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A review by addiemae09
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"If he needed something, she chose his needs over hers. A thousand different times a day in a thousand different ways she had chosen Cai, until the choosing of him had become like breathing. Mother, at all costs."
The Book Eaters follows Devon, a fiercely determined mother trying to protect and feed her unusually intelligent five year old with a hunger for human minds. It focuses on what it means to be a monster, healing from generational trauma, and the cost and meaning of love.
I don't want to talk too much about the plot because discovering the story piece by piece was one of the best parts about this novel. It alternates between chapters from present-day and the past, starting (I believe) 17 years ago, and working it's way up to the present. The mystery behind Devon's past, the book eaters' lives, and the motivation behind her strangest actions was definitely a motivating factor to continue reading. I didn't want to put it down because I HAD to know what was going on.
I enjoyed the WLW romance, especially because I'm a sucker for the bright colors x all black relationship. It did feel a little... superficial. I didn't really get time to see the characters pining for each other or interacting much. I felt like more could have been done with that.
However, something I really enjoyed was the way that it addressed the way that Devon changed as a person with different events in her life, and how one person doesn't have to go strictly from shy to bold or mean to nice, etc. It's a constant process of change and growth. The characters definitely had many different shades and sides to them that I found thoroughly entertaining, but I also didn't really fall in love with any. Part of that could be the short length of the novel because I didn't get much time to get attached to them, but I felt that it didn't make me as invested in the outcome of the book. The difference between a four star and a five star read, for me, is if it gets me to have a really emotional reaction to pieces of paper with ink on them. And this book didn't really do that for me.
Overall, The Book Eaters was delightful dark and contemplative, and I liked the intrigue behind it. It's a fast and entertaining read, and I would definitely recommend it.
The Book Eaters follows Devon, a fiercely determined mother trying to protect and feed her unusually intelligent five year old with a hunger for human minds. It focuses on what it means to be a monster, healing from generational trauma, and the cost and meaning of love.
I don't want to talk too much about the plot because discovering the story piece by piece was one of the best parts about this novel. It alternates between chapters from present-day and the past, starting (I believe) 17 years ago, and working it's way up to the present. The mystery behind Devon's past, the book eaters' lives, and the motivation behind her strangest actions was definitely a motivating factor to continue reading. I didn't want to put it down because I HAD to know what was going on.
I enjoyed the WLW romance, especially because I'm a sucker for the bright colors x all black relationship. It did feel a little... superficial. I didn't really get time to see the characters pining for each other or interacting much. I felt like more could have been done with that.
However, something I really enjoyed was the way that it addressed the way that Devon changed as a person with different events in her life, and how one person doesn't have to go strictly from shy to bold or mean to nice, etc. It's a constant process of change and growth. The characters definitely had many different shades and sides to them that I found thoroughly entertaining, but I also didn't really fall in love with any. Part of that could be the short length of the novel because I didn't get much time to get attached to them, but I felt that it didn't make me as invested in the outcome of the book. The difference between a four star and a five star read, for me, is if it gets me to have a really emotional reaction to pieces of paper with ink on them. And this book didn't really do that for me.
Overall, The Book Eaters was delightful dark and contemplative, and I liked the intrigue behind it. It's a fast and entertaining read, and I would definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual violence