The Shining City (Our Broken Earth, Book 2)

This is a short story about social hierarchy and friendship. The story is well-written and compelling. There are good bones to the book! However, the story could be developed further and with more depth. The ending is also too easy, too predictable. Overall, I would like to see more from the author and look forward to new updates on an interesting new world.

Thank you to NetGalley, West 44 Books, and Demitria Lunetta for the opportunity to read The Shining City in exchange for an honest review.

The Shining City is a HiLo novel-in-verse, the second book in the Our Broken Earth series. The novel starts off with a short recap of what happened previously in the narrator, Mal's, story. The setting is near-future, as global warming has devastated the planet, making resources scarce. Acid rain falls from the sky, liquid so powerful it burns and people must find shelter from it. In this world, Mal looks for a safe society to live in. Having lost all his friends, his very family, he now seeks the rumors of the Shining City (Chicago).

By happenstance, Mal ends up in the Shining City. Is it everything that it's cracked up to be? No one goes without food, water, or shelter, but everything still runs up a bill of credits. What does it mean for Mal or the other people in Chicago if one never pays?

After doing the logical thing and taking up a few jobs to help clear his debt, one of his roommates tells him to check his debt, of which has barely gone down after weeks of work. But his roommate mentions there is another way to "earn Citizenship" in this city, to no longer be considered a Refugee. Another way to get the credits to clear oneself. Betting and fighting. If one is lucky, they may even earn a patron.

When Mal has a patron offer, his new family warns him away, stating it isn't everything it's cracked up to be. It's more like slavery. The temptation is high. In a city with such controlled social status, what can Mal do to shift the tides?

This novel is fast-paced and an enjoyable comment on the human condition and a possible future for planet Earth. It makes for an excellent (and unexpected) sequel. I strongly recommend this series for a middle grade or teen audience. Will there be more to the series? I don't know, but I'll be there if a new book in the series drops!

Another bold, striking cover for the second book in the series, it really complements the cover for Broken Earth well. It would certainly make me pick it up from a book store shelf to learn more about it!

Although I think this could easily be read as a standalone book it is the follow up to Broken Earth.
When I finished reading Broken Earth I really couldn’t wait to read more about the characters and find out if anyone ever made it to the coveted Shining City.

The book picks up as Mal is still struggling towards a light it in distance wondering if it could possibly be the mystical Shining City. He collapses but it “rescued” and taken to the City.
The City nurses him back to health and reveals more about the fabled fantastic life at the Shining City. Everyone has a roof over their head, food to eat, clothes to wear and medical assistance. Everything they need is provided. However, there are still those that “have more” in this society as you have to work, pay and earn your way to become a citizen to join those who “have more”.

Mal is given a bed in a dormitory with three other boys, Gunner who seems to be the leader of the trio, Tank and Pin. Mal quickly learns that the trio look out for each other and it’s hinted at that he could become part of their “family” in time when he has earnt their trust.

Mal has racked up quite a debt due to his medical treatments and setting him up in his “new life” he needs to earn credits as soon as he can to start paying off this debt. Eager to pay the debt off quickly initially Mal accepts and does any job available often working long, hard hours doing multiple jobs. Yet at the end of the week when he looks at his credits they are still in debt. The jobs he is doing does not pay very well, no matter how many hours he works, no matter how many jobs he works he cannot ever see himself paying off his debt let alone becoming a Citizen. Gunner reveals that there are other ways to earn larger sums of money, but of course they come with more risk. Gunner, Tank and Pin allow Mal to join their “gang” as they enter these “games” but all prize money earnt/won no matter how much and who earns/wins it has to be shared with the group. This seems to be working out until Pin is hurt in one of the games and the gang expect Mal to transfer all his money to pay for Pin’s medical treatment. The ultimate end plan is for the gang to rise and become Citizens together.
When Mal catches the eye of one of the Citizens and she offers to “sponsor” him the gang at first warn him against it. However, the gang do turn the sponsor offer to their advantage.

I really enjoyed reading this short book. It really grabs your attention and really pulls you in. I found the society and the different classes and rules of it fascinating. Then the more I read the more I could liken it to situations in today’s real-life society. I would personally recommend reading Broken Earth as that introduces you to Mal and it allows you to understand his character and actions in The Shining City. I have to admit the one saying that kept springing to mind whilst reading about the fantastic “Shining City” was “All that glitters is not gold”. The whole time it is being described I was getting that niggling feeling like there has to be a catch! Though after all Mal had been through, I really wished for him to have an easier time of things. When I read The Shining City and discovered City’s reality’s I think a lot of my concerns were correct!

Summing up, I’d say it was a really good second book in a great series! I enjoyed the morals and messages of the books and would look out for other titles by this author