Dying To Meat You: A Sapphic Horror Novella

by Cyan LeBlanc

What if you were hired as a ghostwriter to pen your own death sequence?

Struggling writer Arianta Collins receives the offer of a ghostwriting for the renowned horror novelist Katherine Bishop. Excited by the prospect of honing her craft and learning from her idol, Arianta eagerly accepts the invitation and moves to Katherine's secluded rural farmhouse in the southeast.

As Arianta delves deeper into her ghostwriting job, she begins to experience unsettling and vivid dreams that blur the line between reality and fiction. She feels herself becoming more and more immersed in the world of Katherine's twisted tales, and she can't shake the feeling that she's becoming the protagonist of her own horror story.

Caught in a nightmarish mix of sexual tension, deception, and horror, Arianta races to unravel the truth before it's too late.

"Dying To Meat You" is a graphic, stomach-churning horror novella that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the chilling conclusion.

Genres: Horror, Lesbian, LGBT, Novella

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2023

About the author

Cyan LeBlanc, a sapphic writer, has been writing since around 2008, beginning with fanfiction. They have entered the world of lesfic and are excited to share their upcoming works with women-loving-women fans. Cyan is a multi-genre writer who specializes in Sapphic characters in romance, horror, and thrillers.

Cyan is originally from California and now lives in Denver, Colorado, where they work as a florist during the day and as a Sapphic writer at night.

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book since I considered it quite a deviation from LeBlanc's usual storylines.

Ghostwriter Arianta Collins eagerly accepts a job offer from Katherine Bishop a popular horror novelist. The hitch, she must move in with Katherine in her remote farmhouse for three months. This bloody plot literally gave me goosebumps. The job contract stipulations, weird housekeeper, what is real and what is not, my imagination raced ahead of events trying to anticipate what was to come but failed at the task. The descriptions, dreams(?) gore and sex all clinically and cleverly handled by the author.

LeBlanc's latest is definitely not for the faint of heart and has an "open" conclusion. Is love mixed with horror possible? Read and find out.

I rec'd a copy from the author. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant, just like 'The Taste of a Woman'. This book follows Arianta Collins from her perspective as she ghostwrites for the captivating Katherine Bishop. I loved the way the relationship between Katherine and Arianta grows over time. The book is brilliantly written and one that I can't recommend enough. It's not for the faint-hearted and is definitely not for everyone, but it's a fantastic read, and I could not put it down.

⚠️ This book contains graphic and disturbing depictions of murder, cannibalism, sex, and farm-animal killings. It is intended for regular readers of horror novels and those who are comfortable with such content. However, please be advised that some readers may find these themes upsetting or triggering. Reader discretion is advised. ⚠️

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Sky. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST READ????

[Phylicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No. You weren't supposed to fall in love.”


4⭐️Great sapphic horror story. Definitely not everyone’s taste… you’ll get it when you read it. But I enjoyed the story and the double layer of ghost writing within a book.

It has all the traditional horror elements, creepy farm, disturbing and disfigured henchman type character, charismatic protagonist and naive and yet somewhat willing victim. Some of the haunting visuals are pretty full on but only added to the gore corn aspects which I really enjoyed.

The spice was pretty mild but there were seductive tones throughout so it was still entertaining.
Interesting plot twists too. Great sapphic story.

[Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the thought of this storyline and the fact that it's cannibalistic Sapphic! I wouldn't say the story is predictable, however it isn't very shocking. It's a good read and has some thought provoking moments but I definitely wanted a tighter ending; eventhough the roller coaster ride was pretty fun. This isn't for everyone; dark, what could be seen as kinky erotic, it goes where a typical narrative wouldn't-and I am here for every second of it. Cyan, I look forward to your next horror romance and the growth I know you'll bring.
If you're looking for something you wouldn't typically find in the horror department, give this a shot.

[Nicki Thoirs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the drama! I loved this quirky little story! Not for those with a weak stomach!

[liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

well it wasn’t very good but it was fun and entertaining

[Alecto · Rating 3 out of 5]

En un comienzo el libro me dio una sensación de intranquilidad, incluso nerviosa, pero al pasar a la tención sexual de la protagonista con esta aparente escritora misteriosa me resulto buena, sin embargo las alertas que el propio cuerpo de la protagonista ha este ambiente oscuro, opresivo y extraño no me permitieron entender como Arianta pudo quedarse el tiempo suficientes con esas mujeres, me hubiese gustado que se trabajara mas en como ella siendo una persona "normal" pudo encontrar en si misma un espacio vacío que ignoraba sobre si misma, ese deseo extraño, del hambre no es algo solamente sexual, si no también una sensación física (creo que falto enfatizar mas el cambio de alimentación de Arianta y que no solo fuera "vomitar" si no como siente el cambio en el paladar, rasgando desde el fondo por la insatisfacción al llamado de la carne menos mundana para nosotros) Me gusto esta lectura, pero quede un poco insatisfecha con el final, sentí que debió ser mucho más agresivo la brecha que existía entre ambas mujeres, no obstante para ser mis primeras lecturas con contenido caníbal, lo encontré decente. (aun estoy aprendiendo ingles, por eso deje mi nota en español, quizás vuelva a leerlo en el futuro para atar cabos sueltos )

[a.a. · Rating 3 out of 5]

hrmmm....
On one hand, I think the premise was very intriguing. I love to see authors taking risks with genres like this, and I think it was enjoyable. On the other hand, the narrative was a little all over the place in terms of Arianta liking, then unliking, then reliking again, etc. etc... I expected certain decisions and visuals to be developed or explained just a little more, but I was left wanting by the ultra fast-paced plot. There was a period of, like, three or four changes of heart by Arianta in a row. Which isn't automatically a bad idea, but because of the pacing, it felt very ham-fisted in the moment.
The characters were a little flat, but I really appreciated seeing all the standard horror fanfare repackaged into a sapphic erotic horror body.
HOWEVER. Worth my time? Worth my money? Absolutely, yes. I enjoyed the experience I had reading, overall, and I read that this was LeBlanc's first horror novel, so I think a solid piece was put forth. I'll definitely be looking to the rest of this author's catalogue.

[Clark Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of the title, I was not sure about this book. Would it be too cute? Would it try too hard?

In a word: No. I loved the story. The characters were fleshed out (no pun intended) beautifully. The story was as believable as a work of horror fiction could be.

Arianta is a ghostwriter looking for work. She is hired by a successful horror novelist, Katherine Bishop. Katherine is also a lesbian and a cannibal, a combination I have not come across before I read this story.

Did I enjoy this book? Maybe a little too much. Will you enjoy it? If you do, what does that say about you?

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was so fucked up and dark and bizarre. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing was good and even though this is less than 200 pages the plot fell fully developed and drawn out. There’s some erotic elements to it but it’s not sexy in the slightest. It gives a sleazy vibe and I mean that in the best way possible. I liked the way that it ended and just how resilient the main character Arianta is. There were some great and intense moments and this was just overall a really entertaining read.

[Jordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dying to Meat You is the frantic story of a woman's love and her indecision about what she can live with.

This story is hectic; very hectic. It felt disjointed and rushed because there wasn't much downtime between all the action. It was constant foot on the gas, and it made it really exhausting to read. I found it hard to keep up with this because there was just so much going on.

I didn't really care for any of the characters, and I couldn't get concerned for any of their well-being. Arianta could never make up her mind about anything and was constantly changing what she wanted and what she was doing. Katherine was an extremely flat character whose only documented traits were sexy and dangerous. The two of them had absolutely no chemistry together, and nobody could seem to figure out what they really wanted to do with each other.

The story itself had an interesting premise, but I don't think it was executed as well as it could have been. The big reveals were really predictable and telegraphed so early in the book that I didn't get the shock and surprise that I was after when the reveals happened. Because of that, it was hard for me to fully commit to reading this since I felt like I already knew what was coming.

Swing and a miss for me. As fun as reading about cannibalism is, this one was so detached that I just couldn't get into it.

[MS J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a horror/cannibal fan, so this made me feel quite queesy in parts. But that being said it was a change to the HEA that I normally read.
I got a bit frustrated with the main character, when she couldnt decide what she wanted, and stick to it. If I had to sum this story up in one word I'd say "Different"

[Ieva Valentinavičiūtė · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I still enjoyed it! I felt like the chemistry between the two FMCs wasn’t as strong as I hoped it would be, but it was still interesting to see how their story developed. I also really liked all the unsettling, disturbing moments, they kept the book engaging and surprising.

[Ngoni Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the plot was great, it just lacked a bit of bite in the end but it was pretty good.
I think Cyan did a good job since it was her first horror book. I just wish it was a bit more scary and shocking.

[Loralie Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I loved the book or hated it. It will definitely stay with me for a long time regardless. I found myself routing for the relationship between Katherine and Arianta work. I was hoping for more descriptive adult scenes instead of using safe words to describe them.

[Effie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5 🌟)

this sure was a book I read.

[Angelique Jordonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good Sapphic Horror story, look no further. Romance. Horror. All you need in one story.

[Gayle Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifyingly sexual and erotic.

This was an intriguing blend of erotic romance and horror, offering a unique experience. It leaves room for further exploration and raises unanswered questions that pique curiosity.

I recommend approaching this novella with an open mind, as it deviates from the typical sapphic horror/romance narratives.

Cyan LeBlanc has truly pushed boundaries with this work, and I eagerly anticipate his future writings. Thank you for delivering a sensually captivating story, delving into a lesbian's intense desires for both passion and darkness.

[Carolina Espinosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this book and finished it before the Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 8 happened because I was mentally and physically prepared to witness some gory stuff.

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride. For the best result make sure to follow this novel with the sequel “The Taste of Women” because the complete package is much greater than the sum of its parts. This is a novel with subject matter that would likely disturb some readers, but if you are cool with that then it will be something you are unlikely to forget. Somehow it struck a good balance between being disturbing without being excessive.

I loved this novel, but it wasn’t perfect. I think parts could use some more detail (longer overall) and development, clarity, maybe some editing? It feels like a 5-star novel trapped in a 3-star novels body, so its getting 4 due to the creativity on display. I would recommend (although not to everyone…. Because cannibals, hah!)

My Rating: "B"
GoodReads: 4-stars

Highlights:
-Originality. I haven’t read anything else quite like this before.
-Enthralling. I didn’t want to put this down (and I didn’t!).
-Atmospheric. I felt the dread and the unsettling vibes from this novel. The foreshadowing wasn’t particularly subtle, but in a way that really worked!

Nitpicks:
-Their relationship was a little underdeveloped. It somewhat just happened (instalust?). It is hard to balance horror and romance and the author did a good job but a few points could have been improved.
-I didn’t love the ending, as it was essentially a cliffhanger. As a standalone, I would have been annoyed by the lack of resolution. There was literally a question mark at the end! That said, the second novel (sidequel?) is out and available so this wasn’t a big issue.
-The protagonist did a lot of flip flopping throughout the novel without a lot of reason behind the sudden changes of heart. It felt like some scenes were a little rushed in that regard.
-Overall, this was either confusing or lacking in detail. The second novel provided that clarity/detail, and together this is a great package, but on its own there are some plot elements that don’t really make sense. This didn’t bother me too much because the whole novel is a psychedelic thrill-ride from an unreliable POV, so it doesn’t need to make sense.