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  • The Spear Cuts Through Water

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Simon Jimenez
  • Narrated by: Joel de la Fuente
  • Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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The Spear Cuts Through Water

Written by: Simon Jimenez
Narrated by: Joel de la Fuente
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Publisher's Summary

Two warriors shepherd an ancient god across a broken land to end the tyrannical reign of a royal family in this epic fantasy from the author of The Vanished Birds.

“A beguiling fantasy not to be missed.”—Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of The Crown’s Game

WINNER OF THE IAFA CRAWFORD AWARD WINNER OF THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE URSULA K. LE GUIN AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE IGNYTE AWARD

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR:
Oprah Daily, Vulture, Polygon, She Reads, Gizmodo, Kirkus Reviews, The Quill to Live

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.

©2021 Simon Jimenez (P)2021 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“The Spear Cuts Through Water is many, many things. It’s a spellbinding tribute to oral storytelling and folklore. It’s a thoughtful exploration of identity and family. But more than anything, The Spear Cuts Through Water is a love story, and one unlike anything you’ve read before.”—Polygon “Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2022”

“[The Spear Cuts Through Water] is a marvel. Jimenez’s command of prose and playfulness of thought is used to incredible effect to show how oral traditions can transform a tale. This book must be read to be believed.”Vulture

The Spear Cuts Through Water is remarkably rich. . . . This novel is an astonishing feat, one that lovers of sophisticated story won’t want to miss.”—Chicago Review of Books

What listeners say about The Spear Cuts Through Water

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breathless

I can't remember the last time a book left me breathless. it's tied up nicely and though I wish to know more to visit the inverted theater myself. I am throughly satisfied with this story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

fascinating storytelling method

what a performance. a mood, in and of itself. well-crafted. will probably think about it for a while

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  • Chris
  • 2022-11-26

This is why I read

The worst thing about Simon Jimenez is that I came upon the author when he only had one book under his belt and now have to wait an indeterminate amount of time to read his third novel!

This one reminds me of Neuromancer in that it took 50 to 100 pages to understand the framework of the narrative & the world that it is taking place in, but once you do it becomes incredibly rewarding.

The story is unique, inventive, magical and unpredictable. It reads and feels a bit like a (much) more mature Studio Ghibli. The action is thrilling and plentiful, and the characters, very much like in Jimenez' other novel The Vanished Birds, are incredibly endearing.

This has a consistent feel and voice to The Vanished Birds, yet the setting and events are so distinct - I can't wait to see what direction this author goes in next.
Excellent narrator.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Ryan
  • 2023-03-02

are we reading the same book?

Bought this based on strong recommendations, but I couldn't finish it. The prose sounds like it's trying too hard, the characters are not engaging, and the storytelling mechanic just makes things convoluted.

I really wanted to like this. Narration was good at least. The author shows promise, so hopefully future books are better and less forced.

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Zoranne Host
  • 2022-11-11

TRANSCENDANT

i don't know how else to say but THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER changed my DNA. this book touched my soul. it chewed me up and spit me out. it's transcendent. i've never read ANYTHING as unique and as perfect as this book. i feel like i'm grieving. i don't even know how to explain this book to a stranger. it's not going to be for everyone but i encourage you to try this if you want to read something tender yet ABSOLUTELY BONKERS. THIS BOOL DESERVES TO BE IN YHE LOUVRE. ok i'm done now. brb going to lie down in a state of eternal melancholy

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4 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2023-07-03

Completely lost

Maybe it’s me but I’m 1hr in and I don’t know who the protagonist is, I don’t know what point of view the story is being told from….lots of words that ain’t painting a picture for me. This one missed me by a mile.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • ian
  • 2023-05-03

WTF was happening!?

This book is really hard to follow and convoluted for no reason. It jumps all over the place and the established rules don't make sense since they just straight up ignore after the first chapter. I never wrote a review before and I'm use to epics and long stories. So beware of the hype.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2022-11-01

With 3hours to left…

WHAT A GEM! I’m not quite finished yet but I feel compelled to share my thoughts.

What stands out to me most about this book is that it is written in the second person perspective.

For reference —
1st person = I/we (I heard to the phone ring as I approached the door)
2nd person = you (you heard the phone ring as you approached the door)
3rd person = he/she/it/they (she heard the phone ring as she approached the door)

Maybe it’s uncommon to find books written in second person or maybe I am not well enough read to have encountered it before but I must say this writing style choice is both irritating (unfamiliar?) and powerfully enthralling. Jimenez places you right in the thick of his intricately woven and absolutely spellbinding story by using this ‘trick’ of second person POV. Even though I found the POV style initially difficult to appreciate, I can see now how it created the wonderful experience of feeling fully immersed in the story. And eventually it just faded to the background and I stopped noticing the unfamiliar second person perspective. If, like me, you are unacquainted with books written in this point of view, you might find it difficult to get into this book at first but don’t let it phase you! Stick with it and you will be rewarded! At least as far as I have read to this point =]

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Antonnet B
  • 2023-07-11

narrator is the only reason I finished this

I did not enjoy this story, the only reason I finished it was because the narrator was good.

the book was confusing, taking on multiple perspectives at random times. the narrator was able to make these switches clear but it definitely did not do the story any favours

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Gry Christoffersen
  • 2022-10-26

Completely unique

Utterly gorgeous prose. Jimenez shifts POV and time and place so smoothly. I have never read a book written in this manner before and it works brilliantly. Fantastic narration too, highly recommended!

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Melanie DesPlas
  • 2023-08-12

Gave up with only 3 hours left to finish

I rarely give up on a book but this is one of them. Enough Meh!

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Stormy
  • 2023-07-12

riveting and confusing

at times impossible to follow, other times absolutely riveting. got to the end understanding most of what went on but so many layers that i probably missed

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