Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

179 reviews

bookforestsprite's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Ive never read anything like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Gore, Death of parent, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Body horror, Blood, and Addiction

Moderate: Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

gusabus's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was an absolutely mesmerising read. It's disturbing, chilling, and entrancing; I came away from each story a little shaken and thinking about it before sleep, which is what I want from an anthology. Highly recommended for any fans of unnatural literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual violence, Body horror, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Pedophilia

jess_xen's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

 I wish I had read this closer to spooky season, because it is such a mood dampener. I do not recommend for spring reading.

Mariana's Enriquez's The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a collection of horrific stories drenched in magical realism. This is my first book by Enriquez after hearing such praise for The Things We Lost in the Fire. I wish I had started with the latter.

Some of the short stories were very abrasive and not in a "this is good horror" kind of way, more in the vein of "how to make this as disgusting as possible". I couldn't find a point for the disgust other than to be disgusting. Perhaps that was because I am unfamiliar with South American folk tales and lack a background in the region's particular style of storytelling.

I thought I would like it more than I did.

**Content Warning: Death/sexual violence/transphobia** 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, Transphobia, and Child death

gna_again's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Excrement, Addiction, Blood, Rape, Medical content, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Death, Child death, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Violence, Self harm, Pedophilia, Murder, and Mental illness

veposve's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Pedophilia, Blood, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Excrement, Body horror, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Death, Sexual violence, Rape, Medical content, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Child death

Moderate: Cannibalism

nefarious_rat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

collection of short stories so character progression and such is difficult, but within each story the characters were distinct and never felt rushed, some of the stories were not to my taste but still very well written, favourites are, our lady of the quarry, the well, the lookout (particularly the characterisation of elina), where are you dear heart (grotesque and delicious my absolute favourite i keep re-reading it), and meat (a very close second favourite for the exact same reasons)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Addiction, Suicide, Child death, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Police brutality, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abandonment, Cancer, Excrement, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Body horror, Cannibalism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Vomit, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Chronic illness, Dysphoria, Outing, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Biphobia, Cancer, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Confinement

zaraatyeo's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Self harm, Pedophilia, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit, Mental illness, Transphobia, Addiction, and Sexual assault

mijtje's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

The only thing interesting about this book was the cover.

“Meat” and “Kids Who Come Back” saved it from 1 star.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Child death, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Mental illness

grandmoffparkin's review against another edition

Just too cold and distant for me right now. I enjoyed “Meat” and ‘Where are you, dear heart?” but I’m just sick of it now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Pedophilia

temi1008's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, and Body horror

Minor: Excrement