Reviews

The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate

thebeeka's review

3.75

 I've never read anything with a hornier protagonist.

beautyisterror's review

2.75

 This is a take on Dracula I’d never seen before: it’s a retelling of the Demeter’s journey as told by the captain’s secret log. Not only we see how the terror develops on the ship as Dracula keeps getting rid of the sailors one by one, but we see how he plays on the captain’s mind and feeds on his dreams and desires. The language used was beautiful and incredibly melodic, definitely erotic (even if, as the tale goes on the horror overtakes the captain’s other feelings and emotions) but I’m a bit unsure on what I think of the actual message it brought forward, as it kind of felt a bit as if the book was saying to deny one’s own “forbidden desires” (the forbidden desires here are being gay). I hope I understood it wrong because I was a bit sleepy when I read it and I’m not sure I grasped everything. 

coffeedragon's review against another edition

3.75

read this one a few weeks back and wow, WOW. It's giving origins of DDDNE 😂😂 which then makes me question who was the og DDDNE "creator" (creators). I honestly hate rats but I just couldn't not read this book, I'm so glad it was translated (from Spanish) otherwise I would have never heard of it!

I'm actually so amazed and confused that something so...THIS was created by a Mexican author. Obviously gay men exist everywhere but I've only ever known the homophobic, religious, and machista side of MX. This was like uh-uh, I present to you gay desire but with a horror twist

And now here I am, about to read Dracula...for science 😏

Honestly, idk if I'd recommend this to just anyone. It's not a book for everyone but it's definitely a book I'm not going to forget (and would love to reread at some point). Actually, I'd also love a Spanish copy!! And, well, a copy in general since I borrowed this from the library 

souymuilk's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

embargo's review

3.0

This was leaned heavily to the gross out side of horror, which isn't my favorite, but was well written/translated. Also interesting in the cultural context- don't skip the forward.

Will also warn, for audiobook listeners, found the narrator to be very tonally repetitive.

mj_them's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

virgilsinferno's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A lot of the horror aspect happens in the last third, though there's a couple spooky moments before then. The previous two thirds are filled with the captain being perverted and horny, which I wasn't the biggest fan of. I don't mind erotic and horror blending but I don't think this does it well. The narrator of the audiobook does lend a nice voice to it. I think this one would be better read physically though.

milkymoo's review

4.0

This is extremely horny, extremely gothic, and freefalls into tragedy when the time comes. I think this book is an incredible experience but I do think you have to go in with the right expectations. 

houdini14's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

candaceross321's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

4.0