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A review by rorikae
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
'Monstrilio' by Gerald Sámono Córdova is a magical realism mediation on grief.
The story switches between perspectives surrounding a family who has lost their son, Santiago. Beginning with a section from Magos, Santiago's mother, the novel follows how Magos takes a piece of Santiago's lung and what it becomes. This small piece of her son begins to grow, transforming into a creature that the family calls Monstrilio or M. Through following sections from a family friend (Lena) and from Joeseph (Santiago's father), Monstrilio's growth and his effect on the family is explored.
Gerardo Sámano Córdova weaves a deeply emotional story about the loss of a child and the effect on the child's parents. His writing is beautiful and evocative. Grief can consume, bring about violence, obsession, and more, which Gerardo Sámano Córdova deftly explores through the character of Monstrilio. All of the characters in this story are deeply flawed and extremely human. Their mistakes are easy to understand in light of their grief. I also appreciated the casual queerness of the characters and the story as a whole. I cannot wait to see what Gerardo Sámano Córdova writes next as this is a profoundly moving story that uses a fantastical aspect to explore the longstanding effects of grief.
The story switches between perspectives surrounding a family who has lost their son, Santiago. Beginning with a section from Magos, Santiago's mother, the novel follows how Magos takes a piece of Santiago's lung and what it becomes. This small piece of her son begins to grow, transforming into a creature that the family calls Monstrilio or M. Through following sections from a family friend (Lena) and from Joeseph (Santiago's father), Monstrilio's growth and his effect on the family is explored.
Gerardo Sámano Córdova weaves a deeply emotional story about the loss of a child and the effect on the child's parents. His writing is beautiful and evocative. Grief can consume, bring about violence, obsession, and more, which Gerardo Sámano Córdova deftly explores through the character of Monstrilio. All of the characters in this story are deeply flawed and extremely human. Their mistakes are easy to understand in light of their grief. I also appreciated the casual queerness of the characters and the story as a whole. I cannot wait to see what Gerardo Sámano Córdova writes next as this is a profoundly moving story that uses a fantastical aspect to explore the longstanding effects of grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, and Blood
Moderate: Child death