A review by n_asyikin_
Eartheater by Dolores Reyes

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A short, but intriguing book that follows a woman, Eartheater, with a gift to help the dead. Sanches, the translator, provided a note which provided greater context behind the story's intent; not that I think you require it; I thought the book was more than sufficient in reflecting them: violence against women, neglected children, failed state.

The mysticism inherent in Eartheater's gift & how she make-use of it was gripping from the start. But there were certain sense of apathy, or maybe best described as weariness, imbued within Eartheater's responses to the attrocities she'd witnessed.
Having the ability to provide some sort of closure to those who'd lost a loved ones made her gift incredible; but it also isolated her (by her own choice & from others' "fear" of her) - to have a life centred around death, a life filled with obstacles that may add into the aforementioned weariness.


Eartheater's detachment was, what I understood, her form of defence against something that would understandably burdened many. She had to be stone-cold, brash to carry the weight of her being.
Upon further thoughts, my heart felt heavy for her, for the humans being less in human-form she had to see, for the griefs she was inundated with. For all that, I'm glad she had the love & support from her brother, Walter; also, the brief reprieve with Ezequiel.

Eartheater may be short, but it packed a heartbreaking punch with a twist of mystique. It was a quick & fascinating read. Highly recommended for a fan of mystery & the supernatural
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