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Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Violence, Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism, Vomit
It's a classic hero's journey type of story and it's being told in such a different way that it surprised me. The POV switches really keep you focused on the story and actually thinking about it at the beginning in a way that's kind of impossible to describe.
I loved the prose and the almost lyrical way this story is told as if reciting it from memory out loud like a folk tale.
I also loved the main characters. I was rooting for them from the very beginning, especially Keema who always seemed to be the butt of the joke and got shit on for his missing arm. He deserved nice things. And June was just trying to make up for his past, for following the orders he was given without thinking about them. I have to admire his determination throughout the novel.
I will say that it took me a while to get used to the POV switching and I think that hindered my ability to grasp the world building and the story set up a bit, especially since I was listening to it rather than reading it physically. I knew that it was going to be a challenge in this format going into the book, so I just want to make sure others are aware of that as well.
On the surface, this is a hero's journey with a love story, but if you dig deeper this novel is about rising up against tyrannical government and healing what has been broken. It is beautifully written, even with the slightly confusing POV switches, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who reads fantasy books.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol
Great epic fantasy, many tangled pieces that all fall into place by the end. I liked weaving the past and present in with the characters and “you” the watcher of the story in the Inverted Theater. I was fascinated by the switching POVs. It reads like how I imagine an oral tradition play would be written down. I really enjoyed the themes of identity and how our actions can and can’t define us, how the past shapes us before we even got here.
But, I found it sometimes confusing or took me out of the narrative. I noticed I was reading moreso than being immersed. I didn’t connect with any specific character, which I had really hoped would happen.
Still, happy I read it. and I can see why it is a favorite for some and deeply confusing /not their cup of tea for others.
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Sexual violence, Excrement, Cannibalism
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content
Minor: Incest
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