City At My Feet

November 11, 2024
More’s first in his Mannahatta series posits an intriguing but uneven science fiction-fueled alternative history where America’s Indigenous people thrive thanks to incredible technologies gifted them by the mysterious Star Walkers. Lenape teenager Sakima Tamanend has always wanted to be a warrior in a patriarchal society that will not have it. When her power-hungry brother-in-law Machto inadvertently releases a mythical beast into near-future New York, Sakima gives chase, eager to prove herself. But being a warrior is tougher than it looks, and she’ll need all the help she can get, from unexpected allies to a strange alien cuff, if she wants to survive.
City at My Feet is conceptually riveting, built on an intensely creative world that still harbors remnants of contemporary life. New York as we know it, termed the “Land Below” here, is considered “primitive” and houses those humans beset by greed, corruption, and an overdependence on fossil fuels—leading them to a conflictual relationship with “Kahèsëna Hàki”—Mother Earth. The Lenape people, on the other hand, maintain a synergy with the land, bolstered by their impressive technology that includes bioengineered weapons and animals, referred to as “mech-predators” in the forest near Sakima’s home.
Sakima’s commitment to achieving warrior status drives her character and her quest, leading her to the Land Below and a host of run-ins with colorful characters. She undergoes her own share of trials on her path, many of which are instituted by Machto and his endless desire to conquer her spirit—and he comes dangerously close to winning that battle. It’s clear that More has a deep respect for the Lenape and Indigenous peoples of America, though underdeveloped characters and stiff prose get in the way of the story’s appeal. Still, this is an intriguing take on a hero’s journey, and Sakima’s motto—“why live, if you can’t be who you were meant to be”—rings true.
Takeaway: Futuristic Indigenous warrior seeks to prove herself in this multiverse adventure.
Comparable Titles: Christoffer V. Junros’s Origin Andromeda, Jessica Lee Sheppard’s Descending Into Darkness.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A