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A review by zenzi2read
The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The writing was brilliant, and I have to respect the work that the translator did with this language. But ultimately, I think that this novel is a product of its times and made for a challenging read.
There’s plenty of racism, xenophobia and homophobia to be found here. Some of it was intentional, but I don’t think all of it was. The author chose to create a bond and relationship between the count and our captain. They’re both both considered monsters one because he’s Dracula and the other because he is a homosexual.
The captain was a difficult main character to align with. He is completely consumed by his sexual desire and the need to repress it. He has lustful for young men without agency and children and little else is on his mind, even as his ship begins to fall into trouble. I find this depiction of gay men as sex crazed lunatics to be degrading and very old-fashioned.
At the end, the author attempts to break new ground, but it’s too little too late. I did wish that the book overall spent more time developing the characters of crewmembers and creating a sense of unease aboard the ship instead of staying in the mind of the captain.
There’s plenty of racism, xenophobia and homophobia to be found here. Some of it was intentional, but I don’t think all of it was. The author chose to create a bond and relationship between the count and our captain. They’re both both considered monsters one because he’s Dracula and the other because he is a homosexual.
The captain was a difficult main character to align with. He is completely consumed by his sexual desire and the need to repress it. He has lustful for young men without agency and children and little else is on his mind, even as his ship begins to fall into trouble. I find this depiction of gay men as sex crazed lunatics to be degrading and very old-fashioned.
At the end, the author attempts to break new ground, but it’s too little too late. I did wish that the book overall spent more time developing the characters of crewmembers and creating a sense of unease aboard the ship instead of staying in the mind of the captain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment