Review by lexistwick - Tender Is the Flesh

lexistwick 's review for:

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

4.25

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is a dark, haunting exploration of a dystopian world where a disease makes all animals inedible, forcing humanity to turn to “special meat”—humans raised for consumption. It’s a premise as gruesome as it is thought-provoking, and Bazterrica spares no detail in crafting a world where this horrifying reality infiltrates every aspect of life, from death rituals to the human connection with nature. The vivid world-building transported me into this chilling new order, reminiscent of the unsettling societal shifts found in works like Brave New World.

The storytelling is strikingly action-oriented, with more emphasis on the plot than deep dives into the characters’ psyches. Unlike many introspective novels, this one focuses on the external—the choices characters make and the brief, charged dialogues that reveal their inner turmoil and complex relationships. This minimal psychoanalysis feels intentional, reinforcing the stark, brutal reality of the world Bazterrica has created.

What stood out most to me was the book’s continued meditation on language—how it’s wielded to obscure, justify, or sanitize atrocities. This theme resonates powerfully, forcing readers to confront the way language shapes perception. The translation from Spanish is elegantly simple, reflecting a crisp economy of words that still carries immense weight.

Be warned: the novel doesn’t shy away from graphic violence, including gory details and deeply unsettling scenes of rape and animal cruelty. These moments are not gratuitous but amplify the book’s raw, unflinching look at human cruelty and complicity.

For readers intrigued by dystopian fiction that pushes boundaries and asks uncomfortable questions, Tender Is the Flesh offers a chilling, unforgettable experience. Just be prepared to grapple with its horrors long after the final page.

Content Warnings