Book Review - Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova

Title: Monstrilio
Author: Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Genre: Horror
Published: 2023
 
Description: Grieving mother Magos cuts out a piece of her deceased eleven-year-old son Santiago’s lung. Acting on fierce maternal instinct and the dubious logic of an old folktale, she nurtures the lung until it gains sentience, growing into the carnivorous Monstrilio she kept hidden within the walls of her family’s decaying Mexico City estate. Eventually, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago he once was, but his innate impulses – though curbed by his biological and chosen family’s communal care – threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life.
 
Review: “Monstrilio” is a deeply moving and unique exploration of grief, in which the concept of sadness takes on a physical, tangible form. It is a powerful and groundbreaking literary debut by Gerardo Sámano Córdova that takes the reader on an emotional journey though the complexity of loss and unconditional love.
 
The core of the novel revolves around the unconventional way in which the main characters deal with the loss of Santiago. We follow the perspectives of Magos (the mother), Lena (family friend) and Joseph (the father) and lastly M, which will be clear when reading it. Magos cuts out a piece of Santiago’s lung after he passes and nurtures is. It eventually grows into a creature, Monstrilio. This symbolizes the deep grief that takes on a life of its own if it’s not processed.
 
“Monstrilio” shows that grief is not linear or neat, but messy, bizarre and often defies logic. It’s personal and different for every single person.
 
What makes this book so exceptional is its emphasis on love and acceptance in the aftermath of grief. The family and their chosen family learn to love the creature in whatever form it takes, despite its unconventional and sometimes dangerous nature. This raises a profound question about the essence of human connection: is it about blood ties, or the unconditional care and affection we give each other?
 
The book illustrates the critical role of a support network in personal healing and shows how love and patience are necessary to overcome life’s toughest challenges. The multiple perspectives in the novel offer unique insight into each character’s emotional struggles.
 
With “Monstrilio”, Gerardo Sámano Córdova has written an unforgettable debut, a literary horror story that exposes fundamental human emotions. Its raw honesty and poetic, compelling style make this an absolute winner. This book will stay with me for a while, a new personal all-time favorite for me.
 
Rating: 5/ 5