Group Reads Discussions 2023: "Spear" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come share your carefully vague initial impressions here! Save any detailed comments for the spoiler thread.

You can find the full discussion thread for spoilers here.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ sexual assault, death of a parent, suicide, animal abuse, adultery (hide spoiler)]

[Bonnie]

Started reading. Nice writing. A bit like The Witch's Heart so far. Do not recognize Ellen or Tal or Dawnged (yet?).

[DivaDiane]

I read this last summer and really enjoyed it. Nicola Griffith is one of my favorite authors. To me, she’s a descendant of Ursula K. LeGuin as far as writing style. It’s just lovely.

[Meredith]

I'm finding the main character intriguing and the story completely engrossing. I started yesterday and I'm 44% of the way in.

[Banshee]

I just started it and my first impression on the writing style is just the opposite. I find it exhausting. I started reading in the evening in bed and I only managed to get through 4 pages before my Kobo started falling from my hand. I hope it gets better.

[Adelyn]

I’m with Banshee. The writing doesn’t read smoothly for me.

[Ori]

First impressions, third of the way through:
1. Like others, I'm also finding the writing style difficult, but that's not a negative. Just means I'm reading much more slowly.
2. Based on chatter about the book I read before starting it, I thought this was a gender-bent Arthurian retelling. But it's more than that. The focus is more on the mixing of Welsh and Irish myth with the Arthurian story. This makes it very fresh to me, as I'm not familiar with these stories, or their version of the Arthurian characters.
3. I love the subtle cluing to the protagonist's special ability, and the use of mundane words. One section says: "she kept herself closed to the sound and song and breath of life in the air", and then "even closed, if she shut her eyes she could hear them, feel them, taste their curiosity".
4. I'm reading the text version, but I listened to a preview of the audiobook read by the author, and I might give it a listen if I get the chance. I love hearing all the names with the correct pronunciation.
5. Rovina Cai is one of my favorite illustrators. I love how the cover shows the hanging bowl/cup/??? mentioned on the first page, which suggests its importance to come.

[Kellylynn]

I have also struggled with the writing - at first. It took me 4 or 5 tries to get through the first paragraph. Once I slowed down a little, I finally understood what she was trying to do with it.

I am still only on page 16 and some of it is starting to pull together a bit better.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm only on page 16 but I'm hooked. This sort of mythical narration style is my absolute fave!