As a huge fan of Bazterrica's Tender is the Flesh, I was really excited to get my hands on this book. However, I am just not a huge fan of short stories, and these particular ones were very suicide focused and it got a bit much for me. But lover her novels and am looking forward to her new one!

I liked this one but I definitely preferred Tender Is The Flesh. I will still definitely read her next one! I have purchased a physical copy already.

But a sinister thought began to take shape in my brain. This sinister thought spread throughout my brain, taking up all the empty spaces, pushing at its edges, inflating it as though it were full of tainted air.”

I absolutely loved Tender is the Flesh so I had beyond high expectations for this collection of short stories. Which was a good collection and well written over all depiction the horrors of humanity and human condition itself. Like a lady being annoyed at the lack of consideration her neighbour had for her life and her being as she could have been crushed and the inconvenience he caused for her prior to committing suicide by jumping off his balcony of their apartment building. Or the lady who is insulted the serial killer cabbie doesn’t want to murder her. Overall well written and each narrative is filled with horrible characters, horrifying thoughts, emotions and in some cases actions. The pace is mainly leisurely and the horror is mostly psychological.
“Feel a secret pleasure, but don’t acknowledge it, because you’re going through a period of grief and rage.”

The writing style and syntax used is what I expected. I felt a little underwhelmed, which was my own fault because I set expectations based on a novel and short stories are entirely different style . I still loved her collection and would read it again.

DNF - Althought I was eager to read this book, it didn't end up working for me in the end. I'm sure there is an audience out there who will appreciate the story for all that it holds.

Going into this I had high expectations as I “loved” Tender Is The Flesh. Loved is a terrible way to describe it but I enjoyed it… don’t judge me. This one though fell short. It was unmemorable and I was a bit bored. Will still read the next by the author though.

loved tender is the flesh but this one didnt feel as gritty and gross that i was anticipating or looking for

2.5

Wow was this a disappointment. I’m so sad because this totally should’ve been something I enjoyed. Short stories are the hardest things to write, and sometimes authors I think should just not try. I can see the appeal of this collection to people, but the stories that were great and the “meh” stories just wasn’t it.

"Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird" by Agustina Bazterrica is a masterful collection of short stories that blend dark themes with lyrical prose. Bazterrica's storytelling is both haunting and mesmerizing, drawing readers into each unique narrative. The collection explores human nature and societal issues with a raw and unflinching perspective. I previously read her first full-length novel and loved it--I enjoyed this no less! This book is a must-read for fans of literary fiction that challenges and captivates in equal measure.

Thanks to Simon&Schuster/NetGalley for this eARC.
I unfortunately think this author is just not for me.
I liked 1/19 of these stories…. I’m not sure if I’m just not “smart” enough to understand her writing style or if her writing style is just that ridiculous and hard to grasp. Some stories were straight up stupid, to me, and some, to me, made zero sense.

I liked Tender is the Flesh more than this collection... I found some stories to be very strong but others struggled to catch my interest. I am still a big fan of Agustina Bazterrica and look forward to her newest novel translated in English!

Terrifying and kept me on my toes! Each story is wonderfully written and leaves an lasting impact with each word

New staff pick!
Collection of nineteen dark, wildly imaginative short stories by Argentinian author of Tender is the Flesh (hugely viral on TikTok, incredible indie sales); no stories have been published in English before; for readers of horror stories, dystopia, and feminist fiction.

Sometimes we need to escape into the darkness to remain in the light.

How did the book make me feel/think?

Come with me. In here, down this dark tunnel.

I’m scared. No, I’m not. I’m worried about myself.

Why?

I love Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird.

Am I going to be okay?

My stomach churns.

At first, I think ‘Roberto’ is a young boy. And then, I read the description, ‘Roberto’ is female; where is my comprehension—what tricks have my mind played on me?

Another rumble. Every story is fresh. Served on an unsettling skewer.

What’s life about?

Darkness?

Today the answer would be YES, a loud YES—that’s the reason for ALLCAPS.

Are these thoughts about Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird?

Probably not. It’s hard to tell; I’m now a circle with arms; I need to eat, but my damn arms won’t allow me to roll over and get to the food. Darn. Splat. A jumper.

Why am I laughing?

Because.

That will have to do—this is an all-time fave.

Sometimes we need to escape into the darkness to remain in the light.

WRITTEN: 1 April 2023

Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster Canada for my copy of Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustin’s Bazterrica. Pub date past : June 20 2023.

Essay collections are a new genre for me. I’ve recently embarked on more of a literary journey and after reading some other Lit, spooky, strange reads this sounded right up my alley.

My review is mixed - maybe that’s the standard for a collection? A few of the stories I loved, a few I just liked and some I thought what the actual f. Which … is probably what the author was trying to do. There’s also often nuances that go over my head and probably hit just right for other folks. For this reason I feel like a star rating is really hard. Like a few of the short stories - for sure 5 stars.. some 1 stars a lot right in the middle.

This did make me want to read Tender is the Flesh. Because I do like some of the wtf moments..

I read all stories and disliked every single one of them. I know I'm in the minority but I felt like none of the stories really made sense and were gore for gore's sake.

This short story collection was like many others that I have read in that the quality/my enjoyment of the stories varied quite wildly. However, with it being all the same author and genre, I enjoyed how this collection had very strong theming and atmosphere across the whole collection. While I don't think any of these stories reach the level of "Tender is the Flesh", which I highly enjoyed, they are all good-to-great examples of body horror and magical realism. I'm excited to see more of this author's works in English and can't wait to see another full length novel from them as I feel that that is where they really shine. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!

Maybe 2.5-3 stars

I enjoyed this short story collection more than other short story collections i've tried to read in the past, and I think it's because it's a single author collection... it's pretty consistent and predictable in style and structure. However, I still don't love short story collections in general which isn't the author's fault at all. I do feel like I wasn't wowed by any of the stories and the content was not gripping like I know this author has gripped me before in tender is the flesh. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this because I just don't think any singular story held that much depth. Still want to read more novella or novel length works from this author though, I love the author's mind and her representation of children, women, and animals in her writing.

Random thoughts I had in each story I read (SOME MIGHT BE SPOILERY, all might be dumb):
1) Naur. Neighbour jumping off his terrace onto woman's patio. Too cerebral and too much repetition. No point.
2) Honestly liked it. Very short and gruesome, whimsical and slimy.
3) Weeeeeeeird. Bonni and Clyde. Crazy narrator.
4) I really like the poetic language and structure of that piece. A woman in love, grieving, lost her lover or never had him in the first place, another woman who should have been her, a man she kills herself over.
5) I found myself relating to Anita in a weird way. Just a weird extra terrestrial bitch confirming the uselessness of the human race lol.
6) Imagination on steroids. Beautiful and jarring and confusing.
7) So sad and feels so close to the speaker of the story, the daughter. It's interesting how all main players of the story are made out to be the villain by each other, but the reader can kind of see how everyone and no one is the bad guy.
8) ??????? I almost fell asleep but it wasn't boring, i'm just tired.
9) My favourite so far. Poetic. The wolf metaphor, it being sharp and soft at the same time is really interesting.
10) Perhaps I am too stupid for this one, even though I have an English degree.
11) Another favourite. I love when the author writes from a younger, childish perspective, I find the language way more accessible and the darkness and emotions more raw and uncovered.
12) The exaggeration and existentialism in this one are fun.
13) Very frenetic and feels both dangerous and languid. I love the yearning between the woman on the bench and the woman on the boat in the painting, but the sentences do be SO choppy.
14) Really liked interrupting the story of grief in this story and the euphoria of breaking down and being allowed to feel and witness pain.
15) The language is interesting but the story is so stupid.
16-19) NO THOUGHTS, HEAD EMPTY

This review is based off an e-arc provided by netgalley.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird is a captivating collection of short stories that will shock, amaze, and even disgust readers. The stories are well crafted with well-drawn characters and unexpected twists, making for a memorable read.

Many of the stories in Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird are not for the faint of heart, as they deal with dark and unsettling subject matter and that will have readers cringing in terror. I have to say that some stories bored me but the excellent ones worth the read.

Overall, it's perfect for fans of horror and dark fiction . Whether you are a fan of the genre or just looking for a good read, this book is well worth your time. Just be sure to read Tender is the Flesh before diving in so you can prepare yourself for what's to come.

I was expecting to really love this collection of short stories, I read Tender Is The Flesh in 2022 and it was one of my favourite reads of that year but unfortunately I had to DNF Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird about half way through.

The stories just didn't do it for me, some felt unfinished, some left me confused, and others didn't seem to go anywhere. Some of the stories had potential, where I felt like maybe this one's it, but then the story abruptly ended.

I wanted to love this book but I just couldnt, I had to dnf it and move on. I will definitely be on the look out for Agustinas future books though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for sharing a digital reviewer copy in exchange for an authentic review.