"Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird" by Agustina Bazterrica is a gripping and haunting novel that explores the darker side of human nature. The story takes place in a dystopian world where humans have developed an insatiable appetite for exotic meats, leading to the widespread breeding and consumption of genetically modified animals.

Bazterrica's writing is stark and visceral, with a raw and unflinching portrayal of the cruelty and brutality of the meat industry. The use of animals as a metaphor for the exploitation and dehumanization of marginalized groups is powerful and thought-provoking.

The character of Emilia is a complex and intriguing protagonist. Her struggles with guilt and self-doubt as she works in a slaughterhouse, and her growing realization of the true horrors of the industry, make for a compelling and emotional journey. The other characters in the book are also well-drawn and interesting, each with their own motivations and struggles.

The use of multiple narrators and timelines adds depth and complexity to the story, creating a rich and nuanced portrayal of the world and its inhabitants. The themes of power, corruption, and the consequences of unchecked greed are explored in a way that is both disturbing and thought-provoking.

3.5 STARS
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the e-ARC!
Even though I have had Tender Is The Flesh on my tbr list for a while, I got so excited to get accepted for this one that I jumped straight into it as my first Agustina Bazterrica experience. As most short story collections go, some definitely held my interest more than others. Bazterrica’s writing style is amazing even in the stories that didn’t resonate with me as much but I loved how unsettling the stories were. Personal favorites of these stories all had very delusional, haunting and feverish vibes in them which just further drives my interest to read Tender and any other work she puts out.

I'm normally not a fan of short stories or anthology books. I think it takes exceptional skill to tell a story with depth in only a few pages and make it an experience. This book was full of unmedicated mental illness and unhinged personalities that left me feeling like I didn't quite grasp the point of many of the stories contained in it. There were a few I really enjoyed reading, and they all created a sense of discomfort, as if the entire world was slightly offset and the angles weren't quite 90 degrees.

I rated this 3.5 stars on StoryGraph, rounded up to 4 stars for NetGalley.
I was really anticipating this short story collection after reading Tender is the Flesh. Some of the stories in here were so short I felt like I didn't get anything out of them, but there were a few that stuck out and made me uncomfortable. "The Continuous Equality of the Circumference" and "The Solitary Ones" were my favorites out of this collection, and were definitely unsettling.

Reading this book is like witnesses a car accident; It's uncomfortable and disturbing, but you can't look away. This book is a collection of short stories that all have some twisted, dark aspect to them. Unlike Tender is the Flesh, the stories are not set in a dystopian world, they are set in our world. I think that's what makes some of the stories so terrifying is that they could actually happen. This book did not disappoint.

⭐️ 4 STARS ⭐️

I’ll start this review off by saying this is definitely not my kind of book. But I ended up really liking this one regardless. This is a collection of eerie and unsettling short stories that don’t necessarily come together to create a bigger picture, just to create a vibe that makes you seem like you’re being watched, also known as paranoia. I read this whole book while listening to PORTALS by Melanie Martinez and I honestly think it enhanced my experience. Would I read this book again however? Absolutely not.

3.5 stars

To be completely honest I was a bit intimidated and excited to read this, as I haven’t read Tender is the Flesh (too scared). I figured a group of shorts would be the best way to experience the author before jumping into his other book.

Now, all that being said, this was a great group of short stories. I really enjoyed his writing style. And as with most short story books, there are hits and misses, it’s no different here.

I may just be prepared enough now to read Tender is the Flesh..lol.

I was eagerly awaiting this title. I loved Bazterrica’s Tender Is The Flesh! I still think about it today. It was layered with social commentary, dark, biting, and immersive. It had something to say and left a lasting imprint.

However, I did not find Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird to be compelling or immersive. There were two stories out of the collection that resonated or provoked a reaction. But, largely, they fell flat for me. The subject matter often dealt with suicide in a way that I did not appreciate (e.g., the Candy Pink)

Perhaps this short story collection will be received well by others and I hope more long-form works are translated by this author.

I certainly will read the next novel by this author based on my previous experience of their work and not based on this collection.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I was so excited when I saw this come available! Tender is the flesh was a great, well thought out story. I have more trouble getting in to short story collections, but there were a few gems throughout. I think the sense of space, and finding unique moments in mundane settings is one of this author's strong suits. A unique set of stories. I'm looking forward to their next full length novel!

I am usually not a big short-story person but i really wanted to read more from Bazterrica, and i’m so glad i took a chance on this! I liked that these were truly SHORT stories (20 stories in this ~150page book), and the author did a phenomenal job of packing a story with a punch into a few pages. Dark, disturbing, and psychological…beautifully and hauntingly written. “Ronaldo” was the highlight for me.

I’m going to be completely honest, this anthology was filled with hit-or-miss stories for me. Some of them managed to be both interesting and revolting, with the particular matter-of-fact writing style that originally drove me to read this compilation, but there are also some stories that felt a bit more like My Year of Rest and Relaxation than Tender is the Flesh. Although I know that there are definitely some people that will very much enjoy those stories, they were not necessarily for me, and I enjoyed the others much more. I think these short stories also felt a bit too short at times, so the skills of the author’s writing couldn’t really show through like they are capable of doing in a full-length novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was so into Tender Is the Flesh I had to read this book. I also am just obsessed with short story collections so that was a bonus.

These stories were strange. Uncomfortable. There were some that just didn’t make much sense to me. A few of them I enjoyed the most. The Continuous Equality Of The Circumference, A Hole Hides a House, & Mary Carminum were the ones I enjoyed the most. A few of these made me very sad & disturbed but I liked that. I’m looking forward to more books/stories from Augustina because her writing has been so fun to read.

As someone who absolutely loved Tender is the Flesh, I was somewhat worried about what to expect from a collection of short stories. That being said, I'm very pleased with this collection! The brilliant writing, exceptional attention to detail (as I was hoping and expecting!), and bleak, disturbing- yet very enjoyable and memorable stories, this is a book I would love to add to my bookshelf. I can see myself picking it back up again to reread.
As for the stories specifically, there are a good amount for the book length, and the topics vary drastically. From a bit eerie to strange, dark, and traumatic- there is a lot going on in this little book, and it won't let you down! Fabulous read!

I was really excited to read this one, having read Bazterrica's Tender is the Flesh, which was impressive and memorable. This one just didn't do it for me, unfortunately. There were a couple stories that stood out and were more interesting, but most of them were kind of forgettable. They just felt too short and underdeveloped to me. If more of her work is translated, I'd give it another shot, but I didn't love this collection.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC

I finished this novel in a day my favorite thing about this was that the short stories were actually shorter than ones ive usually read but the writing was so good that them being short didnt matter because this novel had such dark, uncomfortable, scary stories i loved it this novel definitely has a story for everyone i will say some of them i didnt really understand or like but that is normal with a short story collection. This author had such an amazing take on different things half of these ideas i would have never even imagined to think of which made the reader uncomfortable at times but the best stories and art are the ones that are uncomfortable. My favorite one hands down was the moon story that concept was crazy i loved it. Also the cover is great and fits the novel. I could not put this novel down i wanted to keep reading to find out what the next story was about. If you like dark stuff and short stories this one is definitely for you.

In general, I prefer novels to short stories, but collections of the strange and bizarre are the exception. This is my first time reading anything by Agustina Bazterrica, but it won’t be the last.

The stories here were very short compared to a lot of collections I’ve read, but they were able to draw me in and keep me thinking about them long after I’d finished them. Like any collection, there were some I definitely preferred over others, but overall everything contained here was very strong.

I look forward to enjoying more of Bazterrica’s work in the future.

I was expecting something very twisted & out of this world from the author of Tender is the Flesh. I was sadly let down.

This is a collection of 20 short stories & I only enjoyed 5-8 of them, some of those I loved and some of them I simply tolerated. The other 15-13 stories I either felt like the ending was missing something or the author could have elaborated more.

I was hoping to like more of the stories but it just felt like there was a lot missing in most of them or they just flat out were not good.

Giving this 3 stars instead of 2 because some of the stories I did enjoy were executed very well!

This was my first time reading a collection of short stories, to say I was in love is an understatement.

I was so ready to read another piece of work by Agustina Bazterrica after Tender is the Flesh and this did not disappoint! Her writing is so macabre and beautiful it's haunting.

I truly believe there is a great mix of short stories here, my favorites: Anita and Happiness, Candy Pink, A Light, Swift and Monstrous Sound, The Dead and Mary Carminum, and the only thing missing was more amazing stories!

I cannot wait for this book to be published so everyone can get a chance to read it. Big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy. I will post more opinions once the book is available for purchase.

Tender is the Flesh is one of my favorite horror novels so I immediately had to read this short story collection. With each tightly crafted story, Bazterrica delves into themes of death, loss, murder, and suicide. Her writing is evocative and haunting, drawing the reader into macabre worlds that are still strangely relatable. This book is a must-read for fans of diverse and dark fiction, showcasing Bazterrica's exceptional ability to shock and provoke while capturing the complexities of the human experience.

For the first book I've read by Agustina Bazterrica, I have to say: I can't wait to read more.

I'm not usually a fan of books of short stories—I find that there's usually really only one or two of note—I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enthralled with most of what Bazterrica brings to the table. She's exactly what everyone has been raving about: surprising, edgy, and raw. She dives into the dark and twisted minds of her characters without glorifying or vilifying them, shedding light onto the parts of humanity that we dare not let others see. Well, at least those of us who claim at least a semblance of sanity try not to.

Consider this book quick enough to get through even when the stories doesn't necessarily pique your interest, and interesting enough to brave the idea of a book of short stories if you're averse to them like I am. Can't wait to read Tender is the Flesh now!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.