I started the audiobook of this and could not follow it. It could have been the timing - I was listening to it on a road trip around the holidays so I may have been distracted. I loved his first novel so I will be trying this one again in the future when I have more focus to place on the book.

I made a gainful attempt with this book, but it simply wasn’t for me. While I enjoyed Jimenez’ debut novel, “the vanished birds” this one felt to be more style over substance. The 2nd person narrative framing felt less like a tool towards telling a cohesive story and more like a tedious barrier to immersion. There’s definitely interesting elements here though. I will continue to be on the look-out for whatever the author writes next.

I’m going to leave it at 3 stars. I can’t decide how I feel about the book. There’s no doubt the author wrote a unique book and I appreciate that very much.

I was lost here and there. I loved some things and I was bored with some things.

I’ve seen mixed reviews on the book so I would suggest you try it on for yourself. The audio version is awesome as well.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy of the book

Just wow. I think I will struggle with this review (in a good way). The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is such an epic journey across time, space, dreams, reality, you name it. Continue reading to see what I hope is a somewhat cohesive take on this new release.

Points of View
The Spear Cuts Through Water will certainly take you for a ride. I listened to my phone tell me the story. Keep in mind, it wasn’t an audiobook, but really the talk-back feature on my phone. This may have made it more difficult for me, but perhaps reading versus listening would have made it easier to follow at times. The reason for my difficulty is that not only are there several viewpoints you shift between, but you also shift through them so fluidly. Jimenez also gives us the viewpoints of even the most minor characters. I’m talking about people on the street that don’t even get names. As a reader, you bounce back and forth between so many narrators in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person POVs.

While this may seem like I’m setting this up as a negative, it most certainly is a positive. It did take some time to get used to, but thank goodness the book was long enough that was easily done. Jimenez did such an amazing job of sliding through the consciousnesses of all of these narratives. This helped to create such a multidimensional view of the story.

Plot
Just like the points of view, the plot moved from place to place, time period to time period, and reality to another reality. This is not in a sci-fi kind of way, but an interesting Sandman kind of way. We mostly shift between two main places: the inverted theater and a fantastical land of some reality’s past. The overall narrative is set within the inverted theater where the events of Jun and Keema are being played out. At the same time, Jun and Keema are experiencing these events as real life, not a play on a stage. This was such an interesting mechanism that Jimenez played with.

Beyond this, the plot is fairly cut and dry. You have the protagonists on a journey to save their land from the current oppressive rulers. In addition, there are themes of identity, familial love, romantic love, duty, and self-acceptance. While again, fairly standard, theses were well done and explored by Jimenez. The magic and mythologies created in The Spear Cuts Through Water were interesting and inventive.

Overall
Keep in mind, that this was a long and dense book. There was a lot going on with POVs, but a lot of other moving parts as well. With that, it may not be a book for everyone. If you are more open-minded in your reading, I think you will be truly rewarded by The Spear Cuts Through Water.

While the synopsis only captures a small degree of what this book is about, “[it] is like nothing you’ve ever read before” could not have been more true. I am often skeptical of the term “saga” being thrown around to describe books, but this is a saga if I have ever read one. The plot is inventive in ways, but also fairly straightforward. The narrative devices are the true crowning glory of this story. Jimenez has flipped the script on many literary conventions to create this truly intriguing book. I hope that I did The Spear Cuts Through Water justice (but I fear that I did not).

Jimenez is definitely an “auto-buy” author for me now, and I loved their previous novel, The Vanished Birds. The Spear Cuts through Water is another beautifully told tale, but this time it’s looking at alternative historical (as opposed to future - TVB was sci-fi) temporalities.
The thing I loved most about this book was also something that may put readers off at first, simply because it takes some “practice” to get used to - much of the story is told as a “chorus” of voices, literally weaving together many different viewpoints on the “historical” events being recounted. Once I got into the rhythm of the book, this didn’t impact my ability to follow the thread of the narrative - to the contrary, Jimenez’s prose is so lovely that it pulled me along easily.
I am a little torn because I want to give the book 5 stars for the stylistic innovation alone, but in the end, I think I wanted a little “more” from the plot itself and a bit more development of the ending section.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ebook arc for review purposes.

This a unique story with great writing and a fresh plot that doesn't feel recycled. I also love the cover. It is just beautiful and mysterious enough to catch any fantasy readers attention.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2023 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2023/01/2023-reading-list-announced-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

This book is beautiful. I took my time reading it, just small chunks at a time to make it last.

The plot takes place over five days. The narrative is so rich with detail and different perspectives that it doesn't feel too slow--it isn't fast-paced by any means. But it doesn't drag. Instead, it's a thoughtful stroll through the story. It does feel tense, knowing that time is ticking down as you read.

The narrative is told through several different voices from different times, woven together as a tapestry. Different people's thoughts jump in throughout the story, adding context to the events without disrupting them. It's honestly hard to explain, but it's so, so good. Highly recommend!

This was a ride. Mainly because of the writing and the changes between POV. It took a long time for me to get into the groove of the story, but the story itself was wonderful. This was honestly unlike anything I’ve read before, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for granting my wish for this ARC! This one took a long time for me to get into- through no fault of the story itself, but the structure. Unless I was able to devote large chunks of time toward reading, each time picking up this book felt like a chore due to the framing device (which is cool!) and I had to relearn how to read it.

The format simply didn't work for me, but the story itself is fantastic, and I greatly enjoyed. There was simply an issue in the delivery for me.

The characters were compelling, the setting lush and vibrant, and it truly felt like a real world I could step into. Just enough was provided to us as readers to leave us wanting more, in terms of the world- an ancient one of gods and tortoise networks and emperors and Terrors. Nothing felt out of place, and if this was a more typical delivery I would have not hesitated to give it 5 stars.

The only complaint I have for this book is that the beginning was confusing. It took awhile to get used to changing from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person. The storytelling was like nothing I've ever read before. It was so unique that it would change persona mid paragraph and give a thought from a near by character.

Once I got used to the way this was written I really enjoyed the story. The whole book felt mystical. The magic system was powerful and I loved the way that it showed corruption with the people holding the power. I never quite new where this book was taking me but I liked the journey. I also really loved the main characters. They were flawed but easy to root for. There was also a surprise romance subplot that was adorable!

This was .... weird. And I typically really like weird but this was a weird that was really hard to follow at times.

Its a story being told about two men journeying across the land to save a dying goddess. It was easiest to keep in mind this was a story being told about a story. However, I felt like Alice jumping down the rabbit hole and ending up at the Mad Hatter's table. Just confused and not fully following a lot of what was happening. I'm still not sure i know what transpired between beginning and end.

This is a highly rated novel and I recommend checking out other reviews

“…some tales are too large to be told by one voice alone.”

This is the best book I’ve read all year, and I’m overwhelmed by the prospect of putting into words every astonishing aspect of THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER. It’s an epic tale of two warriors charged with transporting a god across a kingdom and ending the tyrannical rule of a royal family, a journey bursting with powerful magic and harrowing adventures. The world Jimenez creates is intricate and fascinating; there’s both an edge of absurdity (e.g. giggling telepathic tortoises, pornographic stone tablets) and a terrible throughline of gruesome violence. But the beating, bleeding core of this novel is a stunning love story between Keema and Jun, two young men who find what they both desperately need in each other: companionship, playfulness, desire, acceptance, and belonging.

There’s much to be said about the delightful, deranged, and devastating specifics of the story, but (1) the joy is in the discovery for the reader and (2) I want to focus on what Jimenez achieves with his layered narrative and multiple perspectives (using first-, second-, and third-person voices); it’s nothing short of incredible. There’s Keema and Jun’s story taking place in a lush, complex world of centuries past; there’s a unnamed young man in the present day, remembering legends told to him by his lola from the Old Country that his family has left behind, which connect to the warriors; and there’s the realm of the heavenly theater, where the young man is transported to, watching the warriors’ story play out on a stage that crosses space and time. Interspersed within are flashes of voice from background characters (or their ghosts), revealing their hopes and fears and deepening our emotional connection to the people. All this in combination with Jimenez’s gorgeous writing and the poetic structure of the book is frankly unhinged, unparalleled, and completely unique.

I could talk about this book forever, and I could never speak of it again and hold it close inside my heart; it’s that damn good. And we haven’t even touched on the homoerotic wrestling! This novel is an ode to oral storytelling, to the ache and affection one feels towards one’s ancestors and homeland, and ultimately to forgiveness and connection. Once you sink your teeth into this strange, fantastical story, it’s utterly transporting and for me, unforgettable. THE VANISHED BIRDS, Jimenez’s debut science fiction novel, is one of my favorite books, and this sophomore fantasy novel is even more ambitious (though both made me cry equally hard). I can’t wait to see what Jimenez creates next. Thanks to Del Rey Books for the review copy.

Content warnings: burning alive, violence/battle, gore, body horror, cannibalism, torture, murder/death, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, animal injury, animal death, child abuse

Such an epic fantasy told as a story within story is about two warriors shepherd an ancient god across a broken land to end the tyrannical reign of a royal family. Truly a great fantasy standalone. I haven’t read from this author before, but I really enjoyed Simon’s writing! The entirety of characters and plot line is brilliant—dense and original. It might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy one-of-a-kind story, this is it!

Thank you Delrey via Netgalley for the arc.

This one caught me completely off guard. I have not read Jimenez' previous work and was mostly intrigued by the description alone - two warriors travelling with an ancient goddess through the lands to end the tyrannical reign of a terrifying royal family. Now that sounds incredible!

And it really, really was. This is such a unique novel with beautiful writing, and it's told in such an extraordinary, captivating way that I was immediately hooked. It plays with different perspectives, is written in first, second and third person, and at first it's a little confusing but also so very fascinating that I couldn't stop reading.
"The Spear Cuts Through Water" tells the story of a Moon Goddess, the cruel empire she quite literally birthed and the two warriors, Jun and Keema, who vow to help her undo her mistakes. It's also the love story of these two warriors, which I didn't expect and which blew me away. The character writing is superb, making me care even for the smallest side characters we meet on this long journey, and the plot is masterfully crafted. I cannot praise this book enough.

I really only felt a little letdown by the last 20% or so of the book, where things get rather messy and stressful and at one point the book felt almost anime-esque when the final villain appears, which threw me out of the story. The epilogue is a little too long, too, but the last few pages make up for it. Still, if not for these late hiccups, this would be an easy 5 star read.

It's an imaginative epic fantasy, complex and unique and deeply emotional. It won't be for everyone, but I cannot recommend it enough. It's a book that stays with its reader, and I won't forget my experience with it.

Groundbreaking and innovative, A Spear Cuts Through Water is the experimental novel SFF as a genre needs. Jimenez refuses to follow the traditional three act structure and his innovative storytelling is bellied by a mesmerising prose. You are never really sure where you are when you read this but the way Jimenez melds the past with the present is iconic. A true master of the craft

Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL prose, as expected of Simon Jimenez. The Spear Cuts Through Water is my second book from the author this year and oh gosh did it give me one of the best reading experiences ever. A stand out.

The novel is a fantasy and adventure story. It is an investigation of legacy and belonging. The shifting perspectives and plot made it difficult to really get into the story for me. There are three POV that carry the novel.
I don’t know if my confusion that occurred while I was reading this novel or part of the experience I was suppose to have. It didn’t make it easy to read (for me). I do think there are many people who will enjoy this style of writing.

When I first received the publisher’s request to review The Spear Cuts Through Water, I almost didn’t accept it. I had reviewed The Vanished Birds and “meh” about it. But when I read the blurb, it caught my interest, and I decided to give this book a chance. I am glad I did because this book was one of the most uniquely written books I have ever read. Oh, and I also really liked it.

The Spear Cuts Through Water had an exciting plotline. It follows the journey of Keema, a one-armed outcast, and Jun, grandson of the emperor, as they escort Jun’s goddess grandmother across the country. Jun and Keema face many dangers but discover strengths they didn’t know they had. There is also another storyline that is intertwined with Keema and Jun. That is the story of an unnamed man who finds himself in a place called the Inverted Theater after a lifetime of hardship. He is watching a play about Keema and Jun and their journey. Like me, he had questions about their journey. Will they complete their journey?

Usually, I will put a trigger and content warning at the end of my review. But, if I feel that the book’s content will immediately affect the reader or the triggers are horrible, I move it to the top of the review. The triggers in this book are a combination of both. If you are triggered by gore, genocide, ritual cannabilism, body horror, dismemberment, and ableism, do not read this book.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a medium-paced book in a dystopian ancient Japan or China (I couldn’t figure out which one). The author uses a lot of Japanese and Chinese folklore as a base for the story. I loved it!! It made the book so much more enjoyable for me to read because I enjoy the folklore/mythology from those areas.

As I stated above, this was very uniquely written book. It was written in equal parts, 2nd person and 3rd person POVs. I can count on one hand how many books I have read in 2nd person. And I can count how many of those books I have liked on half of that hand. The author seamlessly switched between the 2nd and 3rd person without disrupting the book’s flow. I was surprised at how much I liked the way it was written. Now, saying that the way this book is written isn’t for everyone, and I would keep that in mind when starting it.

The main characters of The Spear Cuts Through Water were well-written. The author did a great job of fleshing them out and making me care about them (and their journey).

Keema—I liked him. There’s not much I can say about him other than that he was almost stupidly brave. I wouldn’t say I liked that he was looked down upon for only having one arm or that the other guards picked on him because of it. His journey with Keema was to find himself as much as it was to bring the Moon to her final destination.
Jun—So, he didn’t make the best first impression when he showed up in the book. But, as the book continued, I saw Jun’s character evolving. He started to care about Keema and what the Terrors were doing to the people during his journey. Heck, he even cared about the tortoise. By the end of the book, he has changed from the beginning.
Unknown Narrator—This is the person being told Jun and Keema’s story and their own life story. I felt terrible for this man. He had been through so much in life. He was amazed to find himself at the Inverted Theater, watching this story unfold. There was a more fantastic connection between Jun, Keema, and himself that was revealed at the end of the book. I didn’t see that twist coming!
The Three Terrors—I was going to make them secondary characters, but I got to thinking, and they each, in their way, were main characters. To me, they embodied the worst traits that society had. Jun’s father (the First Terror) was Violence. He participated in genocide in the Old World. He did love his sons, but that was his only redeeming quality. The Second Terror, to me, was Greed and Gluttony. In my eyes, he was the scariest Terror, mainly because of what he did to gain the powers of the tortoise. The Third Terror, I couldn’t place him in any group. He was a horror exiled from his family at a young age. I will not even get into what he was or what he did. But I did feel bad for him. The scene with the man in that dungeon was both gruesome and heartbreaking at the same time.
The Moon— I wasn’t sure about her. I understood why she wanted to leave (who would want to be held captive under a palace). But I wouldn’t say I liked how she coerced Jun and Keema to do what she wanted. She didn’t get to her destination, forcing Jun and Keema to do something atrocious, something I had heard of but had never seen written in a book before. She also held no love for her children. That bothered me more than anything, to be honest.
The Spear Cut Through Water did have a lot of notable secondary characters. I will not list them, but they all added extra depth to the book.

The Spear Cuts Through Water was listed as a fantasy novel. I agree, but it is more suited as a dark and epic fantasy. The author did a great job weaving the epic fantasy angle (the journey) and the dark fantasy angle (everything else). It made for a great read.

I also want to add that there is a romance and LGBTQ+ angle to this book also. Keema and Jun’s romance is cultivated throughout the entire book. There was so much given with a look between them. And the yearning, oh my, it was almost too much for me to bear.

The author amazingly wrote the main storyline with Keema, Jun, the Terrors, the Moon, and their journey. The author had me glued to the book, wanting to know more, and you know what? He gave it to me in spades. The author explained everything, and he tied everything together. The author left no loose ends with this plotline. There were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming.

The storylines with the unknown narrator and the Inverted Theater was well written. I didn’t get as invested as I did with the main storyline, but still, it drew me in. A twist in that storyline made me put my Kindle down. I needed a second to process what I had read because the twist was that unexpected and that good.

Several secondary storylines give some added background and depth to the main storylines. The author incorporated them into the main storyline without pausing the book’s flow.

The end of The Spear Cuts Through Water was not what I expected, but at the same time, I expected it, if that makes sense. I loved how the author ended the main storylines and how he merged them both.

Three reasons why you should read The Spear Cuts Through Water:

The storylines.
The characters.
Jun and Keema’s slow-burn romance
Three reasons why you shouldn’t read The Spear Cuts Through Water:

The triggers. I am usually pretty good with the number of triggers in the book, but even I got triggered by this book.
The way it was written. Being told in 2nd and 3rd person isn’t most people’s cup of tea.
The Terrors. They genuinely creeped me out.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lovely lyrically told story- a fable really. The language is rich and dreamy, but I found the story rather dull; a spoiled brutal prince ( ala GOT) on a mission for his father the “Sun” to find the key to everlasting life, interwoven with a modern story of a dreamland theater. Very well written, but not my cup of tea. DNF