horchata 's review for:

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This was such an intense read, I’m not sure I can give it a star rating. It’s the best of horror and an examination/condemnation of the way capitalistic human structures pervert humanity. I didn’t once think of it as an allegory while reading. The ending kicked me in the chest. If you read the summary and you’re intrigued, go for it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Suicide, Torture, Trafficking