A Feast of Putrid Delights

In this wonderfully disgusting horror novella from debut author Rojas, a chef attempts to piece her life back together after surviving the bombing of a queer club. Antonia’s path forward involves starting a trendy New York City restaurant, but even working herself to the bone can’t cure her insomnia. A string of sleepless nights brings her into the path of Booth, an enigmatic drug dealer distributing a hallucinogen called Cloud, and under its influence she’s finally able to get a good night’s sleep. As a side effect, however, her senses are left irrevocably altered, making all food and drink taste rancid and impossible to keep down. As she seeks answers from an increasingly elusive Booth and slowly uncovers the truth about what will satisfy her altered taste b uds, her life spirals out of control. Through gorgeous, visceral prose, Rojas explores survivor’s guilt, eating disorders, and alienation, frequently venturing into exciting and dangerous territory as Antonia’s mental state crumbles. An abrupt ending makes the story feel half-finished, however, and much of the ambitious setup goes unresolved. Still, fans of body horror and hallucinatory prose will find a lot to love. (Apr.)