City of Others, Jared Poon
City of Others, Jared Poon
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

City of Others

Author: Jared Poon

Narrator: David Lee Huynh

Unabridged: 9 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 01/13/2026


Synopsis

Dive into a world where magic lies hidden just below the surface in this charming urban fantasy full of workplace found family, queer romance, and supernatural creatures straight out of Southeast Asian lore, from debut author Jared Poon. 

In the sunny city of Singapore, the government takes care of everything—even the weird stuff.

Benjamin Toh is a middle manager in the Division for Engagement of Unusual Stakeholders (DEUS), and his job is straightforward: keep the supernatural inhabitants of Singapore happy and keep them out of sight. That is, don’t bother the good, normal citizens, and certainly don’t bother the bosses. Sure, he's overworked and understaffed, but usually, people (and senior management) don’t see what they don’t want to see. 
 
But when an entire housing estate glitches out of existence on what was meant to be a routine check-in, Ben has to scramble to keep things under control and stop the rest of the city from disappearing. He may not have the budget or the bandwidth, but he has the best—if highly irregular and supernaturally inclined—team to help him. Together, they’ll traverse secret shadow markets, scale skyscrapers, and maybe even go to the stars, all so they can just do their goddamn job. 
 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Holly Hearts Books on January 02, 2026

If you liked The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold, I think you’ll enjoy this but where that book follows a rugged detective with a troubled past working alone to help the magical creatures in the city, in City of Others you have the corporate version of that. Literally following a very very......more

Goodreads review by emma on November 26, 2025

Saw Jamie's review and got curious! A story of an overworked Singaporean government worker? That sounds like some of my friends... Jokes aside, I would like to appreciate the author and everyone else who helped in publishing a fantasy book about Southeast Asian folklore! I used to dream about days lik......more

Goodreads review by T on November 22, 2025

I had a blast with this one. What starts out as a funny romp turns out to carry a refreshing amount of depth in this urban fantasy novel full of monsters and mysteries. Set in an alternate version of Singapore, City of Others follows a government bureaucrat named Ben as he investigates a strange occ......more

Goodreads review by alyssa✨ on December 27, 2025

another mid book 🥲......more

Goodreads review by Leanna on January 04, 2026

This was such a fun and engaging read. I really enjoyed the concept of an overworked government agency tasked with handling supernatural occurrences, especially set in an alternate version of Singapore, it felt fresh and creative without being overwhelming. The worldbuilding was imaginative and easy......more


Quotes

 “Urban fantasy that vibes like The X-Men meets Parks and Recreation? A send-up of government bureaucracy that is also a magnificent homage to public service? Sign me up! I love it when a book makes me think, ‘I have never read anything like this before.’ City of Others is that book—such a unique and refreshing read!” —Megan Bannen, USA Today bestselling author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

City of Others delights and charms with a ragtag group of magical bureaucrats doing their best to save an entire city from being dragged out of reality. Poon seamlessly blends action, magic, romance, and the tight bonds of an understaffed workplace that truly believes in the good they’re doing. I absolutely adored this!" —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

“A whip-smart urban fantasy humming with the vibrant energy of Singapore and its chaotic magical inhabitants, this found family will welcome you in with open arms (and tentacles)!”—Molly O'Neill, author of Greenteeth

"Heartfelt and laugh out loud, City of Others is urban fantasy as you've never seen it before. Filled with Southeast Asian folklore, an eclectic cast of outsiders and a thoroughly satisfying takedown of bureaucracy, I smiled my way through this entire book. An absolute breath of fresh air." —Eliza Chan, Sunday Times bestselling author of Fathomfolk

"City of Others is a wickedly funny take on paranormal government bureaucracy that interlaces world-drowning stakes with incisive social commentary, extremely mandatory corporate team-building, and a ghost cat that refuses to be exorcised. Warm-hearted and delightful." —P. H. Low, Locus-, Ignyte-, and Rhysling-nominated author of These Deathless Shores

"From undead ducklings to prowling wyverns and market-going jiangshi, City of Others is an absolutely delightful mythological smorgasbord bursting with wit, humor, and a cast of vibrant characters that warmed my heart. It would be no exaggeration to say that my dream job is now a position at DEUS!" —Sophie Kim, Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho

City of Others is such a wildly fun ride—equal parts supernatural mystery and heartfelt workplace comedy. The overworked government crew steals the show: zany, chaotic, full of quirks and charm—they prove that colleagues aren’t just people you bicker with over the AC setting. Underlying all that mayhem was beautifully layered exploration of how we each grapple with love, grief, and the terrifying act of letting others in. The supernatural twists are pitch-perfect—think Monsters, Inc. meets Singaporean bureaucracy, with otherworldly creatures lurking just beneath the surface of suburban order. And the writing is so compulsively readable I couldn’t stop flipping the pages, desperate to see how the chaos would untangle. Full of twists, wit, and heart, this is one utterly unputdownable story.”—Kyla Zhao, author of The Fraud Squad and Valley Verified

"Full of wonder, tenderness, and breathtaking adventure, City of Others is a fresh and captivating fantasy that will grow roots in your heart." —Kylie Lee Baker, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

"A witty and entertaining insight into the bureaucracy that deals with the paranormal. Against the backdrop of vivid Singapore, Poon envelops you in the chaos and the magic of wrestling with spirits, deities, and ghosts."—Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune

A fun, twisty adventure through supernatural Singapore. Poon writes with humor and tenderness, skewering bureaucracy while immersing the reader in the beauty of this world. Absolutely delightful."—Julia Vee, author of Ebony Gate