This book reeked of rot, sex, and sanctity — in the best way. From the opening scene, where poor André gets snatched and ritualised like a bargain-bin saint, Huff builds a world that feels like slipping into a fever dream soaked in wine and incense. There’s a cinematic haze to everything, but it’s not for aesthetics' sake — this city of hungry flesh and corrupted faith demands to be felt, not just seen. Think Neon Genesis Evangelion meets The Passion of the Christ, if both were directed by Lars von Trier in the middle of a breakdown.

The Divine Flesh is about hunger for holiness, for intimacy, for death. Everyone wants to be swallowed, sanctified, remembered. This is not a book about clean resolutions or moral redemption. It's about the ugly need to matter — even if it means becoming something monstrous.

Let’s be clear: this book does not flirt with blasphemy — it tongue-kisses it, bites its lip, and invites it home for sacrilegious orgies. Huff doesn’t just question religious devotion; he vivisects it, digs through its entrails, and asks what it means to sacrifice, to be consumed, to worship. There’s real reverence here buried under the gore — not for any church, but for pain as a form of communion. It’s unhinged, yes, but also startlingly sincere.

This book has no brakes. None. You are hurled from scene to scene like a lamb into a volcano. It should be exhausting. And yet — it’s enthralling. Huff knows exactly when to pause the madness for moments of unbearable tenderness or clarity, like a whisper between screams. His prose is indulgent, theatrical, and oddly tactile — I could feel every bruise and breath.

Reading this book felt like being kissed by a martyr and then flayed alive. I adored it. It’s not for the faint of heart, or the devout, or the emotionally stable. But if you’re the kind of person who has ever looked at a bleeding statue and thought, Yes, more please, this is your gospel.

★★★★
Blood-soaked. Blasphemous. Beautiful.

This was so different and definitely bloody, gory, body parts everywhere. I did like the concept and the lore of the Divine Flesh. I wish there had been more but it was already a super packed book. I felt some parts were too long. I did enjoy the pov change between all the characters. It was very detailed and morbid, which I liked. Besides it being a bit too long, I enjoyed it and the audiobook was very good. The way the narrator said “Jennifer- baby”, scratched my brain. I think she did such a job with both, voicing Jennifer and the DF. It was fun and it really set the mood for the book.

I really loved the cover for this (and I know you shouldn’t judge by the cover) but that did draw me in. I like the concept and I do enjoy the writing but there is a lot going on in the story; it can get a bit confusing with the different characters and POVs.

The body horror might be a bit much for some readers, but that didn’t bother me. It’s a big, bold and unique read.

As an extreme horror and splatterpunk fan, I went into The Divine Flesh expecting something bold, brutal, and boundary-pushing—but unfortunately, it didn’t land for me. The concept is wild and original, blending interdimensional horror with body horror and dark satire, but the execution felt rushed and disconnected. The pacing was uneven, the tone forced, and I struggled to stay engaged with the story or its characters.

While I appreciated the ambition and had no issues with the intense content or trigger-heavy themes, the narrative just didn’t flow naturally. It felt more like chaos for chaos’ sake rather than a gripping descent into madness. I wanted to love this book, but it left me feeling more detached than disturbed.

If you’re new to splatterpunk and want something extreme with a unique premise, it might be worth checking out. But seasoned horror readers may find it lacking the depth and cohesion that make extreme horror so impactful.

Absolutely loved this concept as its a body horror concept and those are some of my favorite stories. I loved the writing and character building and the chaos that ensues between Jennifer and The divine flesh. I definitely recommend this to fans of body transformation and horror in general.

The Divine Flesh is like nothing I have ever read before. A cosmic horror fever dream about a whole cast of terrible, terrible people, including main protagonist Jennifer Plummer, it’s a body horror, gore-soaked nightmare.

As much as the concept was a wild ride I sort of enjoyed, I felt like half of the book was rather dragged out, and could’ve finished way before the actual page count.

With the constant shifting perspective and overlapping thoughts, it was at times, really hard for me to figure out who was talking, and what was actually going on on the page.

Funnily enough, I love awful main protagonists, especially unhinged women, but something about Jennifer just put my teeth on edge and not in a good way. Every chapter with her was just full of the most self-loathing, over-the-topness that made me want to skip over her chapters completely.

However, I adored the body horror in all its vivid grotesquery! The author definitely put a lot of soul into it, and I enjoyed how some of it genuinely made me squirm.

I’ve half minds about this book, but mostly that it was confusing and needed so much brain power for me to keep along with the plot. Hopefully, others out there take more enjoyment out of this than I did.

This is a different kind of love story - a chaotic fever dream of eldritch proportions wrapped in a fleshy, nightmare-fueled package. For decades, ex-junkie, Jennifer Plummer has shared her body with the Divine Flesh, an abomination-creating cosmic god. Both in love with Jennifer's ex, Daryl, their tenuous partnership is disrupted when the two finally gain bodily independence. As DF (Divine Flesh) attempts to assimilate every last human, Jennifer and Daryl embark on a what is sure to be a suicide mission to save the world. Throw in flesh monsters, interdimensional creatures masquerading as humans, some light drug trafficking, a little murder, and some religious existentialism, it makes for a visceral reading experience.

While not lacking in entertainment value, there are SO many elements to this book that it does not give each of them enough room to breathe. With multiple subplots, an extensive cast of characters, and switching POVs, the chaos was a little too real in parts. The middle lagged as the author attempts to wrangle each of the narrative threads, but everything manages to come together in if not a perfect, at least satisfying resolution. However, the premise is refreshingly unique and every bit of squelch-tastic body horror that one would expect from such a title was on full display. Not for the faint of stomach, but definitely for those who want all the gross, gore-filled, cosmic horror they can handle.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Whoa. This is definitely one of the most unique books I have ever read. I love the cosmic and body horror feels of the story that the author has crafted. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the constant POV switch and I find the pacing to be a bit off. But overall, it is still a very cool novel and I'm excited to read more from the author in the future.

This book is doing a lot—and I mean that in both a good and slightly overwhelming way. It dives straight in from page one, and you’re immediately thrown into a really vivid, deeply detailed world. The author clearly put so much thought into every part of it. Nothing here feels accidental; everything has a backstory, and it’s impressive how much depth there is.

The concept itself is super original. There are elements of cosmic and body horror, a small-town murder mystery, interdimensional drug trafficking, and at its core, themes around love, power, and bodily autonomy. It’s bold and strange in a way I haven’t really seen before, and I really wanted to love it.

But I did struggle with the pacing. Sometimes it felt like we’d spend a whole chapter in the head of a side character, and then suddenly we’d be back in the main plot with a ton happening all at once. It made it a bit hard to find my rhythm as a reader.

Still, I admire how ambitious and unique this book is. Even if it didn’t completely click for me, I think it’s going to really resonate with readers who are looking for something dark, complex, and totally different from anything else out there.

3.5 stars
This is a MONSTER of a book to try and wrap your head around. There are numerous side plots and characters that I found myself losing track of a lot. Granted, I did take a few breaks from reading this, but even so, the constant switching of POVs made it a bit hard to get into. That being said, this story is clearly very inspired and original. I love the writing and the idea of The Divine Flesh, I love the body horror, and cosmic scope. I definitely think this would benefit from a second read so I could keep track of the side characters better. I really loved the dynamic between Jennifer and the Flesh by the end of the book

Gripping, mysterious, and beautifully crafted, The Divine Flesh is a darkly captivating journey into faith, flesh, and the unknown. Drew Huff’s prose pulses with intensity as he blends horror, mythology, and philosophical depth in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is a story that questions everything — from the body to the soul — with power and precision. Unforgettable and thought-provoking.

This book is a fever dream wrapped in cosmic horror, and I mean that in the best way possible. If you're looking for something that will shake you to your core and leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about love, then this is the book for you. It’s equal parts disturbing and beautiful—gruesome yet oddly mesmerizing.
Thanks netgalley.

The story was unique and engaging. There were slight pacing issues in the middle but otherwise, I liked the writing style and the way the ending unfolded seamlessly

DNF at 25%.

I hate DNF-ing, but this just wasn’t for me. I can see why some people would enjoy it - the concept is interesting and the writing is rich with detail - but the prose was a bit bloated for my liking, with too many narrative threads too early on, and it was becoming a bit of an effort to keep track of everything. Also, despite the warnings, I didn’t quite anticipate just how extreme and graphic it would be, which pushed it out of my comfort zone. Definitely something to be mindful of if you’re thinking of reading this!

I’m giving 2 stars for the creativity and the layered character work. The author is clearly talented, but I don’t think I’m the intended audience for this one.

This weird horror novel was, admittedly, not usually the type of story I find myself drawn to, but I couldn't put it down.
The story revolves around Jennifer, a woman who struggles with substance abuse. self-hate, and sharing her body with an eldritch abomination named the Divine Flesh. Right away Jennifer's character caught my interest. She's an unlikeable protagonist who spends much of the story fighting the urge to self-destruct and the desire to be a better person, if not for herself than for her husband Dale. But Dale doesn't love her, he loves the Divine Flesh. This is a book that it, at its heart, a love story. A dysfunctional love story, but a love story nonetheless. Huff's story explores what it is to love, in all its horrible, wonderful glory. There's also a murder mystery, a sub plot involving interdimensional aliens that lay their eggs in human bodies, and a whole lot of sex, body horror, and violence. Reading The Divine Flesh felt like a fever dream, or a bad acid trip, and it was hard to make sense of what was happening at times. The writing sometimes seemed to be all over the place and moving at a fever pace, whole at other points it dragged and went off on tangents. This book won't be for everyone, especially people who want likeable characters and a straight forward story. If you've never known someone who struggles with substance abuse it may be hard to relate to Jessica or understand her decisions. But if you’re all for gray morality, the weird and grotesque, and storytelling that pushes the limits of good taste definitely give The Divine Flesh a try.
Thank you to Dark Matter INK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book has a wonderful cover; I love the pink representing femininity and a heart in the middle, and then in representation of "the other things" in the book, there are the mouths that seem to be taking over.
When it comes to the book itself, I could not bring myself to enjoy it. I tried many times, and even went back and restarted it, but it just did not work out for me. The story tries to take up too many elements, and it becomes convoluted, only for there to not be much that matters in matters of plot. I consider this to be a very original concept for modern times (older eldritch horror but mixing modern women), but the story did not manage to make much sense and it was very frustrating.

This novel is a lot, but that is by design. If you read the description and the content warnings, and then look at the cover, well, you should have an idea of what you are getting into. With that said, there is some order to be found in this obscene, fleshy chaos. The writing itself is very visceral, it brings you in and leaves you slicked with sweat and other secretions. It moves quickly, and as the narrative goes deeper it moves across a few different character POVs seamlessly. This, combined with the fact that there is a good deal of internal/telepathic conversations means it is constant work to know where you are, the narrative is slippery and moves around. This isn’t to say confusing, but feverish and disorienting in ways that serve the story and the experience. There are a number of narrative twists and turns, as described in the jacket copy, but it does a sensational job of confusing the ideas of protagonist and antagonist. Within that vibrating, maximalist narrative there is strong world-building, what small-town, rural Idaho looks like, especially the view from a trailer that sits in front of another burnt out trailer. The environment and the characters populating it feel real, or as close as they can in this story. Nominally our central character is Jennifer, but the Divine Flesh and Jenifer’s ex Daryl are equally important pivot point the story rotates around. All of them feel robust and exciting. Obviously The Divine Flesh doesn’t feel “real” in the sense of being a character you can relate to, but the depiction of the whims and intentions of eldritch deities is explored in interesting ways. Both Jennifer and Daryl are broken, complicated messes, but from that damage they are trying to find themselves however they know how. They are trying to find themselves and each other, and learn what it might mean to be human in a world that has been almost nothing but pain for them from their traumatic, damaging childhoods up until the present. The pace of the story never slows down, so we don’t spend too many contemplative moments with the characters as I would like, but they are still developed, and they have satisfying journeys to go on throughout the story.

Do you like cosmic horror? Are you into the most horrific body horror imaginable? Do you want to be engrossed in the most descriptive and otherworldly story possible? Then you must read 👏 this 👏 book! A big thank you to Drew and NetGalley for this advanced read 🖤

Such uniquely captivating descriptions of the most disturbing and mind-bending body transformations, along with witty lines and a suspenseful plot that keeps your eyes glued to every page. While I found the writing style took some getting used to, the moment I was in the depths of the story, there was no turning back until I finished the book. I also appreciated the transparency of all TWs (so please check before reading ⚠️)

Cannot wait to see what Drew comes up with next 👀

Thank you to Dark Matter INK and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

How to best describe this novel... Well, I think another reviewer's statement that it is a maximally body horror text is extremely apt. It reminds me of the series Parasyte drenched in meth addiction. It is weird fiction Miltonian eldritch abomination meat-cute from a MORK-BÖRK lens. It is any and every Content Warning splattered in bubble gum pink pestilence. It is a God's purview made of INSIDE, Slither unblinking foul realness eucharistically taken to its reality-bending conclusion by way of Troma film. It is all this and more and I guess this is a way to say that it might not be for everyone, but all told, I had a good time.

I thought this novel did a mostly effective job of exploring the themes it was delving into, with some of the middle bits muddling and slowing the pace down. The medium of body/extreme horror to discuss religious trauma, bodily autonomy, trust, and consent was a daunting task, and at a certain point, the unindation of violence and bodily decimation (as Susan put it, "annihilation") goes from overwhelming to desensitization wherein potentially more impact full moments are somewhat deadened by the horrors already experienced. I'm not sure if this was the authorial intent, but it was my experience of the work. I did appreciate the copious references and allusion to other works of such as The Inferno, Paradise Lost, and stories of Promethian challenges to the gods. I felt these moments were some of the strongest, and it should go without saying that the descriptive acumen is impeccable. I could see this work possibly being discussed in a class about extreme or religious horror. All told, it is a story trying to tell something, and for extreme horrorlit, that should be acknowledged, even if aspects of the B and C plots left me feeling as cold as... well, you'll see.

This was a really interesting idea that I feel had a lot of potential. Unfortunately I don’t think it worked very well for me. I am a fan of horror but I felt that this was confusing to understand, and not in a way that felt intentional. Sometimes a reader is meant to be confused and then more information is naturally revealed later, but here it just felt like it was assumed the reader already understood and context was only given in crumbs. I think the cover art is really cool and definitely drew me to to this book, but overall it was not my cup of tea.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.