Review: Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova (Spoiler-Free)

My mother thought I was a monster and didn't love me because of it. This thing, an actual fucking monster, was loved.

There's a lot to sink your teeth into with this one (ha). Having just watched Bones & All, I couldn't help but be reminded of some parallels in that story to this one. They both contain similar themes, like the desire to consume as a metaphor for... well... that's what I'm stuck on. I think the beauty of both these stories is that the insatiable hunger, it could mean so much.

What's particularly interesting about this novel's portrait of the trope is that we see the story from four different perspectives in consecutive order, not getting the monster's until the final act. I was especially gripped by the second part—Lena's perspective—which is surprising because she is the most peripheral character of them all, just a close friend. Yet, somehow her psyche was enthralling.

Every character in this book is deeply layered and incredibly strange. So even with a slow to nonexistent plot, you want to keep reading to understand them.

This is easily being added to my mental list of vague, literary horror books with ambiguous endings that will no doubt infuriate many readers. Luckily, they're delightful to others. If you're a horror reader, keep in mind this book leans heavily into literary fiction elements, but if you're a lit fic reader do be warned... the gore holds no punches.