ava_lanche's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Hailing from impoverished slums, trafficked children haunt the streets; raped and murdered girls reappear in silence; mothers curse their daughters; girls are possessed and scarred yet no one believes them. Crushed rib cages and torn entrails – anatomical obsessions turn bloody. Here, what is not said is the most powerful.
As with most collections of stories, some pieces are stronger than others. Many of these stories feel a little... unfinished. Some endings are unsatisfactory, which is such a shame, as most of the premises are unusually creative and thought-provoking.
However, "The Well", "Where Are You, Dear Heart?" and "Rambla Triste" were definite highlights. I also liked "The Cart" and "The Kids Who Come Back".
The stories work well together, and create a Buenos Aires that is filled with danger – physical, mental and paranormal. The poisons of the city has taken on a ghostly shape, and the repercussions are felt mostly by the women, whether it's their bodies or their minds that are marked by violence, and whether the sins are committed by people or by ghosts.
Graphic: Transphobia, Self harm, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Murder, Medical trauma, Death, Alcoholism, Trafficking, Suicide, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gore, and Excrement
woolgatherer's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Cannibalism, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Trafficking, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Transphobia
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
kjboldon's review
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Transphobia, Blood, Death, Body horror, Cannibalism, Self harm, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Trafficking
cantfindmybookmark'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
4.5
Graphic: Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Excrement, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
agat's review against another edition
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Abandonment, Vomit, Violence, Stalking, Grief, Excrement, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Drug abuse, Death, Colonisation, and Child death
cosyskog's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Child death, Child abuse, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Excrement, Grief, Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide, Ableism, Classism, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Cursing, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, and Violence
Minor: Car accident, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Police brutality
emimli's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Classism, Body horror, Ableism, Gore, Violence, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Terminal illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Chronic illness, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Excrement, Child death, Child abuse, Car accident, Addiction, and Pedophilia
toffishay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Body horror, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Torture, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Excrement, Murder, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Alcoholism
Minor: Xenophobia, Abortion, and Miscarriage
avahasstrongopinions's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Transphobia, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury
hoetziq's review
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Hate crime, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Stalking, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence