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templeofdeadtrees 's review for:
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
by Kylie Lee Baker
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Heartbreaking, spine-tingling, funny, and eloquently written.
Set during the first few months of the COVID outbreak, Cora Zeng is trying to navigate the world as a crime scene cleaner after watching her sister get murdered on the subway platform.
When she starts seeing a pattern to the crimes she’s cleaning up, she’s convinced there is a serial killer targeting Chinese women. But she has bigger problems: her sister’s ghost has come back to haunt her and she’s hungry…mostly because Cora didn’t burn any Joss paper for her, she thinks.
I learned so much about Chinese culture and, not only the immigrant experience, but the discrimination and challenges Chinese Americans face every day. COVID was bad for everyone, but our Asian communities were vilified, and this book gives a personal look into how that affects the most vulnerable. You’ll be left wondering who the real monsters are…the ghost or the humans?
Cora Zeng and her fellow cast are relatable, dynamic characters, and the pace is medium-fast. There is some great neurodivergent rep, namely with Cora herself. I am rarely scared by books, but this one did have me a little bit spooked. The storytelling is fluid and eloquent, without being too bulky. I loved it and it’s now a favorite of all time.
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings: Gore, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, religion.
Set during the first few months of the COVID outbreak, Cora Zeng is trying to navigate the world as a crime scene cleaner after watching her sister get murdered on the subway platform.
When she starts seeing a pattern to the crimes she’s cleaning up, she’s convinced there is a serial killer targeting Chinese women. But she has bigger problems: her sister’s ghost has come back to haunt her and she’s hungry…mostly because Cora didn’t burn any Joss paper for her, she thinks.
I learned so much about Chinese culture and, not only the immigrant experience, but the discrimination and challenges Chinese Americans face every day. COVID was bad for everyone, but our Asian communities were vilified, and this book gives a personal look into how that affects the most vulnerable. You’ll be left wondering who the real monsters are…the ghost or the humans?
Cora Zeng and her fellow cast are relatable, dynamic characters, and the pace is medium-fast. There is some great neurodivergent rep, namely with Cora herself. I am rarely scared by books, but this one did have me a little bit spooked. The storytelling is fluid and eloquent, without being too bulky. I loved it and it’s now a favorite of all time.
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings: Gore, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, religion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Eating disorder, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry