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A review by ojtheviking
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I have to say, the fact that this is Sunyi Dean's debut novel is very impressive! She's flexing her author muscle from the get-go and has delivered a wonderful story that's charming, suspenseful, thought-provoking, and extremely well-written.
The concept in and of itself of a society of a humanoid species that literally devours books is intriguing, and it's all the more of a wonderful read due to the layers Dean has managed to add to that, sprinkling it with a lot of social commentary over this dark fantasy tale.
And the commentary is quite relevant. Feminist at the core, illustrating a severely patriarchal society filled with oppression and a lack of women's rights. And in that context, we have a badass main character willing to do what she can to take care of her son when he turns out to be not quite like the others, and desperately needs a type of medication to function, while the patriarchy considers him a deformity.
This scenario also expands into other themes like racism, ableism, the toxicity of religion, and LGBTQ. Perfectly allegorical, while it also feels like an overall tribute to literature, especially as several chapters start with quotes from other known books and authors, while they also symbolize the progression of the plot within that same chapter.
An overall enjoyable read, and I look forward to exploring more of Sunyi Dean's work in the future!
The concept in and of itself of a society of a humanoid species that literally devours books is intriguing, and it's all the more of a wonderful read due to the layers Dean has managed to add to that, sprinkling it with a lot of social commentary over this dark fantasy tale.
And the commentary is quite relevant. Feminist at the core, illustrating a severely patriarchal society filled with oppression and a lack of women's rights. And in that context, we have a badass main character willing to do what she can to take care of her son when he turns out to be not quite like the others, and desperately needs a type of medication to function, while the patriarchy considers him a deformity.
This scenario also expands into other themes like racism, ableism, the toxicity of religion, and LGBTQ. Perfectly allegorical, while it also feels like an overall tribute to literature, especially as several chapters start with quotes from other known books and authors, while they also symbolize the progression of the plot within that same chapter.
An overall enjoyable read, and I look forward to exploring more of Sunyi Dean's work in the future!