I've been meaning to read Daniel José Older's Shadowshaper series for long while, and between the looming stack of my TBR and how mega-popular it is at the library, I didn't have a chance until now. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and I ended up reading both Shadowshaper and Shadowhouse Fall in one fell swoop.

Older's musical prose, powerful characters, and much-loved setting make for a quick, engrossing read. Other reviewers were irritated by the slow pace at the beginning, and I can see where it comes from. However, the beauty of the writing, Sierra's absolutely fantastic feminist character, the thematic work concerning racism and misogynoir encouraged me to keep reading. Though my personal relationship with New York City and Brooklyn is a complicated one, I could feel Older's love of the place: what it has been and what it could continue to be if gentrification is fought off.

If you love New York City, if you want some justice, if you want some heckin' good art, if you want realistic characters that make you laugh: read this series.