Skin by Kathe Koja (1994)

5 out of 5 stars

Tess is a metal sculptor who, through a chance meeting, forms a friendship with dancer Bibi. Bibi encourages Tess to join her troupe and they begin a journey into performance art, but as artistic boundaries are pushed so are the limits of their relationship.

Skin was such a powerful read for me. Koja's writing is in a league of its own, very evocative with strong feelings and strong visuals.

It's about friendships, relationships, sexuality, forms of body modification like piercing and scarification, extreme performance art, creation and destruction, transformation, transcendence; how an intense relationship can be intense in both a good way and a bad way. It was surprisingly emotional, and I found myself deeply invested in these characters.

Part psychological horror and part body horror; it is visceral and shocking while also being alluring and emotional. I'm still reeling from this one.