Tender is the Flesh Review: A Disturbing Dystopian Masterpiece You Won’t Forget
Tender is the Flesh by Agustinia Bazterrica
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans—though no one calls them that anymore.
His wife has left him, his father is sinking into dementia, and Marcos tries not to think too hard about how he makes a living. After all, it happened so quickly. First, it was reported that an infectious virus has made all animal meat poisonous to humans. Then governments initiated the “Transition.” Now, eating human meat—“special meat”—is legal. Marcos tries to stick to numbers, consignments, processing.
Then one day he’s given a gift: a live specimen of the finest quality. Though he’s aware that any form of personal contact is forbidden on pain of death, little by little he starts to treat her like a human being. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost—and what might still be saved.
What did I just read?!
Before we even get into the CAWPILE breakdown, let me just say this: Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is a book everyone should read. Disturbing, brilliant, and thought provoking, it’s not just dystopian fiction - it’s a brutal examination of morality, and how easily empathy can be influenced and bent.
Few books unnerve and captivate in equal measure, but Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica manages to do just that. This book is not just dystopian fiction, it is a deep dive into morality, and the boundaries of human empathy.
Characters: 7
Our main character Marcos, even though his back story isn’t really explored, is compelling and complex. The secondary characters are less developed and seem more in place to move the plot along, but maybe that’s the point. The world is dehumanized by design.
Atmosphere: 10
Bleak and brilliant. Bazterrica builds a world where the dread seeps into your bones, not through gore, but through what is left unsaid and censored. Could you imagine a world where the government legalized cannibalism and everyone just goes along with it?
Writing: 10
Bazterrica’s mastery is in her ability to horrify not through excess, but through restraint. The writing isn’t overly wordy which suits this book wonderfully.
Plot: 10
There are no cheap twists. Just the horrifying revelation of how far society can fall when ethical lines are redrawn in the name of survival.
Intrigue: 10
I wanted to look away. Wanted to close the book and move on to happier tales. But I didn’t. The horrifying cultural shift is presented with chilling plausibility. It was disturbingly good.
Enjoyment: 9
The word enjoyment almost feels wrong. Tender is the Flesh is a brilliant work of art. In terms of impact and resonance, this book is unforgettable. A masterpiece of discomfort.
Final Thoughts
Tender is the Flesh is not for the faint-hearted. It is a gut-punch novel that confronts the ethics of consumption and just how easily morality can be bent. It doesn’t just stay with you - if follows you. If you are browsing the bookstore and find this with the cookbooks…that was me.
