Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz

16 reviews

littlepagebm's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Incest, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

vulturetime's review against another edition

3.75

None of the stories were bad by any means, and I was engaged in each of them, but there was an overall lack of connection I had with the book, which is why I personally didn't rate this higher. The story I picked this book up for, Exotics, is my favorite of the collection. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Sexual assault and Cannibalism

Implied incest (between parent and child) in Thicker Than Water. There might be more, but I've forgotten.

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Ableism, Violence, Rape, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual content

bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Infertility, Rape, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship

sydapel's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

A series of really compelling, if often violent and disturbing, short stories. The writing is acerbic and biting, but still conveys a deep sense of character and empathy, even with characters acting in anger or fear. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Suicide, Sexual content, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Racism and Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny and Abortion

annxmcd's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Suicide

Moderate: Child death, Cancer, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent

mackenziebrill's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Cancer

Minor: Sexual assault

jayisreading's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was a fresh collection of short stories that hones in on the everyday lives of Black women (primarily) in Florida and, often, the way they are viewed by society. The protagonist of each story essentially have to reckon with a traumatic event that occurred at some point in their life (or is dealing with at the moment), and Moniz explores this unflinchingly though also with some grace. She dives into uncomfortable territory when it comes to the topics she covers: infidelity, sexual assault, pregnancy/miscarriage, among others. For the most part, I wouldn’t say that these stories are gruesome, but none of them are particularly easy to digest either as she peels away the layers of these women to reveal something deeply complex.

I found the title of this collection particularly interesting and, very cleverly, Moniz interprets at least one of those three words in some fashion within each story. I think “blood” jumped out at me the most, but that might be because this was more visceral than the others, especially in the final story (which was probably my favorite). Relatedly, Moniz is an excellent writer and really has a way with words to draw a reaction out of you. I think despite feeling lukewarm about some of these stories, I was taken to all of them because of her writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism and Infidelity

samantharosejohnson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, and Child death

Minor: Sexism

booksandprosecco's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, and Rape

Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Abortion and Infidelity