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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
10/10. The Spear Cuts Through Water is not a book for everyone. It’s complex and haunting. Themes like cannibalism may feel deeply unsettling, but for me, that darkness was precisely what made the story so powerful. I read it in four days thanks to its mythic worldbuilding and layered storytelling. It is a bold, unforgettable book, that's for sure.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don’t know I’m crying right now don’t really know what to say I’m just . this was really good
If you liked The Fifth Season you’ll like this - I did not enjoy The Fifth Season and I also did not enjoy this.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
My August buddy read pick!
Hey I finally got to my buddy read from last month 😅. I was super excited to start this one, especially with my 24-hour readathon I was starting on the weekend.
This book was absolutely incredible! I wish my review could do it justice, but I know it can't. Oddly enough, I was kind of in the mood for something with a literary vibe like The Starless Sea or The Night Circus, but I was surprised this WAS THAT!
I loved the way Simon Jimenez wrote/structured The Spear Cuts Through Water. There aren't any chapter breaks (other than the various day sections and time of day); Instead, it's more of a continuous narrative, broken up by call-out sentences(?) throughout. It really feels like we're there for the entire journey! Also, the narrative flows between the main story, the play of the main narrative being performed, and the stories told by our grandmother / our life in the real world. It was a bit confusing at first, but as time went on it felt more natural and honestly, quite magical. Jimenez as would include thoughts of various people in italics throughout that added a lot in my opinion too!
The journey to me felt inspired by source material like Journey to the West, although this time we were headed East! Just like the prose, the worldbuilding was top notch. I felt so immersed in the world with it's culture, history, magical creatures and deities. The premise of "stealing" a god and being on the run is super fun!
I loved the duo of Jun and Keema of the Daware! Their constant sparring, the way they learned their respective histories and struggles. It was amazing.I especially enjoyed their short stint with divinity and the whole river scene. Oh, and obviously the ending was perfect! This is a love story to its blade-dented bone.
All of the myth surrounding the Moon god, the emperor and his three Terror sons was fascinating.I was shocked when the Emperor literally just...splatted fifty pages in. Did not expect THAT. The confrontations with the Three Terrors were all horrifying and unique, their powers making them feel like Resident Evil bosses! Shoutout to the unnamed youngest son; his story was truly the saddest and made his resulting actions/consequences an absolute tragedy.
I feel like I could blab on and on about individual scenes that were mind-blowing and small details throughout. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a high fantasy journey with a poetic prose that makes it stand out. It's not the fastest or easiest read, but WOW is it so worth it!
Hey I finally got to my buddy read from last month 😅. I was super excited to start this one, especially with my 24-hour readathon I was starting on the weekend.
This book was absolutely incredible! I wish my review could do it justice, but I know it can't. Oddly enough, I was kind of in the mood for something with a literary vibe like The Starless Sea or The Night Circus, but I was surprised this WAS THAT!
I loved the way Simon Jimenez wrote/structured The Spear Cuts Through Water. There aren't any chapter breaks (other than the various day sections and time of day); Instead, it's more of a continuous narrative, broken up by call-out sentences(?) throughout. It really feels like we're there for the entire journey! Also, the narrative flows between the main story, the play of the main narrative being performed, and the stories told by our grandmother / our life in the real world. It was a bit confusing at first, but as time went on it felt more natural and honestly, quite magical. Jimenez as would include thoughts of various people in italics throughout that added a lot in my opinion too!
The journey to me felt inspired by source material like Journey to the West, although this time we were headed East! Just like the prose, the worldbuilding was top notch. I felt so immersed in the world with it's culture, history, magical creatures and deities. The premise of "stealing" a god and being on the run is super fun!
I loved the duo of Jun and Keema of the Daware! Their constant sparring, the way they learned their respective histories and struggles. It was amazing.
All of the myth surrounding the Moon god, the emperor and his three Terror sons was fascinating.
I feel like I could blab on and on about individual scenes that were mind-blowing and small details throughout. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a high fantasy journey with a poetic prose that makes it stand out. It's not the fastest or easiest read, but WOW is it so worth it!
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a very weird book, and I enjoyed it for all its strangeness. I have nothing but praise for the way the author played with time and points of view. He further flexed his creative muscles in the creation of the Three Terrors and their mother; each one is unforgettable.
This is a personal preference, but I disliked the incessant use of smilies. I also found the primary love story lacking; the two characters involved were too walled-off. Their backgrounds and personalities felt mushy.
This is a personal preference, but I disliked the incessant use of smilies. I also found the primary love story lacking; the two characters involved were too walled-off. Their backgrounds and personalities felt mushy.
Oh 2nd person narration?
Nah I'm good.
Nah I'm good.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No