Scan barcode
strawb3rrysugar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
If you're looking for a grand, epic fantasy that's unlike anything you've read before, and you're patient enough for a non-linear reading experience that shifts POVs (and narration styles) and timelines every couple of pages, I recommend this book. It took a good while for me to "get into" it, or to even really know what's going on, but I believe this to be the author's intention - you will have lots of questions and few answers. Also, do look up the TWs ahead of time. This book can get unflinchingly grisly at some points; this does not reflect upon my overall review of the book, but if you can't stomach kind of intense gore, maybe pass on this one.
As is the case with a lot of 500+ page books, this book plays the long game - you will spend a good portion of it not entirely clued into what's going on. While it starts slow and sometimes lulls in the middle, the third act is excellently crafted. Anyone who loves a gritty, deeply human fantasy would enjoy this.
As is the case with a lot of 500+ page books, this book plays the long game - you will spend a good portion of it not entirely clued into what's going on. While it starts slow and sometimes lulls in the middle, the third act is excellently crafted. Anyone who loves a gritty, deeply human fantasy would enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use
Violence, war, trauma, and ableism are described often and in great detail, as they're core themes to the book. So there's a lot of the above, sometimes depicted cruelly - people in power enjoying the suffering of others to a strong degree. There's also many uses of the word cr*pple, and a sickly talking tortoise that's called "the Defective one." Some of the ableism is directed at mc Keema since he only has one arm. A lot of vomit scenes/mentions. A lot of references to bodily functions in general - piss, poop, and so on. Sexual content includes references to pornographic tablets sold by a street vendor and some sexual interactions with the main two MCs, eventuallycadence99's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
5.0
It’s so rare that I find a book that is truly top of my list, five stars, yet this one has absolutely hit it out of the park. A rolling, poetic masterpiece that weaves together two ends of a long tapestry with such beautiful precision. I listened to this one on audio and I’d HIGHLY recommend the experience as it very much feels in the style of oral storytelling. I suspect that this book will stay on my mind for a long time, and it has certainly earned a spot among my all time favorite reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, War, Death of parent, Torture, Violence, Grief, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Addiction, and Alcohol
niakantorka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every other year there’s a book among the many books one reads that’s unlike anything else. It can be the way of storytelling like in The Time Traveler’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger) or the play with composite and punctuation marks in The Stone Heart (Arno Schmidt) or the gargantuan idea in The Dark Forest (Liu Cixin). Amazingly, The Spear Cuts Through Water was also such a book for me.
Why did I think it is so special?
- There’s the way the story within the story which also contains countless other stories is told.
- Then there is a potpourri of povs and tenses and among it everyone’s (except mine’s) least favourite second person pov. The narrator changes between paragraphs or even between sentences. One has to get used to it in the beginning but this unique style adds so much to the magic of this book.
- There are different time lines, a more or less modern one where there are cars and telephones and a war, the one of The Old Country where gods and magic rule and where your life can be forfeit in the blink of an eye, and the dream sphere where both worlds meet in a play on the stage of The Inverted Theatre set between The Moon and The Water and conducted by their child.
- Our protagonists in The Old Country’s storyline are on a quest to help the escaped Moon goddess to change the ruling of the country which implies to kill off her children and grandchildren. Let’s just say with one and a half exceptions this family is a living nightmare and one can relate to her wishes pretty soon. Oh, the two guys, Keema and Jun, have got 5 days to get this accomplished. No pressure.
- Our protagonist in the modern time is more elusive and maybe one isn’t as engaged in her family tale as in the other thread running but both are and will be connected.
- Its language is vivid, its imagery vast, and it gave me the most superb fairytale vibes.
- It’s also a very gruesome and cruel book which contains descriptions of all sorts of mental and physical violence and abuse. I went in without knowing more than its summary but I’m not one to be disturbed by a fantasy setting.
That said, I can see how this is not a book for everyone. And yet I loved reading it so very much.
I can imagine that The Spear Cuts Through Water would be an amazing play or movie and - now that I know the story - is a worthwhile audiobook to listen to. Though I’m not sure it’s a good idea to try the latter from the beginning because it takes a while to get used to its style and to make the connections between its different parts.
This is a book for people who love to be surprised, who like a challenge, and who can be patient when it comes to gathering what it’s all about. You’ll be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind tale about life, love, and - yes - also about death.
Why did I think it is so special?
- There’s the way the story within the story which also contains countless other stories is told.
- Then there is a potpourri of povs and tenses and among it everyone’s (except mine’s) least favourite second person pov. The narrator changes between paragraphs or even between sentences. One has to get used to it in the beginning but this unique style adds so much to the magic of this book.
- There are different time lines, a more or less modern one where there are cars and telephones and a war, the one of The Old Country where gods and magic rule and where your life can be forfeit in the blink of an eye, and the dream sphere where both worlds meet in a play on the stage of The Inverted Theatre set between The Moon and The Water and conducted by their child.
- Our protagonists in The Old Country’s storyline are on a quest to help the escaped Moon goddess to change the ruling of the country which implies to kill off her children and grandchildren. Let’s just say with one and a half exceptions this family is a living nightmare and one can relate to her wishes pretty soon. Oh, the two guys, Keema and Jun, have got 5 days to get this accomplished. No pressure.
- Our protagonist in the modern time is more elusive and maybe one isn’t as engaged in her family tale as in the other thread running but both are and will be connected.
- Its language is vivid, its imagery vast, and it gave me the most superb fairytale vibes.
- It’s also a very gruesome and cruel book which contains descriptions of all sorts of mental and physical violence and abuse. I went in without knowing more than its summary but I’m not one to be disturbed by a fantasy setting.
That said, I can see how this is not a book for everyone. And yet I loved reading it so very much.
I can imagine that The Spear Cuts Through Water would be an amazing play or movie and - now that I know the story - is a worthwhile audiobook to listen to. Though I’m not sure it’s a good idea to try the latter from the beginning because it takes a while to get used to its style and to make the connections between its different parts.
This is a book for people who love to be surprised, who like a challenge, and who can be patient when it comes to gathering what it’s all about. You’ll be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind tale about life, love, and - yes - also about death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Physical abuse, Blood, Mental illness, Death, Dysphoria, Body horror, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Torture, and Gore
dryadsreadingnook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, and Death
Moderate: War, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Torture
jesslinnea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Cannibalism
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, and War
Gore is not a main component of this book, so the detail is usually minimal. However violence and death/murder are very commonplace.sunjaybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
This book has it all! Gender, family trauma, psychic tortoises, ableism, gay sex, moral ambiguity, genocide, the broad scope of history, magic and myth. It's beautifully written and also deeply deeply violent and yet still humanistic in its portrayal of the aggressors, victims, and all the morally ambiguous people in between.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Excrement, War, Ableism, Alcoholism, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Classism, Self harm, Suicide, and Genocide
atomicrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Self harm, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
razzberry_pi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Book was a little hard to get into at first as I generally dislike second-person narration, but glad I stuck it out as the narration switches frequently and I eventually got the hang of the authors style.
At no point in this story did it go the way I was expecting it to (/pos). Jimenez is able to balance a bunch of different characters and plot threads simultaneously while incorporating them in unexpected and interesting ways.
At no point in this story did it go the way I was expecting it to (/pos). Jimenez is able to balance a bunch of different characters and plot threads simultaneously while incorporating them in unexpected and interesting ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Ableism, War, and Child abuse
Minor: Colonisation and Xenophobia
poetry_shaman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content, Trafficking, and Sexual assault
boglord's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.25
(Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
Spoiler Free Summary: “You” are pulled out of your day to day world and into the Inverted Theater, carrying only memories of your lola’s stories, and a spear that has been passed down for generations. The show? The 5 day journey of Keema of the Daware Tribe and Jun the Red Peacock as they cross the country carrying precious cargo and running from the Terrors of a crumbling empire. Along the way, they must contend with a magic like they’ve never seen before, talking telepathic tortoises, the unbearable pressure of family and legacy, and the very Rhythm of the World itself.
Where do I even start with this book?
First of all, I loved it. The book takes its reader through dreams, into a magical theater, across countries, into the spirit world and out again. It spans lifetimes but also only five days. It’s language is lyrical and poetic but also incredibly blunt, gory, and gruesome. Its genre bending in its style, use of multiple perspectives and constant shifting through time and space, but also solidly Epic Fantasy in nature. And I was hooked with every page. The characters are tragic but joyful through so many terrible things that happen to them. It is a love story.
However, it may not be for everyone! That isn’t even necessarily a bad thing; this book knows who it’s ideal audience is. The “chapters” read more like sections or Books within the book itself. If you are the kind of reader who likes to finish a chapter before setting the book down, be prepared for long stretches of reading. The story itself is intricate and can sometimes be confusing! Because the point of view can change at a moments notice between paragraphs (and even sometimes in the middle of a sentence), it took me a moment to settle into the writing while also paying attention to who’s thought I was hearing. After the first fourth of the book however, it became natural to hear the important passing thoughts of those our main character pass during their journey—it fleshed out the world and made every experience in the Smiling Sun’s empire all the more real. That being said, definitely confusing at times!
Overall, this book touched me deeply. I admit to crying at least twice while reading this book. The themes of family, legacy, redemption, and love were poignant and left me thinking every time I managed to put the book down. If you are looking for a rollercoaster of a book that will never go the direction you think it will, I highly recommend this upcoming release!!
Spoiler Free Summary: “You” are pulled out of your day to day world and into the Inverted Theater, carrying only memories of your lola’s stories, and a spear that has been passed down for generations. The show? The 5 day journey of Keema of the Daware Tribe and Jun the Red Peacock as they cross the country carrying precious cargo and running from the Terrors of a crumbling empire. Along the way, they must contend with a magic like they’ve never seen before, talking telepathic tortoises, the unbearable pressure of family and legacy, and the very Rhythm of the World itself.
Where do I even start with this book?
First of all, I loved it. The book takes its reader through dreams, into a magical theater, across countries, into the spirit world and out again. It spans lifetimes but also only five days. It’s language is lyrical and poetic but also incredibly blunt, gory, and gruesome. Its genre bending in its style, use of multiple perspectives and constant shifting through time and space, but also solidly Epic Fantasy in nature. And I was hooked with every page. The characters are tragic but joyful through so many terrible things that happen to them. It is a love story.
However, it may not be for everyone! That isn’t even necessarily a bad thing; this book knows who it’s ideal audience is. The “chapters” read more like sections or Books within the book itself. If you are the kind of reader who likes to finish a chapter before setting the book down, be prepared for long stretches of reading. The story itself is intricate and can sometimes be confusing! Because the point of view can change at a moments notice between paragraphs (and even sometimes in the middle of a sentence), it took me a moment to settle into the writing while also paying attention to who’s thought I was hearing. After the first fourth of the book however, it became natural to hear the important passing thoughts of those our main character pass during their journey—it fleshed out the world and made every experience in the Smiling Sun’s empire all the more real. That being said, definitely confusing at times!
Overall, this book touched me deeply. I admit to crying at least twice while reading this book. The themes of family, legacy, redemption, and love were poignant and left me thinking every time I managed to put the book down. If you are looking for a rollercoaster of a book that will never go the direction you think it will, I highly recommend this upcoming release!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Excrement, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Incest
More...