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adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Look, I'd been thinking of leaving my book club because we'd just had a run of duds, and I hadn't really attached to anything they picked this year. But this? This is a book that I might have passed up that has become definitely in my top three books this year.
Someone in the club referred to it as a dream within a play within a myth, and that's the best I can describe it. The writing is fantastic, the mythology raw, and the romance subtle and beautiful. I love the chorus elements. I love the weave of the different narratives. I loved this book. It took me a long while to get through because it really required my whole attention to read which is a hard for me to do these days, but boy is it worth it.
If you're in need to trigger warnings, I'd take the ones on this book with a grain of salt. While they are all definitely true, the book is rarely graphic and only one scene actually disturbed me (looking at you, Second Terror).
Someone in the club referred to it as a dream within a play within a myth, and that's the best I can describe it. The writing is fantastic, the mythology raw, and the romance subtle and beautiful. I love the chorus elements. I love the weave of the different narratives. I loved this book. It took me a long while to get through because it really required my whole attention to read which is a hard for me to do these days, but boy is it worth it.
If you're in need to trigger warnings, I'd take the ones on this book with a grain of salt. While they are all definitely true, the book is rarely graphic and only one scene actually disturbed me (looking at you, Second Terror).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
I don't think just leaving a review about the quality of this book alone is enough to express the deep wells of emotions that this book will take its readers. From the prose, to the naration that jumps in different modes of perspective, to the journey itself and the overall plot, and to the interconnected weave that connects its characters, this book is a masterpiece.
Much like the book will soon show you, prospective reader, this book benefits from the contextual lives of its audience. Many times will this book call upon experiences that may or may not ring familiar to you. Many times will this book call upon you to open yourself to it, like a proverbial elder calling upon you to listen to their tale, and to listen close.
Its prose is wonderfully vivid, yet it maintains a dreamlike air. Its descriptions are haunting, mystifying, and nauseating. It cuts you deep with emotion, makes you cringe with its brutality, and you will find yourself yearning for hope in its darkest moments.
It is a tale that needed to be told for those who are willing to listen.
Much like the book will soon show you, prospective reader, this book benefits from the contextual lives of its audience. Many times will this book call upon experiences that may or may not ring familiar to you. Many times will this book call upon you to open yourself to it, like a proverbial elder calling upon you to listen to their tale, and to listen close.
Its prose is wonderfully vivid, yet it maintains a dreamlike air. Its descriptions are haunting, mystifying, and nauseating. It cuts you deep with emotion, makes you cringe with its brutality, and you will find yourself yearning for hope in its darkest moments.
It is a tale that needed to be told for those who are willing to listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide
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:
No
This book genuinely shattered my expectations at pretty much EVERY turn. It is widely hyped up and recommended, but all the blurbs and summaries didn't seem that interesting to me... in the end, however, I am glad I read it despite that as this is truly a masterwork of literature.
Boldly experimental and written with beautiful, rich imagery and poetic prose, The Spear Cuts Through Water is a thrilling fantasy adventure in the vein of an ancient epic of oral history, a heartwrenching exploration into what it means to have a heritage, and, of course, a love story to its blade-dented bone.
Weaving together first, second, and third-person POVs, various periods of time, myth and reality, and the historical and the personal, this novel creates a truly unique reading experience that made me feel like I was part of the grand tapestry of the work, that my reading it was part of the story along with everything else. If you are part of a diaspora or a third culture kid, you may cry. I cried.
But even without those larger-than-life themes and literary experimentation, the book is great just on plot and characters alone. The story of Jun and Keema is extremely compelling and exciting - although, as a warning, there is a lot of fantasy gore and violence. There is a great balance of the epic scope of their adventure and the focus on Jun, Keema, and other characters as people with complexities and distinct, believable personalities that come through in the prose. You get extremely invested in their survival, how close they grow to each other, and, like the "you" of the novel, whom the story of Jun and Keema is being told to ... whether or not they can express to each other how they feel.
First 5-star read of the year - originally 4.75, but honestly as I was writing the review, I realised it was worth a 5.
Boldly experimental and written with beautiful, rich imagery and poetic prose, The Spear Cuts Through Water is a thrilling fantasy adventure in the vein of an ancient epic of oral history, a heartwrenching exploration into what it means to have a heritage, and, of course, a love story to its blade-dented bone.
Weaving together first, second, and third-person POVs, various periods of time, myth and reality, and the historical and the personal, this novel creates a truly unique reading experience that made me feel like I was part of the grand tapestry of the work, that my reading it was part of the story along with everything else. If you are part of a diaspora or a third culture kid, you may cry. I cried.
But even without those larger-than-life themes and literary experimentation, the book is great just on plot and characters alone. The story of Jun and Keema is extremely compelling and exciting - although, as a warning, there is a lot of fantasy gore and violence. There is a great balance of the epic scope of their adventure and the focus on Jun, Keema, and other characters as people with complexities and distinct, believable personalities that come through in the prose. You get extremely invested in their survival, how close they grow to each other, and, like the "you" of the novel, whom the story of Jun and Keema is being told to ... whether or not they can express to each other how they feel.
First 5-star read of the year - originally 4.75, but honestly as I was writing the review, I realised it was worth a 5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content
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
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
I sobbed the last 50 pages. It was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
Wow, just wow. Once in a life time books. I hope they study this, I’m sure they will. Had such an intense feeling of déjà vu, when reading this. Very spiritual about stories- should I tell Morgan about this book? Yeah I’m probably going to. “We have such raw power to tell our own story.” changed how I view the world. I didn’t find the switches confusing, sometimes we just don’t know a whole story and we never will. Like the story of how Keema lost his arm, “believe whatever lie you want.” And when the pieces do fit into place it made me gasp and sit on the edge of my seat. Was I lost for the first 50 % yes. Did I need to read lots of summaries? Yes. Was it low stakes? Yes. But sometimes it just be goofy. Maybe the story doesn’t make sense, what important is that it’s told at all. I was trying to figure out so the moon is mom and wife? Ewwwwwwww. But I’m sure myths did that before. Kronos did that. Eating people?? Ewwwww. But hey not every part is right.not every part is nice. Not every part makes sense. And that’s the point. Loved this book so much! Lessons I have learned will live on in my spiritual life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Incest, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Murder
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:
Yes
'The Spear Cuts Through Water' by Simon Jimenez is a thoughtful fantasy that weaves together stories of gods, tortoises, the Moon, and more.
The story shifts between a play being put on in an drowned theater and the tale that is being performed all within the frame narrative of a young boy dealing with family issues. In a fantastical land, the emperor is preparing to make a pilgrimage to search for immortality. An act of violence the night before he leaves sets off a series of events that ripple out from the palace and ensnares two young men, one a soldier working at a gate and the other fleeing his past. As the men travel together to complete tasks that have been set for them, they grow closer to each other and the world that surrounds them.
Jimenez creates a dazzling fantasy filled with evocative prose, compelling characters, and a lush world. The play between the characters watching the performed story and the actual events being performed weave well together to create a story that goes far beyond both singular places. Jimenez perfectly fits the story to a single novel and everything feels well resolved at the end. Action moments are well choreographed and balance well with the tender moments of heart that fill the story. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about it. This book was pure magic and I am already considering Jimenez a favorite author. I'm excited to check out their first book and the books they publish in the future.
The story shifts between a play being put on in an drowned theater and the tale that is being performed all within the frame narrative of a young boy dealing with family issues. In a fantastical land, the emperor is preparing to make a pilgrimage to search for immortality. An act of violence the night before he leaves sets off a series of events that ripple out from the palace and ensnares two young men, one a soldier working at a gate and the other fleeing his past. As the men travel together to complete tasks that have been set for them, they grow closer to each other and the world that surrounds them.
Jimenez creates a dazzling fantasy filled with evocative prose, compelling characters, and a lush world. The play between the characters watching the performed story and the actual events being performed weave well together to create a story that goes far beyond both singular places. Jimenez perfectly fits the story to a single novel and everything feels well resolved at the end. Action moments are well choreographed and balance well with the tender moments of heart that fill the story. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about it. This book was pure magic and I am already considering Jimenez a favorite author. I'm excited to check out their first book and the books they publish in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood
Minor: Sexual content, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Incest, Suicide, Torture, Cannibalism
Minor: Rape