2.5/5
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book quite simply just wasn't for me. Don't get me wrong, there's not much technically wrong with it, it just wasn't what I thought it would be and therefore turned out to be something I didn't enjoy. I don't want to dissuade or put off others from reading it, but I also do want to keep this review honest, so please remember that this is only my opinion and we all have wildly varying tastes.
The Book Eaters sounded amazing to me in premise, queer SFF/supernatural horror? Sign me up! However I think these labels/genres do it an injustice by presenting it to the wrong people (aka me) as I would definitely label this a mystery/thriller with added magical/supernatural elements. It read completely as a mystery/thriller in an urban setting, our protagonists always running, slowly unraveling events and secrets. Perhaps I'm wrong, but this branded genre felt incorrect to me. I also didn't feel that it was a horror at all. Other than a small amount of fighting and blood, along with the fact that there are some monster-like people, I don't see how this could be perceived at all as horror.
This might be an insignificant factor to you and if it is that's great, however the genre (queer supernatural horror) was the main reason why I requested the arc and so, inevitably, it fell flat for me. But if you like mystery/thrillers and magical elements, this is perfect for you.
I then also found problems beyond these factors as I didn't connect to any of the characters. I appreciate and respect the message and purpose of this story however in my opinion it wasn't done in a particularly poignant or exciting way. I found the story quite dry and predictable and its themes weren't ones that spoke to me.
One of the main themes in this story is motherhood. This could be perfect for so many people and I can see lots of other people loving this, but exploring motherhood in this depth wasn't something that gripped me. From reading the blurb I knew our protagonist was a mother and that that factor would be important, but I found her relationships odd (as they were meant to be but were therefore unengaging) and this complex, deep analysis of her situation quite simply not something that I was intrigued by, moved by or enjoyed reading about. This, though, is why I want to emphasize that I'm not saying this is a bad book, but only the wrong book for me.

A meal of a page-turner, The Book Eaters was a riveting read with many different layers, dealing with family trauma and still managing to have that inkling of hope!

Book Eaters are non-humans living hidden across England. They subsist on a diet of books, consuming literature and knowledge. There are six remaining families, with ever decreasing numbers. Children are rare, because women are rarely born. As a result they have some barbaric practices around marriage and child rearing. These methods have kept them safe, hidden and the families genetically viable through the years. The women don’t argue it, and so it continues to work. But Devon Fairweather thinks differently. Or rather, she dares to think. When her second child is born a mind eater - a dreaded distortion of their species - she finds it in herself to do the unthinkable. She runs away, with her son. Into the world of humans. But how can she survive in a world she knows nothing about, and how can her son survive with his ever growing deadly hunger?

I absolutely loved this unique take on a ‘creatures’ story. The Book Eaters are such a unique species, and I loved the take on their diet and means of gathering knowledge. Their society covers so many societal issues, forced marriage and rape, toxic masculinity, women as a lesser class, enforced child/mother separation/removal of the mothers rights, violence as a tool for enforcement of power and much more. The Book Eaters society is ruled by men, dominated in a very hierarchical manner. Women show as only there to serve as bearers of children, and not to be seen or heard.

The story told in this book is one of hope, of growth, of escap against the odds. It is a love story, and of finding who you really are. I loved Devon, and how we saw her grow through the book. How her spirit rose and fell but ultimately grew and rose to the challenges before her. The story hooked from the very beginning and I could not put it down. I wanted to know more about the Book Eaters world. Who are they really? Where did they come from, why books, how are they so different. What is causing the decline in their species? So many questions, and I hope these will all be answered in future stories. My only gripe is as someone who dislikes even folding down the corner of a book page, it is a bit painful to think of all those books ruined!!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

An absolutely incredible book. I was hooked from the start and I flew through it so quickly I couldn't put it down. I really loved the concept of the book and the characters, I thought it was a unique story!

I was grabbed by the plot it was intriguing and a fantastic read, the relationships within the book and the ones formed were really well done too! I loved our main characters Devon and Cai, seeing what they go through and how they have to survive without the Family now on the run to find some redemption to help Cai.

I will definitely be grabbing a finished copy of this beauty once it's out!

The Book Eaters live on stories and fairytales, but they are a dying breed. Only six families families remain. When Devon Fairweather's son is born a Mind Eater, an aberration, she escapes with him. before he is taken from her.

The stories we are fed influence how we see the world.

An original fantasy horror told with off-beat humour. .

The first third is thrilling. Unfortunately, this book suffers from a flabby middle, from which it never fully recovers.

Content Warnings: forced marriage, forced separation from a child, rape (mentioned), death, violence

Do you ever read the first 3 pages of a book and just know it's gonna be a 5 star read? Because that was absolutely me with this book.

Book eaters are a race of humanoid creatures who subsist on a diet of books. Of the six families which make up the book eater population of Britain, most devour knowledge through books. But some are born as mind eaters, and, unless given a drug which curbs their nature, must instead feed on the experiences, lives, and minds of others. This novel follows Devon, who has escaped the strict patriarchal life she was subjected to as part of a book eater family, and is now on the run with her mind eater son, Cai.

I was utterly captivated by this book from chapter one. The world it showcases is so utterly bizarre and is just works SO well. As wild as the fantasy aspects of the novel are, it also balances them really well with its very human themes of motherhood and freedom. The Book Eaters is a fantasy thriller which I found difficult to put down (if I hadn't been so busy the last couple days this could easily have been a book I consumed in one sitting). I really loved the dual timeline structure - the mystery element of finding out how Devon has gotten to her present day situation keeps the story very engaging. I also have a really bad habit of skipping over the little worldbuilding quotes you often find at the start of chapters in fantasy novels, but I genuinely really like the ones in this book - particularly the quotes from a fictional history book about book eaters. The only critique I have is that the romance wasn't as developed as I ideally would have liked, but it is very much a subplot, so that felt understandable and was no major issue.

Overall, this is a new favourite. Completely recommended!

Thank you to Sunyi Dean, NetGalley, and Harper Voyager for the ARC of The Book Eaters.

I loved this book!

BEST BITS:
-DEVON FAIRWEATHER
-Completely original contemporary horror/fantasy with a beginning that IMMEDIATELY pulls you in
-Eerie gothic vibes of the book eater lineage / houses
-The gorgeous way the mother-son bond between Devon and Cai is written
-Jarrow!
-“Love is a choice you make”
-Tomb Raider/FFVII refs

The Book Eaters was one of the most anticipated books this year for me. The concept of the book was really interesting and the description made me fell in love with it.
Unfortunately I really struggled with it. After reading first few chapters I knew straight away that this book is not for me. I tried pushing through and give it a chance but it didn’t do anything for me.
The Book Eaters wasn’t something I expected. The cover and description made me think of something more magical like story and also in older times. I really thought that book about human like creatures who eat books would be right for me. It was just boring …
Even tho it wasn’t a book for me I really hope others will enjoy it. The book was well written, had a great premise and I will definitely recommend it to others.

A delicious exploration of family dynamics, relationships, and intergenerational trauma with a healthy injection of supernatural horror & suspense!


If this were a meal, it would be a buffet because I kept going back for more.

This debut from Sunyi Dean is definitely worth the read, not only living up to my expectations but exceeding them completely. This gothic horror has a lot of heart in it, and that is where its beauty lies. The story centres on a sapphic female MC, Devon, who is born to a family of Book Eaters. Their customs are archaic and misogynistic, breeding children for the sake of extending the family line, and expecting its members to submit to duties that are not only uncomfortable but downright cruel, all for the sake of family. She learns to question her duties, is forced into submission, and chooses to escape anyway, her desperation to save her child, Cai, fuelling her actions.

Nothing is lighthearted about this book, but that only adds to the bittersweet quality of Dean's writing. The lengths that Devon will go to to save her child are admirable, if questionable at times, with love as a powerful theme that resonates throughout the book. So many forms of love are interrogated here, from that of mother to child and vice versa, to love for a sibling, queer-platonic love between friends, and romantic love.

The different forms of love are proof that just because love has its costs, it doesn't mean that it isn't worth it!

I couldn't put down this book for a myriad of reasons, and it had me hooked from start to finish despite, or maybe even because of, its difficult subject matter. I can't wait to read the sequel and see how Devon and Cai take control of their lives!

This book begins by setting up what should be a fascinating world of very original non-humans living Among Us. But the plot is overwhelmed by anvilicious “men bad, women good”. Instead of exploring the unearthly, we get a screed on oppressed women “Whose setting might as well have been/The Bronx, Montmartre, or Bethnal Green.”
And we are tantalized with the expectation that we will finally learn the WHY of the book-eaters,,, but are left without any explanations.

Read on NetGalley

As a fantasy and book lover, who could resist the title of a novel called “Book Eaters’?
The uniqueness of the plot was the first aspect that gripped me and for anyone who wants something different and enjoys reading fantasy with gothic/ horror edges, this could be for you.
The story follows Devon Fairweather and her son, Cai, through the dangers that their current life and situation throw at them. Dean drips key information about Devon’s younger life, gradually revealing the plot turns and twists which keep this a gripping read,
There were many elements of this book that I enjoyed, particularly the focus of a motherly love and how far Devon will go to provide and protect her child. The characterisation was well developed, the characters and their reactions realistic and some of the interactions between them heart warming. Not too heavy on the gore, but just enough of gothic to make this feel like a sinister read which explores and challenges our conceptions on monsters and how we define them.
I did find the plot a slow burner but, due to the plot twists and flashbacks, the extra detail was needed to understand the world in which we, as readers, find ourselves in. It is certainly one which will stay with me for a while and I will be recommending!

I am so in love with the idea of this book - it really takes loving books and the smell of books to the extreme! It is an absolute must-read for any bibliophile.

The book's primary focus, at least in my opinion, was a mother's love for her son, even when that son is somewhat vampiric. It is really quite a dark book, not necessarily something I would read, but it was gripping as well. Being somewhat well-versed in fantasy novels, I did enjoy the worldbuilding, how it was very familiar but at the same time completely and utterly strange, created a great atmosphere, I do love that kind of fantasy/magical world-building, it often reminds me of Gaiman's Neverwhere.

The characters are well-built, and I enjoyed following Devon and Cai, in their quest to survive. They are very morally grey characters however if you like that sort of thing.

A very well-written gothic/horror-style novel.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow what a book! The 1st chapter immediately hooked me into this plot and i was invested right away. Things I loved about the book were the characters, the dark atmosphere, the world building and the sense of mystery while the plot is slowly revealed.

I went into reading this book expecting one thing and what I got was completely different but in a good way. From the book cover and the title I expected this to be a family friendly book about a group of people who eat books absorb the knowledge and live a quiet tranquil life in the countryside. Instead what I got was a Dark Horror Fantasy that was non-stop twists and turns and a roller-coaster ride right to the end.

The story follows Devon through the past and present day, in a similar narrative structure to another of my favourite books Lies of Locke Lamora. Each chapter switches back and forth between the past and present slowly revealing the full story. A quick spoiler free summary is that Devon is a book eater on the run from her family of book eaters with her young son. While on the run she has to make some difficult decisions to protect her son from the dangers around them which leads to violence, gore and other dark/chilling scenarios along the way.

The thing I liked about the story is Devon is a morally grey character but her love for her son, and the things she had to go through means you can't help but sympathise with her throughout and want her to succeed.

The book was far from predictable and kept me guessing right to the end. I read this book in 3 days and couldn't put it down, it felt like a vampire horror story with a modern day twist with a touch of Handmaids Tale thrown in.

I loved this book and will be definitely recommending it to everyone, and have already pre-ordered my hardback copy as soon as it drops in stores. Thank you to the author and Net galley for providing me with an ARC for this review.

What an amazing and unique book. With a one in a million premise that takes a book lovers love of the smell of books to the limit, this was a joy to read. The tension is held throughout as Devon's present and past are revealed. The world building is clever, the idea grusome and made me consider what makes a monster. A story of a mother's love, fighting grim patriarchal families and an extreme love of books.

After reading the blurb, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this. Overall, it was a fun read but felt like a typical debut, particularly the first half. It definitely got better as the novel continued.

Devon is a great character: conflicted as she tries to do 'the right thing' in inconceivably challenging circumstances. Her relationship with her mindeater son Cai is complex and interesting. Many great relationships to unpick. Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Was I riveted? No.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

"Are you a good person? Are you kind?".

Scattered across the British countryside, the six families strive to survive. With girl-children heavily outnumbered by boy-children, Brides move from family to family under five year marriage contracts until their short-lived fertility fades. Trying to make themselves valuable in the modern age which had left them behind, they are the Book Eaters. But in their small community, every so often, a Mind Eater is born...

The Book Eaters follows Devon Fairweather as the main protagonist. Born to the North Yorkshire Family, she is the only female child of her generation. Brought up to believe she is a princess, once she is of marriageable age, she is quickly disabused of her importance within her society. But then, Cai is born and the story follows her attempts to keep them both alive and free.

This is an excellent book. The plot is innovative and I adored the idea of the Book Eaters. It is difficult to describe without spoilers but the world building is unique. The rigid social structure and dynamics within rhe families had me furious and firmly in Devon's corner, even if she isn't exactly an angel herself (exactly what it was meant to do). Most of the characters are not exactly likeable (some are downright despicable) but it feels realistic in this context. I would recommend therapy to the entire cast! I raced through this in two days and would happily recommend it to anyone.

DNF at 53%

I feel bad about DNFing this one not just because it's an ARC but also because it's the first ARC I've ever received. So yay for the milestone, but boo for the book itself. I really couldn't stand the detached and distant writing style that never made me feel immersed in the story. I never once cared for any of the characters despite reading over 100 pages of their lives. Also, the protagonist is raised in a (kind of) cult and she somehow magically overcomes all her indoctrination within a few pages which felt super unrealistic and rushed to me. Maybe this could've worked better as a novella?

While this started off interesting and unique. I found I started losing interest after the halfway mark. It then took until maybe the last 10% before I got back into the book.
I do think part of this issue was me. So I definitely want to give this a second try at some point.

I did really enjoy the importance of chosen family and love throughout this book. How we saw Devon make sacrifices to protect her son. She refused to ever give up on him. No matter what. I loved their relationship.
I also liked Hester and Devon growing relationship. Part of me wants to see where they go.

Unrelated to the story itself but I loved the Yorkshire slang within the book.

Very satisfying. A story of book eaters (kind of book vampires) and mind eaters, of family love, of intrigue, action, and betrayal.

I found The Book Eaters to be engrossing, if very dark - I wasn't sure I would gel with it at first, but I was utterly gripped. The world shown is really intriguing - with obviously vampiric undertones, the atmosphere of which reminded me of Let The Right One In in places (despite being two very different books!). It had my heart pounding and was also moving.
Although this is technically a multiple point-of-view book, the focus is squarely on Devon - the other POVs often felt like brief interludes to me, and I wasn’t always sure how necessary they were. That said, they certainly helped with the intricacy of the plot.
I felt the quotes at the beginning of chapters, some from within the world of the book, and some from our own, really added to the atmosphere. There’s a C.S. Lewis quote in one of the penultimate chapters that felt particularly poignant.
All in all, I think The Book Eaters is a read which will stick with me long after finishing it - I’ll certainly instantly pick up whatever Sunyi Dean writes next!
4.5 rounded up to 5.