Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

33 reviews


One of the best fantasy books in the last five years. (full review on insta: dreareads_ and tiktok: dreareads)


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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous challenging dark reflective sad slow-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

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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

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-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

I read this and then immediately started the audio book. I felt completely immersed in this story. I enjoyed the constant back and forth between 3 perspectives. I also found it interesting that as much violence as there was, I could find empathy with the worst of the abusers. It was also a unique experience for every single character, background included, to have a voice. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Look, I'd been thinking of leaving my book club because we'd just had a run of duds, and I hadn't really attached to anything they picked this year. But this? This is a book that I might have passed up that has become definitely in my top three books this year. 

Someone in the club referred to it as a dream within a play within a myth, and that's the best I can describe it. The writing is fantastic, the mythology raw, and the romance subtle and beautiful. I love the chorus elements. I love the weave of the different narratives. I loved this book. It took me a long while to get through because it really required my whole attention to read which is a hard for me to do these days, but boy is it worth it. 

If you're in need to trigger warnings, I'd take the ones on this book with a grain of salt. While they are all definitely true, the book is rarely graphic and only one scene actually disturbed me (looking at you,  Second Terror).

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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.

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