"When someone is gone, their voice is the first thing you forget."
Call it Stockholm syndrome or whatever, but despite the prose being alienating throughout the novel, I found myself growing attached to the characters I’d spent so much time with, practically watching them grow up before my eyes.
Gaspar was 12 when he was introduced. He was 25 by the end of it.
None of the characters were paragons of virtue, albeit some of them tried, and I think that’s where the novel’s appeal lies. Its USP is the brilliant character work, which, oddly enough, might not have worked as well if the author had opted for a conventional style with detailed scenes. Instead, the passive voice and event rundowns added a unique depth that made it compelling.
“You’re going to drive our son away from us, and you call that love?”
Let’s get the most obvious trigger warning out of the way: child abuse.
Juan is an abusive father, and unless you're clued into his motives (which doesn’t happen until page 520), you’ll probably question his methods, and honestly, you’d be right to.
That said, I’d argue he’s a good father at his core. He devoted his entire, short and miserable life to protecting his son from the leeches that were his in-laws, who would’ve laid waste to his boy’s life just as they did his. Sure, there was some collateral damage along the way but honestly, if it came down to it, I’d sacrifice someone else’s kid to save my own too. My child might resent me forever, but at least, they’d have a “forever.”
"We take after the gods we worship."
You know what they say: Sometimes, the only way out is through.
After reaching the end of the fleeting peace his father had afforded him, Gaspar vowed to end the centuries-long madness. And oh, he was brilliant with his vengeance. When the massacre began, their God was the first to abandon them.
My only complaint is that it all happened too quickly. The story didn’t give readers enough time to relish the bloodshed & dance to the screams
The novel ended the way it began : with an exhausted heart.
3.8 stars, rounding it up to a solid 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟