Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
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:
Yes
This book was intense. I’m not sure that it landed on any particular argument for a lot of its themes, but it definitely explores different perspectives in them — and several days after finishing it, I’m still thinking about it and chewing over some parts. I found the exploration of diaspora and what’s lost in the scattering of descendents really powerful; as a generic “generally Western European” white person, it was really interesting to think about my disconnection from my ancestors and stories and what that does to me as a person versus the narrator’s experience. Warning: It is VERY violent and grotesque. I’m still thinking about the ways Jimenez ties sex, violence, and power together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, War
Minor: Suicide
dark
reflective
sad
medium-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
What a gruesome, beautiful story. (Though maybe a bit too gruesome for gruesome’s sake?)
It faces head-on how thoughtlessly cruel humanity can be, but also tells a story of community, love, and hope despite that.
And incredible unique storytelling! A story weaving between ancestral folk tales of bloody capricious gods and the crushing isolating reality of the present.
And for all that the story says it’s a love story (and it is!) it is a slow burn, realistic, and bittersweet story.
——Rambling below——
Cultural diaspora: The relationship of a person and their family’s cultural identity was such a strong theme in this. I think the discussion of this theme is so important in today’s world — where so many people have moved thousands of miles from their home and started a new life in a new country. The majority of the time their new home encourages/forces cultural integration.
America is a huge proponent of this, with our “melting pot” ideology— it’s so often seen as a positive, disregarding that a person would have to cut away or dilute the distinguishable parts of your culture to be one “cohesive” American culture. (Even “white Americans” have lost their identities. Rarely do we celebrate any cultural holidays that would be common in our home countries or if we do they are only the ones that could be commercialized (St. Patrick’s, Oktoberfest))
The fact that the MC had a complicated relationship with his heritage (never having set foot on his people’s land, not one living relative having done so, and hiding or mocking his heritage) but still was able to experience the Inverted Theater… it was beautiful. I’m torn that he won’t remember any of it. Hopefully, in his subconscious, something will spark a change so he could find happiness/purpose in his life.
It faces head-on how thoughtlessly cruel humanity can be, but also tells a story of community, love, and hope despite that.
And incredible unique storytelling! A story weaving between ancestral folk tales of bloody capricious gods and the crushing isolating reality of the present.
——Rambling below——
Cultural diaspora: The relationship of a person and their family’s cultural identity was such a strong theme in this. I think the discussion of this theme is so important in today’s world — where so many people have moved thousands of miles from their home and started a new life in a new country. The majority of the time their new home encourages/forces cultural integration.
America is a huge proponent of this, with our “melting pot” ideology— it’s so often seen as a positive, disregarding that a person would have to cut away or dilute the distinguishable parts of your culture to be one “cohesive” American culture. (Even “white Americans” have lost their identities. Rarely do we celebrate any cultural holidays that would be common in our home countries or if we do they are only the ones that could be commercialized (St. Patrick’s, Oktoberfest))
The fact that the MC had a complicated relationship with his heritage (never having set foot on his people’s land, not one living relative having done so, and hiding or mocking his heritage) but still was able to experience the Inverted Theater… it was beautiful. I’m torn that he won’t remember any of it. Hopefully, in his subconscious, something will spark a change so he could find happiness/purpose in his life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
emotional
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: 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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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
This was such a good book.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-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
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
☆ Fun Factor 1/5 (this is one of the most challenging things I've ever read)
☆ Writing Style 3/5 (definitely not for everyone)
☆ Characters 4/5 (a huge cast)
☆ Plot 3/5 (A relatively simple plot told in a very convoluted way)
☆ Setting 5/5
☆ Feels 3/5
☆ Spiciness 2/5
☆ Gore 5/5
If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for mild sexual situations, violence, body horror, frequent mentions of sexual assault, disturbing imagery, dismemberment, cannibalism, gore...this one goes to some really dark places
☆FOR FANS OF: Dark fairy tales; The Neverending Story
Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆/5
☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ "You"
Review: A story of a thousand voices
This is one of the densest, hardest to read, most imaginatively told novels I've ever read. You'll know probably within the first 40 pages if this is for you or not. Every single character is purposefully given a POV even if it's just a single line, and the perspective changes from first, second, and third. All the different tenses are used. While this is incredibly cool, it can be extremely off-putting to the detriment of the story itself.
If you have the stamina to endure the way this story is being told to you, you get a very dark adventurous fantasy tale that spans literal generations of people and what's real and unreal is questionable at best. The story takes place in the Inverted Theatre, a literal theatre of dreams and nightmares, and the whole novel feels just as hazy and bizarre as trying to piece together a fever dream.
☆ Writing Style 3/5 (definitely not for everyone)
☆ Characters 4/5 (a huge cast)
☆ Plot 3/5 (A relatively simple plot told in a very convoluted way)
☆ Setting 5/5
☆ Feels 3/5
☆ Spiciness 2/5
☆ Gore 5/5
If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for mild sexual situations, violence, body horror, frequent mentions of sexual assault, disturbing imagery, dismemberment, cannibalism, gore...this one goes to some really dark places
☆FOR FANS OF: Dark fairy tales; The Neverending Story
Ultimate verdict: ☆☆☆/5
☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ "You"
Review: A story of a thousand voices
This is one of the densest, hardest to read, most imaginatively told novels I've ever read. You'll know probably within the first 40 pages if this is for you or not. Every single character is purposefully given a POV even if it's just a single line, and the perspective changes from first, second, and third. All the different tenses are used. While this is incredibly cool, it can be extremely off-putting to the detriment of the story itself.
If you have the stamina to endure the way this story is being told to you, you get a very dark adventurous fantasy tale that spans literal generations of people and what's real and unreal is questionable at best. The story takes place in the Inverted Theatre, a literal theatre of dreams and nightmares, and the whole novel feels just as hazy and bizarre as trying to piece together a fever dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
Honestly, it did drag at some points, but overall I really enjoyed it. The writing is very meandering and poetic, I wouldn't call it purple exactly but it is a lot if you like more straightforward prose. I really really liked what the author does with the first, second and third person POV in the narrative, it was very interesting and cool and I personally haven't seen anything exactly like this before.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Incest, Rape