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melindor's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
indiindi's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
trashley_123's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
emmaimp103's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
notlikeshrek's review
4.0
This book was a bit slow to get through, but very worth it in the end. The use of history, sin, and food as plot points throughout the story make for a very interesting read. While reading it also reminded me a bit of all the dystopian books I read as a kid :) A very unique and original story, would definitely recommend!
rhgrimes's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Infidelity, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Animal death, and Incest
siennagarda's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
memini's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
dowryofbooks's review
3.0
3/5 stars
update: dropping my rating from a 4 to a 3 because I think I loved the concept more than the story and the story hasn't stuck with me now that it's been a while since I've read it.
A unique dark fairy tale woven into the historical setting of 16th-century England.
Fourteen-year-old orphan May Owens is placed in jail for stealing a loaf of bread and then sentenced to live out the rest of her life as a Sin Eater as punishment. As a Sin Eater, she must listen to the sins of the dying and once they die, eat the foods that correlate to their confessed sins in a ritual. Therefore her fate is to take the dying's sins upon herself, condemning herself to hell so that the confessor can be absolved of their sins.
Sin Eaters are social pariahs. They aren't allowed to speak aside from recitation and eating rituals. People fear them as if they are demons. It's a very solitary life. May has nowhere to turn, so she ends up taking sanctuary with the only other Sin Eater in town. This older Sin Eater becomes a mentor to May, showing her the ropes of this new lifestyle.
One day, they are called to a recitation at the castle and at the eating, there was a deer heart on the woman's coffin- representing murder. May and the older Sin Eater know that this woman never confessed to murder and the deer heart was wrongly put there. They can't speak to tell anyone, so they are left to either eat the heart or be tortured until death.
The older Sin Eater refuses to go against her morals and eat the heart, so she is taken away. May, being fourteen and scared, decides to eat it. Now, she feels the only way to right what shes done and get justice for her mentor is to figure out who put the heart there and why.
My Thoughts ⤵
I really enjoyed how original this one was. It's definitely more historical than fantasy, with a touch of murder mystery. So don't go into it expecting a high fantastical tale, because you will be disappointed.
I loved getting to know May as a character and spending time in her head. I don't think I'm the biggest fan of her ending, but it was well crafted.
The writing was great as well. (except for the overuse of the word mayhap- seriously it was used 90+ times!) Campisi did a fantastic job setting the atmosphere. This was a good book to start off the fall season reading. I only wish that this was a little bit longer with more in depth world building. The length was a little too short.
I was shocked when I went to look and saw that this was her only novel. Megan Campisi please write more, I need it in my life!!!
update: dropping my rating from a 4 to a 3 because I think I loved the concept more than the story and the story hasn't stuck with me now that it's been a while since I've read it.
A unique dark fairy tale woven into the historical setting of 16th-century England.
The Sin Eater walks among us, unseen, unheard
Sins of our flesh become sins of Hers
Following Her to the grave, unseen, unheard
The Sin Eater Walks Among Us.
Fourteen-year-old orphan May Owens is placed in jail for stealing a loaf of bread and then sentenced to live out the rest of her life as a Sin Eater as punishment. As a Sin Eater, she must listen to the sins of the dying and once they die, eat the foods that correlate to their confessed sins in a ritual. Therefore her fate is to take the dying's sins upon herself, condemning herself to hell so that the confessor can be absolved of their sins.
Sin Eaters are social pariahs. They aren't allowed to speak aside from recitation and eating rituals. People fear them as if they are demons. It's a very solitary life. May has nowhere to turn, so she ends up taking sanctuary with the only other Sin Eater in town. This older Sin Eater becomes a mentor to May, showing her the ropes of this new lifestyle.
One day, they are called to a recitation at the castle and at the eating, there was a deer heart on the woman's coffin- representing murder. May and the older Sin Eater know that this woman never confessed to murder and the deer heart was wrongly put there. They can't speak to tell anyone, so they are left to either eat the heart or be tortured until death.
The older Sin Eater refuses to go against her morals and eat the heart, so she is taken away. May, being fourteen and scared, decides to eat it. Now, she feels the only way to right what shes done and get justice for her mentor is to figure out who put the heart there and why.
My Thoughts ⤵
I really enjoyed how original this one was. It's definitely more historical than fantasy, with a touch of murder mystery. So don't go into it expecting a high fantastical tale, because you will be disappointed.
I loved getting to know May as a character and spending time in her head. I don't think I'm the biggest fan of her ending, but it was well crafted.
The writing was great as well. (except for the overuse of the word mayhap- seriously it was used 90+ times!) Campisi did a fantastic job setting the atmosphere. This was a good book to start off the fall season reading. I only wish that this was a little bit longer with more in depth world building. The length was a little too short.
I was shocked when I went to look and saw that this was her only novel. Megan Campisi please write more, I need it in my life!!!