Too many writers of literary fiction flirt with supernatural ideas, only to leave them up to interpretation or explicitly rule them out, as if they haToo many writers of literary fiction flirt with supernatural ideas, only to leave them up to interpretation or explicitly rule them out, as if they have more power only as metaphors. I think that’s something of a cowardly way out, as well as just less interesting. Enriquez understands that the power of truly excellent speculative fiction comes when the monsters are both metaphors and literal monsters, coloring the sketches of real terrors and evils with the vivid hues of a nightmare.
Our Share of Night jumps around in time and format, but begins with the story of Gaspar, a recently-widowed father who embarks on a road trip across Argentina with his young son, fleeing from a powerful cult that wants to keep them in its orbit and use them to entrench their power. But it soon spirals into other directions, telling the story of this family, peeling apart the layers behind their own legacy of domination and oppression.
It’s a masterpiece, a sprawling horror epic told in beautiful prose, and a portrait of a family literally haunted by the evils of Argentina's military dictatorship. I think anyone with even a passing interest in horror or literary fiction should read it....more
This entire trilogy is incredible. Some of the most beautiful writing I've ever read, coupled with an intimate character study and a whole lot of exciThis entire trilogy is incredible. Some of the most beautiful writing I've ever read, coupled with an intimate character study and a whole lot of exciting court politics. Is Thomas Cromwell, the real person, one of my favorite "fictional" characters now? I think so. ...more
These books are staggeringly good. I want to say more (and will probably write more at some point), but they may be my favorite science books ever. NoThese books are staggeringly good. I want to say more (and will probably write more at some point), but they may be my favorite science books ever. No other book I've read has so deeply caused me to question and interrogate my own deeply-held moral beliefs, all while presenting commentary on gender, religion, and politics in a beautifully constructed future world that happens to include detailed political machinations, great characters, insights into history, kinky sex, swordfights, AND genetically created dragons as very minor backdrop. There's just so much crammed into Too Like the Lightning and Seven Surrenders to even scratch the surface, but they're incredible and I will definitely be rereading them and looking forward to the two other installments....more
An absolute gut-punch of a novel, even and especially on a second read. My favorite take on the insidious nature of power and empire, one that rings mAn absolute gut-punch of a novel, even and especially on a second read. My favorite take on the insidious nature of power and empire, one that rings more true the more I learn about history and politics. More than any other fantasy novel I've read recently, it really interrogates the paradox of changing the world for the better: if you need power to change the world, and power corrupts, how do you get enough power without losing yourself in the process? Do the ends justify the means, or are some means too vile to pursue even if the ends are good?...more
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