This is an unusual book, which I very much enjoyed reading. Several families of ‘book eaters’ live in secluded communities around the UK (and maybe the world?). They look human, but are not – they are not even sure themselves what their origins are, whether they were left by an alien species, or genetically engineered or the product of something magical is not know. Basically, they eat books – like literally, their food is pages of text and when they die they turn instantly into inky dust.
They are a little like the Amish because they keep separate from the world and are outdated in their outlook as well as their ways – the society is very rigid and misogynistic and our main character, Devon, is a woman book eater who grew up in one of the main families. As is tradition, girls are married off to a different family where they must produce a child, and then leave the child and move on to another arranged marriage as long as they are fertile.
Devon is horribly upset when she has to leave her daughter, but when her second child is not only a boy, but a ‘mind eater’ things get worse.
Mind eaters don’t eat books but get their sustenance by sucking out other people’s brains. Devon has to run away and although she loves her son, she is horrified by what she has to do to keep him alive and is desperately trying to get hold of the treatment made by one of the rival families that stops mind eaters from having to eat minds.
I loved the different twist on the zombie/vampire genre and I thought the writing and characterisation was very good. I can’t wait for the sequel/next in series to be published!
Sarah Wray Writer 