We are all aware of vampires and werewolves dominating the romance genre. But is there space for zombies and cannibals? Sometimes what we are craving for is not the run-of-the-mill love story. Sometimes we need a bit more spice added to our narratives. While some of these recommendations are not really considered to be part of the romance category, they still address the human connections that are prominent in romance. So, if you dare, let’s explore some recommendations that feature zombies, cannibals, and beyond.
Trigger Warning: The mention of certain content and topics in this article may be triggering to some readers. These topics include cannibalism and violence.
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
In what is considered by some as one of the most disturbing books ever read, this dystopian horror follows the tale of Marcos, living in Argentina. Marcos lives in a world ravished by a virus that was labeled “The Transition” — in which all animal meat is deemed poisonous for human consumption. In place of animal meat, slaughterhouses started raising “special meat,” which turns out to be human beings — a newly accepted practice that the government considered legal. Attempting to survive the horrors of this new civilization, Marcos is having a rough time, as he is also dealing with separating from his wife and his father slowly slipping into dementia. But when Marcos brings home one of the products from the slaughterhouse in which he is employed, he is reminded of his humanity and questions this new framework for society.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Nominated in 2023 for Favorite Horror and Favorite Debut among Goodreads followers, this queer magical realism novel follows the tragic tale of Magos and her 11-year-old son, Santiago. After Santiago sadly dies, grief-stricken Magos cuts out a piece of his lung. She leaves her husband and her Brooklyn home to settle back in her family estate in Mexico City. Back in her family home, she begins to nurture and feed the piece of lung, until it miraculously begins to turn into a living being. Expressing the torment of a mother losing her child, this folklore-inspired story spans a journey from Brooklyn to Mexico City to Berlin.
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Some will remember the 2013 film adaptation starring Nicholas Hoult. This zombie romance is set in a dystopian future where the living dead roam the earth. Taking center stage is a zombie simply known as R. R is different from his fellow Dead. He seems to still cling to his humanity. This is evident in the ways he is attracted to human activities, such as riding on abandoned escalators, scavenging for artifacts, and zoning out to music. Julie enters his life — a human. R becomes enamored with Julie, and instead of feasting on her flesh, he grows protective of her. But this newfound love upturns R’s living-dead world.
Wranglestone by Darren Charlton
Continuing with the theme of a dystopian future, Wranglestone follows the adventures of a community living on an island in a lake within an American National Park. The citizens are protected from flesh-eating zombies due to the water that surrounds them. But winter proves to be dangerous, as the zombies can cross the frozen waters. At the center of the drama is Peter, who accidentally endangers the community by inviting a stranger into their borders. To redeem himself and impress his crush, Cooper, Peter sets out to defend the village from the zombies.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
Navigating through the obstacles of family relationships and the events that devastate these ties, this feminist psychological horror tracks the unraveling of Ji-won’s life. Everything is falling apart for Ji-won — her parents are divorcing and her college grades are slipping. Then Ji-won begins to have disturbing, yet exciting dreams: dreams obsessed with harvesting the eyes of the people she loathes. On the top of her most hated list is her mother’s new boyfriend, George. The Eyes Are the Best Part is a look into the making of a female serial killer from the perspective of a Korean-American culture.
American Rapture by C.J. Leede
With one more dystopian horror story to round out our list, American Rapture follows the journey of Sophie as she tries to survive the future American landscape that has been ravished by a virus. This virus transforms its infected into lust-filled creatures hungry for flesh. Trying to keep her virtue and purity intact, Sophie treks through the American Midwest to locate her family. As a good little Catholic girl, can Sophie survive the horrors raging across the country?
These recommendations all reflect the hunger for humanity that we sometimes face. Hopefully, they are enough to satisfy that insatiable hunger.
If you prefer something slightly less scary, check out our article: 7 Different Romances To Fall In Love With in 2024.
And for even more romance recommendations, hop into our bookshelf: Love is in the Air: Contemporary Romance.
