I was drawn to this book by the blurb; the idea of the Sin Eater was really intriguing and I wanted to know more. The story is set in a fictional time which seems based on the end of the House of Tudor: people being made to change faiths as the crown changes hands; a prior queen given the prefix Bloody; a Virgin Queen on the throne. Within these religious arguments lives the Sin Eater. Always a woman, the Sin Eater hears the confessions of the dying and at the funeral eats foods which represent each sin, thereby taking on the sins of the confessor and leaving them free to enter heaven. None are permitted to look at or speak to her and she is not to speak, with the exception being the Recitations when sins are confessed.

Our main character, orphan May, is turned into a Sin Eater at the age of just 14 after she steals a loaf of bread. Initially guided, wordlessly, by the existing Sin Eater, May suddenly finds herself facing the world on her own and with knowledge of treachery within the Queen's household. With no education to allow her to read and write and without being able to speak, May must find her own way to uncover the truth and bring about justice.

I enjoyed this book. May is a relatable character and the description of her growing into her role as the Sin Eater and finding ways to live with what she has been forced to become was really engaging. The intrigue itself was less interesting, to me. The treachery within the castle walls seemed almost to be a secondary story line and, whilst still providing intrigue, didn't have the excitement and hold on my interest I had expected it to have. The story itself is probably only worthy of three stars, but I enjoyed the world building enough to give the book an extra one.

'The Sin Eater,' by Megan Campisi tells the story of May, a 14yr old girl sentenced to act as the towns Sin Eater. In this role she hears the confessions of the dying, consuming food representing each sin at their funerals. This means the townsfolk can go to heaven, while having taken on their sins, May is said to go to 'Eve's' right hand. As a result, she is shunned and condemned to being silent and unseen.

The story is set in a mythical past. However sin eater's existed, particularly in Wales. Also, the royal family depicted in the novel are strongly reminiscent of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. At times this gave the story realism. At other times the parallels were a little bit heavy handed, making me wish they had been more fictional.

Other than that I really loved this story and found myself absorbed. I loved May's humour and her rage - "I am a curse." The nursery rhymes adapted to reflect the context of the novel worked brilliantly. There were elements of a dystopian past, and many who feel marginalised in some way will find aspects of the story that resonates with them. I also liked the way May came to find strength in the parts of herself that she'd previously despised or attempted to get distance from.

Wow!! What an amazing book this is. I absorbed it like air. I fell in love with May and her courage. Outcast from society and made into a sin-eater, May battles her way to a freedom, of sorts. I could have gone on and on reading this beautiful novel.

The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi is described as a " gripping story of treason and treachery, of secrets and silence , of women, of power and ultimately, of the strange freedom that comes from being an outcast" and between that description and the striking, richly coloured cover I was eager to get my hands on a copy.
I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed, I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fantasy set in a slightly different version of Tudor England. The story centres on May, a fourteen year old girl who as punishment for a crime is sentenced to become a "Sin Eater", an untouchable who travels to people on their deathbed to "eat" their sins in the form of representative foods, so that they can go to the Maker without a stain on their soul. Since the first sinner was Eve, a woman, all Sin Eaters are women , and once collared and branded as such they are no longer seen or spoken to by the rest of the community, their only contact is with the dying. They follow a strict ritual with different foods assigned to each sin e,g, salt for pride, pomegranate for witchcraft and animal hearts for murder, and offer comfort to the dying in their last hours. By doing their job well, and absorbing the sins of others they will be rewarded in the afterlife.
As I mentioned the setting of this book is an alternative version of Tudor Britain, the Virgin Queen Bethany is on the throne, having inherited it from her sister Maris but not before there was a bitter religious conflict that divided the people. I really enjoyed how Campisi handled this, twisting history just enough to make it feel new and interesting while still holding on to enough of the familiar to keep it recognisable,
When the Sin Eater is summoned to the Palace to attend one of the Queen's ladies, May is at first intimidated, then baffled to find she is expected to eat a sin that was never confessed, a deer' s heart , one of the signs of murder. When a second Lady in Waiting falls ill and dies, the same thing happens, but this time May's suspicions are aroused and she decides to make use of her invisibility to try to figure out what is really going on, and whether the Queen's life is in danger. Those familiar with the history and especially the speculation surrounding Queen Elizabeth 1 may have some idea where the story is headed, but that should not hamper the reader's enjoyment of the story.
I loved the character of May, and how she grows in strength and determination over the course of the book. The world building is excellent, the author's descriptive writing is simply wonderful, the sights, and unfortunately sometimes the smells seem to come to life on the page. Her descriptions of locations as diverse as the Royal Palace and a hovel in the worst part of town are all vivid and evocative., and I was fascinated by the concept of Sin Eater's ritual and the various foods that represented each sin- it is clear that the author put a lot of time and consideration into her choices. I also liked that the author did not shy away from incorporating ideas about gender and class discrimination in a way that folded well into the story. There are some truly dark and horrifying moments that might disturb some readers, but they are never gratuitous and always drive either the story or the character's motivations.
It is a rare book that so successfully blends historical fantasy and political intrigue with beautiful writing and a memorable character.

An incredible and gloomy book that perfectly depicted 16th century England!
I would definitely recommend it.

A Sin Eater’s duty is a necessary evil: she hears the final private confessions of the dying, eats their sins as a funeral rite, and guarantees their souls access to heaven. It is always women who eat sins – a punishment, for it was Eve who first ate the Forbidden Fruit. Stained by the sins they are obliged to consume, the Sin Eater is shunned and silenced, doomed to live in exile at the edge of town. Recently orphaned May Owens is just fourteen when she’s arrested for stealing a loaf of bread and sentenced to become a Sin Eater. It’s a devastating sentence, but May’s new invisibility opens new doors. And when first one, then two, of the Queen’s courtiers suddenly grow ill, May hears their deathbed confessions – and begins to investigate a terrible rumour that is only whispered of amid palace corridors.. Set in a thinly disguised sixteenth-century England, The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi is a gripping story of treason and treachery; of secrets and silence; of women, of power – and, ultimately, of the strange freedom that comes from being an outcast

An extraordinary, original, darkly disturbing and complex magical tale that grips you from the very beginning. This is a really original and exciting story set in an alternate version of Elizabeth I's London where the old story of how when she was still a Princess, she was seduced by Thomas Seymour (here only referred to as the Wolf) and had his child is retold as a grim fairy tale, There is something very disturbing about a society in which women are tasked to almost literally transubstantiate and eat the sins of the dying, only being allowed to speak during the ritual which is horribly in keeping with the ways in which the voices and free will of women were historically controlled. This is a painted fairy tale world where most historical characters like Robert Dudley, Blanche Parry, and Bess Throckmorton are represented by nicknames May gives them that show how sees them: The Painted Pig, Mush Face, Black Fingers. This is a murder mystery and a story of how May breaks the chains that silence her, escapes the frightening world in which she is trapped and at the mercy of ruthless figures who will use witchcraft against their enemies and how she finds a new life on her own terms.

Beautifully written as history meets fantasy. Following the life go a young Sin Eater though court intrigue, personal poverty and despair, it's a well written and thoughtful book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advanced copy to review.
I am usually not one for Historical Novels - my experience of working with historical documents puts me off the sugar-coated romancing of the past. This book, however, is certainly not sugary.
Neither does it attempt to re-write or distort history. Yes you can suggest that the period in which it is set has the feel of 16th century England but it will be your suggestion not the authors.
The style of writing suits me and the use of varied fonts helps in the first person narrative.
Five stars all the way ***** I want more

It's rare for me to dabble in historic fiction, but the premise of the Sin Eater was so strong that I couldn't resist and I was not disappointed.

May is caught stealing a loaf of bread and the 'Recorder' declares that her fate will be to become a sin eater. Fitting perhaps that one caught in a crime of hunger should be sentenced to eat the sins of others every day, as expressed through foods placed on the coffins of the dead in line with the sins they have confessed to. This 'job' comes with a full belly but the responsibility to bear the sins of strangers until you die, and a position as one of societies outcasts.

May becomes the main sin eater to the court of Queen Bethany (loosely based on the intrigues of the Tudor queens) after her older sin eater 'guide' is killed for refusing to eat something that represented a sin that the deceased hadn't confessed to, she finds herself complicit in an attempt to reveal sins of many years before. Someone or some people have killed a baby, but whose baby and why? And how is it all connected to the queen and her close circle of courtiers?

I loved this book. The character of May is a real conundrum; functionally illiterate but very eloquent in her storytelling, alone and cast out by her community but sucked into a new circle of similarly outcast companions. Can May solve the mystery hidden in the sin eater's meals and woven into a fine royal tapestry before the Queen's supporters do their best to stop her revealing all?

I was reading The Sin Eater at the same time as listening to 'Thunderhead' by Neal Shusterman, in which a young woman of a similar age to May is working as a 'scythe' (an official gleaner of an otherwise immortal society). Playing compare and contrast with two feisty young women, each burdened by responsibilities placed upon them by their jobs, it was fascinating to look at historic past and futuristic fantasy and reflect that whatever the time and place in history, nobody should ever underestimate the power of a young woman who's determined to do her best.

Highly recommended. One of the best books I've read this year.

I received a free ebook from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This was an extremely enjoyable read for me. A historical fiction tale that is based in fact but seems almost too fantastical to have any truth. at all A wonderful story full of secrets and betrayal and I highly recommend it.

Beautifully wrought. For a book where silence is such a key aspect, May is loud, Independent, and her voice just shines through. I absolutely loved the prose, the lyricism was beautiful and I felt May’s pain every step of the way. She’s living a life she never chose for herself, and her confusion with her lot in life is very tragic.

The details to the plot are really clever. There are some wonderful retelling of well known fairy tales like Jack and Jill, and the names are cleverly twisted so you know who exactly Campisi is referring to (if you know your Tudor history). The plot is slow to begin with, but I found this useful as you learn the strange customs and superstitions surrounding the Sin Eater. Most of the questions I had were answered, but not all. The ending sort of makes me feel like this could make a series, but it was beautiful as is.

I know a Sin Eater could never have love, but I found myself rooting for May and her Country Mouse... it was so sweet and tender, wistful and sad. As a character I felt for May straight away, and I loved how she recounted her life and tried to make peace with herself despite everything that has happened. Her friendship with the senior Sin Eater was masterfully portrayed, considering there is no dialogue between them at all. Honestly in awe at the skill of Campisi, writing a book with minimal dialogue and keeping it so engaging.

Great book if you’re looking for an alternate history fantasy book about this lesser known tradition!

Full review to come on blog nearer publication date.

When 14 year old May is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread she fears the gallows. However, her sentence is very different, to be come a Sin Eater. Sin Eaters are unseen, unheard, forbidden to talk except for when hearing someone’s sins, for which she will then eat ritual foods as a funeral rite.

A different take on historical fiction, enough resemblance to Elizabethan England that you know the general setting but just different enough to add a sense if the strange. A murder mystery with a difference I enjoyed the story but found it a bit slow in places.

I love the premise of this book, which promises to be a a wonderful historical novel with strong woman and a compelling mystery. Unfortunately, the eARC was completely unreadable - I will purchase and review once published.

* Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for sending an ARC in return for an honest review.

What a tremendous breath of fresh book air to read!

Newly orphaned May Owens is caught stealing a loaf of bread and her punishment is to become a Sin Eater.
Sin Eaters really did exist, mostly around the Welsh Borders and up until the middle of the 19th Century.
A Sin Eater was someone who would eat a ritual meal in order to spiritually take on the sins of the deceased person.
Different foods were allocated to different sins. For example, Mustard Seeds for lying, Black Pudding for revenge and Gristle for wrath.

The book is set during an alternative Elizabethan Times and Queen Bethany is reigning (rather than Queen Elizabeth) but the similarities are very clear. Fans of that period will have fun spotting the parallel characters from that time.

As a Sin Eater, Meg cannot speak or be spoken to unless it's during her duties as a Sin Eater. For someone who was a 'Gabby Goose', this loneliness is heart-breaking. She silently 'talks' to the road, the walls and other inanimate objects to sort through the questions that she previously would have asked aloud.

Marked by a metal collar and the letter 'S' branded on her tongue and shunned and ignored by most, Meg still manages to find a degree of companionship with a disparate group of people - lepers, unbelievers, travelling actors, even one Highborn gentleman.
It is these outsiders who she turns to for help and comfort.
As Meg realises the strange power that comes with her non-status, there are some great moments in the book where she has fun as a living 'curse' realising that people will not and cannot stop her from doing certain things. She claims the town fountain as her own by drinking from it and bathing from it, knowing full well that no one else will dare touch the water after she has been near it. She takes a barrel of ale and some new shoes because the vendors cannot approach her to apprehend her. And she pretty much has free reign to wander where she likes (including the castle) because of she is unseen and unheard.
I was rooting for May as she took back a degree of power and used whatever she had at her disposal to give her some control of her circumstances.

The crime/mystery element of this story was just the icing on the cake. I would have happily read a whole book about May's life as a Sin Eater and her residence in the worst part of town ('Dungsbrook'). But May's solo investigation into why several of the Queen's ladies had Deer Hearts on their coffins when the sin for this foodstuff was omitted during their Recitations, was well-fleshed out and gave the book a really satisfying ending.

This book is compelling and enthralling. Full of rich and descriptive prose and often very humorous.
Much is made of the superstitions and folklore of the time, which I found fascinating. I also really enjoyed the dark Fairy Tale elements from the story.

The Sin Eater is one of those fully immersive books where you're totally captivated whilst reading and can't stop thinking about it after you've finished.
One of my favourite reads of the year.

Beautifully written and an interesting concept, but I did find it very gloomy, to the extent that I pictured it all happening in the dark, even if it were daytime. I found the nick-names she gave to characters very confusing and hard to work out who was who - I'd have preferred actual names. It was probably a bit of a bleak read for during the Covid pandemic!

Here is a magical tale with no magic involved! The sin eater is a little known historical fact and Megan Campisi brings this world to life in stunning detail. I was totally gripped within pages even though initially the whole situation, characters and graphically described locus were far from attractive. I could smell the dirt and poverty and shivered with cold as May huddled in her inadequate rags, The tension mounts as she tries to uncover the truth of deaths within a fictionalised royal family setting whose close resemblance to the Tudors adds to the intrigue and rising sense of danger. I absorbed this book over a period of two days when almost everything else was neglected. I couldn’t get enough of this world and the strangely ambivalent protagonist that I didn’t realise I would be championing so strongly by the end. This is an experience that lingers and I highly recommend that you read it.

This was very much an epic book but it took me a very long time to read.

Mary Owens is an orphan who gets made a Sin Eater, a woman who will literally eat foods related to a person’s sins to ensure they get to heaven.

Set in an alternative Elizabethan era, the book details how Mary becomes a Sin Eater and the intricacies of recitations and eatings as people are near death and recite their sins and then after death she must go and eat the foods laid out for their sins.

When she and the older Sin Eater she is apprenticed to go to the Castle to listen to a recitation for a dying lady of the Queen, it leads to a mystery that results in many mysterious deaths that the people believe is down the witchcraft.

Navigating the politics of court life and her position as someone who is seen as untouchable Mary must solve the mystery of who is trying to kill the Queen before it’s too later and keep herself alive in the process.

I really enjoyed the language and descriptions in this book as it took you to another time and place and if you’re into your Tudor or Elizabethan books this is a different take in a setting that’s familiar but also completely different.

I’d recommend this for someone who enjoys Phillips Gregory’s work but is looking for something different or someone who wants to dip their toe into alternate historical fiction.

I was intrigued by this book. I hadn't realised sin eaters was a real thing, although the book is fictional. Not my usual kinda book but something drew me to it.
Thank you netgally for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well, this was something a little different. Not my usual cup of tea but it did make for a rather pleasant change.
We follow May as, after being thrown in jail for stealing food to survive, finds out that her fate is not incarceration, nor is it hanging, or any of the other ways and means they have to punish. No, she is to be trained as a sin eater. One who listens to the final confessions of dying people and takes their sins from them by eating certain matching foods, allowing them safe passage to heaven. Her training is cut short when the current main sin eater falls foul of a trick. At an eating, an unexpected food appears and she refuses to eat it. May does, she survives and the old sin eater is jailed. But May's training is incomplete so the appearance of the deer heart at the eating baffles her. And so begins a fantastical tale of revenge as May tries to make sense of what happened and avenge her mistress, at the same time unravelling a years old mystery...
So, I started this book with trepidation as, as already mentioned, it is not my usual genre. That said, it's always good to branch out and diversify, and in the past my braveness has paid off. As it has rather also done here. I was soon immersed back into the time in which the book was set, to experience the sights and sounds as May did. To sit shocked and horrified as more was divulged to me along the way, the action and adventure ramping up until we had the all the pieces in place for the finale. One which left me wholly satisfied.
The characters were all very well drawn and acted their parts well. The plot itself piqued my interest and held it well throughout the book. Pacing was a bit hit and miss along the way but, as already mentioned, ramped up nicely towards the end.
The world that the author has created was also quite fascinating. Close enough to what I already know to keep me on the level but with just enough novel aspects to make the story work.
All in all, this was a punt I was very glad I made. From the looks of things this is a debut novel so I have no back catalogue to delve into. I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

‘The Sin Eater’ is dark, gripping historical fiction. Set in an alternative Elizabethan, it follows the story of May, who – for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread – is sentenced to be a Sin Eater, a woman who takes on the sin of others when they die so that they can ascend to Heaven. Sin Eaters are curses made flesh – they may not speak, except when listening to the sins of the dying, and no-one may look at them or touch them. Completely cast out, May has to navigate her new reality – along with the burden of being the only person who could unravel everyone’s secrets.

I loved the idea of sin eaters – a real concept taken from history but beautifully twisted and elevated here. Campisi wove sin eating into every thread of the novel, making regular interjections about the foods eaten for specific sins which worked brilliantly and gave the narrative a real sense of voice. She also painted a very interesting picture about belief in Elizabethan times – a contentious issue given the switch from one Church to another and back again.

The picture painted of this alternative Elizabethan era was visceral. May was an outcast living amongst outcasts, and Campisi didn’t shy away from the horrors of that life. I also loved how she played with the idea of being an outcast and the freedoms, as well as restrictions, that could give you. The scenes where May used her status to give herself liberty were some of my favourites.

May was a fascinating narrator. She read exactly like her fourteen years, with growing maturity throughout the novel as she learnt more of the world and its secrets. She also fitted seamlessly into her time. Some historical fiction struggles to make its narrators feel authentic – their views or words are too modern – but there was no such difficulty here. May also kept the darkness of the book from being overwhelming by occasionally acting her age – being overjoyed by small things, like dipping her toes into a fountain. Moments of teenage melodrama brought a smile to my face.

There were many supporting characters, but as May could not speak to them, none felt as real as May. Instead, they were viewed through her lens – given names like Fair Hair, or Willow Tree, or Mush Face, labels she could use to identify them as she couldn’t ask their names. Again, this retained a sense of childishness but also painted a clearer picture of them than any name could. Willow Tree couldn’t be anything but a wizened elderly physician. Fair Hair couldn’t be anything other than the beautiful maid.

There were elements I disliked – a couple of phrases threw me out of the story, feeling out of place, and one scene between May and another character felt entirely unnecessary and discomfiting – but those are minor quibbles in an otherwise excellent book.

Anyone who likes historical fiction or historical fantasy will likely enjoy this – especially those who enjoy books that really embody their narrator's voice. Highly recommended.