Cottingham (My Dearest Darkest) weaves a fresh take on the zombie meta in this blood-curdling horror novel that takes place two years after an unusual pathogen is released from melting icecaps. High school best friends Zoey Huxley, Celeste Fairbanks, Valeria Vega, and Jasmine Owusu have all contracted the disease, called the Hollowing, which causes the afflicted, known as ghouls, to crave human flesh. Fortunately, scientists have invented SynFlesh, a lab-grown substitute that, when eaten, can stave off the ghouls’ insatiable hunger. Thus sated, the quartet’s condition isn’t going to stop them from attending Desert Bloom, a music festival in the Mojave Desert. Upon arrival, the teens are invited to a party by one of the headlining bands. When Val suddenly disappears, the girls’ search for her reveals that she has been drugged into a murderous frenzy—and has already consumed one of the bandmates. Centering variously queer and racially diverse characters, whose interpersonal and ghoulish challenges are portrayed with equal gravitas, Cottingham impressively explores solidly teen issues regarding self-image against the backdrop of a haunting mystery and mystifying illness. Visceral horror depictions, a climbing body count, and socially conscious prose elevate this jaw-dropping chiller. Ages 14–up. Agent Erica Bauman, Aevitas Creative Management. (Apr.)

Hoping for one normal summer before graduation, Zoey and her three best friends take their cooler full of synthetic organs to Desert Bloom, a multiday music festival in the Mojave Desert, one of the first large social events allowed since the Hollowing, when a small part of the population transformed into flesh-eating ghouls. With the invention of SynFlesh, which satisfies ghouls' craving, those afflicted were reintegrated into normal life, though not without dissent. At first the festival is perfect owds, music, parties, cute boys (though bi Zoey is more interested in her friend, trans girl Celeste) t they find themselves in trouble when one of them goes temporarily feral and kills and eats someone. With some investigating, they learn her drink was laced with an unknown drug that could ruin ghouls' chances of leading normal lives forever. Cottingham blends black comedy with queer romance and self-aware nods to zombie fiction and current politics in this mystery that, while campy, doesn't pull back from its gorier, harrowing horror elements. A fresh take on the world post-zombie apocalypse.