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The Spear Cuts Through Water: A Novel

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.

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Published May 30, 2023

544 pages

Average rating: 7.47

55 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Apr 02, 2025
10/10 stars
this is masterful fucking storytelling. it was creative and compelling. this was so beautifully written that it brought me to hysterical tears in the end. every character and creature was well rounded and interesting, some creatures were so unique and described so vividly. the story is like none other i’ve read before. do yourself a favor and read this book (or the audiobook, it was fire)! i was impressed, excited, more so than some other 5 star reads ive had this year.
Anonymous
Feb 11, 2025
10/10 stars
This book asks you to take a seat in its story in such an insanely beautiful way that you cannot look away.

Holy. Shit.

This story.

For one: to make a world like this is incredible.

For two: to layer it in such a way in which the reader is made to feel as though they’re a part of it.

AND MIND YOU ALL OF IT BEING A LOVE STORY TOO!!

Yeah this was incredible. ♾️/10 recommend.
Ashku7
Nov 30, 2024
10/10 stars
4.5 Stars.

The style of writing absolutely added to this story.
Anonymous
Aug 22, 2024
10/10 stars
This book was intense but I did enjoy it.
emily_roamswild
Feb 02, 2024
10/10 stars
Wow. This is how you do multiple POVS—multiple timelines—THIS. I put off reading this because I typically dislike multiple POV and this was multiple timelines on top of all of it. But fuck—this book is a masterclass in storytelling. A beautiful love story! I didn’t know much about this book going into it and I won’t spoil it for you—just know that it’s a tale of gods; of love; of rebellion and what it means to live in cruel times; of oaths and history—it’s a stunning story. Pick this up and give it a chance. Read this if you’re okay with a certain level of cannibalism; epic love; the power of the Moon and bad ass women.

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