A review by hbrxnnxmxn
Meat by Joseph D'Lacey

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Incredible, devasting, well fleshed out (no pun intended) story ala Tender is the Flesh (at least for me, I know this book was published first) that truly explores the ways oppression has seeped into a town - through business, politics, religion, everyday families and relationships, and the systemic dehumanization of those around us. While I expected the horrific, gory scenes (and there were PLENTY in multiple ways), I did not expect the aspects of pure empathy, of rehumanizing those who have been oppressed. Is this perhaps the most complex metaphor ever written about religious cults or systems of power? No, of course not. But it is a damn good horror novel that impacted me greatly.