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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: 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
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism
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
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, War
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Worldbuilding: 4.5 stars
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide
I can't think of something I didn't love about this book. The way that it's written is so interesting. The worldbuilding felt so complete. I felt less like I was reading a story and more like I was reading a history book from another world. In the best possible way. I love how the author took the time to explain little details, stuff that might not have mattered narratively but really helped the reader understand the nature of the world we stepped into. One of my favorite stylistic decisions was
The way things were described were just beautiful. Even the grisly parts were in their own way. It was such vivid imagery, and I ate it up truly. God, and the relationship between Keema and Jun was written so well. It evolved so naturally considering who they were and how they came together. Absolutely masterful work
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Vomit, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement
I feel something moved inside me.
I will absolutely check out the author's other book(s)
Wow.
Just wow.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Classism
The narrative mixes first, second, and third person in a way that pulled me into the characters and enveloped me in the story's moods - ranging from somber to horrified to heart-racing action and everything in between. The writing style evokes oral storytelling, and I think that worked well. A major theme that the novel explores is how stories tie people together and define them, and the way the second person narration ties into the third person narrative emphasizes that. There were moments throughout the story where I truly thought "This was a beautiful way to tell this tale."
The main story is of Jun and Keema, who by chance join together to shepherd a runaway god. Their country has been ruled by a despotic imperial dynasty that has drawn their magical powers from this god, and the three princes - the Three Terrors - will stop at nothing to reclaim her. Jun and Keema's encounters with the Three Terrors create tense and quick action sequences, with a brutality that the story does not shy away from, but also does not dwell in. There is violence, body horror, and cannibalism, but it never felt gratuitous.
There is also a romanticism underpinning the narrative, a yearning for belonging and love that is central to the narrative because our need for love and belonging is central to our humanity. This is not a romance genre novel though, so I hesitate to add a romance tag, even as some of the romantic sentiments in the story took my breath away.
Overall, I loved this book. The style, plot, characters, and setting all worked together to create a story that grabbed my heart and pulled it into a fantastical, brutal, romantic place.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, Cannibalism, Death of parent, War
Moderate: Body horror, Incest, Misogyny
Minor: Ableism