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The Last Sin Eater
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345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Francine Rivers
85 books22.7k followersNew York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her numerous bestsellers include Redeeming Love, A Voice in the Wind, and Bridge to Haven, and her work has been translated into more than thirty different languages. She is a member of Romance Writers of America's coveted Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).
www.francinerivers.com
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Twitter: @FrancineRivers
www.francinerivers.com
www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers
Twitter: @FrancineRivers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,478 reviews
May 20, 2009
My bookish blogging friends challenged my disdain for Francine Rivers (which I picked up from my fav. college lit professor, who called Rivers Christian crap-o-rama). Maybe I was being too harsh. Maybe there was a depth to Rivers that is often missing in popular Christian fiction.
Well - if Francine Rivers has a greater depth than most, it wasn't evident in "The Last Sin Eater". I didn't like it. I mean, I actually really liked the concept, but about half-way through the novel the concept started unraveling into a simplistic evangelical salvation presentation. I don't have a problem with Christian art and literature or with the Christian presentation of salvation, but I do have a problem with bad Christian art and literature and overly simplistic, misleading mini-sermons.
See, the idea of a "sin-eater" is apparently from old Scotland and Wales, where communities would a assign one member the duty of "eating" the sin of community members that passed away. This insured that only one member of the community had to carry the guilt of sin and everyone else would be purified at their death.
Obviously, that is a very, very cool metaphor that parallels with the gospel very clearly. Thing is, while it started as a metaphor set in a superstitious mountain community, it was turned into a modern gospel pitch, and it just didn't fit culturally so it wasn't believable. It might have worked as a kids story... but I kept thinking, "You can't make the jump from not knowing anything about Christianity to suddenly talking like a 70-year-old pastor! That's cultural lingo - it's not imparted by 'praying the prayer'!".
Anyways - I didn't like The Last Sin Eater.
ETA: I wrote this review yeaaaars ago and continue to get comments on it. So let me just add, I am a Christian, in fact I am a missionary, and the sharing of the gospel is important to me. And yet the way it is done here grates on me and I didn’t appreciate it. Not all Christian novels are well-written, and we can be honest about that while still holding to our faith in Christ.
Well - if Francine Rivers has a greater depth than most, it wasn't evident in "The Last Sin Eater". I didn't like it. I mean, I actually really liked the concept, but about half-way through the novel the concept started unraveling into a simplistic evangelical salvation presentation. I don't have a problem with Christian art and literature or with the Christian presentation of salvation, but I do have a problem with bad Christian art and literature and overly simplistic, misleading mini-sermons.
See, the idea of a "sin-eater" is apparently from old Scotland and Wales, where communities would a assign one member the duty of "eating" the sin of community members that passed away. This insured that only one member of the community had to carry the guilt of sin and everyone else would be purified at their death.
Obviously, that is a very, very cool metaphor that parallels with the gospel very clearly. Thing is, while it started as a metaphor set in a superstitious mountain community, it was turned into a modern gospel pitch, and it just didn't fit culturally so it wasn't believable. It might have worked as a kids story... but I kept thinking, "You can't make the jump from not knowing anything about Christianity to suddenly talking like a 70-year-old pastor! That's cultural lingo - it's not imparted by 'praying the prayer'!".
Anyways - I didn't like The Last Sin Eater.
ETA: I wrote this review yeaaaars ago and continue to get comments on it. So let me just add, I am a Christian, in fact I am a missionary, and the sharing of the gospel is important to me. And yet the way it is done here grates on me and I didn’t appreciate it. Not all Christian novels are well-written, and we can be honest about that while still holding to our faith in Christ.
July 18, 2024
Interesting.
The slang language made it hard for me to know what was going on a lot of the time.
The gospel message was great.
I still think it was just straight up weird.
The slang language made it hard for me to know what was going on a lot of the time.
The gospel message was great.
I still think it was just straight up weird.
December 24, 2010
I picked this book up based on the description before I realized it was by Francine Rivers. This book suffered from the same flaws that have frustrated me with other Francine Rivers books. In my view, she does a good job of creating a believable world for her characters to inhabit, but then she over-simplifies the spiritual aspects of her plot and characters so that I am unable to relate to their spiritual journeys in any way that feels connected to the real world or real people. Here, as in other novels, she develops characters that are "too" good, in my opinion -- who seem completely untroubled by being martyrs -- and characters who are so evil (for no discernable reason) that they are one-dimensional. For instance, a preacher comes to share the gospel with an Appalachian group in this novel. Even though he has only recently embraced Christianity, he already has the entire Bible memorized. The children who hear him speak instantly remember every biblical passage themselves, which struck me as preposterous. The man of God doesn't exhibit any self-doubt or personal concern or angst as he recognizes his own impending death. On the other hand, his killer is a man who personifies evil. Yes, there are human "monsters," but Francine Rivers's novels too often contain a character like this one, who seems to personify the devil "just because." Here, that means he abuses his wife and his children, murders indiscriminately, and wields enormous power derived from thin air.
More importantly from a plot standpoint, the conversion stories in this book left me rolling my eyes. It seems inconceivable that people would develop an unshakeable faith in Christianity after hearing a few sermons from a complete stranger, consisting of mostly quotations from the Bible given in unfamiliar language. In my view, faith grows out of relationships -- the relationship between an individual and God and the relationships among people of faith. There was no time for the Appalachian people to develop a relationship with the preacher in this novel. And they spent no time developing a relationship with Jesus after they heard the Word. They just instantly believed and were prepared to sacrifice their own lives for their faith. It came across more like Christianity imposed by magic wand than a realistic portrayal of a person seeking a lifelong relationship with Christ -- more like people were "beamed up" to the kingdom of heaven instead of beginning a spiriual journey.
As with other Francine Rivers books, I was left feeling that it had potential, but could have been so much more.
More importantly from a plot standpoint, the conversion stories in this book left me rolling my eyes. It seems inconceivable that people would develop an unshakeable faith in Christianity after hearing a few sermons from a complete stranger, consisting of mostly quotations from the Bible given in unfamiliar language. In my view, faith grows out of relationships -- the relationship between an individual and God and the relationships among people of faith. There was no time for the Appalachian people to develop a relationship with the preacher in this novel. And they spent no time developing a relationship with Jesus after they heard the Word. They just instantly believed and were prepared to sacrifice their own lives for their faith. It came across more like Christianity imposed by magic wand than a realistic portrayal of a person seeking a lifelong relationship with Christ -- more like people were "beamed up" to the kingdom of heaven instead of beginning a spiriual journey.
As with other Francine Rivers books, I was left feeling that it had potential, but could have been so much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2009
Francine Rivers is absolutely my favorite Christian fiction author because she delves deeper than the usual romantic fare.
Her most well-known book is Redeeming Love, which is also great, but my favorite book written by her is "The Last Sin Eater". The story is told through the eyes of a young girl who is struggling with issues far too heavy for her age: grief, neglect, guilt, eternal destiny, sin and loneliness. Thanks to the help of her invisible friend (an angel?) and an itinerant preacher, she finds the answer to all her troubles and draws her community, still enslaved to the Shamanism of their ancient Scottish culture, to spiritual freedom that is only found in Jesus Christ.
Her most well-known book is Redeeming Love, which is also great, but my favorite book written by her is "The Last Sin Eater". The story is told through the eyes of a young girl who is struggling with issues far too heavy for her age: grief, neglect, guilt, eternal destiny, sin and loneliness. Thanks to the help of her invisible friend (an angel?) and an itinerant preacher, she finds the answer to all her troubles and draws her community, still enslaved to the Shamanism of their ancient Scottish culture, to spiritual freedom that is only found in Jesus Christ.
December 12, 2007
This is one of my all time favorites! A great story set in the isolation of the Appalachian Mountains. I loved the generational relationships between the older women in the community and the children. Also, just the unpredictablity of the storyline. A great read!
July 18, 2013
This book can actually be read superficially and simply viewed as good historical fiction, but it also has a much deeper level that will truly amaze you if you give it enough thought. The old custom of a sin-eater is a fascinating one, and the parallels to Jesus Christ are obvious, especially as clearly depicted here by Francine Rivers. What a unique and unusual way to present the meaning of the Gospel. Cadi and Fagan are especially endearing characters. Set in the 1800's, the Appalachian mountain people we meet and get to know during the course of this narrative seem genuine, naive, sheltered, and downtrodden, but yet with some joy and spirit underneath it all. Some are gentle with an almost angelic bent, and others seem harsh, hardhearted, and evil. Their reactions to hearing truth spoken range from joyful acceptance to hardhearted opposition and defiance, as is true with us today. I understood the need for many scripture references when the Man of God was talking, but that is the one element I thought could have been a little shorter and still made the same point. Guilt, misunderstanding, deception, forgiveness, courage, inquisitiveness, true love, and Salvation are all present as elements of this plot. The story starts out in a very unusual manner, but be sure not to miss any part of this wonderful saga!
August 23, 2008
I loved this book. Kinda weird, but I really liked the message about grace. Again, good redemption theme runs throughout. Lilybet cracked me up!
April 2, 2022
Apparently I never reviewed this book, but this is my third time reading it. That being said, I obviously like it, but I do feel like I have to recommend it with a little caution.
This is very much into folklore and it is amazing how much scripture is used in this book, but understood out of context. The whole book is basically about unveiling truth and learning what the Bible actually teaches.
The few things I cannot fully recommend about this book are… Exactly who is Lillabet? That is left up to the reader, which could be a little disconcerting. There is definitely a dark element to this book, as the title indicates, there is the belief that one man has to eat the sins of the dead through partaking in bread and wine at the funeral. The whole story around the sin eater and the history of the people is very clearly shown as wrong, but it is still shown. Also, apparently the point of salvation came at baptism, not prayer.
That being said, the mountain feel is amazing! Also, the different characters are very diverse and unique. The depth of secrets that all the characters have is well written. Personally, I like the allegorical elements of it, as I do feel that it strengthens the gospel message.
Like with Christy, I would recommend this to slightly older readers.
This is very much into folklore and it is amazing how much scripture is used in this book, but understood out of context. The whole book is basically about unveiling truth and learning what the Bible actually teaches.
The few things I cannot fully recommend about this book are… Exactly who is Lillabet? That is left up to the reader, which could be a little disconcerting. There is definitely a dark element to this book, as the title indicates, there is the belief that one man has to eat the sins of the dead through partaking in bread and wine at the funeral. The whole story around the sin eater and the history of the people is very clearly shown as wrong, but it is still shown. Also, apparently the point of salvation came at baptism, not prayer.
That being said, the mountain feel is amazing! Also, the different characters are very diverse and unique. The depth of secrets that all the characters have is well written. Personally, I like the allegorical elements of it, as I do feel that it strengthens the gospel message.
Like with Christy, I would recommend this to slightly older readers.
November 30, 2020
Oddly enough, this is my first Francine Rivers book that I've read all the way through. I started reading one of her earlier works when I was younger and didn't like some of the content. While this book still has a couple of tough things in it, I felt like they added to the story instead of distracted from it.
This story was riveting. While it almost feels when you are about at the half-way point that it should be over soon, each page kept drawing me in.
I love how, even at the end, there are still things you wonder about but yet it's still so satisfying.
I think this is a powerful look at the sin in all of us and how God wants to transform us from the inside out.
This story was riveting. While it almost feels when you are about at the half-way point that it should be over soon, each page kept drawing me in.
I love how, even at the end, there are still things you wonder about but yet it's still so satisfying.
I think this is a powerful look at the sin in all of us and how God wants to transform us from the inside out.
February 29, 2020
This is an allegorical tale meant to interpret the meaning of Christ's purpose. It was an interesting and original tale, yet, I didn't identify with the characters as much as I had wished. I think it was a valuable story and I would never tell anyone not to read it. It just didn't have that special something in it. I feel I am not doing the story justice. Francine Rivers is such an excellent story-teller, this wasn't her best work.
September 23, 2025
This is one of the best books I have ever read.
It is so challenging to your heart, and then, at the end, you’ll put it down with a deeper understanding of the world’s “sin eater”. It has touched me so deeply.
It is so challenging to your heart, and then, at the end, you’ll put it down with a deeper understanding of the world’s “sin eater”. It has touched me so deeply.
March 29, 2022
This is a thoroughly immersive story set in the Appalachia of the 1850s. From the spot-on dialect to amazingly vivid descriptions of mist-shrouded mountains, valleys, and the thorny ties that bind a small backwoods community, Rivers paints the picture of hardscrabble living where daily life goes hand-in-hand with fear and superstition, and the regimental edicts of one man. Brogan Kai rules his valley with an iron fist, the same way his father did before him. There is no room for dissent or questioning, and certainly not for the preaching of a man of God who sets up camp by the river.
Ten-year-old Cadi Forbes passes each day under a crushing shadow of guilt, living with a sin so great—one she believes has stolen her mother’s love—she becomes convinced only one man can save her. The sin eater is an outcast, reviled and shunned, but the single person able to eat away the sins of departed when life ends.
Determined to be freed from sin while she lives, Cadi seeks out the sin eater to absolve her of guilt. But her journey unearths rewards she never expected when the sin eater asks her to visit the man of God and report back to him with his teachings.
Wow! I can’t say enough about how this book touched me on multiple levels. I felt like I had stepped back in time to a world of hollows, misting falls, sun-drenched meadows, and taints. The story is told from Cadi’s POV, but many other characters provide strong supporting roles—Cadi’s friend Fagan, a fourteen year-old-boy who finds the courage to challenge his abusive father; the wise and clever Miz Elda whose memory stretches back to the unsettling founding of the village; Bletsung MacLeod, forever true in her faithfulness to the only man who has ever held her heart despite the impossible barriers between them; Iona who surprised me (I’ll say no more); even Brogan Kai who brought darkness where there should have been light. And the sin eater himself.
There are several buried secrets, surprises among characters, and plot threads that stack like dominos only to topple into shocking revelations in the last quarter of the book. A novel of Christian fiction, The Last Sin Eater carries a strong salvation message driven by remarkable characters. This is a story of heart and soul, redemption and faith. A beautiful historical novel. If I could award more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommended!
Ten-year-old Cadi Forbes passes each day under a crushing shadow of guilt, living with a sin so great—one she believes has stolen her mother’s love—she becomes convinced only one man can save her. The sin eater is an outcast, reviled and shunned, but the single person able to eat away the sins of departed when life ends.
Determined to be freed from sin while she lives, Cadi seeks out the sin eater to absolve her of guilt. But her journey unearths rewards she never expected when the sin eater asks her to visit the man of God and report back to him with his teachings.
Wow! I can’t say enough about how this book touched me on multiple levels. I felt like I had stepped back in time to a world of hollows, misting falls, sun-drenched meadows, and taints. The story is told from Cadi’s POV, but many other characters provide strong supporting roles—Cadi’s friend Fagan, a fourteen year-old-boy who finds the courage to challenge his abusive father; the wise and clever Miz Elda whose memory stretches back to the unsettling founding of the village; Bletsung MacLeod, forever true in her faithfulness to the only man who has ever held her heart despite the impossible barriers between them; Iona who surprised me (I’ll say no more); even Brogan Kai who brought darkness where there should have been light. And the sin eater himself.
There are several buried secrets, surprises among characters, and plot threads that stack like dominos only to topple into shocking revelations in the last quarter of the book. A novel of Christian fiction, The Last Sin Eater carries a strong salvation message driven by remarkable characters. This is a story of heart and soul, redemption and faith. A beautiful historical novel. If I could award more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommended!
July 10, 2010
MY REVIEW:
My enjoyment of Francine Rivers writing began just over a year ago and I have since read a number of her books. This one being the most recent. Francine not only knows how to craft a riveting story, but one full of spiritual depth and challenge, too.
The Last Sin Eater sounds like a strange book but it only takes a few moments to get drawn into the old tale set in the heart of the mountains among a handful of families who settled there only 2 generations ago. It's a story of fear, fascination, forgiveness, and faithfulness. It's an easy read, or in this case, easy listen, with it's simple story line and deep characters. I especially enjoyed the way that this novel gained depth as I read - starting out simple and unfolding over and over again until all the secrets were revealed in the end. Yet doing so without being confusing.
In this audio edition the story is read by Anita Lustrea who does an amazing job of bringing the story to life. The characters are no longer people on pages but breathing beings in your imagination as Anita flawlessly shares this tale.
No matter how you enjoy this book - in print or in audio format - you will be swept away in time to once again witness the redemption of God.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
All that matters for Cadi Forbes is finding the one man who can set her free from the sin that plagues her. But Cadi doesn't know that the "sin eater" is seeking as well. A captivating tale of suffering, seeking and redemption.
* * * * *
This review copy was courtesy of Oasis Audio.
My enjoyment of Francine Rivers writing began just over a year ago and I have since read a number of her books. This one being the most recent. Francine not only knows how to craft a riveting story, but one full of spiritual depth and challenge, too.
The Last Sin Eater sounds like a strange book but it only takes a few moments to get drawn into the old tale set in the heart of the mountains among a handful of families who settled there only 2 generations ago. It's a story of fear, fascination, forgiveness, and faithfulness. It's an easy read, or in this case, easy listen, with it's simple story line and deep characters. I especially enjoyed the way that this novel gained depth as I read - starting out simple and unfolding over and over again until all the secrets were revealed in the end. Yet doing so without being confusing.
In this audio edition the story is read by Anita Lustrea who does an amazing job of bringing the story to life. The characters are no longer people on pages but breathing beings in your imagination as Anita flawlessly shares this tale.
No matter how you enjoy this book - in print or in audio format - you will be swept away in time to once again witness the redemption of God.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
All that matters for Cadi Forbes is finding the one man who can set her free from the sin that plagues her. But Cadi doesn't know that the "sin eater" is seeking as well. A captivating tale of suffering, seeking and redemption.
* * * * *
This review copy was courtesy of Oasis Audio.
August 26, 2012
Ehhhhh....this book was...ok. It is a good read. Don't get me wrong Francine Rivers writes some pretty awesome books, but this one was kind of bland compared to all of her other books.
If you ever feel like an outcast from time to time, then this book will encourage you to dare to be different.
The Last Sin Eater is an allegory of Jesus Chirst set in the Appalacian Mountains in the 1830's. It follows the story of a 10 year old girl, Cadi Forbes, her family and her clan. Yes, I said clan. Everyone in the story are Scottish immigrants with a thick Scottish accent, which was hard to get used to reading at first. During that time people of Scottish decent believed that in order to get rid of their sins, they have to wait until they die, have a ritual performed on them, and them cast their sins on to what ws called a Sin Eater; which is a person who is an outcast and bears the sins of hundereds of people.
This book does have some sad parts to it. For instance I felt sorry for Cadi. She's only ten, and she is sort of outcasted from her family because she committed a horrible sin on her younger sister. She's only ten!!! Her parents should give her a break. I also felt sorry for the Sin Eater. He is JUST a person. Unfortunately he is forced to carry the weight of everyone's sins, which is sending him on a path straight to Hell.
The number one thing that I did love about this book is that it is told in the eyes of Cadi, the little ten year old girl. How genius is that!!!??? Having Cadi as the narrator definitely makes you feel more emotional because she displays an innocent view on things. Plus her parents disown her because she believes in Jesus Chirst..which just makes you go "Awwwwwwwww :("
The one thing that I did not like about the book was the ending. It was too predictable. And when Cadi and her friend are trying to explain to the whole clan about Jesus, it just seemed like Francine Rivers copied and pasted the Bible. Cadi should explain Jesus the way a ten year old would; not how Paul the Apolsle would. Oh well.....
All in all it was ok. And even though the book won the Gold Medallion Book Award, it does not show Francine Rivers full talent. She writes incredible books.
If you ever feel like an outcast from time to time, then this book will encourage you to dare to be different.
The Last Sin Eater is an allegory of Jesus Chirst set in the Appalacian Mountains in the 1830's. It follows the story of a 10 year old girl, Cadi Forbes, her family and her clan. Yes, I said clan. Everyone in the story are Scottish immigrants with a thick Scottish accent, which was hard to get used to reading at first. During that time people of Scottish decent believed that in order to get rid of their sins, they have to wait until they die, have a ritual performed on them, and them cast their sins on to what ws called a Sin Eater; which is a person who is an outcast and bears the sins of hundereds of people.
This book does have some sad parts to it. For instance I felt sorry for Cadi. She's only ten, and she is sort of outcasted from her family because she committed a horrible sin on her younger sister. She's only ten!!! Her parents should give her a break. I also felt sorry for the Sin Eater. He is JUST a person. Unfortunately he is forced to carry the weight of everyone's sins, which is sending him on a path straight to Hell.
The number one thing that I did love about this book is that it is told in the eyes of Cadi, the little ten year old girl. How genius is that!!!??? Having Cadi as the narrator definitely makes you feel more emotional because she displays an innocent view on things. Plus her parents disown her because she believes in Jesus Chirst..which just makes you go "Awwwwwwwww :("
The one thing that I did not like about the book was the ending. It was too predictable. And when Cadi and her friend are trying to explain to the whole clan about Jesus, it just seemed like Francine Rivers copied and pasted the Bible. Cadi should explain Jesus the way a ten year old would; not how Paul the Apolsle would. Oh well.....
All in all it was ok. And even though the book won the Gold Medallion Book Award, it does not show Francine Rivers full talent. She writes incredible books.
September 17, 2007
"A little girl's quest for redemption uncovers a dark secret...and the truth shall set her free."
What can I say, except that I was surprised beyond belief? I'd gotten more than I'd hoped for from this book!!
It's the beautiful, Sweetly sorrowful story of a young girl, Cadi Forbes, who has, in her eyes, committed an almost unforgivable sin. She struggles to find cleansing for her broken heart, she searches, desperately trying to find the one who can take her sins away, the sins that are tearing at her heart.
She goes to the sin eater...who she thinks is the one to take her sins away forever. When he fails, and she thinks that all hope is gone for her, a man shows up...a man of God, who, with a few simple words, shows her the truth of Jesus Christ, the only one who can cleanse us from our sins. The one and the only Sin Eater.
If you haven't read this book, please do, you will be glad that you did!
What can I say, except that I was surprised beyond belief? I'd gotten more than I'd hoped for from this book!!
It's the beautiful, Sweetly sorrowful story of a young girl, Cadi Forbes, who has, in her eyes, committed an almost unforgivable sin. She struggles to find cleansing for her broken heart, she searches, desperately trying to find the one who can take her sins away, the sins that are tearing at her heart.
She goes to the sin eater...who she thinks is the one to take her sins away forever. When he fails, and she thinks that all hope is gone for her, a man shows up...a man of God, who, with a few simple words, shows her the truth of Jesus Christ, the only one who can cleanse us from our sins. The one and the only Sin Eater.
If you haven't read this book, please do, you will be glad that you did!
February 25, 2015
This book was outstanding. It had everything in it...folklore from Scotland and Wales, murder, guilt, sadness, joy, unrequited love, marriage for the sake of producing children, but no reciprocal love, innocent children, cruel and cold parents, cowards, secrets, God and of course the last sin eater. This was a powerful story of a little girl (10)who bore guilt and felt her mama didn't love her and a boy (can't remember his age exactly, but think he was about 12-14) whose father thought he was God himself, but was a hateful and feared man in the valley. He had a lot of guilty secrets that weren't revealed until near the end. A very captivating book of fiction, but with the Truth sprinkled throughout. Couldn't put it down except when I had to do so! It is not a children's book although it is about the bravery and courage of two youngsters who learned much and shared much and stood up to those who would harm them.
July 19, 2009
Wow! Despite the unusual title I picked up this book at the library because I have liked everything else I had read by Francine Rivers. The story takes place in the Smoky Mountains in the 1850's. The residents of this small hamlet believe that opon death one's sins are removed by offering food and drink the the sin eater. The sin eater taker the sins open himself and the person can be clean before God. Young Cadi Forbes questions this and sets out to meet the Sin Eater. Along the way she meets a man of God who has come to preach the truth that only believing in Jesus can set you free. The story line and the characters all are a parable of sorts , showing how people can be deceived and how God can shine his light in the world.
July 24, 2019
Powerful, compelling, and beautifully written. Only my second Francine Rivers book, and I love it. Such a powerful tale of redemption. Characters were so real-to-life. I was absolutely taken to these mountains. A masterpiece.
March 10, 2013
This book is awesome. It keeps you hooked and interested. A great story
November 2, 2016
I avoided reading this book for many years because the topic seemed so strange. But do not skip this one. It has Rivers' stellar writing and such a resonant theme of forgiveness and grace.
December 27, 2025
This Christian novel reaches deep into the roots of early US emigrant life.
There's a movie version, and maybe some of you have seen it. I haven't. I like to watch the movies after reading the novels, usually. Now that I'm done reading this (well, audio-reading, actually) I do intend to watch the movie. This book touched my heart and I'm not quite ready to leave Cadi Forbes and her family and friends, so the movie will bring me peace.
Cadi was a child haunted by her grievous sin, living in a hidden valley of the Smoky Mountains. After her grandmother died the "sin eater" came to remove the old woman's sins. Cadi became obsessed by the idea that the sin eater could remove her sins as well, even though she wasn't likely to be close to dying.
The presence of a sin eater in the community was a custom brought over the pond by Welsh emigrants. But as the title suggests, this man was destined to be the last sin eater among them.
The story reads like a fairy tale with historical elements and a plethora of community secrets and mysteries. I recommend the book. It has strong Christian elements.
There's a movie version, and maybe some of you have seen it. I haven't. I like to watch the movies after reading the novels, usually. Now that I'm done reading this (well, audio-reading, actually) I do intend to watch the movie. This book touched my heart and I'm not quite ready to leave Cadi Forbes and her family and friends, so the movie will bring me peace.
Cadi was a child haunted by her grievous sin, living in a hidden valley of the Smoky Mountains. After her grandmother died the "sin eater" came to remove the old woman's sins. Cadi became obsessed by the idea that the sin eater could remove her sins as well, even though she wasn't likely to be close to dying.
The presence of a sin eater in the community was a custom brought over the pond by Welsh emigrants. But as the title suggests, this man was destined to be the last sin eater among them.
The story reads like a fairy tale with historical elements and a plethora of community secrets and mysteries. I recommend the book. It has strong Christian elements.
August 29, 2009
Let me begin by saying that this book starts out so captivating that I wanted to weep at times. The story is set in the 1850s West Virginia Appalachians and is about young ten-year old Katy who considers herself the propagator of her younger sister's death and suffers from major league depression therefrom. Because of her pain, she decides to, and is encouraged by an enigmatic, imaginary(?) friend seek out the village's Sin Eater, a man who is chosen by lot to be the one who takes the sin of the recently deceased upon himself so that the dead man or woman may be saved, though as a result the Sin Eater is condemned to hell, or so the belief goes.
Meanwhile a Man of God arrives in the valley and begins to proclaim the Word of God and the village Kai (forgive me if the spelling is wrong, I listened to this book; I did not read it), who is the village leader and also the son of the man who revived the Sin Eater practice from old Scottish/Welsh traditions forbids the village from listening to him. Katy, however, is as stubborn as she is depressed and finally, after asking the Sin Eater to take her sin away (and though he agrees, he fails to do so), she goes to the Man of God and has a conversion experience, which finally releases her from her pain. This is about halfway through the book, so though I have just provided you with a small spoiler, the best is yet to come and of that I will not say much.
Here the book runs into trouble, however, and I became less and less able to suspend disbelief as I listened. First of all Katy begins bringing The Word to people who need to hear it. That's okay, and for my Orthodox Christian background, I had no problem with it. However, the young girl (and later her best friend a young boy only four years older than her) begin quoting Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and some of the minor prophets from the Old Testament perfectly only a few hours after their conversion. She also throws around such lingo as "the Spirit moved me" and "I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say..." and other such colloquialisms. Now I've no doubt that God could grab hold of a child's mouth and make her spout perfect King James Biblical verse mere hours after her conversion, and use her through the Holy Spirit, but this perfect King James quoting, not to mention the lingo, was just way to much for me to accept. Even the most celebrated conversion on the New Testament, the Roadside conversion of the Apostle Paul did not prepare him immediately for his massive and most important work, which started a few years later.
In the end, as the dust jacket says, a hideous truth is revealed and the village Kai is brought low. The Village is more or less redeemed and Katy's family is bound back together. The Sin Eater finds happiness and surcease from his loneliness. None of this should be much of a spoiler; one guesses fairly soon in the timeline that such will be the fate of the major characters. Besides, as with most predictable novels, it's the journey that counts.
This book was satisfying to listen to, I admit. The characters were well defined and the imagery vivid and the prose a delight to listen to in its own right. Francine Rivers did a really good job of researching how an 1850 back-country Appalachian village might look and feel and speak, and all of that research goes into the story. There is a particularly memorable scene of an old woman receiving a back-woods remedy for what I assumed was arthritis, and that, all by itself, made the book memorable. But for the reasons I cited earlier in this review, all I could manage to give it is three stars.
If you are a fundamentalist Christian, this book will seem rich and worthy of great praise. If you are a mere orthodox Christian like myself, this book will start out like gang busters and then turn slightly sour, though in the end the story will be memorable, and the doctrine right on. If you are someone who does not hold to the Christian Faith, this book will be one you put down about half-way through, unless of course The Spirit falls upon you and you are converted by the story, but that is the only way non-believers will be able to get through this story, in my humble opinion.
In closing, this book was written to entertain believers. That's a shame, because there are a lot of people who could use the good and powerful message contained in it.
Meanwhile a Man of God arrives in the valley and begins to proclaim the Word of God and the village Kai (forgive me if the spelling is wrong, I listened to this book; I did not read it), who is the village leader and also the son of the man who revived the Sin Eater practice from old Scottish/Welsh traditions forbids the village from listening to him. Katy, however, is as stubborn as she is depressed and finally, after asking the Sin Eater to take her sin away (and though he agrees, he fails to do so), she goes to the Man of God and has a conversion experience, which finally releases her from her pain. This is about halfway through the book, so though I have just provided you with a small spoiler, the best is yet to come and of that I will not say much.
Here the book runs into trouble, however, and I became less and less able to suspend disbelief as I listened. First of all Katy begins bringing The Word to people who need to hear it. That's okay, and for my Orthodox Christian background, I had no problem with it. However, the young girl (and later her best friend a young boy only four years older than her) begin quoting Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and some of the minor prophets from the Old Testament perfectly only a few hours after their conversion. She also throws around such lingo as "the Spirit moved me" and "I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say..." and other such colloquialisms. Now I've no doubt that God could grab hold of a child's mouth and make her spout perfect King James Biblical verse mere hours after her conversion, and use her through the Holy Spirit, but this perfect King James quoting, not to mention the lingo, was just way to much for me to accept. Even the most celebrated conversion on the New Testament, the Roadside conversion of the Apostle Paul did not prepare him immediately for his massive and most important work, which started a few years later.
In the end, as the dust jacket says, a hideous truth is revealed and the village Kai is brought low. The Village is more or less redeemed and Katy's family is bound back together. The Sin Eater finds happiness and surcease from his loneliness. None of this should be much of a spoiler; one guesses fairly soon in the timeline that such will be the fate of the major characters. Besides, as with most predictable novels, it's the journey that counts.
This book was satisfying to listen to, I admit. The characters were well defined and the imagery vivid and the prose a delight to listen to in its own right. Francine Rivers did a really good job of researching how an 1850 back-country Appalachian village might look and feel and speak, and all of that research goes into the story. There is a particularly memorable scene of an old woman receiving a back-woods remedy for what I assumed was arthritis, and that, all by itself, made the book memorable. But for the reasons I cited earlier in this review, all I could manage to give it is three stars.
If you are a fundamentalist Christian, this book will seem rich and worthy of great praise. If you are a mere orthodox Christian like myself, this book will start out like gang busters and then turn slightly sour, though in the end the story will be memorable, and the doctrine right on. If you are someone who does not hold to the Christian Faith, this book will be one you put down about half-way through, unless of course The Spirit falls upon you and you are converted by the story, but that is the only way non-believers will be able to get through this story, in my humble opinion.
In closing, this book was written to entertain believers. That's a shame, because there are a lot of people who could use the good and powerful message contained in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2023
I listened to this one on Audible which was relaxing. It was a little slow at times but I really enjoyed meeting all of the characters and walking through their stories and realizations that Jesus is the only one that can take our sins away. I may not have enjoyed it as much reading it myself with the way it was written, but the Audible narrator did a great job with the accents.
December 11, 2011
I've read this book several times and watched the movie, and it's a firm favourite.
Funny story: I actually dreamt this whole book, as a movie, and was convinced for months that I'd actually seen it (though I had NO IDEA where I'd watchied it). My movie version was totally awesome, better than the actual movie of it... yeah, when I watched the movie I realised that I'd dreamt it. The movie is still pretty good though, one of the better Christian movies I've seen.
I love this book for a reason that no one seems to have mentioned yet: .
The preacher is a bit, well, preachy. At first it really annoyed me, but then I figured that Rivers wrote it like that to try to imitate how old-style preachers would have been. I probably would have done it differently, were I the author, but whatever, it's fine. Some people will hate it though.
The plot is interesting: the first few times I read it I could not remember how it ends at all, specifically with Cadi's mum and her depression/anger/shame and her relationship with Cadi (i.e. what the true story was, and not just Cadi's rememberence). Nice use of an unreliable narrator, by the way.
I have no criticism about the writing, though I will admit that I read Rivers primarily for the stories, not for her brilliant writing, so perhaps bear that in mind if you're fussy in this regard.
In summary, it's not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but for those who don't mind Christian fiction this is probably perfect.
Funny story: I actually dreamt this whole book, as a movie, and was convinced for months that I'd actually seen it (though I had NO IDEA where I'd watchied it). My movie version was totally awesome, better than the actual movie of it... yeah, when I watched the movie I realised that I'd dreamt it. The movie is still pretty good though, one of the better Christian movies I've seen.
I love this book for a reason that no one seems to have mentioned yet: .
The preacher is a bit, well, preachy. At first it really annoyed me, but then I figured that Rivers wrote it like that to try to imitate how old-style preachers would have been. I probably would have done it differently, were I the author, but whatever, it's fine. Some people will hate it though.
The plot is interesting: the first few times I read it I could not remember how it ends at all, specifically with Cadi's mum and her depression/anger/shame and her relationship with Cadi (i.e. what the true story was, and not just Cadi's rememberence). Nice use of an unreliable narrator, by the way.
I have no criticism about the writing, though I will admit that I read Rivers primarily for the stories, not for her brilliant writing, so perhaps bear that in mind if you're fussy in this regard.
In summary, it's not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but for those who don't mind Christian fiction this is probably perfect.
August 12, 2017
My initial thoughts after finishing this book:
I like the concept of this story, but I didn't like the execution. There was a lot of flowery writing that didn't fit the concept of this story, in my opinion. The concept is dark and pretty disturbing if you think about it - someone ritually eating the sins of an entire village of people so they can be saved. The people of the village were depressed and carrying the weight of their past transgressions, but the way this was written made them seem like they were just moody.
I also didn't relate very well to the way the characters talked and processed things. It wasn't honest or believable for me. For instance, Cadi, the ten-year-old protagonist, feels more like a 16 year old in the way she talks and thinks. And there's so much flowery emotional writing to describe the characters that it kind of just annoys me. The scene in the end where all the primary characters start revealing their deepest secrets was over dramatic and unrealistic.
Lastly, I'm a Christian and am appreciative of the message of this story, but I wanted it to be more approachable. There are entire pages in this book where characters are literally quoting the Bible. That's all well and good if you are wanting a Bible Study with your novel, but I feel like that's not what most people are looking for. I honestly think there are ways to tell this story without being so heavy-handed. Let the story speak for itself. It doesn't have to be spelled out so deliberately.
I like the concept of this story, but I didn't like the execution. There was a lot of flowery writing that didn't fit the concept of this story, in my opinion. The concept is dark and pretty disturbing if you think about it - someone ritually eating the sins of an entire village of people so they can be saved. The people of the village were depressed and carrying the weight of their past transgressions, but the way this was written made them seem like they were just moody.
I also didn't relate very well to the way the characters talked and processed things. It wasn't honest or believable for me. For instance, Cadi, the ten-year-old protagonist, feels more like a 16 year old in the way she talks and thinks. And there's so much flowery emotional writing to describe the characters that it kind of just annoys me. The scene in the end where all the primary characters start revealing their deepest secrets was over dramatic and unrealistic.
Lastly, I'm a Christian and am appreciative of the message of this story, but I wanted it to be more approachable. There are entire pages in this book where characters are literally quoting the Bible. That's all well and good if you are wanting a Bible Study with your novel, but I feel like that's not what most people are looking for. I honestly think there are ways to tell this story without being so heavy-handed. Let the story speak for itself. It doesn't have to be spelled out so deliberately.
April 30, 2021
This book blew me away! I listened to the story without having a clue what it was about. I just knew it'd been around for years.
I'd never heard of the idea of a sin eater and wasn't sure how this would pan out to give God the glory, but WOW, did it ever. I know this story preaches hard, strong, and in your face, but it's done in such a way, that I didn't feel like I was being preached at. I felt like the characters in the story were getting the brunt of it. Which of course, spills over into the reader absorbing it as well.
The people who live in this Appalachian setting have been living life according to rules they set up for themselves. The thought of someone taking on another's sin aside from Jesus is just mind boggling, but I can see how it could happen through the eyes of these people.
This story is so well crafted and to see it through the eyes of the children is incredibly powerful. I never thought I could learn such a powerful lesson from a 10yr old and her curiosity. Her deep desire to understand the Truth propels her and her community into opening old wounds they were all happy to put to rest.
I'll tell you what, you could cut the tension with a knife pretty much from start to finish. The pain pretty much every character carries is palpable whenever they're on the page. The Truth is spoken and it divides us all to the marrow. You can see how it happens in this story that is so beautifully and expertly told! This is a do not miss book!!
I'd never heard of the idea of a sin eater and wasn't sure how this would pan out to give God the glory, but WOW, did it ever. I know this story preaches hard, strong, and in your face, but it's done in such a way, that I didn't feel like I was being preached at. I felt like the characters in the story were getting the brunt of it. Which of course, spills over into the reader absorbing it as well.
The people who live in this Appalachian setting have been living life according to rules they set up for themselves. The thought of someone taking on another's sin aside from Jesus is just mind boggling, but I can see how it could happen through the eyes of these people.
This story is so well crafted and to see it through the eyes of the children is incredibly powerful. I never thought I could learn such a powerful lesson from a 10yr old and her curiosity. Her deep desire to understand the Truth propels her and her community into opening old wounds they were all happy to put to rest.
I'll tell you what, you could cut the tension with a knife pretty much from start to finish. The pain pretty much every character carries is palpable whenever they're on the page. The Truth is spoken and it divides us all to the marrow. You can see how it happens in this story that is so beautifully and expertly told! This is a do not miss book!!
September 28, 2015
Hard to read and I did not like this book. The story is told by Cadi Forbes from childhood through becoming a grandma herself. Cadi is naturally curious as a child and that curiosity is encouraged by her grandma. As a child she believes that she is responsible for her sister Elen’s death. After her grandma died, she is obsessed with finding the Sin Eater to get rid of her guilt. She finds him and others along the way that helps her. The sin eater makes her promise to go see the “man of God” who has arrived in her valley weather he is able to take away her sins or not. She keeps the promise and receives salvation as a result. The Kai’s rule the valley and has given the valley the Sin Eater who come at the death of anyone in the valley and “eats their sin” When Cadi finds the true one who takes away sin – Jesus everything changes. The Kai kills the “man of God” and almost kills his son Fagan for going to visit him. Fagan as also received salvation. The book is filled with people from the valley and their secrets. All these secrets come out in the end.
November 8, 2017
This story is written in the first person with an accent. I was really annoyed with that in the beginning, but I got used to it. It's a very interesting story about a group of families that lived in the Smokey Mountains in the 1800's. It goes over how they were stuck in the old ways from the old land until a stranger arrives and brings them the Gospel. It's a long journey filled with murder, digging up old history and spreading the good news before people start to change their ways. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Christian adventures/mysteries.
March 3, 2012
Having grown up in the Appalachia that Rivers set this novel in, I can say that she nailed the way people talk and do things. I haven't watched the movie yet, but the book was quite mesmerizing for me.
April 10, 2020
Som nadšená z tejto knihy. Spočiatku som do nej nevkladala veľké nádeje a do čítania som sa púšťala opatrne. Nevedela som, čo môžem očakávať od kresťanského románu, no toto prekonalo moje očakávania. Krásny príbeh plný hlbokých myšlienok, nádherného prostredia a pútavého rozprávania.
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