The Book Eaters

The group goes into a chapel, where more Ravenscar siblings wait. Killock begins a religious speech in the voice of his father. He goes to a table and removes the tablecloth, revealing a cage with a human trapped inside, and feeds on the man. Afterward, Hester invites Devon out, and Mani offers to watch over Cai. Outside, Hester explains that she and her siblings made a pact to remove their mind-eater tongues and live off Redemption. Hester followed through, but Killock resisted and returned to feeding off humans. She’s disappointed that their new regime turned out just like the old one. Hester and Devon practice shooting together, and they talk about their families. Hester feels guilty for her role in her family, and Devon admits that she hasn’t told Hester the entire truth.

In the aftermath of the battle, Ramsey finds Devon and Cai. He recognizes an opportunity to use them to his advantage and orders one of his knights to find a human child for Cai to feed on. He explains the Ravenscars’ collapse to Devon. The knight brings back a human child, and Ramsey orders Devon to feed the child to Cai, which she does reluctantly. Afterward, they return the braindead child to their mother. Devon agrees to work for Ramsey.

Ramsey convinces Devon to steal all Matley’s money so that the attack looks like a robbery. He takes her to Oxford and the knights’ residence, which is called “Camelot Incorporated.” He explains that the book-eater families used to pay the knights for their services, but not anymore. In the building, Devon discovers that the dragons are kept in cells. Soon, she sees that Cai has been brought to another room, where he’s undergoing an operation. Ramsey tells her that he’s being fitted with an explosive device; if Devon betrays him, Ramsey can activate it remotely. He intends for Devon to find and join the Ravenscar family, ultimately leading the knights to them so that they can control the production of Redemption. Devon considers her situation and finds her despair strangely freeing.

Devon finishes telling Hester her story. Hester is enraged and betrayed. They argue as Devon encourages her to run away and leave her dysfunctional family. She cites the stories that book-eater women are brought up with and the way they are forced into service of their men. Later, Devon considers her newfound loyalty to Hester. She goes to find Mani and Cai. She plans to steal enough Redemption to sustain Cai and then run away, leaving Ramsey’s plan behind. Mani explains that when they first met, he was sent to the Ravenscar family for use in the production of their drug, which is designed to mimic the human brain. Mani talked his way into being useful for the family as a human who could write and interact with other humans. Devon confides her plan to leave. Mani agrees to help in exchange for passage to Ireland with her.

After months of preparation in Camelot, Devon and Cai depart. Cai is stuck speaking Polish after feasting on a Polish person. Devon knows that she will have to start finding humans for him. Ramsey gives her a list of rules to follow, including checking in regularly. In the unfamiliar human world, Cai becomes overwhelmed and scared until Devon gives him Jarrow’s Game Boy. They make their way through unfamiliar activities like buying train tickets. Soon, Devon finds a way to contact Jarrow: She sends him a copy of Tomb Raider along with her new phone number. Then, she moves on to try and find the Ravenscar family.

Devon learns on the go as she tries to track down the Ravenscars’ suppliers. In one episode, she’s attacked by four men but quickly overpowers them. She begins devouring previously forbidden books about gender and social beliefs. Ramsey calls angrily to explain that Devon is being careless and attracting attention, so Devon and Cai move on to a new city. As she considers how to move forward, she discards the idea of feeding Cai only bad people because Cai will absorb their personalities. Instead, she has to find ones that are good and pure. The first time, she finds a drunken unhoused man and gives him to Cai. Later, Cai speaks with his memories and voice. Finally, Jarrow receives her message and calls.