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A review by stuckinpermafrost
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was my second read by Simon Jimenez (and only his second book... so I've now read all of his works!). I think I ever so slightly preferred The Vanished Birds, but not by much. They're both absolutely gorgeous books.
I think a third-person omniscient POV can be hard to do well. Sometimes switching between characters' perspectives just feels sloppy -- I tried a book recently that didn't really keep the POVs straight, and I DNFed it for that. This book really shows how incredible it can be when it's done with intent. I don't think I've ever read a book with such a creative structure (although I am aware of other books that play around with the writing style like this... just haven't read them yet lol). The second-person "present" narrative, the third-person historical parts with Jun and Keema, the section in the middle told in first-person and the italicized parts throughout, they were all just so beautifully written.
I rewatched Princess Mononoke recently, and afterwards I wondered if I could find any books that had a similar vibe. I feel like The Spear Cuts Through Water may be as close as I've gotten with regards to the plot, although it really goes beyond it with everything past just Jun and Keema's story. Not to put down Princess Mononoke (it's one of my all time favorite films!), it's just told in a much more straightforward way.
r/Fantasy Bingo 2025 squares: A Book in Parts (HM), Down With the System, Impossible Places, Gods & Pantheons, Author of Color. Arguably High Fashion too, but I probably wouldn't count it. (Fabric does come up a decent amount with Induun, but I feel like the merchant aspect is more important than fabric. You could swap it for other types of industry and not much would be changed. )
I think a third-person omniscient POV can be hard to do well. Sometimes switching between characters' perspectives just feels sloppy -- I tried a book recently that didn't really keep the POVs straight, and I DNFed it for that. This book really shows how incredible it can be when it's done with intent. I don't think I've ever read a book with such a creative structure (although I am aware of other books that play around with the writing style like this... just haven't read them yet lol). The second-person "present" narrative, the third-person historical parts with Jun and Keema, the section in the middle told in first-person and the italicized parts throughout, they were all just so beautifully written.
I rewatched Princess Mononoke recently, and afterwards I wondered if I could find any books that had a similar vibe. I feel like The Spear Cuts Through Water may be as close as I've gotten with regards to the plot, although it really goes beyond it with everything past just Jun and Keema's story. Not to put down Princess Mononoke (it's one of my all time favorite films!), it's just told in a much more straightforward way.
r/Fantasy Bingo 2025 squares: A Book in Parts (HM), Down With the System, Impossible Places, Gods & Pantheons, Author of Color. Arguably High Fashion too, but I probably wouldn't count it. (