Woman, Eating

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A young, mixed-race vampire grapples with her desire to live among humans while battling her insatiable hunger in this captivating debut. Lydia longs to experience the flavors of Japanese cuisine, like sashimi and ramen, reminiscent of her father's tastes, as well as bubble tea and ice cream. However, her unique physiology limits her to blood, and finding fresh pigs' blood in London proves more challenging than expected. As she navigates life in a studio space where she secretly squats, Lydia interacts with fellow artists, including Ben, a charming artist who sparks her interest. Despite their allure, she struggles to view them as anything but prey. In her windowless studio, she immerses herself in art, binge-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and food videos online, reflecting on her existence. Although she possesses what many humans desire—youth, near-invulnerability, and immortality—she feels profound loneliness and an unending hunger. As Lydia evolves as both a woman and an artist, she must confront the internal conflicts of her dual nature, mixed heritage, and relationship with food and humans. Ultimately, she must find a way to reconcile these elements to carve out her place in the world, but first, she must satisfy her hunger.