yomireads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
How can such a dense and confusing prose style be so emotionally evocative and lush at the same time?? I almost want to lower my rating to reflect how difficult it sometimes was to follow the narrative, but the story being told was done so powerfully and evoked such profound moments of introspection that I ultimately found my gripes to be disingenuous.
Told through a shifting perspective that begins in second person, readers know they're in for something off-beat from page one. Adapting to the writing style took me a long moment, and even by the end I had to be actively engaged in the text to keep track of the POVs and the relevance they added to this epic quest/war/political unrest story. We track our spear's path across this epic fantastic landscape, coming to know and love the two men accompanying the journey as their goals entangle together.
Lush with descriptive metaphor and imagery, it's not anything close to what I would consider something bingeable. I would recommend consuming this novel piece-meal as thay allows for reflection on the lessons that can be taken from the narrative and the unique theatrical impact the writing takes.
I was also floored by the characters, and the complex nature of growth, pain, guilt, love, resentment, shame, and duty (to name a few themes) play in creating a person. I having a disabled character who was disadvantaged but strong in the face of it, and particularly respected the way his backstory was handled, in that he was shown as more than what he lacked. He was represented as a whole, even when others disagreed.
Check those content warnings, however, because there is a lot to be wary of. Cannabilism plays a large part in the plot of this book.
Told through a shifting perspective that begins in second person, readers know they're in for something off-beat from page one. Adapting to the writing style took me a long moment, and even by the end I had to be actively engaged in the text to keep track of the POVs and the relevance they added to this epic quest/war/political unrest story. We track our spear's path across this epic fantastic landscape, coming to know and love the two men accompanying the journey as their goals entangle together.
Lush with descriptive metaphor and imagery, it's not anything close to what I would consider something bingeable. I would recommend consuming this novel piece-meal as thay allows for reflection on the lessons that can be taken from the narrative and the unique theatrical impact the writing takes.
I was also floored by the characters, and the complex nature of growth, pain, guilt, love, resentment, shame, and duty (to name a few themes) play in creating a person. I having a disabled character who was disadvantaged but strong in the face of it, and particularly respected the way his backstory was handled, in that he was shown as more than what he lacked. He was represented as a whole, even when others disagreed.
Check those content warnings, however, because there is a lot to be wary of. Cannabilism plays a large part in the plot of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Cannibalism, Death, and Excrement
Moderate: Body shaming and Confinement
bittennailbooks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a love story to its blade-dented bone
This book changed my DNA. A frustrating, devastating, and blood soaked love story dedicated to fantasy lovers everywhere.
Two warriors are tasked with the impossible as they haul a dying mother god through the corrupt lands of her tyrannical children in hopes of stopping their reign once and for all. It holds no punches as it drags you hog tied through each gory act written like a play and told through the ever changing proverbial "I". As gory as the "Poppy Wars" and lyrical as "The Starless Sea", this is your next read for fantasy lovers everywhere. I repeat, read this book now!
This book changed my DNA. A frustrating, devastating, and blood soaked love story dedicated to fantasy lovers everywhere.
Two warriors are tasked with the impossible as they haul a dying mother god through the corrupt lands of her tyrannical children in hopes of stopping their reign once and for all. It holds no punches as it drags you hog tied through each gory act written like a play and told through the ever changing proverbial "I". As gory as the "Poppy Wars" and lyrical as "The Starless Sea", this is your next read for fantasy lovers everywhere. I repeat, read this book now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Body horror, Death of parent, Excrement, Blood, Genocide, Grief, Ableism, Murder, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Homophobia
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