Got my hands on this and devoured it as asap as possible, pun intended. I started seeing some buzz and went in with high expectations that were definitely met.

From the very first page, I was hooked by the unique and haunting story of a grieving mother who, in a desperate attempt to keep her deceased son Santiago's memory alive, cuts a segment of his lung out and nourishes it to life. As the lung grows, it becomes Monstrilio, a creature who holds some of Santiago's memories and traits, but who is not Santiago. The book is divided into four acts, each told from a different point of view, exploring themes of grief, acceptance, and the lengths we will go for those we love.

Reading this, I found myself completely invested in the story of Monstrilio and the people who loved him in every form he took. I enjoyed getting a perspective of Monstrilio and his creation from each of the main characters, it really rounded out the story One of the main things that sets "Monstrilio" apart from other horror novels, however, is its exploration of the monstrous and feral sides of love and loyalty. As Monstrilio grows and the lines are blurred between himself and Santiago, his instincts threaten to destroy second chance at life that his biological and chosen family have built for him... a life Monstrilio never chose for himself. It's such an interesting perspective what it means to be human and the sacrifices we make for those we love and the lives we know.

Overall, "Monstrilio" is an incredible debut that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves horror, literary fiction, or just a good, thought-provoking read. You're going to want to suck the marrow out of this one.

Thanks so much to Zando Projects as well as NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ahead of its publication on 03/07/23 in exchange for my honest thoughts! Loved this one so much!