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moustache_reader's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
random_subplot's review
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Loved the cover and the premise. Really wanted to like this one. The writing was funny, but the plot was too contrived and the ghoul/monsters analogy of queer people left a bad taste. ☹️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
alis0n21's review
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
krnoble's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
cynsworkshop's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This Delicious Death is a brilliant sapphic horror novel that brings a new uniqueness to the zombie trope.
An impressive sophomore novel, This Delicious Death is all about girl power, friendship, and finding yourself amid impending danger.
Storytelling
I liked This Delicious Death more than her novel, My Dearest Darkest. It had a better flow. We’re given some backstory towards the zombie apocalypse they call the Hallowing. Four friends have been changed forever, needing synthetic human flesh to survive. But they are surviving; they and the world have adapted to the new changes.
So, these four girls decide on one last party before they go off to college. A music festival in the desert. What could go wrong, right?
Everything is excellent until Val becomes feral, and the girl discovers that someone is drugging “ghouls” to cause a mass panic.
It moved incredibly, going back and forth between memories and the present day to establish who these characters are and their relationship.
That was one of my biggest problems with Cottingham’s debut; I struggled with the character dynamics and relating to the character. But they were written much better, making for a stronger novel. It made the transitions from past to present fit into the story in a way that did not ruin the momentum of the rising tension.
Final Thoughts
This Delicious Death is a great horror novel with great queer representation. It has brilliant characterization and excellent pacing, giving the zombie trope some uniqueness.
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wisteriariaa's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
paulineerika's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The trick with this book is you have to approach it and appreciate it for what it is: a YA slasher horror book. I've seen some reviewers complain that Cottingham could have done so much more with the plot and the Hollowing, but honestly? I don't think she needed to.
Four teenage cannibal girls go to a music festival in the desert (in other words, trying to be like "normal" girls). Of course, things don't go the way they planned and they find themselves having to dispose of a dead body after one of them goes feral and kills a member of her favorite band. Oops. From there, they have to investigate what the source of these feral ghouls are and protect both themselves and others from being eaten. Along the way, there are reaffirmations of friendship and love to be found.
This isn't going to be some deep philosophical dive into how people perceived as "different" are othered and how society tries to segregate them in the name of safety, although those themes do come up. Instead, it's a fun, quick, cannibal besties love story! If you go into reading this with that in mind, it'll be just as enjoyable as you'd expect.
Four teenage cannibal girls go to a music festival in the desert (in other words, trying to be like "normal" girls). Of course, things don't go the way they planned and they find themselves having to dispose of a dead body after one of them goes feral and kills a member of her favorite band. Oops. From there, they have to investigate what the source of these feral ghouls are and protect both themselves and others from being eaten. Along the way, there are reaffirmations of friendship and love to be found.
This isn't going to be some deep philosophical dive into how people perceived as "different" are othered and how society tries to segregate them in the name of safety, although those themes do come up. Instead, it's a fun, quick, cannibal besties love story! If you go into reading this with that in mind, it'll be just as enjoyable as you'd expect.
kdepenhart's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a wild and fun ride!