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minamouse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death
softanimal's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
This is my favorite kind of horror: heavily psychological, sparse & carefully chosen terror/gore/violence, a meandering burn, and a heart at its core that just fuckin body checks you. I also loved the characters, the settings, the distinctness of voice of each storyteller, and the uniqueness of the premise. Would highly recommend to similar horror lovers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, and Child death
Minor: Deadnaming
I added deadnaming as a trigger warning but I don't think it would be for most but the reason isnadstorro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Book about grief. Really enjoyed reading. My first dark, gothic horror book. Sad. Ending was great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Cannibalism, Animal death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Child death
tjmitrovic's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Dark, original, wonderful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Cannibalism
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Child death, Murder, Grief, and Animal death
jaylinsoto's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I already know this book is going to be one that I think about often. I found myself feeling seen in a lot of small ways (the use of “mami”, M eating picadillo, etc) and I found the different portrayals of love, acceptance, and grief to be very thought provoking. This is also the first book I’ve read where each of the characters queerness were less of a plot point and more just a part of who they were. I loved that. It felt so impactful for the queerness to be unimportant/inconsequential in the whole theme of the book. I tabbed the hell out of this book and I think everyone should definitely read it! I’m excited for more books from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, and Grief
mortiffa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Body horror, and Child death
savvy999's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A whirlwind of emotions. Subtly dazzling and rich. The distinct and provocative voices of the characters emphasize this complicated portrait of just how human a monster can be. We see M from all perspectives, in all of the viscera and gore and introspection that he entails. Grief transforms and makes new the bodies of those involved. Loss of the son, grief at not being the son that was lost, grief from up close and afar. “The monster stands at the borders of the possible”(quote from cohens monster theory, which definitely enhances a reading of this book) Monstrilio engages with the possibility of constructing a life and living it borrowed, that born of tradition/folklore and aided by science this being could be walking alongside others. but also stands with the pain of living amongst without feeling full, of being an outsider in their space and body. The possibility of embracing one’s own monstrosity is daunting and dangerous, but to M is ultimately a triumph of spirit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Death, Body horror, Animal death, Violence, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Child death
orizenda's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I feel like complicated is a good word to describe this book. Not that it’s difficult to understand, there’s just a lot to think about. The characters are so complex imo and i really liked that. near the end my stomach was actually churning, which I was not anticipating. I love M.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, and Drug use
ccerpa's review
2.75
I really enjoyed the concept but I think it lost the thread once the kinky scenes started and the big jump happened…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Murder, Medical content, Grief, Gore, Death, Child death, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Blood
cspa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An exceptional literary horror delving into themes of grief, family (both chosen and blood), and parenthood, "Monstrilio" captivated me from the outset. The opening pages vividly depict the tragic and abrupt loss of Margos and Joseph's son, Santiago. We receive perspectives from four different viewpoints: the two parents, their closest friend Lena, and Monstrilio himself, who was once Santiago's deformed lung, cut from his chest by his mother and fed to transform into a creature that evolves into a man to the fullest extent of his capabilities.
Throughout the story, there is a continuous tension to unveil whether Monstrilio can transform into a human, as his monstrous inclinations threaten to dominate at every moment. When Monstrilio first started to form and was swinging from high places, I remember thinking, even though the descriptions were so ugly, that he was sweet, he was trying, and he was like no other.
The decisions made by the adults in his life were questionable and had consequences for everyone involved but you rooted for this family. You wanted everything to be ok. You hoped for an outcome that could bring some peace and sanity to all.
I thought the book was rife with complex emotions and situations that required so much nuance. How much would you sacrifice for the love of a child, even if that child was no more but instead a creature capable of unspeakable acts, striving to become what you wished for, despite going against its inherent nature?
Throughout the story, there is a continuous tension to unveil whether Monstrilio can transform into a human, as his monstrous inclinations threaten to dominate at every moment. When Monstrilio first started to form and was swinging from high places, I remember thinking, even though the descriptions were so ugly, that he was sweet, he was trying, and he was like no other.
The decisions made by the adults in his life were questionable and had consequences for everyone involved but you rooted for this family. You wanted everything to be ok. You hoped for an outcome that could bring some peace and sanity to all.
I thought the book was rife with complex emotions and situations that required so much nuance. How much would you sacrifice for the love of a child, even if that child was no more but instead a creature capable of unspeakable acts, striving to become what you wished for, despite going against its inherent nature?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, and Violence