Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

23 reviews

eleanora's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Grief, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Homophobia

babewiththepower's review against another edition

5.0

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

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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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

lizziaha's review against another edition

4.25

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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I saw a review that said that this would make a great studio ghibli film and I agree wholeheartedly! The world that Jimenez created feels so complete: foreign yet understandable and within reach. The magic is whimsical but easily twisted into horror in the wrong hands. Despite being a tale about suffering and tribulations, there is love at the core of everything. 
The mix of perspectives was a little hard to get used to at first, especially on audiobook. I think a full cast version of this audiobook would’ve helped. 
The anonymous “you” who the book is addressed to was very interesting character to me, since they seem to be generic enough that anyone might be able to project onto them.

I can’t remember if their gender is ever specified but at one point I did start to wonder if they might be a woman and not a man, but it was never confirmed one way or another as far as I can tell

For them to be largely unrecognizable, yet play such a pivotal role in the story is an interesting contrast. Their frank portrayal of their motivations as less than sincere at times brought life to the storytelling. This layered complexity was weaved in so seamlessly that it truly is a testament to Jimenez’s sheer ability in telling a cohesive story. 
This is a common complaint for me, but I wished we delved a bit deeper into the characters’ emotions and motivations. The character I felt like I had the most insight on was the second terror which was awful because he’s, of course, terrible. 
I also felt like something was missing in the portrayal of women. It’s not that they weren’t a part of the story—they are—but their characters just fell flat at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: War

Minor: Homophobia, Excrement

kaneebli's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, War

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Abandonment

Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping

gogglor's review against another edition

5.0

slow-paced

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This isn’t like anything I’ve ever read. The second person, the fourth wall breaking, the interlaced perspectives, the tone and mood - it’s incredible. Just an absolutely fantastic read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Gore, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War

Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Torture

There’s a lot of explicit ritual cannibalism in this book, and a bunch of other triggers, but trust me, it’s worth it.

chasinggrace's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional 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: No

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One of the most beautifully written love stories I’ve ever read. A fantastic queer representation set in a dense, lush world. The writing style is so unique and serves to add such depth to this story. A tale of lineage, familial threads, the complexity and interconnectedness of nature, and of pure, raw love. Expertly executed, this book shouldn’t be missed by both fans of the genre and any other experienced readers looking for a book that will make them FEEL again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Classism

lanid's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Police brutality, Cannibalism

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Vomit, Cannibalism

Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, Excrement, Abandonment

cadence99's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

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It’s so rare that I find a book that is truly top of my list, five stars, yet this one has absolutely hit it out of the park. A rolling, poetic masterpiece that weaves together two ends of a long tapestry with such beautiful precision. I listened to this one on audio and I’d HIGHLY recommend the experience as it very much feels in the style of oral storytelling. I suspect that this book will stay on my mind for a long time, and it has certainly earned a spot among my all time favorite reads.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol

rhi_'s review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Torture, Death of parent, Dysphoria

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Homophobia, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism