Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

12 reviews

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

the book eaters is a gripping, dark, somewhat disturbing, and imaginative book w/ a good execution - if slightly rushed end - but it's above all a reverse fairytale of sorts that details how a princess changes as a consequence of all the trials she's gone through.

it's a trip to witness devon evolving from a sheltered, naive child unbeknownst of the world's dangerous reality to a harrowed woman who makes tough choices and willing to do anything to protect her child. how the world and the system oppresses and commodifies her, and how she grows into herself to game and turn against them. 

what i like most abt the book is its worldbuilding, how dean takes advantage of the 'eating books' idea oft fantasized by book lovers and turns it into this dark, gripping, yet understandable story propelled by its own rules, culture, politics and machinations that mirror the real world in many aspects. how it could be hiding in plain sight is intriguing as well, and i rly am fascinated yet disturbed reading it. moreover, while the novel can turn very dark w/ its concept of mind eaters, much of the violence and gore feel true and never gratuitous.

it's a lil weird though how the 'present' takes place in such a short period and oft gets overshadowed by devon's more interesting past; only when the crew reaches the ravenscars' manor that things truly pick up in the present. furthermore, a few parts is predictable and the climax feels rushed, cutting off when neither devon nor the reader has had time to fully process things. a sequel seems certain though and im interested to see how things develop w/ devon's hopeful rescue of salem.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent and Forced institutionalization

purplepenning's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I don't usually do horror or horror-adjacent and I literally just finished reading it on a dark and stormy night when I still have a touch of fever, so I need a beat before crafting a real review. It's undoubtedly fascinating, though! And the writing is lush but not overly so. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Gore, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Body shaming, Rape, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Infertility, Abandonment, Body horror, Vomit, Cursing, Drug use, and Gun violence

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Trafficking