'The Divine Flesh' in a word is unhinged. An unapologetically weird cosmic horror about a dysfunctional drug mule and the Eldritch Goddess trapped inside of her. The writing is grotesquely vivid, the descriptions of the body horror were gruesome and not for the easily squeamish.

The overall story felt like reading a fever dream and keeps you on your toes throughout with my only issue being that it dragged towards the middle before picking back up again for the ending. There are quite a few heavy topics including but not limited to drug addiction, alcoholism, emotional abuse, self harm and SA. The characters were interesting to read about with all of them being flawed in some way or another, you never know who to root for from one moment to the next.

Thank you, Net Galley and Dark Matter INK, for the ARC!

i wanted to like this book so badly, but it just wasn’t for me. the writing felt choppy and all over the place. so much was happening at once which made it hard to follow along with the plot. loved The Divine Flesh though! She truly carried the chapters that i made it through. i wish the book was more about Her than Jennifer.

Book Review: The Divine Flesh by Drew Huff
Drew Huff’s The Divine Flesh is a visceral and unflinching exploration of humanity, addiction, and identity, wrapped in a darkly imaginative tale of cosmic horror. This novel is not for the faint of heart, as it plunges readers into a nightmarish world where body horror meets interdimensional power struggles and the limits of morality are tested. With its bold narrative, complex characters, and unapologetically grotesque imagery, The Divine Flesh carves out a space in the intersection of horror and speculative fiction.

A Twisted Duality
At the heart of the novel is Jennifer, a deeply flawed protagonist who serves as a vessel for the titular Divine Flesh, a being both horrifying and oddly endearing in its psychotic cheerfulness. This duality is central to the story, as Jennifer’s struggles with addiction and self-destruction mirror her constant battle with the entity that inhabits her body. The tension between Jennifer and the Divine Flesh is brilliantly depicted, showcasing their bizarrely co-dependent relationship.

The Divine Flesh’s perspective adds a chilling yet strangely comedic edge to the narrative. Her godlike ambitions and obsession with assimilation stand in stark contrast to Jennifer’s gritty, grounded struggles, creating a fascinating interplay of the cosmic and the human.

Themes of Transformation and Identity
The novel delves deeply into themes of transformation, both literal and metaphorical. Jennifer’s journey is as much about battling an external threat as it is about reclaiming her sense of self. The Divine Flesh’s constant attempts to reshape Jennifer—and, later, the world—serve as a grotesque metaphor for the invasive pressures of addiction, societal expectations, and the struggle to define one’s identity against overwhelming forces.

The story also examines power dynamics, especially through Jennifer’s relationships with the people around her and the Divine Flesh’s godlike control. These dynamics are further complicated by Jennifer’s history with her ex-husband, Daryl, whose own arc intertwines with the central conflict in unexpected and poignant ways.

A Bloody, Gut-Wrenching Plot
The plot is relentless, filled with moments of shocking violence and graphic imagery that will leave readers both horrified and captivated. The murder of Daryl and his friends sets off a chain of events that escalates into a full-blown cosmic horror showdown. Jennifer and Daryl’s quest for vengeance against the small-town bigots who killed him serves as a framework for unraveling the deeper, more disturbing conspiracies lurking in Rosetown, Idaho.

The small-town setting is used effectively to create an atmosphere of claustrophobia and decay, with the festering corruption of the town mirroring the grotesque transformations wrought by the Divine Flesh. Huff spares no detail in depicting the body horror, making the Divine Flesh’s powers both awe-inspiring and utterly repellent.

Content Warnings and Impact
It’s impossible to discuss The Divine Flesh without acknowledging its extensive content warnings. Huff tackles difficult topics with unflinching honesty, which may be a strength or a drawback depending on the reader’s tolerance for graphic content. The depictions of body horror, addiction, abuse, and discrimination are intense, but they serve the story’s purpose of confronting the darkest aspects of humanity and existence.

Readers should approach the book with caution, but those who can stomach the graphic content will find a narrative that is deeply rewarding in its exploration of resilience, morality, and the cost of redemption.

Strengths
Complex Protagonist: Jennifer’s flaws and struggles make her a deeply relatable and compelling character, even as she grapples with a godlike entity inside her.
Imaginative World-Building: The concept of the Divine Flesh and the cosmic stakes at play are unique and horrifyingly creative.
Unapologetic Themes: The novel’s exploration of addiction, identity, and small-town corruption is bold and thought-provoking.
Atmospheric Writing: Huff’s prose is vivid and visceral, pulling readers into the grotesque world of the Divine Flesh.
Potential Drawbacks
Graphic Content: The extreme violence and body horror may alienate some readers, even those accustomed to dark fiction.
Pacing: The relentless intensity of the plot can feel overwhelming, with few moments of respite to balance the chaos.
Complexity of Themes: The novel’s ambition sometimes makes it difficult to juggle all its thematic threads, leaving certain ideas underexplored.
Final Thoughts
The Divine Flesh is a bold, grotesque, and ultimately unforgettable work of speculative horror that challenges readers to confront their own discomfort. Huff’s ability to blend cosmic horror with raw, human emotion sets this novel apart, making it a must-read for fans of body horror and psychological thrillers. However, its intensity and graphic nature demand a careful approach, ensuring it’s a story best suited for those who can appreciate its unflinching examination of humanity’s darkest corners.

Rating: 4/5
Perfect for fans of Junji Ito’s body horror, Caitlin Starling’s The Death of Jane Lawrence, and the existential dread of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation. The Divine Flesh is as grotesque as it is profound—a twisted masterpiece of modern horror fiction.

I love a book that involves religious themes and body horror so this really hit a spot for me. It also had such an incredible writing style - I simultaneously felt like I completely got everything whilst also feeling like I couldn't begin to explain what I was reading.

I loved how none of the characters in this book were good; everyone was flawed or awful (the latter especially applying to Trojan). I loved the approach this book took to godhood through Susan, Divine Flesh, and Light. I love how, by the end, I'm not completely sure if D.F. is the God of Abrahamic faiths or not. I love how messy the characters were and how messy this all felt to read.

I also loved how distinct the characters and their voices were - Divine Flesh in particular had probably the most distinct voice I've ever read, whenever she spoke it was so clear it was her.

Just, this book was a horrific exploration of love that jumbled my mind and took me on a journey. I'd definitely recommend it to fans of cosmic/weird/body horror.

(I'd also recommend taking notes of content warnings because this was heavy with certain things like SA, gore, and addiction.)

This book was so bizarre and felt like I was being taken on a drug trip and I loved it. I haven't had much experience with this genre but I am now obsessed.

This novel is like a car crash, you just can’t look away… but in a good way? Everyone is crazy and I wasn’t sure who to root for or if I WAS rooting for any of them. Wild premise, but written so well I devoured it in one sitting.

Unfortunately, I do not think this book is for me. I hate to give this book a low rating, but it is very different from what I expected it to be. Not necessarily a fault of the book, just a conflict of my own expectations. I would still try other works from this author.

This book was bonkers! I’ve never read anything quite like this, it has a heavy premise but boy was this a winner for me! I share the name of the main character-though we couldn’t be anymore different, so that was a fun addition to the craziness that is The Divine Flesh. Splatterpunk fans will surely tear through this one with reckless abandon as it was a visceral gore fest of epic proportions. The only critique I have is that beginning was a bit to a crawl for me but once the pace picked up it was like having to tear yourself away from looking at a car wreck on the side of the road, you couldn’t help your morbid curiosity!

Thank you to NetGalley and Drew Huff for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What the hell did I just read?!

This book was absolute insanity in the best way possible! Jennifer Plummer is a junkie, a drug mule, an alcoholic, and pretty much just an all-around shitty person. Oh…and living inside her since she was born is an Eldritch god that just wants to love, and by love, I mean assimilate everything in her path, and make them part of her. Her name is the Divine Flesh. Jennifer and D.F. love the same guy…Daryl. Through a series of batshit crazy events, including Daryl’s murder, even though he’s very much alive, Jennifer and the Divine Flesh get separated, and the Flesh’s quest to take over everything becomes a lot easier!

I’ve never read a book like this before. It was off the wall. It was confusing. It was funny at times. It was absolutely brutal at other times. But at the end of the day, it’s just a really sweet love story!

The world building was great. Huff’s world building is just incredible. So excited to see what her future holds!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dark Matter INK for the eARC!

Wow that was an intense one with the dense writing and heavy themes.
Experimental horror with a philosophical edge ? absolutely !
Mix of psychological horror, twisted relationships, and cosmic dread ? absolutely
A huge success for me.

Thank you so much netgalley for the copy

tw for a lot of things but particularly animal death which i know will upset people.

i am not those people! this was excellent. u ever read a novel that has you going What The Fuck every five seconds while u desperately turn the page bc its just that good? i have! this mindbending book is definitely not for everyone— it’s So Much, perhaps Too Much for a lot of readers. a nasty little piece of fiction with teeth. i loved it.

As a lover of horror, strange things, and everything weird. Even this book pushed me past my limits. HEAVY body horror imagery. Which while interesting to a point felt like was overused in the narrative of this book. There are some heavy topics covered in this book such a SA, self abuse, even grandiose concepts around religion and worship. While this book might not have fully been enjoyed by me. The plot and themes could be interesting if these are things that speak to you. Truly kudos to the author for writing a book unlike anything I have ever read before, unfortunately it just didn’t resonate with me. If the synopsis interests you then give it a try, just wasn’t for me.

As many others have already stated, this book is a fever dream of body horror, Lovecraftian horror, and erotic horror. If you like Suitable Flesh, Parasyte: Tye Maxim, and Venom, then this is for YOU. It is incredibly well-written, fast-paced, and has characters that leap off the page (usually covered in blood, spit, and other bodily fluids). I was thoroughly impressed, mesmerized, and, yes, horrified. Fun, cosmic horror, and NOT for the whole family.

"The Divine Flesh didn’t have real feelings . Well, that wasn’t true. She had three modes. Bored, psychotically happy, and oh-look-I-found-flesh."



⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️
Suicide, Sex, Violence, Death, Abuse, Profanity, and Rape, Animal death (esp cat lovers be warned!)


Told from the perspectives of a junkie named Jennifer and The Divine flesh, a flesh-bending cosmic/eldritch goddess trapped inside Jennifer.
If you are in the mood for a brilliantly unhinged and unserious read, then you need to check this out. It's 448 pages of surreal, trippy, tangled mess and will keep you hooked albeit disturbing. It's wild and bonkers and gross and nasty. The formatting and writing style reads like a fever dream and the pov switches are sometimes confusing, chaotic and made me dizzy (think of the book Bunny 😊) and I wonder what the audio format experience is going to be like.
More targeted for splatterpunk / extreme horror fans...Probably best not to read whilst having migraine or cluster headaches. If you are sensitive or squeamish, highly advise not to read while eating. (Gruesome, gory, brutal visceral content). Not for the easily triggered/offended. Proceed with caution 👌⚠️
Perfect for fans of body horror: e.g. Jennifer's body, Queen of Teeth, Transmuted, The Dark Half, and The Substance to name a few.
I really appreciate weird fiction and Drew Huff is one talented writer who is certainly not afraid to push boundaries.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dark Matter INK for the arc . I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.45✨

This book is probably my most bizarre read of 2024. I can’t decide how I feel about it. The writing is grotesque, brutal, visceral but the overall story is strangely quite sweet. Towards the middle I felt like it was dragging a bit, but the last 10% was very good. I enjoyed the book, but it took me a long time to finish as the writing is quite heavy going. I enjoyed reading it but now I’m ready for a lighter read.

I’m not sure if I love it or hate it but I couldn’t put it down. Beautiful writing of terrible and horrifying things. So many times I thought I understood the meaning of the story but I’m still questioning which way is up. Drew Huff is supremely talented.

The Divine Flesh is a dark and visceral exploration of faith, obsession, and humanity’s fragile relationship with power. Set in a bleak, otherworldly landscape, the story follows [brief plot summary, avoiding spoilers], unraveling layers of dread and intrigue as it progresses.

Huff’s prose is sharp and immersive, creating a suffocating atmosphere that lingers long after turning the final page. The world-building is meticulous, with every detail contributing to the oppressive tone, while the characters are complex and flawed, making their descent into the story’s dark heart all the more gripping.

The novel grapples with heavy themes—sacrifice, belief, and morality—without feeling preachy, instead leaving much of the interpretation up to the reader. While this ambiguity is one of the book’s strengths, it also occasionally leaves certain plot points feeling underdeveloped or overly vague.

That said, The Divine Flesh is a compelling read for fans of literary horror or speculative fiction with a philosophical edge. Its haunting imagery and thought-provoking narrative make it a book worth revisiting and discussing.

Shockingly bold and bizarre. This novel is clearly unafraid to cross any boundaries set by conventional society. The craft is solid even if the premise is fluid.

The Divine Flesh was such a good and entertaining story to read on a cosy rainy day. Loved the story. I wanted more at the end of it, to be honest. Was so good.

“The Divine Flesh” by Drew Huff is a sci-fi-horror novel that is chaotic, bizarre, disturbing, and intense. The cover art of the book is amazing and drew me in, but the fast-paced and unique plot kept me hooked and wanting more. The story becomes more intense and unhinged the further you get into it. The imagery in the book is surreal and vivid.

The story is about a junkie named Jennifer who has a primeval goddess inside her. The goddess refers to herself as “The Divine Flesh” and makes Jennifer's job smuggling the larvae of “Mirror People” difficult. Jennifer also has a complicated relationship with her ex-husband who is madly in love with the goddess. Jennifer's life is thrown into chaos when someone tries to kill her ex-husband and successfully kills his new girlfriend and their friend.

I loved this book and highly recommend it! I will definitely be reading more from Drew Huff. Thank you, Net Galley and Dark Matter INK, for the ARC!

“The Divine Flesh” by Drew Huff comes out March 04th, 2025.