“Heartfelt, bizarre, and unexpected. . . . At once a novel about family and love, a creepy tale that questions what it means to be human, and a celebration of queer stories, Monstrilio is as shocking as it is profound, and as humorous as it is thoughtful.” ―Gabino Iglesias, The Boston Globe A “wholly unique” and “uncompromising” literary horror debut about a boy who transforms into a monster, a monster who tries to be a man, and the people who love him in every form he takes (Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes) 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 little Monstrilio she keeps 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. A thought-provoking meditation on grief, acceptance, and the monstrous sides of love and loyalty, Gerardo Sámano Córdova blends bold imagination and evocative prose with deep emotional rigor. Told in four acts that span the globe from Brooklyn to Berlin, Monstrilio offers, with uncanny clarity, a cathartic and precise portrait of being human.
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About the author
Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Author
Monstrilio
by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Books Like Monstrilio
If you're looking for books similar to Monstrilio, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Mexican Gothic
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A haunting gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico that explores family secrets and supernatural transformation. The story follows a young woman investigating her cousin's mysterious illness in a decaying mansion. Like Monstrilio, it blends familial trauma with supernatural elements and explores the boundaries between human and monstrous. The novel features rich atmospheric writing and a deep exploration of cultural and personal darkness.
The Grip of Horror
Stephen Graham Jones
A horror novel that explores supernatural transformation and familial trauma. The story delves into the monstrous potential within human experience. Similar to Monstrilio, it examines identity and belonging through a supernatural lens. The narrative challenges traditional horror conventions.
The Changeling
Victor LaValle
A dark fantasy that reimagines parenthood and monstrosity through a contemporary urban lens. The narrative follows a father whose life unravels after a terrifying transformation involving his wife and child. Similar to Monstrilio, it examines the complex bonds of family, grief, and the blurred lines between human and monster. The book combines magical realism with deep emotional exploration.
Certain Dark Things
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A vampire novel set in Mexico City that reimagines supernatural mythology. The story explores transformation, survival, and the margins of society. Like Monstrilio, it features a unique take on monstrous existence and cultural identity. The novel blends genre conventions with deep character exploration.
The Hunger
Alma Katsu
A historical horror novel reimagining the Donner Party's tragic journey with supernatural elements. The story explores survival, transformation, and the monstrous potential within humans. Similar to Monstrilio, it examines the thin line between humanity and monstrosity. The book blends historical detail with psychological horror.
The Luminous Dead
Caitlin Starling
A science fiction horror novel about isolation and psychological transformation. The story follows a caver experiencing strange phenomena in an alien environment. Like Monstrilio, it explores identity and survival under extreme conditions. The narrative blends psychological tension with supernatural uncertainty.
A Head Full of Ghosts
Paul Tremblay
A psychological horror novel about a family confronting potential possession and supernatural transformation. The story explores familial trauma through the lens of a potentially demonic possession. Like Monstrilio, it delves into complex family dynamics and the thin line between reality and monstrosity. The narrative challenges perceptions of horror and human experience.
White is for Witching
Helen Oyeyemi
A gothic novel exploring family inheritance, transformation, and psychological haunting. The story follows a young woman's complex relationship with her family's mysterious history. Like Monstrilio, it blends supernatural elements with deep psychological exploration. The narrative challenges traditional boundaries of human experience.
Lakewood
Megan Giddings
A speculative fiction novel exploring medical experimentation and bodily transformation. The story follows a young woman participating in mysterious medical trials. Like Monstrilio, it examines the boundaries of human experience and identity. The book blends social commentary with psychological tension.
The Grip of It
Jac Jemc
A psychological horror novel about a couple experiencing strange transformations in a haunted house. The book explores the erosion of personal boundaries and familial trust. Similar to Monstrilio, it examines how trauma and the unknown can reshape human relationships. The narrative blends psychological tension with supernatural uncertainty.
The Bone Witch
Rin Chupeco
A dark fantasy about a young witch who can raise the dead and navigate complex magical transformations. The narrative explores themes of identity, power, and societal rejection. Similar to Monstrilio, it examines the experience of being fundamentally different and the challenges of belonging. The book blends magical coming-of-age with darker supernatural elements.
The Twisted Ones
T. Kingfisher
A folk horror novel about encountering inexplicable supernatural entities in a rural setting. The narrative explores transformation and the unknown lurking beneath familiar landscapes. Like Monstrilio, it blends dark humor with genuine horror. The book challenges perceptions of reality and monstrosity.
The Cipher
Kathe Koja
An experimental horror novel about mysterious transformative phenomena. The narrative explores psychological and physical mutation. Similar to Monstrilio, it challenges conventional narrative structures and explores the monstrous. The book delves into the unknown's psychological impact.
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