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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
What a wonderfully complex story about family, history, place, and belonging; one of my favourite reads this year!
I don't think that I could write a summary that would do it justice without spoiling anything, so I won't. What really made this stand out for me is the narration and plotting. Jimenez builds a delightful frame story that twists in on and intersects with itself in unexpected ways. In addition, he uses first, second, and third-person points of view to create narrative layers that happen as simultaneously as one can in a written narrative, creating extraordinary depth. This is the kind of depth to characters and world-building for which many fantasy authors use multiple POVs (as in, multiple characters, not multiple types) and interludes and I had no idea how static that style of narration could feel until reading this.
It's definitely a more challenging read, between the narrative choices and the fact that while there are breaks, there aren't chapters. It is definitely violent at times, though I think the cruelest moments are ones that happen "off-screen" that we hear about later. None of it feels gratuitous and the world itself is one of extremes, so it is not misplaced.
I don't think that I could write a summary that would do it justice without spoiling anything, so I won't. What really made this stand out for me is the narration and plotting. Jimenez builds a delightful frame story that twists in on and intersects with itself in unexpected ways. In addition, he uses first, second, and third-person points of view to create narrative layers that happen as simultaneously as one can in a written narrative, creating extraordinary depth. This is the kind of depth to characters and world-building for which many fantasy authors use multiple POVs (as in, multiple characters, not multiple types) and interludes and I had no idea how static that style of narration could feel until reading this.
It's definitely a more challenging read, between the narrative choices and the fact that while there are breaks, there aren't chapters. It is definitely violent at times, though I think the cruelest moments are ones that happen "off-screen" that we hear about later. None of it feels gratuitous and the world itself is one of extremes, so it is not misplaced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Here’s the thing: I can tell this is a wonderful book, but I just couldn’t pay attention. The characters did not click for me, and the structure was difficult to understand via audiobook. I also think, half of the middle section could have been cut out.
The setting was vivid and complex, the characters, diverse, and the plot mysterious. But overall, not for me.
I wouldn’t say no to trying it again in print, we will see.
The setting was vivid and complex, the characters, diverse, and the plot mysterious. But overall, not for me.
I wouldn’t say no to trying it again in print, we will see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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, Violence, Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
this book has me in tears i just finished it like i actually am cry.ing. because of it. this was written in such a unique way - the story structure took some serious time and close attention to really understand, which could be viewed as a demerit depending on how willing you are to commit to learning how to read the story. when i picked it up, though, i was turning page after page to hear more of this tale. i thought the inclusion of the second person perspective was interesting, since it's pretty rare to find, and i think it also helped the story become more personal to the reader. the language the author uses in conjunction with the story structure makes for something unlike anything i've ever read before; it was poetic, almost lyrical, truly a spectacle. the blossoming story of jun and keema's relationship was so perfect. the last 30 pages finishes the story perfectly. TALK ABOUT A SLOW BURN
i don't think everyone will enjoy this book, and i think y'all will agree too. depending on your favorite genres, this may brush just shy of what you would expect out of, say, an action-packed fantasy or a true romance novel.
me, however, i found this absolutely stunning. wonderful. unlike anything i have ever seen before. a breath-taking 5/5 stars for me
i don't think everyone will enjoy this book, and i think y'all will agree too. depending on your favorite genres, this may brush just shy of what you would expect out of, say, an action-packed fantasy or a true romance novel.
me, however, i found this absolutely stunning. wonderful. unlike anything i have ever seen before. a breath-taking 5/5 stars for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Excrement
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
Just a really fantastic fantasy book. Keema and Jun are a great pair of protagonists. There’s enough information about the world to be engaging and enough left unwritten to not feel bloated. I liked the layered storytelling of hearing from lola, watching the theater, and following the action directly and how those all interact and weave together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: War
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Rape, Slavery, Grief, War
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, War
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
This was the most beautiful and strange book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The prose was exquisite and the storyline was so unique and original. A fever dream of a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War
Moderate: Ableism