A very compelling collection of short stories: weird, wonderful and whacked. A dip into the surreal situations and the dark minds of seemingly “normal “ characters that challenge our perception of life. Could we be as brave, twisted, or haunted in our regular lives?

NINETEEN CLAWS AND A BLACKBIRD was an extremely tight and tense story collection, reminiscent of HURRICANE SEASON and CURSED BUNNY, both of which I loved. I also thoroughly enjoyed this. In stories no more than 5 pages each, Bazterrica dives into many themes, but none more so that death and all the pieces that comprise the climactic and final moment in a person’s life. And for Bazterrica, those pieces are extremely unsettling.

I think the originality of this collection is really what catapults it into a stratospheric tier. Discerning those unspeakable desires, re-framing and presenting back to the reader in a way that feels so binding to reality because it really is our reality, at least at our core.

One story in particular, “Earth”, I will genuinely never forget. “Roberto”, “Perfect Symmetry”, and “Hell” were also standouts.

Whether or not you “enjoyed” Agustina Bazterrica’s novel, Tender is the Flesh, you cannot deny the author’s talent. Personally, I thought it was a riveting book, and I think about it at least once a week, despite reading it almost three years ago. So I was excited to get my hands on Bazterrica’s collection of short stories, Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird.

While I enjoyed pretty much every story in this collection, some of them left me wanting more. One of the things I appreciated about Tender is the Flesh is how the plot unraveled into that killer ending. I connected more with the longer stories, such as strong opener, A Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound, and the incredibly creepy Mary Carminum.

Those who enjoyed the more visceral nature of Tender is the Flesh will enjoy The Continuous Equality of the Circumference, where a woman attempts to turn herself into a circle. Bazterrica adroitly captures the everyday terror females often feel in Roberto (now THIS had a satisfying ending!), The Solitary Ones, and The Wolf’s Breath.

There is also some light relief in Teicher vs. Nietzsche, where the abused character of Nietzsche gets some incredibly sweet revenge.

All of these stories have a foot in grim reality, and most contain a heavy sense of unease. It’s a strong collection, and I hope readers who loved Tender is the Flesh will give it a chance.

Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed these short stories. Bazterrica is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, because of her weird characters, morbid and sometimes kind of gross stories. I went in expecting quite a bit, after Tender Is The Flesh, and while this one was different (it wasn’t a continuous story, but a few) you could tell it was a Bazterrica book.

Prepare to be consumed. Bazterrica’s horrifyingly seductive words threaten you with body gripping terror. Each story will leave you questioning if you trust yourself enough to be broken by the next page. Bazterrica’s ability to walk you into each lyrical nightmare with ease only to be left gutted and in tatters reminds us that literature is meant to make us feel. This is unwavering horror art.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories!
A must read!

I just reviewed Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica. #NetGalley

Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird is must-read for fans of “Tender is the Flesh” and “Her Body & Other Parties” (by Carmen Maria Machado).

A mix of whimsy and horror, the novel is made up of nineteen extremely short stories that catalogue different aspects of the human experience.

The novel has a propulsive nature that makes it impossible to stop flipping the pages. Every few minutes, readers are met with a new cast of characters and a new surprise.

This book is fantastical and satirical in the best way. I loved this book even more than its predecessor! 4/5 ⭐️

My first experience with Agustina Bazterrica’s writing was with Tender is the Flesh which was dark, unsettling and provocative. It left a really strong impression on me so I was super excited to receive an advance reader copy for Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird and for a chance to experience her writing in short story format. Her dark humor really shines in this anthology as does her skill for making the reader feeling deeply unsettled. The stories are at times also darkly beautiful and reflective. Some of my favorites in this collection being Candy Pink, Perfect Symmetry, Teicher and Nietzsche, The Slowness of Pleasure, Mary Carminum, and The Solitary Ones. This is a must read for fans of her work and for people curious about her writing it’s a great chance to check out what everyone’s talking about.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was terrifying. Some of the stories weren’t as unsettling, which was a nice reprieve. But the reason they weren’t so unsettling was because the story was probably an allegory that was over my head and would have been horrifying if I understood. This author is incredible with words, and it’s evident in her other novel, Tender is the Flesh. Loved the short horror stories.

I was so excited to read this collection of short stories by Agustina Bazterrica! I loved Tender is the Flesh. It's been almost a year since I read it and its a book that I think about constantly.

This anthology has Bazterrica's gruesome way of writing. Some of these stories were very dark. There were some where I just couldn't stop laughing, but there were a couple that I had no idea what I was reading.

The highlights for me were:
A Light Swift and Monstrous Sound
Roberto
Unamuno's Boxes
The Dead
The Solitary Ones

If you're a fan of Tender is the Flesh, I recommend this book. I would also recommend to readers that want to read her books but don't know where to start. It's a great way to be introduced to her style of writing.

Thanks @Netgalley and the publisher for the DRC.

This was such an interesting novel. Some of these stories were brutal, but in an eye opening way. I'd definitely recommend this to horror lovers.

I just reviewed Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazterrica. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
I loved this book!!!! Short stories are my new favorite things to read!

"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.