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siriface's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Bullying
raphynette's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse
savvylit's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Each of the short stories in Milk Blood Heat are perfectly crafted. The first story, about two teen girls with a strong connection, is an absolute sucker punch and sets the tone for the rest of the collection. Milk Blood Heat is subtle, reflective, and dark. The folks that populate the stories live seemingly conventional lives. However, Moniz ultimately highlights character flaws in each of them to devastating effect. Readers will find themselves contemplating human nature and our most grim impulses. What happens if we say yes to that voice in our head? What if the choices we've made have already set us down a path we don't want? What if the people we trust betray us?
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Violence, Pregnancy, and Grief
bookswithgeorgia'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? Yes
3.75
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
wordingitright's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Racism
keatynbergsten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Racism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
franklybookish's review against another edition
4.5
CW: suicidal ideation, rape, sexual abuse, miscarriage, abortion, cannibalism, suicide, grief
"What is the nature of hate? What's it useful for? And Zey imagines the townspeople, their whispers, and cruel laws, their narrowed eyes. How they ostracized the women [The Scarlet Letter], conspired to contain her light.
They were scared of her, Zey tells the teacher, realizing it as she speaks, and he jabs a finger in her direction. Yes! Exactly that, he says. Now he's getting excited, pacing before their desks, and Zey tilts forward in her seat, angling closer to his truth. Hate, he continues is almost always a cover for some perceived psychological threat-- our guilt or pain. Our fear. And how do we treat things of which we are afraid?" from 'Tongues'
Review: I found this debut to be a remarkable, authentic, and poignant collection of moments, interactions, relationships, and individuals grounded in common situations, yet hidden in the dark spaces of what we keep out of public eyes. Written in a lyrical, truly raw, and unencumbered way it's impossible to not feel compelled and emotionally linked to these characters. Moniz, in so few pages, draws the reader in and develops foundational relationships, in many ways better and stronger than many 200+ page novels do. Many of these stories, although ambiguous in nature and lacking traditional resolutions, find great success in the emotional transference to readers of what the characters are going through, how they are attempting to navigate life, and the impact of their relationships.
As with most short story collections, some stories were stronger than others. 'Milk Blood Heat' the first story presented and from which the whole collection is named, is one of the stronger pieces. Additionally, 'Tongues' and 'The Hearts of Our Enemies' stood out to me, though none of the stories stood out as a true "week link", the entire collection is strong. I personally loved the darkness of these stories, to me that darkness mimicked true life and meant there was no shying away from the truth of difficult situations and the impact of mental health.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advanced e-copy in exchange for a fair review*
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness