Sin Eater

A Novel

By: Megan Campisi

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's Summary

"For fans of The Handmaid’s Tale...a debut novel with a dark setting and an unforgettable heroine...is a riveting depiction of hard-won female empowerment." (The Washington Post)

The Sin Eater walks among us, unseen, unheard

Sins of our flesh become sins of Hers

Following Her to the grave, unseen, unheard

The Sin Eater Walks Among Us.

For the crime of stealing bread, 14-year-old May receives a life sentence: She must become a Sin Eater - a shunned woman, brutally marked, whose fate is to hear the final confessions of the dying, eat ritual foods symbolizing their sins as a funeral rite, and thereby shoulder their transgressions to grant their souls access to heaven.

Orphaned and friendless, apprenticed to an older Sin Eater who cannot speak to her, May must make her way in a dangerous and cruel world she barely understands. When a deer heart appears on the coffin of a royal governess who did not confess to the dreadful sin it represents, the older Sin Eater refuses to eat it. She is taken to prison, tortured, and killed. To avenge her death, May must find out who placed the deer heart on the coffin and why.

“Very much reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale...it transcends its historical roots to give us a modern heroine” (Kirkus Reviews). 

“A novel as strange as it is captivating” (BuzzFeed), The Sin Eater “is a treat for fans of feminist speculative fiction” (Publishers Weekly) and “exactly what historical fiction lovers have unknowingly craved” (New York Journal of Books). 

©2020 Megan Campisi (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Lush and atmospheric

I didn’t expect to enjoy this so much let alone add it to my favorites shelf, but a nice surprise that it turned out to be, and a very emotional read, too.
The characters are very vividly written, combined with an extremely realistically created world including in how the local mythologies and beliefs of the Crown affected the local populace at any given time and vice versa. Extremely atmospheric and lushly written, this was a historical fiction teeming with magic that was as enjoyable as it is emotional of a read.

Shiromi Arserio was a truly perfect choice to bring this book to life via audiobook, as well and i doubt that I would have enjoyed solely the text as much as I did the audiobook because of Shiromi’s excellent job.

Best book I've read in awhile

The creativity in this book kept me engaged from start to finish. The beginning is dark, but it ends up having an empowering theme, I have already reccomeneded this book to friend's and family.

Powerful story

May is a 14 year old girl who is cursed to become a Sin Eater after being caught stealing bread. A Sin Eater is the confessor for the people of her town; as death approaches they confess their sins to her and she agrees to take all their sins upon her soul so they can die clean. She then eats corresponding food off their coffin for each of the sins. This causes her to be shunned and feared by the people thinking she is fully corrupted by all the sins. While exercising her duties she discovers that there has been a colossal cover-up involving murder and treason. Unfortunately part of her curse is that she may not speak except in doing her duties as a Sin Eater. The transformation of her character from being hostile and angry, to vengeful, to realizing the peace she gives to the dying is very moving. The narration was excellent and Shiromi Arserio was a perfect choice. I would highly recommend this book.

Confusingly

I liked that I learned a little something about Elizabethan times. I found names of characters confusing.

Stop reading this review and start this book.

Holy moly seriously friends just listen this book is wholly fantastic. I’m going to buy it in book form too I liked it so much.

Gripping

This book, both plot and narrator, hooked me in this story and didn’t let go. The Sin Eater’s journey is horrible, yet encouraging at the same time. Her choices both forced and accepted. The evil of her world balanced by individual goodness and occasional kindness. That she finds beauty and fulfillment in her role brings hope that we may also find those things in our own lives. Well-written and researched with pseudo history adding intrigue to the tale.

Better than expected

I picked this book on the title alone. I enjoyed the narrator's voice, I found the writing to be good and it's a relaxing listen. I listened right before bed and drifted off every time. Might seem like a bad thing to you, but as an insomniac...a dream!

Slooooow

My advice it to take a valium before reading. This is a interesting story that was something new. But I must say between the narrator and the story it is a slow burn.

I really liked this story!

Wow Wow Wow! I was captured so quickly and o ly able to put it down once to sleep! This is one of those stories that you dwell with awhile before going to the next book cuz you're not done enjoying it yet.
Absolutely marvelous!

It's a fast listen, lovely narration. Interesting.

It was an easy story to listen. The narration was beautiful. Unique take on Tudor history.