margztgz 's review for:

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I'm so stunned by this book I don't even know where to start. This is definitely one of the best short story collections I've ever read; every story was good. Every word uttered and story included was necessary and spellbinding. Mariana Enriquez knows how to capture the gothic and grotesque, and mixes it with scenes of Buenos Aires and the underbelly of society and suffering in a really interesting way. I became attached quickly to all of the characters, and intrigued yet horrified by many of the scenes. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail