This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is a fun prompt: “Book Titles That Include the Word [insert word of your choice here]”, and I glanced around my shelves and took a bit of a guess at what might be interesting, picking the word “city”. Let’s see what I’ve got!
- The Masked City,Ā by Genevieve Cogman.
I don’t entirely know why, but this is one of my favourites of this series — something about the atmosphere, and we’re still learning about the world, and because it’s strong on the Fae elements… And perhaps because it’s Venice. - A City on Mars,Ā by Kelly & Zack Weinersmith.
A great non-fiction look at how we could settle on Mars, what technology we’ve got that would work and what we still need to develop. Sadly, they’re not very optimistic — but it’s still a fascinating read, and they’re fun writers. - The City in Glass, by Nghi Vo.
An absolute fever-dream of a book: I keep repeating that description, but it’s apt. It’s gorgeous and grotesque and weird, and I had a great time with it. - The Buried City,Ā by Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
The author is the director of archaeology at Pompeii, and this book isĀ about Pompeii, so of course I was interested! It isn’tĀ only about Pompeii, also musing on why archaeology is worth doing andĀ what archaeology can do. - City of Stairs,Ā by Robert Jackson Bennett.
I actually want to reread this one so I can finish the trilogy — I only read the first two books. Both were really fascinating, and I do enjoy a fantasy mystery. - The Drowning City,Ā by Amanda Downum.
I’ve got to admit it’s been a long time since I read this one, but I remember enjoying the series a lot (though perhaps especially the second book,Ā The Bone Palace).Ā I can’t vouch for it as current-me, but past-me really enjoyed it. - The Shambling Guide to New York City,Ā by Mur Lafferty.
This is also a book I read quite a long time ago, and the details are somewhat obscured by time… but I know I enjoyed it, and found it a lot less gimmicky than I’d expected from the title. - The Just City,Ā by Jo Walton.
This is a fascinating thought experiment about how people might enact a thought experiment for real, and I really enjoyed the ride. - In the Watchful City,Ā by S. Qiouyi Lu.
This prompt is proving excellent at resurfacing books I’ve really enjoyed!Ā In the Watchful City was a great novella, though perhaps not for everyone (I just stumbled across someone else’s review where they hated pretty much everything about it, haha — and I did understanding their points). - City of Bones,Ā by Martha Wells.
There isĀ so much going on in this book, from weird gender stuff to different species interacting andĀ fantasy archaeology, and I really need to reread it.
NB: some of my linked reviews are quite old, and I don’t know if I stand by my thoughts and feelings from back then! The suck fairy might’ve visited in the last decade+ in some cases. I’m just going by fond memories and enthusiasm, and maybe I’ll revisit some of these books myself.
I like reading about cities.
They can practically be a whole character, after all…
Very clever choices. I went with Climate Change.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/07/ttt-world-is-getting-hotter-books-on.html
Anne@HeadFullofBooks recently posted…TTT: The World is Getting HOTTER. Books On Climate Change.
Yeah… that seems apt. Another heatwave here right now!
What a great choice! I have read City of Bones from your list. The first City book that comes to mind for me is City of Dark Magic which was a bizarre book but very memorable!
Brittany @ Perfectly Tolerable recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday āĀ Book Titles That Include the Word āGuideā
That’s one I haven’t tried, but I’m curious!
Interesting topic list. These all look really good.
Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – Book Titles That Include the Word Library/Bookstore/Bookshop
Thanks for dropping by!
Oooh good one! I love City of Stairs and the other books in the series
I really need to reread/get to #3!
City is a great word for one of these prompts!
Marg @ The Intrepid Reader recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Book That Include the Word Paris in the Title
It was surprisingly good for the first idea that popped into my head, haha.
Btw — I tried to come and comment back, but it wouldn’t let me for some reason. š
City of Bones is on my TBR!
I got the re-release as an ARC, but haven’t got round to rereading it yet…
So many of these sound good just from your description! Especially the ones about archeology, both fiction and nonfiction. I’m really curious to read City of Bones because I need to see how this fantasy archeology happens!
Haze @ The Book Haze recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Book Titles That Include the Word āSevenā
I really need to reread it and refresh my memory!
Oh, what a great word choice! It did indeed bring up some interesting titles for you. Two are on my TBR list: The Masked City, and The Shambling Guide to NYC. I was curious what “city” titles would be among my read books, so I checked my Goodreads shelves and came up with:
A City of Bells (Elizabeth Goudge) – one of my favorite of Goudge’s books
City of Gold and Shadows (Ellis Peters; one of the Felse mysteries)
The City of Gold And Lead (John Christopher, the Tripods trilogy)
The Emerald City of Oz (L. Frank Baum)
The City of Ember (Jeanne DePrau)
Hex and the City (Kate Johnson)
Jerusalem: City of the Book (Merav Mack)
Lark @ The Bookwyrm’s Hoard recently posted…Favorite Books With āDragonā In the Title
I really need to get to reading the Felse mysteries at some point, I love Cadfael.
City is a nice word choice! I have heard of a few on your list. I have The Devil in the White City on my TBR.
the bookworm recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday 7/7/26:Ā Book Titles That Include the Word āHotā
That one almost made it onto my list, I loved it!
“City” is a great, unique word choice. I love it!
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I was surprised how well it worked out since it was my first idea, haha!
Ohh City is a great pick! Quite a few of these are on my TBR and I love The Invisible Library Series (I need to reread and finish it) so I was super happy to see The Masked City on here!! It is a strong installment, I agree. The City of Glass is one I want to read but adding The Buried City to my TBR š
Veros @ Dark Shelf of Wonders recently posted…Top 10 āDeadā Books for Summer of Horror
The Masked City is just such a fun book!