The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez - Spoiler-Free Review

I've been looking forward to reading "The Spear Cuts Through Water" since I received it as a gift last Christmas, and I'm so glad I did. A virtuoso work of structural and perspectival experimentation, it's hard to believe this is only Simon Jimenez's second book.
Channels mentioned:
‪@SheWasOnlyEvie‬ (thanks Evie! ♥️)
+++ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL?
♥️ Support Matt on Patreon / mattonbooks
📚 Send Matt a book www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/...
+++ CONNECT WITH MATT...
🗣️ Join the Grimoire Discord / discord
🐦 Matt on Twitter / matt_on_books
📖 Matt on Goodreads / mattonbooks
00:00 Intro
01:22 What's it got?
01:53 The story
03:41 The writing
10:47 The cover
13:56 Final thoughts...
+++ Theme song "Dust on the Road" by lemonmusicstudio
+++ pixabay.com/music/rock-dust-o...
#booktube #fantasybooks #bookreview

[@SheWasOnlyEvie]

I am so glad that you loved The Spear Cuts Through Water! Chris Panatier was the artist who did the end papers. He's not only an illustrative artist but also an author himself. I have a couple of his books on my shelves waiting to be read.

[@MattonBooks]

Weird that his name was so hard to find in the book. 🤔 Yes! It’s a great book. ♥️

[@jeroenadmiraal8714]

You know what the spear also cuts through? My heart. I will have to read this soon.

[@MattonBooks]

Yes you will. And this is definitely a book that does a little heart cutting. ❤️💔❤️

[@Johanna_reads]

I enjoyed The Vanished Birds, and I sense parallels based on the way you're describing this book. That book also has a unique structure right from the beginning, and I liked going into the story not knowing how different the journey would become within a couple of chapters. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on that one, and now I really need to pick up this one!

[@MattonBooks]

Yes you do. And I’m very keen to the Vanished Birds very soon.

[@sw3dge]

Just such a ridiculously good cover. I bet we'll see this in your end of the year wrap up.

[@MattonBooks]

It’s definitely on the BotY shortlist. 😀👌🏻

[@RekindledReader]

I’m glad you did this review because it’s high on my list!!! Beauty ✌🏻

[@MattonBooks]

It’s so so good, mate. 😍

[@thefantasythinker]

Sounds like my kind of trip. Thanks for the great review Matt!

[@MattonBooks]

Glad you liked it Jarrod. Such a good book, hope you love it at least half as much as I did, ‘cause that’s a lot. 😍

[@liviajelliot]

This definitely sounds like a very entertaining and unique read! Thanks for sharing it; it definitely crept up the TBR thanks to your review!

[@MattonBooks]

It is so worth it Livia. ♥️

[@catholicpeaces6257]

I’m only on pg 50 and am fully captivated. I normally don’t read fantasy but booktubers have expanded my reading to include various genres now. Enjoyed your spoiler free review-well done 📚

[@MattonBooks]

Captivated is exactly the right word. Such a unique, enchanting book. ♥️ Enjoy. 🙂

[@JessicasLibraryCard]

Hi Matt, thank you for the great review! I just finished this book and went looking for other people talking about it. I agree that you should give it a chapter or two - I almost gave up early on but I'm so glad I didn't!

[@MattonBooks]

Glad you loved it Jessica! Definitely worth giving it a try for a few chapters. I can imagine some people might still not like it, but if you want something different that’s excellently written, this is it! 😍

[@neilcarlsontansy6382]

I cried my eyes out after finishing this book. Such a beautiful story! I was sad it ended. The writing was so unique and lyrical, while at the same time not being overwhelming. And of course there was Keema and Jun; these two characters have left such a deep mark in me, that days later after reading this book I still feel so much longing for them. I hope author Simon Jimenez can read this review because I really wish he would write a sequel! Also, I just want to add that this story can be enjoyed by anyone who loves a great fantasy novel. The LGBT aspect here is so subtle and really just shows how two beautiful souls are drawn to each other. I say that because I know some people might be intimidated by this. I can now surely say that this is already one of my favorite books of all time.

[@MattonBooks]

Beautifully said, Neil. I agree 100%. I couldn’t be more straight, and never thought twice about the same sex relationship - it was just a beautiful, touching connection. ♥️

[@neilcarlsontansy6382]

@@MattonBooks It was indeed such a beautiful connection, Matt. Thank you for this review. I really needed this.

[@paulwilliams6913]

I’m definitely sold on this one, though it’ll have to wait until later this year - just started a reread of War and Peace with my friends that’ll go all summer. But damn if Spear Cuts Through Water doesn’t sound wonderful! As you know, I’m a sucker for nested stories and gorgeous writing :)

[@MattonBooks]

Enjoy it Paul, it’s a breath of fresh air. 🙂

[@gori_maheswari8994]

Super duper video

[@wassr1956]

Read Her Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis (born December 31, 1945) is an American science fiction/fantasy writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards® for particular works-more major awards than any other writer-most recently the year's “Best Novel” Hugo and Nebula Awards® for Blackout/All Clear (2010).

[@MattonBooks]

Always happy to hear about authors I’ve never heard of. 🙂👌🏻

[@travislee6967]

Although this didn't work for me I can recommend the audiobook for this one

[@MattonBooks]

I’m always sceptical about listening to a complex story. For me personally, I think I’d get lost, but I concentrate much better with print than audio.

[@TuftyMcTavish]

📕 I picked up “The Vanished Birds” after hearing about it via Kay’s Hidden Shelf, but I’ve yet to get to it. Sounds like I need to do that sooner rather than later, or skip to this title!

[@MattonBooks]

They’re not at all connected, so you’re not exactly “skipping” anything if you read The Spear now. 😉 But I definitely want to read the VB too. Any order’s fine, just read them both. ❤️

[@TuftyMcTavish]

Oh, I quite like the sequential ordering of starting from the author’s first book.

[@MattonBooks]

Makes sense - chances are they only get better and better!

[@safinan8008]

Hi 👋 great review video! Happy reading to you! 🎥

[@MattonBooks]

Thanks Safina. 😀

[@g2pro66]

I read it and hated the writing style so much that I just couldn't care about any of the characters, I just wanted it to end.

[@MattonBooks]

Obviously not the book for you then.

[@rebeltheflow123]

How bad is the graphic content in this book? Is it gross-out? The story sounds interesting, the structure sounds amazing, but I’m hesitant to pick it up because of the content/trigger warnings. (To get an example of me, & I don’t know if you’ve read these books but, I liked Bunny by Mona Awad, & I’m liking The Hike by Drew Magary, but I had to dnf Tender is the Flesh because the content was too gross for me). Also, I should note that I haven’t read a fantasy before so this would be my starting point.

[@MattonBooks]

Hi Elijah. I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned, so it’s hard for me to judge, but yes, there are a couple scenes that are pretty disgusting. So if that rules out a book for you, then this probably won’t be your thing. I’d also not necessarily recommend it as a first fantasy book, since the things it does with time and structure are quite experimental, and not at all typical of the genre. Maybe a classic like The Hobbit would be a better place to start?

[@rebeltheflow123]

@@MattonBooks I see, no worries on not being able to compare it those other books. Is there a tv show or movie you can compare it to in terms of graphic content? Also, I totally get what you’re saying about it not being a classic approach to fiction, but my taste in books generally leans to experimental & lyrical & confusing/unique reads so that’s why I was drawn to this one. I’ll definitely consider The Hobbit & some traditional options as well though! Thank you for a fast reply

[@MattonBooks]

@@rebeltheflow123 I’m not at all squeamish, so it’s really hard for me to judge how hard it might be for you, but if you’re into lyrical & experimental, it’d be a real pity if you didn’t read this. It’s genius. And it’s not generally a gory book by any means - most of it surely wouldn’t bother you at all - but there are one or two icky scenes you might struggle with. I’d say go for it, and get on The Fireside Discord (link in the description), and I’d be happy to summarise any scenes you have a hard time with, so you can skip them.

[@rebeltheflow123]

@@MattonBooks I see that’s good to know, I might check it out soon! I’m generally not squeamish either but that one recent read got me & now I’m just more cautious, but also that book was definitely gore from start to finish in a blunt way that wasn’t at all lyrical (& I kinda felt it was done just for shock value). So I think this reading experience will be better. Also I joined the discord!

[@BookishVicky]

I'm late to the party, but I just finished reading this book and it BLEW MY MIND! I came online thinking it was an impossible book to review but you nailed it. Subscribing to your channel now and looking forward to more reviews 😊

[@MattonBooks]

YES! It’s so original and excellent. ♥️