Sin Eater

A Novel

By: Megan Campisi

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio

“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, fourteen-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).

Critic reviews

"In this alternative history audiobook, exquisitely narrated by Shiromi Arserio, sin eaters are an integral part of society who take on the dead's sins by eating a ritual meal. Sentenced to this life for a petty crime, young teen May becomes the lowest of the outcasts. After her mentor dies for refusing to eat an unconfessed sin, it is up to May to figure out the mystery behind the item's appearance. A treat to one's ears, Arserio's performance captures the richness of May's sixteenth century—from the struggles of the town's poorest inhabitants to the opulence of its nobility. With Arserio's clear voice and even pacing, the narration allows listeners to lose themselves in the story."

very slow

unfolded very slowly then rushed to finish without complete resolution, better for a short story

Great read

I enjoyed this book and the development of the story..
The characters felt authentic. I look forward to reading more from this author .q

Humor?

A very engaging novel. The description says there is humor in this story. I must have missed it.
Still, I do recommend it.

So glad I took a chance

When I read the description, I thought it sounded intriguing, but I wasn’t sure if it would be interesting enough to hold my attention. I ended up enjoying it so much! I don’t know if it would appeal to everyone, but I guess nothing appeals to everyone.
Give it a try. If you aren’t sure that you’ll like it, get it on sale. It’s a unique story that is written well, and I think they did a good job with the setting. Narration was good too.

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!