Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

41 reviews

sarmckay's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

3.5

Starting this review by saying that this is definitely not my usual genre-and there were moments where that really mattered in some of the more descriptive horror-y sections, and that’s why I can’t rate it higher than 3.5 stars. If you like horror, I’d recommend it. 

Devon was a great main character, a mother who would stop at nothing to protect and save her children, but her son, Cai, was not my favourite character.

I found Cai incredibly unlikable, which I guess is part of being a mind eater? But still, very hard to connect with the character and want him to succeed

I really enjoyed the ending, although the big twist wasn’t hard to spot it was still fun to read. Couldn’t put it down for the last 100 pages. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Stalking, Blood, Pregnancy, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Vomit, Rape, and Trafficking

ashhearddwrites's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Vomit, and Pregnancy

beeping_librarian's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Not bad. Mysterious and unsettling. Motherhood/chosen family, and how love can twist you to do terrible things. There were attempts to add levity and deep personal connections, neither of which really worked. 

Flipping back and forth in time kept me guessing enough to stay engaged, but a lot of the dialogue and characters themselves were just not very interesting. The romance subplot was not believable. The ending was depressing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Gore, Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, and Xenophobia

totesdrotes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Trafficking

mo345's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Grief, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infertility, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Trafficking

baddieburton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Vomit, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Murder

Minor: Car accident

ashwaar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Living secretly within British society are the book eaters, ancient families that survive on literature to sustain and give them knowledge. Devon is part of one of these families, and as a rare girl, her future is carefully negotiated to ensure she produces heirs for their dwindling population. But when she gives birth to a mind-eater, a being who craves and survives on human minds rather than books, Devon must escape from the families to save her son.

A lot is happening in this book, and the story only becomes more intense, gritty and grotesque as it continues. It comes with all sorts of trigger warnings, so be sure to check those out if you’re unsure! But overall, I thought this was a pretty interesting premise, if a little contrived. It sounds a little like an idea I’d think up in my English class at secondary school, but it’s also pretty cool to see someone write it in an actual book.

The story is complex and compelling, jumping between present-day on-the-run Devon and her past, growing up within the families. There is a lot of legacy and lore in the book, and I think the author does well blending it all with the current narrative. You learn more alongside younger Devon, and as a reader, I felt very comfortable with this pacing.

At the same time as I found this book interesting and engaging, I also found it pretty tough to read at points. Because every character does terrible gruesome things, I found it hard to have sympathy or find a connection with any of them. I also found the setting a bit weird, and juxtaposing these mysterious families with the average UK life didn’t feel right. Maybe it would have felt more fitting in its own world, but I know that’s even more lore and background to commit to. It’s not a big complaint for me, and I got used to it as the story went on.

Overall, this was a pretty solid book, just not completely my cup of tea. It’s very plot-heavy, and I’m more of a character-and-vibes reader. I also thought it was very gory, and although I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, it doesn’t make it very enjoyable to read at points. It’s one of those books where I think you’ll be able to tell from a review if you’ll like it or not, and hopefully, I’ve been able to help you out a little bit.

Read more on Wordpress at Bookmarked by Ash: https://book990337086.wordpress.com/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Pregnancy, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Death, Drug use, Murder, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcoholism, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Alcohol, and Child death

Minor: Vomit

jenna_smuszkiewicz's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I was hooked on this book from the premise. I just feel like it didn't deliver what I wanted it to. I wish there was more on the book eaters themselves and how that all works. How does book eating change who they are and their perspectives? Instead, they live very reclusive lives. Their society is built on trauma, violence, and oppression, specifically against women. Based on that, this book did give me some Handmaid's Tale vibes. I did like the conversations about working through and around your trauma to learn to see in the night and that love has no price. There just wasn't as much to grip me with the characters. Also, there is ace rep in the book which I wasn't expecting which was a plus! Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it just didn't grip me personally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Vomit

marigoldenora's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit

annamorgan27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Gore, and Misogyny

Moderate: Cursing and Sexual assault