t0ast_and_t3a 's review for:

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

3.5

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was such an interesting story, with a unique twist on fairytales and the gender roles assigned among them. However, the pacing is a bit off—the first 100 pages gripped me, had me questioning what had happenED in order to explain what was happenING. But somewhere around 40-50% the story plateaued. There were a few random chapters from a completely different character that were unnecessary and information just kept being repeated for no purpose. The characters were interesting and complex, especially Cai, but it wasn’t enough to counter the pacing/structure issues. I loved the darker themes, though, to represent everyday complexities, and the original take on “devouring books.” 

Favorite line: “For here was the thing that no fairy tale would ever admit, but that she understood in that moment: love was not inherently good.” (Page 160)