The Family is an old clan of book eaters whose dwindling population is preserved by carefully-arranged marriages and strictly-enforced contracts. As one of the few girls in The Family, Devon grows up as a princess, eating only fairytales curated by her family. Devon dutifully fulfils her child-bearing responsibilities as required by The Family, believing that this will promise a comfortable life. Until the arrival of her son, who sustains not on books but the human mind. Devon must now choose between book eater traditions and her family while doing everything she can to protect her son.

Book Eaters is an imaginative dark fantasy unlike anything I’ve read before; it examines heavy topics like patriarchy, tradition, and motherhood through brilliant storytelling. The book also jumps between the early days of Devon’s childhood until her late twenties and the present day when she’s struggling to provide for her son. I deeply appreciate the moral ambiguity underneath all the characters, especially the sacrifices Devon makes in the name of protecting her son. As heavy as the topics, I absolutely devoured this book (