Joseph D'Lacey

I read Tender is the Flesh last year and didn't find it quite as horrifying as I thought I would based on how people talk about it. When I looked up to see if others felt the same, I came across this one and was curious. I definitely agree with what I saw others saying - this is definitely the more horrifying version (or maybe that one is the less horrifying version since Meat was published a good nine years earlier!).

Where Tender at the Flesh focuses on a single character and that character becomes the focus, the human meat industry is the focus in this one. While that book definitely has its strengths and I get why it's the famous one when it comes to farming people for cannibalism, I think this one hits harder in many way (although I think the fact that it is more disturbing probably works against it because it'll be too much for more people). It does a far better job of blurring the lines between humans and livestock and explores the cruelty far more. And oh man, does it get disturbing. Seriously. Take a look at the content warnings. But even that... It's been a few months since I read this (I just haven't gotten around to reviewing it yet!) and there is one scene in particular that I remember (okay, I also remember some of the scenes in which the human livestock are processed but yeah): Two little girls mutilate a doll in exactly the same way that real human livestock are processed before being sent out to feedlots and the like. It's short but it stuck with me - several scenes did but there was just something about this one that particularly disturbed me.

Like with Tender is the Flesh, the horror of the situation in the hook. While it remains darkly fascinating throughout, I feel like it loses something as you go on. But that said, if the concept of human farming (including breeding programs, growing up, processing and slaughter) and you think you can stomach the disturbing violence, this is a step up from Tender is the Flesh and I think it does a better job of conveying the horror that that book tried to bring across and it's worth a read. Even if many scenes are difficult to get through.… (altro)

Asediadas en un bloque de calles llamado la Estación, doscientas personas han sobrevivido el apocalipsis desde que comenzó el Largo Silencio. Hasta ahora. Nadie sabe qué ocurrió. Después de que anochece, miles de habitantes de la ciudad -ni vivos ni muertos- merodean por las calles en busca de los vivos. La Estación está bajo constante amenaza. Cada día, se echa a suertes quiénes serán los siete miembros de la Brigada de la Muerte. Su misión es simple: el exterminio. Sheri Foley ha descubierto que tiene el corazón de una superviviente y es uno de los miembros más implacables de la brigada. Pero dentro de la Estación hay otra clase de enemigos…… (altro)

3.5 stars

There is something going on at the town’s landfill. Something big. And Mason manages to egg things on in a very bad way. (Hard to do a good summary without giving too much away!)

It took a while for this to get going, and in fact, I wasn’t sure where it was headed originally. But it got much better for the last 2/3ish of the book and I was more invested once things really started happening. There were two couples, though, that I kept getting confused. Eventually, I (mostly) figured out the characters, but even toward the end, I often had to stop to figure out who was who, and which couple they were a part of. Once it picked up, it was good.… (altro)

I received an ebook copy from the author/publisher through NetGalley.com in exchange for a review.

This is the second and final (I think) book of THE BLACK DAWN. The first novel, BLACK FEATHERS I reviewed in a previous post. Since I was given the chance to read this one for free, I had to start from the beginning, so I would know what is going on. I may repeat some details from my review of the first novel, then again, I may just add stuff.

This is the continuation of the early years of Gordon Black. He lives in a seemingly equal time frame of our current times, that has been struck by a sort of technological destruction. Two factions come out of this change: The Green Men, and The Ward. Gordon is searching for the Crowman, a symbolic, mythological person that is centered on man returning to nature. The Green Men support nature, The Ward are more for domination and technology. The typical Good vs Bad.

Megan is a girl seemingly about the same age as Gordon, who is in a future time of main story, learning to walk the "black feathered path", or in short, the way of the Crowman. Her duty is to chronicle the life of Gordon Black as shown to her via 'visions' from the Crowman.

Most of this novel is of the climaxing and growth of Gordon Black, as he discovers the Crowman. It also brings the final confrontation of the Ward and the Green Men in a big battle. D'Lacey has written an interesting post-apocalyptic story, bringing in religious tones, as well as folk-lore, and of two young people coming of age. I felt it was a different version of a dystopian future compared to what other novels I have read. There were a few things I felt weren't cleared up completely, or at least, I felt I would have liked to known more of what happened, though they probably were not important to the main story line. Overall, I felt it was well written, and worded so that even younger readers would be able to enjoy.… (altro)