Tender

by Lauren DuPlessis · 2025

Twenty-eight-year-old Nell, an archaeobotanist who maintains a curated, perfect veneer, finds her life unraveling when she is tasked with excavating two 'bog bodies' discovered in Somerset. As she digs into the mud, she uncovers repressed childhood memories and a strained relationship with her sister, while her own body begins to manifest a wildness she can no longer suppress. Set against a backdrop of eco-anxiety, the novel follows Nell through a toxic romance and intense friendships as she struggles to reconcile her past and future. It is a story that blends folkloric horror with an exploration of womanhood and the violence of accepting one's darkest sides.