Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird.

I read Tender is the Flesh and it creeped me out, in a good way. so I was eager to read this.

There's no doubt the author is talented; dark, unique, creative.

Not all of the stories are favorites, but there were quite a few that left me thinking more than I expected.

Some are creepy, I wasn't scared, but I was unsettled.

I like how some of the endings feel open minded so readers are left to parse out the meanings with our own imaginations.

This isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy the author's previous book, or are in the mood for something 'different' (but in a good way), give this a try.

Agustina Bazterrica is an amazing author and that clearly shows in Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird. The stories in this book are so many things: creepy, realistic, poignant, bizarre...I could go on and on. Each story took me by surprise; some truly blew my mind. Even the shortest stories packed a major punch! I have not read her book Tender is the Flesh yet, but I now am moving it up my TBR list to get to it sooner because if this book proves anything, it's that I will love that book, as well!

I fell in love with Agustina Bazterrica when I read, "Tender is the Flesh," and yet again, she has proven herself to be an amazing writer with a truly unique point of view. I will immediately pre-order any books she publishes from now on!

I was so happy to get an advanced copy of Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird. With such a beautiful cover and amazing author, I knew these stories were going to hook me in from the beginning.  These short tales are incredibly written. (Absolutely no surprise there.) They also pack a major punch. Absolutely recommending to anyone who loves a collection of short stories that makes you sit back and reflect on your life and what got you here every time you finish one.

Thanks so much netgalley for the chance to read this one early!! I absolutely loved tender is the flesh so when I saw she had a new book I knew I was going to have to read it! This book was multiple short stories and all were so different and creepy and kept me wanting more. There were a few stories that really stuck with me even after finishing the book. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it!

A collection of dark, brutal, and funny short stories that look into our deepest fears and through our most disturbing fantasies. Stories dealing with violence, alienation, and dystopia. This was such an interesting collection of short stories, you never really knew what you were going into but right off the bat I was captured with the first story alone, “A Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound” was definitely my favorite one of the short stories and it was the first one. I had a fun time reading this and would absolutely recommend it for anyone looking for a dark and interesting read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Scribner for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Such a dark and twisted set of stories in this one! I shouldn’t be surprised, given how dark Tender is the Flesh was, but phew, the author really went all in on some of these pieces and didn’t hold back!

Like most short story collections, there were some I enjoyed and others I did not. But overall, this was a 5/5 read for me from one of my favorite authors.

"Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird" is a short story anthology that contains nineteen weird and wonderful translated stories from Agustina Bazterrica (author of "Tender is the Flesh"). I'm really interested to see how this book is received among the "Tender is the Flesh" superfans. While these stories were short, scary, and truly unique, it never hit the level of science fiction horror for me, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I would describe these stories as bizarre and grotesque. In typical anthology fashion, some stories were better than others, and then there were ones that will stick with me forever ("Roberto," "Teicher vs. Nietzsche," and "Anita and Happiness"). The writing style of each story was different too, which made for a diverse reading experience. A few of the stories were written in 2nd person, a difficult yet admirable feat for any writer. For anyone who loved "Cursed Bunny" by Bora Chung or any Kelly Link fans, you'll love "Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird."

OH MY GOSH. That was the easiest 5-star rating I've ever given. I was seriously sleeping on Agustina Bazterrica, and now I must sprint over to read Tender is the Flesh. I am so so so thankful to Scribner Books, our wonderful author, and NetGalley for granting me advanced access to this horrifyingly magnificent collection of stories that are sure to keep you up at night. Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird is set to publish on June 20, 2023, and I am so excited to create some hype for this masterpiece.

Bazterrica mystifies readers with a group of horrifying stories centered around the art and ritual of death. From pedophile teachers being attacked by a genital cryptid to soul-sucking demons making an appearance at funerals, there's something here for everyone if horror is your cup of tea.

Bazterrica writes pure poetry with her verses, averaging hundreds of words per sentence, filled with the most descriptive and colorful imagery and sequences to haunt your dreams and daytime involvements. I will cherish this work of art FOREVER!