Things We Lost in the Fire: Four Graphic Stories

by Mariana Enriquez, Megan McDowell (Translator), Lucas Nine (Illustrator)

A car is found abandoned at night in the middle of the Argentine Pampas, with a jerrycan of gasoline beside it. Suddenly, the vehicle bursts into flames, and we see that, inside, a woman is sitting behind the wheel, unfazed. Beside her rests a book with the title Things We Lost in the Fire.

So begins Lucas Nine's brilliant graphic novel adaptation of the renowned short story collection of the same name by Mariana Enriquez - one of the most groundbreaking and original voices writing today. This opening scene provides the visual thread that connects the four selected 'The Dirty Kid', 'An Invocation of the Big-Eared Runt', 'The Neighbor's Courtyard', and 'Under the Black Water'.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult, Comics

112 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2026

About the author

Mariana Enriquez (Buenos Aires, 1973) es una periodista y escritora argentina.

Se recibió de Licenciada en Comunicación Social en la Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Se ha desempeñado profesionalmente como periodista y columnista en medios gráficos, como el suplemento Radar del diario Página/12 (donde es sub-editora) y las revistas TXT, La mano, La mujer de mi vida y El Guardián. También participó en radio, como columnista en el programa Gente de a pie, por Radio Nacional.

Trabajó como jurado en concursos literarios y dictó talleres de escritura en la Fundación Tomás Eloy Martínez
Mariana Enríquez is a writer and editor based in Buenos Aires. She is the author of the novel Our Share of Night and has published two story collections in English, Things We Lost in the Fire and The Dangers of Smoking in Bed , which was a finalist for the International Booker Prize, the Kirkus Prize, the Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Speculative Fiction, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Fiction.

Reviews

[Ain Ashura · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I love graphic novels, and I was excited when I found out that several stories from Things We Lost in the Fire would be adapted into the graphic format. But unfortunately the illustrations didn't work for me. It was hard to see what the illustrator was trying to portray in their arts as some of them were just a bit too abstract for my liking.

[Elena L. · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This is a graphic adaptation of four Mariana Enriquez's horror stories that depict the troubled history of contemporary Argentina.

The abstract strokes and creepy art sharply convey the instability, tension, harshness and horror amidst political turmoil and violence. Past blends with the present and the blurry touch means to deliver not an individual, but the collective who is oppressed by abuse and abandonment while their hope is nurtured by love and compassion.

It's visually and mentally disturbing with a sensorial incorporation that feels cathartic, inviting one to digest the message oneself. Whether the art works or not, it's undeniable that these stories are impactful and provide food for thought.

[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Hogarth books . All opinions are my own ]

[Saphira Adorni · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Inject this straight into my VEINS

[Escapereality4now · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every story in this graphic novel. They were gritty and dark. Some were sad. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!

[Sam Hughes · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Ok this is not for moms with postpartum sadness, I had a hard time with this but I powered on bc fiction. Historical fiction very likely, and it’s wrong of me to hate on something that I didn’t experience or experience the effects of.

Lots of child death and abuse experienced by the characters of this book, and I was really hard for me to read it and digest it. Just having empathy as a mom these days is really hard on me, but I’m doing my best.

I’m really thankful to Hogarth Books, Mariana Enriquez, the wonderful translators and illustrators that worked on this rendition.

[Chris Metts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooooooky-ookie. Visuals are ✨😱

[Mikayla Barrett · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Honestly I don't know if it's because this is a translated fiction or if it's because this was adapted into a graphic novel but for me it felt like these stories just didn't have endings like every single story just like I said felt like it didn't have an ending and that was really unfortunate for me because I was actually enjoying most of the stories and I'll also say well I do like the art style I feel like it was a little abstract and it made it hard for me to tell what was happening in the scenes I'm not familiar with these stories I got this book through one of the Goodreads giveaway and so like I said I'm not familiar with the story and I'm not familiar with this graphic novel like artist so unfortunately for me this just kind of fell through a little bit I think had there have been proper endings to the stories I would have liked it better and I think also I know this is a great novel but because of how abstract the pictures were I think if it had more words that would have also made it better or maybe if I would have just read like a translated version of the text and that might also made it better I'm not the biggest on graphic novels I do prefer more traditional print yeah this was a bad story just I would have appreciated like endings to each one of the short stories in this book.

[Pamela · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Wow, way to pull me in deep from the beginning!! This graphic novel has four short stories, but the illustrations and themes (surrounding social and political issues in Argentina) seamlessly pull the stories together. It feels like chapters that focus on different characters and action, and I cared about each one.

Each story is violent and fear-inducing, some with supernatural elements. The illustrations are blurred, mixed with photographs, striking, and sometimes hard to determine exactly what’s happening. The endings aren’t neat and tidy, and it works to keep the lingering unsettled feelings.

Loved reading this! Thank you Hogarth for the free copy!

[Abby N Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't understand what was happening in a lot of the images. Maybe reading the short story collection is a prerequisite? Definitely not giving up on Mariana, but I don't think I'll read anything else by this illustrator. Too abstract for me.

[Savanna W · Rating 4 out of 5]

dream-like art, nightmare-like stories of Argentina's impoverished streets. compelling. i especially liked the story about the Runt