The Child Eater - Rachel Pollack

On Earth, the Wisdom family has always striven to be more normal than normal. But Simon Wisdom, the youngest child, is far from normal: he can see the souls of the dead. And now the ghosts of children are begging him to help them, as they face something worse than death. The only problem is, he doesn’t know how.

In a far-away land of magic and legends, Matyas has dragged himself up from the gutter and inveigled his way into the Wizards’ college. In time, he will become more powerful than all of them – but will his quest blind him to the needs of others? For Matyas can also hear the children crying.

But neither can save the children alone, for the child eater is preying on two worlds…

My thoughts:

This book is set in a fantasy world, and in our world. It follows the life of Matyas in the fantasy world. He is the son of an inn Keeper and he wants more from life. Like exploring magic and learning how to fly. Then there is Simon in our world, a troubled child. But his parts are actually more about his dad. How he grows up wanting to be normal, falling in love with someone not normal, and having Simon. And wanting him to be normal too. Cos the Wisdoms are not a normal family. They see things.

I did enjoy the fantasy part more, I do love fantasy so that makes sense. It was an interesting world, interesting magic system and how the tarot cards were everywhere. Matyas on the other hand was an idiot at times, filled with hybris and more. But that did not matter cos it was how he was and it worked.

Simon's parts were more sad. He wanted to please his dad. But nightmares, knowing things, he was just so young and his dad should have told him the truth. And it's here we see more of those missing children. What is going on? How are the worlds connected?

Conclusion:

Fantasy, and paranormal. Two worlds, different POVS, it all makes it into an interesting mix.

Cover

meh

Hardcover, 368 pages
Published July 3rd 2014 by Jo Fletcher Books
Fiction/paranormal/fantasy /YA
For review