Scan barcode
howdyhoward's review against another edition
2.0
2 for enjoyment, 3 for quality? This really was not for me but I can totally understand how someone with different taste would love this book. This was not what I thought it was going to be genre wise based on the synopsis and cover art. I thought about DNFing a few times (and probably should have but oh well).
I really dislike when we're in a character's head but we don't get their backstory/why they're doing what they're doing so their actions seem to not make sense even though THEY know why they're doing it. I just feel like I'm being lied to in cases like that. Everything was revealed later and yes it makes sense looking back but I still feel like I'm being led on and manipulated by the author in a way I don't like.
I had a really hard time with the pacing and thought it ground to a standstill for 50 pages right before the end. I also thought the romance was tacked on and completely unnecessary. I didn't really like any of the characters by the end and was just kind of waiting for it to be over :/
I really dislike when we're in a character's head but we don't get their backstory/why they're doing what they're doing so their actions seem to not make sense even though THEY know why they're doing it. I just feel like I'm being lied to in cases like that. Everything was revealed later and yes it makes sense looking back but I still feel like I'm being led on and manipulated by the author in a way I don't like.
I had a really hard time with the pacing and thought it ground to a standstill for 50 pages right before the end. I also thought the romance was tacked on and completely unnecessary. I didn't really like any of the characters by the end and was just kind of waiting for it to be over :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Minor: Torture and Trafficking
cgoedel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this. It took a while to build the background because you were simultaneously getting a present time-line, but it fit together seamlessly. I also love some queer representation and it was so subtle. I will be reading this again!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Rape
bubbly_lara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
What a brilliant book!
The setting, atmosphere and mood were very dark and gloomy, but in a good way (reminded me a bit of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "Mexican Gothic").
I really liked the story, the characters and the writing style. Highlighted quite a lot of quotes, I'll put three further down below.
The themes of chosen/found family and trying to find who you are as a person outside of the people you grew up with, what is expected of you vs the pursuit of what makes you happy deeply resonated with me.
Highly recommend if you're looking for a slightly spooky, rather dark and grim story of a young mother trying to break her son and herself free from familial chains and expectations, hoping to one day have a better life for themselves.
"Memory was an anchor. It could ground you in a storm, keep you from drifting.
But anchors could also weigh you down and keep you from sailing free."
"For here was the thing that no fairy tale would ever admit, but that she understood in that moment: love was not inherently good."
"- What price do you put on love?
- No price. There isn't one. Love doesn't have a cost. It's just a choice you make."
The setting, atmosphere and mood were very dark and gloomy, but in a good way (reminded me a bit of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "Mexican Gothic").
I really liked the story, the characters and the writing style. Highlighted quite a lot of quotes, I'll put three further down below.
The themes of chosen/found family and trying to find who you are as a person outside of the people you grew up with, what is expected of you vs the pursuit of what makes you happy deeply resonated with me.
Highly recommend if you're looking for a slightly spooky, rather dark and grim story of a young mother trying to break her son and herself free from familial chains and expectations, hoping to one day have a better life for themselves.
"Memory was an anchor. It could ground you in a storm, keep you from drifting.
But anchors could also weigh you down and keep you from sailing free."
"For here was the thing that no fairy tale would ever admit, but that she understood in that moment: love was not inherently good."
"- What price do you put on love?
- No price. There isn't one. Love doesn't have a cost. It's just a choice you make."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Blood, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Gore, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Alcohol, Grief, Infertility, Blood, Classism, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Body horror
Minor: Incest, Outing, Rape, Torture, Trafficking, and Adult/minor relationship
the_tridentarii's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Addiction, and Alcoholism
innastholiel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Rape, Death, Infertility, Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Torture
sassysophie's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
While the idea behind the story is really interesting and had a lot of potential, I felt like the pacing was of. And the writing made the book dry and hard to read. I had to push myself to finish it. I couldn't connect to the story and noticed that early on. The only remotely likeable character was Jerrow. However I think you're not supposed to like the characters. The best part was having an asexual character.
I can see thatn some people would really like this book and the writing style, though I am not one of them. Will not reread this at any point in time.
I can see thatn some people would really like this book and the writing style, though I am not one of them. Will not reread this at any point in time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Slavery, Pregnancy, and Trafficking
sohma4uesugi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
The world was so fascinating. I admit to being disappointed we didn’t get more of it. I wanted more of the families, more about the Creator, more of the knights when they were good, and less of what they became. I wanted so much more Jarrow. I just wanted more. This story held such promise, but the way it twisted between overly complex to overly simplified and back again was jarring at times. I could make out pieces of the end before we got there, but not all of it. Not because I was kept guessing, but because there was not enough footwork left behind. Too many things came out of left field and others were painfully obvious. The end seemed abrupt and wrongly placed. I wanted more. Again.
Parts dragged so deeply I had to force myself to keep going, bored and distracted. Others had me eagerly turning pages.
Mani and Hester were interesting and I would have loved to have much more of them and what they went through in the past than what we got.
The morality of Cai was interesting, but barely touched on. Ramsey disappointed me so deeply in the depths of his cruelty. At the same time his character was flat, too one-planed and I so badly wanted more. I mourned far more for E and Ramsey’s loss of him than I did for Ramsey himself.
I enjoyed the way different sexualities were displayed and touched on in the books, but there wasn’t consistency.
Overall, this read left me wanting more of the world, but a whole lot less of Devon.
Parts dragged so deeply I had to force myself to keep going, bored and distracted. Others had me eagerly turning pages.
Mani and Hester were interesting and I would have loved to have much more of them and what they went through in the past than what we got.
I enjoyed the way different sexualities were displayed and touched on in the books, but there wasn’t consistency.
Overall, this read left me wanting more of the world, but a whole lot less of Devon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Gore, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Infertility, Alcohol, Rape, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Trafficking, and Abandonment
bsparx's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I loved the concept of The Book Eaters. I enjoy the twists on original ideas, legends, and myths, but I feel it’s rare to come across an adaption of an idea which is so original. So interesting. The Eaters are akin to vampires, but not. They subsist on books. Books! What a marvellous idea to consume books and therefore consume all the knowledge within. I love that concept. Of course they have their supernatural gains and their limitations.
The Book Eaters have strength, night vision, move with stealth, and amass a great deal of knowledge, but they can’t write and they aren’t creative thinkers. Throughout I kept thinking, “but why not utilise accessible technology?” They’d just have to eat up on it. As I read on though I realised the eaters really do not think outside the box. They’re very controlled and regimented with their existence. What they’re fed with books dictates their worlds and they don’t get a chance to develop critical thinking. Their environments are quite abusive and toxic.
A Note: I didn't find the story too triggering though, regarding the toxicity and abuse, except for in some instances so please be aware of triggers if you decide to read The Book Eaters. It's a very controlled and misogynistic environment
Apart from the trigger warnings and toxic environments, which is part of and does add to the story, The Book Eaters is not only about survival and breaking against your predetermined confines, but it’s about love. What we do for love, how we define it, and how we define ourselves in the face of it.
The story itself was a steady pace and easy to follow along. I felt there could have been more, but the plot was entertaining and I do love there was some LGBTQ+ representation in there without making a big show of it. I feel there could be more stories in this world too. It’s a stand-alone novel, but I found the story of The Book Eaters had me wondering more about the hidden lives that only got touched on.
The Book Eaters is definitely a dark fairy tale full of interesting concepts. It’s a book I’m happy I was able to read and am pleased to be able to pass it on to someone else to enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexism, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
seraphina2000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Emotional abuse
booksthatburn's review against another edition
I dislike the main character and am bothered by a bunch of little things about the worldbuilding.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Confinement