There were so many radical choices, so many leaps of faith, but i jumped head first and i don’t regret a second of it!

Simon Jimenez made a very interesting choice to narrate his book: alternating between first, second and third person – and it worked!
The writing in general is an homage to oral history, with raw, musical, visceral sentences. It sucks you in to the old country with its magic and its horrors. At the end of the journey, i feel like i’ve spent a lifetime alongside the characters, and can’t help but have fallen in love with all of them, no matter how terrifying and alien some (all) of them are.

The old tale atmosphere is enhanced even more by the fact that some of the story is acted out in a theater – literally. As the story progresses, i became deeply lulled into this adventure, and was part of that audience.

There is another interesting choice that i loved in the writing itself that gave much depth to the characters. I’ll spoiler it below because i think some people would rather go into it blind (as opposed to the first point which is immediately obvious to the reader). [hidden behind a spoiler tag on all platforms]

“That is you. A merchant’s child. But one of many. How old you are outside this dream is irrelevant; in this theater you are as you feel—a youth, deep in your adolescence, and, like all youths, lonely in your own unnameable way.“

This book reminded me intimately of Ghibli movies. Not in the superficial way many stories are marketed, pending on the presence East Asian creatures and creepy but serene bath-houses. No, The Spear Cuts Through Water embodies the heart of a Ghibli movie.

You get the chaotic but benevolent rage of a deity on a war path to try and restore their land, with all the shortcomings of it – like in Princess Mononoke.

You get a hodgepodge crew of characters, with varying degrees of morality, hardened by life, and struggling along the way with feelings of family, grief and love; all while trying to undo the powers that be – Castle in the Sky (my absolute favorite btw).

You get a war story, underneath which is hidden a cyclical love story – i was reminded of Turniphead from Howl’s Moving Castle, and also of the many pairings of children who find each other through adversity (but gay).

All of this, accompanied with a deep sense of wonder, this lighter than air feeling, the serenity, i associate with the animes.

“this is indeed a love story. down to the blade-dented bone.”

I think this may be the best book I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The sheer mastery and skill in weaving together first, second and third person narration so seamlessly - way the story flows like an uninterrupted stream when the changes could be so jarring. And the way the story feels so rich, like old bones unearthed and seen for the first time in millennia. The setting of the story, the way Jun & Keema's tale is told to you in the Inverted Theatre, the way it is history being played out in an otherworldly realm just feels so real, it feels like the only authentic way for this story to exist. This story speaks of dance as a connection to the rhythm of magic, gods and nature - and it is written as it it were such a dance, with so many aspects working seamlessly together, every part moving in perfect time.

I love the way the read is pulled into the story and how you is a fully fleshed out character yet also one with the reader in moments. Especially at the end because I, too, thought this was a love story. Yet it felt like it may finish without such an aspect, that is may be soured in the final moments. Yet, knowing the reader so well, you point it out and the rest of take is told - Keema & Jun get the end they deserve.

I'm just in utter, complete awe of Simon Jimenez for writing this because it feels like it shouldn't work but he's created a masterpiece.

This might well end up being the best book I read this year! The Spear Cuts Through Water feels like a book that took a lot of risks in its storytelling structure and plot progression, and in my opinion it has paid off spectacularly. This novel has achieved a far more complex and interesting narrative by deviating away from many fantasy tropes, and I really respect Simon Jiminez for taking the more daring route - the book will stick in my head for a long time to come as a result.

I’ll confess to not really understanding what was happening in the first 20 pages at first; the narrative launches into the setting of the ‘Inverted Theatre’ with characters that aren’t referenced in the blurb. I’d urge any readers in the same position to push through this confusion, as all becomes clear by the end of the story. This is an example of one of the risks that Simon Jiminez takes in structuring the novel; instead of sticking with a conventional storytelling method, the theatre setting introduces a more dynamic approach that adds in additional voices to the story (I think the lines shown in italics in the text are spoken by actors in the play), and also proves quite a natural way to explore folklore retellings in the world. The drip feeding of information to connect the story to the ‘present day’ setting was fantastic, and really kept me engaged throughout the novel.

Spear Cuts Through Water also takes time to develop a great cast of flawed characters, particularly the two lead characters Jun and Keema. Both felt like well-rounded personalities that actually feel part of the world they inhabit, and I loved the way both characters progressed in their attitudes and worldviews over the story. A special shout out to the Terrors too - the creation of three antagonistic brothers with distinct identities is no mean feat, and their ruthless, callous nature throughout the book makes you genuinely fear for the protagonists. It feels like a world with consequences, where victory for the good guys is by no means guaranteed.

I don’t really have anything negative to add to this review, other than to acknowledge that this book isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It was a challenging, mind-bending read, and I feel you have to commit to this book and trust in the author to pull it off successfully. This is an easy recommendation to readers from the more literary side of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, as well as fans of the genre looking for a book that breaks the mould of typical fantasy tales.

This is a very complex book and unlike anything else I’ve read before. A beautifully written and highly imaginative novel with a very unique narrative structure.

The writing is just stunning. The lyrical and fable style prose is delightful to read and I love how the author plays with the narration, placing us as spectators of the Inverted Theatre. The story alternates between the 2nd and 3rd point of view only to be switch to 1st person. It made a reading an interesting experience.

Unfortunately, the book didn’t grab my attention as fully as I wanted. I feel like it started much stronger for me than how it finished. Despite the fantastic character work, I couldn’t connect with the Jun and Keema on emotional level, which no doubt impacted me reading enjoyment.

I'd heard lots about this book and was excited to read it, but unfortunately, for some reason I found it hard to get into. I will try again to read it at some point in the future, but at the moment it's not for me. I will not be sharing my review anywhere else.

Many thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

Okay, I finally read The Spear Cuts Through Water . And what do I even say? By the time I came to the last few pages of this book, I was speechless. This easily is one of the best fantasy books I've read, in terms of the world building, the themes. Reading this was an incredible experience, and one in which I took my time. I savoured each and every word of this book and the way Simon Jiminez painted the picture of this story and the story within a story.

I don't think I've read any books in second-person, at least not before this one and honestly? it's amazing. Reading from the second person perspective really immerses you in the story and this world and Jiminez's amazing words. Honestly, I could talk for hours upon hours at what Jiminez has done with this book; it is a lesson in craft and in writing and in taking risks and watching them pay off.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a true masterpiece and honestly, one of my favourite books that I've read recently. I know I will not be forgetting about this any time soon. (

The story of Keema and Jun was told in such an wonderfully unique way. A stunning tale with multifaceted characters, at it’s heart The Spear Cuts through Water is an impressive exploration of identity, duty, and family legacy.

The Spear Cuts through Water is definitely an impressive book. It gets rave reviews all over the bookish internet and everyone talks about how meaningful this book is.

Unfortunately, I found it hard to follow bnecause of the switching between third, second person. I can chalk part of it up to needing to dual read the book and listen to the audiobook to try and get into the flow of the writing, but I decided that since I've struggled to sink into the book I would mention it in my review.

Other than prose, I loved the plot! It was excellent, and I felt drawn to keep reading constantly. I did complete the book in one long train ride, and honestly, it was lovely to love and come to know the characters and plot that I enjoyed so much after such a struggle getting started.

I would really recomend this book, but if you are potentially going to struggle with point of view changes definitely try the audiobook if you can. It helped me get immersed into the story in half the time just reading did.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is in some ways a fairly standard fantasy tale with two characters thrown together on a quest with a limit timeframe. But that sells short the uniqueness and quality of the storytelling.
This is written in layers- a child being told stories, that as an adult they experience in a dream realm being performed on stage - which it turns out also exists in the story that's being told.
It very much feels like oral history and storytelling in written form along with a touch of classical theatre with brief interruptions and asides from the characters that appear briefly on the main characters' journey.
The main characters of the story being told (within the theatre) are Jun and Keema, tasked with taking the dying Moon god on a pilgrimage so that she can end the rule of the Moon throne. On the journey they meet main people and creatures and learn more about themselves and each other.
Although it is a fantastical story, it also feels lived in, gritty and harsh, and explores belonging and identity.
A standout fantasy story that is well worth reading

Really enjoyed this multivoiced and imaginative fairytale. The execution is hugely original, the character work is believable, the action scene are gripping, and overall it’s one of the best fantasy novels in years

(If you’ve played Skyrim you’re going to recognise a major plot element though…)

An epic oral poem in book form. The writing in this was like waking dream, totally transportive and epic. Loved it!

Surreal storytelling.

The writing flows beautifully just as thoughts in the mind often do giving this book a dream like quality.

Multifaceted and clever.

Among the gore, torture and death there is love, yearning and tender characters. I enjoyed the romance and connections the characters make.

The characters are whole.

The changing narratives meant I was never fully immersed. This is a book I think I will have to re-read at some point when I have no distractions and can just be.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This book is a work of art and deserves more accreditation than it currently has.

The prose is lush, inviting and vivid in a way I can't remember experiencing at all in the last few years. The multifaceted character-work at play here is masterful, even for characters who appear only for a handful of pages. Keema, Jun and the moon god have firmly entrenched themselves in my cerebellum, and their actions and reactions are so very human that it makes interacting with them a deep, insightful pleasure. The glimpses of personality from the background characters - the 'stage dressing' - are equally as compelling at bringing life this world.

How Simon Jimenez manages to embody the folk-tale spirit behind this piece and literally brings a play to life through these pages is awe inspiring and I would not be surprised to see this book as a modern-classic. It truly reinvents many elements of fantasy literature that make it so compelling as a genre.

This is not a book for everyone: it's dense, meandering and honestly took me at least 70 pages to really get the hang of even reading fluidly, but I'm already considering rereading it. It's that good. Truly a magnificent work.

This review is for The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez which releases in the UK on 14th March! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited when I saw this was available to request as I’d heard so many good things about this book already when it was self published, and it has lived up to every expectation.

It was so unique in the way it was written, that I cannot put into words how good it was. It was so original, complex and unlike anything else I have ever read. Because of this, it did feel a little harder to read for me than usual, which is not a bad thing at all as it meant I actually had to take my time. The narrative structure was something I have never seen before, and was impressed how they used it throughout the book.

I enjoyed the story and the world building as whole and loved the detail explaining the past and present of the world they were in, I felt like I was really there. The plot was filed with so many twists and turns, always keeping you on your toes and waiting for what comes next.

I loved most of the characters, and enjoyed seeing a wide range of them including some LGBTQ+ rep which was great! You see a lot of character development in this book, as well as lot of morally grey characters who kinda just brush over the fact they’re murderers. But again, you do feel for them and want them to succeed.

I really loved this book, and would recommend this to any fantasy readers out there. It will be unlike anything you have ever read before!

This is a very interestingly written book, but the writing style kept me, as a reader, too distant from the characters.
While I can sometimes appreciate books that are quite experimental and more focused on themes than anything else, my preference is for character driven books, therefore this was just not for me.

I'm grappling with giving this 4 stars because from a craft point, I don't know how else the story can't be 5 stars but my reading experience is a little bumpy.

Beginning with my feelings: simply, it's a story that is hard to understand on the first go. The long chapters don't necessarily make it easier to read, although the quoted section breakers do help me to stay on track. I do think this story is worth a revisit simply out of awe and respect for the craft which demands to be understood. Speaking of the craft, it's technically (as in, writing skills) impressive. The fluid switch between first, second, and third-person as well as the three storylines they are told through is dizzying, confusing, surreal and dreamlike at once. Perspectives converge and divide as stories are layered on top of one other like epochs made of stone, pulling me in and out of its intricate mythology. I've never read anything like this. This is one of extremely few books where I can confidently say the 'nothing like it' angle of a book's premise is accurate.

Also: big props to the cover illustrator Simon Prades for creating a compelling cover.

Overall, while I didn't have the most enjoyable and easiest reading experience, it doesn't take away from the fact this is a marvellous story.

Even though this book was published back in 2022, there's a new edition of it being launched in 2024. For that, thanks to Netgalley and Solaris for providing me with the e-arc/DRC of the 2024 edition in exchange for an honest review.

Book review: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

5/5🌟

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a unique tale about heritage, family and gods. Where on the surface we follow two young men in their journey to return a god to their rightful place, it is so much more than that.

The Spear Cuts Through Water bridges the gap between fantasy & fairytale, between storytelling & art. Its unique form of storytelling in the form of a 'inception' like story within a story within a story is easily one of the most compelling literary experiments I have seen. Here a grandmother tells a story about their family history to a grandson, which he also sees in spirit like theater in a dream and which is also told as if it is happening in real-time. Sounds crazy right?! And yet it works. Jimenez blends different forms of literary perspective and forms of storytelling, and does it so fluently that after a short transition period it feels natural.

One of the most interesting aspects of the experimental writing is the interjections made by the subjects of the story at hand in the a form almost like a Greek Chorus in a classical play. Them providing an extra perspective makes the story that more immersive. The same goes for interjections of the grandson giving the story a perspective from a modern time. It feels like immersing yourself in the flow of a river, being carried away by the narrative and only coming up for air when you put the book down.

The story itself is a look at heritage & family. What does it mean to be part of a larger history beyond yourself. It is also a story of love, greed and power. It really goes back to those storytelling elements that are prevalent in mythology and fairytales and while the art of writing is the main attraction it never forgets its main protagonist. Both the characters and the storytelling are in balance.

Jimenez is a true artist, a novelist, a poet. This book will stick with me for a long time and will go on my list of all time favorite books. A true masterpiece!

A masterfully staged fable, told through various ways and voices: this is ultimately a love story. It’s a quest and a tragedy and a horror story and a romance and a myth. It’s queer and tender and lyrical… and a bit weird. I got used to the chorus of voices which weren’t the narrating voice - these appear in italics in written text and I have NO idea how they work in audiobook - but it did take me a while to work out what was going on, as did the interlinking storylines. But it is just gorgeous. The quest of two young warriors to smuggle a god-corpse across the land and end a reign of terror from a monstrously gifted royal family, this is the kind of story that just sticks in the brain. When Ghibli adaptation please?

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I really wanted to love this. I’ve heard so many great things, it’s been comped to books I absolutely love… but I’m sorry, this was such a drag. It could not keep my attention.

Don’t get me wrong, the writing is beautiful and vivid, but plot wise I was *bored*. I couldn’t connect to these characters, or the multiple threads, and eventually the interruptions from unseen people in the audience got tiring.

This might work for people that love rhythmic writing telling a puzzle of a story. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.

2.5⭐️

A journey of love, what it means to be human, & talking tortoises. I did not expect this book to play out as it did. Touching characters and stunning prose, Simon Jimenez propels you through a theatre and into this marvellous story, reminiscent of a Ghibli movie. Very much enjoyed this, thank you NetGalley for the ARC 4/5