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kariniwonderland's review against another edition
4.0
An atmospheric dark urban fantasy with an very original concept. I am no book eater, but I devoured this one.
citlalialvrod's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Una fantasía urbana fascinante y una historia que te deja absorto, pero, sobre todo, una vista a la complejidad de la maternidad.
Devon, una book eater ha pasado toda su vida devorando, literalmente, cuentos de hadas. Envuelta en la pequeña burbuja de su especie, limitada a los confines de su casa, de la cual no conocerá nada más hasta que esté en edad de casarse y tener hijos.
A través de dos líneas temporales, iremos conociendo la actual vida de fugitiva de Devon y sus motivaciones para encontrar a una familia; mientras que en el pasado, nos adentramos a la vida y tradiciones familiares de las que Devon forma parte, las ataduras y dificultades que esto representa.
Somos testigos de numerosos puntos de inflexión que van construyendo el carácter y la historia de Devon.
Devon, una book eater ha pasado toda su vida devorando, literalmente, cuentos de hadas. Envuelta en la pequeña burbuja de su especie, limitada a los confines de su casa, de la cual no conocerá nada más hasta que esté en edad de casarse y tener hijos.
A través de dos líneas temporales, iremos conociendo la actual vida de fugitiva de Devon y sus motivaciones para encontrar a una familia; mientras que en el pasado, nos adentramos a la vida y tradiciones familiares de las que Devon forma parte, las ataduras y dificultades que esto representa.
Somos testigos de numerosos puntos de inflexión que van construyendo el carácter y la historia de Devon.
"Poets would tell you that love was electricity in your veins that could light a room. That it was a river in your soul to lift you up and carry you away, or a fire inside the heart to keep you warm. Yet electricity could also fry, rivers could drown, and fires could burn; love could be destructive. Punishingly, fatally destructive."
Si bien no se ahonda en el folklore de los book eaters , no se siente incompleto. Entendemos parte de su historia, sus tradiciones y sus motivaciones; pues, como dice su autora, la novela va de Devon y la complejidad de su narrativa ya es suficiente como para abrumarnos con más detalles del mundo.
Sin duda, lo que encuentro más interesante es la reflexión de la maternidad y las cuestiones morales afines. Devon se ve obligada a ser una madre antes que su propia persona; sus hijos son tanto una alegría como una carga, la impulsan a todo, ya sea bueno o malo.
Hace lo mejor que puede con lo poco o mucho que tiene, pero esto no siempre resulta beneficioso para ella, su familia, o las personas en general.
Definitivamente, es una protagonista ante la cual no puedes quedar indiferente.
"She was her daughter’s whole world, a realization both humbling and empowering. Devon had never been anybody’s world before—had never been anything at all, in fact, except the sum of paper flesh she’d consumed without thought"
A ratos la narrativa se siente algo lenta y pesada, pero eso no lo hace menos interesante. Pareciera más largo de lo que realmente es.
Recomiendo ver los triggers warnings, hay varios temas y descripciones delicadas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
divinemistake's review against another edition
5.0
Had me from the very first page to the very last word. I yearn for a monster of a mother like Devon, but I felt every drop of her desperation and devotion for her children. Devon the Devoted.
sarahrogersx17's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
threeprongfork's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
took too long to get going, but interesting enough to keep reading
leilaxx's review against another edition
1.0
The Book Eaters By Sunyi Dean
Unfortunately, this book has made it to my DNF pile.
It felt as though the story was not progressing at all, and soon turning the pages felt very forced, and I found I would leave the book unread for days. The characters and setting were not compelling in any way, and there were no intriguing traits to them. Continuing with the characters, they were boring, with no personality or growth seen. I was hoping to complete it, but with each new page, the story was held in the same spot nothing was gripping enough to keep the story afloat or my attention around. The constant 'flashbacks' killed all my urge to give this book a chance. I was about 124 pages in, and it had become a chore by then. I did not see the point of continuing a book when I could be playing animal crossing or reading something else I would enjoy.
Unfortunately, this book has made it to my DNF pile.
It felt as though the story was not progressing at all, and soon turning the pages felt very forced, and I found I would leave the book unread for days. The characters and setting were not compelling in any way, and there were no intriguing traits to them. Continuing with the characters, they were boring, with no personality or growth seen. I was hoping to complete it, but with each new page, the story was held in the same spot nothing was gripping enough to keep the story afloat or my attention around. The constant 'flashbacks' killed all my urge to give this book a chance. I was about 124 pages in, and it had become a chore by then. I did not see the point of continuing a book when I could be playing animal crossing or reading something else I would enjoy.
lini002's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
Devon hails from the Yorkshire Moors in a secluded society of book eaters who gain sustenance and nutrients from books. Growing up she is force-fed fairytales to keep her from making her own decisions or realizing that her life could be better. After the birth of her son, a mind eater, a completely different kind of monster she knows she'll have to fight tooth and nail to keep him safe.
This is an interesting one. I enjoyed a good amount of this book. I liked the past timeline a lot and the present one not so much. I found the book eaters and the mind eaters fascinating and enjoyed the worldbuilding around them. I think Dean has a lot of interesting ideas but I can't tell if they weren't translated well enough into text or if the story just didn't fully click with me.
3.5/5. Secret monstrous society, motherhood, dual timelines, and a lesbian MC.
This is an interesting one. I enjoyed a good amount of this book. I liked the past timeline a lot and the present one not so much. I found the book eaters and the mind eaters fascinating and enjoyed the worldbuilding around them. I think Dean has a lot of interesting ideas but I can't tell if they weren't translated well enough into text or if the story just didn't fully click with me.
3.5/5. Secret monstrous society, motherhood, dual timelines, and a lesbian MC.
crescentcourt's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I feel like so much could have happened in the story, but going back and forth between the dual timelines took up so much time. I think the slower progression robbed what could have been a stronger ending. The concept was great. I think it should have had more wow moments, especially with Cai. There were also meaningful concepts throughout the book between Devon and her family. Overall this was a good read where you care about the characters
I feel like so much could have happened in the story, but going back and forth between the dual timelines took up so much time. I think the slower progression robbed what could have been a stronger ending. The concept was great. I think it should have had more wow moments, especially with Cai. There were also meaningful concepts throughout the book between Devon and her family. Overall this was a good read where you care about the characters
melrule31's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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
4.25
araskov's review against another edition
3.0
Yeah, let me know if Tim Burton signs up to turn this into a film.