What an amazing compilation of raw, realistic, and very honest short stories. I recognized myself in the thoughts of several characters. Thoughts that make me think I could be a bad person, when in reality I’m human and these are thoughts most people think at some point, yet rarely share with others for fear of being judged.

Dantiel has a gift for storytelling, and I feel she brings normal lives to brilliant life, helping her readers to feel seen and heard as they make their way through the book. 

Please note there are many subjects in this book that could trigger readers. 

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this advanced audiobook version.

Today is the release date for the beautifully written debut short story collection, MILK BLOOD HEAT by Dantiel Moniz. I was lucky enough to listen to an advance copy of the audiobook courtesy of NetGalley and HighBridge Audio. It's been a long time since I read a collection of short stories, and reading MILK BLOOD HEAT makes me remember how captivating they can be. The audiobook, narrated by Machelle Williams, kept me riveted, and I found myself driving more slowly, walking longer, or shutting out my family's noise(!), so that I could keep listening.

Moniz expertly drops the reader into each character's journey in a moment of turmoil, unfolding their inner conflicts with a richness and texture that made it feel like I was immersed in a much longer work. Each story finds its characters questioning beliefs or their purpose in relationships as they wade through tragedies big and small--a miscarriage, teen depression, a mother's infidelity, a husband's inability to connect with his dying wife, a new marriage already strained, and the recurring theme of both sexist and racial microaggressions. The backdrop for each story is southern Florida, and many of the characters are women or girls of color. As a white woman from the northeast, perhaps I shouldn't recognize myself in these stories, but there I was, nodding along with many of the characters' inner thoughts or recognizing their doubts. These are regular people leading regular lives in the unsure, imperfect way that we do; connecting with them feels both tragic and heartening.

I highly recommend this collection of short stories, and I can't wait to see what else Moniz has in store.

I'm a huge fan of short stories and consider this collection a new favorite. Dantiel W. Moniz makes a meal out of every line she writes. Her delicious vocabulary paints a feast of tantalizing pictures that leave you salivating for one more taste. The first story, 'Milk Blood Heat', left me choked up and pulled me into the illuminating, inner workings of Moniz's mind. I found it refreshing to hear a mix of perspectives among such complex women as they wrestle with adolescence, motherhood, and sexuality. Many of these stories evoked space for reflection on these topics and I feel others will recognize remnants of themselves in these pages. This is a remarkable debut for Moniz and I cannot wait to hold this book in my hands to indulge in the refuge it has to offer. 

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book • Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Release Day to Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz!! 🎉

This year I have decided that I want to make an effort to read more short story collections, and I could not be happier that this was the first collection I picked up. Milk Blood Heat is an incredible set of stories. I have read a few short story collections before, and usually find that there are a couple of amazing stories in the mix with a bunch of okay ones. That is not the case with this collection. Moniz does such an incredible job of unveiling the honesty of humanity within each of her characters, I found myself immediately engaged by each of their stories. Each story was so sharp and efficient, they felt like tiny jabs at my heart that were so powerful and so moving. None of the stories are very long, but each one holds so much: focusing on life and death, family, our perception of ourselves versus the perception others have of us, faith, loss, hope, and so, so, so much more. Moniz’s writing is so gorgeous and articulate, I have rarely read an author’s works that seem to be so precise with the execution of their prose. I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever she releases next.

There is so much I could say about this collection, but honestly, you just need to read it for yourself. These stories are quite simply amazing. There is not a single dud in this collection. I would say that I absolutely loved 9 of these 11 stories, my favorites being Milk Blood Heat, Feast, The Loss of Heaven, Snow, Thicker than Water, and An Almanac of Bones. I encourage you to pick up this collection as soon as you can!

Thank you Netgalley, Grove Press, and Dantiel W Moniz for an early copy of this amazing book.

________________________

#milkbloodheat#dantielwmoniz#bookish#bookstagram#happyreleaseday#bookreleaseday#review#bookreview#shortstory#shortstories#booklove#arcreview#netgalley#reviewer#bookreviewer#2021release

Milk Blood Heat is such a strong debut. Moniz's prose was captivating and pulled me in so quickly. I just wish I had had a little more time in everyone's lives, but that makes me so excited to see if Dantiel W Moniz releases full-length novels in the future. My favorite stories in the collection were the ones that revolved around younger characters. The coming of age tales all had this raw magnetism.

Milk Blood Heat
Short Stories 
by: Dantiel W. Moniz 

Published: out today

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

A little honesty here. I sometimes struggle with #shortstories. I like to jump into a book and hang out there awhile, immerse myself in the world, get to know the characters, ponder a bit. 

And I feel like sometimes short stories are just too short to accomplish all of the things needed in order for the story to feel complete. 

However, I love #shortstorycollections where the stories are in some way tied together. One great example of this is HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES by Carmen Maria Machado. 

Back to #milkbloodheat
MILK BLOOD HEAT weaves a ribbon through  each story with the same continuous tone regardless of subject matter. I felt the bridge from one story to the next was seamless. 

The writing was superb. The passages were introspective and thoughtful. I ended the book feeling like I had found a new voice I wanted to hear more from. 

I highly recommend this in both #ebook and #audiobook format. 

Thanks to #netgalley #highbridgeaudio #groveatlantic #grovepress #dantielwmoniz 
For the copies of this book in exchange for my review. It was a pleasure!

Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz is a gripping collection of short stories that will stick with you long after the last page.

Set in the cities and suburbs of Florida, themes of faith, girlhood, violence, and family are explored. 

While the collection feels a bit uneven, with some of the stronger stories being front loaded, it’s still one worth reading and a writer to definitely watch.

Machelle Williams beautifully narrates the audiobook. Run time is 5 hours and 31 minutes.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Rating: 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy

This was a lovely debut collection. Dantiel Moniz's writing reminds me of Jesmyn Ward in how beautifully she captures girlhood and, often connected, grief. I do wish I had read the book rather than listened; the narrator felt flat to me at times, and I think for the style reading would be the better choice.

This collection of short stories were chilling, impactful, and moving. These stories explore the different hardships of being a woman, a mother, a lover, a daughter, a sister, a person. Even in the darkest stories, there are celebratory moments that I would look for in each story. It really made you look at the world in a different way and if you looked at the stories from different perspectives, the entire story would shift. Each story ended abruptly and was not tied up neatly in a bow which is a true testament to the world around us. Human connection, as messy as it is, is shown throughout all of the short stories.

This was stunning. While I'm not usually an avid short story reader, Dantiel W. Moniz has just converted me to this genre. Milk Blood Heat is a collection of impeccably written, literary stories with a heavy focus on darkness and girlhood, something I could truly relate to at this moment.

It is, nonetheless, a pretty dark book, so heads up on that - it is heartbreakingly stunning.

I really enjoyed the first 2 stories of this book, but then I kept zoning out during the rest. I would skip to the next story in hopes of it being better, but then I lost track of what was going on again. So, this one was not for me.

This is a very good collection of contemporary short stories. What stands out most to me is Moniz's ability to build complex, fully formed characters in such a few number of pages. Many of the stories focus on the tumultuous relationships between mothers and daughters, and in particular I think Moniz shapes girlhood, girl's bodies and the dawn of adulthood with such raw and emotional truth. That being said, my favorite story has the only POV from a male (adult) character, whose insecurities and entitlements  had me thinking about it for days. The collection is not necessarily dark, but raw and real, seeped in themes that define the human experience - including identity, race, trauma, sex and desire, motherhood, coming-of-age, class and family. 

My critiques would be that the audiobook narration is poor (read this in print), the story "Exotics" felt incongruous, and there wasn't a strong sense of place in many of the stories. Since the book blurb makes sure to highlight in the first sentence that the collection takes place in Florida, I have to assume that it was supposed to feel more tied to that location. 

Overall, this is a really strong collection of short stories from a debut author - and I would totally read what she comes out with next. Plus, that cover is beautiful!! You'll enjoy this if you also liked [book:Heads of the Colored People|35297351] and [book:What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky|31522415]. 

I voluntarily obtained an audiobook version of this book free from Netgalley and HighBridge Audio in exchange for an honest review!

Milk Blood Heat is a powerful and exquisitely written short story collection exploring themes of loss, family, and connectivity. I love that each of these stories, while unique, has a common thread in both the setting and mood of the story. The glimpses into suburban Florida life and the Black experience will leave you wanting more in the best possible way. 
The characters are all raw, unfiltered, messy, and compelling and the looks into their lives will give you plenty to think about. Moniz is definitely an author to watch. 
The audio for this book is filled with emotion and was a perfect way to experience these stories. 
Many thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the  ALC.

Notable Quote: “She was of that special age where she knew both nothing and everything, and no matter where or at whom she looked, she saw her own reflection glimmering back like a skim of oil. She could be anyone, still.” - Dantiel W. Moniz, Milk Blood Heat

Don’t let the sunny cover fool you, this short story collection is not for the faint of heart. The only consistent factor in each of these stories was violence, and it’s enacted in all sorts of different ways. Most of the stories center on women and girls and their own particular horrors. There’s a lot to dissect here and I’m sure this collection will provide an extensive opportunity for examination for those who choose to dive deeper. Moniz is an undeniably talented writer and surely one to watch.

If anything, I think my only complaint about this is that I began to feel a little desensitized and apathetic after reading these stories in succession. Nonetheless, the stories were all compelling and engaging (in their own sad and anxiety inducing way). 

I’m rating this book 3 stars instead of 4 only because I listened to it as an audiobook and the narration fell a bit flat for me (potentially contributing to the apathy described above). 

Recommended for: Lovers of dark and twisty things

I cannot believe this is this authors debut.  It is surely the first in what I can only imagine will eventually be a prolific catalog.  It is a collection of short stories that all take place in Florida.  They are well crafted, beautifully written and go deep into some very difficult and serious topics. The imagery and probe draw you in for this emotional ride. Young girls becoming women, faith good and gone wrong, miscarriage, postpartum depression, jealousy, suicide, relationships, parents and parenting, teenage angst, hormones, love, addiction, illness and all the emotions that are conjured up through these experiences. Not an easy listen because of the subject matter, but a beautiful one.

This book is AMAZING!  On the surface, these stories are about mother/daughter relationships, friendship, race, loss, depression and suicide.  But, these stories are about so much more than that … I just don’t know how to effectively put it into words.  One of the stories in this book titled “Monsters” absolutely wrecked me.  The last story takes an interesting shift in how the mother and daughter understand each other and I loved that.  Each story is so beautiful and complex, all for different reasons.  I actually slowed down the speed of the audio just so I could savor and absorb every word.  I also, promptly went and pre-ordered a copy as this debut novel as well!

CW: suicidal thoughts, suicide, miscarriage, blood, mental illness, sexual content, vomit, death of parent

WOW. I have been sleeping on story collections and that was a mistake. This is my second one this month and I really enjoyed it. There are definitely dark topics in this book, but I would have gladly listened to a full length book of each of these stories.

After hearing some great reviews for Dantiel W. Moniz's Milk Blood Heat, I was excited to check out what promised to be another excellent short story collection.

For the most part, this collection delivers. Many stories are dripping in that dark and moody vibe I love, with characters that have seen things and lived things that are awful both in their commonality and uniqueness. Moniz's pitch perfect, straightforward prose really digs in on human lives and human relationships (familial and otherwise) that run the spectrum of dysfunction. The first story packs a punch, especially if you, like me, also enjoyed an overnight birthday party with your friends at an Embassy Suites when you were a kid.

This is a collection you read for the character study and not the plot, but there are events and twists that shock and disorient all the same. Unfortunately not every story hit for me, one in particular ended prematurely and another was a bit too obtuse for my own tastes, but overall this is a strong collection that I would not be surprised to see long listed for the National Book Award at the end of the year.

Finally, since I reviewed the audiobook edition, Machelle Williams does a fantastic job. Her voice perfectly conveyed the tone of each story.

I was pleasantly surprised with “Milk Blood Heat” With the market seemingly saturated with short story collections set in Florida, I was sure this would be just another to add to the pile. Instead I found the stories smart, nuanced and truly seductive. My favorite stories were “Exotics” which has stuck with me long after listening, as well as the tile story, wherein I especially loved the examination of race relations and youth, approached in such a way that felt so new. Would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a satisfying collection, along the lines of Lauren Groff but in a deeper, moodier tone. Looking forward to more from this author.

Milk Blood Heat is exquisitely written, with a tight understanding of language creating an entrancing reading experience. I went into this book blind, as I had heard that this collection of stories were examples of beautiful prose but nothing of its contents. Before I can recommend this book to anyone, be aware that these stories are dark and at times horrific. Moniz's stories deserve to be sipped and ruminated on, rather than read quickly in one sitting.

Although each story is written expertly, it's likely that a couple stories will linger in your mind more than others. The story about a woman grieving after her miscarriage and another woman realizing her child is in a romantic relationship with her teacher in particular stand out a day or two after reading the book. Readers should be warned that while these stories do have a beginning, middle, and end, their resolutions are at times not as clear or complete as some may hope for. (The open ended nature of these stories are part of the reason that each story should be dissected and interpreted by the reader before starting the next one.)

For readers who are fans of horror elements or literary fiction, this book is certain to live up to expectations. For a debut short story collection especially, Milk Blood Heat is a triumph. Despite its taboo elements described in the book, it's clearly capable of hooking its readers.