"The City We Became" is a fantasy novel by N.K. Jemisin that explores the concept of cities as living entities. Each major city in the world has a human avatar that embodies its spirit, and the story focuses on the avatars of New York City as they come together to fight a mysterious, otherworldly threat. The narrative follows five characters, each representing a different borough of New York City: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. As they navigate their unique challenges, they must learn to work together to protect their city from an impending danger that seeks to erase its existence.