A sprawling, visionary masterpiece from the unconventional mind of Simon Jimenez. If, like me, you are a fantasy reader constantly yearning for a dose of true originality in the genre, The Spear Cuts Through Water is the book for you, paying homage to ancient visual and oral traditions of storytelling in a way that makes the story leap off the page. The whole narrative is presented from the perspective on an unnamed character watching a play in the dreamlike realm of the Inverted Theater. It follows the story of two warriors who lived hundreds of years before his time. The narrative bounces between the deeply intimate journey shared by the two men across thousands of miles and a string of unspeakable tragedies, to the life of our young unnamed narrator living in the future that their actions helped to shape. The range of the story encompases a staggering amount of time but never feels oppressive: Jimenez unspools the history of this fantasy country as if it were reality and grounds the major events through the eyes of characters we grow to care about and relate too.

Dance is both literally and metaphorically at the heart of this novel: performed on stage by the actors from the inverted theater, acted by the warriors as they wrestle and spar and fight for their lives and each other, expressed as markings on the eponymous spear as it is passed from person to person. Jimenez presents it as a tool of hope and freedom and much as resistance and protest, and further channels it through the meticulously choreographed story structure and deliberate, poetic prose. I especially loved Jimenez' use of italics to break up the flow of the narrative and give tiny snapshots into the minds of random people around the protagonists, harnessing human emotion as a vehicle for deepening the story and revealing more about the world.

This was SUCH an emotional read, ugly and cathartic and difficult and beautiful all in equal measure. At one point, the narrator's grandmother tells him that this story is " a love story....down to the blade-dented bone." This is true not only in the compelling, evolving relationship between the two protagonists but also between the other characters: parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, old friends and old flames. It observes love as an incredible force for both good and evil, pushing people to commit unspeakable acts even as it encourages them to do wonderful things,

Spectacular style. This is my first contact with this author but it made me curious about his other works. The writing is unique,envolving, and combined with the story of the characters' journey will keep you engaged. But it is not a type of book for impatient readers. It's quite complex, slow but worth it

5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, epics, grand adventures, complicated morality, LGBTQ+ characters, disabled rep, multiple POVs

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Instagram as of 5/15 and has been posted to my book review blog as of 5/17.

This story gets off to somewhat of a slow start, but once it picks up it really picks up. The beginning orients you to the setting and the background of 'you,' the person who has been brought to the Inverted Theater to hear this story. Once the story within the story begins, that's when the adventures and magic begin.

It's told in 2nd POV, which also takes some getting used to, but it works well for the book and as things get going it kind of fades out. There were also a handful of 'other' POVs in 3rd limited. Much of the story focused on Jun and Keema, but there are a handful of different POVs in the book, so we get to see/hear from the heroes and the villains and the people somewhere in between. I liked being able to see so many different perspectives. In some ways, being able to know what the villains were thinking made them that much more horrible, the desire for the heroes to succeed that much more powerful.

I liked both Jun and Keema. Jun is more complicated than Keema is, but even knowing what he's done in the past, it's hard not to like him. Jun starts off as somewhat of a mysterious figure, but he's actually revealed pretty quickly once he and Keema are traveling together. Jun definitely has a lot of regrets from his life prior to teaming up with the Moon. He has the added burden of the (literal) voices of his victims whispering in his head about his wrongdoings and how he'll get his due. All things considered, I think Jun actually handles things pretty well. He sticks to his new convictions and only when absolutely necessary does he raise a sword to others, and only after a couple false starts.

Keema is more open from the beginning. He ends up traveling with Jun and the moon mostly by coincidence, as he gets tasked to deliver a special spear to someone. He's got an easy nature despite having had a tough time of things, though he's just as determined to stick to his convictions as Jun is. I liked reading both of their POVs, but I do think I liked Keema's more, if only because he's somewhat less stressed than Jun is for most of the book.

The relationship between the two men is fun to read too, and goes from distrusting travel companions to friends in arms to lovers. I wasn't sure what to expect when their meeting involved, essentially, beating the shit out of one another, but they end up getting along fine. Jun and Keema actually work pretty well together, and by the end you would never know that they only met that week. Five days is instalove, but it's a bit more forgivable when it's done like this, where there's stakes and tension and a build-up of distrust to respect to friendship then to love.

The moon, too, was a complicated character. Unlike Jun, she was hard to like even though she was working to fix her past mistakes and give the people their own say. Where Jun felt genuine remorse and strove to do better, the moon was still cruel. Still perfectly fine hurting people. But I liked her addition in the story and think that her hard nature actually works well. It's a good example of how people can sometimes do good things while not being wholly good themselves, as well as how people can do 'good' things while being self-serving.

Against all odds, I actually liked the Defect too while he was in the story. He definitely came off as obnoxious at first, but the way he drew joy from even the simplest of things was endearing, especially considering how he wanted not just that joy, but also to share it with the other telepathic tortoises.

The Terrors were interesting to read about as well. The First Terror was bloodthirsty, determined to cut down the throne's enemies and eventually rule the land with his sons as his army. His skill was with his weapons and his power to control nature. While terrifying enough, those are physical things. Floods can be swum through, fire can (eventually) be put out. The Second Terror was, unbelievably, even worse. It is one thing to have power and want more, it is another thing entirely to have power and feel neglected and entitled for more power. Unfortunately, the Second Terror is also the one with the power to telepathically control people. He can, and does, make people do terrible things they would never otherwise do. The Third Terror is actually someone I feel bad for. It's a good example of making prophecies come true by the actions you take to avoid them. The Third Terror also feels neglected, but instead of yearning for power, he just yearns for attention and love. But love can be a poison, and despite his childishness, the Third Terror is no less terrifying than the others.

I really enjoyed this book and the journey it took. I like that we get to see the entire country in one fell swoop and that there's variety between being at court vs. at the gates vs. on the rivers vs. in the Divine City. The settings are different and the people are different. Jimenez also added so many little details that really gave the story an added history and makes it all feel more real.

My mind has been blown by The Spear Cuts Theough Water. This is one of the most incredible novels I have read in a very long time. Six out of five stars.

This is a book that, superficially, tells the tale of two young warriors, who are given the task of carrying a spear through a mythical land, with the goal of giving it to a soldier. All they know of this person is a name, and nothing more. While we are reading the story, it is also simultaneously taking place in the Inverted Theater, located out of space and time. And we are also reading about the descendants of the people of this country who are also telling the story.

Yes, the plot sounds confusing., but the unique structure of The Spear Cuts Through Water brings all those strands together. The beauty of the writing just took my breath away many times. As other reviewers have noted, the book requires patience. This is not a book for someone looking for a quick read. But the reward is the pleasure of reading a novel that brings a sense of wonder and amazement, and brought me joy in the discovery of a superb novel.

My thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for an ARC of the book.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Spoiler-Free Summary: "You" are pulled out of your day to day world and into the Inverted Theater, carrying only memories of your lola's stories, and a spear that has been passed down for generations. The show? The 5 day journey of Keema of the Daware Tribe and Jun the Red Peacock as they cross the country carrying precious cargo and running from the Terrors of a crumbling empire. Along the way, they must contend with magic like they've never seen before, talking telepathic tortoises, the unbearable pressure of family and legacy, and the very Rhythm of the World itself.

Where do I even start with this book?

First of all, I loved it. This book takes its reader through dreams, into a magical theater, across countries, into the spirit world and out again. It spans lifetimes, but also only five days. Its language is lyrical and poetic but also incredibly blunt, gory, and gruesome. Its genre bending in its style, use of multiple perspectives and constant shifting through time and space, but is also solidly Epic Fantasy in nature. And I was hooked with every page. The characters are tragic but joyful and though so many terrible things happen in this book, it is a love story at its heart.

However, it may not be for everyone! That isn't even necessarily a bad thing; this book knows who its ideal audience is. The "chapters" read more like sections or Books within the book itself. If you are the kind of reader who likes to finish a chapter before setting the book down, be prepared for long stretches of reading. The story itself is intricate and can sometimes be confusing! Because the point of view can change at a moment's notice between paragraphs (and even sometimes int he middle of the sentence), it took me a moment to settle into while also paying attention to who's thought I was hearing. After the first fourth of the book however, it became natural to hear the important passing thoughts of those our main characters pass during the story–it fleshed the world out and made every experience in the Smiling Sun's empire all the more real. That being said, definitely confusing at times!

Overall, this book touched me deeply. I will admit to crying at least twice while reading this book. The themes of family, legacy, redemption, and love were poignant and left me thinking every time I managed to put the book down. If you are looking for a rollercoaster of a book that will never go the direction you think it will, I highly recommend this upcoming release! 4.25/5 stars.

one of the most incredible, original, unparalleled books i've ever read in my life.

this is extraordinary storytelling that breaks expectations and conventions to deliver us a fantasy story like it's rarely been told before. the spear cuts through water feels like a love letter to oral storytelling traditions and folk tales passed down through generations. the narrative is like a performance in every sense - alongside the fact that the story is acted out as a play in a magical theatre, the writing style is raw, atmospheric, visceral, rhythmic. it absorbs you so easily into the magic and horror of this world that i feel like i've lived a lifetime with these characters in the old country.

the main plot is actually fairly straightforward: two young warriors are tasked with a quest to escort a dying god across a fractured land in order to end the tyrannical reign of an emperor and his sons. but the narrative goes through so many twists, turns and deviations and is, at its core, a love story between two violent, broken men. even through all the carnage and brutality, there's a love (between family, between lovers) that continues to root the story in the promise of hope and redemption.

the character work is honestly stunning - i'm in awe of how simon jimenez manages to make us care for characters in the shortest amount of time possible. all he needs are a handful of pages to bring characters so completely to life. 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. they're going to stay with me for a long time.

and it's not just the protagonists - we get to hear snippets of thoughts from almost every single person who appears in the story, down to the most insignificant villager. these first-person style thoughts are interwoven so naturally into the narrative that it never feels like they're interrupting the tale - instead, they enhance the theatricality of the story, as if an entire cast of performers is narrating the events from the background.

there's a level of unhinged insanity here that i've missed reading in epic fantasy - the climax is absolutely heart-poundingly wild and the ending is so satisfying and emotional and beautiful, i could barely contain my feelings when i finished.

however, i can't emphasize enough: this is NOT a book for everyone. it's a heavy, dense story that requires you to be patient and open-minded and is simply not written for mass appeal. the story takes place on multiple layers of a story within a story. the narrative uses all three POVs (first, second and third) often at the same time and it does make for a challenging read. i won't lie, there were times i got frustrated with the narrative and where the plot was going. but ultimately for me, the challenge was worth it and the book rewards your efforts with a truly exceptional reading experience.

simon jimenez is in a league of his own and i can't wait to see what he does next.

**Thank you for the ARC!! All opinions are completely my own.**

4.75-5 stars. A spell-binding myth of epic proportions. Bewitchingly magical, masterfully woven, and deeply enchanting.

SUMMARY (spoiler-free): We follow two troubled warriors as they guide an ancient god across a crumbling kingdom that is ruled by tyrannical, monstrous royals who wield powers of the gods. On the other side of the ocean, we meet a mysterious narrator who, seemingly guided by Fate, is drawn to the magical Inverted Theater that exists outside the realm of time and space.

THOUGHTS: I am shell-shocked. I am totally blown away. Like other reviewers have said, this is an incredible masterpiece that is like no other. It is beautiful and it is honest. It is gritty and it is idyllic. It is powerful and gripping in a way that made me feel as though I couldn't breathe, blink, or look away. Its world is so subtly and masterfully crafted that I was just swept away by its strong tides. Its perspectives are skillfully interwoven so as to not disrupt the pacing of the story (and yes, there is INTRIGUING second person point of view, and it only serves to make the story more intimate). It is its own original experience, ebbing and flowing languidly.

Anyone willing to take a deep dive into the Inverted Theater will be flooded with all types of emotions. You will be deeply rewarded, shocked, horrified, and moved. You will stumble out of the Inverted Theater with your heart feeling like it was utterly plundered in a way you did not know you could feel before. You will leave the Inverted Theater and exit its pages but as far as you go, you will always linger at the Inverted Theater in mind and spirit.

TLDR; An incredible, masterful fantasy that reads like a beautifully woven legend. Bravo!

The Vanished Birds is genuinely among my favorite books (full stop), and I swore that the moment I was able, I would read whatever Simon Jimenez put to the page next - and in this case the moment I was granted that opportunity happened to be among the stress of the final days of classes and finals, but true to my word I spent most of my free time (and time that wasn't really free but was bloated with procrastination and obligations I partially ignored) pacing through this epic of a novel, a novel that lends itself well to reading one day at a time - a day in the novel, a day in reality. This is all to say that I was admittedly predisposed to liking this novel, but that also meant that my expectations were exceedingly high.

Needless to say, such expectations were met, and it's hard to know what exactly to say of this novel. Maybe I can talk about it only in abstractions, and talk about how many times chills took over my body as I read, especially as each day ended, and I felt compelled to shut the book (in spirit; I read it as an eARC) and let the ending of a section stand as an ending of its own before continuing on to the vast story that still awaited. Much of what made The Vanished Birds great from a stylistic level is here to some degree, though this is a very different novel, and it emphasizes some elements that were quieter in The Vanished Birds while leaning not so heavily on elements that The Vanished Birds brandished outwardly.

The prose is consistently beautiful and holds weight, the unusual structure plays perfectly into the ebb and flow of the novel - and while the novel is rather long and split up into sections spanning probably almost a hundred pages apiece, I have to say that I wouldn't have expected a novel that is supposedly 550 pages to feel so short. But you can still feel the weight of each of those 550 pages, and like with Jimenez's previous novel, every moment is vital to the very end, building a symphony of emotion in which no one piece can be trivialized or left out.

I can't remember the last time I read a pure fantasy novel, but Simon Jimenez truly is a master of genre. His previous novel transcended the science fiction genre but still paid reverence to it, being a space opera of sorts, simply an emotionally and stylistically heightened one. This does the same for fantasy, and every element of the fantasy world Jimenez has constructed is vividly realized, constructing a vast mythology with worldbuilding not just for the sake of worldbuilding but rather as, again, a piece of a greater whole. The interspersed first-person explorations of the thoughts of various characters, some no more significant than someone passed on the street, are a testament to the living, breathing, empathetic-yet-cruel world this novel takes place in.

I will be thinking of the Inverted Theater for a long time to come.

This book is a strong contender for my favorite read of 2022, it is definitely my favorite book so far. I will be keeping an eye out for the physical book to get a copy for my shelves and for more by Jimenez as in joyed the writing style s much.

Simon Jimenez writes so beautifully and unlike anyone else, really. Even so I struggled to get into this because it *is* written so differently. I had to stick with it, which to be honest isn't hard when every sentence, every description, is this great mix of conversational and poetic. The subject may not be clear at first, the plot hazy, the characters painted in soft strokes. Your brain, like mine, might struggle a bit and say, "Just explain it!" But then about 30% in it hits you, everything coalesces, and you're hooked. You can't put it down. Reading this book made me go online and order his first book for a few friends, because I realize now that Simon Jimenez is one of my favorite authors and more people need to read him.

This is a tale of two warriors, Keema of the Daware tribe and Jun a red peacock. It is a tale of gods, of a merchant's son, of tortoises networked to each other. It is a tale of the ocean, and a theatre full of dancers and actors playing parts. It is a tale of love, of friendship. Of terrors (three) imbued with the magic of gods.

It will possibly make you cry. It made me gasp, at times, and grin, and highlight passage after passage. One of my favorites is a moment when Jun and Keema fight. I've chopped it up a bit because I don't want to spoil anything. It's just brilliant. All of it. Read this book.

“If one were to stop these young men and ask them why they sparred with such violence, they would struggle for an answer.... But the truth of the matter was they fought because Jun was grieving and Keema was terrified and Jun was exhilarated and Keema was joyful and Jun was exhausted and Keema was repulsed.
They fought because it was the easiest language they spoke.”

This cover, is stunning. The writing, is BEAUTIFUL. And the characterization is absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to own a physical copy of this one.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is so unique and beautifully written I can’t wait to read it again. It’s a story within a story and after starting it, I went back 2 or 3 times to check the synopsis to make sure I was reading the right book. It’s written soo well and honestly reading it is just an experience itself. It feels like you’re falling into the story with the other characters. Other reviewers mention the long chapters but I don’t really think that’s an issue since you’re immersed in the storytelling. I haven’t read anything by this author before but I was so mesmerized by the writing that I definitely plan to.

I honestly don't think I have the right words to describe how much I love this book. It's amazing, beautiful, dark, gory, fascinating, frustrating, and just all around incredible. Jimenez created a complicated and complex world and explored it by telling a story about telling a story, by examining myth and family traditions. This is a beast of a book, and I'm hugely grateful to Del Rey for reaching out and suggesting I request it on Netgalley (still not sure why I was so lucky, but I'm not questioning it).

Simon Jimenez has written two novels, and while they couldn't be more different, both earned solid places on my best-of list for the year I read them. I can't wait to see what he conjures up next.

"This is a love story to its blade-dented bone."

simon jimenez is in a league of his own. where the vanished birds astounded with its ruminative imagination, the spear cuts through water is plucked from the same remarkable vein and then amplified a hundred times over. this is storytelling on a level removed from all convention; it's a narrative that lacerates with its cutting-edge mystique.

when it's said that this novel is an epic fantasy, it's meant in every sense of the word. written incisively in all three persons, the novel unspools much like the mythos of an epic poem: though written in prose rather than verse, the writing is alive with its own radiant lyricism, thrumming with a supernal, transcendental quality that arcs through every page. it's a type of writing that is completely unmoored, imitating the liquid perambulations of water — every element disperses like ripples in the unfettered ocean of jimenez's vision, each sentence alive with a thrashing organicism. though it's sometimes more direct than others, you'll meander dizzyingly in paragraphs before getting to the core of it all, and the density of it all might not enamor everyone. the words branch out with teeming intensity, and inattentiveness to its peculiarities can be devastating — i definitely missed a lot from my first read simply by way of my own wayward concentration.

which is to say, this is not a book that is easily-traversed. like most fantasies, there's a learning curve — and with the spear cuts through water, it's viciously parabolic. it takes perseverance to soldier through the impenetrable inventiveness of the novel, but the revelation of its brilliance encroaches dawnlike upon you: it is slowly realized; yet once it is, the lambency is all-consuming. but damn, it is realized slowly, at least for me. the beginning was utterly mind-boggling, and it was only by willpower and faith that i could navigate its reeling idiosyncrasies. its sheer length and extravagance is the main reason why this isn't a five-star read for me; i think that condensing the novel, even by a little, would help its overall coherence.

due to the individual nature of the book, it isn't one that i can confidently measure by metrics of characters/characterization, narration, or even plot. that being said, jun and keema, despite occupying relatively little page time when compared to their protagonist statuses, are both very dear to me after reading the novel — it's not as clear in the exposition, but there are these wondrous (albeit few), incandescent moments where their youthful snark and raw emotion peek through all the layers of stratospheric fantasy, and it's simply fantastic. i think that by having so much excess extraneousness wriggling around the plot, the "zoom-in"s on our main characters are made that much more intimate and endearing.

as for narration: i will never be able to shake how haunting jimenez's use of italics are. they convey so much irrepressible expression; the way they interrupt the flow of sentences is pure stylistic genius. it can get confusing at times switching from perspective to perspective, but its jarring nature is part of how he draws attention to the intricacies of the internal psyche — it begs for emphasis.

the plot trajectory is a moot point: it can be seen as relatively straightforward (two warriors carting a dying god across the land in a pilgrimage for the good of the world), but it's also convoluted. tortoises talk, time shifts, perspectives move, adult tablets are pocketed (if you're wondering, it's exactly what it sounds like). it's the most elaborate direct plot i've ever read while still having a plot. within it all, there are so many moments of warmth and beauty that get washed away as blips in the inexhaustible volume of it all, as if to dwell gently on silly human affairs before widening to encompass a history bigger than them all.

i could probably go on and on (perhaps a full, Official review to come? maybe, if i can wrap my head around it), but for brevity's sake: expect nothing, because expectations will lie in shambles. other reviewers have said it, and i'll echo them: this is not a journey for everyone, but those willing to wade through its knotted, tangled genesis will emerge with something gained — whether it's awe, despondency, charm, or horror.

much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez asks that the reader join the writer in the sharing of a story. It is a very rewarding experience and the tale is magical and thrilling. I enjoyed it very much but as others have noted the lack of chapters and the length were a little daunting and at times I felt my enjoyment of it would have been greater if I'd been able to enjoy it in one sitting or even two--
If you are a fan of fantasy or imaginative fiction, this book will entertain you and take you on an unexpected journey. I will probably return to this book and reread it.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Del Rey, and #SimonJimenez for the AR copy of this #EpicFantasy #TheSpearCutsThroughWater.

This book has a gorgeous cover and a stunning synopsis. I'd be totally lost without the synopsis, this is a high fantasy book. The chapters are also super long, which is one thing I strongly disliked. But the writing style has good prose/is lyrical. Will check out this author's other book! I'd recommend if you like high fantasy books or books with chapters as long as A Little Life's.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a book that asks you to be patient, but can, at any point, reward your patience with moments that make you feel as if you have suddenly taken flight. And when this book flies, it soars. I’ve never read a story quite like this that benefits so greatly from the way it is presented, in this case as a story within a story through the lens of both an audience viewing a play in an impossible theater, an individual audience member, and Jun and Keema’s tale which is the subject of the play itself. The rhythm of the book is also just incredible, with a beat that reminds me of being told a long story or national myth that must be broken up and picked up again at convenient points, which somehow doesn’t feel like chapters in a book at all.

A truly great read for lovers of sweeping fantasy sagas and more serious questions of identity, belonging, and storytelling.

unconventional, unique storytelling. phenomenal execution. brilliant prose. Simon Jimenez does it again! that was excellent. experimental and ingenious storytelling. it's nothing like you've ever read before. NOTHING. and so i will say that if you are not a patient and open-minded person, i beg you to stay away from this book. if you get it, YOU GET IT. this will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is mine.

the narrative structure fits so perfectly, only Simon Jimenez can think of this and execute it so; the storytelling was amplified, the emotions heightened by various sensory experiences, and yet again Jimenez shows us his writing and storytelling skills. the concept was so unbelievably creative, you would not know what to expect even if i told you. i had so much trust and faith in the author's skills to deliver an amazing and unique reading experience, and was not disappointed at all! like he's just so fucking brilliant, i am both angry and in awe.

i think for this book, as with Jimenez's previous work, saying less is more. so, i will only say two more things:
1. the storytelling is phenomenal, unlike any other, and inviting. it pulls you into the story and enchants you and you will not leave wanting after
2. the prose is absolutely insane. it's actually so fucking hysterical how Jimenez puts together words like this. he shows fantastic control and mastery of the language, i will read anything he writes

anyway, you will still not get what i'm saying until you read this yourself and experience what i'm trying to describe. this novel is exceptional and i don't think i can ever do it justice even if i try. this is my first 5 star of the year, thank you Simon Jimenez!

The things you need before starting this book: patience and an open mind.

From the very first line, I knew this was a book I'd devour. The description you see on websites doesn’t do it justice. It's like you standing on the shore of a beach, not touching your toes to the water, not wading in; barely the surface. The Spear Cuts Through Water was a story within a story, of sorts. All POVs you can experience here: first, second, and third. Although, a fair warning, if The Vanished Birds disturbed you, this won’t hold back and for me, was more brutal.

First, it begins with an unnamed character (these parts narrated in second person). This person gets introduced to the cruel, brutal world Simon Jimenez created, through the stories of their Lola (do say it as loh-la, not low-la). Like Jimenez’s previous novel, this book starts as compelling as ever. Other books you’d describe as a movie playing in your head, but this one was a theater play. It was a performance through and through; it starts with the introduction of an Inverted Theater after all. A theater for dreamers, where the story of the two warriors gets acted out. And as it begins, the prose seems to follow a rhythm, seems to flow in tandem with the drumbeats in that theater.

In this fantasy world, ruled cruelly by an emperor - the Smiling Sun – and his sons, the First, Second, and Third Terror. Two warriors are tasked with sending a “package” from the west to the east, over the course of five days. One chapter for each day, which is why I said you need patience because one might think five chapters is nothing. I’ll say right now that nearly every chapter is as long as a published novella (those over 100 pages) and there is a chapter BEFORE the first day which is EQUALLY as long. In terms of pace, this is slow but does not necessarily mean that nothing was happening. There were a LOT of things that took place. As the two warriors travel, they meet a lot of characters, both friend and enemy. I was shocked when they passed by rice terraces that seemed to be a nod toward the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines.

The plot was intricately woven and complex. I was honestly convinced the author’s brain was from another dimension entirely. Here rise the themes of power: what happens when it’s given to the wrong hands, and allowed to be used, allowed to prosper and endure in these wrong hands. I won’t deny that there isn’t a level of insanity here. If you’ve read The Vanished Birds, you’d be familiar with how insane things can get. Here it was relentless. But despite everything, I think the author “knots the threads” well.

What I didn’t much appreciate about this were the long chapters, as mentioned. And the violence, I’m still thinking if they were all necessary but hmm maybe that opinion would vary with each reader.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is not a book for everyone. In the same way Simon Jimenez’s previous novel was not. I’d say these books are on opposite ends of a spectrum, but they hold each other’s hands anyway. I don’t want to say too much because I think it will also work if you dive in knowing close to nothing. At any rate, try this book! Enter the theater and experience this tale yourself.

Content & trigger warnings: blood, gore, torture, war, ableism, body horror, dismemberment, cannibalism, murder, genocide