Reviews with content warning for Blood - Each Of Us A Desert

Knocked a fourth off the rating because that ending with no clue what happens to Xochitl was not enjoyable but ultimately leads to having faith I guess and at least I’m comforted that Emilia will still be there.

Content Warnings

plumpaperbacks's review

Go to review page

adventurous reflective slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Each of Us a Desert was my introduction to Oshiro’s work, and I can definitely see their potential in it. The characters and the world are both well-developed, and they have a very nice writing style, pretty yet simple. I also enjoyed the slow-burn sapphic romance and general queerness of the story.

However, the downfall for me was the extremely slow pacing. I was invested at first but slowly lost interest as the story dragged on, and I considered putting the book down unfinished. There was just barely enough intrigue for me to continue, which is why I took longer than I expected to read it.

Additionally, when I finally reached the end, I found it unsatisfying, and more open than I would’ve liked. Oshiro created something that could’ve been fascinating, but the meandering pace hindered that. I do think that the themes of faith and self-honesty and making your own path were interesting and managed well, though.

The last thing I’ll address is the unapologetic Latinx nature of the novel, something I’ve seen in many YA books, but as I recall, not quite to this extent. The story is full of Spanish poems and phrases and food, written in a way that’s also understandable for those like me with very little knowledge of the language. I did like this element.

While Each of Us a Desert wasn’t my cup of tea, I’d recommend it to those that enjoy slower stories, thematic stories, and unique fantasies. I plan to read Oshiro’s debut, which I will hopefully enjoy more.

Representation

full Latinx cast
main sapphic romance
numerous queer side characters

Content Warnings

liteartha's review

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

oh how i loved this!

we follow xochitl, the young cuentista of a small desert village called empalme. it is her responsibility alone to hear the dark personal stories of her community whenever they might need her, and to return these stories to the deity solís in a ritual that leaves xochitl dazed, exhausted, and without any memory of the stories she has heard.

xo's world is harsh and unforgiving. the climate itself is brutal, water is scarce, there is a threatening foreign presence in empalme, and the burden of being cuentista wears heavily on her shoulders. she yearns to be free, to be seen, and to be accepted. when she begins to discover mysterious poems buried in the sand, she finds a voice that seems to understand her more deeply than she'd hoped possible.

through a life-altering chain of events, xochitl finds herself leaving everything she's ever known to embark on a harrowing journey across the desert with only an unlikely travelling companion and a desire for a better life to guide her.

this novel really shines in the exploration of its own mythology and how multiple truths can be held at once without there needing to be a determined right or wrong. i also loved the natural and unchallenged queerness of its world, frank depictions of menstruation and bodily functions, and the way that spanish was woven so seamlessly in with english, translated only sparsely and trusting the reader to understand.

the parallels to rivers solomon's the deep (a recent favourite of mine) were impossible to ignore, but in no way took away from this novel's own strength. both reflect on storytelling, connection, identity, and the weight of bearing a heavy burden alone, and both do so in their own beautifully compelling way. i also can't help but find it fitting that stories that centre storytelling would evoke thoughts of each other in reading. what better way to emphasise how universal and vital the practice is?

thank you to tor teen and netgalley for providing this e-arc

Content Warnings

More...