Book Review | Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

This thrilling dystopian novel is sure to give you goosebumps along the way. Hopefully, it wouldn't make your flesh any less tender.

About Tender is the Flesh

Tender is the Flesh is an Argentinian fictional thriller (translated by Sarah Moses) where everyone in this world eats humans. Except no one calls it that.

There was a deadly virus that was spreading between the animals so the world had to kill every single animal that ever existed. They’ve found out that going vegan or vegetarian isn’t an option because the protein produced in vegetables isn’t enough to sustain humans for their lifetime. Thus, they’ve solved their problem through cannibalism.

Marcos Tejo is in the business of slaughtering "special meat". One day, he’s given the finest specimen, a female head, to do whatever he pleases. He ties her up in the barn, not sure what to do with her. But she haunts Marcos. Her trembling body and watchful gaze seem to understand. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost—and what might still be saved.

Tender is the Flesh Review

In Tender is the Flesh, we follow main character, Marcos Tejo. He takes us through all the horrors that goes on in the processing plant, going into each step of the slaughter in great detail. Since the book is written in third person, I didn't really feel a connection to Marcos. He was merely a vessel for the story to take place, and I was okay with that. The story still continued on smoothly.

There are also other interesting side characters in the book such as Cecilia, Marcos's wife who separated from him after suffering the loss of her child; Marisa, Marcos's sister who's obsessed with her social status; and Don Armando, Marcos's father who suffers from dementia and lives in a nursing home.

He tried to hate all of humanity for being so fragile and ephemeral but he couldn't keep it up because hating everyone is the same as hating no one.

Even though the characters were not very memorable, the world building in this book is phenomenal. For one, it has to be great or else you kind of lose out on the plot because that's where the main gist of the story lies.

Bazterrica’s writing (and Moses’s translation) is astounding. The detail that goes into every scene is impeccable. I can perfectly imagine every scene as it is being written out for me and it feels as if I’ve stepped into the world of Tender is the Flesh. The writing is so intriguing. It keeps you wanting more and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Plus the storyline is so interesting! I’ve never quite read a book like this one and it’s honestly kept me up all night.

And the ending. Wow. I wouldn’t say that I did not expect it to happen but it still left my jaw hanging nonetheless. There were a lot of lines that hinted towards that end but it’s one of those moments where only at the last moment does it really hit you.

My Recommendation

★★★★☆ (4/5)

I highly enjoyed this book but it's not meant for everyone. This book is repulsive, in a good way.

There are detailed descriptions of murder—it’s literally the whole point of the book but it’s really, very detailed—accounts of rape, abuse, animal abuse and death, cannibalism (this one is a given but it still made my stomach churn at the mention of eating sautéed fingers with lemon herb dressing), and so much more. Please go read a list of trigger warnings before taking on this book because it will take a toll on you.

And if you’ve watched (and enjoyed) the film, Kadaver (2020), this book is perfect for you.

For everyone else, you would be missing out but it’s for your own sanity anyway.

About Agustina Bazterrica

Agustina Bazterrica is an Argentinian novelist and short-story writer. Bazterrica has published a short-story collection and two novels, for which she has won several awards. Tender is the Flesh, her second novel, won the prestigious Clarin Novela prize and has been translated into nine languages and optioned for a TV series.