I love a well done short story collection especially when it’s from one author. I feel like you get to see a glimpse of their range.
This was excellent.
Some were gross, some were emotional, and some were both. It was a well rounded well done little audiobook.

Thanks to netgalley and high bridge audio for an alc

DNF. I found this book impossible to get into. The blurb had me hooked, and I expected fairy tales with a unique twist, but instead, the stories that I did read were very dark and unexpected, and not in a way that I enjoyed. There were also a few moments of sexism and fat-phobic language that were completely unnecessary.

I was highly intrigued by this collection of short stories which seems to be a mix of fairy tale inspirations, legends, and family drama. Though each story is fairly short, they are each different and rich with their content and way they weave the narrative.

In one story, a girl’s body is found after she is drowned and her body seems to not decompose in the way a body would. Over the course of the story, she is considered a saint and a couple other fantastical things happen as well. Another is about a nanny who falls in love with the woman of the house and a dragon is roaming their neighborhood. The nanny has to face off against the dragon near the end when something unfortunate happens.

I love that each story feels a bit unfinished, in a way. Not in a negative aspect but rather in a creative way which leaves the interpretation up to the reader. None of the stories link together but there the author’s writing still feels consistent throughout. With the integration of magic, a bit of horror, a but of realism, and fairy tales, this collection of stories is well worth the read .

This collection of short stories were in a fairytale type setting with horror elements, fantasy elements, etc which was cool but it wasn't quite for me as it didn't really keep me wanting to read and it wasn't very memorable. I also didn't care for the narrator - at the beginning, more so, I could hear the saliva in her mouth which is a personal problem that I zone in on it.

This was an interesting collection of short stories — it was more realistic fiction than I’d expected from the blurb (maybe half of them were speculative fiction), but I’m not complaining. Some of the more speculative stories were very Black Mirror-esque, and I think they were well done. Sometimes that kind of story can feel way too blunt or heavy-handed. I enjoyed what a lot of the stories had to say about loss, and I liked the audiobook narrator.

I love a good collection of stories, especially the type that make you want the author to turn each of them into a full on novel and this was exactly that. I enjoyed the abstract nature of a lot of the stories and the general vibes.

A collection of short stories taking inspiration from fairy tales. I enjoyed how these stories were told, some with horror elements, some more fantasy, and they were definitely readable. However they unfortunately weren't very memorable for me.
I also had a bit of an issue with the audiobook narrator as they spoke incredibly slowly.

The Sea Gives Up the Dead is a collection of short stories, some historical, some Magical Realist, and all a delight to read.

Osguin’s prose is clean, her stories are to a one complete and full—no plot holes to be found! No stories feeling hollow for a lack of theme, character, plot, or even world!—and though they cover a variety of genres and explore a variety of experiences, I found them all to be connected by a melancholy sensibility that doesn’t diminish in the wake of the fantastical when it shows up. I love her Latina protagonists and the way their experiences shape their points of view, and the way the intersection of ethnicity and gender makes room for such a diversity of voices and tales.

Speaking of, I can’t recommend the audio version of this book enough—these stories made to be told aloud, and the narrator’s cadence and voice do the telling perfectly. I didn’t feel like I was listening to a recording, but rather a person telling me stories sitting in the same room as me.

I recommend The Sea Gives Up the Dead audiobook for readers who only have small pockets of time to dedicate to a story, and so want those moments to be full and fantastical.

I enjoyed the weirdness of all the stories, and while they were weird and creepy, they sometimes make you think harder about the short story told. The narrator, Heather Kay Lings melodic voice makes these stories seems like bedtime stories. I am excited to read more from this author as this debut short story collection deserves a standing ovation. This is definitely a book you want to have for a re-read because its way to hard to choose a favorite story. Thank You NetGalley, Highbridge Audio. and Molly Olguin for the ALC for my honest review.

I don't think this book was for me, I found the stories to be quite dull and I think the narrator on the audiobook had something to do with it.
They all seemed to end abruptly, sometimes I didn't even realise I was listening to a different story.

I received the audiobook version of this ARC, and as enjoyable as it was I think the reading experience would have been improved by having read it with my eyeballs instead.

As with all anthologies or short story collections, some of these stories were a little more enjoyable than others, but overall I really enjoyed the tone and writing style of these works. The Latina culture, the lgbtqia+ representation, and the surprisingly high amount of Catholicism integrated into the theming made the stories feel grounded despite being fantastical. As a warning, these stories do lean dark and macabre—more Grimm's than Disney—with imagery that's at once both beautiful and unsettling, almost leaning horror in a way. I'm very excited to read more by this author in the future.

The Sea Gives Up the Dead: Stories by Molly Olguín, a compilation of dark fairytales. Incorporation a grate blend of horror and magical realism leaves the reader on the edge of their seat in anticipation of what will happen next.

I had the good fortune of not only experiencing the audiobook and eBook simultaneously and found it easy to switch between the two. The narration by Heather Kay Ling brought the stories to life and keeps the listener engaged.

Thank you to High Bridge Audio and Red Hen Press Press for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and read the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Book Rating: 5 Stars
Audiobook Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Apr 29 2025

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#netgalley

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

This short story collection is full of fairy tales that have gone absolutely wild -- A lovesick nanny slays a dragon. The devil tries to save her mother. A girl drowns and becomes a saint. Three kids plot to blow up their dad, a grieving mother sails the sea to find her son’s grave, a scientist brings a voice to life, and a mermaid falls into the power of a witch.

Generally when I come across collections of short stories, I am expecting to not like at least one or two of them. However, I have to say this collection was absolutely stunning. Were there stories that I liked more than others? Yeah 100% but I genuinely enjoyed every single story in this collection. The writing was gorgeous and lyrical, and there was never a moment when reading that I felt bored. I loved the fairy tale feeling that each story put out and overall I did feel like there was something beautifully tragic with every single story here.

A few of my favorites include the one with the girl being pulled out of the water and she becomes a saint. I loved the imagery of people finding lungs right before they find their loved ones who have passed very much alive. That story is absolutely gruesome and yet beautifully told. There's also the story that's written like a letter in which you have a wife asking for help in regards to her husband and his doll, but the way that it comes to life and everything is just very creepy. And that's one of the things that are thoroughly enjoyed about these stories -- the underlying creep factor. Like, the horror in each story existed, but at different levels. So some were absolutely spine chilling, especially in the way that the violence is described, and others are a lot more subtle with the horror, but the horror is there and it creeps up on you in the most unsuspecting of ways. I will definitely be recommending this collection to people who are looking for something gorgeously written, especially if they enjoy a little bit of body horror because there's a good amount of that in here.

These were a set of dark, fairy tale like short stories, nothing like I've ever read before. While dark they were sweet and touching. Even the shorter stories made an impact on me. They are definitely worth the read, and they don't take long to finish.

Rating 3.5 ⭐

A collection of short stories (~40 minutes via audiobook for each) with the connecting center theme being death. The primary genre is horror with aspects of historical fiction, fantasy, and Sci-fi sprinkled in.

Each story was unique and differentiated from the rest. I enjoyed some stories (the princess and the dragon, title story, and the siren) and some not so much (puppies, husband and wife).

Unfortunately what made this collection a 3 start vs 4 star for me was that the writing fell flat. The writing needed a whimsical/lyrical flair to deliver the “sprinkled into the soil of fairytales” that the synopsis promises. But instead, the best way I can describe it, was the writing felt “blunt”, but that might in tandem be partially due to the narrators performance.

Overall, if you’re looking to get out of your reading comfort zone and try the horror genre. These are good bite-sized stories. While some stories didn’t work for me, they might for others.

Listening to Molly Olguín's "The Sea Gives Up the Dead" was a genuinely absorbing experience. It's one of those audiobooks that really draws you into its world, where reality and fantasy are skillfully interwoven. This collection of short stories, enhanced by excellent narration, centers compellingly on themes of transformation, grief, love, and longing.

Olguín's storytelling possesses an almost magical quality. Each piece offers a unique blend of historical fiction, subtle horror, and fantasy, creating narratives that are both engaging and thought-provoking. The audiobook format truly brings these stories to life, highlighting the emotional depth of the characters.

The title story, "The Sea Gives Up the Dead," was particularly memorable for me. Set following World War II, it follows a grieving mother who travels to France. There, she's presented with an extraordinary chance to reconnect with her son, but only if she can accept him in a new way. It's a poignant exploration of identity and letting go.

Another notable tale is "The Princess Wants for Company," which cleverly re-examines traditional fairy tale roles, offering fresh perspectives on desire and female characters. The narration consistently adds layers of nuance to these varied stories.

Regarding the narration, it was excellent throughout. The narrator's voice felt perfectly suited to the material – expressive yet controlled, capturing the distinct mood of each story. Their ability to convey the characters' complex emotions significantly enriched Olguín's writing, and the pacing allowed for full immersion in these imaginative worlds.

While perhaps not every story resonated equally, Olguín's writing is consistently transporting, and her talent for weaving together different genres is clear. The audiobook allows listeners to fully appreciate the depth and atmosphere of these pieces.

Overall, I highly recommend "The Sea Gives Up the Dead," particularly the audiobook format. If you appreciate literary fiction that thoughtfully blends genres and delves into the beauty and complexity of transformation and being alive, this collection is well worth your time. It stands out as a powerful and imaginative debut from Molly Olguín.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book on exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love a good collection of stories, especially the type that make you want the author to turn each of them into a full on novel and this was exactly that. I enjoyed the abstract nature of a lot of the stories and the general vibes.

The Sea GIves Up the Dead is very full of death -- with stories spanning many unusual and often fantastical approaches to them, often involving children (or puppies!). It's a very creative read, especially for scenes like a woman reflecting on the life doll of herself but younger made for her husband's higher libido, or interesting takes on identity changes, dragons, and more.

This is a collection of fascinating short stories. All different and all enthralling. Some refer to fairy tales and others history.

Really enjoyed this well written and well narrated collection, I listened to the audiobook). Good characters with lots of twists of fate. Enjoy.

The Sea Gives Up The Dead, by Molly Olguín is a collection of twelve short stories that are dark, distinctive and imo, very memorable. Honestly, I chose this ARC because of its mesmerizing cover art and intriguing title, but I’m glad to say that it did not disappoint.

Olguín mixes genres, including fable, folklore, fantasy, and magical realism, with predominantly queer and Mexican-American protagonists set in historical, modern, and futuristic settings. Each story had a unique voice, and the lengths were just right, leaving me wanting just a little more but still allowing me to connect with the characters and the unique plotlines. The audiobook, narrated by Heather Kay Ling, brought each character to life in a way that made the storytelling even better.

It was difficult for me to pick favorites, but I especially loved The Princess Wants For Company, Esther and The Voice, The Sea Gives Up The Dead, and Foam on the Waves.

HighBridge Audio is set to release this audiobook on April 29, and I’m grateful to have received the ARC via NetGalley. Easily ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.