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A review by iam
Bat Eater by Kylie Lee Baker
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was incredible, super spooky, infuriating, and holding a lot of emotion.
Content warnings include: racism (specifically anti-Asian), gore, murder, violence, mutilation, germophobia, car crash; Mentions of: child abuse
The writing was incredibly evocative, right from the first page. I cannot remember the last time I read a book with such a thick atmosphere, and felt so lonely, so alone, so suffocating with its atmosphere. And yet it was never too stifling. I really adored it, it really sucked me into the book, engaged me with the story, and connected me to the main character, Cora.
The plot, too, throws you in right away, establishing the complex and difficult relationship between Cora and her sister, Delilah, just to immediately throw you for a loop in the first chapter. Despite knowing this was going to happen based on the book's whole premise, it was still a shock, not to mention the graphic nature and unapologetically gorey description of it.
Equally gorey where the crime scenes, though I found the descriptions of Cora struggling with her germophobia (not entirely sure if that's the right term?) almost more disturbing it how visceral and encompassing it is.
The book taking place during the COVID-pandemic is central to it's focus on anti-Asian hate crimes. It's horrific, and it's unfair. There is a great author's note at the end of the book.
While some may say that chosing for the book to be specifically playing during the COVID-pandemic dates the book, but for me that made it feel even more real.
Overall, this was a stunning horror read that pulled me in from the first page, and did not let me go until I finished. I loved the writing, and story was gripping, and even days after finishing it it's still on my mind.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily
Content warnings include: racism (specifically anti-Asian), gore, murder, violence, mutilation, germophobia, car crash; Mentions of: child abuse
The writing was incredibly evocative, right from the first page. I cannot remember the last time I read a book with such a thick atmosphere, and felt so lonely, so alone, so suffocating with its atmosphere. And yet it was never too stifling. I really adored it, it really sucked me into the book, engaged me with the story, and connected me to the main character, Cora.
The plot, too, throws you in right away, establishing the complex and difficult relationship between Cora and her sister, Delilah, just to immediately throw you for a loop in the first chapter. Despite knowing this was going to happen based on the book's whole premise, it was still a shock, not to mention the graphic nature and unapologetically gorey description of it.
Equally gorey where the crime scenes, though I found the descriptions of Cora struggling with her germophobia (not entirely sure if that's the right term?) almost more disturbing it how visceral and encompassing it is.
The book taking place during the COVID-pandemic is central to it's focus on anti-Asian hate crimes. It's horrific, and it's unfair. There is a great author's note at the end of the book.
While some may say that chosing for the book to be specifically playing during the COVID-pandemic dates the book, but for me that made it feel even more real.
Overall, this was a stunning horror read that pulled me in from the first page, and did not let me go until I finished. I loved the writing, and story was gripping, and even days after finishing it it's still on my mind.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily