Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird is a translated collection of cruel and shocking short stories laced with dark humour.
Review of Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird
After being equally repulsed and captivated by Tender is the Flesh, I requested this short story collection as soon as I saw it. I rarely read short story collections because I prefer to spend more time with characters. But I had high hopes that this would be a fascinating read, and it certainly was.
The stories themselves are fairly short, ranging from one to no more than ten pages. Except for one, I gave them all three to five stars, averaging four stars. Overall, the stories are quite memorable. In one, a woman wants to become a circle and will do whatever it takes to achieve her desired shape. Cue lots of blood and the eating of round-shaped foods. In another, a man suspects his girlfriend is an alien, and he’s okay with that.
The stories deal with shocking, bloody, and dark themes.
If you haven’t yet read Tender is the Flesh, this will give you a taste of what the author’s writing is like. I don’t reread much, but I’d definitely consider rereading these twisted stories.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expected Publication: 20 June 2023
Thank you to Scribner for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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