This Delicious Death

by Kayla Cottingham

Overview

From the author of the New York Times bestselling My Dearest Darkest comes another incredible sapphic horror. When four best friends with a hunger for human flesh attend a music festival in the desert they discover a murderous plot to expose and vilify the girls and everyone like them. This summer is going to get gory.

Two years ago, a small percentage of population underwent a transformation known as the Hollowing. Those affected were only able to survive by consuming human flesh. The people who went without quickly became feral, turning on their friends and family. Luckily, scientists were able to create a synthetic version of human meat that would satisfy their hunger. As a result, humanity slowly began to return to normal.

Cut to Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine, four hollow girls living in Southern California. As a last hurrah before graduation they decide to attend a musical festival in the heart of the desert. They have a cooler filled with seltzer, vodka, and Synflesh… and are ready to party. 

But on the first night of the festival Val goes feral and ends up killing and eating a boy in one of the bands. As other festival guests start disappearing around them the girls soon discover someone is targeting people like them. And if they can't figure out how to stop it, and soon, no one at the festival is getting out alive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728236445
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/25/2023
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kayla Cottingham is a YA author and librarian. Her first book, My Dearest Darkest, was a New York Times and Publisher's Weekly bestseller. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Kayla lives in Boston where she loves to go hiking in the woods, play RPGs, and snuggle on the couch with her ridiculously large black cat, Squid.

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/20/2023

Cottingham (My Dearest Darkest) weaves a fresh take on the zombie meta in this blood-curdling horror novel that takes place two years after an unusual pathogen is released from melting icecaps. High school best friends Zoey Huxley, Celeste Fairbanks, Valeria Vega, and Jasmine Owusu have all contracted the disease, called the Hollowing, which causes the afflicted, known as ghouls, to crave human flesh. Fortunately, scientists have invented SynFlesh, a lab-grown substitute that, when eaten, can stave off the ghouls’ insatiable hunger. Thus sated, the quartet’s condition isn’t going to stop them from attending Desert Bloom, a music festival in the Mojave Desert. Upon arrival, the teens are invited to a party by one of the headlining bands. When Val suddenly disappears, the girls’ search for her reveals that she has been drugged into a murderous frenzy—and has already consumed one of the bandmates. Centering variously queer and racially diverse characters, whose interpersonal and ghoulish challenges are portrayed with equal gravitas, Cottingham impressively explores solidly teen issues regarding self-image against the backdrop of a haunting mystery and mystifying illness. Visceral horror depictions, a climbing body count, and socially conscious prose elevate this jaw-dropping chiller. Ages 14–up. Agent Erica Bauman, Aevitas Creative Management. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Riveting horror combined with savvy social commentary" — Kirkus Reviews, STARRED Review

"Cottingham impressively explores solidly teen issues regarding self-image against the backdrop of a haunting mystery and mystifying illness. Visceral horror depictions, a climbing body count, and socially conscious prose elevate this jaw-dropping chiller." — Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"This author’s novel begs for a film rendition and leaves fans salivating for more." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED review

From the Publisher

★ 2023-01-12
California victims of a climate change–induced pandemic uncover a deadly plot.

Two years ago, humanity was forever changed when melting permafrost unleashed a strange pathogen. Those affected by the Hollowing developed the need and desire to consume human flesh. Fortunately, lab-grown SynFlesh allows them to lead mostly normal lives. Zoey, Celeste, Jasmine, and Valeria, who all suffer from Hollowness, are headed to the Desert Bloom music festival in the Mojave Desert. On their way, they meet No Flash Photography, one of the bands. Val becomes enamored with Eli despite the lead singer’s anti-Hollow stance. At his invitation, they attend a party at the festival, in the middle of which Val runs away. The other girls find her consuming Kaiden, Eli’s band mate. After a blood-induced frenzy, they have both a dead body to dispose of and a mystery to solve, as they discover that a strange powder added to Val’s drink may have induced her attack. As Val’s appetites increase and other Hollows are drugged, the friends must uncover the one responsible and bring them to justice before society turns on all Hollow people. This gripping, layered novel centers queer and racially diverse characters. Through the device of an unusual hunger, it offers perceptive examinations of scapegoating, alienation, and self-loathing that will resonate with teens from marginalized and stigmatized communities, especially LGBTQ+ ones. At the same time, it is a satisfying read for any fan of zombie stories.

Riveting horror combined with savvy social commentary. (content warning) (Horror. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews