This book pulses with a blood as warm as the Florida it discusses. A stunning debut and incredibly exciting to read.

I think so few writers manage to successfully write short stories – Joyce Carol Oates and Stephen King come to mind as favourites (mainstream yes, but maybe for good reason), so it is such a good surprise to read a new collection full of great stories!

The writing is beautiful, and each story feels complete even coming in at around 25 pages each. A common criticism of short fiction is that the reader is left wanting more, feeling that the story is unresolved, but that definitely isn’t the case here and is a sign of Moniz’s talent.

I find it very hard to rate short story collections and perhaps this is also why many readers don’t warm to them. You are constantly changing from one set of characters to the next, from one plot to another – just when you get comfortable, there’s a new story. And how do you rate the collection if the stories are not equally good? Well this wasn’t a problem! Of the eleven stories in this collection I found only one (the penultimate Exotics) which seemed out of place. The rest, while I didn’t like every one equally, were strong, complete stories, with clear themes of growing up and older, loss, and loss of innocence. The stories I enjoyed most were the title story: Milk Blood Heat, The Hearts of Our Enemies, Necessary Bodies and An Almanac of Bones.

I’m a notoriously harsh critic even when I like the book, but I don’t have anything bad to say about this one. I would rate it 4.5 as I didn’t love every story, but it deserves to be rounded up to 5 stars! Milk Blood Heat is now competing with Salt Slow by Julia Armfield for the best short story collection I’ve read this year!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC

Milk Blood Heat is a promising debut, one that I'm sure will be well-received by readers who enjoy lyrical proses. While I personally found Moniz's style to be occasionally a bit too flowery and/or impressionistic (“she's Frankenstein's monster. She is vampire queen. She is newly thirteen, hollowed out and filled back up with venom and dust-cloud dreams” / “my mouth a black cave, ugly and squared” / “I want to swallow my mouth—to fold in my lips and chew until they burst” / “my body felt made of stars”), I was nevertheless absorbed by her rather mesmerising storytelling.
Like most collections of short stories, some aren't as memorable or well-executed as others, but even in the stories that I didn't find particularly affecting there were moments or scenes that stood out (in a good way).

Most of these stories seem to possess an ambiguous quality, offering little resolution or at times clarity on the characters' feelings and/or futures. With the exception of two stories, most seem to be centred on either a young girl or woman whose lives are about to change or are in the process of changing. In the first one, 'Milk Blood Heat', follows a young girl, Ava, who spends her days playing with her white best friend, Kiera and begins to question their differences: This year she's become obsessed with dualities, at looking at one thing in two ways. Although Ava's mother disapproves of Kiera and her wild ways, the two girls are inseparable, or they are until tragedy strikes.
The second story, 'Feast', a woman is the deep thralls of depressions after having a miscarriage. She begins to resent her partner, as he seems not as affected by their loss. Moniz renders the uneasiness and sadness that have become backdrop to the woman's every thought and action, revealing how deeply her miscarriage has altered her state of being. Her grief, the disturbing visions she has, her numbness are hauntingly conveyed through Moniz's sharp yet poetic language (which in this instance worked perfectly with the kind of story she was telling).
Most of the other stories explore similar themes (grief, identity, motherhood, friendship) without ever seeming repetitive. Two stories seem centred on a girl's passage from youth to adulthood, one that forces them reconsider their worldview and notions of good and bad (especially in terms of their sexuality), and each one gives us a different take on 'growing up'.
My favourite stories were probably 'The Heart of Our Enemies' (which focuses on a fraught mother-daughter relationship) and 'Snow (in which a young woman is having second thoughts about her marriage). The two I liked the least were 'The Loss of Heaven' and 'Exotics' (which was short and employed a first-person plural perspective, 'we', that came across as an exercise for a creative writing class).
Even if Moniz's prose was a bit too sticky and snappy at times (a la 'girls are daggers/my eyes are full of stars'), I still was able to appreciate the majority of her stories and I look forward to what she will write next.

A unique collection of short stories glancing into pivotal moments of each character's life. Story themes center around motherhood, love, and coming of age. Early on, the tale of a woman struggling to cope with the loss of her unborn child was intensely raw. Some stories were more gripping than others, but overall I was impressed and am excited to see what Moniz will do next.
3.5/5 stars

I'm usually not a fan of Milk Blood Heat but the opening short story immediately captured my attention and barely wanted to let go. This collection of short stories about a variety of relatable experiences from mental health, suicide, parenting, pregnancy, familial issues, alcoholism, cancer, etc was a phenomenal debut from Dantiel W. Moniz.

The imagery of the writing was so amazing and often times felt very real. There was one story, Outside the Raft, where a few of the characters were drowning and the vividness of the writing caused me to feel as if I was also drowning. Sadly, this is receiving 4 stars from because short stories often leaving me wanting more. I want to know what happens after a traumatic event, or the announcement of a new pregnancy but instead we move on to the next story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for blessing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Milk Blood Heat has an expected published date of February 2nd, 2021.

Made up of short stories, Milk Blood Heat was full of dark, emotional tales. Each different story was made up of intense emotions that were powerful to read. It definitely isn't for the faint of heart. Beautiful writing.

This short story collection is decadent, devastating, and captivating from the start. I was so stunned by the gruesome innocence and twist of the first story, I had to reread the stories that immediately followed it later on. The attention to detail and description that build the scenes and characters draw the reader in. I thought Moniz was particularly masterful at bringing the reader up to a pivotal moment without the reader having any idea they were moving towards an edge; only to hit it and find themselves plummeting, forced to reconsider everything they read before. Though dark, the depth and distinctive nature of the stories felt refreshing. I look forward to buying a physical copy of this book when it comes out and rereading it. That and whatever Moniz writes next!

An interesting and engaging collection of short stories. Milk Blood Heat draws the reader into tales featuring complex themes of coming of age, depression, and loss.. It is easy to get drawn into the emotions of the protagonist, A exquisite debut by a talented writer. Once you read this collection you'll be excited to read future works from her. Coming in February 2021, thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! This debut collection of short stories from Dantiel W. Moniz was refreshing, relatable and compelling. Although the situations and circumstances these characters found themselves in were issues that are often unfortunate but common to the human experience, Moniz’s imaginative storytelling and eloquent prose takes readers on an emotional and thought-provoking journey. One of my favorite stories in this collection, Necessary Bodies, is about a young woman named Billie who faces the anxiety of raising a child in a world of so many dangers and unknowns after recently finding out she’s pregnant. Although she and her husband are doing great financially, have an amazing support system, and enjoy other people’s children, Billie still questions whether or not it is responsible to bring new life into the world. These are the types of stories that will start conversations and appeal to readers of all backgrounds and ages. This title has an expected publication date of February 2nd, 2021.

Masterful writing, magnificent storytelling - the author says so much with so few words. Can't wait to read what Moniz writes next.

Milk Blood Heat is a stunning debut collection of short stories. Told in incredibly vivid detail through the perspective of the protagonist of each story, you feel intimately connected to each of them. Moniz has a way of painting pictures with her words, making the reader feel as if they are part of every story, experiencing every emotion the characters are going through. Whether it is the angst of an adolescent girl experiencing possibly undiagnosed clinical depression or the woman struggling to move on while still mourning the loss of her baby due to a miscarriage, I felt each story in a raw, visceral way. I found that I could picture these characters as if they were standing right in front of me and I was drawn into their lives and, at the end of each story, wanting to know what happened next. Dantiel Moniz is an exceptional writer. I genuinely enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of her work.

**I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review. Opinions are my own. This book is scheduled to be released February 2021.

Who else gets second hand emotions when reading? Milk Blood Heat is a heavy, bold collection of short stories! While some of the stories were hard to read, i didn't want them to end. The stories just pull you in and leave you wanting more.

Beautiful writing. Definitely recommend picking this book up!

this was such a delicious bunch of stories. it was such a lush and atmospheric read, and one that felt like it was surrounding me with its words. everything from the prose, to its darkness, to its cover, invites you in

A marvelous collection that will resonate with lovers of Kelly Link and Carmen Maria Machado. Small phrases are so elegantly placed in each story, and each sentence feels meticulously thought-out. Such a great read!

Not for me. I thought the writing was powerful but the stories were too dark for me. I would give five stars for the writing though.

This book is a series of short stories, some longer than others - a small snippet of people’s lives. The writing style is beautiful and the opening story between Ava and Keira’s relationship is dark and captivating. I did find I wasn’t as engaged with some of the other stories but would read more from this author.

This book is the first thing that made me feel like a person again after social distancing. The author has such a good understanding of life, of bodies, of how the world works. It was comforting and frightening to read at the same time. Although, like all collections, some stories stood out from others, there was something to take away from each one. Honestly, I'm in awe of the worlds she created here; and I've even more in awe that they are a snapshot of our own. Fantastic book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz.

This is a collection of short stories that I was not prepared for. Some of them lasting as long as a lengthy chapter. Others as short as a few pages. All of them filled with the weight of an anvil, and I don't mean that in a bad way.

I think it takes real skill to write a series of short stories, with all of them hitting home. I would think that you'd have to use your words really carefully to draw a detailed landscape while incorporating a captivating plot. Moniz succeeded with flying colors in my book. The stories are dark, but also so compelling and well written. I could just feel the weight of what she was trying to convey, and especially when she didn't actually say it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and Dantiel W. Moniz for the ARC of Milk Blood Heat in return for my honest review.

I was unaware when I requested an advanced copy of this book that it was a short story collection. I do not select short story formats for my normal reading, but I really enjoyed this book!

While the writing is in a short format, the author develops the characters and subjects with such detail and care I became fully immersed in each story.

The subject matter of the stories may be difficult for some readers to experience, but will without question have you reflecting on the topics long after you have finished the book.

A strong collection of stories. These are not light stories, but they are well crafted and engaging. Fans of literary fiction and short stories will likely enjoy this.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!