Reviews

La ruta del hielo y la sal by José Luis Zárate

spiderkitten's review against another edition

3.0

This is one of those books that not everyone is going to love. The first half of the book has a dream like quality to it, and is mostly the erotic desire of a queer male sea captain. It's his private diary of thoughts and desire leading up to the end. It gets reasonably graphic, but not overly so in my opinion. The second half of the book is a more factual journal of events, a captain's log of sorts. It was almost like reading two completely different books with the same premise.

The Route of Ice and Salt was a really well written book that conjured up a lot of imagery and sold the story of the sea captain really well. However, I found it really hard to get through, and I almost didn't finish it several times. I think this is because what the book was, and what I was expecting the book to be were two different things. I'm giving it three stars for being well written but also because I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.

totsfions's review against another edition

This was so weirdly written? Almost no dialogue and the first person narration is kinda insufferable. Seemed like nothing happened in all the pages I read except the captain standing around staring at men in a creepy way. 

preciousmist's review against another edition

3.0

Damn, Dracula homophobic as shit. How are you getting stakes shanked on you and still be afraid of two men kissing?? ://

hendrixpants's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

frozel's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective

3.5

Oh look, it’s a story about repressed homosexuality! Neat.

iread2dream's review against another edition

4.0

I thought I'd read this book in Spanish the first time but the "mayhaps" reminded me I hadn't. This re read was better, I think because I listened to the audiobook and the narrator has a voice that really went well with the story. It's a good story, though I was confused through some parts of it (I won't spoil).

averydappercat's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 Actually! I listened to this on audiobook and may I just say props to the narrator because it was the perfect amount of intense suspense for this book. Unfortunately I zoned out a few times while listening sooo I didn't understand everything that happened but still quite enjoyed the queer horror. This book very much does have mature sexual language and content so if you don't like that, maybe it's not the book for you. The language and sexual scenes however are very well implemented and necessary to understand the Demeter's captain and his choices at the end of the book. Fans of Dracula will find it fascinating! My score is mostly based on my enjoyment, not the technical elements. I will say that this book's prose is very well-written and the POV character is similarly vivid and interesting so you won't find want for that in this book.

jayfr's review against another edition

4.0

Oh my gosh. This was beautiful, haunting and poetic.

I absolutely devoured this novella in one sitting when I should have been sleeping.

I always wondered what happened aboard the Demeter and now I feel like I have an idea.

This is one of the best Dracula related books I've ever read.

4* because I'm disappointed it was so short.

bread_mountain's review against another edition

4.0

Every book should end like this one: with an afterword by Poppy Z. Brite in which he tells you "bravo" for having read it.

bookendtobookend's review against another edition

Could not get into this one right now