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Houndstooth #1
Flesh Eater
Branded as a Flesh Eater, Coal is on the run from Palace Stingers: soldiers tasked with tracking down those who have consumed flesh and locking them away in specialized prisons.
After a year of avoiding capture and struggling to scrape by working odd jobs for a local crime lord, Coal is growing desperate. He learns of someone in the city's underbelly who can erase his record, but her services don't come cheap.
Seeing no other option, he enters a spiderback race with a grand prize valuable enough to pay for his fresh start. But he's not the only one after the prize, and Coal is about to find out exactly how far he's willing to go to win.
After a year of avoiding capture and struggling to scrape by working odd jobs for a local crime lord, Coal is growing desperate. He learns of someone in the city's underbelly who can erase his record, but her services don't come cheap.
Seeing no other option, he enters a spiderback race with a grand prize valuable enough to pay for his fresh start. But he's not the only one after the prize, and Coal is about to find out exactly how far he's willing to go to win.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2020
77 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Travis M. Riddle
17 books397 followersTRAVIS M. RIDDLE lives with his girlfriend in Austin, TX, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English Writing & Rhetoric at St. Edward’s University. His work has been published in award-winning literary journal the Sorin Oak Review. His novels "Flesh Eater," "On Lavender Tides," and "Spit & Song" were all semi-finalists in Mark Lawrence's SPFBO.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 19, 2021
Travis Riddle has the unique ability to write books that are entirely different in theme and sub-genre, yet his stories are crafted so well that they always manage to entertain and captivate the reader. Whether he is writing horror, speculative fiction, or in this case fantasy, I can't help but really enjoy everything he publishes.
In FLESH EATER, he even deftly manages to make the leap of having his main characters all be animals a la Watership Down or Redwall. Albeit a little darker and edgier than both. Being a huge Redwall reader growing up, and now as an adult enjoying dark fantasy the way that I do, this book was such a win/win for me in so many ways.
The main strength of this book, aside from the fantastical animal characters, is the off the charts incredible world-building that we've come to expect from Riddle. There are so many cool and wondrous locales that serve as the backdrop to Coal's journey and adventures. It reminded me a little of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman at times as some of these places leaned toward the weird and macabre. So if you are someone who likes a deeply layered and mysterious backdrop to your stories, FLESH EATER has one of the best in my opinion.
This was a very different read for me but one that I found super fun and a quick read as well. I enjoyed getting to experience the different personalities of the characters and seeing how they lined up with their animal personas. I wanted to see if Travis Riddle would dispatch with the usual stereotypes of how we associate certain animals as bad or good based on their reputations and how they have been portrayed in previous works of literature. I won't spoil it but it is extremely interesting to see what he has done with some of those stereotypes.
I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this book because it was just the type of magical story that I needed right now, having read a few super emotionally intense books recently. I recommend FLESH EATERS to anyone who likes fantasies that stretch the boundaries and go beyond the usual confines and tropes. I had a lot of fun spending time with these characters and the story is one that kept me locked in from beginning to end. Another solid effort from Travis M. Riddle and I am so looking forward to what he comes up with next.
In FLESH EATER, he even deftly manages to make the leap of having his main characters all be animals a la Watership Down or Redwall. Albeit a little darker and edgier than both. Being a huge Redwall reader growing up, and now as an adult enjoying dark fantasy the way that I do, this book was such a win/win for me in so many ways.
The main strength of this book, aside from the fantastical animal characters, is the off the charts incredible world-building that we've come to expect from Riddle. There are so many cool and wondrous locales that serve as the backdrop to Coal's journey and adventures. It reminded me a little of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman at times as some of these places leaned toward the weird and macabre. So if you are someone who likes a deeply layered and mysterious backdrop to your stories, FLESH EATER has one of the best in my opinion.
This was a very different read for me but one that I found super fun and a quick read as well. I enjoyed getting to experience the different personalities of the characters and seeing how they lined up with their animal personas. I wanted to see if Travis Riddle would dispatch with the usual stereotypes of how we associate certain animals as bad or good based on their reputations and how they have been portrayed in previous works of literature. I won't spoil it but it is extremely interesting to see what he has done with some of those stereotypes.
I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this book because it was just the type of magical story that I needed right now, having read a few super emotionally intense books recently. I recommend FLESH EATERS to anyone who likes fantasies that stretch the boundaries and go beyond the usual confines and tropes. I had a lot of fun spending time with these characters and the story is one that kept me locked in from beginning to end. Another solid effort from Travis M. Riddle and I am so looking forward to what he comes up with next.
October 23, 2020
Here’s what you need to know about Flesh Eater: it involves people racing giant spiders and a lot of peril involving weird monsters. And they’re not actually people, they’re more like animals but they’ve got more human depth and emotion than you get in a lot of books. If that’s not enough for you then I don’t know what.
Okay, I’ll go into a little more detail. Flesh Eater is the first in a trilogy of books set in a new world for Riddle, which has immediate overtones of Redwall (books I’d forgotten I’d read until I started this and got strange childhood flashbacks, like, did I really once read about sword-fighting badgers?). But besides the animal characters, this diverges a lot from the Redwall series in time and tone: here, we’ve got gun-toting foxes and heavy-drinking beavers, bunnies who cuss and salacious raccoons. Also don’t forget the monsters.
Riddle has a knack for raising the weirdness scale, and alongside a very original fantasy world, he’s created flashes of monsterific (coining that) action that border on horror. This takes a talent to pull off – because between the heady action sequences and sudden shocks of nastiness, there’s a wealth of wholesome, natural-feeling interaction between charming characters (which is plain lovely to watch develop). This exact juxtaposition of pleasant and nasty is something you’re unlikely to find elsewhere, and it might be combo of styles that won’t work for everyone but it hit all the right notes for me.
But wait there’s more. The food. There’s a lot of strange food, excellently described. I’m pretty well convinced Riddle could write a whole book about random invented foodstuffs and it would be captivating.
So what’s the tl;dr? Exciting, animal-based fantasy capers with wildly original creatures and settings, underpinned by a character-driven story that’ll draw you in then RAH! throw a monster in your face. If that sounds good, you should read it now. If it doesn’t, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have stopped reading after the racing spiders…
Okay, I’ll go into a little more detail. Flesh Eater is the first in a trilogy of books set in a new world for Riddle, which has immediate overtones of Redwall (books I’d forgotten I’d read until I started this and got strange childhood flashbacks, like, did I really once read about sword-fighting badgers?). But besides the animal characters, this diverges a lot from the Redwall series in time and tone: here, we’ve got gun-toting foxes and heavy-drinking beavers, bunnies who cuss and salacious raccoons. Also don’t forget the monsters.
Riddle has a knack for raising the weirdness scale, and alongside a very original fantasy world, he’s created flashes of monsterific (coining that) action that border on horror. This takes a talent to pull off – because between the heady action sequences and sudden shocks of nastiness, there’s a wealth of wholesome, natural-feeling interaction between charming characters (which is plain lovely to watch develop). This exact juxtaposition of pleasant and nasty is something you’re unlikely to find elsewhere, and it might be combo of styles that won’t work for everyone but it hit all the right notes for me.
But wait there’s more. The food. There’s a lot of strange food, excellently described. I’m pretty well convinced Riddle could write a whole book about random invented foodstuffs and it would be captivating.
So what’s the tl;dr? Exciting, animal-based fantasy capers with wildly original creatures and settings, underpinned by a character-driven story that’ll draw you in then RAH! throw a monster in your face. If that sounds good, you should read it now. If it doesn’t, I’m not sure why you wouldn’t have stopped reading after the racing spiders…
October 26, 2020
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
Travis Riddle is one of those special authors that seems to be able to write a pretty wide variety of styles of stories and somehow manages to make each one become something truly exceptional that I (and it seems, many others readers as well) am able to connect with effortlessly. Flesh Eater is Riddle's first endeavor into a fantasy series and it is easy to say that it's off to a brilliant.
Flesh Eater is a story of a fox named Coal who has been on the run for years as a result of breaking a crime that is particularly offensive to the land in which he lives, which has labeled him as a Flesh Eater. Coal has spent years attempting to stay out of sight of authorities, and in Flesh Eater he finally stumbles upon a chance to fully free himself from this (attachment), but in order to do so he has to undertake some fairly arduous events to get him there.
Before getting to anything else, I first want to say how much I love the world-building in Flesh Eater. Everything about this world is full of ideas, excitement, and imaginative elements that just feel so comforting and exciting to me at the same time. One of Riddle's strong world-building elements is that this is a world with animal characters, such as our protagonist the fox, in addition to rabbits, beavers, birds, as well as racing spiders--as in, spiders that essentially take the place of how we ride horses, and Riddle pulled off these animal characters perfectly. It was always obvious that the characters weren't human because of his descriptions and ways of describing certain actions, but it also felt extremely natural. I would occasionally get that movie Zootopia popping up into my head and picturing those types of animals mixed with Redwall-style, though of course there were plenty of differences that set these apart.
In addition to the characters, Riddle has also crafted an expansive world with a wide and varied set of lands and cultures that we get to see and hear occasional glimpses of in this book, but that also leaves so much more to explore in future books. One of my favorite things about fantasy series is getting to see the world expand in subsequent books, so I have high hopes that that will happens in the sequel. I also loved all the small components that combine to craft a well-developed world, such as discussion of hobbies of different characters, origins, the different crime lords--all of these worked together to craft an overflowing world. And one last world-building component that always stands out to me is when an author develops the food, and Riddle certainly does that. A lot of this food is bug-based because eating meat isn't really a thing anymore, but Riddle's truly exquisite descriptions of those food items still sounded incredible. In fact, there are a lot of scenes where different types of food are described in a pretty extensive amount of detail, and I really enjoyed those scenes because it helped to add this small layer of detail that really cemented the world-building.
Moving on to characters brings us to our main protagonist, Coal--and I sort of loved him. The only character I might've loved more is Ilio, but we'll get to him in a second. Coal is a guy that's sort of been bombarded with some excessive bad luck and is really just doing whatever he can to keep surviving and get out of his troubles. I admired his determination and the way that he never really actively considered giving up--he keeps trying, because even though his attitude isn't always the most positive, his actions show that he's willing to keep trying and trying no matter the obstacle that gets in his way.
Now, moving onto Ilio--look, he's brilliant. I love his quiet presence that hides a witty, unpredictable person beneath his well-mannered exterior. I've never been one that's overly into romance and am pretty ambivalent to whether or not a story has a romantic pairing, but in this case I actively yearned for more from our love interest plot because it was just the cutest damn thing I've read in ages. Riddle really knows how to write chemistry between his characters--which, granted, is something that he has already proven in his previous books with his strong relationships and friendships, but in this book we get to see something really bud from nothing and the it just felt so natural and authentic.
I won't get into too many of the rest of the supporting cast of characters, although I will say that they are an extraordinarily colorful bunch and I sort of loved them all, even the ones that weren't the most pleasant ot interact with. As with his relationships among characters (both platonic and otherwise), Riddle also has a knack for creating characters with personalities that just feel as though they are bursting out of the constraints of the metaphorical walls of the book they are set within. It's nearly impossible for me to mix up characters because they are all so wonderfully developed and crafted with care that shows me that Riddle pays attention to and cares about all the details.
The last thing I'd like to touch on is Riddle's prose. I always have a hard time adequately describing my thoughts around it, but I'm going to do my best. There's something very comforting about his writing. It's not that this is some cozy happy-go-lucky, because it's really not, but there's this calmness and interest in taking his time in his narrative that makes it feel like something you can easily just slow down with, sink into, and relax from your day. It almost reminds me of how I feel about Murakami's work--that quiet, focused narrative style that doesn't apologize for taking the time to truly lay out a scene, describe some food, or spend time developing characters. It's something that I really love and that made this such an exceptionally fun, relaxing read during what has been such a stressful time for me.
Overall, it's obviously yet another five stars from me for Riddle. This book is fresh, exciting, heartwarming, thrilling, unpredictable, and all-around an outstanding fantasy read. The world-building is expansive and creative and I am definitely dying to see where that spin of an ending is gong to take us next and what more we get to explore from this world in the future. I can't wait for the sequel!
And if you're curious about Riddle's other books, be sure to check out my reviews for Balam, Spring, The Narrows, and Spit and Song!
Travis Riddle is one of those special authors that seems to be able to write a pretty wide variety of styles of stories and somehow manages to make each one become something truly exceptional that I (and it seems, many others readers as well) am able to connect with effortlessly. Flesh Eater is Riddle's first endeavor into a fantasy series and it is easy to say that it's off to a brilliant.
Flesh Eater is a story of a fox named Coal who has been on the run for years as a result of breaking a crime that is particularly offensive to the land in which he lives, which has labeled him as a Flesh Eater. Coal has spent years attempting to stay out of sight of authorities, and in Flesh Eater he finally stumbles upon a chance to fully free himself from this (attachment), but in order to do so he has to undertake some fairly arduous events to get him there.
Before getting to anything else, I first want to say how much I love the world-building in Flesh Eater. Everything about this world is full of ideas, excitement, and imaginative elements that just feel so comforting and exciting to me at the same time. One of Riddle's strong world-building elements is that this is a world with animal characters, such as our protagonist the fox, in addition to rabbits, beavers, birds, as well as racing spiders--as in, spiders that essentially take the place of how we ride horses, and Riddle pulled off these animal characters perfectly. It was always obvious that the characters weren't human because of his descriptions and ways of describing certain actions, but it also felt extremely natural. I would occasionally get that movie Zootopia popping up into my head and picturing those types of animals mixed with Redwall-style, though of course there were plenty of differences that set these apart.
In addition to the characters, Riddle has also crafted an expansive world with a wide and varied set of lands and cultures that we get to see and hear occasional glimpses of in this book, but that also leaves so much more to explore in future books. One of my favorite things about fantasy series is getting to see the world expand in subsequent books, so I have high hopes that that will happens in the sequel. I also loved all the small components that combine to craft a well-developed world, such as discussion of hobbies of different characters, origins, the different crime lords--all of these worked together to craft an overflowing world. And one last world-building component that always stands out to me is when an author develops the food, and Riddle certainly does that. A lot of this food is bug-based because eating meat isn't really a thing anymore, but Riddle's truly exquisite descriptions of those food items still sounded incredible. In fact, there are a lot of scenes where different types of food are described in a pretty extensive amount of detail, and I really enjoyed those scenes because it helped to add this small layer of detail that really cemented the world-building.
Moving on to characters brings us to our main protagonist, Coal--and I sort of loved him. The only character I might've loved more is Ilio, but we'll get to him in a second. Coal is a guy that's sort of been bombarded with some excessive bad luck and is really just doing whatever he can to keep surviving and get out of his troubles. I admired his determination and the way that he never really actively considered giving up--he keeps trying, because even though his attitude isn't always the most positive, his actions show that he's willing to keep trying and trying no matter the obstacle that gets in his way.
Now, moving onto Ilio--look, he's brilliant. I love his quiet presence that hides a witty, unpredictable person beneath his well-mannered exterior. I've never been one that's overly into romance and am pretty ambivalent to whether or not a story has a romantic pairing, but in this case I actively yearned for more from our love interest plot because it was just the cutest damn thing I've read in ages. Riddle really knows how to write chemistry between his characters--which, granted, is something that he has already proven in his previous books with his strong relationships and friendships, but in this book we get to see something really bud from nothing and the it just felt so natural and authentic.
I won't get into too many of the rest of the supporting cast of characters, although I will say that they are an extraordinarily colorful bunch and I sort of loved them all, even the ones that weren't the most pleasant ot interact with. As with his relationships among characters (both platonic and otherwise), Riddle also has a knack for creating characters with personalities that just feel as though they are bursting out of the constraints of the metaphorical walls of the book they are set within. It's nearly impossible for me to mix up characters because they are all so wonderfully developed and crafted with care that shows me that Riddle pays attention to and cares about all the details.
The last thing I'd like to touch on is Riddle's prose. I always have a hard time adequately describing my thoughts around it, but I'm going to do my best. There's something very comforting about his writing. It's not that this is some cozy happy-go-lucky, because it's really not, but there's this calmness and interest in taking his time in his narrative that makes it feel like something you can easily just slow down with, sink into, and relax from your day. It almost reminds me of how I feel about Murakami's work--that quiet, focused narrative style that doesn't apologize for taking the time to truly lay out a scene, describe some food, or spend time developing characters. It's something that I really love and that made this such an exceptionally fun, relaxing read during what has been such a stressful time for me.
Overall, it's obviously yet another five stars from me for Riddle. This book is fresh, exciting, heartwarming, thrilling, unpredictable, and all-around an outstanding fantasy read. The world-building is expansive and creative and I am definitely dying to see where that spin of an ending is gong to take us next and what more we get to explore from this world in the future. I can't wait for the sequel!
And if you're curious about Riddle's other books, be sure to check out my reviews for Balam, Spring, The Narrows, and Spit and Song!
September 6, 2021
Loved this! Very interesting concept, super unique and different, in a good way. Very fun story with likeable characters and the ending is giving me Zelda vibes for the next one, which is exciting.
May 14, 2021
I’ve followed Travis Riddle’s career as an author since I discovered his second book, Balam, Spring. In that one, his skill at character stories was clearly on display, and that has continued through each of his other novels. In his latest, Flesh Eater, Riddle expands from standalone works to a series, and the added length gives him more opportunity to explore the depths of his characters and his world. If you enjoy weird fantasy, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Riddle does world building so well its hard to know how to describe it other than to say it is masterful. The worlds we find in Riddle’s novels are deep and living and vibrant. Flesh Eater is no exception. The world feels like its living, like it has a history to it. The characters—even those who are essentially walk-ons—feel like they have lives and unique stories all their own. But more than this, the world of Flesh Eater is so unique. Set in a forested valley between impassable mountains, we get a sense of a modern-ish world where the people are anthropomorphic animals. Where Riddle’s skill truly shines is in the thousand small ways he reminds us of this fact, from characters who eat differently, to the sort of foods they eat, to having better night vision, to their sense of smell or taste. The wonder doesn’t end at the world building, however. Riddle has always had a knack for deep, authentic characters, and Flesh Eater lives up to what I’ve come to expect from him in that regard. One thing I love about Coal, the main character, is that he feels like a normal person. He is good at some things, and terrible at others. He isn’t a perfect fighter, trained killer, or witty scholar. He’s the guy next door. Or maybe the guy who moved in next door but is slightly shady and probably isn’t going to be your neighbor for long because, ya know, he’s not that great at paying the rent on time. In any case, Coal feels real, and so do the side characters we meet throughout the novel. A new element that Riddle gives us in this story is romance. Flesh Eater is hardly a romance, and it doesn’t follow romance tropes, but it does give us some tender moments and its done in a way that helps flesh out the main character in wonderful ways. Riddle keeps giving us new things to enjoy in his writing.
No novel is perfect, of course, and Flesh Eater does have one or two aspects that I wasn’t as thrilled with. The pacing is much quicker than any of Riddle’s other works, and I think that plays well with the style of story this is. But it also means that there are chapters where one goes from talking to action very quickly. Riddle handles these transitions smoothly overall, but once or twice it did feel just a little jarring. There were also a couple points where I felt like I might have lost the flow of a chapter as I sort of got lost in Coal’s thoughts. Tightening those few moments up just a bit would have taken this novel up to just that next level. But then, Riddle’s style of writing overall lends itself to enjoying and getting lost in the characters so much that it’s hard to call this an actual criticism. The best way I can describe it is to say that his style doesn’t hurry. It isn’t flowery or poetic, but it never feels like the story is rushing, either. It is difficult to describe, and that is not a criticism at all. It is just another unique aspect of Riddle’s writing that deserves notice.
Flesh Eater begins the Houndstooth trilogy with wonderful world building and unique characters. I can’t wait to see what the next novels in the series bring, and given the ending, I hope we don’t have long to wait! Pick this one up if you love strong characters coupled with deep world building and unique fantasy races.
4.25/5
8.5/10
Riddle does world building so well its hard to know how to describe it other than to say it is masterful. The worlds we find in Riddle’s novels are deep and living and vibrant. Flesh Eater is no exception. The world feels like its living, like it has a history to it. The characters—even those who are essentially walk-ons—feel like they have lives and unique stories all their own. But more than this, the world of Flesh Eater is so unique. Set in a forested valley between impassable mountains, we get a sense of a modern-ish world where the people are anthropomorphic animals. Where Riddle’s skill truly shines is in the thousand small ways he reminds us of this fact, from characters who eat differently, to the sort of foods they eat, to having better night vision, to their sense of smell or taste. The wonder doesn’t end at the world building, however. Riddle has always had a knack for deep, authentic characters, and Flesh Eater lives up to what I’ve come to expect from him in that regard. One thing I love about Coal, the main character, is that he feels like a normal person. He is good at some things, and terrible at others. He isn’t a perfect fighter, trained killer, or witty scholar. He’s the guy next door. Or maybe the guy who moved in next door but is slightly shady and probably isn’t going to be your neighbor for long because, ya know, he’s not that great at paying the rent on time. In any case, Coal feels real, and so do the side characters we meet throughout the novel. A new element that Riddle gives us in this story is romance. Flesh Eater is hardly a romance, and it doesn’t follow romance tropes, but it does give us some tender moments and its done in a way that helps flesh out the main character in wonderful ways. Riddle keeps giving us new things to enjoy in his writing.
No novel is perfect, of course, and Flesh Eater does have one or two aspects that I wasn’t as thrilled with. The pacing is much quicker than any of Riddle’s other works, and I think that plays well with the style of story this is. But it also means that there are chapters where one goes from talking to action very quickly. Riddle handles these transitions smoothly overall, but once or twice it did feel just a little jarring. There were also a couple points where I felt like I might have lost the flow of a chapter as I sort of got lost in Coal’s thoughts. Tightening those few moments up just a bit would have taken this novel up to just that next level. But then, Riddle’s style of writing overall lends itself to enjoying and getting lost in the characters so much that it’s hard to call this an actual criticism. The best way I can describe it is to say that his style doesn’t hurry. It isn’t flowery or poetic, but it never feels like the story is rushing, either. It is difficult to describe, and that is not a criticism at all. It is just another unique aspect of Riddle’s writing that deserves notice.
Flesh Eater begins the Houndstooth trilogy with wonderful world building and unique characters. I can’t wait to see what the next novels in the series bring, and given the ending, I hope we don’t have long to wait! Pick this one up if you love strong characters coupled with deep world building and unique fantasy races.
4.25/5
8.5/10
October 27, 2020
What a blast this book is! A combination of Zootopia, Sonic the Hedgehog, with a vibe of Stranger Things at times. How is that even possible? I don't know but Travis Riddle (fresh off his SPFBO semi finalist status) has once again come up with something quite unique.
It's another reluctant hero from Riddle, which may not be a surprise if you've read his other books. Coal the fox is immediately likeable with a good moral core even though his back is against the wall and the only options available aren't exactly legal. Coal is thrust on an adventure to try to make things right again and we get to marvel at the world that Riddle has created. As I was reading it I couldn't help but imagine the the animated TV rendition. Come on Netflix, you know you want to!
The biggest surprise to me was how much I cared about the romance part of the story. I had to put the anatomical differences between a fox and a woodpecker to one side, but Ilio was such a great character who brought out the best in Coal, helping him to believe in himself. Add to this a great supporting cast of mob bosses, gangsters and a constantly inebriated beaver and it equals great character work throughout.
It should be noted that this is the first of a trilogy, so though there is plenty of groundwork set for a larger mystery, especially in the last twenty percent of the book. It left me fearful of whether Coal is walking into a great big trap or if he's finally going to get the chance to redeem himself (and I also can't help but wonder if the next book is almost going to be Doom Patrol-esque - you'll see why when you get there).
Flesh Eater is highly recommended to anyone who is looking for some great character driven fun in a very different world.
It's another reluctant hero from Riddle, which may not be a surprise if you've read his other books. Coal the fox is immediately likeable with a good moral core even though his back is against the wall and the only options available aren't exactly legal. Coal is thrust on an adventure to try to make things right again and we get to marvel at the world that Riddle has created. As I was reading it I couldn't help but imagine the the animated TV rendition. Come on Netflix, you know you want to!
The biggest surprise to me was how much I cared about the romance part of the story. I had to put the anatomical differences between a fox and a woodpecker to one side, but Ilio was such a great character who brought out the best in Coal, helping him to believe in himself. Add to this a great supporting cast of mob bosses, gangsters and a constantly inebriated beaver and it equals great character work throughout.
It should be noted that this is the first of a trilogy, so though there is plenty of groundwork set for a larger mystery, especially in the last twenty percent of the book. It left me fearful of whether Coal is walking into a great big trap or if he's finally going to get the chance to redeem himself (and I also can't help but wonder if the next book is almost going to be Doom Patrol-esque - you'll see why when you get there).
Flesh Eater is highly recommended to anyone who is looking for some great character driven fun in a very different world.
January 11, 2021
Thank you Travis, for writing this fun, and unusual book that made me smile more and more. I don't believe I've ever felt as. connected to a character, as I do with Flesh Eaters main character, Coal. Tragedy survivor, librarian, and forced to leave his life behind and go on the run. He finds himself taking bold and audacious steps to start over,
His adventure will wind through a world with growing mysteries, bizarre creatures, high roller cardgames, and a jungle race on the back of a giant Orb weaver spider, only to usher in more of the unexpected...did I mention the perfectly balanced world building and character growth, or that the people are also not human, but animals?? It worked, and I applaud the author for writing such an original story, one thats just getting going.
I just finished Flesh Eaters, and I already miss the comfort I felt from Coal and Ilio.
His adventure will wind through a world with growing mysteries, bizarre creatures, high roller cardgames, and a jungle race on the back of a giant Orb weaver spider, only to usher in more of the unexpected...did I mention the perfectly balanced world building and character growth, or that the people are also not human, but animals?? It worked, and I applaud the author for writing such an original story, one thats just getting going.
I just finished Flesh Eaters, and I already miss the comfort I felt from Coal and Ilio.
October 22, 2020
COME FOR THE CLASSIC RIDDLEAN WORLD-BUILDING AND CHARACTER DEPTH, STAY FOR THE M/M ROMANCE AND WHIMSY!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK but seriously this is so good. The sometimes-coziness of Balam, Spring with the action/adventure of Spit and Song. And by golly it goes down SMOOTH.
October 23, 2020
Having been branded as a Flesh Eater, Coal is on the run from the Dirt King’s guards. Struggling to scrape by by performing odd jobs for a crime lord and regularly moving from place to place, Coal is growing desperate. In dire need of a lot of money to pay someone to clear his criminal record, he decides to enter a spiderback race with a big, valuable prize.
When I first started reading Flesh Eater, I thought I was going to struggle with the characters all being animals. It took a while for me to get my head around the animals essentially being people, but there still being ‘animals’ like the spiders, etc which couldn’t talk or behave like people. However, this struggle really only lasted for a few chapters and, once I’d warmed into it, it started to make complete sense.
Travis’ story-telling is always really creative. I’ve read an awful lot of fantasy adventures (it’s my favourite genre) but Flesh Eater is totally original and unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved the characters, especially Ilio, and the general world-building was really good.
The only area I didn’t love was the pacing. As the first book in a trilogy, this book is really setting things up for the next one, which means the ultimate adventure doesn’t really kick off at all in this one. Instead, the main focus of this book is Coal competing in a spiderback race, which I enjoyed, but it was quite simple plot to fill an entire book. On the other hand, this left a lot of room to get to know the characters, and now that the story has been fully set up, I have high hopes for book two.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started reading Flesh Eater, I thought I was going to struggle with the characters all being animals. It took a while for me to get my head around the animals essentially being people, but there still being ‘animals’ like the spiders, etc which couldn’t talk or behave like people. However, this struggle really only lasted for a few chapters and, once I’d warmed into it, it started to make complete sense.
Travis’ story-telling is always really creative. I’ve read an awful lot of fantasy adventures (it’s my favourite genre) but Flesh Eater is totally original and unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved the characters, especially Ilio, and the general world-building was really good.
The only area I didn’t love was the pacing. As the first book in a trilogy, this book is really setting things up for the next one, which means the ultimate adventure doesn’t really kick off at all in this one. Instead, the main focus of this book is Coal competing in a spiderback race, which I enjoyed, but it was quite simple plot to fill an entire book. On the other hand, this left a lot of room to get to know the characters, and now that the story has been fully set up, I have high hopes for book two.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2025
I didn't know much about Flesh Eater going into the story other than it involved spiders and a queer male protagonist. I'm not totally sure what I expected, but Zootopia for Adults setting up an Epic Fantasy trilogy wasn't it. Lots to love here, with a really fantastic take on an everyman protagonist. However, it's not quite as dark as the title and cover might lead you to believe.
Read if Looking For: extended spider-riding scenes, a normal person who acts (mostly) like a normal person would, animal societies, organized crime
Avoid if Looking For: Overpowered protagonists, clear villains, medieval tech levels, lots of magic
Elevator Pitch:
Coal is a fox with very distinctive markings. This is unfortunate considering he is a criminal. Once a librarian, he has been branded a Flesh Eater for consuming his father's flesh. As he desperately tries to make enough money to clear his record, Coal ends up involved with the underbelly of society. He's scrambling to get by, to survive the Emperor's bounty hunters, and to make money any way he can. Unfortunately, life as a librarian didn't prepare him for any of this.
What Worked for Me
What stuck out to me most in Flesh Eater was Riddle's treatment of Coal as a normal person. As a librarian, Coal likes to read and generally has lived a quiet life. He is not a hardened criminal, doesn't know how to aim a gun, and has no idea what he's doing. He fails a lot in this book. His only real talent is a past as a skilled, but amateur spider-racer. Riddle wasn't afraid to force Coal into tough situations, and didn't particularly care to slap much plot armor on his protagonist beyond 'we know the sole POV character probably won't kick the bucket in book 1 of a trilogy'. Maybe this stuck out to me so much after reading Ironbound, which took the absolute opposite approach to the success rate of his lead character. It was refreshing for Coal to not suddenly be able to pick a lock, or keep his cool under pressure, or even to anticipate problems that normal people would probably forget about in such stressful situations. It was just well done, and I hope this trend either continues, or provides ample opportunity for Coal to authentically gain competency in a realistic way during the sequels.
This book featured a decent amount of spider riding, and I was surprised to enjoy these passages so much as a person who doesn't love spiders. To be fair, these scenes felt a little bit more traditional in how successful Coal was in his endeavors, but we rarely get such detail of characters riding anything other than dragons that this was a delight. Expect lots of leaping and web shooting and tapping of legs to give instructions. Again, I hope this continues to appear in sequels.
What Didn't Work For Me
I don't know that I'm totally sold on the setting of this story. There's a lot of elements that feel a bit forced: the entire civilization in a valley trapped by a magic tree, an immortal Dirt King, unknowable monsters appearing in a civilization with steampunk-esque tech levels. It's take on anthropomorphic animals felt odd. Riddle didn't want these animals to truly represent their actual sizes and explore how that would impact things like architecture or accessibility. However, he did want those things to matter when it was story-relevant. It just felt ... odd. Like everyone was conveniently the same size until he needed a bear who suddenly was extra-large, even though size differences had been noted until then. It just felt like I could shift these characters to entirely human without loosing much. I did like how Riddle handled Coal's love interest (a woodpecker) and how that affected things like kissing (they nuzzle cheeks).
Otherwise, this book has ended up trapped in the same dilemma as so many book 1s I read. I liked it, and would happily read a sequel. However, did I like it enough to warrant not reading other books I'm excited about? I'm not sure, but it's made the list of series I'd like to continue some day for sure.
Conclusion: a realistic take on a normal person thrust into extraordinary circumstances, plus cool spider riding sequences.
Want More Reviews Like This? try my blog CosmicReads
Read if Looking For: extended spider-riding scenes, a normal person who acts (mostly) like a normal person would, animal societies, organized crime
Avoid if Looking For: Overpowered protagonists, clear villains, medieval tech levels, lots of magic
Elevator Pitch:
Coal is a fox with very distinctive markings. This is unfortunate considering he is a criminal. Once a librarian, he has been branded a Flesh Eater for consuming his father's flesh. As he desperately tries to make enough money to clear his record, Coal ends up involved with the underbelly of society. He's scrambling to get by, to survive the Emperor's bounty hunters, and to make money any way he can. Unfortunately, life as a librarian didn't prepare him for any of this.
What Worked for Me
What stuck out to me most in Flesh Eater was Riddle's treatment of Coal as a normal person. As a librarian, Coal likes to read and generally has lived a quiet life. He is not a hardened criminal, doesn't know how to aim a gun, and has no idea what he's doing. He fails a lot in this book. His only real talent is a past as a skilled, but amateur spider-racer. Riddle wasn't afraid to force Coal into tough situations, and didn't particularly care to slap much plot armor on his protagonist beyond 'we know the sole POV character probably won't kick the bucket in book 1 of a trilogy'. Maybe this stuck out to me so much after reading Ironbound, which took the absolute opposite approach to the success rate of his lead character. It was refreshing for Coal to not suddenly be able to pick a lock, or keep his cool under pressure, or even to anticipate problems that normal people would probably forget about in such stressful situations. It was just well done, and I hope this trend either continues, or provides ample opportunity for Coal to authentically gain competency in a realistic way during the sequels.
This book featured a decent amount of spider riding, and I was surprised to enjoy these passages so much as a person who doesn't love spiders. To be fair, these scenes felt a little bit more traditional in how successful Coal was in his endeavors, but we rarely get such detail of characters riding anything other than dragons that this was a delight. Expect lots of leaping and web shooting and tapping of legs to give instructions. Again, I hope this continues to appear in sequels.
What Didn't Work For Me
I don't know that I'm totally sold on the setting of this story. There's a lot of elements that feel a bit forced: the entire civilization in a valley trapped by a magic tree, an immortal Dirt King, unknowable monsters appearing in a civilization with steampunk-esque tech levels. It's take on anthropomorphic animals felt odd. Riddle didn't want these animals to truly represent their actual sizes and explore how that would impact things like architecture or accessibility. However, he did want those things to matter when it was story-relevant. It just felt ... odd. Like everyone was conveniently the same size until he needed a bear who suddenly was extra-large, even though size differences had been noted until then. It just felt like I could shift these characters to entirely human without loosing much. I did like how Riddle handled Coal's love interest (a woodpecker) and how that affected things like kissing (they nuzzle cheeks).
Otherwise, this book has ended up trapped in the same dilemma as so many book 1s I read. I liked it, and would happily read a sequel. However, did I like it enough to warrant not reading other books I'm excited about? I'm not sure, but it's made the list of series I'd like to continue some day for sure.
Conclusion: a realistic take on a normal person thrust into extraordinary circumstances, plus cool spider riding sequences.
Want More Reviews Like This? try my blog CosmicReads
February 8, 2022
I’ve often wondered why more authors don’t write stories similar to Redwall. After all, its certainly an interesting premise: animals living and working like humans, so similar and unfamiliar at the same time. I’ve seen such motifs used in works for children plenty of times before (Antonio Lupatelli’s The Woodland Folk comes readily to mind), but for more mature reads, Jacques is about as far as it goes. Surely, there is someone out there who has dreamed of Redwall, but grittier, more grounded, and with prodigious use of the work f#ck.
Flesh Eater, I’m happy to report, scratches that itch perfectly. A sometimes dark, sometimes sweet tale set in a fantasy land, with creatures both recognizable and not. It is Redwall kicked up a notch, and yet it’s clearly its own story as well. The world is a bit richer, the intrigues and mysteries deeper. Magic is more overt, serving more than mere fate-setting and handwaving. It’s a deep tale, and more importantly, it’s a fun read as well.
Flesh Eater tells the tale of Coal, a fox with uniquely colored fur that finds himself jumping from one bad situation to the next. On the run for crimes for which he is only guilty of on a technicality, he finds himself embroiled in everything from a gritty underworld to high-profile spider races. And most of that is just setup for the larger adventure that looms overhead.
I will admit to having a few issues with the story, such as some questionable choices by the protagonist (for example, thinking that breaking INTO a prison would ever be a good idea, and that breaking out of it would be just as easy), but most of that I’m willing to set aside given the overall quality of the tale. So long as I’m entertained, I’m willing to forgive a few odd choices by a character. And it is wholeheartedly an entertaining read, from its rooftop-leaping beginnings to its spider-chasing end.
I compared Flesh Eater at the beginning to Redwall, and while it is likely the first place most reader’s minds will wander, it is also a bit of an unfair comparison. The Houndstooth is its own series, and if the language doesn’t make that apparent, the horrific monsters soon will. Still, I am happy to see there are some authors that share the sentiment that stories don’t always have to be about humans to be engaging.
Flesh Eater, I’m happy to report, scratches that itch perfectly. A sometimes dark, sometimes sweet tale set in a fantasy land, with creatures both recognizable and not. It is Redwall kicked up a notch, and yet it’s clearly its own story as well. The world is a bit richer, the intrigues and mysteries deeper. Magic is more overt, serving more than mere fate-setting and handwaving. It’s a deep tale, and more importantly, it’s a fun read as well.
Flesh Eater tells the tale of Coal, a fox with uniquely colored fur that finds himself jumping from one bad situation to the next. On the run for crimes for which he is only guilty of on a technicality, he finds himself embroiled in everything from a gritty underworld to high-profile spider races. And most of that is just setup for the larger adventure that looms overhead.
I will admit to having a few issues with the story, such as some questionable choices by the protagonist (for example, thinking that breaking INTO a prison would ever be a good idea, and that breaking out of it would be just as easy), but most of that I’m willing to set aside given the overall quality of the tale. So long as I’m entertained, I’m willing to forgive a few odd choices by a character. And it is wholeheartedly an entertaining read, from its rooftop-leaping beginnings to its spider-chasing end.
I compared Flesh Eater at the beginning to Redwall, and while it is likely the first place most reader’s minds will wander, it is also a bit of an unfair comparison. The Houndstooth is its own series, and if the language doesn’t make that apparent, the horrific monsters soon will. Still, I am happy to see there are some authors that share the sentiment that stories don’t always have to be about humans to be engaging.
October 27, 2020
Fun, gritty, heartwarming, and exciting!
Flesh Eater will surprise you. It delivers on the aesthetic promised by the beautiful cover. You get grit, action, and suspense just before you're blindsided by a truly delightful romance.
Riddle continues to refine what makes his books different from everything else you will read this year. Engaging and funny characters, unique and interesting situations, and of course mouthwatering descriptions of eclectic culinary confections!
Pound for pound you won't find a more well rounded read, I can't wait for the rest of the series!
Flesh Eater will surprise you. It delivers on the aesthetic promised by the beautiful cover. You get grit, action, and suspense just before you're blindsided by a truly delightful romance.
Riddle continues to refine what makes his books different from everything else you will read this year. Engaging and funny characters, unique and interesting situations, and of course mouthwatering descriptions of eclectic culinary confections!
Pound for pound you won't find a more well rounded read, I can't wait for the rest of the series!
November 4, 2020
OK, I’m going to make the declaration here and now. I believe Travis Riddle is currently the most original fantasy writer in the genre. It’s not an idle assessment. Let me explain my thinking.
The fantasy genre is huge, with lots of sub-genres that speculate about a range of different premises on which sit variations made up of unusual populations and places. There are writers plying stories which invent new technologies, new forms of magic, variations on themes about characters and settings. On that we can all be agreed.
For me, Travis Riddle dispenses with those things and starts afresh. I’ve stopped having expectations when I turn to the first page on his novels and this decision was reinforced by the opening to Flesh Eaters. It’s not his opening line either, where he hooks us with the statement, ‘The first time Coal Ereness spoke to his father’s ghost was the night the man died.’ It’s a great line, one that sticks in the memory. But it doesn’t encapsulate the originality of this story.
It’s what follows. Coal watches a burlesque show. There’s no spoiler here if I quote from the first page, ‘There was a single dancer on stage, a pretty racoon covered in white fur. A rarity. Her stage name was, appropriately, White Rose.’
Yeah, there’s the original premise. Not just one but every character in the story is an animal.
OK, there’s stories which have precedence here but invariably with human (or human-ish) characters. Not here. There are characters which, like Coal, are foxes. There are anteaters, bears, hedgehogs, woodpeckers, bats. No human beings.
The question that struck me as I came to terms with this unusual premise was this – can you relate to characters when they are animals? Do our audience sympathies stretch that far? The answer is, yes, when each character is vividly brought to life so their qualities are what define them and their actions. I want to emphasize, this is not an attempt to anthropomorphize these characters. Their mannerisms, behaviours, their social cultures, define them and they are representative of their species. For instance, there are moments of affection between two characters which are utterly non-human that shift us out of any conventional world and remind us we are the aliens in it. The clever decision taken by the author is to leave descriptions vague enough for us to imagine what the characters look like. Sure, there are references to arms and legs and clothes but also to feathers and tongues and spines.
I loved the story too. It has an unusual narrative that isn’t always about the dramatic and exciting set pieces. It’s another facet about any Travis Riddle story which I enjoy so much. He takes time out to put us into social and cultural settings that help make them unique. He turns a meal into something special and unique, a festival likewise. They don’t have to be there but they add a certain eccentricity that makes the story stand out – and makes it all the more real.
I don’t want to mislead you with that last point. There is excitement galore in this story, it’s full of action which is fast-paced and unpredictable. Tension ramps up as the narrative progresses because we’re made to care so much for our hero, Coal. He’s a wonderful character, friendly and charming, courageous when he needs to be but otherwise a coward. His relationship with Ilio, the woodpecker, is particularly delightful and heart-warming.
I read this book in five days. It’s testimony to the pace of the novel but also its originality that had me wondering where it would go next. It’s also grabbed a space in my Top 5 novels of 2020.
At the front of this book Travis is kind enough to quote part of my review of Spit and Song. I said, ‘We need more of Travis Riddle’s imagination. He’s a revolutionary in this genre.’ Not only do I stand by that statement, I believe with Flesh Eater he has gone one better. I predict his revolution will lead to others emulating his fresh take on fantasy. For now, I repeat my verdict. Travis Riddle is currently the most original fantasy writer in the genre.
The fantasy genre is huge, with lots of sub-genres that speculate about a range of different premises on which sit variations made up of unusual populations and places. There are writers plying stories which invent new technologies, new forms of magic, variations on themes about characters and settings. On that we can all be agreed.
For me, Travis Riddle dispenses with those things and starts afresh. I’ve stopped having expectations when I turn to the first page on his novels and this decision was reinforced by the opening to Flesh Eaters. It’s not his opening line either, where he hooks us with the statement, ‘The first time Coal Ereness spoke to his father’s ghost was the night the man died.’ It’s a great line, one that sticks in the memory. But it doesn’t encapsulate the originality of this story.
It’s what follows. Coal watches a burlesque show. There’s no spoiler here if I quote from the first page, ‘There was a single dancer on stage, a pretty racoon covered in white fur. A rarity. Her stage name was, appropriately, White Rose.’
Yeah, there’s the original premise. Not just one but every character in the story is an animal.
OK, there’s stories which have precedence here but invariably with human (or human-ish) characters. Not here. There are characters which, like Coal, are foxes. There are anteaters, bears, hedgehogs, woodpeckers, bats. No human beings.
The question that struck me as I came to terms with this unusual premise was this – can you relate to characters when they are animals? Do our audience sympathies stretch that far? The answer is, yes, when each character is vividly brought to life so their qualities are what define them and their actions. I want to emphasize, this is not an attempt to anthropomorphize these characters. Their mannerisms, behaviours, their social cultures, define them and they are representative of their species. For instance, there are moments of affection between two characters which are utterly non-human that shift us out of any conventional world and remind us we are the aliens in it. The clever decision taken by the author is to leave descriptions vague enough for us to imagine what the characters look like. Sure, there are references to arms and legs and clothes but also to feathers and tongues and spines.
I loved the story too. It has an unusual narrative that isn’t always about the dramatic and exciting set pieces. It’s another facet about any Travis Riddle story which I enjoy so much. He takes time out to put us into social and cultural settings that help make them unique. He turns a meal into something special and unique, a festival likewise. They don’t have to be there but they add a certain eccentricity that makes the story stand out – and makes it all the more real.
I don’t want to mislead you with that last point. There is excitement galore in this story, it’s full of action which is fast-paced and unpredictable. Tension ramps up as the narrative progresses because we’re made to care so much for our hero, Coal. He’s a wonderful character, friendly and charming, courageous when he needs to be but otherwise a coward. His relationship with Ilio, the woodpecker, is particularly delightful and heart-warming.
I read this book in five days. It’s testimony to the pace of the novel but also its originality that had me wondering where it would go next. It’s also grabbed a space in my Top 5 novels of 2020.
At the front of this book Travis is kind enough to quote part of my review of Spit and Song. I said, ‘We need more of Travis Riddle’s imagination. He’s a revolutionary in this genre.’ Not only do I stand by that statement, I believe with Flesh Eater he has gone one better. I predict his revolution will lead to others emulating his fresh take on fantasy. For now, I repeat my verdict. Travis Riddle is currently the most original fantasy writer in the genre.
December 27, 2020
What a unique, wonderfully weird, and enticing world Travis Riddle has made with his book Flesh Eater. I can't wait for book 2!
The characters in Flesh Eater are animals personified to have human traits. Yet, animals still have their "special" abilities (eg, birds can fly and raccoons see well in the dark). In this kingdom, the citizens have been banned from eating the flesh of other creatures due to extinctions and dwindling wild animal populations. However, this hard-and-fast rule creates difficulties for creatures who eat family members after their death as long-honored traditions.
The story kicks off with the main character, Coal, who is a fox, waiting at a strip club for a sleazy job. Coal jumps from this under-the-table smash-and-grab job, to exploring town, to a festival over the course of the book. The detail of the book is perfect. I felt like I was walking in the street with the characters ordering from the same delicious food carts multiple times!
Riddle does a fantastic job teasing out the mysteries Coal holds close to the chest which makes for a riveting read. Every event flows naturally for a marked-man on the run.
Flesh Eaters is completely engrossing. I'm excited to delve more into Riddle's world with book 2!
The characters in Flesh Eater are animals personified to have human traits. Yet, animals still have their "special" abilities (eg, birds can fly and raccoons see well in the dark). In this kingdom, the citizens have been banned from eating the flesh of other creatures due to extinctions and dwindling wild animal populations. However, this hard-and-fast rule creates difficulties for creatures who eat family members after their death as long-honored traditions.
The story kicks off with the main character, Coal, who is a fox, waiting at a strip club for a sleazy job. Coal jumps from this under-the-table smash-and-grab job, to exploring town, to a festival over the course of the book. The detail of the book is perfect. I felt like I was walking in the street with the characters ordering from the same delicious food carts multiple times!
Riddle does a fantastic job teasing out the mysteries Coal holds close to the chest which makes for a riveting read. Every event flows naturally for a marked-man on the run.
Flesh Eaters is completely engrossing. I'm excited to delve more into Riddle's world with book 2!
March 29, 2022
FLESH EATER REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🔴 (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Flesh Eater review
- 5/5
-Second slide contains my absolute favorite part of the book!🥺🤎
- Coal is the definition of the saying in the wrong place at the wrong time he is seriously always getting into some shit, I love him so much though such a well written character.
- Chapters 15-20 are my absolute favorites, I love his interactions with Ilioh, their relationship is adorable. They’re perfect for each other. They’re both awkward dorks. They remind me of those cheesy high school relationships 🥺❤️
- love the relationship between coal and white rose. When he released her in the end it made my heart melt, because he gave her a new life just like she did him by winning the spider race.
- Don’t get me started on the spider race, I was able to paint a picture in my head of the whole race. I’m obsessed!!!
- Will be ordering book 2 as soon as I can, it’ll be apart of my April/May reading list
- Some of my favorite lines below:
- ‘Coal’s heart swelled seeing such joy brought to his fellow flesh eaters.’
- “….but for now we can follow our own whims and chase our own desires.”
-“How will Ilioh react?”
-“Complications? What, you forget to spell ‘lightbulb’ on the signup sheet?”
🔴 (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Flesh Eater review
- 5/5
-Second slide contains my absolute favorite part of the book!🥺🤎
- Coal is the definition of the saying in the wrong place at the wrong time he is seriously always getting into some shit, I love him so much though such a well written character.
- Chapters 15-20 are my absolute favorites, I love his interactions with Ilioh, their relationship is adorable. They’re perfect for each other. They’re both awkward dorks. They remind me of those cheesy high school relationships 🥺❤️
- love the relationship between coal and white rose. When he released her in the end it made my heart melt, because he gave her a new life just like she did him by winning the spider race.
- Don’t get me started on the spider race, I was able to paint a picture in my head of the whole race. I’m obsessed!!!
- Will be ordering book 2 as soon as I can, it’ll be apart of my April/May reading list
- Some of my favorite lines below:
- ‘Coal’s heart swelled seeing such joy brought to his fellow flesh eaters.’
- “….but for now we can follow our own whims and chase our own desires.”
-“How will Ilioh react?”
-“Complications? What, you forget to spell ‘lightbulb’ on the signup sheet?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2020
I'm not much of a consumer of 'furry' media, or books with dark themes in general. In that way, maybe Flesh Eater wasn't for me, but I just couldn't put it down!
The world of Ruska is beautifully detailed, and every bit of it excited me. It's not a world I'd want to live in, but that's maybe for the best. And Coal, the lens through which we see that world, is a troubled soul with a desperate fire in his gut. I'm a sucker for books that can be summed up as 'And then things got more complicated and dangerous,' and this story lives up to that. Some of the exciting scenes from this tale will be burned into my mind for weeks to come.
If you can handle a little gore and some dark themes, don't pass this one up. It's every bit the rip-roaring dark fantasy, and manages to blaze its own path in a crowded genre.
The world of Ruska is beautifully detailed, and every bit of it excited me. It's not a world I'd want to live in, but that's maybe for the best. And Coal, the lens through which we see that world, is a troubled soul with a desperate fire in his gut. I'm a sucker for books that can be summed up as 'And then things got more complicated and dangerous,' and this story lives up to that. Some of the exciting scenes from this tale will be burned into my mind for weeks to come.
If you can handle a little gore and some dark themes, don't pass this one up. It's every bit the rip-roaring dark fantasy, and manages to blaze its own path in a crowded genre.
November 20, 2020
If I could give this more stars I could! This easily hits my new recommended reading! This is a fantastic book, Travis is an author I have been aware of for some time and his inventiveness is something I really admire and recommend! This is great book, a blend of Zootopia, creepy and unsetling things, a modernised fantasy world. Something I found so wonderful is how the story progresses and then Travis turns the screw and the fantasy comes in and it is truly magnificent! Some great characters appear, some foreshadowing, a unique magic system and one of the best race sequences I have ever read! Do you self a favour and read this, it's worth your time. A full review will be on my blog soon.
June 9, 2022
I'd usually skip books whose titles and cover pages are scary. Having already read two books by this author, I was comfortable giving this series a chance.
This book begins with the main character participating in a small scale heist, short on cash and on the run from authorities. Plenty of dirty talk and humor. Along with the action, worldbuilding and other details are revealed as needed.
One thing leads to another and then the plot moves to the main event - spider racing. I liked this part of the novel the best. A good mix of action and sweet romance. And the author threw in some twists for good measure.
This book begins with the main character participating in a small scale heist, short on cash and on the run from authorities. Plenty of dirty talk and humor. Along with the action, worldbuilding and other details are revealed as needed.
One thing leads to another and then the plot moves to the main event - spider racing. I liked this part of the novel the best. A good mix of action and sweet romance. And the author threw in some twists for good measure.
November 4, 2020
This was a relatively fun and enjoyable read. The book sets up a sequel well and has some fun action sequences that are fairly unique to the novel. Spider racing was really something I hadn't expected.
It took me a while to get used to every character being anthropomorphized animals and I had to look up animals a few times.
The story beats were very familiar but well done. I 'd recommend this as a fun read even if I had to double take on characters or take a few seconds to orient around species at the start of the book. It's nothing revolutionary but it's definitely fun.
It took me a while to get used to every character being anthropomorphized animals and I had to look up animals a few times.
The story beats were very familiar but well done. I 'd recommend this as a fun read even if I had to double take on characters or take a few seconds to orient around species at the start of the book. It's nothing revolutionary but it's definitely fun.
November 13, 2021
Every time I thought I knew exactly where this story was going, the plot thickened beautifully, right up until the end.
This was one of the strangest, most satisfying books I've read -- the world is populated entirely by anthropomorphic animals (Our Hero is a very likeable fox on the run from his own past) and we've got gangsters, a spider race, a mysterious artifact, unexpected (and sweetly written) romance, and the promise of a much more important quest to come. I loved it.
This was one of the strangest, most satisfying books I've read -- the world is populated entirely by anthropomorphic animals (Our Hero is a very likeable fox on the run from his own past) and we've got gangsters, a spider race, a mysterious artifact, unexpected (and sweetly written) romance, and the promise of a much more important quest to come. I loved it.
November 11, 2020
Unexpectedly good!
I went into this book blind and it was amazing I didn't not expect a anamorphic story with a tiny bit of magic thrown in. I will definitely pick up the next one.
I went into this book blind and it was amazing I didn't not expect a anamorphic story with a tiny bit of magic thrown in. I will definitely pick up the next one.
January 8, 2021
Admittedly, I have not read the entirety of Travis Riddle's works. This did not deter my excitement for the release of Flesh Eater. When I initially heard the first synopsis, I squirmed – I'd never heard of something as outlandish as an animal kingdom being propelled towards dystopia.
But my initial reaction quickly turned from perplexion to excitement, especially upon learning that one of the key features of the story is an M/M romance. It's rare, even as society becomes steadily more progressive, to see representation of marginalized identities in fiction, let alone the genre of fantasy. As soon as I saw that it was a central aspect of Flesh Eater, I knew I had to pick up a copy.
I ended up buying 19 copies total, but that is a story for another time.
Not only does Travis do an excellent job (in my humble opinion) of telling a gripping love story, he also balances it with elements of action and mystery. I found myself feeling out of breath after reading many parts of the novel simply because it was like I was there, on the run with Coal from a fleet of government robots who wanted his imprisonment. The way he tells Coal's story is nothing short of incredible in how it manages to be immersive, while also remaining concise and true to the flow of the plot. As I've mentioned before in a review of The Narrows, it's a difficult balance to maintain, and yet Travis does it.
From a completely (completely) unbiased perspective, Travis may be my generation's Tolkien. I found myself intrigued by the world of Ruska, by the species of animals that weren't “normal,” by the structure of the Dirt King's government and the structure of the different cities. I was also rather impressed by his use of language, and the way that different species and subspecies have their own cultures and languages. Nothing felt copied and pasted with the way the characters spoke and with the way the different lexicons were set up, even down to the diction and vernacular.
His use of worldbuilding in this book is phenomenal, and his storytelling makes the reader feel like one of the cast. I found myself gripped with anxiety, laughing my ass off, and on the verge of tears throughout the course of this novel, sometimes all within the same scene. The ability to make a reader feel with the characters is something I hold in high esteem, and it's propelled me to consider this story one of my favorites I've ever read.
Speaking of characters, we have to talk about the cast. Coal is loveable, but not innocent. Ilio is reserved, but not uptight. Zank and Venny and Marl are all complex and different in their own respects, and they feel almost like foils for Coal. There's a lot we wouldn't know about him without the many side characters that appear throughout the story, such as the rest of Dripping Fang.
Coal and Ilio's dynamic, even before it became romantic, is something to behold and admire. They compliment each other in unexpected ways, and contrary to the saying, “opposites attract,” I think Coal and Ilio attracted each other because of the many similarities they share. For instance, they're both very sensitive and caring individuals, and they demonstrate as much for each other even before they've known one another for long.
I was very surprised by Ilio being a woodpecker. I was honestly expecting another fox. At first, I was put off by the idea of a canine and a bird being in a romantic pairing, but Ilio's character grew on me very quickly, and I've decided that he really can't be anything other than a woodpecker.
All in all, this story is not only narrated beautifully, but the plot is also gripping, and the ending will leave anyone who reads this anxiously anticipating the next volume. The characters will have you wrapped around their fingers (feathers? paws?) in no time at all, and the journey you get to take with them will be amazing. I highly highly highly recommended this to anyone who reads (I mean anyone who reads, so really no one has an excuse not to read it).
A final thanks to Travis for writing such gorgeous work, as always.
But my initial reaction quickly turned from perplexion to excitement, especially upon learning that one of the key features of the story is an M/M romance. It's rare, even as society becomes steadily more progressive, to see representation of marginalized identities in fiction, let alone the genre of fantasy. As soon as I saw that it was a central aspect of Flesh Eater, I knew I had to pick up a copy.
I ended up buying 19 copies total, but that is a story for another time.
Not only does Travis do an excellent job (in my humble opinion) of telling a gripping love story, he also balances it with elements of action and mystery. I found myself feeling out of breath after reading many parts of the novel simply because it was like I was there, on the run with Coal from a fleet of government robots who wanted his imprisonment. The way he tells Coal's story is nothing short of incredible in how it manages to be immersive, while also remaining concise and true to the flow of the plot. As I've mentioned before in a review of The Narrows, it's a difficult balance to maintain, and yet Travis does it.
From a completely (completely) unbiased perspective, Travis may be my generation's Tolkien. I found myself intrigued by the world of Ruska, by the species of animals that weren't “normal,” by the structure of the Dirt King's government and the structure of the different cities. I was also rather impressed by his use of language, and the way that different species and subspecies have their own cultures and languages. Nothing felt copied and pasted with the way the characters spoke and with the way the different lexicons were set up, even down to the diction and vernacular.
His use of worldbuilding in this book is phenomenal, and his storytelling makes the reader feel like one of the cast. I found myself gripped with anxiety, laughing my ass off, and on the verge of tears throughout the course of this novel, sometimes all within the same scene. The ability to make a reader feel with the characters is something I hold in high esteem, and it's propelled me to consider this story one of my favorites I've ever read.
Speaking of characters, we have to talk about the cast. Coal is loveable, but not innocent. Ilio is reserved, but not uptight. Zank and Venny and Marl are all complex and different in their own respects, and they feel almost like foils for Coal. There's a lot we wouldn't know about him without the many side characters that appear throughout the story, such as the rest of Dripping Fang.
Coal and Ilio's dynamic, even before it became romantic, is something to behold and admire. They compliment each other in unexpected ways, and contrary to the saying, “opposites attract,” I think Coal and Ilio attracted each other because of the many similarities they share. For instance, they're both very sensitive and caring individuals, and they demonstrate as much for each other even before they've known one another for long.
I was very surprised by Ilio being a woodpecker. I was honestly expecting another fox. At first, I was put off by the idea of a canine and a bird being in a romantic pairing, but Ilio's character grew on me very quickly, and I've decided that he really can't be anything other than a woodpecker.
All in all, this story is not only narrated beautifully, but the plot is also gripping, and the ending will leave anyone who reads this anxiously anticipating the next volume. The characters will have you wrapped around their fingers (feathers? paws?) in no time at all, and the journey you get to take with them will be amazing. I highly highly highly recommended this to anyone who reads (I mean anyone who reads, so really no one has an excuse not to read it).
A final thanks to Travis for writing such gorgeous work, as always.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2022
4.5 stars
After how much I enjoyed (SPFBO 6 semi-finalist) Spit and Song by Travis Riddle, I was excited for the chance to read his newest novel Flesh Eater, which is the beginning of the Houndstooth trilogy. This series takes place in a new world in which the characters are sentient animals (think Redwall) but retains the unique world-building and adventurous tone that I loved so much in Spit and Song and have come to expect from Riddle's writing.
Coal has been branded as a Flesh Eater and is on the run from the palace guard who, if they caught him, would guarantee he spent the rest of his life laboring in prison alongside others who have been accused of the same crime. Unable to stay in one place for long or maintain a regular job, Coal has fallen into doing odd jobs for a local crime lord, despite being uncomfortable with violence. This situation is not sustainable forever, so when he learns of a spiderback race with a grand prize large enough to erase his record and turn his life around, he has no choice but to enter. Of course, the prize has dredged up some stiff competition, which is enough of a problem, not to mention that he doesn't even own a spider yet and hasn't raced in years.
Flesh Eater was a fun and comforting read. I love how Riddle takes his time with the story, allowing you to settle in with the characters and world and truly feel like you are there with them. Rather than just skipping to the next important event, he takes you along on Coal's walks through the city and describes his meals in detail (which sound absolutely delicious, despite consisting of a lot of bugs). He includes conversations about music and art and the characters' memories. To me, this makes the novel delightful to read and the characters and world all the more real. That's not to say, however, that Riddle can't deliver on epic moments and action scenes. Quite the opposite, in fact. Flesh Eater includes several thrilling action scenes, culminating in a suspenseful race that will keep you on the edge of your seat for pages at a time.
Something I wasn't expecting from this story, but was pleasantly surprised by, is an absolutely adorable romance. (Honestly, it's tooth-erodingly sweet.) To avoid spoilers, I'm not going to go into much detail, but I loved how naturally it developed, and the love interest is such an amazing character. Speaking of which, Coal himself is quite unassuming at first, but the more I got to know him and his past, the more I appreciated his consistency and practical outlook. I'm excited to see more of his growth over the course of the series!
Flesh Eater is an excellent start to a new adventure fantasy with lovable characters, exceptional world-building, and wonderful storytelling. Beware of the giant spiders and other creepy creatures, but if that isn't going to be a problem for you, I absolutely recommend picking this one up!
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
After how much I enjoyed (SPFBO 6 semi-finalist) Spit and Song by Travis Riddle, I was excited for the chance to read his newest novel Flesh Eater, which is the beginning of the Houndstooth trilogy. This series takes place in a new world in which the characters are sentient animals (think Redwall) but retains the unique world-building and adventurous tone that I loved so much in Spit and Song and have come to expect from Riddle's writing.
Coal has been branded as a Flesh Eater and is on the run from the palace guard who, if they caught him, would guarantee he spent the rest of his life laboring in prison alongside others who have been accused of the same crime. Unable to stay in one place for long or maintain a regular job, Coal has fallen into doing odd jobs for a local crime lord, despite being uncomfortable with violence. This situation is not sustainable forever, so when he learns of a spiderback race with a grand prize large enough to erase his record and turn his life around, he has no choice but to enter. Of course, the prize has dredged up some stiff competition, which is enough of a problem, not to mention that he doesn't even own a spider yet and hasn't raced in years.
Flesh Eater was a fun and comforting read. I love how Riddle takes his time with the story, allowing you to settle in with the characters and world and truly feel like you are there with them. Rather than just skipping to the next important event, he takes you along on Coal's walks through the city and describes his meals in detail (which sound absolutely delicious, despite consisting of a lot of bugs). He includes conversations about music and art and the characters' memories. To me, this makes the novel delightful to read and the characters and world all the more real. That's not to say, however, that Riddle can't deliver on epic moments and action scenes. Quite the opposite, in fact. Flesh Eater includes several thrilling action scenes, culminating in a suspenseful race that will keep you on the edge of your seat for pages at a time.
Something I wasn't expecting from this story, but was pleasantly surprised by, is an absolutely adorable romance. (Honestly, it's tooth-erodingly sweet.) To avoid spoilers, I'm not going to go into much detail, but I loved how naturally it developed, and the love interest is such an amazing character. Speaking of which, Coal himself is quite unassuming at first, but the more I got to know him and his past, the more I appreciated his consistency and practical outlook. I'm excited to see more of his growth over the course of the series!
Flesh Eater is an excellent start to a new adventure fantasy with lovable characters, exceptional world-building, and wonderful storytelling. Beware of the giant spiders and other creepy creatures, but if that isn't going to be a problem for you, I absolutely recommend picking this one up!
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 26, 2024
Rating: B+
Flesh Eater follows the story of Coal, a red fox named after a black smear on his face, after he is accused of being a Flesh Eater by the palace soldiers of his city. He is forced to flee and meets up with a childhood friend who informs him he can clear his name if he consults with this alchemist in town. He does and she'll do it for $8,000. Coal has barely a fraction of that and, furthermore, the mafia boss he works for is out of town for a few months. Coal overhears that a spider race is happening in another city and the grand prize is worth much more than the money he's seeking so he skips town to compete.
It had some pretty graphic horror scenes: think body horror, gore and violence, even torture. Things go wrong for Coal, but there's genuine successes as well. He's a really likeable protagonist and goes through some harrowing stuff; I really thought some of the comments he made on things were quite "human" and relatable.
One scene he gets attacked and almost killed and he thinks, "Great, I've ruined another shirt."
Since he has been on the run for so long, he's under a lot of stress and constantly trying to think of the next immediate step of his life; it reminded me of the despair you feel from the Name of the Wind protagonist about being broke and needing to go to uni, but like with genuine struggles.
The world-building was really well-fleshed out and the pacing was realistic. It's part of a trilogy so it does as it does - resolves the main storyline of the book and then opens up to a new one to follow in the second. I was surprised overall by this, not what I expected going in; it's like Zootopia if it was a thriller/mystery with horror.
Flesh Eater follows the story of Coal, a red fox named after a black smear on his face, after he is accused of being a Flesh Eater by the palace soldiers of his city. He is forced to flee and meets up with a childhood friend who informs him he can clear his name if he consults with this alchemist in town. He does and she'll do it for $8,000. Coal has barely a fraction of that and, furthermore, the mafia boss he works for is out of town for a few months. Coal overhears that a spider race is happening in another city and the grand prize is worth much more than the money he's seeking so he skips town to compete.
It had some pretty graphic horror scenes: think body horror, gore and violence, even torture. Things go wrong for Coal, but there's genuine successes as well. He's a really likeable protagonist and goes through some harrowing stuff; I really thought some of the comments he made on things were quite "human" and relatable.
One scene he gets attacked and almost killed and he thinks, "Great, I've ruined another shirt."
Since he has been on the run for so long, he's under a lot of stress and constantly trying to think of the next immediate step of his life; it reminded me of the despair you feel from the Name of the Wind protagonist about being broke and needing to go to uni, but like with genuine struggles.
The world-building was really well-fleshed out and the pacing was realistic. It's part of a trilogy so it does as it does - resolves the main storyline of the book and then opens up to a new one to follow in the second. I was surprised overall by this, not what I expected going in; it's like Zootopia if it was a thriller/mystery with horror.
July 17, 2025
Truly unlike anything I have ever read before. Unique, intriguing, disturbing (but in a way that makes you unable to stop reading), and with hilarious narration.
The main character, Coal, may be an anthropomorphic animal (as are the rest of the characters, which adds to the novelty of this book), but he is still super relatable in many ways. Interactions between characters as well as thoughts and emotions about certain situations will possibly remind you of your own life and experiences, while the fictional food and sports in this story immerse you into this completely different and interesting world, and we are introduced to some pretty strange creatures.
Even during slower moments, every chapter and scene has its place and adds to the plot, and it’s never boring, with some crazy upcoming event or unanswered question in your mind. Mysteries are brought up, and stakes are pretty high.
I am very excited to read the next book in this series, learn more about this world, and see what’s in store for these characters.
Edit 7/17/25: Link to my BookTube review: https://youtu.be/1pvKzdsa-Gk?si=KEp02...
The main character, Coal, may be an anthropomorphic animal (as are the rest of the characters, which adds to the novelty of this book), but he is still super relatable in many ways. Interactions between characters as well as thoughts and emotions about certain situations will possibly remind you of your own life and experiences, while the fictional food and sports in this story immerse you into this completely different and interesting world, and we are introduced to some pretty strange creatures.
Even during slower moments, every chapter and scene has its place and adds to the plot, and it’s never boring, with some crazy upcoming event or unanswered question in your mind. Mysteries are brought up, and stakes are pretty high.
I am very excited to read the next book in this series, learn more about this world, and see what’s in store for these characters.
Edit 7/17/25: Link to my BookTube review: https://youtu.be/1pvKzdsa-Gk?si=KEp02...
June 29, 2023
Review in video format: https://youtube.com/shorts/Os9Sig2jLPg
It's like an R rated Zootopia.
Seriously, Flesh Eater has sentient animal characters in an urban fantasy setting where the criminal underworld is explored in detail. The main character is someone trapped in unfortunate circumstances who has to utilize his wit and any resources whatsoever to get out of these sticky situations. It has the right balance of action, character development, and worldbuilding. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I wasn't a huge fan of the ending as I think the promises it makes the reader pivot a lot from the original premise and setting.
It's like an R rated Zootopia.
Seriously, Flesh Eater has sentient animal characters in an urban fantasy setting where the criminal underworld is explored in detail. The main character is someone trapped in unfortunate circumstances who has to utilize his wit and any resources whatsoever to get out of these sticky situations. It has the right balance of action, character development, and worldbuilding. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I wasn't a huge fan of the ending as I think the promises it makes the reader pivot a lot from the original premise and setting.
September 11, 2025
A bit jagged to start with.
A fan of the writer's work and trying to explore the backlog to cure an itch. This one is a bit.. jagged. Started a little slow for my liking and never picked up pace until too late. Also comes with this feeling of an incipient rug pull that, thankfully, never happened.
It's.. a departure from my usual format as I am not usually into anthropomorphised creature fiction. The world is really solid, although explored less than my liking.
I hope this serves as a foundation as I am looking forward to book 2. There's lots to build on. Ilio sounds somewhat believable as a character, and that's unique.
Worth a read? If you have time, yes. It will grips onto you later than most.
A fan of the writer's work and trying to explore the backlog to cure an itch. This one is a bit.. jagged. Started a little slow for my liking and never picked up pace until too late. Also comes with this feeling of an incipient rug pull that, thankfully, never happened.
It's.. a departure from my usual format as I am not usually into anthropomorphised creature fiction. The world is really solid, although explored less than my liking.
I hope this serves as a foundation as I am looking forward to book 2. There's lots to build on. Ilio sounds somewhat believable as a character, and that's unique.
Worth a read? If you have time, yes. It will grips onto you later than most.
February 17, 2022
Certainly original and at times enjoyable, but also overly descriptive (expect every dish consumed to be detailed extensively) and too much focus on things that disrupt the good flow of a story. Easily 30% of the book is about a silly romance and cheesy jokes that are just not funny but cause the characters to laugh or chuckle.
Few action scenes which were quite exciting, including the spider racing, carried the book and will make me pick up the next book. That being said, the plot evolution at the end of the book is anything but original and seems a bit lame.
Fingers crossed that I am wrong.
Few action scenes which were quite exciting, including the spider racing, carried the book and will make me pick up the next book. That being said, the plot evolution at the end of the book is anything but original and seems a bit lame.
Fingers crossed that I am wrong.
March 22, 2022
Grownup Redwall with a side of gay. Really, what's not to like? A little too long, and the plot moves a bit slowly, but deeply enjoyable urban(ish) fantasy.
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May 2, 2022One of my favorite books I have ever read 1000/10
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