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tamschmi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
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? Yes
4.0
I truly wish I was reading this with a class or a group. There are such intricate layers of texts from hundreds of years and I can’t even imagine how many references I missed. A true fever dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
naturalog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Violence, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny, Vomit, and Cannibalism
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a very strange book. I think it accomplished what the author wanted it to, and I think I liked it. I certainly looked at the world through a slightly shifted lens for a few hours.
You Dreamed of Empires is experimental historical fiction that reads like fantasy. I mean that in a complimentary way.
I will probably revisit it at some point.
You Dreamed of Empires is experimental historical fiction that reads like fantasy. I mean that in a complimentary way.
I will probably revisit it at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Incest, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
auudrey's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Drug use and Rape
Minor: Vomit
historicalmaterialgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
unlike anything i've ever read... dizzying & dazzling. ur gonna have to work to understand it and author is very clearly playing with form but the more I read the more I was like girl WHAT is going on
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
theministy's review
adventurous
informative
fast-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
5.0
This is the revenge fantasy novel I never knew I wanted. Holy shit this was so good.
It's not like anything else that I've read before.
It's not like anything else that I've read before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Murder
warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
You Dreamed Of Empires is probably one of the most surreal and unique reading experiences I’ve ever had. Transcending genres and literary conventions, Enrigue imagines an alternative version of what happened when Hernan Cortés and the conquistadores arrived in Tenochtitlan. I can’t fully describe how I feel about this book, but it was such an interesting read and there was a lot of subtle yet profound commentary about empires, religion and humanity.
In this book, Enrigue presents a subversive and complex reimagining of the Spanish conquest & the fall of the Aztec empire. It follows a broad cast of characters, from both the conquistadors perspective and Moctezuma and his court. To me, each character represented a different genre & character archetype and it was fun seeing how the author played with those elements to tell the story. There’s aspects of different genres from the old epic chivalric poems, political thrillers and literary fiction. Each character represents a different perspective on the events surrounding the fall of the Aztec empire and what could have happened instead. There’s interesting commentary about how we remember historical events depending on who is the victor and how so much is lost because of that.
I also really enjoyed the historical and cultural details of the Aztec’s way of life and I learned a lot about their culture and language.
This book was witty, nuanced and philosophical and while some of it went over my head, it was a thought-provoking read and I’m glad I picked it up.
In this book, Enrigue presents a subversive and complex reimagining of the Spanish conquest & the fall of the Aztec empire. It follows a broad cast of characters, from both the conquistadors perspective and Moctezuma and his court. To me, each character represented a different genre & character archetype and it was fun seeing how the author played with those elements to tell the story. There’s aspects of different genres from the old epic chivalric poems, political thrillers and literary fiction. Each character represents a different perspective on the events surrounding the fall of the Aztec empire and what could have happened instead. There’s interesting commentary about how we remember historical events depending on who is the victor and how so much is lost because of that.
I also really enjoyed the historical and cultural details of the Aztec’s way of life and I learned a lot about their culture and language.
This book was witty, nuanced and philosophical and while some of it went over my head, it was a thought-provoking read and I’m glad I picked it up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
hamohero's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.25
I did quite enjoy the cheeky narration but I barely understood what was happening without the historical/literary knowledge along with the lack of punctuation, huge cast with multiple names, and the sudden shifts in setting/povs.
Also tw:mention of rape p111 and reference to said rape p129
Also tw:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
klabardee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexism and Excrement
theboricuabookworm's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
I saw a review that called this book hallucinatory and that is incredibly accurate. Both in the actual uses and portrayals of hallucinogenic substances but also in a wonderfully vibrancy and vivid setting. I could genuinely picture the chinampas and soaring temples of Tenoxtitlan as well elaborate clothing and costuming of both parties. It was some of the most vivid storytelling I've ever experienced that attributed more to showing and not telling than one would think.
I have never had much interest in witnessing a fictionalized account of the arrival of the Spaniards in LatAm until I read this book. It is evident in every line the breadth of Enrigue's knowledge of the history but also his want to make this story a fictional one. Although the amount of quips and witty remarks I'm sure abounded during the conquistadores' time. This is a work of translation in more ways than one as we also follow Cortés's translators as they navigate Moctezuma's court as well.
Enrigue wrote an intensely grotesque, sometimes vulgar, all around ride of a speculative historic fiction that I don't think I'll ever do justice in describing. However it is a story I loved if only in how those that hail from a colonized place can appreciate letting our colonizers get their comeuppance.
cw: brief mentions of rape (on page and past occurance); colonization; violence; misogyny; gore; blood
I have never had much interest in witnessing a fictionalized account of the arrival of the Spaniards in LatAm until I read this book. It is evident in every line the breadth of Enrigue's knowledge of the history but also his want to make this story a fictional one. Although the amount of quips and witty remarks I'm sure abounded during the conquistadores' time. This is a work of translation in more ways than one as we also follow Cortés's translators as they navigate Moctezuma's court as well.
Enrigue wrote an intensely grotesque, sometimes vulgar, all around ride of a speculative historic fiction that I don't think I'll ever do justice in describing. However it is a story I loved if only in how those that hail from a colonized place can appreciate letting our colonizers get their comeuppance.
cw: brief mentions of rape (on page and past occurance); colonization; violence; misogyny; gore; blood
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Gore, Violence, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape