The great thing about online communities is you can get a lot of book recommendations from a broad swath of people that cover niche books you might never have heard of otherwise. The bad thing is that a lot of these books are simply not good. Nevertheless, I've plowed through quite a few net-recommended fantasy books, and I still think it's worth it for the occasional gem you overturn. I had the chance this last week to enjoy one of those gems: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez.
Upfront, the style of this book is not going to be for everyone. It has an edge of the cerebral, being told primarily in second-person, from the perspective of an unnamed person watching a play performed by spirits in their sleep about the events of the adventure. Perspective can change suddenly and without announcement, and the book occasionally slides in thoughts of random third parties experiencing the events of the text.
I found all of these narrative tools a delight, although I admit I was skeptical for the first few pages. I think Jimenez does a wonderful job of using them effectively and the overall effect adds to the surreal/mythological energy of the entire story.
Jimenez's writing is beautiful and vivid—for good or for ill, as there are some gruesome events that take place—and really sweeps you up in the events of the story. He also does a wonderful job capturing the emotional mindsets of the characters. In particular, I thought the way he handled the relationship of the two main protagonists, Jun and Keema, was very realistic given who they are, and the emotional payoff of his taking the time to work through that was so worth it.
The plot of the novel is pretty simple: Jun and Keema are escorting the empress, the Moon goddess, from point A to point B. But Jimenez shows how a talented author can take a simple quest plot and transform it into something sweeping and epic. The story takes us across this fictional country, which has been laboring under the oppression of the Moon Throne and its emperor, known as the Smiling Sun. We see up close the impact of this emperor and his government, and the various ways that the populace is pushing back or knuckling under, trying to survive.
The empress herself is a fascinating character, and Jimenez handles so well this character who both possesses the power of a goddess who transformed the world, yet is deeply weakened after generations among mortals. She walks a compelling line between a being who wants to do right by the people, but still possesses the selfish impulses of a god.
He blends the truly mythological—the Moon goddess used to be the moon, and after she fell from the sky, the people named the black hole where the moon used to be "the Burn"—as well as the more intimate story beats we expect from modern storytelling, such as Jun's complicated relationship with his father. I thought this intermixing worked very well, allowing for both a grand scale, transformative tale as well as very personal, small-scale stories.
Even the side characters grab your attention, so that their parts of the story never feel like unwelcome intrusions and asides from the main plot, but rather equally interesting stories playing out alongside our protagonists' (I'm still thinking about Uhi Araya).
This story grabbed me from very early on and held on tight throughout the book; I was riveted to the end. A truly wonderful tale; I may end up buying a copy to have to reread later.
Review #3! We're on a roll, and breaking into my favorite genre: fantasy. The book description for this one is:
Firuz-e Jafari is fortunate enough to have immigrated to the Free Democratic City-State of Qilwa, fleeing the slaughter of other traditional Sassanian blood magic practitioners in their homeland. Despite the status of refugees in their new home, Firuz has a good job at a free healing clinic in Qilwa, working with Kofi, a kindly new employer, and mentoring Afsoneh, a troubled orphan refugee with powerful magic.
But Firuz and Kofi have discovered a terrible new disease which leaves mysterious bruises on its victims. The illness is spreading quickly through Qilwa, and there are dangerous accusations of ineptly performed blood magic. In order to survive, Firuz must break a deadly cycle of prejudice, untangle sociopolitical constraints, and find a fresh start for their both their blood and found family.
The character: Firuz-e Jafari, aro/ace
Final verdict: Thumbs up
This book appeared in the house one day and we have no recollection of how, but everyone agreed it must be mine because it sounds like something I would buy. I have no memory of it, but I figured it was worth giving a read anyway.
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is a 165-page fantasy/adventure novel by Kij Johnson. What struck me right away about this book is how rare it is to see a fantasy or adventure story protagonist who's older. Vellitt is 55 at the start of the novel, and while that's certainly not decrepit, she is older and it's reflected in the story: her knees ache after a full day of walking, she spends a lot of her down time reflecting on her life up to this point, the younger characters can seem at times frustratingly impulsive and short-sighted to her. She's reached a point in her life where she's settled down from a more adventurous youth and thought she had found where she was going to spend her days until retirement, until the need for her quest arises.
( Read more... )
Recommend if you:
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is a 165-page fantasy/adventure novel by Kij Johnson. What struck me right away about this book is how rare it is to see a fantasy or adventure story protagonist who's older. Vellitt is 55 at the start of the novel, and while that's certainly not decrepit, she is older and it's reflected in the story: her knees ache after a full day of walking, she spends a lot of her down time reflecting on her life up to this point, the younger characters can seem at times frustratingly impulsive and short-sighted to her. She's reached a point in her life where she's settled down from a more adventurous youth and thought she had found where she was going to spend her days until retirement, until the need for her quest arises.
( Read more... )
Recommend if you:
- Want to see older fantasy protagonists
- Like a quick-paced or bite-sized novel
- Enjoy a fantasy world that leaves something to the imagination of the reader
- You don't like being dropped into a fantasy world with no explanation offered
- In-universe sexism is a no-go for you
- You're looking for substantial character development--Vellitt's quest is more about her reflection on her life up to this point than about changes to her character during the quest
In the quiet streets of Prague all manner of otherworldly creatures lurk in the shadows. Unbeknownst to its citizens, their only hope against the tide of predators are the dauntless lamplighters - a secret elite of monster hunters whose light staves off the darkness each night. Domek Myska leads a life teeming with fraught encounters with the worst kind of evil: pijavica, bloodthirsty and soulless vampiric creatures. Despite this, Domek find solace in his moments spent in the company of his friend, the clever and beautiful Lady Ora Fischer - a widow with secrets of her own.
( not really spoilers but just in case )
Overall, I liked it! It's a great little book to spend some time on that has wonderful worldbuilding and I hope the author will continue writing as her ideas are really great!
***
"The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass..."
After a critical mass of interest in revisiting Robert Jordan's enormous fantasy book series Wheel of Time, prompted by the soon to be released TV adaptation, I'm delighted to invite any old or new fans to join![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tar_valon
We will be starting a read/reread of Book 1. Eye of the World on 1st of December, with initial schedule (to be adjusted if needed!) of roughly book per month. Besides that, any and all fanworks or other content relating to both the book series and the TV adaptation, are welcome on the community.
If Wheel of Time is an old friend (it was a genre staple for many of us in the comm) or a new acquaintance and you'd like some peer support in tackling the series, and opportunity to fannish chatter, gather your sword, mount your steed and ride toward Tar Valon! Adventure awaits!
***
"The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass..."
After a critical mass of interest in revisiting Robert Jordan's enormous fantasy book series Wheel of Time, prompted by the soon to be released TV adaptation, I'm delighted to invite any old or new fans to join
tar_valon We will be starting a read/reread of Book 1. Eye of the World on 1st of December, with initial schedule (to be adjusted if needed!) of roughly book per month. Besides that, any and all fanworks or other content relating to both the book series and the TV adaptation, are welcome on the community.
If Wheel of Time is an old friend (it was a genre staple for many of us in the comm) or a new acquaintance and you'd like some peer support in tackling the series, and opportunity to fannish chatter, gather your sword, mount your steed and ride toward Tar Valon! Adventure awaits!
***
Page Summary
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rocky41_7 : Recent Reading: The Spear Cuts Through Water [+0] - rocky41_7 : A+ Library Review: "The Bruising of Qilwa" by Naseem Jamnia [+2]
- rocky41_7 : Recent Reading: The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe [+4]
- rekishi : The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis [+2]
- kat_lair : Wheel of Time Fan Community and Read/Re-read Book Club [+0]
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chasethestars