Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora ZengBat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
What it's about
In 2020, as the pandemic hits New York and anti-Asian violence grows, Cora Zeng, a young Chinese American woman who works as a crime-scene cleaner, witnesses her sister being pushed in front of a subway train. Grieving and terrified, she begins to be haunted by strange, ghostly creatures linked to the violence.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's an unsettling, timely horror novel.
You'll love it if you liked
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
Monstrilio
You Like It DarkerGood to know
It's violent and deals with racism and grief.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it's well reviewed, but isn't currently a prize winner, a lifetime bestseller or a book everyone's talking about, so we don't rank it. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
If you like this, read next
Fourth Wing
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Quicksilver
The Tainted Cup
A Drop of Corruption
AlchemisedExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng worth reading?
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 61.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng about?
In 2020, as the pandemic hits New York and anti-Asian violence grows, Cora Zeng, a young Chinese American woman who works as a crime-scene cleaner, witnesses her sister being pushed in front of a subway train. Grieving and terrified, she begins to be haunted by strange, ghostly creatures linked to the violence.
How long does it take to read Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng?
About 7 hours (298 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng?
If you liked it, try Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix, Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova or You Like It Darker by Stephen King.