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A review by writerrhiannon
Sin Eater by Megan Campisi
3.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sin Eater by Megan Campisi was pitched as "The Handmaid’s Tale meets Alice in Wonderland" but I feel that the description is a bit off the mark. This historical novel centered around a young sin eater (someone who eats the sins of another person with specific foods assigned for each sin) in 16th-century England. I had never heard of this transference ritual before so that was a unique and interesting angle but there is also a mystery surrounding several deaths within the royal court. I understand The Handmaid's Tale comparison since so much of Atwood's details are based on acts that have actually occurred in history, but the Alice In Wonderland analogy lends the impression that this novel will have elements of magic or the supernatural, which it does not. After finishing this book I think I wanted it to either be much longer or much shorter. There are so many characters that could have been more fully formed or totally eliminated. I did like the insight into the young protagonist's mind as she figured out clues to the conspiracy and began to question her village's religious acts and expectations. I won't give any spoilers but I also didn't like the ending. I didn't love this novel or hate it, and I am also not totally dismissing it with a *meh* rating. I feel like this is a warm-up for the author and that whatever she next produces will be stellar.
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Sin Eater by Megan Campisi was pitched as "The Handmaid’s Tale meets Alice in Wonderland" but I feel that the description is a bit off the mark. This historical novel centered around a young sin eater (someone who eats the sins of another person with specific foods assigned for each sin) in 16th-century England. I had never heard of this transference ritual before so that was a unique and interesting angle but there is also a mystery surrounding several deaths within the royal court. I understand The Handmaid's Tale comparison since so much of Atwood's details are based on acts that have actually occurred in history, but the Alice In Wonderland analogy lends the impression that this novel will have elements of magic or the supernatural, which it does not. After finishing this book I think I wanted it to either be much longer or much shorter. There are so many characters that could have been more fully formed or totally eliminated. I did like the insight into the young protagonist's mind as she figured out clues to the conspiracy and began to question her village's religious acts and expectations. I won't give any spoilers but I also didn't like the ending. I didn't love this novel or hate it, and I am also not totally dismissing it with a *meh* rating. I feel like this is a warm-up for the author and that whatever she next produces will be stellar.
Read this review (and all my others) on my:
Blog Instagram Twitter Pinterest