An ancient evil is on the rise. Children are disappearing. Only two boys, from different worlds, can stop it.
On Earth, The Wisdom family has always striven to be more normal than normal. But Simon Wisdom, the youngest child, is far from ordinary: he can see the souls of the dead. And now the ghosts of children are begging him to help them. Something is coming, something far, far worse than death . . .
In a far-away land of magic and legends, Matyas is determined to drag himself up from the gutter, become a wizard and learn to fly. But he, too, can hear the children crying.
Two vastly different worlds. One ancient evil. The child eater is coming . . .
‘An intricately imagined Tarot-themed fantasy’ – Guardian
*THIS EDITION CONTAINS BONUS MATERIAL*
On Earth, The Wisdom family has always striven to be more normal than normal. But Simon Wisdom, the youngest child, is far from ordinary: he can see the souls of the dead. And now the ghosts of children are begging him to help them. Something is coming, something far, far worse than death . . .
In a far-away land of magic and legends, Matyas is determined to drag himself up from the gutter, become a wizard and learn to fly. But he, too, can hear the children crying.
Two vastly different worlds. One ancient evil. The child eater is coming . . .
‘An intricately imagined Tarot-themed fantasy’ – Guardian
*THIS EDITION CONTAINS BONUS MATERIAL*
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Reviews
The Child Eater is written in broad, bold strokes . . . It's a dark, disturbing book; it's also full of light and wonder
A bold new step for Pollack . . . a multi-layered tale of growing up and self-discovery that also happens to have a horrific supernatural terror as its central focus
One of this year's Do Not Miss books. Five stars, and it earns every one of them
A beautiful, fantastically constructed novel with some truly excellent character work . . . Pollack's first novel in over a decade really is worth picking up
An easy book to read . . . I was drawn back to it consistently . . . I would recommend this book
A deliciously creepy, decadent read. 5/5
An entertaining read with the odd gory moment and some really imaginative and charming magical beings
An intricately imagined Tarot-themed fantasy
The Child Eater is one of those books that are hard to put down
A fascinating novel . . . demonstrates the skilfulness of the plotting and the cleverness of the story-telling. Highly recommended
Some genuinely horrific imagery made all the more macabre by moments of real sweetness; elements reminded me of Stephen King's classic fantasy, The Eyes of the Dragon. [This] book represents the rousing return of a significant figure to the speculative fiction fold, and I for one wish her a very warm welcome
Rachel Pollack, has created a thrilling world of magic, memory and desire that will enchant readers far and wide
Fantasy, and paranormal. Two worlds, different POVS, it all makes it into an interesting mix
Mixes mediaeval high fantasy, contemporary supernatural horror and the mystic practice of the tarot into a winning, deceptively simple whole. But this isn't yet another Harry Potter retread. Pollack's setting has more in common with Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea: mythic, resonant, and with a vast metaphysical backdrop. Her transitions from the fairytale-like atmosphere of Matyas' legendary tale to the heartbroken, plainspoken melancholy of Simon's storyline are seamless, closely recalling Neil Gaiman's ability to do the same