Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

6 reviews

aurora4847's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I was very confused about this book before I listened to it, it was nothing like I expected it to be! I anticipated a run-of-the-mill story with some interesting narrative devices, but this was truly like nothing else I've ever read. It was confusing at first, but by the end of the first day I was deep in it. I loved the little interjections from the background characters especially. It was a lot darker than I expected, which wasn't bad but caught me a bit off guard, especially with regards to

The Defect

and the

cannibalism

. I think if I completely engulfed myself into the book I would've gotten way more out of it and appreciated it a lot more than I did, but even a more surface-level read was very enjoyable!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol

Minor: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy

This book is dark, but also things go by quick enough that you don't linger in all the horrible things. There are multiple scenes of cannibalism, from both POVs. People are mind-controlled, including to do harmful or sexual things against their will. There's a lot of upsetting stuff that happens to sentient tortoises.

msrobynsonreads's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

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

gueniverefey's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

dumpster_master's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

---

I don't think just leaving a review about the quality of this book alone is enough to express the deep wells of emotions that this book will take its readers. From the prose, to the naration that jumps in different modes of perspective, to the journey itself and the overall plot, and to the interconnected weave that connects its characters, this book is a masterpiece.

Much like the book will soon show you, prospective reader, this book benefits from the contextual lives of its audience. Many times will this book call upon experiences that may or may not ring familiar to you. Many times will this book call upon you to open yourself to it, like a proverbial elder calling upon you to listen to their tale, and to listen close.

Its prose is wonderfully vivid, yet it maintains a dreamlike air. Its descriptions are haunting, mystifying, and nauseating. It cuts you deep with emotion, makes you cringe with its brutality, and you will find yourself yearning for hope in its darkest moments.

It is a tale that needed to be told for those who are willing to listen.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Classism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide

fostley's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful 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: Complicated

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse

cozyscones's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark hopeful 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement, Vomit

Minor: Misogyny