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Consume!: A Cannibal's Collection of Novelettes
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
About the author
Nathan D. Ludwig
16 books59 followersNathan is a writer and filmmaker currently living just outside of Richmond, VA.
He is the founder and director of the GenreBlast Film Festival, an acclaimed international independent genre film fest that was recently named one of the 50 Best Genre Fests in the world by Moviemaker Magazine.
His published books include the novel LOVE POTION #666 and his short story collection THE COMFY-COZY NIHILIST: A HANDBOOK OF DARK FICTION.
He has co-directed four short films with his filmmaking partner, Chad Farmer. They also collaborate on books and screenplays together.
He is also a film producer, having produced Samantha Kolesnik's short film MAMA'S BOY as well as the feature film adaptation of WORST LAID PLANS from Grindhouse Press.
He is the founder and director of the GenreBlast Film Festival, an acclaimed international independent genre film fest that was recently named one of the 50 Best Genre Fests in the world by Moviemaker Magazine.
His published books include the novel LOVE POTION #666 and his short story collection THE COMFY-COZY NIHILIST: A HANDBOOK OF DARK FICTION.
He has co-directed four short films with his filmmaking partner, Chad Farmer. They also collaborate on books and screenplays together.
He is also a film producer, having produced Samantha Kolesnik's short film MAMA'S BOY as well as the feature film adaptation of WORST LAID PLANS from Grindhouse Press.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Did Not Finish
June 25, 2026DNF at 66%
Was looking forward to this, as I love Nathan D. Ludwig, but I didn’t like his story or the other two at all!!
Heads up TW…story #2 involves the eating of live animals (Olive Baboons!!) 🤬
Was looking forward to this, as I love Nathan D. Ludwig, but I didn’t like his story or the other two at all!!
Heads up TW…story #2 involves the eating of live animals (Olive Baboons!!) 🤬
June 26, 2026
The book is extreme horror satire or splatterpunk horror comedy; three stories each very different from the others, the authors blasting through every kind of moral boundary, demolishing ethical restraints and restrictive social paradigms with gusto and vigorous enjoyment. The theme is cannibalism, and the tales are therefore extremely graphic and violent - to the point, in fact, that sometimes the dark humor gets buried underneath an overwhelming flood of bodily fluids and sick and depraved behaviors, including animal harm, sexual perversion, non-consensual sex, and child murder. Thankfully, a lot of the situations transpire in absurd contexts, so that it's often easy not to take them too seriously!
What's more, it's fortunate that Nathan Ludwig, who also wrote the introduction to the volume, supplies us with a handy one-sentence summary of each story.
Ludwig's own tale, "The Rostov Lottery" is summarized as "Human meat lotteries to improve your credit score."
"What you eat, you are" by Paul Grammatico: "Killer baboons on a cruise ship from Hell."
"Butt I’m hungry!" by Chad Farmer: "A cannibal with high cholesterol who develops a craving for anuses."
If these nifty summaries intrigue you, you're in for a treat, since they're just scratching the surface. For example, "Rostov" has a strong splatterpunk feel, since it depicts in no uncertain terms how easy it is for human flesh to become a commodity, and how eagerly people might end up acting like zombies in the streets, attacking other people out of hunger. If this story were ever turned into a novel, it might be what "Tender Is The Flesh" should have been: gross, bleak, gritty, real - downright vile with no apology offered! Ludwig's story feels far more realistic, an exploration of the premise and a very dark warning as well.
Grammatico's contribution also has a splatterpunk feel, as it touches on the culinary shenanigans of the elite. It goes a little overboard (pun intended) with the ecological message, but ultimately it's all in good fun, especially if you're familiar with extreme horror fiction. If anything, some actual cannibalism, in the raw so to speak, might have been included; as it is, it's mostly implied, and perhaps easy to miss amidst the chaotic amd messy developments in the story.
Chad Farmer's contribution was the most brutal and goriest, and that's saying something considering the previous two didn't pull any punches. It's strictly extreme horror, plenty entertaining for experienced readers, but surely not the best introduction to the genre: the main character's fixation on a certain body hole, his revolting behavior towards women, and the black AF humor in the last third of the story will put less thick-skinned people off.
Overall, "Consume" is a well-crafted cannibalism anthology, with a couple of nice messages, and a deeply disturbing set of nightmarish images bound to linger in the mind for some time! Recommend!
What's more, it's fortunate that Nathan Ludwig, who also wrote the introduction to the volume, supplies us with a handy one-sentence summary of each story.
Ludwig's own tale, "The Rostov Lottery" is summarized as "Human meat lotteries to improve your credit score."
"What you eat, you are" by Paul Grammatico: "Killer baboons on a cruise ship from Hell."
"Butt I’m hungry!" by Chad Farmer: "A cannibal with high cholesterol who develops a craving for anuses."
If these nifty summaries intrigue you, you're in for a treat, since they're just scratching the surface. For example, "Rostov" has a strong splatterpunk feel, since it depicts in no uncertain terms how easy it is for human flesh to become a commodity, and how eagerly people might end up acting like zombies in the streets, attacking other people out of hunger. If this story were ever turned into a novel, it might be what "Tender Is The Flesh" should have been: gross, bleak, gritty, real - downright vile with no apology offered! Ludwig's story feels far more realistic, an exploration of the premise and a very dark warning as well.
Grammatico's contribution also has a splatterpunk feel, as it touches on the culinary shenanigans of the elite. It goes a little overboard (pun intended) with the ecological message, but ultimately it's all in good fun, especially if you're familiar with extreme horror fiction. If anything, some actual cannibalism, in the raw so to speak, might have been included; as it is, it's mostly implied, and perhaps easy to miss amidst the chaotic amd messy developments in the story.
Chad Farmer's contribution was the most brutal and goriest, and that's saying something considering the previous two didn't pull any punches. It's strictly extreme horror, plenty entertaining for experienced readers, but surely not the best introduction to the genre: the main character's fixation on a certain body hole, his revolting behavior towards women, and the black AF humor in the last third of the story will put less thick-skinned people off.
Overall, "Consume" is a well-crafted cannibalism anthology, with a couple of nice messages, and a deeply disturbing set of nightmarish images bound to linger in the mind for some time! Recommend!
July 26, 2026
It’s very rare that you read a book that comes with movie recommendations. This one includes five recs from each of the contributing authors, highlighting the films’ influence on each of them.
The first story is called The Rostov Lottery, by Nathan D. Ludwig. I’ve read his work before, so I had an idea of what to expect from him. In the not so distant future, the state of the union is such that eating humans is legalized, but only in a highly regulated way. Murder is still murder. But that doesn’t stop people from sourcing their own human meat. It’s bleak and a little disjointed due to the method of storytelling (journal entries). I would love to read an expanded version of this story.
Next is What You Eat, You Are, by Paul Grammatico. This is probably where some folks will decide to close the book and move on. Not me though. A normal guy and his girlfriend take a cruise that features an adventurous menu prepared by a world renowned chef. The guy doesn’t have the stomach for the more eclectic selections, but his girlfriend and the other rich people are more than excited about it. I don’t blame the guy. I don’t think I’d be excited about being served live apes and mallets either. Anyway, this meal doesn’t agree with them and they start mutating into rampaging monkey monsters. Chaos ensues. My only complaint is that the human cannibalism isn’t a bigger part of the story.
The last story is Butt I’m Hungry!, by Chad Farmer. A cannibal finds himself in an unusual AA meeting and accidentally learns that the butthole is the most satisfying part of the body to consume. This story was my favorite. No, I will not be taking questions.
This was a pretty good read. Three very different cannibalism scenarios written by three very different authors. I am entertained.
The first story is called The Rostov Lottery, by Nathan D. Ludwig. I’ve read his work before, so I had an idea of what to expect from him. In the not so distant future, the state of the union is such that eating humans is legalized, but only in a highly regulated way. Murder is still murder. But that doesn’t stop people from sourcing their own human meat. It’s bleak and a little disjointed due to the method of storytelling (journal entries). I would love to read an expanded version of this story.
Next is What You Eat, You Are, by Paul Grammatico. This is probably where some folks will decide to close the book and move on. Not me though. A normal guy and his girlfriend take a cruise that features an adventurous menu prepared by a world renowned chef. The guy doesn’t have the stomach for the more eclectic selections, but his girlfriend and the other rich people are more than excited about it. I don’t blame the guy. I don’t think I’d be excited about being served live apes and mallets either. Anyway, this meal doesn’t agree with them and they start mutating into rampaging monkey monsters. Chaos ensues. My only complaint is that the human cannibalism isn’t a bigger part of the story.
The last story is Butt I’m Hungry!, by Chad Farmer. A cannibal finds himself in an unusual AA meeting and accidentally learns that the butthole is the most satisfying part of the body to consume. This story was my favorite. No, I will not be taking questions.
This was a pretty good read. Three very different cannibalism scenarios written by three very different authors. I am entertained.
Review of advance copy
I got super excited about this, as a horror reader. It was a way to check out three authors that I'd never read and I absolutely love cannibalism stories as it states.
The first story was… okay. I did like the format it was in, as it's told through journal entries and aired shows. It was more of a satirical take on the politics behind cannibalism becoming legal. It was slightly disjointed and left a lot to interpret, but that's not a bad thing as I believe this was the intention. What I disliked was that it was more exploratory and dystopian, letting the horror of it lie in the idea. I did like how the dry humor of it leaned more into the societal apathy and how easily people can give in to violence and unethical things based on if it's "legalized".
I was hoping that the following two stories would be more focused on the graphic nature. While they both are very different takes, the second story was… well… it was definitely graphic… but I don't think this is a cannibalism story. The idea of the cruise and the "chef" was interesting but the author spent more time on explaining the act of shaving, down to the brand and actions, but then glossed over the actual story plotline. Also… I know it's all satirical, but no way an esteemed chef would serve live raw animals that he's never even touched. By the time the "cannibalism" happens, the infected aren't human anymore so… is it really cannibalism? I just found it boring.
At this point I was so checked out that I just skimmed the third story and it just went immediately into feces and gross things, and I was convinced that this whole read was just not worth it anymore.
Ultimately, boring, not very well written, nothing made me laugh OR feel horrified. At least the first story had a thought process and some modicum of skill and that's the only reason it gets a second star, despite not really feeling horror.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first story was… okay. I did like the format it was in, as it's told through journal entries and aired shows. It was more of a satirical take on the politics behind cannibalism becoming legal. It was slightly disjointed and left a lot to interpret, but that's not a bad thing as I believe this was the intention. What I disliked was that it was more exploratory and dystopian, letting the horror of it lie in the idea. I did like how the dry humor of it leaned more into the societal apathy and how easily people can give in to violence and unethical things based on if it's "legalized".
I was hoping that the following two stories would be more focused on the graphic nature. While they both are very different takes, the second story was… well… it was definitely graphic… but I don't think this is a cannibalism story. The idea of the cruise and the "chef" was interesting but the author spent more time on explaining the act of shaving, down to the brand and actions, but then glossed over the actual story plotline. Also… I know it's all satirical, but no way an esteemed chef would serve live raw animals that he's never even touched. By the time the "cannibalism" happens, the infected aren't human anymore so… is it really cannibalism? I just found it boring.
At this point I was so checked out that I just skimmed the third story and it just went immediately into feces and gross things, and I was convinced that this whole read was just not worth it anymore.
Ultimately, boring, not very well written, nothing made me laugh OR feel horrified. At least the first story had a thought process and some modicum of skill and that's the only reason it gets a second star, despite not really feeling horror.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I decided to rate these individually, which worked out for the best as I DNFed 1 of the 3 novellas. Overall this is an interesting collection, but I’m not sure who the target audience is as each story is so different that I struggle to picture someone who would get a lot of enjoyment from all 3.
The Rostov Lottery:
4.5⭐️
This was the sort of story I hoped for when I read Tender is the flesh. And when I picked up this book. It was short, but it didn’t feel like it was limited by its shortness. Instead, it told a gripping story through snippets of television shows and diary entries. The confused and confusing rambles of someone just existing through a government sanctioned horror. I honestly think this could be a much longer story and I would still eat it up.
What you eat, you are:
3⭐️
This one wasn’t the sort of story I’d expect to appear in a book themed on cannibalism. There was some, yes, but it was in such an oddly dignified manner and so many other things were happening. I don’t think this story was bad, but it didn’t feel like it belonged here. I found the characters (especially the main couple) so unlikeable, even at the end. I kept hoping that Nate would be redeemed somehow but he just wasn’t. Who leaves their very ill partner alone without even checking up on them?
Butt I’m hungry:
No star rating as DNF’ed
This one was the one I was most apprehensive about anyway based on the title and little description I saw. I gave it as best of a go as I could, but having read the full first chapter and part of the second I know it’s not for me. And I just don’t think me pushing to finish it anyway and then reviewing it would be helpful. But someone out there might enjoy it.
Average rating: 3.75⭐️ (rounded up to 4⭐️ here)
I read and reviewed an e-arc of this collection. Thank you to the authors and to book sirens✨
The Rostov Lottery:
4.5⭐️
This was the sort of story I hoped for when I read Tender is the flesh. And when I picked up this book. It was short, but it didn’t feel like it was limited by its shortness. Instead, it told a gripping story through snippets of television shows and diary entries. The confused and confusing rambles of someone just existing through a government sanctioned horror. I honestly think this could be a much longer story and I would still eat it up.
What you eat, you are:
3⭐️
This one wasn’t the sort of story I’d expect to appear in a book themed on cannibalism. There was some, yes, but it was in such an oddly dignified manner and so many other things were happening. I don’t think this story was bad, but it didn’t feel like it belonged here. I found the characters (especially the main couple) so unlikeable, even at the end. I kept hoping that Nate would be redeemed somehow but he just wasn’t. Who leaves their very ill partner alone without even checking up on them?
Butt I’m hungry:
No star rating as DNF’ed
This one was the one I was most apprehensive about anyway based on the title and little description I saw. I gave it as best of a go as I could, but having read the full first chapter and part of the second I know it’s not for me. And I just don’t think me pushing to finish it anyway and then reviewing it would be helpful. But someone out there might enjoy it.
Average rating: 3.75⭐️ (rounded up to 4⭐️ here)
I read and reviewed an e-arc of this collection. Thank you to the authors and to book sirens✨
August 8, 2026
Overall, this trio of novelettes made me think, made me chuckle, and made me gasp. Three different, distinct flavors of cannibal-horror. My thoughts on each are down below:
THE ROSTOV LOTTERY
I really enjoyed this dystopian tale. It shares some DNA with "Tender is the Flesh," one of my favorite reads of the past few years. The epistolary format is a clever way to explore this horrible (please-let-it-never-happen) future. A thematically-rich and thought-provoking piece of dark fiction!
WHAT YOU EAT, YOU ARE
A fun sci-fi story. I love creature/animal-attack horror, and this eventually involves nasty baboon-monsters. This one isn’t for the faint of heart, as bad things do happen to both dogs and children. Ultimately, it’s bonkers cruise-ship mayhem reminiscent of something like "Deep Rising"—and like that film, this novelette touches upon eat-the-rich themes, which I always appreciate.
BUTT I’M HUNGRY!
This tale…goes places. Vivid, hard-to-unsee places. That’s a compliment—I will never forget what I read in these pages. I don’t often dive into stories that are this extreme, but I’m glad that, as a lifelong horror fan, I can still be surprised/shocked/grossed-out. “Butt I’m Hungry” has shown me that I am not completely desensitized or dead inside, yay! Chad Farmer has a real way with words!
THE ROSTOV LOTTERY
I really enjoyed this dystopian tale. It shares some DNA with "Tender is the Flesh," one of my favorite reads of the past few years. The epistolary format is a clever way to explore this horrible (please-let-it-never-happen) future. A thematically-rich and thought-provoking piece of dark fiction!
WHAT YOU EAT, YOU ARE
A fun sci-fi story. I love creature/animal-attack horror, and this eventually involves nasty baboon-monsters. This one isn’t for the faint of heart, as bad things do happen to both dogs and children. Ultimately, it’s bonkers cruise-ship mayhem reminiscent of something like "Deep Rising"—and like that film, this novelette touches upon eat-the-rich themes, which I always appreciate.
BUTT I’M HUNGRY!
This tale…goes places. Vivid, hard-to-unsee places. That’s a compliment—I will never forget what I read in these pages. I don’t often dive into stories that are this extreme, but I’m glad that, as a lifelong horror fan, I can still be surprised/shocked/grossed-out. “Butt I’m Hungry” has shown me that I am not completely desensitized or dead inside, yay! Chad Farmer has a real way with words!
August 28, 2026
This is a set of stories that in design does exactly what it sets itself out to do. Make the reader unconfutable.
The first story is the least horror based and mostly plays on morel concepts and societal construct of what can become normal.
The second story. Hits you hard due to the concept of what is acceptable as soon as you throw money at it.
The third story. Sorry I didn't read it all, out of everything scat play is something I cannot handle.
Overall, well written, easy to read and follow the story points. No over the top needles descriptions of pointless things.
You will need a strong stomach to read this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first story is the least horror based and mostly plays on morel concepts and societal construct of what can become normal.
The second story. Hits you hard due to the concept of what is acceptable as soon as you throw money at it.
The third story. Sorry I didn't read it all, out of everything scat play is something I cannot handle.
Overall, well written, easy to read and follow the story points. No over the top needles descriptions of pointless things.
You will need a strong stomach to read this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 19, 2026
this is a review of an advanced copy!
I really wanted to like this book, but, I didn't enjoy any of the stories, unfortunately :(
''What You Eat, You Are'' was the story that I enjoyed the most but I only made it through half the story when I felt like it lowkey lost the plot.
I think it was also the fact that I went in expecting a full Splatterpunk collection but after reading the Intro, I did manage my expectations a little but it still wasn't my cup of tea.
I really wanted to like this book, but, I didn't enjoy any of the stories, unfortunately :(
''What You Eat, You Are'' was the story that I enjoyed the most but I only made it through half the story when I felt like it lowkey lost the plot.
I think it was also the fact that I went in expecting a full Splatterpunk collection but after reading the Intro, I did manage my expectations a little but it still wasn't my cup of tea.
June 26, 2026
VIDEO STORE RECOMMENDATIONS
NATHAN’S RECS
EATING RAOUL (1982)
BRAZIL (1985)
THE UNTOLD STORY (1993)
REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA (2008)
FRESH (2022)
PAUL’S RECS
SOYLENT GREEN (1973)
THE UNDERTAKER (1988)
DEAD CALM (1989)
AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (2022)
CHAD’S RECS
MOTEL HELL (1980)
BLOOD DINER (1987)
RAVENOUS (1999)
OFFICE SPACE (1999)
LIVE FEED (2006)
NATHAN’S RECS
EATING RAOUL (1982)
BRAZIL (1985)
THE UNTOLD STORY (1993)
REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA (2008)
FRESH (2022)
PAUL’S RECS
SOYLENT GREEN (1973)
THE UNDERTAKER (1988)
DEAD CALM (1989)
AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000)
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (2022)
CHAD’S RECS
MOTEL HELL (1980)
BLOOD DINER (1987)
RAVENOUS (1999)
OFFICE SPACE (1999)
LIVE FEED (2006)
July 18, 2026
"Consume!: A Cannibal's Collection of Novelettes" offers a chilling selection of tales centered around the gruesome act of consuming human flesh. Disturbing yet imaginative, these stories are gripping from start to finish. So, pick your favorite piece and savor every bite.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2026
An unholy trilogy from an unholy three. A sharpened harpoon of black humor that would make Ahab green with envy, coupled with never-ending satire that would make a misanthrope blush.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wondered what treasures this book would hold and was fairly disappointed.
The Rostov Lottery had a promising premise, and started with humour. But became confusing after a while. I think the main character descending toward insanity caused the confusion. However the first line was epic.
“It's lonely being a cannibal; tough making friends.”
What You Eat, You Are was the story I thought I would like (being a cruise enthusiast myself), and there was plenty of gore but too much artistic license was used and it included one of the worst descriptions of a sex scene that I have ever encountered.
Butt, I'm Hungry was much worse than I expected. I only finished it because it was short and I hate DNFing books.
I'm afraid I will not be reading anything from these authors in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and am unfortunately for the authors in this case, leaving a completely honest review.
The Rostov Lottery had a promising premise, and started with humour. But became confusing after a while. I think the main character descending toward insanity caused the confusion. However the first line was epic.
“It's lonely being a cannibal; tough making friends.”
What You Eat, You Are was the story I thought I would like (being a cruise enthusiast myself), and there was plenty of gore but too much artistic license was used and it included one of the worst descriptions of a sex scene that I have ever encountered.
Butt, I'm Hungry was much worse than I expected. I only finished it because it was short and I hate DNFing books.
I'm afraid I will not be reading anything from these authors in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and am unfortunately for the authors in this case, leaving a completely honest review.
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