This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham

Rating: ★★★★★

Dates Read: 8/1/23 - 8/2/23

    In a world forever changed by the Hollowing, a devastating pathogen released from arctic permafrost, a small group of people transforms into ghouls, forced to feed on human flesh to survive. Thanks to a synthetic alternative called SynFlesh, humanity has managed to find a sense of normalcy again, though the fear and mistrust towards the ghouls persist.

    In Southern California, four ghouls - Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine - plan to celebrate their graduation at a musical festival in the desert. Armed with a cooler filled with hard seltzers and SynFlesh, they are ready to have a good time. However, their excitement turns to horror when Val goes feral on the first night of the festival, killing and devouring a boy.

    As more festival guests begin to disappear, the girls realize that someone is deliberately drugging ghouls, turning them feral. The sinister plot puts everyone at the festival in grave danger. Now, the four friends must work together to unravel the mystery and stop the deadly scheme before more lives are lost. Time is running out, and they must act quickly to ensure their survival and that of others at the festival.

    This is a fantastic read that reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies, Jennifer's Body. From the very beginning, the book had me hooked, and by chapter 7, I had a suspicion about where the story might be headed - and I wasn't entirely wrong, but that didn't dampen my enthusiasm at all. This book was too good to be upset about a little predictability. I found myself passionately rooting for Zoey and Celeste throughout the entire journey.

    The story is packed with thrilling twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't get enough of it. The chemistry between the characters was electrifying, and I personally would love to see Val and Jasmine together. I could easily see this book translated into an incredible movie adaptation.

    After enjoying "This Delicious Death" so much, I'm eager to read more from Kayla Cottingham. Her writing style, storytelling, and captivating characters have won me over, and I can't wait to dive into more of her work. If you're a fan of Jennifer's Body and enjoy thrilling stories with engaging twists, I highly recommend picking this up. It's an addictive and enjoyable read from start to finish.