Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

46 reviews

baddieburton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Car accident

ashwaar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Living secretly within British society are the book eaters, ancient families that survive on literature to sustain and give them knowledge. Devon is part of one of these families, and as a rare girl, her future is carefully negotiated to ensure she produces heirs for their dwindling population. But when she gives birth to a mind-eater, a being who craves and survives on human minds rather than books, Devon must escape from the families to save her son.

A lot is happening in this book, and the story only becomes more intense, gritty and grotesque as it continues. It comes with all sorts of trigger warnings, so be sure to check those out if you’re unsure! But overall, I thought this was a pretty interesting premise, if a little contrived. It sounds a little like an idea I’d think up in my English class at secondary school, but it’s also pretty cool to see someone write it in an actual book.

The story is complex and compelling, jumping between present-day on-the-run Devon and her past, growing up within the families. There is a lot of legacy and lore in the book, and I think the author does well blending it all with the current narrative. You learn more alongside younger Devon, and as a reader, I felt very comfortable with this pacing.

At the same time as I found this book interesting and engaging, I also found it pretty tough to read at points. Because every character does terrible gruesome things, I found it hard to have sympathy or find a connection with any of them. I also found the setting a bit weird, and juxtaposing these mysterious families with the average UK life didn’t feel right. Maybe it would have felt more fitting in its own world, but I know that’s even more lore and background to commit to. It’s not a big complaint for me, and I got used to it as the story went on.

Overall, this was a pretty solid book, just not completely my cup of tea. It’s very plot-heavy, and I’m more of a character-and-vibes reader. I also thought it was very gory, and although I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, it doesn’t make it very enjoyable to read at points. It’s one of those books where I think you’ll be able to tell from a review if you’ll like it or not, and hopefully, I’ve been able to help you out a little bit.

Read more on Wordpress at Bookmarked by Ash: https://book990337086.wordpress.com/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Car accident, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

jaaay_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I was hooked on this book from the premise. I just feel like it didn't deliver what I wanted it to. I wish there was more on the book eaters themselves and how that all works. How does book eating change who they are and their perspectives? Instead, they live very reclusive lives. Their society is built on trauma, violence, and oppression, specifically against women. Based on that, this book did give me some Handmaid's Tale vibes. I did like the conversations about working through and around your trauma to learn to see in the night and that love has no price. There just wasn't as much to grip me with the characters. Also, there is ace rep in the book which I wasn't expecting which was a plus! Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it just didn't grip me personally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Sexism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault and Vomit

marigoldenora's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit

annamorgan27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing and Sexual assault

jcrawford31's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Abandonment

dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

bookishbedlam's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

remaininlullaby's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i got into this expecting to read a story about a mother who moved mountains for her child. i kinda got that, but i also got way too many pages of men trying to oppress women/mothers by using their children against them & ugh. i wish i'd read some cws first bc while it wasn't actually triggering for me i found all these sect-/cult-like tendencies to be vERY uncomfortable and unsettling.
the whole "love doesn't have rules or a cost & also isn't necessarily good all the time" was a cool touch tho.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, Rape, and Medical trauma

anastasiamakes's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A story of motherly love, and the lengths one will go to to protect her child in a world pitted against them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Rape, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Slavery, Vomit, and Alcohol