Sunyi Dean is an author of fantasy fiction.
Dean was born in Texas, raised in Hong Kong, and lives in Yorkshire. She is biracial. [1] She is autistic. [2] [1]
She has listed her favorite authors as Charlotte Brontë, Gene Wolfe, George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Nnedi Okorafor. [2]
Book reviewers inspired her to try writing. [3] She began her career with short fiction. [4]
Reviews of her 2022 debut, a gothic fantasy titled The Book Eaters, were largely favorable. [5] [6] [7] [8] A starred review from Publishers Weekly said, "Dean’s unputdownable debut gives the phrase 'voracious reader' a new, very literal meaning". [9] Library Journal's starred review called it "a fascinating debut with shades of gothic fantasy and contemporary thriller, wrapped in a narrative full of vivid and detailed characters and worldbuilding, and an unusual premise". [10] A starred review from Booklist noted, "Dean’s debut novel is a powerful story of overwhelming mother love, as something both powerful and potentially horrific". [11] It was positively received by The Washington Post. [12] Terri Schlichenmeyer praised Dean's prose in a review for Marco Eagle. [13] Abigail Nussbaum of The Guardian called it an "intriguing twist on the vampire story". [14]
The Book Eaters debuted at #2 on the Sunday Times bestseller list for fiction hardbacks in the UK, and reached #2 on the Vancouver Sun's list of bestselling international books in August 2022. [14] It was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in 2022. [15] Booklist named it a top science fiction/fantasy and horror debut of 2022. [16]
Dean has said she may write a novel that wraps up some plot points of The Book Eaters. [17] She is under contract to write two standalone novels. [4]
Sunyi Dean is an author of fantasy fiction.
Dean was born in Texas, raised in Hong Kong, and lives in Yorkshire. She is biracial. [1] She is autistic. [2] [1]
She has listed her favorite authors as Charlotte Brontë, Gene Wolfe, George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Nnedi Okorafor. [2]
Book reviewers inspired her to try writing. [3] She began her career with short fiction. [4]
Reviews of her 2022 debut, a gothic fantasy titled The Book Eaters, were largely favorable. [5] [6] [7] [8] A starred review from Publishers Weekly said, "Dean’s unputdownable debut gives the phrase 'voracious reader' a new, very literal meaning". [9] Library Journal's starred review called it "a fascinating debut with shades of gothic fantasy and contemporary thriller, wrapped in a narrative full of vivid and detailed characters and worldbuilding, and an unusual premise". [10] A starred review from Booklist noted, "Dean’s debut novel is a powerful story of overwhelming mother love, as something both powerful and potentially horrific". [11] It was positively received by The Washington Post. [12] Terri Schlichenmeyer praised Dean's prose in a review for Marco Eagle. [13] Abigail Nussbaum of The Guardian called it an "intriguing twist on the vampire story". [14]
The Book Eaters debuted at #2 on the Sunday Times bestseller list for fiction hardbacks in the UK, and reached #2 on the Vancouver Sun's list of bestselling international books in August 2022. [14] It was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in 2022. [15] Booklist named it a top science fiction/fantasy and horror debut of 2022. [16]
Dean has said she may write a novel that wraps up some plot points of The Book Eaters. [17] She is under contract to write two standalone novels. [4]