I’m currently about 30 book reviews behind, oops. Here’s another great for spooky season book. Let’s review.
Monstrílío by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
- Category – Horror Fantasy Fiction
- Length – 336 Pages
- Read Time – 1 Day
- GR Rating – 3 Stars
To me Monstrílío is a story about love & grief, presented as supernatural horror. About how all-consuming the depths of grief are. Our main characters Magos & Joseph have unfortunately lost their 11 year old child, this is how the book begins. Magus & Joseph are laying with their son, Santiago, in his dying bed. Their grief manifests differently right away, with Joseph physically clinging to his son, wishing with everything in him that by the immensity of his love he could bring him back to life. Where as Magos basically disassociated, her mind & soul could not accept that her son who she loved with every fiber of her being was gone.
In her despair, Magos begins to believe if she can keep a piece of her son with her, he will continue to live, with her. Ultimately, rather horrifically, she cuts from his body a piece of lung to keep. The relationship between Magos & Joseph doesn’t survive the tragic loss of their son, although it seems the lung piece situation was the catalyst, they were both grieving so immensely & in different ways, which to me says future end anyway. Regardless, the relationship ends & so Magos leaves their New York home, moving back to Mexico with her mother. Naturally, taking her “son”, piece of lung, with her.
“She whispers her son’s name, like an apology.”
-Gerardo Sámano Córdova
There is a town legend of a woman who fed the heart of a girl, creating life again where there wasn’t, this story reaches Magos’ ear. Although part of the story is a warning of a curse, she ignores that little tidbit & feeds Santiago’s piece of lung. Eventually “M”, Monstrílío is “born”, growing into a very human looking child, with a craving for flesh. We get 4 perspectives throughout the story, of course parents Magos & Joseph, Magos mother Lucia, & Jackie who passed along the town legend. It’s heartbreaking, morbid, horrific.
Happy spooky season reading & as always, thank you for joining me for another review.
Hasta la próxima – V
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