Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed

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)

Content Warnings

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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mionnechan's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-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

2.5

Je ne sais pas trop où me placer vis-à-vis du livre. Pour moi, il s'agissait d'une lecture inégale, ce qui a eu tendance à gâcher le plaisir général.
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.

Mais mon expérience n'était pas uniquement négative, bien au contraire ! J'ai beaucoup aimé me plonger un peu dans les légendes et croyances d'Amérique du sud et la manière dont la folie humaine était décrite dans certaines nouvelles. Ce sont vraiment celles qui m'ont le plus marquées au final.

J'ai conscience que mon avis est un peu brouillon, alors je ne peux que vous conseiller de vous faire votre avis !

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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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emziesreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense

4.0

Meat. Gorgeous writing, excellent storytelling, plus horror.

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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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malineu's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

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? N/A

3.5

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jess_18's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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? It's complicated

3.0

a lot of this made me really uncomfortable in places, which sometimes felt unnecessary. however it was written very well and was interesting to say the least.

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