The Book Eaters
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror
Sunyi Dean
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is unique, weird and entirely intriguing. I have never read a book with this kind of plot or premise and I am so glad I did. The world building is great, you are thrown into a strange, but sometimes familiar, society from the very first chapter.

We follow Devon, a Bookeater, as she grows up and constantly challenges this society, the traditions she is meant to follow and the roles she is meant to fulfil.

Through multiple POVs and different time periods, we see her journey as she tries to protect her son Cai, a Mindeater.

The writing style is so immersive that you can feel the weight of Devon's responsibilities and her guilt. The pacing is just right, it took me about a day to finish and didnt find any of it boring. I really hope there's a sequel to this.


*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @harpercollinsuk for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

The title is what spiked my interest and let me say the book was as intriguing as the title. The book eaters is a very different, very bizarre yet very interesting concept.

It’s a very easy fast pace read. Yet not a dull moment in the book. The marriages and the family dynamics are very gripping.

There are some strong characters in this book and well developed and describe relationships between siblings, friends and between mother and her child.

The only place that it fell a bit short for me was the ending. It felt like a end fight scene from a action movie. Very fast but almost predictable.

All in all did enjoy it. Will recommend to read it at least once.

I was offered this book as an ARC via NetGalley. It was a fun read that I would take as an easy 'holiday read'. It didn't quite hit the four star rating for me as I am not sure I will remember it in years to come. Despite this it was an enjoyable read.

Where do I start with The Book Eaters? When I heard the title I was intrigued, when I read the synopsis I was excited and when I started reading I was hooked. The Book Eaters is a deliciously dark urban fantasy with family and love at its heart. It brings to question just what we do for those we love and not just connected by blood.

We follow Devon Fairweather and her son Cai as they try to break years of tradition to live free. Devon is a book eater, a small collection of beings that survive by consuming books and thus their knowledge or tales. Brought up in one of the six families of Book Eaters hidden across England and Scotland. Devon is brought up knowing she is a princess but it is only as she gets older she realises that princesses' lives aren’t like those in the books she devoured in her youth. When Devon’s first child is ripped away from her and her second is born a mind eater (those who survive on devouring people’s memories and souls) she knows she won’t see him be turned into a weapon and taken from her and so she runs.

Devon and Cai live among humans, with Devon finding prey for her son while seeking a cure for his hunger but time is running out – Cai’s hunger grows and her family are closing in. But Devon won’t give up so easily. Especially where her family is concerned.

This book really delivers on what it promises, something new and beguiling. A story that explores a mother’s devotion and finally finds love along the way. From the very first page I was hooked. Devon is not perfect and it was the first thing I found myself liking about her for a protagonist. She is no where near perfect actually but she is devoted and that devotion keeps her going. On top of this Dean’s worldbuilding was wonderful. The world of The Book Eaters was fleshed out and explained that it made perfect sense within the narrative and was easily accepted. The only thing I would have liked was a bit more information about the Creator of the Book Eaters but I also adored the little bit of mystery it left.

The characters were all fleshed out and fit into the narrative brilliantly. As always I do not spoil books a lot in my reviews but I adored Hester and her relationship with Devon. I also loved Cai which is something for me since oftentimes I dislike children in literature that is not aimed at middle grade. Cai, however, was brilliant. His personality fit with his biology and his role as a Mind Eater.

My only disappointment in a way was the ending. I adored it, don’t get me wrong, but I wanted more. I want to know what happened next, how it all works out and if Devon will ever find her first child. Yet I know it couldn’t all be answered in the space of one novel and I feel that the ending matched the theme of the novel itself and showcased how sometimes, in the worlds of the popular song, all you need is love and pure devotion.

As always thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for allowing me access to an ARC of this title. My review is left completely voluntarily.

Sunyi Dean’s debut is a deliciously, dark and utterly addictive feast of a book. A contemporary, Gothic Horror fairytale about motherhood ,sacrifice, acceptance and hope that I couldn’t help but devour, it was soo good!

Devon is a Book Eater, a supernatural being who consumes books for sustenance (instead of food) and can retain all of the book’s content after eating it. Devon’s brothers grew up on stories of valor but for Devon—like all Book Eater women, the rarest and most valuable of their kind—was raised on a curated diet of fairytales and cautionary stories, in preparation for her life as a bride mother.

But real life isn’t like fairytales and Devon’s son, Cai is born with a rarer and darker kind of hunger, with the urge to feed (Zombie-like) on the minds of humans instead of books. Mind eaters are a perversion of her kind and so, to protect her son Devon flees before he can be turned into a weapon for her family… or something worse.

Living among humans and finding prey for her son, Devon seeks a cure for his hunger but time is running out—her family want her back and with every mind Cai consumes he looses a little more of himself…

This was an utterly unique, gothic, contemporary horror-style book that I literally devoured! Honestly, the worldbuilding—with it’s secret community of deadly, Book eating supernatural beings, their peculiar (and oftentimes misogynistic) customs and traditions; their rivalries and family politics was captivatingly good.

Devon, (our sort of protagonist/main POV character) was a well written complex and morally grey character who—though endearing at times—is by no means good. In protecting her son, she has to make some pretty difficult choices but thanks to Sunyi Dean’s expertly placed morsels of information, I could empathise with Devon’s situation—I might not of agreed with all of her life choices but I can’t argue that she didn’t leap of the page and consume my thoughts even after I’d finished reading.

In fact most characters could be categorised as monsters which really made this a standout read for me, and though we navigate themes of love, identity, parenthood and sacrifice; the way in which we explore them was rather fascinating, especially the gothic, vampiric (Dracula-esque) tone we see in the way women’s rights and the parchiarchy is navigated.

Female book eaters are a rare commodity and as such , are sheltered away with no contact outside their families, except for the 4 years they are contracted in marriage, owned by their new husbands and ‘given back’ once a child has been born and successfully weaned. I really did feel for Devon during these moments but watching her grow into her strength and ignoring the sexist propaganda she was raised on was utterly satisfying.

I do warn that there are situations such as: abuse (emotional,domestic and child related) death, graphic violence, misogyny and toxic relationships—so if any of these sound like they may be a trigger it’s probably best to steer clear.

Overall, this decadently dark, fairytale-like horror fantasy was absolutely spellbinding, I found myself savouring it as I really didn’t want it to end. A unique and poignant story which explores the complexities of love in all it’s forms that will stay with you long after you’ve finished.

Also, a huge thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the e-arc.

One of my most anticipated releases!!! Thanks for the approval!
I will update the review with a link to our blog closer to publication date.
I'd like to thank the publisher HarperCollins UK and netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This has been one of the most interesting premises I've read this year and I was not disappointed!

The concept of a "book eater" (a species that literally eats books to survive) was an incredible concept and I loved the way that the author inserted different parts of their culture or biology throughout the book as though it were the most natural thing in the world - casually stating that they have "bookteeth" alongside their generic human-like teeth, books having different specific tastes. It was so fun and different that I read this book within two sittings because I just wanted to learn everything about them as a creature. I've read a lot of "predator living among humans" with different supernatural concepts but this one was incredibly well done and did it justice.

The book has some graphic violence and gore and some horror concepts which I found were seamless within the novel and kept the tension amped up throughout. I loved Devon as a character and found her narrative was well distinguished between past and present. I think if I had read this book when I was a teenager, I may perhaps have not connected as much with her (the book focuses a lot on the concept of family and motherhood) but I found these thoughts and values really drove the book forward and gave rationale to all of her actions. She was a strong character without being a typical "stabby gorgeous heroine" sort of way, instead making unwise and rash decisions and being strong in any way she had to be. The casual writing of sexuality of the characters was refreshing, with it being part of their identity rather than their sexual orientation being the only reason that their side character is present.

The plot was quite predictable but this surprisingly didn't retract from the story which I believe is purely because of the originality of the novel. The last 10% of the novel felt quite rushed which is why I am giving this four stars as the rest of the book had been so well crafted that I felt a bit disappointed. Nonetheless the prose and writing style was fantastic and I found myself rooting for many of the characters.

This was a fun concept that had elements of thriller and horror that I truly loved, and I would definitely read more from Sunyi Dean in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really good first novel, and a brilliant idea for the setting. I found it the back and forwards in time a bit too overdone, and the ethical discussions, hence the lack of a star.

I didn’t enjoy the horror, but it was well written, and the sense of family and what holds people together or pushes them apart, is what really makes it a good read.

I absolutely loved the concept of this story. A book eater who gave birth to a mind eater.

They believed that The Collector, an extraterrestrial being, placed them on Earth. The book eaters were to gather human knowledge, and the mind eaters were to sample human experiences. The Collector never returned for them. (I want to know what happened to The Collector!) The books had all different flavours depending on what subject they were. The book eaters CONSUMED the books just like I did with my reading. I zoomed through these pages.

Men were in charge. Weddings were organised by Knights. Women were allowed to marry twice and have two (maybe three) kids. They married purely for the sake of procreation. The children were unable to stay with the mother. One of the Six Families, the Ravenscars, devised a recipe called Redemption which kept the mind eaters from guzzling brains. I loved the way that the mind eater had all the attributes, experiences, and knowledge of the person whose mind they ate.

My brain has a problem with names which have the same number of letters in them, as I struggle to remember who is who. That is the only downside of this book as I was driven to distraction by Matley, Jarrow, Ramsey, Hester, Weston, and Ealand, not forgetting Devon, Luton, and Salem! However, as I was completely and utterly hooked in the story, I persevered.

I chose this ARC from a selection which I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. All opinions are my own. My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author.

this books premise seems super weird and i can guarantee this feeling continues throughout in the best possible way! the narrator managed to frustrate me and yet i was still hoping she would make different decisions. it’s a story of humanity and the sides of it in a world which appears not so human

As soon as this novel starts you are thrown into Devon’s chaotic life. After buying bottles of vodka and forgetting her sons eczema cream you are soon met with violence and murder (from a five year old). Now, everything is not as it seems for Cai is not an ordinary boy, nor is Devon an ordinary woman.

Devon is a ‘Book Eater’. She consumes books as her source of food and retains every inch of knowledge she consumes. Having spent her life being told she must eat fairytales of princesses whilst under the watchful eye of the family, Devon quickly rebels which causes her brother Ramsey to be sent away. Cai however, is a mind eater. Someone who must consume the memories and thoughts of another by practically eating their brains with a long protruding tongue. This is not without its costs, for when a mind eater consumes their feed they take on the characteristics of the person they have consumed. For instance, after Cai has consumed one gentleman he was asking for pints of lager and to watch Corrie! The fact that a young five year old takes on these characteristics is amazing and I loved that Sunyi did not shy away from this! It adds a massive shock factor when you take into account Cai is FIVE. He definitely doesn’t act it.

Devon is a princess, but not your ordinary princess. I love that she is rebellious and will do absolutely anything for her kids. Devon is not treated fairly and after spending three years with her daughter she is dragged away without even being able to say goodbye. Sunyi completely captivates how distraught Devon is, and the honesty of motherhood that you would die for your children is wrought through every page you read. You feel everything when reading this book, every pain, every heartache and every fury! You are rooting for Devon and her family from start to finish. Even in the face of a truly ruthless villain, who, is also likeable. In a weird round about fashion.

Sunyi manages to complete a full circle in her writing, taking you from Devon’s childhood all the way to present day without making you feel like your jumping time zones too much. Sunyi has mastered the art of flashbacks without making you groan at the thought. For me personally I’ve found flashbacks boring and unnecessary but are the encompassing part of this novel. Without them, you would be left standing in the dark wondering how Devon became the ultimate badass she is.

In the hunt for Redemption, a chemical compound in tablet format, Devon meets a number of characters. Hester is beautifully written, and her love for her handbag is truly *chefs kiss*. The love interests are obvious and predictable but you are so rooting for them that it does not matter. I love how Sunyi doesn’t blatantly shout out these characters are part of the LGBTQ+ community and just manages to show it through her writing. Too many novels just shout out sexuality without showing it and I much prefer this writing style.

I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a quick read and something you truly haven’t seen before. There are sections which are extremely predictable, which is the only reason this book got four stars from me! I like to be shocked with plot twists etc…and the predictability just brought it down that little bit! However, excellent and easy writing style which makes for an amazing read!

4.5 stars rounded up.

This book is really impressive for a debut - a fascinating premise, well rounded, interesting characters, a gripping plot, and a fast pace that kept me reading. It's on the shorter side, but just as long as it needed to be to tell the story. I really liked and sympathized with Devon, and this book is actually as weird as the marketing claims. I'm always looking for unique books like this.

The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the ending felt a little rushed, and I would have liked to see a little bit of what came after.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. I enjoyed reading this book, it has a very unique concept but I couldn't connect with the characters - so 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Book Eaters follows the POV of Devon, Devon grew up as a princess in the hidden society of book eaters. Book eaters are humanoid in figure yet survive by literally eating books and other written material. We are first introduced to Devon as she is trying to survive while on the run from other book eaters with her young son Cai, who is what is known in the book eating world as a brain eater. Brain eaters are ostracised from birth as they are seen to be unable to stop the basic nature of eating human and book eater brains, usually killed or trained to become Dragons, a mindless killing machine from the age of three, when they are taken from their mothers. Devon and Cai, escape the compound and remain on the run, as they try and track down the elusive Ravenscroft family to find a drug that will help Cai. As you move through the story you see flashbacks of how Devon grew up and what led her to the choices she has made to get to the present point.
I found this book to be very dark in its themes, Devon goes through a horrendous amount of suffering, and the choices she must make are a reminiscence of sophies choice. She’s brought up in a world that holds no value to women other than as breeding machines, sold into three-year “marriages” where they are expected to breed and then go home giving up the right to see their children ever again.
The writing was very good, intriguing, political, and flowed very well, however, I just didn’t connect with Devon, I imagine she is a by-product of the choices that are thrust upon her, I just found her cold and unlikable.

4.75 stars

Atmospheric, gripping and profoundly moving, The Book Eaters is a 2022 new release to watch out for!! Told with gorgeous, effortless prose and exploring themes of motherhood, identity and sacrifice. It can be at times brutal and heart-breaking but ultimately leaves you with a feeling of hope and an emphasis on the importance of chosen family and love.

The Book Eaters follows the story of Devon, a book eater princess, raised in seclusion in the yorkshire countryside and kept secret from the human world. Devon is part of a society known as the book eaters who eat books in order to survive. They are made of up of multiple Families, reminiscent of noble families of regency era England, with women treated in a similar fashion to be bargained and traded between families to have children. The story starts when Devon is a bit older and has run away into the human world with her son, Cai. She is on the run from multiple aspects of her past (slowly revealed through flashbacks, which also provide a lot more insight into book eater society) and at the same time trying to keep her son alive. Cai is a variant of the book eaters known as mind eaters - which is exactly what it sounds like - in which he has to eat brains to survive.

This book really snuck up on me with how much I loved it. The quietly poetic writing, themes of motherhood and queerness, an imaginative alternative england, the use of the phrase "it'll be reet" (as a yorkshire lass this made me unreasonably happy lol), the balance of action/drama with more heartfelt moments - everything just combined perfectly to create a book that was ultimate katy bait.

I really liked all the characters, especially Devon - she really carried the story with her heart and hardships she faces. The decisions and sacrifices she has to make for the sake of her children are very moving and heart-breaking at times but also felt very realistic and a reflection on humanity and motherhood. I also really loved some of the other characters, especially Cai and Jarrow (Devon's son and best friend who helps her escape the book eater respectively). I also enjoyed the hint of romance - I wasn't expecting this book to be sapphic so that was a very pleasant surprise and I especially liked Devon's journey with realising her queerness once she is in human society and how she had never even realised it could be an option for her before.

The themes in this book were really on point and well explored. I loved seeing the insight into book eater culture and how the mind eaters are treated as monsters and the politics within the book eater world to control them. One of the Families has a substance called redemption which means mind eaters can eat books to survive but they are beholden to this one family having a monopoly. There is also a lot of discussion around religious fanaticism (but not actual religion more just an allegory) and the world of the book eaters is very cult-like and Devon journey and emotions in escaping them definitely has parallels with people in real life who have escaped cults.

Overall I would highly recommend this book, it is definitely one of my top 5 books I've read so far this year! Especially if you enjoy murder sapphics, a super precious mother/son dynamic, heart pounding espionage drama and some good ol' patriarchy bashing.

This was such an interesting read. It was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. It was a gripping read that was both dark and funny in equal measures. I really enjoyed it.

The Book Eaters is one of those great works of speculative fiction that pairs a unique magical premise with a deep focus on theme. There are so many layers to this story, but the simple, beautiful core is that of family, and the messy reality of what that might mean. The plot is gripping without needing to be complex, and it is particularly easy to latch onto these characters and the society they live in, as, despite their outlandish nature, they reflect familiar elements of society. I do think that I was ready for a slower and fuller ending, giving each of the plot and theme elements a moment to wrap up - while the balance between past and present timelines is generally perfect, the climax isn't helped by a few flashbacks that don't add as much and do slow things down. But emotionally, I am utterly satisifed with this narrative and where it ends up - a work that deserves to be contemplated as well as consumed.

(Also posted to Goodreads)

3.5 stars

Definitely something different to my normal read.
Dark at times , and at others good fun.
It felt like a proper adventure I was embarking on , and the danger and surprises didn't stop coming.
Interesting and entertaining.
Can't ask for more.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

The Book Eaters is told from third person in two timelines. The story stars with Devon; a mother who is talking about her son Cai. The present timeline follows Devon as she ponders what is to come for her and Cai. The second timeline takes place twenty two years ago when Devon was eight years old. In this world there are people who eat books and live on stories and legends. There are few women book eaters and children are rare. Unfortunately Devon's second child is born a mind eater instead of a book eater. Mind eaters consumer the minds and souls of humans so Devon flees out of love for he child. Devon doesn't want her child to be turned into a weapon and will do anything to save her son. However, as her son consumers more and more souls and minds he loses part of himself. Firstly I just adore the cover of this book and it is partly why I wanted to read this book. The story is very different to anything I have ever read before and I can see this intriguing many people. However, I found it hard to connect with the characters as the writing felt very removed. Overall, I am giving it 3 stars as it is a very unique story but I couldn't really connect with it and it is never really explained why the book eaters are the book eaters.