This is the closest you'll find me getting to 'seasonal reading'. The easiest comparison is definitely 'The Addams Family' - it's lighthearted for spooky season, but comes with a side order of horror movie. 

The Savages are a fairly normal family. Mum overindulges in designer clothes; Dad works too hard; brother has a penchant for pranks and sister's going through her vegetarian phase. Which would be fine, except for the part where it's a family tradition to enjoy the odd feast of human flesh. So it's not great when a PI starts nosing around Dad's dodgy dealings... or when a prank goes slightly awry...

First of all, I love the fact that there is a proper set up to this premise; it's not just a plot point. The author has done a little bit of research into history and built his family accordingly. So while it's definitely a bit 'out there', the family tradition is explained in such a way that is actually believable. It's woven into the story really well too. 

Equally, it's a great exploration of what happens when someone wants to free themselves from tradition and find their own path. In this case, Sasha, the daughter, is simply trying to impress a boy at school, but in the process learns a few things about herself. Examining this through the lens of meat eating vs vegetarianism vs veganism is quite clever because it's such a simple thing that people choose, but in here every part of the spectrum is included, and indeed closes the loop! It speaks of the pressures teens are put under and put themselves under, and ultimately finding the strength to take your own stance.

The writing manages to strike a really good balance between character and plot. All of the characters are well fleshed out and pop off the page for their own reasons, and each serves the wider story well and takes a turn in the spotlight. I wouldn't say it's laugh out loud funny, but it is humorous, and while it's not gory or a full on bloodbath, it's not exactly a normal Sunday lunch they're preparing. But overall, unless you are a really sensitive reader this is a tale you can take with a pinch of seasoning and just tuck into and enjoy.

I think the only letdown for me is the ending. There are moments in the narrative that indicate the writer is speaking of events that have already occurred and do you do get an indication of the way things are heading, but it's not 100% clear until you get there. It does round off the story to a good clean conclusion, but I almost wanted more ambiguity, or a return to 'normal' after the story's crescendo. 

Overall an enjoyable read. And I know just the person to pass this book onto!