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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.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Cannibalism
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.
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
Graphic: Death, Violence, Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide
Very dark at times, but a worthwhile journey,
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, Alcohol
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
Furthermore, it was such an interesting book, told in the 'theatre of dreams', and I loved the indigenous type storytelling and folkloric feel of it.
Mostly, I love the characters and prose of this book, but will warn that some of the content can be uncomfortable and to check trigger warnings before diving in.
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Cannibalism, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, War
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism
It deleted our long review just as we finished it because of writing it on glitchy mobile...
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Abandonment
Minor: Incest