information.
Lyrical Prose.
Reader Beware: this book is SLOW going for the 2/3rds or so. Like the cityborn project itself, the book spans 20 years and follows the two surviving cityborn from infancy to maturity.
The best part about this is that you get to see the mind and attitudes of these two kids grow and their character's develop in real time.
The bad part about this is that the book is a study in anticipation: you have no idea what is going on and can only guess the real players behind the power struggle and what it could mean for this destroyed world.
Another point of disfavor is that the only characters that where really developed where our two main kids. The rest where pretty much background data that would come out to (admittedly) enrich the story and then fade away again. The problem with this is that the secondary characters where the driving force for the entire plot. The main characters where only there at all and in their situations because of all the other characters' machinations.
Additionally, when we discover what the city actually IS at the end, the author stops there. He does not fill in the much needed intel about how the city came to be needed in the first place. Something happened. Something tragic (this is a dystopia after all.) We never get to learn the what, how, or why of that event. And given that this is meant to be a standalone novel, I had a real problem with not knowing.
On the upswing of things, the two main characters were well developed and I could not help but want to see where they ended up. The plot was intriguing and well rounded with enough tidbits and questions sprinkled throughout the chapters that I wanted to keep reading despite the languorous pace of the majority of the novel.
And, when the novel picked up the pace...it really picked up the pace. We go from watching to kids grow up to watching them fight for their lives. If the majority of the plot is a study in anticipation, it quickly turns into an action-a-minute-in-the-fight sort of tale. Definitely a slow build to a major explosion.
At this juncture of my review, you may be asking yourself why I rated it so highly? Entertainment, my friends. Whether or not this book had merit, I enjoyed the tale. It was unique. It was interesting. It was well developed. It had a few minor foibles, sure. And this is not a mesmeric tale by any means, but I certainly found the dichotomy of lives fascinating even when told in the plan language prose that Edward Willett uses.
Recommendation: Definitely a worthy read for the avid science (more science than fantasy here folks...by a large margin. In fact, do not expect fantasy at all) fiction enthusiast.
THIS ARC WAS PROVIDED VIA NETGALLEY FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
February 17, 2024
This book is a solid dystopian sci fi. There is strong character development for the two main characters as they are challenged at every level. There’s not a ton of action but it moves along steadily over only 3 days. I enjoyed the directions/twists at both the beginning and the end.
June 16, 2018
I don't buy a lot of hardcover books, but I have been determined to read The Cityborn ever since I heard the author read one of the opening sections; a riveting scene where a garbage scavenger strives to beat a dangerous gang to a valuable windfall. He gets way more than he bargained for.
This book is about a cruel and corrupted city, and about two young people who seem fated to change it. The worldbuilding is fascinating, and there is lots of well-written action. Vague spoiler alert: if you believe that a book with a young man and a young woman must have a conventionally satisfying romantic conclusion, hmm, don't read this book for that. But do read it. It will entertain you, and it has things to say about social stratification, truth, and pollution.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and would have given it five stars, but I'm not a fan of prologues, and this book has three, occurring when the main characters are newborn, twelve and sixteen, before the contemporary action kicks in at age twenty. Those opening scenes are not dull, but I was eager to get to the part I had heard Mr. Willett read and they felt like a bit of a side-trip, but these preliminaries are needed to show us the inside of the city, and the contrasts within and without it, and I am glad I kept going. Once I got to where the main action begins, I was never disappointed.
This book is about a cruel and corrupted city, and about two young people who seem fated to change it. The worldbuilding is fascinating, and there is lots of well-written action. Vague spoiler alert: if you believe that a book with a young man and a young woman must have a conventionally satisfying romantic conclusion, hmm, don't read this book for that. But do read it. It will entertain you, and it has things to say about social stratification, truth, and pollution.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and would have given it five stars, but I'm not a fan of prologues, and this book has three, occurring when the main characters are newborn, twelve and sixteen, before the contemporary action kicks in at age twenty. Those opening scenes are not dull, but I was eager to get to the part I had heard Mr. Willett read and they felt like a bit of a side-trip, but these preliminaries are needed to show us the inside of the city, and the contrasts within and without it, and I am glad I kept going. Once I got to where the main action begins, I was never disappointed.
June 24, 2017
One of my goals this summer was to fix my sleeping schedule and actually go to sleep at a regular hour for once in my life. Unfortunately, a week into that plan, I won an ARC of the Cityborn (in exchange for an honest review). As soon as it arrived, my well-intentioned plans went out the window, and I’m now starting this review at an ungodly hour just after finishing it.
I really enjoyed this book, which surprised me after reading the first couple of chapters. The premise is incredibly stereotypical: a boy and a girl live in a dystopian society, one in luxury and one in squalor, and they’re both mysteriously “chosen ones” for something nobody seems able to speak clearly about for at least the first third of the novel.
Because of this, I was a little cautious as I started reading. The writing, however, was superb, and I quickly put my harsh judgement aside. The description of the city (egg shaped, spewing garbage, vaguely reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle, only much grosser and socioeconomically-divided) was really different from the usual “well, it’s underground, the lights flicker a lot, the walls are all metallic, and there’s like tubes or something?” descriptions I’ve seen a lot (it’s either that or spaceships a lot of the time, or at least it has been in most of the books I’ve read in this genre). The whole concept of the Middens (the name given to the gang-divided trash heap under the city that Danyl, one of the main characters, calls home) was incredibly well executed. Even with a book as long as this one (just over 400 pages), I'd be lying if I say it didn't flew by, and the vividness of the setting was a big part of that for me.
As for the characters, I really enjoyed Danyl and Alania. They are both surprisingly quick on the uptake (which in this sort of book really helps to move things along), and their relationship (no spoilers on that, but I’ll just say I’m really glad it ended up being what it was) was really well written, and surprisingly realistic. No “our eyes met and at once, we were in love” lines here, thankfully. The other character I also enjoyed, but I really wish we’d gotten to see more of was Yvelle. Rogue leader of a band of scavengers/resort-squatters with a dark and tormented past? Sign me up for more of that, please!
The only possible quibble I’d have with this book is that it can be a little repetitive at times. Information that had just been given to some characters tended to be repeated almost immediately by another character (which was realistic, since they did have to explain things to people as they met up with them, but, as a reader, it could get a little bland to read virtually the same thing three times). Oh, and the constant mention of the "eternals" (aka green lightbulbs). I kind of felt like that was going somewhere, but it never really did.
All in all, I really loved this book. Though the ending seems fairly conclusive, I’ll be honest and say I would love a second book, even if it was just a shorter one some years in the future, to see how it all worked out. Or maybe a prequel about the Captain, (who was mentioned a lot, but who didn’t really get much of a chance to talk)? I'd love to read that.
I really enjoyed this book, which surprised me after reading the first couple of chapters. The premise is incredibly stereotypical: a boy and a girl live in a dystopian society, one in luxury and one in squalor, and they’re both mysteriously “chosen ones” for something nobody seems able to speak clearly about for at least the first third of the novel.
Because of this, I was a little cautious as I started reading. The writing, however, was superb, and I quickly put my harsh judgement aside. The description of the city (egg shaped, spewing garbage, vaguely reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle, only much grosser and socioeconomically-divided) was really different from the usual “well, it’s underground, the lights flicker a lot, the walls are all metallic, and there’s like tubes or something?” descriptions I’ve seen a lot (it’s either that or spaceships a lot of the time, or at least it has been in most of the books I’ve read in this genre). The whole concept of the Middens (the name given to the gang-divided trash heap under the city that Danyl, one of the main characters, calls home) was incredibly well executed. Even with a book as long as this one (just over 400 pages), I'd be lying if I say it didn't flew by, and the vividness of the setting was a big part of that for me.
As for the characters, I really enjoyed Danyl and Alania. They are both surprisingly quick on the uptake (which in this sort of book really helps to move things along), and their relationship (no spoilers on that, but I’ll just say I’m really glad it ended up being what it was) was really well written, and surprisingly realistic. No “our eyes met and at once, we were in love” lines here, thankfully. The other character I also enjoyed, but I really wish we’d gotten to see more of was Yvelle. Rogue leader of a band of scavengers/resort-squatters with a dark and tormented past? Sign me up for more of that, please!
The only possible quibble I’d have with this book is that it can be a little repetitive at times. Information that had just been given to some characters tended to be repeated almost immediately by another character (which was realistic, since they did have to explain things to people as they met up with them, but, as a reader, it could get a little bland to read virtually the same thing three times). Oh, and the constant mention of the "eternals" (aka green lightbulbs). I kind of felt like that was going somewhere, but it never really did.
All in all, I really loved this book. Though the ending seems fairly conclusive, I’ll be honest and say I would love a second book, even if it was just a shorter one some years in the future, to see how it all worked out. Or maybe a prequel about the Captain, (who was mentioned a lot, but who didn’t really get much of a chance to talk)? I'd love to read that.
July 24, 2017
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
THE CITYBORN is fueled by its dystopian society. In a place only known as ‘The City’, there are clear lines between the rich and the poor. There can be so much intrigue to a class-ruled dystopia. It’s always fun learn about how these strange societies are built, and it’s even better to watch them fall. Unfortunately, the City was a cipher for too much of the book. If you want the reader to root for the demolition of society, you need the nitty-gritty details. It took too long to confirm where the City was, how it originated, or why it was there. In the City, the Officers are the ruling class, and have been maintaining power and money for generations. The rest of the population is spread out on lower levels. Some are simply poor, others essentially live in a Mad Max style dump.
Stolen as children, Alania and Danyl have been raised in totally different class spheres. Alania, protected and sheltered, with the upper crust. Danyl, scavenging and fighting, in a garbage level. When they turn 20, everything changes. The relationship between Alania and Danyl was...strange. They snipe, argue, and slowly respect each other. But, even when they learn about their shared personal history, there's a lot of longing looks and awkward feelings that never go away. It was almost like the first draft of the novel had them written as lovers and the subsequent drafts never erased that tension.
THE CITYBORN is oddly weighted to the point where it felt like I was reading two different novels. The first chapters follow the protagonists at different ages, but the time jumps are pure set-up. We explore the protagonist’s surroundings but ignore the more interesting aspects of the society. The plot didn’t start until Danyl and Alania turned 20. Conversely, the last few chapters are completely different. Characters die, plots speed by, settings are replaced over and over. It’s almost impossible to take a breath. But --just when it seems that the book is coming to fruition-- the plot stalls. Needless obstacles are thrown in Danyl and Alania’s escape. It seemed like only purpose for yet another sabotage was to pad out the ending.
THE CITYBORN also suffers from tonal whiplash. Some plot elements are needlessly grim: forced sterilization, infanticide, graphic deaths, hidden cameras. It’s a rebellion, and it should be bloody, but it’s a little much for YA, especially since these issues are never properly investigated. The ending itself also shies away from making hard choices. When monumental, world-changing, information is discovered, it’s shrugged away. Radical changes are made, but the book ends before the City’s population (and the reader) feels the effects. Overall, THE CITYBORN is a frustrating book. Some sections are intriguing and fast-paced, but others are slow and meandering. Danyl and Alania may be the protagonists but they’re also the least interesting characters. The robots, clones, and amazing side-characters easily steal the focus from Alania and Danyl. A dystopian fan with a special love for class-division and clones may forgive THE CITYBORN’s flaws, but I found it hard to focus on the shiny metal buried under the debris.
THE CITYBORN is fueled by its dystopian society. In a place only known as ‘The City’, there are clear lines between the rich and the poor. There can be so much intrigue to a class-ruled dystopia. It’s always fun learn about how these strange societies are built, and it’s even better to watch them fall. Unfortunately, the City was a cipher for too much of the book. If you want the reader to root for the demolition of society, you need the nitty-gritty details. It took too long to confirm where the City was, how it originated, or why it was there. In the City, the Officers are the ruling class, and have been maintaining power and money for generations. The rest of the population is spread out on lower levels. Some are simply poor, others essentially live in a Mad Max style dump.
Stolen as children, Alania and Danyl have been raised in totally different class spheres. Alania, protected and sheltered, with the upper crust. Danyl, scavenging and fighting, in a garbage level. When they turn 20, everything changes. The relationship between Alania and Danyl was...strange. They snipe, argue, and slowly respect each other. But, even when they learn about their shared personal history, there's a lot of longing looks and awkward feelings that never go away. It was almost like the first draft of the novel had them written as lovers and the subsequent drafts never erased that tension.
THE CITYBORN is oddly weighted to the point where it felt like I was reading two different novels. The first chapters follow the protagonists at different ages, but the time jumps are pure set-up. We explore the protagonist’s surroundings but ignore the more interesting aspects of the society. The plot didn’t start until Danyl and Alania turned 20. Conversely, the last few chapters are completely different. Characters die, plots speed by, settings are replaced over and over. It’s almost impossible to take a breath. But --just when it seems that the book is coming to fruition-- the plot stalls. Needless obstacles are thrown in Danyl and Alania’s escape. It seemed like only purpose for yet another sabotage was to pad out the ending.
THE CITYBORN also suffers from tonal whiplash. Some plot elements are needlessly grim: forced sterilization, infanticide, graphic deaths, hidden cameras. It’s a rebellion, and it should be bloody, but it’s a little much for YA, especially since these issues are never properly investigated. The ending itself also shies away from making hard choices. When monumental, world-changing, information is discovered, it’s shrugged away. Radical changes are made, but the book ends before the City’s population (and the reader) feels the effects. Overall, THE CITYBORN is a frustrating book. Some sections are intriguing and fast-paced, but others are slow and meandering. Danyl and Alania may be the protagonists but they’re also the least interesting characters. The robots, clones, and amazing side-characters easily steal the focus from Alania and Danyl. A dystopian fan with a special love for class-division and clones may forgive THE CITYBORN’s flaws, but I found it hard to focus on the shiny metal buried under the debris.
July 4, 2017
The City is a large structure that is thirteen levels tall which has created a caste system. On levels one and two have those that are scrapping by to survive with the poor to drug addicts. Each level progressively gets better until level ten which is the prison. Those that go to the prison are never seen again. Level twelve houses the Officers and level thirteen is where you can find the First Officer, the one that rules everything with his power hungry methods and insanity.
Alania lives on level twelve. She does have things better than most but still feels like a prisoner. That is until she is chased out of the City and finds herself in the Middens, the trash heap from the City. There she meets up with Danyl, one of the people struggling to survive in the Middens. There they go on the run from the Provosts and start questioning the city, its purpose, and why it is failing.
Dystopian stories are my all time favorite and I couldn’t wait to get into The Cityborn. This story revolves around Alania and Danyl. They grew up on either side of the City but find that they are the chosen, even though you don’t really know what that means. There is a good world building the first portion and this part does seem to drag a little.
But once things start going, you will be flipping the pages as fast as Alania and Danyl are moving to keep ahead of the Provost. There is a lot happening in this story and it does a great job of building the world we find ourselves in. But I admit that I was left wanting at the end of the story. I would have liked to have a little more information to wrap everything up.
Overall this is a great dystopian story. It’s my first book from Edward Willett and I hope to read more of his books.
I received The Cityborn from Berkley Publishing Group for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Alania lives on level twelve. She does have things better than most but still feels like a prisoner. That is until she is chased out of the City and finds herself in the Middens, the trash heap from the City. There she meets up with Danyl, one of the people struggling to survive in the Middens. There they go on the run from the Provosts and start questioning the city, its purpose, and why it is failing.
Dystopian stories are my all time favorite and I couldn’t wait to get into The Cityborn. This story revolves around Alania and Danyl. They grew up on either side of the City but find that they are the chosen, even though you don’t really know what that means. There is a good world building the first portion and this part does seem to drag a little.
But once things start going, you will be flipping the pages as fast as Alania and Danyl are moving to keep ahead of the Provost. There is a lot happening in this story and it does a great job of building the world we find ourselves in. But I admit that I was left wanting at the end of the story. I would have liked to have a little more information to wrap everything up.
Overall this is a great dystopian story. It’s my first book from Edward Willett and I hope to read more of his books.
I received The Cityborn from Berkley Publishing Group for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
February 22, 2018
TL;DR: Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. This story has a cool idea but far, far too much should have been left on the cutting room floor.
I picked this up because the excerpt on the back was *perfect.* It suggests things, implies a vast plot, tempting the reader without drowning them in info. And then, at the end... a hook. Goddamn!
The real story, unfortunately, overexplains like a grade schooler trying to get out of a punishment. The mysterious woman in the excerpt on the back, who had the conviction to kill children but clearly wasn't an experienced killer? We get paragraphs... and paragraphs... AND PARAGRAPHS... about her motivation and indecision. Our perfectly good hook is destroyed by a lack of mystery. And this keeps happening over and over again, setting points overexplained, internal monologue drawn out to the point of melodrama, but the actual mysteries and conspiracies are dangled information-free, making us wonder why we're supposed to care.
The plot picks up, eventually, and we get a fun sci-fi thriller about a brother and sister, separated at birth, born to some mysterious purpose that will either save or destroy their rigid, caste-based police state. People get shot, things blow up, daring escapes and heroic self-sacrifices abound (literally something like 4 or 5 times). With more time in the oven, I feel like this could have been great. As it stands, however, a bloated, meandering setup and what ends up being a bit of a formulaic set of action scenes keep the book from being easy to recommend.
I picked this up because the excerpt on the back was *perfect.* It suggests things, implies a vast plot, tempting the reader without drowning them in info. And then, at the end... a hook. Goddamn!
The real story, unfortunately, overexplains like a grade schooler trying to get out of a punishment. The mysterious woman in the excerpt on the back, who had the conviction to kill children but clearly wasn't an experienced killer? We get paragraphs... and paragraphs... AND PARAGRAPHS... about her motivation and indecision. Our perfectly good hook is destroyed by a lack of mystery. And this keeps happening over and over again, setting points overexplained, internal monologue drawn out to the point of melodrama, but the actual mysteries and conspiracies are dangled information-free, making us wonder why we're supposed to care.
The plot picks up, eventually, and we get a fun sci-fi thriller about a brother and sister, separated at birth, born to some mysterious purpose that will either save or destroy their rigid, caste-based police state. People get shot, things blow up, daring escapes and heroic self-sacrifices abound (literally something like 4 or 5 times). With more time in the oven, I feel like this could have been great. As it stands, however, a bloated, meandering setup and what ends up being a bit of a formulaic set of action scenes keep the book from being easy to recommend.
September 19, 2022
This book is really difficult to rate. There are parts where the pacing is dreadfully slow and the multiple time jumps were mostly superfluous. It isn't until around page 100 that the meat of the story actually starts but the pacing is much better at this point. However, there are several moments where key plot elements are repeated by different pov characters without it actually adding anything new to the story. Many of these repeat moments could have been removed or summarized. Overall I think it could have used a little more time with editing or beta readers to trim some of the fat.
All that being said, the plot was engaging and it was refreshing to have a character driven sci-fi tale. The world created was interesting and made sense. The author does best with the main characters as some of the side characters are introduced and promptly deop out of the plot completely. There were some I was expecting to show up later to betray or help the main characters but they didn't. This made their inclusion earlier feel unnecessary.
Over all I enjoyed my read after I got into the action. I would read more from this author in the future because I definitely see potential for the exact type of story I love, just hopefully with a little more external influence to trim the plot and side character fat.
All that being said, the plot was engaging and it was refreshing to have a character driven sci-fi tale. The world created was interesting and made sense. The author does best with the main characters as some of the side characters are introduced and promptly deop out of the plot completely. There were some I was expecting to show up later to betray or help the main characters but they didn't. This made their inclusion earlier feel unnecessary.
Over all I enjoyed my read after I got into the action. I would read more from this author in the future because I definitely see potential for the exact type of story I love, just hopefully with a little more external influence to trim the plot and side character fat.
March 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I don’t typically read Sci Fi and I have to read some parts again as science in general doesn’t come naturally for me and the Sci Fi genre requires me to suspend a little more disbelief in reality. But I enjoyed this one. I could visualize everything that happened and I understood the premise. There’s a Dystopian feel in the second half of the novel. An adventurous read!
October 27, 2018
Variation on the classic SF theme of spaceship lost on a planet, and inhabitants don't know what it really is. Brings to mind Michael P. Kube-McDowell's "Exile", or Heinlein's "Orphans of the Sky".
September 23, 2025
Libby library Kindle book. Future genetic/nano applications, cloning, enhanced children. Controlled society and people.
September 22, 2017
A great adventure that poses interesting questions about duty, freedom and destiny.
May 18, 2017
This book really intrigued me with its cast kind of vibe. It reminded me of Garth Nix's Seventh Tower series that I read as a kid and loved. The story moved along quickly, but kind of got bogged down in the middle. It picked right back up again though, with awesome action scenes and suspense that will leave your mind blown. Four stars for The Cityborn.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
May 15, 2017
In a world with limited resources, the Free Citizens are rebelling. The Officers have ruled with callous disregard for those on the lower levels, living in luxury and security while others must scramble to survive. And then there are Alania and Danyl, never quite fitting in and always wondering where they came from, and why the City is failing.
Can one sacrifice be worth the greater good? Where do you draw the line?
The characters are thoughtfully drawn, never falling into stereotyped roles. Alania and Danyl question, don't just blindly accept what others tell them, and hold people - including themselves - to a higher standard. With purposeful focus, they reach for their destiny, knowing that one wrong choice could doom everyone.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Can one sacrifice be worth the greater good? Where do you draw the line?
The characters are thoughtfully drawn, never falling into stereotyped roles. Alania and Danyl question, don't just blindly accept what others tell them, and hold people - including themselves - to a higher standard. With purposeful focus, they reach for their destiny, knowing that one wrong choice could doom everyone.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2018
Strong pacing made this a fast read. Alania and Danyl are on the run from pretty much the instant they meet. They are also pawns that both the the rebels and the officers want to control, who don't fully seize their own destiny until the end. It was nice to read a dystopia/rebellion book that doesn't take three volumes to do accomplish everything.
Quibble: I saw one of the plot twists coming a mile away.
Quibble: I saw one of the plot twists coming a mile away.
November 11, 2017
In una strana città d'acciaio che lentamente si disfa, crescono due ragazzi. Lei ai piani alti, in un ambiente privilegiato, lui nei bassifondi. L'educazione di entrambi è curata in modo particolare dai rispettivi mentori, rendendoli quindi diversi dai loro pari, senza però che nessuno dei due ne capisca il motivo. A un certo punto però le cose iniziano a precipitare e i due ragazzi devono lasciare i luoghi che conoscono e, dopo essersi incontrati, partire per una "cerca" che li porterà a scoprire il tremendo segreto della loro identità, a conoscere il loro mondo così come è, a capire come avrebbe dovuto essere e a sacrificare se stessi per raggiungere questo obiettivo.
Bel romanzo per giovani, assai apprezzabile anche da un adulto avido lettore di fantascienza.
Ringrazio Berkley Publishing Group e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
In a strange city of steel that slowly disintegrates, two youngsters grow up. She on the upper floors, in a privileged environment, he in the slums. The education of both is given special attention by the respective mentors, thus making them different from their peers, but neither of them understands the reason. At a certain point, however, things begin to plummet and the two youngsters must leave the places they know and, after meeting, leave for a "search" that will lead them to discover the tremendous secret of their identity, to know their world as it is, to understand how it should have been and to sacrifice themselves in order to achieve this goal.
Nice novel for young people, very much appreciated also by an adult greedy reader of science fiction.
I thank Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
Bel romanzo per giovani, assai apprezzabile anche da un adulto avido lettore di fantascienza.
Ringrazio Berkley Publishing Group e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
In a strange city of steel that slowly disintegrates, two youngsters grow up. She on the upper floors, in a privileged environment, he in the slums. The education of both is given special attention by the respective mentors, thus making them different from their peers, but neither of them understands the reason. At a certain point, however, things begin to plummet and the two youngsters must leave the places they know and, after meeting, leave for a "search" that will lead them to discover the tremendous secret of their identity, to know their world as it is, to understand how it should have been and to sacrifice themselves in order to achieve this goal.
Nice novel for young people, very much appreciated also by an adult greedy reader of science fiction.
I thank Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
February 6, 2018
This was the surprising read of the month. (Well, so far). I wasn't expecting that much from the synopsis: in an inhospitable wasteland, surrounded by mountains, the City dwells over a canyon, explicitly layered with a society that punishes dissent, even while the technological foundations are beginning to crumble. Only the Officers, those who dwell on the city's paradisial 12th layer, and the mythic city Captain, rumored to live alone on the 13th level, are above these petty problems. Alania, the ward of an Officer (under mysterious circumstances) feels imprisoned; while far beneath the city, in the "Middens" where city waste is dumped, a young man Danyl, is restless and wants to improve his circumstances.
I suspected I knew what would happen; and I was wrong. The book has a bit of a wobbly start, starting off with some atrocity to let you know that it's a dystopia, and then screeching to a halt to let the two main characters grow up a bit. A few scenes from their childhood, helping set up the world and their formative experiences ... then we catch up to them nearing their 20th birthdays. By the halfway point of the book, it's become a careening roller coaster of events, as they are rushed from one setting to the next, glimpsing only brief bits of the world history. And then, finally, the ending -- a bit wobbly again.
It's self-contained -- while a sequel in the same setting *could* be written, I suppose, the guns are taken down from the mantel, the chess pieces removed from the board. The wobbliness in the beginning and ending don't spoil from a really great experience in the thick of it.
I suspected I knew what would happen; and I was wrong. The book has a bit of a wobbly start, starting off with some atrocity to let you know that it's a dystopia, and then screeching to a halt to let the two main characters grow up a bit. A few scenes from their childhood, helping set up the world and their formative experiences ... then we catch up to them nearing their 20th birthdays. By the halfway point of the book, it's become a careening roller coaster of events, as they are rushed from one setting to the next, glimpsing only brief bits of the world history. And then, finally, the ending -- a bit wobbly again.
It's self-contained -- while a sequel in the same setting *could* be written, I suppose, the guns are taken down from the mantel, the chess pieces removed from the board. The wobbliness in the beginning and ending don't spoil from a really great experience in the thick of it.
November 12, 2017
One thing I adore about good YA is the agency of the young people. That is, they make judgments, set their own goals, and demonstrate both persistence and resourcefulness. That describes the two central characters in this dystopic-sf novel. Having landed on a distant planet, a spaceship gradually transforms into a city, and then decays. While the officers clone themselves and then use nanobots to pass on their memories and skills to the next generation, the Captain has for various reasons not passed to new bodies. And as the Captain’s vital signs sink ever lower, so do the parallel vital functions of the City. A desperate scheme results in the creation of two children, in vitro offspring of the Captain and First Officer, who are then theoretically capable of taking the place of the dying Captain and restoring the City. One of the children is kidnapped by a rebel underground, dedicated to overthrowing the class tyranny of the Officers; now a young adult, he is joined by the other, who narrowly escapes being turned into a mind-controlled Captain. The two are catapulted into a quest filled with action, suspense, and the emotional turmoil of carving out an individual identity in a world determined to control and exploit them. An exciting, absorbing read for adult as well as YA readers.
February 24, 2018
While you are only left a little in the dimmness (believe me, events and possible events are never really left in the dark) at the beginning, the plot and action soon get going. Alania and Danyl are thrust into their destiny (rather stinkily; it's the trash dump aka The Middens so the smell is real; be grateful you never learn what's in the water) and from there are they have to determine if they want to follow the path others have chosen for them on or choose their own. They have to deal with garbage, gangs, people wanting to use them for their own purpose, and too many stairs and eternal lights that aren't eternal. While there are twists, it's how Alania and Danyl react to those twists that matter. Eventually, everything comes to a head and there's lots of shooting.
Overall, this was a good book. Alania may have started out of her element in meeting with Danyl but she's no shrieking violet. She doesn't wait to be rescued and Danyl treats her like an equal. He wants to protect her not because she's a woman but after finding out she's (spoiler not included), she becomes invaluable to him as a person. No silly romance but something better, something they've both wanted their whole lives.
Overall, this was a good book. Alania may have started out of her element in meeting with Danyl but she's no shrieking violet. She doesn't wait to be rescued and Danyl treats her like an equal. He wants to protect her not because she's a woman but after finding out she's (spoiler not included), she becomes invaluable to him as a person. No silly romance but something better, something they've both wanted their whole lives.
July 27, 2017
Edward Willett tells of a city shaped like a spaceship out of fifties sf. Its five hundred years old and under it is a trash heap of the Middens. Two of the The Cityborn (hard from Daw)are a bit special Danyl was kidnaped from a special ward and another like him murdered. He was raised in the Middens as part of a plan to free the city from its captain and first officer. Alania, raised in luxury was out of the nursery when Danyl was taken and is being moved to the first officer’s quarters on her twentieth birthday when she survives an assassination attempt by falling down a garbage chute to the Middens. Luck brings the two together, but the first officer will stop at nothing to capture them. So they run across a poison-filled, decayed area with no idea of why they are important. Exciting.Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press
December 4, 2017
This started out well, and I liked the idea behind it, but I wasn't that invested in the characters and their relationships. The main antagonist didn't seem convincingly antagonistic, I didn't feel like he was the bad guy, I was just told that he was.
I would also have liked to see more of the mythology of explored more and earlier on. I think fairly quickly you get the idea that this is some kind of space colony gone wrong, and it's just the specifics that are lacking, but it's still treated like it's a big reveal at the end, so it was rather disappointing. I was also unconvinced of Alania's knowledge at the end of the book, that she would know all about everything just because she was hooked up to the City. After all wasn't the computer supposed to be messed up because of all the false data Kranz had fed it? Otherwise wouldn't have the previous Captain known everything?
I would also have liked to see more of the mythology of explored more and earlier on. I think fairly quickly you get the idea that this is some kind of space colony gone wrong, and it's just the specifics that are lacking, but it's still treated like it's a big reveal at the end, so it was rather disappointing. I was also unconvinced of Alania's knowledge at the end of the book, that she would know all about everything just because she was hooked up to the City. After all wasn't the computer supposed to be messed up because of all the false data Kranz had fed it? Otherwise wouldn't have the previous Captain known everything?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2018
It is another addition to the genre of impossible spaces (see my book on the subject :)): a novel taking place in some sort of confined or distorted space where the protagonists have to puzzle out the topology and find a way out. Christopher Priest’s “Inverted World” is a masterpiece of this genre; and of course, “Annihilation” (Vandermeer’s brilliant novel, though, sadly, not so much the movie). This novel does not measure up to its predecessors, even though the carceral City is well described at the beginning and the plot is brisk. However, it is TOO brisk. With all the various means of transportation the young protagonists have to take to escape the City and then to return to it, the novel reads rather like a guidebook to a place you wouldn’t want to visit. The solution to the mystery is not particularly original. Still, an indication that impossible spaces continue to fascinate.
August 27, 2018
It could have been much worse, but it could have been much better, too. Too much information in one section, and too little in others. Part of the problem is trying to figure out what exactly The Cityborn is. It features a dystopian future, two main characters who may not act their age, a city with stratified levels, and a power-hungry tyrant. Aside from a few cases of profanity, it could be suitable for young adults. It may have been written for that audience. There are some interesting parts to the novel, but it comes off as lackluster.
August 22, 2019
While the ideas in this book have great promise, nothing ever comes of them. Cityborn is also tonally all over the place. It can never decide if it wants to be a YA novel or a graphic depiction of a dystopian sci-fi disaster with brutal deaths and political intrigue.
Many of the characters aren't fully fleshed out save the main two and even then i didn't feel totally engaged with their endeavor.
All in all, a middling experience, but one that offers up a few good ideas along the way.
Many of the characters aren't fully fleshed out save the main two and even then i didn't feel totally engaged with their endeavor.
All in all, a middling experience, but one that offers up a few good ideas along the way.
April 3, 2021
I was a little iffy when I started this book, especially when I notice typos. The premise sounded wonderful, but in my experience, books I have high hopes for rarely live up to my expectations. This one did, though. Stories of social stratification and caste systems interest me a lot. The world Willett built was very intricate and I would love to see more books in this universe, though the ending seemed pretty final. I do recommend it.
November 4, 2020
I enjoyed this science fiction book with just a hint of steampunk. There are some flaws, mainly that the author likes to pad the book by describing the same event multiple times from different perspectives, but overall it was a good read. The plot moves fairly quickly and the end makes sense. Fun sci fi concepts here that are fairly original.
October 21, 2021
This is really around 3 1/2 stars. It's a good story, it could have used a little editing to tighten it up a bit. Overall, I found the story interesting. This is a writer I would be willing to read again.
April 4, 2018
Really enjoyed the overall concept, but felt the ending brought it down a star. 350+ pages for an ending that felt rushed and took about 2 paragraphs.
August 10, 2018
breakneck pacing, likeable young adult characters, fascinating setting.
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