I loved Tender is the Flesh by this same author. This collection not so much. It seemed as though the author was trying to be very philosophical and profound and it just fell flat. Every story felt like I was reading a chapter somewhere in a book and I had no idea what was going on and nothing made sense or had enough to give me any clarity.

Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird is a book of short stories rooted in obscurity, in grotesque, strange metaphor and symbolism. Sometimes they were so strange that I had no idea what was going on. Stories like, "Architecture" or "The Wolfs Breath" are most notable in this category. Even now, their purpose, message, and plot are lost on me. But in stories like, “Anita and Happiness” or “Earth” and “The Solitary Ones” where there was more plot clarity, I was completely engrossed in the narrators internal reasonings/thoughts, the relationships and characters, and the irregularity of these worlds and their scenarios. Even in stories that started out unclear, like “Mary Carminum”, slowly revealed an insane, incredibly engaging plot.

Perspective allowed some really interesting exploration of tough topics like child abuse and death. I think of "The Dead" first, in which the speaker is a kid who wants to be with his dead mother 'on the moon' but is stuck with his abusive and neglectful father. I interpreted this story as being a really intense representation of grief mystifying reality. This was only possible because the speaker was too small to understand things as they are. The legs of a woman become spiders. Cremated remains become evil he can't cleanse out. And the solution to all this is sad and somewhat gory. As a reader who is incredibly intrigued by this plot, I really wished this was longer actually! I believe this for a handful of other stories here too. As a writer, I think the ending was really genius and this was just a glimpse into what could be a much bigger story. However, all in all, I appreciated the brevity of each story. Most of them had some insane openers and satisfying endings, making them easier to get through. Stories that had very distinct plot and characters had great momentum and speed.

My ultimate criticism though is that I don’t feel that the blurb efficiently summarizes what this book is and does not give an adequate warning to some of its content. As for funny, I think there is very little humor here. Candy Pink was the only one that was distinctly funny, though I still read this one as more depressing! I can see glimpses of it in certain stories, but it often comes through the delusions of the speaker (which I usually read as mental illness or mental deterioration and therefore, did not consider it funny). “Dark” also really doesn’t begin to encapsulate some of these stories. There’s body horror and blood in a lot of these. But most of darker content is insinuated. Things like suicide, rape, and child abuse are often explored through metaphor and symbolism. Other times it’s very blatant, but the details are left out, which I appreciated. And a few select times, it is giving lots of detail actually, which I didn’t love so much. I will say Candy Pink, in my opinion, is one of the more detailed stories. I don’t think these details and themes are bad by any means but I think it should be made a bit clearer somehow that it’s tackling some heavy stuff.

I read Tender is the Flesh a few years ago which I enjoyed. And I can say this is so incredibly different from it, in the best way possible. Sure, they share similarities in their gruesomeness, in metaphor. But the writing and lyricism of this was completely unexpected. While I do feel that Bazterrica flourishes in long form, these short stories felt experimental and fresh. I think some of these stories could stand to be more fleshed out and detailed, while some of them would do better with just some clarity. Overall though, it was an interesting read that showed me a different form of writing from this author I already know and love. I’m super grateful I got to read it.

a creepy collection with creative prose - i never read tender is the flesh and this one def made me curious to check it out. that said, more stories fell flat for me than not which was a bummer. the ones that were strong were Rly strong but the ones that weren't sort of ruined it for everyone !! also some big trigger warnings for violence, SA, etc in this one, def explored themes i wasn't expecting. i could appreciate the 'shock' of 'going there' and didn't have a problem with those themes being explored personally, but def some fricked up content at times!

I thank the publisher for allowing me to read this translated story early.
I am a massive fan of Agustina's work 'Tender is the Flesh,' a horror short story book by them? Sign me up! Except this was a big flop. It is actually from 2020, and the writing is far from what we read in TITF. I had to DNF; I was taken aback by Roberto's story, an unnecessary and no warning of a child being molested by their teacher on a page; it felt like shock value. The writing was painfully written out every detail to the point where half was out of space thoughts and nothing happening. It was easy to get stuck on a not even 200-page book taking me 2 hours to get 20% through. None of the stories I read were horror and were too short to make a impact on the readers. I would only recommend this book if you get it at the library. Otherwise, you probably won't like how much money you spend on something you won't reread.

What a wild ride! I love Bazterrica's writing style and ability to weave together darkness and humor. Each story had a lingering sense of unease which was balanced with moments of unexpected laughter.

"Candy Pink" was a standout for me. This story follows a woman as she navigates the aftermath of a difficult breakup, struggling to come to terms with her own emotions. Through her razor-sharp wit and insightful observations, Bazterrica unveils the universal truths hidden within the intimate moments of heartbreak. Other favorites for me include "Anita and Happiness" and "The Solitary Ones".

If you were a fan of Tender is the Flesh, I would definitely recommend checking this out!

This was a quick read full of bazaar, entertaining stories. If you're a fan of weird but beautifully written short stories, I would definitely check this one out!!

I was so excited hear about the book after reading Tender is the flesh and it did not disappoint! Loved this collection! Love this author’s style of writing. My favorite was Mary Carminum.

This was a fun horror read! Nineteen Claws and A Black Bird is a collection of short horror stories each having their own vibe and pov style (1st person, 3rd person, and even 2nd person pov). Dont be put off by the book starting out in 2nd person because it changes each chapter. Each story was super unique and not like anything else Ive read before and most I couldn't even begin to predict how it would end. A few of the stories I found a bit lackluster, while others were lighthearted and funny, eerie and grim or just straight WTF did I just read. Some chapters focus more on body horror but many were more that were strange and closer to a literary/psychological horror (my favorite kind). It was a super fun and fast read overall!

Inventive, immersive, creepy, and fun. Sometimes I struggle with short story collections when they don't feel cohesive, but I eagerly turned the pages. Bazterrica is a breath of fresh air.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
This book was a haunting, captivating, mesmerizing look into all the weird gory parts of the human condition, even for me, someone who does not read horror. I'll admit, some of it totally went over my head, but even so, I enjoyed chilling in the minds of other people. It's always fun for me to explore the world from other perspectives, fictitious or not. I love the way Bazterrica writes, the lyrical descriptions and striking sentences make it difficult to take my eyes off the page. Luckily, being a short story collection, you can easily take a break between stories and it's good if you can only find a couple minutes in your day to read.
I loved how creative this carefully crafted collection was, but was certainly confused by some of it, thus I'm giving it 4/5 stars. Definitely worth a try, this might just be your cup of tea if you love horror.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this advanced digital copy. I absolutely loved Tender Is The Flesh and Augustina’s unique writing style. Unfortunately It really didn’t work for me in short story form. It was a bit too poetic maybe? Very descriptive with a lot of metaphors. In a longer form that works for me and I really enjoy it. It short form it often left me confused and wondering, is she talking about this person being an actual eagle or is it a metaphor? A few stories I flat out had no clue what was happening but there were a couple great ones! There was a quote in one story that said “You’re always confusing me with your strange, deep sentences.” And that is how I felt about a lot of this book. Definitely some trigger warnings here. Death, suicide, child sexual abuse etc. This had a few great standouts that I was wishing were longer but all in all this was a bit of a miss for me.

To be published June 20, 2023. I received an Advance Reader's Edition of this book of short stories through a Goodreads Giveaway. This book was translated from the original Spanish. The author has packed great emotional depth in a tightly contained amount of words. Most stories share themes of death, loss, murder, suicide and the New Year. The story entitled "Candy Pink" stood out the most for me. Altogether, this collection is well crafted and intriguing.

My thanks to the author, Augustina Bazterrica, and the publisher, Simon and Schuster, for my early copy of this book.

Overall Rating- 2.5

• A Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound- 3 5
• Roberto- 2
• Unamuno's Boxes- 3
• Candy Pink- 2.5
• Anita and Happiness- 2.5
• Dishwasher- 3
• Earth- 3
• Perfect Symmetry- 3
• The Wolf's Breath- 3
• Teicher vs. Nietzsche- 2
• The Dead- 2.5
• Elena-Marie Sandoz- 2.5
• The Slowness of Pleasure- 2.5
• No Tears- 4
• The Continuous Equality of the Circumference- 3
• A Hole Hides a House- 3
• Hell- 2.5
• Architecture- 3
• Mary Carminum- 3.5
• The Solitary Ones- 3

I always wonder what goes through the mind of a horror writer on a day-to-day basis; what compels them to pen words that seem normal to them and make shiver the rest of the population. Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird gave me a window into the soul of a horror writer, uncovering the way that they see the world and its droning day to day. Does Bazterrica see the world uncovered for what it truly is while we see it through tinted glasses? Most definitely, yes. I find I enjoy the way that Bazterrica uses the macabre and the shock of things to address humanity and its ailments; they do so in a tasteful and thought-provoking way without stunning their audience simply to stun them. I don’t enjoy it when ugly is presented without showing the beauty in the ugly as well. I always feel like there should be a point to all this and with this compilation there are millions of tiny world-exposing points. There is purpose in the horror here. It is also evident that this was written with a deep cultural intent and that alone makes this darker and more stunning. It is fierce, and I enjoyed even the unsettling revelations of humanity. The horror here is that Bazterrica takes your real human emotion and reaction and turns it into the monster in your closet, ready to devour you. I recommend this book in all its pieces and its entirety. If you are looking to step foot into this world, read one or two and make your way through the list; savor each story and process the way Bazterrica makes you feel. If you simply love the genre, this is a book you must pick up and consume as it consumes you back.

This collection features a wide range of stories, from truly bizarre, to grotesque, to disturbing reality. Bazterrica showcases their unique talent to create memorable stories in sometimes just a few paragraphs. The collection starts off very strong at the beginning, with some of the weaker stories in the middle. The last few again ramp up the intrigue.

For lovers of weird fiction- give this a try! I would recommend reading one or two at a time instead off all back to back. The impact feels greater when broken up.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird was a book of 20 short stories. The stories are slow but yet so quick. They grip you in and just like that, they are over. The lengths of the stories vary. But the overall effect is thrilling and thought provoking.

<b><i>Let me preface this by saying I’m not one to read short story books. However, when I noticed it was the author of Tender is the Flesh (Agustina Bazterrica), I wouldn’t dare pass on the opportunity to read her latest work.</i></b>

I loved the collection of short dark stories. I will say that some were more difficult to understand what was going on. This may be due to the fact that the book is in English and not in her native language. Teicher Vs. Nietzsche, No Tears, and Architecture were some of the ones that were super hard for me to follow along with. I think Mary Carminum or Anita and Happiness were perhaps my favorites and could have been stronger finishers IMO.

Overall, an enjoyable and quick read. I enjoy dark and disturbing though. I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes out with next!!!! 😊

Thank you to NetGalley, Agustina Bazterrica, and Scribner for the ARC of this book.

This was fine. The imagery/prose was interesting but I found the stories themselves generally underwhelming. They may just be too esoteric for my tastes though- what was supposed to be provocative ambiguity just felt unfinished to me.

I am usually not a short story person, but when I saw Augustina Bazterrica, author of the infamous Tender is the Flesh, released a collection, it was an instant must-read.

Firstly I will forever be saddened that I can not read her works in her native language, as I'm sure some things do not translate well. However, I still very much enjoyed this dark, macabre collection of stories that takes you through the raw emotions of life and the human experience.

Secondly, as with most short stories, there were some works, such as The Dead and a Hole Hides a House, that I wish were longer. I wanted more background and a more prolonged moment to stay in these dark works.

Overall I throughout enjoyed the creepy little worlds Bazterrica created in this collection and look forward to more of her works.

I LOVED these stories! I was introduced to Bazterrica's work through Tender is the Flesh, which I loved. However, I think I prefer her short stories. I found these short stories more engaging than her longer work and found them so atmospheric and frightening. I'll be recommending this to all of my horror loving friends. .