The Simon Jimenez Literary Universe

Fanblog for works of Simon Jimenez. main: @blue-glasses-dork art: @spittinwatches

[birds-and-spears]

prayer circle for tagalog translation of the spear cuts through water

[palmofpeace]

when the story includes theophagy and homoerotic mindmelding that is uncomfortable, unwanted, and horribly intimate for both parties

[tellisse]

of course, there are many things to discuss about the spear cuts through water and its many dynamics amongst the characters but the one that continues to leave an itch in my brain is the dynamic between jun and the first terror.

there’s just something about being a bad man and yet having undeniable love for your sons. every single one of them despite them being numerous. though none that he loved more than jun. and it’s not just stated explicitly in the text, but it is shown.

when jun fled with the empress, all the red peacocks had an inkling that the thief was jun. but not the first terror. he was willing to believe the ‘best’ of his son’s character until the very end. perhaps maybe there was a small gnawing at his instincts but he ignored it. because he loved jun!

keema was only able to grab that moment of weakness to cut off the first terror’s head because once the mask was ripped off jun’s face, the thought of his son being the very same man he had been chasing across the country rendered the first terror vulnerable and open to attack. he literally told keema that it is so very rare that he loses a battle.

his head was literally kept in a jar that jun refused to open for an entire day and he still had faith that his son would come back to him.

even when his head was sewn back on, he offered jun his forgiveness and acceptance and it was genuine. even when jun rejected this offer, he still told him he was going to save him. because he loved his son. even as luubu used his word to force jun to kill his father, saam ossa was ready to die by his son’s hand. if luubu’s plan had gone through, the first terror’s last words to jun -no, his very last words, full stop- would have literally been “there is nothing to forgive”.

there’s no denying that jun loved this father as well, even though of course a part of him hated the man for moulding him into the red peacock he was. the love was so evident: after all, he didn’t throw his father’s head in the thousands to forever be lost despite the opportunity. with a blade in his hand and luubu’s influence and manipulation in his ear, jun still didn’t want to kill his father, he didn’t want his father to die! he literally had to forcibly stop himself from crying after his father’s death, and scolded himself for feeling bad that he was gone and the fact that he truly missed him.

oh complex relationships between parent and child, how i love you!

[froginbog]

“I thought this was a love story. I had hoped this was a love story. You say it with shame, embarrassed at having said it, wishing you could take it back. You say it, worried that you have betrayed some secret part of yourself that does not wish to be exposed—an old gremlin in you, sick and yearning.”

- the spear cuts through water, by simon jimenez

[fitzchivraly]

so far close to 100 pages into the spear cuts through water. i really love the stylistic choice of having these disembodied voice represent the grievances of the common people and how their voices permeate these paragraphs, standing out in its switch of perspective. these voices aren't monolithic either. they're angry, fearful, upset, and some are even cruel to an extent but as a response to having survive under imperial power than cruelty on its own.

take this part as an example: the rug, the tea leaves, the porcelain cup. these luxuries aren't the main focus of what's happening in the plot, but the disembodied voice points out how these things were meticulously produced as their bodies suffered in the process of it yet they most likely will never be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. the voices are kind of jarring against the paragraph describing this place covered to the brim with these luxuries, displayed as mere decorations and a symbol of power in a way. but i do think it's very effective in creating that feeling of discomfort and making you conscious of the disparity of power.

[bombseel]

"He studied the pornographic tablet"

"What was uncommon, but not entirely rare, is that both the lovers were male"

"They fought because it was the easiest language they spoke"

[fitzchivraly]

oh my god..... that first-person pov switch into the god's perspective is very disorienting, but Her voice is undeniably strong and distinct compared to keema, jun, and "you". the constant switch of scenes makes my heart race ESPECIALLY as it leads up to that stomach churning violent scene between the first terror and the second terror..... that fucking tender goodbye and how the first terror will protect jun regardless what jun chooses. OH

[vanamonkukka]

a love story to it's blade-dented bone

[kingcatnine]

this beer is starting to taste like maternal instincts for the defective tortoise

[fitzchivraly]

finished the spear cuts through water by simon jimenez! i probably should've checked the content warnings for this one because i didn't expect it to be as violent as it was, so please keep that in mind when you read it. oh my god. OH MY GODDDD. with every time i'm truly mesmerized by a book, i always wish and crave to EAT the author's writings and it can't be anything but true here with this book. it's an achingly beautiful piece of frame narrative with a great and thoughtful uses of perspectives and POVs that makes for an interesting read from beginning to the end.

the spear cuts through water is a haunting piece of work, and i do mean haunting in every way the word haunting means. you might be going on this epic journey with these two main protagonists, but you can never be apart from the voices of the people who fear for their lives against greater powers beyond them, their grievances and anger, and their doubts if it is even worth it to betray the empire. you can never be apart from the voice of the god who regrets her decisions, yearns to be free yet adored b. you can never be apart from two souls where one seeks penance, and the other seeks freedom.

[scarletfish]

GO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO BOOK OF THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER!!!! the narrator does an INSANELY good job at changing not just character voices, but using distinct cadence for the quick omniscient thoughts/commentary injected throughout, and the nested storytelling device works amazingly well as an oral folktale. truly believe this is a story meant to be read/heard out loud I'm clawing at the WALLS I haven't been this excited about someone getting creative with a literary medium since. idk. harrow the ninth, probably.

[i-know-the-endss]

the spear cuts through water cinematic adaptation but only if it’s animated. bonus points if it’s a series.

[of-the-garden-variety]

first experiment with their designs. i am losing my mind over this book (partially because i read it in one day like a fool and ended up with severe emotional whiplash. as i do)

[leo-lenti]

Jun Ossa, the 25th Red Peacock, First Terror's Favourite Son and Her Vassal.

The Spear Cuts Through Water is a great book, I wanted to draw the main characters ever since I read it.

[scrapyardboyfriends]

Just finished another good book, The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez.

Took me a little while to get into because the narrative structure is complex. It has first, second and third person all rolled into one but once you get used to it, it really works well.

It’s a beautifully written book.

Also has a queer romance at the heart of it even if there’s a lot else going on too.

It’s got a moon goddess and a telepathic tortoise news network and generational trauma and war and complicated parent child relationships and complicated sibling relationships and complicated relationships with one’s own past actions but it is a love story too.

Anyway, if you’re looking for a good fantasy book, check it out.

[leo-lenti]

Keema of the Daware Tribe, an Oathbearer.

My boys are done! Now time to draw them both suffering >:)

[perfectmanisperfect]

i just started reading the spear cuts through water and at first i was like what in the hell am i reading right now but i kept going and i can say i kind of love the writing style now. and i want to know what the hell is going on.

i bought this book without even reading the back. someone recommended it somewhere and i was like what the hell sure. glad that worked out.

also will be my 25th book of the year which is a lot for me because i hadn’t read that much in a year since 2021.