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Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Genocide, Gore, Violence
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Classism
The highlights for me:
- This style of storytelling felt comforting, even when the subject matter got gory or disturbing. It gave the same sense as listening to a folktale, where some of the details feel nonsensical to a modern audience and you find yourself looking for and finding familiar archetypes despite some of the weirder concepts. Gods and goddesses, the anthropomorphic elements of moon and water, the heroes and antiheroes, the pacing of a journey - it all could have been told around a campfire. I also felt like the entire first song from Aida could have been applied to this story (every story, new or ancient, beggar tale, or work of art, all are tales of human failings, all are tales of love at heart).
- Keema of the Dwari tribe. What a stellar character! I did guess that
- the PURPLE BIRD. That full-circle arc was incredibly satisfying. In fact, there were several times where a callback was made and I would think to myself that this is a story that knows itself and its outcomes VERY well.
- the questionable morality of literally everyone but Keema. The moon was selfish; the tortoises were complicit as much as they were victims; the Terrors were awful but also understandable. The emperors - all of ‘em - were downright horrific, but things didn’t magically get better when their dynasty was removed.
- the framing narrative of the inverted theater and the fact that we never really knew who the narrator was, or where the old country was. I also loved the dreamlike quality - that also proved to be godlike - in that we got snippets of everyone’s thoughts as the narrative mentioned background characters.
The drawbacks:
- this was a loooooong story. I don’t think it could be shorter and still have the same impact, but it was a lot to get through.
- the deus ex machina was good (because it IS a love story) but it was also a deus ex machina. Literally.
- the entry into the story was confusing; it worked insofar that it had a dreamlike logic to it, but I spent more time than I wanted to wondering when the plot would show itself. Some of that is definitely on me as a reader, but it was something I noted early on.
- though I enjoyed the story and rated it highly, this isn’t something I can see myself picking up again to read for pleasure.
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Gore, War
Minor: Sexual content
Told through a shifting perspective that begins in second person, readers know they're in for something off-beat from page one. Adapting to the writing style took me a long moment, and even by the end I had to be actively engaged in the text to keep track of the POVs and the relevance they added to this epic quest/war/political unrest story. We track our spear's path across this epic fantastic landscape, coming to know and love the two men accompanying the journey as their goals entangle together.
Lush with descriptive metaphor and imagery, it's not anything close to what I would consider something bingeable. I would recommend consuming this novel piece-meal as thay allows for reflection on the lessons that can be taken from the narrative and the unique theatrical impact the writing takes.
I was also floored by the characters, and the complex nature of growth, pain, guilt, love, resentment, shame, and duty (to name a few themes) play in creating a person. I having a disabled character who was disadvantaged but strong in the face of it, and particularly respected the way his backstory was handled, in that he was shown as more than what he lacked. He was represented as a whole, even when others disagreed.
Check those content warnings, however, because there is a lot to be wary of. Cannabilism plays a large part in the plot of this book.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Excrement, Cannibalism, War
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement
This book changed my DNA. A frustrating, devastating, and blood soaked love story dedicated to fantasy lovers everywhere.
Two warriors are tasked with the impossible as they haul a dying mother god through the corrupt lands of her tyrannical children in hopes of stopping their reign once and for all. It holds no punches as it drags you hog tied through each gory act written like a play and told through the ever changing proverbial "I". As gory as the "Poppy Wars" and lyrical as "The Starless Sea", this is your next read for fantasy lovers everywhere. I repeat, read this book now!
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content