Milk Blood Heat

"A gorgeous debut" (Lauren Groff) from Dantiel W. Moniz, one of the most exciting discoveries in today's literary landscape, Milk Blood Heat depicts the sultry lives of Floridians in intergenerational tales that contemplate human connection, race, womanhood, inheritance, and the elemental darkness in us all.

A livewire debut from Dantiel W. Moniz, one of the most exciting discoveries in today's literary landscape, Milk Blood Heat depicts the sultry lives of Floridians in intergenerational tales that contemplate human connection, race, womanhood, inheritance, and the elemental darkness in us all. Set among the cities and suburbs of Florida, each story delves into the ordinary worlds of young girls, women, and men who find themselves confronted by extraordinary moments of violent personal reckoning. These intimate portraits of people and relationships scour and soothe and blast a light on the nature of family, faith, forgiveness, consumption, and what we may, or may not, owe one another.

A thirteen-year-old meditates on her sadness and the difference between herself and her white best friend when an unexpected tragedy occurs; a woman recovering from a miscarriage finds herself unable to let go of her daughter-whose body parts she sees throughout her daily life; a teenager resists her family's church and is accused of courting the devil; servers at a supper club cater to the insatiable cravings of their wealthy clientele; and two estranged siblings take a road-trip with their father's ashes and are forced to face the troubling reality of how he continues to shape them.

Wise and subversive, spiritual and seductive, Milk Blood Heat forms an ouroboros of stories that bewitch with their truth, announcing the arrival of a bright new literary star.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Milk Blood Heat:

Shortlisted for the PEN/Jean Stein and PEN/Robert W. Bingham Awards

Named a Best Book of the Year by The Atlantic, TIME, Washington Independent Review of Books, Kirkus, Chicago Public Library, Library Journal, Literary Hub, Audible, Largehearted Boy, Entropy, Millions, and Tampa Bay Times

A Belletrist Book Club February Pick
A Roxane Gay Audacious Book Club April Pick
An Indie Next Pick
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
One of TIME Magazine's "Here Are the 14 New Books You Should Read in February"
One of Elle's "57 Most Anticipated Books Of 2021"
One of Entertainment Weekly's "Best Books of February 2021"
One of Buzzfeed's "75 Books to Add to your TBR List"
One of O, The Oprah Magazine's "55 of the Most Anticipated Books of 2021" and "20 of the Best Books of February 2021 to Fall in Love With"
One of Alma's "Favorite Books for Winter 2021"
One of Essence's "21 Books We Can't Wait to Read in 2021"
One of The Millions Most Anticipated of 2021 and February
One of Electric Literature's "43 Books By Women of Color to Read in 2021" selected by RO Kwon
One of Electric Literature's "27 Debuts to Look Forward To in the First Half of 2021" selected by Adam Vitcavage
One of Paperback Paris' "100 Most-Anticipated New Books of 2021" and "Debut Books We're Excited To Read This Month"
One of Book Riot's "Horoscopes and Book Recommendations"
One of The Rumpus' "What To Read...

Readers Top Reviews

Linda C. AllenSam

I liked all the characters in the various stories. the short stories were very good but it seems to me there was never closure in most of them and that just makes me sad. Are there that many people out there so screwed up?

Ernest OhlmeyerLi

This was an impressive collection of stories given that it was the author's first book. I found all the stories to be hard-hitting with a lot of emotional impact. Most stayed with me after I finished the book. The author writes beautifully and I think we can expect a lot more from her in the future. Highly recommended.

delandgatorErnest

Amazing collection of stories that I was drawn to since the author has ties to my native North Florida. If you are looking for stories that all are wrapped up with a bow on top at the end this is not the book for you. The stories are multi layered and thought provoking without easy answers which I found enthralling.

Daina C.delandgat

This book of short stories is absolutely AMAZING! On the surface, these stories are about mother/daughter relationships, friendship, race, loss, depression and suicide (CW). 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. Another story titled “An Almanac of Bones” has some really great quotes. 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. But, I promptly went and pre-ordered a copy of this debut novel.

Jill I. ShtulmanD

Crafting a short story is no easy undertaking. Trust me, I know. So when I discover a debut author who writes with such confidence and mastery, I feel awe mixed with a tad (okay, more than a tad) of envy. Dantiel W. Moniz is the real deal. Each of her bewitching stories is about women in or around Jacksonville, Florida. Black women. Women who are facing universal challenges and connecting to a dark side of themselves. The stories – every single one of them is a gem – ask questions like these: What if you are an imperfect mother who discovers that your rebellious teenager is entranced with a French teacher who is also a predator? What if you have recently found out you are pregnant (you are married) but, in this uncertain world, wonder if you should continue it? What if you are a teenager living in a restrictive world, advanced by a misogynous pastor, and refuse to be defined by him? What if you recently had a miscarriage and are not yet ready to embrace your young stepdaughter, who craves your love? These are just some of the situations that Dantiel W. Moniz’s characters find themselves in. Each of these women are searching for something – a sense of authenticity a reconnect with a partner or a mother or a sibling or a friend. The prose is descriptive, luscious, with a touch of the grotesque. For example, this line from the woman who just suffered a miscarriage and watches her stepdaughter chew a gumball: “I watch her mouth become a red ruin as she chews, her small, perfect teeth smeared with candy blood.” Each reader always has a favorite in any short story collection. Mine is The Hearts of Our Enemies. But there were many contenders and that’s what makes this collection so special. I can’t wait to read this author’s next book or collection.

Milk Blood Heat

Editorial Reviews

Readers Top Reviews

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