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Tender Is the Flesh

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Tender Is the Flesh

By: Agustina Bazterrica
Narrated by: Joseph Balderrama
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About this listen

It all happened so quickly. First, animals became infected with the virus and their meat became poisonous. Then, governments initiated the Transition. Now, 'special meat' - human meat - is legal.

Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans, only no one calls them that. He works with numbers, consignments, processing. One day, he's given a gift to seal a deal: a specimen of the finest quality. He leaves her in his barn, tied up, a problem to be disposed of later.

But the specimen haunts Marcos. Her trembling body, her eyes that watch him, that seem to understand. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost - and what might still be saved...

©2020 Agustina Bazterrica (P)2020 Audible, Ltd Dystopian Science Fiction Fiction Scary
All stars
Most relevant
Trigger warnings for animal abuse & rape.

Marcos works in one of the processing plants & his good at his job, but he is also dealing with the death of his son, breakdown of his marriage, his fathers ailing health & now a 'head' (woman) has been gifted to him. The story tells how humans are now farmed for meat & the legalities of the process. But the woman gifted to Marcos is now a problem.

This book is disturbing from beginning right up until the very last moment. Is told very well & made me cringe quiet a few times in all the right ways. Stuck with me after I had finished.

Disturbingly good.

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Dystopian nightmare, society at its worst. Don't trust the protagonist. All I will say.

Morbid, Dark, and Kinda Gross

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This book is so detailed and weird. It makes you question so much about societal norms. I would recommend it to everyone.

So weird but worth every second

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I really enjoyed this book, some descriptions were quite dirsturbing but I was mostly shocked by how realistic the laws and protocols around consuming ‘special meat’ felt. As the cover art suggest, the story really had me wondering if I lived in that world, would I behave any different?

The ending left me feeling somehow shocked yet unsurprised at the same time. A great conclusion for this story.

I think the narration was my favourite audiobook performance of the year. Perfectly suited for the story.

In all I thought this was great book topped of by an excellent by Balderrama.


Great story, excellent performance

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incredibly gruesome, grotesque and gory, thought provoking . could not stop listening to this one, nor for the faint of heart or of weak stomach

Loved it

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This is definitely different to anything I've ever read before.
If you are at all squeemish it probably isn't for you.
The only thing I disliked was initially I did struggle knowing which character the narrator was talking about due to the rapid third person.

Different

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It wasn’t as disturbing as I thought it would be, (Bones and All definitely succeeded in that regard) the concept was just too outlandish perhaps? It was entertaining though, and the voice actor was great. Female voices a little bit ick but overall great. A relatively short book, resulting in a fast paced story with no messing around.

A good quick entertaing read.

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Joseph Balderrama is an incredible voice actor. The best audiobook I've listened to in a long time, perhaps ever.

Superb Voice Acting

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Agustina Bazterrica’s Tender Is the Flesh is a chilling dystopian novel that explores the terrifying consequences of a society where cannibalism has been legalized. In this world, a mysterious virus has made all animal meat toxic, leading governments to regulate and industrialize human meat production. The story follows Marcos, a man who oversees the processing of “special meat” while grappling with his own moral conflict.

Bazterrica crafts a disturbing and thought-provoking narrative that forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about consumption, morality, and the ease with which people can be conditioned to accept the unthinkable. The novel draws unsettling parallels to real-world history, particularly how societies have justified dehumanization to enable horrific acts.

With sharp prose and an unrelenting tone, Tender Is the Flesh is both a gripping thriller and a social commentary. While the characters are largely unlikable—perhaps intentionally so—this detachment only amplifies the novel’s eerie realism. Readers will find themselves unable to look away, even as the story pushes them into deeply unsettling territory. Dark, provocative, and unforgettable, this novel is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction who can stomach its brutal vision of humanity.

This keeps it objective while still capturing the novel’s themes and impact. Let me know if you’d like a different approach!

Interesting insight

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Wow. I just wish there was more..

Not only one if the best read, well paced novels of the year but the book itself for me — is as wondrous, entertaining, enthralling & captivating as it is jarring.

An experience unlike any other, this is literary excellence in all of its glory!!!

Near perfection!!!

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