This was really confusing. I was lost through most of the book. Normally, I really like something a little challenging, but I feel like I missed a key piece of information.

World building and character development that will pull readers into the fantasy world of the Moon Throne and hold them hostage to the last page.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book. *Finally getting through older books I was approved for!*

This one took me so, so long to get through. I really wanted to enjoy it but I just couldn't get into it. The writing, while beautifully done was not my style. I'd start to get a little drawn in and then immediately lose it. I can see how people loved it but I just didn't unfortunately!

DNF early on. I really wanted to like this book, especially with all the hype that it gets, but I could not handle the POV. The second person really took me out of the story because I couldn't envision a main character. And then jumping from that to the other characters was too hard to follow in any kind of coherent form.

DNF at 34%

I wish I could figure out why everyone loves this book, I was so bored. You know that movie, The Gods must be Crazy? That's how this book felt to me. I didn't get it at all. I'm glad other people liked it.

Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

Yes yes yes! Though I really considered DNFing at the 30% mark I pushed through and really loved this story. Jimenez really cooked up something incredible and touching and different. Can't wait to see what he does next and while I don't think this novel will work for everyone, I'd suggest everyone at least give it a try.

‘The Spear Cuts Through Water’ by Simon Jimenez is an epic fantasy novel that I found breathtaking at times.

Keema, a young warrior with a mysterious disability, and Jun, the son of a tyrannical ruler, embark on a perilous journey to overthrow their oppressive government run by godlike beings. They are accompanied by a sentient tortoise and a dying old woman. Their journey has world shaping consequences but at its heart is intimate and told with many voices.

The prose is enjoyable. The inclusion of other voices is a bold choice that I think works, but other readers may feel different. The themes of identity and loss carry through strong and I really enjoyed reading this.

Simon Jimenez’s *The Spear Cuts Through Water* is a breathtaking journey that defies conventional storytelling with its intricate narrative and emotional depth. Following Keema, a one-armed warrior, and Jun, a young man with a mysterious past, as they transport the imprisoned Moon Empress across a decaying empire, the novel blends myth and reality in a captivating tapestry. The narrative’s unique structure, switching between perspectives, adds to the book’s enchanting complexity, while Jimenez's lyrical prose makes it a love letter to oral storytelling traditions.

While the experimental style may not appeal to every reader, those willing to embrace it will find a rich, rewarding experience. The story’s exploration of themes like identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling is profound, leaving a lasting impression. *The Spear Cuts Through Water* is not just a novel; it’s an experience that challenges and captivates, offering a fresh take on the fantasy genre. For those seeking a book that pushes boundaries, Simon Jimenez’s work is a must-read!

My overall experience with THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER was mystifying, like I myself was a dreaming visitor of the Inverted Theater, put in a trance and taken on a journey through a life-defining tale that would forever alter my world.

what a ride! so creative. ive never read anything like it. there was also more gore than i was expecting (cannibalisms).

I was leery of this book for a while. When I read reviews, it seemed complicated and intimidating. And it did take a while to get into. The author uses second person POV and also has the reader descend into the story by way of an dream Inverted Theater: you go to this theater in a dream and then see the true story play out. There are also italicized interjections throughout the book that function as a way to remember that there are many people in the book that aren't focused on that nevertheless have their own lives, problems and fears.

All that said, the story at the heart of the book is a love story to its blade-dented bone. Two young warriors end up on the same road and learn to rely on each other. It's also an adventure story through a fabulous land with magical, terrifying princes, tortoises that can speak and function as a long-distance communication network, and a mythology that is very much still being created.

The story takes some time to get going. The pace slowly picks up as days go by in the book until the end becomes an explosion of action and peril. The book can be gruesome and horrifying in places too.

The wonder of the book for me is that despite the carnage, the author never loses sight of or compassion for all the inhabitants of the book. Nothing is really simple or black and white. It's about point of view and understanding that your point of view isn't the only one. It's about heritage. And it's about how we choose to see stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and plan to read more by this author.

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is a perfect fit for readers who crave epic fantasy adventures with a deep exploration of identity, legacy, and belonging, and are drawn to stories that weave together mythology, LGBTQ+ themes, and dark, emotional journeys.

Unfortunately, this book didn't click with me. There was so much that just wasn't sitting right; however, I find the writing truly magnificent.

It was a pleasure reading this book. If we only take the writing alone into account. Sequencing and choice of perspective wise? It wasn't at all appealing. I enjoyed the world upon this book was set upon. I find it quite intriguing how the book started, but I knew even from the beginning that it will be quite the struggle to get through it all. It was rather confusing. The shifts in perspective was quite complicated to follow. Add to that, the jumps between situations that doesn't seem to have proper timing. Additionally, the style of poetic writing combined with these difficulties made it complicated to connect with the character or the world. Given that you focus your energy more on trying to comprehend what's going on than to finding which character you like best.

To sum, I think that it was a good book based on the writing alone but I believe that the way the entire story was executed was pretty bad. It felt as though the author tried too much and, in turn, made his book overly complicated and hard to connect with. I can see why many have given this high praise; unfortunately, for me, it just didn't work.

the character work is honestly stunning - I'm in awe of how Simon Jimenez manages to make us care for characters in just a handful of pages. I'm so attached to our main heroes and I love how we're taken through the lowest, ugliest points of their lives as well as their most joyful moments. Keema and Jun are going to stay with me for a long time.

Honestly some of the most beautiful storytelling I’ve had the pleasure of reading. The characters were so well written and fleshed out that I felt I knew them within a matter of a couple pages. This is the first I’ve read from Simon Jimenez but it won’t be the last.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one was a WILD ride. The Spear Cuts Through Water is an expertly crafted and truly unhinged epic fantasy queer love story with many weird, gritty, gory, absurdist, delightful details. I've been pretty surprised how little hype this one has gotten after the acclaim Jimenez got for his sci-fi debut, Vanished Birds. This book proves he can deliver one-of-a-kind fantasy as well. He uses familiar fairy tale tropes, like the hero's quest and events in sets of threes, but within an overarching narrative that is unique and genre-bending. The novel also has lots to say about typical literary topics--love, good v. evil, corrupting influence of power. Would recommend to any lover of fantasy whose feeling burned out on books that feel too familiar.

Many thanks to Random House (Ballantine) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It is impossible to give a summary of the plot of this book! It is part adventure story, part queer love story, part undefinable genre. It is truly like nothing I have read before - even Jimenez's previous book - and I loved it with all my heart. I recommend it to everyone who is up for something different.

This is one of the most unique books I’ve read in my life. It’s vivid, gut wrenching, and beautiful. Simon Jimenez is a masterful storyteller.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a standalone epic fantasy masterpiece. We follow two young men on a journey with an ancient god to put an end to the tyrannical reign of the three terrors and their father.

Jimenez weaves such a captivating story by using the second, third and first person to make you feel like you’re a member in an audience watching this story unfold.

I recommend to start this book in its physical form and then switch over to audio if you usually listen to audiobooks.

Rating : 3.5 out of 5
Blurbs :
The people suffer under the centuries-long rule of the Moon Throne. The royal family—the despotic emperor and his monstrous sons, the Three Terrors—hold the countryside in their choking grip. They bleed the land and oppress the citizens with the frightful powers they inherited from the god locked under their palace.

But that god cannot be contained forever.

With the aid of Jun, a guard broken by his guilt-stricken past, and Keema, an outcast fighting for his future, the god escapes from her royal captivity and flees from her own children, the triplet Terrors who would drag her back to her unholy prison. And so it is that she embarks with her young companions on a five-day pilgrimage in search of freedom—and a way to end the Moon Throne forever. The journey ahead will be more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.

Both a sweeping adventure story and an intimate exploration of identity, legacy, and belonging, The Spear Cuts Through Water is an ambitious and profound saga that will transport and transform you—and is like nothing you’ve ever read before.

Thoughts :
The world building is better than I thought. I enjoy the reading experience just fine.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!