lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Violence, Grief, Sexual violence, Gore, Kidnapping, Death, Child death, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Vomit, Rape, Trafficking, Medical content, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, and Excrement
Moderate: Police brutality, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Gun violence, Alcohol, Sexism, Misogyny, Confinement, Incest, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
sina321's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Self harm, Abandonment, and Addiction
krhe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ALSO LO DE LOS CRÍOS REAPARECIDOS WTF
Trigger warnings: todos
Graphic: Medical trauma, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Racial slurs, Self harm, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Cannibalism, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Gaslighting, Gore, Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexism
ava_lanche's review against another edition
- 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
emmaopaline's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
librarymouse'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Copious references to and depictions of bodily fluid didn't necessarily add to the horror, but made reading this a bit disgusting.
Graphic: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Excrement, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Sexual content, Cursing, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Suicide, Transphobia, Blood, Child death, and Self harm
Moderate: Abandonment
mayze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Blood, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Addiction, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Medical trauma, Murder, and Suicide attempt
emmalouisereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Many of these stories were only about 10 pages which I think is just not long enough for me to get invested.
I preferred the stories that were a little creepy, especially the longest story in the book ‘the kids who came back’. I didn’t particularly enjoy the stories that weren’t scary and instead were just absolutely vile (on purpose I’m sure). I had to take breaks between stories as some turned my stomach. So, if that’s what you’re looking for - this is the short story collection for you!
Graphic: Child abuse, Cannibalism, Suicide, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Self harm
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Pedophilia
morriganivy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
There are a lot of uses of slurs in this book that don't seem to be used for any reason other than to be shocking and dark. It feels at times like the author couldn't figure out how to make her stories harrowing so decided to use the cheap tatic of using slurs to add some edge to it. Which I would say is the same issue with how she approaches poverty and sexual assult, its only there to be shocking.
I think it's a big shame because it also has some beautifully crafted short stories such as Angelita Unearthed and The Well. These stories are better because it doesn't rely on shock value and being offensive, they are simply creepy as hell. It's ashame most of the stories weren't able to do this.
Minor: Sexism, Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, Drug abuse, Ableism, and Sexual assault
avahasstrongopinions's review against another edition
- 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