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lucasgarner's review against another edition
4.0
Just when you thought that truly every story has been told, that true, untapped creativity is dying, Mark Oshiro is here to tell you that it is, in fact, still thriving. Each of Us a Desert is without a doubt one of the most unique, inventive books with a strong, fresh voice that I have read in recent memory. Oshiro writes in such an assured style, that you would think that this novel had been written toward the end of his career, not his second novel. Impressive, impressive stuff. Oshiro combines several genres to tell the story of a girl from a small desert town, who sets on a quest across an arid landscape to discover the meaning of her life. This is an intricate tale, and it would be a disservice to fully explain the world without letting the novel speak for itself, so I’ll leave it at that.
The only reason I have to knock one star off this book is for the pacing. This is a novel with a very specific, serious tone, which is fine, but I never felt it let go. There was never a shift into high gear, except for several small scenes that seemed to end before they even began. For such a perilous journey, I wanted to feel that threat of the desert that the characters felt, but with a calm, solemn voice and pacing, that never came together. It made small sections of the novel feel like a slog, and I never felt compelled to sit for long periods of time to read the novel. Despite that, this book is an absolute must read.
The only reason I have to knock one star off this book is for the pacing. This is a novel with a very specific, serious tone, which is fine, but I never felt it let go. There was never a shift into high gear, except for several small scenes that seemed to end before they even began. For such a perilous journey, I wanted to feel that threat of the desert that the characters felt, but with a calm, solemn voice and pacing, that never came together. It made small sections of the novel feel like a slog, and I never felt compelled to sit for long periods of time to read the novel. Despite that, this book is an absolute must read.
kappareads's review against another edition
3.0
Read this review and more like it on my blog, here!
Real rating: 3.5 stars
I received an ARC from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
TW: Descriptions of graphic violence, injury, death, and decomposition; descriptions of throwing up; allusions to animal deaths; instances of emotional abuse and domestic abuse.
EACH OF US A DESERT is about Xochital, a 16 year old cuentista, or storyteller, but in her world, she doesn’t tell stories, she takes stories from the people in her village who need relief, and then she returns them to Solis, the god of this world. When her perception of her world is turned upside down, she realizes she must travel outside of her small village with an unlikely companion to get her answers.
Would it really be one of my fantasy book reviews if I didn’t gush about the world building? No, so here I go again. I really enjoyed learning about this world that is mostly desert and living in constant fear of the sun, Solis, who punished humanity before. It was great to learn about the world through Xo’s eyes, someone who had never left her village and had only heard stories about what was beyond her village.
A major part of the worldbuilding was Solis, the sun and essentially this world’s god who punished humanity long ago for mistreating the Earth. This book explores how Solis is viewed on Xochital’s journey. I’ve never seen a YA fantasy make religion less than a single, accepted rigid truth, but that’s what this book did.
I feel like the summary makes it seem like the f/f romance is more central to the story than it actually is. There is a f/f romance and the main character is sapphic, but the romance is very much in the backburner. This is very much a coming of age book, as it centers Xo’s journey to discover the truth about herself and her role in life as a cuentista.
The writing was very lyrical in places, especially in the poems. I think this would make an amazing audiobook.
I rated this 3.5 stars. It was good and I really appreciated what it did with the ideas of "truth” and challenging ideas given to you since birth.
Real rating: 3.5 stars
I received an ARC from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
TW: Descriptions of graphic violence, injury, death, and decomposition; descriptions of throwing up; allusions to animal deaths; instances of emotional abuse and domestic abuse.
EACH OF US A DESERT is about Xochital, a 16 year old cuentista, or storyteller, but in her world, she doesn’t tell stories, she takes stories from the people in her village who need relief, and then she returns them to Solis, the god of this world. When her perception of her world is turned upside down, she realizes she must travel outside of her small village with an unlikely companion to get her answers.
Would it really be one of my fantasy book reviews if I didn’t gush about the world building? No, so here I go again. I really enjoyed learning about this world that is mostly desert and living in constant fear of the sun, Solis, who punished humanity before. It was great to learn about the world through Xo’s eyes, someone who had never left her village and had only heard stories about what was beyond her village.
A major part of the worldbuilding was Solis, the sun and essentially this world’s god who punished humanity long ago for mistreating the Earth. This book explores how Solis is viewed on Xochital’s journey. I’ve never seen a YA fantasy make religion less than a single, accepted rigid truth, but that’s what this book did.
I feel like the summary makes it seem like the f/f romance is more central to the story than it actually is. There is a f/f romance and the main character is sapphic, but the romance is very much in the backburner. This is very much a coming of age book, as it centers Xo’s journey to discover the truth about herself and her role in life as a cuentista.
The writing was very lyrical in places, especially in the poems. I think this would make an amazing audiobook.
I rated this 3.5 stars. It was good and I really appreciated what it did with the ideas of "truth” and challenging ideas given to you since birth.
thatbookishwriter's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
spiderlilies's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing is gorgeous and remains my favorite part of the book. I think this one will stick with me just because the lore around las cuentistas was so unique, and it was an interesting way to explore religions in general.
There wasn't much build up with the romance though, so don't come into it expecting to be swept away by Xochitl and Emelia's love story.
I also got a little lost towards the end when the guardians came into play, because I wasn't quite sure how Xo was so important to them because I didn't feel like she interacted with them enough to really drive home the point of her exhibiting freewill to them. I still liked the commentary at the end though. Definitely a book I'd recommend if you like slow journeys about the self-descovery of a character.
There wasn't much build up with the romance though, so don't come into it expecting to be swept away by Xochitl and Emelia's love story.
I also got a little lost towards the end when the guardians came into play, because I wasn't quite sure how Xo was so important to them because I didn't feel like she interacted with them enough to really drive home the point of her exhibiting freewill to them. I still liked the commentary at the end though. Definitely a book I'd recommend if you like slow journeys about the self-descovery of a character.
krtfkurnick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
oxy_moronic's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.5
nicolemhill's review against another edition
I'm not going to give this one a rating because I suspect it was the case of the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I wanted to love this book, but I spent too much time adrift. The writing is poetic but often abstract, and I had a difficult time connecting with Xochitl. But I may revisit this when I have a clearer head and more patience and focus.
ralukas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
diamondbreezy's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting read, but in some parts, the pacing felt very slow (and the arc of the journey is also a bit weird: the main antagonist dies pretty early on?), and the narration is sometimes too explicit (i.e. should be showing rather than telling).
However, the major themes are compelling (community, faith/religion, finding purpose in self, one’s assigned role in society, etc.), and there is a lot to consider (that I admittedly missed until I discussed this with book club folks), including: Is Solis considered to be the reader? What happens to Xochitl after the end?
There is great LGBTQ representation that is presented in an unfussy way (as just a normal part of the worldbuilding).
However, the major themes are compelling (community, faith/religion, finding purpose in self, one’s assigned role in society, etc.), and there is a lot to consider (that I admittedly missed until I discussed this with book club folks), including: Is Solis considered to be the reader? What happens to Xochitl after the end?
There is great LGBTQ representation that is presented in an unfussy way (as just a normal part of the worldbuilding).
mikkareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In a post-apocalyptic Central American society, 16-year-old Xochitl has already served as the 'cuentista' of her village for half of her life. Dutifully, she listens to the most sordid of confessions, absorbing sin and shame into her own mind and body, before offering them up to the sun God Solis to be cleansed. Even though she forgets each confession as soon as she passes it on, it is a painful and emotionally draining process that has left her wise beyond her years – and exhausted on a spiritual level.
She longs for a life beyond her role, fearing to lose her own true self completely if she continues to let herself be used as a vessel for guilt and shame not her own. She flees into the harsh desert, finding an unlikely companion in Emilia, the daughter of a brutal conqueror who has been plaguing the village with unspeakable acts of cruelty.
While post-apocalyptic settings are common in YA literature, Mark Oshiro has crafted a world unlike anything I've read before. With depth and authenticity, he incorporates Latinx culture and themes of identity, community, faith, and self-discovery. This is a book that needs to be read with patience and an open mind, but it is so beautiful – and captivating in its own way.
Introspective and slow-paced, the story focuses on the emotional journey of the characters rather than traditional suspense or action. Though the stakes are high, the author never rushes the personal growth of his protagonists. Their inner conflicts are not always spelled out, but you can feel the raw hurt behind them, and the faintest glimmer of hope.
Xochitl's relationship with Emilia evolves throughout the journey, and their slow-burning romance is handled with a delicate touch.
The writing is gorgeous, with a quiet, lyrical prose that never feels pretentious. The incorporation of Spanish phrases might be challenging for non-Spanish readers, but it adds authenticity to the world-building.
Towards the end, I felt like the story faltered and lost some of its focus. But all in all, »Each of Us a Desert« is a thought-provoking and intense read that lingers with the reader for a long time.
She longs for a life beyond her role, fearing to lose her own true self completely if she continues to let herself be used as a vessel for guilt and shame not her own. She flees into the harsh desert, finding an unlikely companion in Emilia, the daughter of a brutal conqueror who has been plaguing the village with unspeakable acts of cruelty.
While post-apocalyptic settings are common in YA literature, Mark Oshiro has crafted a world unlike anything I've read before. With depth and authenticity, he incorporates Latinx culture and themes of identity, community, faith, and self-discovery. This is a book that needs to be read with patience and an open mind, but it is so beautiful – and captivating in its own way.
Introspective and slow-paced, the story focuses on the emotional journey of the characters rather than traditional suspense or action. Though the stakes are high, the author never rushes the personal growth of his protagonists. Their inner conflicts are not always spelled out, but you can feel the raw hurt behind them, and the faintest glimmer of hope.
Xochitl's relationship with Emilia evolves throughout the journey, and their slow-burning romance is handled with a delicate touch.
The writing is gorgeous, with a quiet, lyrical prose that never feels pretentious. The incorporation of Spanish phrases might be challenging for non-Spanish readers, but it adds authenticity to the world-building.
Towards the end, I felt like the story faltered and lost some of its focus. But all in all, »Each of Us a Desert« is a thought-provoking and intense read that lingers with the reader for a long time.