THIS. BOOK. Let's start with structure. The way Sunyi Dean chose to tell this story is artistic, in itself. Interweaving the current timeline while providing the reader background information in between these chapters. She leaves us dates so we know how long ago these previous events took place (something I greatly appreciated), but it all serves the purpose to leave us wondering how Devon ended up where she is: on the run with her son, Cai, who just so happens to be a mind-eater. Oh yeah, and Devon consumes books like we eat a three-course meal.
 
A wild concept: a species of beings who subsist on books, can learn and know the subjects or stories that they eat, and - no surprise - the hierarchy of the book eaters is extremely archaic and they're a dying breed. Dean brings these characters to life on the page and in readers' minds. It's so hard not to empathize with this young mother and son runaway duo.

Overall what I loved: the structure, how intentionally Dean unveils Devon's story throughout the entire book, and the ways Dean depicts the complicated nature of traditional family ties.

I love that in the end, Devon and Cai have the opportunity to not only escape to relative freedom, but that she can see the destruction of her abusive brother, Ramsey, and Hester's brother, Killark.

What I thought it lacked: I felt that the ending was a little rushed

and wished that the confrontation with both Devon and Hester's brothers didn't happen all at once and so quickly

, but having a tenuously happy ending was satisfying for me. It definitely left me wondering how the rest of the surviving characters' lives would play out.

Will Araminder (Mani) stay in touch? Did their group make it safely into Ireland? It seemed a little sketchy that Jarrow and Vic would get only Cai and Devon undetected, but then they added Hester and Mani to the group, and that seems to complicate plans (in my head, anyway). Will Devon ever successfully rescue her daughter, Salem, from the clutches of the Families? Will the Families even still exist after the downfall of the Dragons and Knights?

So many unanswered questions, but perhaps it's better left that way sometimes.