A review by hollys_library
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I read this for one of my uni modules (the assignment is actually to write a review on a book translated to English - we had free choice on which book - so watch this space for my more thought out review I guess?) but I did really enjoy it! Normally I prefer supernatural-type horror rather than more realistic horror, and I feel like the supernatural took a backseat in a lot of these stories, but in this case I wasn’t so bothered by that since I do have an interest in Argentina’s recent/modern history. I also liked it when the supernatural was interwoven with the horrors of real life, I think it was done in a pretty seamless way. I was paying particular attention to the translation because of the assignment I’m using it for, so I have to applaud that too! I made a particular note of a few parts that impressed me for managing to keep a rhyme but honestly the entire book seems to convey the different tones and intentions so well. I haven’t read the original Spanish (though I’m really tempted to after thinking so much about the translation) so I can’t exactly say that for sure, but it certainly feels that way.