15.5k reviews for:

Earthlings

Sayaka Murata

3.65 AVERAGE

dark emotional funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Please look up trigger warnings before reading this book.

A lot of people described this book as quirky and dark—and I do agree with that. I was not expecting where the story is going, but there are few things I (think) understand; the three of them trauma bonded from the abuse and external pressure, they're each other's escape, and by this bond that they share the rational became irrational and the irrational became rational. Despite how horrifying the scenes were, especially at the end, I couldn't help but admire how this book was well written. This is my introduction to Sayaka Murata's work, and one thing I firmly believe in is always trust a Japanese when it comes to horror. Surprisingly not nauseating. It is funny. I had to put myself on timeout after reading page 167...


Finished: 18 August 2025

Quite viscerally disturbing. A seemingly rather straightforward narrative regarding the tensions between societal constructs and the barbaric anarchy of lawless societies. Nothing particularly insightful or powerful though, imo, once the shock value subsides.
challenging dark sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

I don’t think the author was entirely transparent with what this book is about.

im traumatized
dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark fast-paced

Girl what the f*** 

I love going into books blind and I knew this book was weird. Still took me so off guard and I didn’t even a little bit expect the ending. 
challenging dark sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

What did I just read??
mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I don’t even know what to say about this. It should be really disturbing to me, but given the last few books i’ve read this one was rather tame. 

Apart from the graphic nature of parts, this discusses societal norms, and conforming. But i also find myself wondering about shared psychosis. It’s an interesting story.