A review by bbrewer14
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Book Eaters is a dark fantasy thriller based on a vampire-like species known as book eaters that subsist on literature and the written word. The story dives into the patriarchal workings of the six families and their archaic communities that will do anything to help maintain their dwindling numbers. Using arranged marriages, nonconsensual intercourse and forced pregnancy, the families work to ensure their survival through the oppression of the women in their society. Valued and raised as princesses only to be married to different families and bred, then forced to leave the children behind, the women often whither away after their usefulness is diminished.
The story follows Devon, a female book eater and her son Cai, a 5 yo mind eater as they attempt to survive as they flee the families. As a mind eater, Cai craves eating the minds of people and needs a drug called Redemption to halt the cravings and allow him to survive off of the consumption of books. Only one family makes the drug and Devon has to find a way to get into their graces and obtain what she needs for Cai and still manage to avoid being captured by the other families.
The story is told both from a past and present perspective. Devin shows what it is like to grow up as a female mind eater, the different roles of male book eaters, the forced controlled and violent mind eaters (dragons), and ultimately life after marriage and birth and fulfillment of female duty. Details about the taste of different genres of books and paper types, exploration of the absorption of knowledge through the book eating (or mind eating), how individual families thrive and produce income and societal status, and the exploration of various relationships helps fill out an otherwise simple plot.
The action in the story is palpable and the creative way the author explains the demise of book eaters is just one of the many details that make this story worthwhile. The only judgements would be that there are some plot holes. Book eaters absorb knowledge by eating books, yet Devon and other characters act confused on basic skills (driving a car, directions, ordering food, counting change, first aid, etc). In one instance a map is eaten and yet they have no clue how to get to a town or where they might be. Small items like that detracted from the story after so many details and intimate handling of multiple types of relationships were explored so well. The book is left open for a sequel and hopefully one day the author will return us to the world of the book eaters so we can see what revelations may have been had and new adventures may have awaited the characters at the conclusion of this story. Were it not for the lack of full conclusion (the author admits she may not write a sequel) and the small plot holes mentioned above the book would have been a solid 4-4.25 which is great for a debut novel. However sticking to the 3.75 based on the overall feeling once I completed the book.
The story follows Devon, a female book eater and her son Cai, a 5 yo mind eater as they attempt to survive as they flee the families. As a mind eater, Cai craves eating the minds of people and needs a drug called Redemption to halt the cravings and allow him to survive off of the consumption of books. Only one family makes the drug and Devon has to find a way to get into their graces and obtain what she needs for Cai and still manage to avoid being captured by the other families.
The story is told both from a past and present perspective. Devin shows what it is like to grow up as a female mind eater, the different roles of male book eaters, the forced controlled and violent mind eaters (dragons), and ultimately life after marriage and birth and fulfillment of female duty. Details about the taste of different genres of books and paper types, exploration of the absorption of knowledge through the book eating (or mind eating), how individual families thrive and produce income and societal status, and the exploration of various relationships helps fill out an otherwise simple plot.
The action in the story is palpable and the creative way the author explains the demise of book eaters is just one of the many details that make this story worthwhile. The only judgements would be that there are some plot holes. Book eaters absorb knowledge by eating books, yet Devon and other characters act confused on basic skills (driving a car, directions, ordering food, counting change, first aid, etc). In one instance a map is eaten and yet they have no clue how to get to a town or where they might be. Small items like that detracted from the story after so many details and intimate handling of multiple types of relationships were explored so well. The book is left open for a sequel and hopefully one day the author will return us to the world of the book eaters so we can see what revelations may have been had and new adventures may have awaited the characters at the conclusion of this story. Were it not for the lack of full conclusion (the author admits she may not write a sequel) and the small plot holes mentioned above the book would have been a solid 4-4.25 which is great for a debut novel. However sticking to the 3.75 based on the overall feeling once I completed the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Infertility, Medical content, Abandonment, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Gun violence, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cursing, Bullying, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Body shaming