Bat Eater follows Cora Zeng as she navigates a pandemic-stricken world where people who look like her are being blamed and discriminated against. Through her job as a crime scene cleaner, Cora and her colleagues become privy to the often hidden extremes of this very prejudice.

I’ll start by saying that this is very much a Covid-centric book, so approach it with care if you find such themes triggering. As someone who has largely avoided Covid-related narratives, I’m glad I took the risk with this one.

While I occasionally felt that the pacing was slightly off, I was quickly drawn back in, which is a testament to Kylie Lee Baker’s skill as a writer. In Bat Eater, Baker masterfully combines beautiful prose with unpredictable, gruesome moments and the pervasive fear of the unknown. This is interwoven with a painfully authentic portrayal of real-life horrors such as racism and misogyny.

When I say the gruesome moments are intense, I’m not exaggerating. Personally, I appreciated what these visceral elements added to the story, but it’s worth noting that they might be challenging for readers who struggle with graphic gore.

I recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible, whilst being mindful of the trigger warnings. I truly believe I enjoyed it more because I went in with minimal knowledge.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.