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Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
I can't think of something I didn't love about this book. The way that it's written is so interesting. The worldbuilding felt so complete. I felt less like I was reading a story and more like I was reading a history book from another world. In the best possible way. I love how the author took the time to explain little details, stuff that might not have mattered narratively but really helped the reader understand the nature of the world we stepped into. One of my favorite stylistic decisions was
The way things were described were just beautiful. Even the grisly parts were in their own way. It was such vivid imagery, and I ate it up truly. God, and the relationship between Keema and Jun was written so well. It evolved so naturally considering who they were and how they came together. Absolutely masterful work
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Vomit, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Murder
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts
I feel something moved inside me.
I will absolutely check out the author's other book(s)
Wow.
Just wow.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Classism
The narrative mixes first, second, and third person in a way that pulled me into the characters and enveloped me in the story's moods - ranging from somber to horrified to heart-racing action and everything in between. The writing style evokes oral storytelling, and I think that worked well. A major theme that the novel explores is how stories tie people together and define them, and the way the second person narration ties into the third person narrative emphasizes that. There were moments throughout the story where I truly thought "This was a beautiful way to tell this tale."
The main story is of Jun and Keema, who by chance join together to shepherd a runaway god. Their country has been ruled by a despotic imperial dynasty that has drawn their magical powers from this god, and the three princes - the Three Terrors - will stop at nothing to reclaim her. Jun and Keema's encounters with the Three Terrors create tense and quick action sequences, with a brutality that the story does not shy away from, but also does not dwell in. There is violence, body horror, and cannibalism, but it never felt gratuitous.
There is also a romanticism underpinning the narrative, a yearning for belonging and love that is central to the narrative because our need for love and belonging is central to our humanity. This is not a romance genre novel though, so I hesitate to add a romance tag, even as some of the romantic sentiments in the story took my breath away.
Overall, I loved this book. The style, plot, characters, and setting all worked together to create a story that grabbed my heart and pulled it into a fantastical, brutal, romantic place.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, Cannibalism, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Body horror, Incest, Misogyny
Minor: Ableism
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Excrement, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Torture, Cannibalism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
It faces head-on how thoughtlessly cruel humanity can be, but also tells a story of community, love, and hope despite that.
And incredible unique storytelling! A story weaving between ancestral folk tales of bloody capricious gods and the crushing isolating reality of the present.
——Rambling below——
Cultural diaspora: The relationship of a person and their family’s cultural identity was such a strong theme in this. I think the discussion of this theme is so important in today’s world — where so many people have moved thousands of miles from their home and started a new life in a new country. The majority of the time their new home encourages/forces cultural integration.
America is a huge proponent of this, with our “melting pot” ideology— it’s so often seen as a positive, disregarding that a person would have to cut away or dilute the distinguishable parts of your culture to be one “cohesive” American culture. (Even “white Americans” have lost their identities. Rarely do we celebrate any cultural holidays that would be common in our home countries or if we do they are only the ones that could be commercialized (St. Patrick’s, Oktoberfest))
The fact that the MC had a complicated relationship with his heritage (never having set foot on his people’s land, not one living relative having done so, and hiding or mocking his heritage) but still was able to experience the Inverted Theater… it was beautiful. I’m torn that he won’t remember any of it. Hopefully, in his subconscious, something will spark a change so he could find happiness/purpose in his life.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Classism
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Cannibalism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail