I cannot believe this is this authors debut. It is surely the first in what I can only imagine will eventually be a prolific catalog. It is a collection of short stories that all take place in Florida. They are well crafted, beautifully written and go deep into some very difficult and serious topics. The imagery and probe draw you in for this emotional ride. Young girls becoming women, faith good and gone wrong, miscarriage, postpartum depression, jealousy, suicide, relationships, parents and parenting, teenage angst, hormones, love, addiction, illness and all the emotions that are conjured up through these experiences. Not an easy listen because of the subject matter, but a beautiful one.

This book is AMAZING! On the surface, these stories are about mother/daughter relationships, friendship, race, loss, depression and suicide. But, these stories are about so much more than that … I just don’t know how to effectively put it into words. One of the stories in this book titled “Monsters” absolutely wrecked me. The last story takes an interesting shift in how the mother and daughter understand each other and I loved that. Each story is so beautiful and complex, all for different reasons. I actually slowed down the speed of the audio just so I could savor and absorb every word. I also, promptly went and pre-ordered a copy as this debut novel as well!

CW: suicidal thoughts, suicide, miscarriage, blood, mental illness, sexual content, vomit, death of parent

WOW. I have been sleeping on story collections and that was a mistake. This is my second one this month and I really enjoyed it. There are definitely dark topics in this book, but I would have gladly listened to a full length book of each of these stories.

After hearing some great reviews for Dantiel W. Moniz's Milk Blood Heat, I was excited to check out what promised to be another excellent short story collection.

For the most part, this collection delivers. Many stories are dripping in that dark and moody vibe I love, with characters that have seen things and lived things that are awful both in their commonality and uniqueness. Moniz's pitch perfect, straightforward prose really digs in on human lives and human relationships (familial and otherwise) that run the spectrum of dysfunction. The first story packs a punch, especially if you, like me, also enjoyed an overnight birthday party with your friends at an Embassy Suites when you were a kid.

This is a collection you read for the character study and not the plot, but there are events and twists that shock and disorient all the same. Unfortunately not every story hit for me, one in particular ended prematurely and another was a bit too obtuse for my own tastes, but overall this is a strong collection that I would not be surprised to see long listed for the National Book Award at the end of the year.

Finally, since I reviewed the audiobook edition, Machelle Williams does a fantastic job. Her voice perfectly conveyed the tone of each story.

I was pleasantly surprised with “Milk Blood Heat” With the market seemingly saturated with short story collections set in Florida, I was sure this would be just another to add to the pile. Instead I found the stories smart, nuanced and truly seductive. My favorite stories were “Exotics” which has stuck with me long after listening, as well as the tile story, wherein I especially loved the examination of race relations and youth, approached in such a way that felt so new. Would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a satisfying collection, along the lines of Lauren Groff but in a deeper, moodier tone. Looking forward to more from this author.

Milk Blood Heat is exquisitely written, with a tight understanding of language creating an entrancing reading experience. I went into this book blind, as I had heard that this collection of stories were examples of beautiful prose but nothing of its contents. Before I can recommend this book to anyone, be aware that these stories are dark and at times horrific. Moniz's stories deserve to be sipped and ruminated on, rather than read quickly in one sitting.

Although each story is written expertly, it's likely that a couple stories will linger in your mind more than others. The story about a woman grieving after her miscarriage and another woman realizing her child is in a romantic relationship with her teacher in particular stand out a day or two after reading the book. Readers should be warned that while these stories do have a beginning, middle, and end, their resolutions are at times not as clear or complete as some may hope for. (The open ended nature of these stories are part of the reason that each story should be dissected and interpreted by the reader before starting the next one.)

For readers who are fans of horror elements or literary fiction, this book is certain to live up to expectations. For a debut short story collection especially, Milk Blood Heat is a triumph. Despite its taboo elements described in the book, it's clearly capable of hooking its readers.

4 stars

This is a wonderful collection of short stories.

There are so many shades of girls' and women's experiences throughout these stories: friendship, assault, abuse, pregnancy and not, being a daughter, relationships with parents, grief, and the list goes ON. I love the simultaneous variety in the works as well as the cohesive nature of the collection. Throughout, I found myself truly invested in the characters, even in the briefest pieces, and really thinking through the symbols and themes.

I am already eagerly anticipating Moniz's next releases, and I want to add a special nod of appreciation to Machelle Williams, who killed it as the narrator of this audiobook.

This collection of short stories was exquisite. Each story was captivating in its own way. The characters feel real with real-life problems that will be relatable to any reader.

The reader of the audiobook made the stories even more engaging. I didn't want to stop listening and found myself listening to the entire book in one sitting.

I would certainly recommend this book to others.

In her new short story collection, “Milk Blood Heat,” author Dantiel W. Moniz takes digs into themes readers can relate to: friendship, angsty teens, grief, intimacy, betrayal, faith, rebellion, and more. Each story offers different takes on The common denominator is that each character experiences the light and dark, but do so by living in the heat of the Sunshine State.

Moniz is a wonderful storyteller. I was particularly drawn to the first coming-of-age story about two young teens who become blood sisters, and have an odd fascination with death. The essay ends fairly abruptly, but I actually found that exciting. (Sometimes brevity is our friend!) And speaking of, I loved how Moniz structures her sentences. I found her writing exquisite.

I read the ebook while listening to the audiobook, narrated by the lovely Machelle Williams.

Special thanks to both Grove Atlantic and HighBridge Audio for an advanced reader’s ebook and audiobook of “Milk Blood Heat,” via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.