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

Tags:
#HighBridgeAudio
#RedHenPress
#TheSeaGivesUptheDead
#MollyOlguin
#HeatherKayKing
#YarisBookNook
#Horror
#Fantasy
#Magical Realism
#ShortStories
#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.

I really wanted to love this but it just missed the mark for me 😭

From the blurb, I was expecting magical tales with a base in both family led stories and fairy tales (“The Sea Gives Up The Dead is a collection of family stories sprinkled into the soil of fairy tale and left to take root and grow wild there.“) - however I drew more similarities with Black Mirror than with fairy tales (other than the very last story).

I definitely wish I had had some trigger warnings before I read this as some of the stories were quite disturbing. I came close to a DNF in the first half of the book but I found the second half much more enjoyable - especially Esther and the Voice and the last story in the collection, Foam on the Waves.

A compilation of stories that will leave readers thoughtful and empathetic to the world and people surrounding them.

Like most short story collections, some of these offerings worked for me in a much more impactful way than others but the lions share of the tales tapped into part of humanity that I could identify with. It's the sort of compilation that will leave readers better for reading it. I think the order was thoughtfully puzzled together as the stories themselves seemed to get better and better with themes that felt more and more universally applicable as I moved towards the back half of the book.

The Sea Gives Up the Dead is worthy of your TBR shelf if you're looking for something that will remind you of the intricacies of being human in these complicated times.

This was a fair bit darker and creepier than I was expecting, but I don't think that's a negative thing. The author does a great job of creating that ominous, grim fairytale-esque atmosphere and it adds a lot to each story, especially as an audiobook as the narrator really matches that written tone. I don't think any of the stories truly wowed me, I felt there was more of a focus on feeling the ambiance of each story and while the prose was beautiful, I think I needed a bit more punch to really grab me. My lasting impression is more the feeling that the audiobook gave me rather than a lasting impression of the stories themselves.

I'm really happy to have listened to this one, and I'll definitely be recommending the audiobook to anyone looking for a quick creepy listen.

I am not a huge fan of collections of short stories but I am a fan of this! Particularly for a debut author, I think this collection is beautifully curated, just the right level of connected, and overall really captivating.

The Sea Gives Up the Dead is a compilation of cautionary tales, some verging on fantastical and all are harrowing. Molly Olguin's writing is very unique and I love the way she delivers shock value where its needed the most. The first 4-5 stories especially left my jaw hanging open from the last lines. There is a clear pattern to the stories, which I think emulates fairytales as the inspiration, but there will always be a twist. As with any short story collection, my only issues with The Sea Gives Up the Dead is I was comparing each story to the ones before it, and because the first few were my favourites, I felt like the collection lost momentum towards the end (the final 2 were very good as well though). There were just a few installations in the middle that didn't invoke a reaction like the others did. I think this is a great read if you're new to literary horror, and i have really high hopes for this author in the future.

The audiobook narrator had a great voice and I think her tone really matched the eeriness of the text.

* Note this book does include the deaths of children and animals.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Looks like I am third time lucky on ARC audiobooks because I actually finished this one and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a deliciously dark and heartbreakingly melancholy and morbid collection of stories that are in fascinating inspiration, inversion, and antagonism with classic fairytales and the nature of storytelling.

It's not dark and edgy retellings, but a more thoughtful engagement and deconstruction of the themes of the old stories and how they relate to the modern experience, especially the immigrant and minority experience with questions and fears around identity.

I have to admit it took me a minute to really dial in with the tone and the concept here, but once I was in I was absolutely hooked.

You'll have to forgive my autistic instinct to draw comparisons, but this collection brought to mind Carmen Maria Machado and Margaret Atwood, both of who's stories I cherish.

There's a bitter wonder and a uniquely interesting voice that makes me incredibly excited to read more of this wonderful author.

The sea gives up the dead was an interesting change of style to fairy tales.

There were moments that intrigued me, but the stories did not all land.

I enjoyed the husband and wife tale, and felt like even that may have had more of a punch to end than was written. It leant towards a horror/uneasy feel towards the end, leaving me wanting just that 10% more than where it ended.

Overall the quality of writing was decent, but fell slightly shy of a lot of my enjoyed reads in the past.

The narration could have benefitted from a more serious or darker tone as i felt the energy was disconnected from what was spoken.

3.5

narration 4/5 (although the narrators voice wasn't for me) well read although I do think a voice with darker elements would of suited this better

story 2.5/5 this is a collection of short stories .. they are very macabre and most certainly not for everyone. The main reason for my rating here is that I don't feel that the stories bring much to the table I can't imagine people connecting and being excited by what they've read. But if you are a lover of the macabre .. you might like this although I feel some tws need to be added.

animal death - loss of life - gory description of internal organs.

I think it was the animal death that made this pretty unreadable for me and I kept thinking about it all day 🤷‍♀️... but the actual writing isn't bad its just not a topics I think people that are looking at this catagory of books will connect to.

characters 2/5

if im honest. I only really connected with a couple of the characters. but a lot of the story has stuck in my mind for better or for worse 🤷‍♀️

This collection was eerie, lyrical, and beautifully strange in all the right ways. Every story felt like a little ghostly shipwreck—haunting, mysterious, and soaked in atmosphere. The writing is gorgeous without being too precious, and there’s this quiet undercurrent of grief, transformation, and longing that ties everything together.

A few stories landed harder than others (as with most collections), but even the ones that didn’t totally hit still had something compelling—an image, a mood, a turn of phrase that stuck with me. It’s the kind of book that lingers after you finish, like sea mist you can’t quite shake off.

Definitely recommended if you’re into literary fiction with a touch of the uncanny and a deep, briny heart.

"The Sea Gives Up the Dead" is a collection of twelve stories including: a lovesick nanny who slays a dragon, the devil who tries to save her and three kids plot to blow up their dad. All of the stories are different and mix fairy tales with horror. This creates stories about love, grief, and yearning.

The title of this audiobook is the reason I was encouraged to listen. I believe it is a reference to "Revelation 20:13" in the Bible. I am not religious but I always find the concept of death fascinating. I was hoping the stories would peak my interest, however I was left feeling a bit confused and lost to be honest. (Explained further below).

A second reason I wanted to listen was due to each chapter being a different short story. This reminded me of "Before the Coffee gets Cold". This is a book I really enjoyed and have read several times. However, the chapters were very short (around 30-45 minutes). This meant I never felt like I could connect to the characters or their stories. The chapters felt too brief and could have done with being longer and in more depth.

I also got a bit confused when the chapters changed as it wasn't always clear that a new story was starting. Announcing the chapter number would improve this.

Although, I did not finish this audiobook, I did enjoy the narrators voice. They made the audiobook easy to listen too and the voice actor made it engaging. I think this was too far outside of my usual genre (thriller, romance and fantasy) which is probably a big contributing factor as to why I did not enjoy/finish the book. If this is your kind of audio book, I would recommend as it was easy to listen too. I just wasn't engaged enough to finish it. 2/5 stars.