renyoi 's review for:

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

4.5

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Full of intriguing, meaningful choices to think about and discuss. The book is short and rather blunt, so nearly every aspect of it feels calculated and purposeful. Very grotesque in its descriptions; perhaps more grotesque is the antipathy with which those descriptions are given. I think the real horror of this work lies in its function as a warped, funhouse-mirror reflection of some of the worst aspects of our current world, which all the best horror achieves. Highly recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Excrement, Car accident

Minor: Racism, Rape, Torture