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Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, War
Minor: Suicide
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
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: Ableism, Confinement, Torture, Cannibalism, Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, Excrement, War
Minor: Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol
Parts of the book reminded me of One Hundred Years of Solitude, which I love, but more full-on fantasy epic than magical realism, although it does give that vibe. It's a bit more fairytale like, or rather folk-tale like, in a way. The world building was very unique and interesting, too, based on filipino folklore which is not something I'm very familiar with. The characters were well-built (though I wished we delved more into their interiority and their thoughts), and the ending was satisfying and I love that it's a standalone. Full conclusion in one book babey!!
Now the things I didn't like so much, yeah, it got a bit draggy at some points, especially the "final battle". The action was fine but at some points I was like. Let's get on with the story, please T_T. Also, there are long, vivid descriptions of gore and body horror that felt a bit. Much. Not in the sense that it squicked me, but more so that it got boring after a while, like, sure, yeah, piss and shit and flesh okay, now what. A bit too much like the author was trying too hard to write something shocking or gross. Idk. I just wish we spent more time with the characters instead of this.
Also the whole plot is just a lot of bad stuff happening and I felt there were not enough moments that let me breathe during the narrative. There were some, but they were few and far between and always tainted because you knew there was some shit coming, so at some point the emotional impact of things going wrong got lessened, ngl.
I'd say it's still definitely worth reading at least for what it does well and for the writing, but I understand it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Incest, Rape
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, War
Minor: Sexual violence
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, War
Minor: Alcoholism