Tender Is the Flesh

Tender Is the Flesh cover
Good Books rating 4.23

Technical:
  • ID: 926
  • Added: 2025-09-23
  • Updated: 2025-09-23
  • ISBN: 9781782275589
  • Publisher: Pushkin Press
  • Published: 2020-01-06
  • Formats: 21
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online

Tender is the Flesh plunges readers into a harrowing dystopia where humanity has resorted to cannibalism. Marcos, a man working in the meat-processing industry, is given a high-quality specimen that haunts him with her watchful gaze and trembling body. As he struggles with his conscience, the novel explores themes of dehumanization, ethics, and the fragility of morality in extreme circumstances. /n/n The book has been praised for its bold and unforgettable vision of the future, with critics highlighting its gut-churning realism and thrilling narrative. It challenges readers to question their own humanity and the lengths to which society might go to survive.

Reviews
What is Quinn Reading · Quinn · 2025-09-23
Thought-provoking 4.50

The novel is a horror story that also serves as a sharp commentary on modern consumption. The reviewer appreciates the novel's dual nature as both a thrilling narrative and a social critique.

Quinn's review emphasizes the novel's ability to blend horror and social commentary seamlessly. They find the story both terrifying and thought-provoking, highlighting its relevance to contemporary issues. The reviewer appreciates the author's skill in crafting a narrative that is both engaging and unsettling. The novel's exploration of consumption and ethics is particularly noteworthy, making it a standout in the genre.


Quick quotes

    This is both a horror novel and an excellent, razor-sharp commentary on our very real world's relationship to consumption.

    The novel's exploration of consumption and ethics is particularly noteworthy.

    The author's skill in crafting a narrative that is both engaging and unsettling is commendable.

Threefold Advocate · 2023-03-09
Polarizing 4.20

The novel is a polarizing work that challenges readers with its dark and graphic content. The reviewer finds it both agonizing and thought-provoking, praising its boldness and originality.

The Threefold Advocate's review acknowledges the novel's polarizing nature, noting that it is not for the faint-hearted. The reviewer appreciates the author's boldness in tackling such a dark and controversial topic. They find the story both agonizing and thought-provoking, highlighting its relevance to contemporary issues. The reviewer praises the novel's originality and its ability to challenge readers' perspectives, making it a memorable and impactful read.


Quick quotes

    Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is one of the most polarizing works of fiction I've had the pleasure (or rather, agony) of reading.

    The novel's boldness and originality are commendable.

    The story is both agonizing and thought-provoking, highlighting its relevance to contemporary issues.

The Guardian · 2020-02-21
Disturbing 4.00

The novel is a gripping and horrifying exploration of a dystopian world where human meat is commodified. The writing is vivid and unsettling, making it a powerful commentary on consumption and ethics.

The Guardian's review highlights the novel's chilling premise and its ability to provoke deep thought about our relationship with consumption. The reviewer praises the author's boldness in tackling such a dark and controversial topic. The story's graphic nature is not for the faint-hearted, but it serves as a stark reflection of societal issues. The reviewer finds the narrative both terrifying and thought-provoking, making it a standout in dystopian fiction.


Quick quotes

    A prizewinning Argentinian dystopia. All bets are off: human meat isn't murder, it's on the menu in this blood-spattered narrative.

    The novel is a powerful commentary on our very real world's relationship to consumption.

    The writing is vivid and unsettling, making it a powerful commentary on consumption and ethics.