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dacha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Child abuse and Pedophilia
Minor: Trafficking and Grief
shapeshiftwithme's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Body shaming, Pedophilia, Excrement, Trafficking, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gore and Transphobia
rachbreads's review against another edition
3.75
We were scared, but fear doesn’t look the same as desperation.
Read for "spooky month" as well as Hispanic Heritage month with my bookclub - loved the strong Argentinian history, the Latin traditions and superstitions, and her lack of fear in pushing the boundaries of how women are depicted on the page as violent, grotesque, and unhinged.
Triggers abound - check the warnings closely.
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Sexual violence
Graphic and intense masturbation. Most of the sexual assault/violence is strongly inferred or depicted more psychologically. Not any rape or child molestation depicted on the page but it is frequently referenced.tontu00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, and Transphobia
aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
lethargicbat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
These are all fascinating and would of been glorious premises for stories but.... None of them actually clicked. None of them gained the momentum they deserve to life it off the ground and be an actual story. Instead, while hacking up phlegm and blood with a 102 fever, I'm laying in bed thinking of what these ideas could of been and appreciating them only as that: ideas.
As short stories they failed in being actual stories. Most failed in feeling developed, in having a conclusion that felt satisfactory, and in providing any real progression in these ideas beyond attempts of using shock or disgust as entertainment. After awhile it gets boring to read about people shitting on sidewalks when you know it's just to trigger an ‘oh ew!’ effect or to read about how apparently every attractive person is bony and too depressed to eat when you know it doesn't add any character flavor or progress. Instead of a written story it felt as if you were in a bar listening to someone who you barely like drunkenly tell you their idea for a book and instead of actually progressing that idea that does have potential, they just add a little padding around it. And then do it again and again, until finally you have this collection.
But, I must repeat myself because I mean it, I really liked the ideas for the most part. The stories go by quick (even if that may be because there isn't much substance to them) and I enjoyed many little lines here and there. But for the most part it failed as a short story collection and the drabbles would of been better as writing prompts, making me ultimately disappointed on something I (maybe unfairly?) hyped up in my head and was excited for ://
Other than The Well. I loved that one immensely, from the premise to the actual execution, and it felt like a personal hate crime until I got to Kids Who Come Back and it actually was one. (/lh)
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Excrement, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Transphobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
mondovertigo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Excrement, and Trafficking
Moderate: Incest and Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism and Vomit
elwirax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
These short stories highlighted many real life horrors in the world such as pedophilia, child trafficking and rape, suicide and self harm. While I tend to enjoy sociopolitical horror, the way certain themes were explored felt less like thoughtful commentary and more like shock value.
The stories were packed with misogyny and 'kids who come back' used problematic transphobic language. I suppose that this was used as a tool to present bias and prejudice as a horror of the world and highlighted the idea that the narrator's are just as 'monstrous' as the events happening. I am not insinuating that these are the author's beliefs, merely that it can be harmful to readers.
Overall, not a very good literary horror collection, either in terms of plot or writing.
Angelita Unearthed: 2 stars
Our Lady of the Quarry:1 star
The Cart: 1 star
The Well: 2.5 stars
Rambla Triste: 2 stars
The Lookout: 2.5 stars
Where are you , dear heart: 1 star
Meat: 2 stars
No birthdays or baptisms: 1 star
Kids who come back: 0.5 star
The dangers of smoking in bed: 1 star
Back when we talked to the dead: 3 stars
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, and Excrement
Minor: Sexual content, Transphobia, and Trafficking
laran_s's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Trafficking
mionnechan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
D'un côté, j'ai eu des nouvelles dans lesquelles je me suis investie et qui m'ont touchées, mais de l'autre c'était tout l'inverse. Ce n'est pas à cause de la plume qui est très efficace pour plonger dans une ambiance en peu de mots, mais le contenu qui semblait parfois peu abouti en raison du la nature des nouvelles. Je ne vais pas vous mentir, la majorité des fins étaient ouvertes et c'est quelque chose qui a tendance à me saouler. Donc peut-être que c'est ça qui m'a un peu bloqué dans le livre.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Pedophilia