A review by sarcomatic
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova

emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book, like M, grew on me. I liked the pacing between the moments of horror (extremely tense, slightly grotesque) and the more reflective pieces (the parents reflections of their grief, their felt responsibility of their creation, and their relationship as parents). M’s perspective was the perfect ending to the book. I like how it said true to horror leaving it open-ended, but it felt much deeper than just any old monster tale. I also really enjoyed the changes in location and what the tones of the cities (Mexico City, Berlin, New York) brought to the novel. I took off .5 stars only because I was sure it would be a 4 star rating, until I got to M’s perspective, but that is not a majority of the book. Still highly recommend!
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