Reviews with content warning for Rape - Les dangers de fumer au lit

I have a minor concussion and covid which I think is to blame for this generous ranking (although one star is solely for The Well). The problem with many of the shorts is that the premise never fully gets off the ground, however I found the potential of an idea in many of them to actually be interesting and something I would of loved to read more on.

A city that traps you with the abused, dead children haunting you—forcing the society that's abandoned them to be confronted by them, to wretch at their smell and be fearful of actually seeing them. A small town's luck going to shit because of the abuse of an outsider and how the family that was kind is saved from this curse but must navigate the growing suspension or paranoia from their neighbors. A ghost manipulating and luring a suicidal woman to entrap her, freeing her spirit while condemning the woman's instead to never find peace. A musician with a cult-like following and the fans behavior being so obsessive still after his death that it lead to cannibalism. A woman with an intense fetish for cardiovascular diseases until it's not enough for them to be dying but instead she must hear and feel their actual deaths.

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)

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elwirax's review against another edition

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slow-paced

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

I genuinely do not understand why this was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It also took me way too long to read despite being a short story collection.

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

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sadlytriste's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

It was my first time reading a collection of short stories and my first horror book, and I found the experience quite enjoyable. Immersing myself in one story at a time was a unique experience, but some of the stories were so compelling that I couldn't resist reading more. It felt like a fantastic foray into the world of horror literature. Mariana Enriquez's writing style is captivating and enthralling, keeping me eagerly anticipating what would happen next with every page turn. Mariana Enriquez skillfully delves into a wide range of themes, including witchcraft, curses, trauma, and forbidden desires.

Among all the stories, "Meat" and "Kids Who Come Back" were my favorites. However, I should note that the stories can be pretty vile, so if you don't like that, you should probably avoid it. Overall, I would rate the collection 4 out of 5.

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rowanelisa's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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libraryoflanelle's review against another edition

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2.0

This was my first Mariana Enriquez and I did not like it. I figured some of the language use could have been down to translation issues, this being an earlier work and/or a one off but sadly that does not seem to be the case. I do not often review books that aren't ARCs so did not immediately review this one, despite having issue with it. I CANNOT recommend this book. The writing style and some of the stories were very much my vibe but the repeated use of inappropriate language and a whole lot of fatphobia cannot go unmentioned. Below are some examples along with TWs for those who feel similarly to me or who appreciate the heads up.

Some NOPE quotes with TWs (pg numbers from UK edition):

TW: Inappropriate slavery reference

“I claimed mental exhaustion, and they understood; "You've been working like a s***e," they told me.” Pg 8

TW: Fatphobia

“Maybe if he saw how ugly her body was she had some really tubby legs, which she claimed were because she'd played hockey when she was little, but half of us had played hockey too, and none of us had those big ham hocks. Plus she had a flat ass and broad hips, which was why jeans never fit her well. If he saw those defects (plus the black hairs she never really got rid of maybe she couldn't pull them out down to the root, she was really dark), maybe Diego would stop liking Silvia and finally pay attention to us.” Pg 16

“A girl was walking ahead of her, somewhat unsta ble, with jeans too low and tight on her hips so her flaccid belly spilled out from under her short shirt a roll of chalky, stretch-marked flesh that would have been easy to hide with a long, baggy shirt, but the girl clearly wasn't worried about aesthetics.” Pg 57

TW: Transphobia

“but carefully, because she didn't want any cops to see her, and she didn't want to ask the tr*****s for money, because they beat up girls like her.” Pg 132

Content Warnings

goldbs's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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