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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When her child dies young, a grieving mother cuts out a piece of his lung. After hearing a folk legend, she feeds it in a jar. The lung piece grows and grows into its own being: Monstrilio.
I read this in my latest vlog, where I read the favorite 2024 books of the booktubers with the most taste in common with me. Watch the video here: Reading Booktubers Best Books of 2024
I'm so glad that this book is getting the attention it deserves; it's sort of leaving the boundaries of normal horror readers, and I'm so glad that's happening to this book in particular. I am a sucker for metaphorical horror, and this one does a great job with its discussion of grief. We see how torn apart these people are by the loss of a child, and how they attempt to patch themselves together in unhealthy ways. The book is split into four sections, each with their own perspective. Each of these gives us a different view of Monstrilio as he grows and comes more into his own - whether those around him accept that or are in denial is another story. These sections vary a bit in tone and even genre, as each person has a different experience with what is happening at that point in time. I did find myself liking the first and fourth sections more than the second and third. I thought the prose was a strong suit, particularly at the beginning. Seriously, this has one of my favorite opening chapters I've read in a while (I was tearing up). I did like the level of horror when it leaned into it, and felt the overall amount was appropriate for the story. However, I had the feeling while reading this book that I'd read something similar before. In that way, this met my expectations but didn't exceed them.
Overall, I think this is a solid exploration of grief that could be an introduction to horror for many. Glad it's getting the hype, even if it's not a brand new favorite!
I read this in my latest vlog, where I read the favorite 2024 books of the booktubers with the most taste in common with me. Watch the video here: Reading Booktubers Best Books of 2024
I'm so glad that this book is getting the attention it deserves; it's sort of leaving the boundaries of normal horror readers, and I'm so glad that's happening to this book in particular. I am a sucker for metaphorical horror, and this one does a great job with its discussion of grief. We see how torn apart these people are by the loss of a child, and how they attempt to patch themselves together in unhealthy ways. The book is split into four sections, each with their own perspective. Each of these gives us a different view of Monstrilio as he grows and comes more into his own - whether those around him accept that or are in denial is another story. These sections vary a bit in tone and even genre, as each person has a different experience with what is happening at that point in time. I did find myself liking the first and fourth sections more than the second and third. I thought the prose was a strong suit, particularly at the beginning. Seriously, this has one of my favorite opening chapters I've read in a while (I was tearing up). I did like the level of horror when it leaned into it, and felt the overall amount was appropriate for the story. However, I had the feeling while reading this book that I'd read something similar before. In that way, this met my expectations but didn't exceed them.
Overall, I think this is a solid exploration of grief that could be an introduction to horror for many. Glad it's getting the hype, even if it's not a brand new favorite!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
First read through (bc I know I’m coming back): I read the whole thing in about two days and I’m currently awash in the awe of finishing it. While unaware of it going in, the changing (not switching) perspectives, one for each quarter of the book, make the reading experience what it is. Magos’s opening perspective overwhelms the reader with her desire to feel grief in a tangible way but the change to Lena’s perspective, seeing Monstrilio not as something to be fixed but as something to be admired for it is shakes down the narrative of mother searching/replacing dead son. Monstrilio is not a replacement but a revelation, a creature deserving to be acknowledged in his own right, also the child of magos and Joseph, and possibly even the dead Santiago, but not a replica in any way. I only wish Uncle Luke could’ve contributed his thoughts to the narrative
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Fucking hell
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would like to forget I ever read this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes