A review by kenbooky
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

5.0

Bazterrica uses language as a means to suspend the inevitable through polite discourse and incomprehensible world building that is both alarming but also not the least bit surprising. Through the subversive branding of special meat (the flesh of humans) has now become the populous only form of meat after diseases and viruses have complicated mans relationship with beast. Marcos sees himself as one of the few who doesn’t buy into the bull that the government is force feeding. All this he sees as a ploy to battle overpopulation and climate change. Marcos quickly changes his mind on these matters after having met a particularly alluring pure bred stock female whom he domesticates and then impregnates despite the legal ramifications of such an act. What I thought to be the start of a beautiful rebellion piece turned only into a story about how easily people adapt and get used to even the most horrific of truths when comfortable.