Imps!

by Gerardo Sámano Córdova

From the critically acclaimed author of the cult-classic Monstrilio comes a fever dream novel of twins and trickery, broken bones and brokenness, and of monsters, mischief, and mayhem!

On a quiet morning, Francisca awakes to a rare good day. She skips work, admires the squabbling sparrows on her tiny terrace in Mexico City, and senses a joy so refreshing it feels dangerous. But when there’s a knock on her door, announcing an odd stranger at her apartment, Francisca, frightened and fascinated, acts on a whim, shattering her peaceful day and predictable life. She can think of only one person to help her with this unexpected, maybe hostile visitor—her estranged twin brother, Pablo.

As Pablo arrives, the day spirals from an awkward reunion into a claustrophobic, feverish confrontation where the thirty-five-year-old twins must reckon with a past they thought they had outrun. Over the course of this peculiar day, Francisca and Pablo realize this man brings devastating questions and a reckoning twenty years in the making.

Critically acclaimed author of the bestselling cult-classic horror novel Monstrilio, Gerardo Sámano Córdova brings his trademark blend of strangeness, darkness, humor, and tenderness to Imps!, an exploration of imagination, loss, brokenness, and the quest for the extraordinary in everyday life.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Adult, Novels

208 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 23, 2027

About the author

Gerardo Sámano Córdova is a writer and artist from Mexico City living in Brooklyn. He is the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed novel, Monstrilio, and the forthcoming novel Imps! He is currently Writer in Residence at Fordham University. He received his MFA from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan. He has studied at Bread Loaf and Tin House Workshop. Gerardo has also been known to draw little creatures.

Reviews

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Reading for review in the January 2026 issue of Library Journal

Issue will also feature an interview with the author

Three Words That Describe This Book: immersive, discomfiting, original

So many words I was choosing between

Prepare for an original, immersive, beautifully strange story of siblings, of grief, of brokenness, of a grotesque fever dream. You will be transfixed here. You will feel the full gamut of emotions from disgust and discomfort, tenderness and pity, anger and frustration. You will laugh uncomfortably and the dark humor and you will ache for the 3 characters, even as you know they all make bad choices-- but they all have trauma and reasons.

We have twins who have really not been in regular contact for 20 years. They are 35 now and something happened 20 years ago that moved Francesca and Pablo from very close to estranged. The omniscient narration fluidly moves between the 2 twins once they are brought together.

The narration is conversational yes, but also uneasy. Everything about the twins is uneasy and slightly askew from the start and then we the reader start to get the strange, grotesque, and quite honestly mesmerizing details and we cannot look away.

The set up is all you would know going in-- Francesca takes a rare day off from work at the bakery on a Saturday. A stranger knocks on her door. His appearance makes her call her brother who again, she hasn't spoken to or seen in three years but their estrangement goes back 20 years. He comes over immediately. And then the entirety of this short novel takes place across one day in Francesca's apartment as the full story of who the twins are, how they got here, and the strangers place in the story comes to light.

You should no NOTHING more before reading this. It is an immersive full-body experience of unease, discomfort, and weirdness. You will experience their brokenness with your whole body. But there is also humor and light here. Just read it.

Córdova writes with a cadence that readers need to fall into. It will be easy if you are willing to trust him -- you should. Similar to those new to Stephen Graham Jones. Fans of Eric LaRocca should RUN, not walk to read this one. It is just as transgressive but just a tad bit less violent and sexual (only a tad), this is also a story (like LaRocca) that can ve read in a sitting or two and the authors uses stories within a story to enhance the entire book.

Fever Dream by Schweblin is an on the nose readalike but a great one. Readers will be quickly immersed in the storytelling and the strange discomfiting story, and they will trust the author (rightfully so) to bring them through to the end.

Also a smaller book that was strange and stayed with me -- The Sofa by Munson. That is also a great readalike here.

[Marcus (Lit_Laugh_Luv)]

I got rejected from getting an ARC for this which is totally fine and I'm not sad about it whatsoever actually... completely fine !

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[CJ Alberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t love it 😭😭😭 I feel like this was trying to maybe do a childlike wonder naivety tone ala Beautyland at times and it couldn’t quite stick the landing with the central plot mechanics at work here… found myself getting irritated as the twins kept describing their fractured relationship and separation, a little repetitious in the wrong places. Le sigh

[Mica · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is still wonder in this world. even as we age and become jaded, may we still marvel at the birds in the sky, the sounds of the cars and the way we feel holding one another.

[Ros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endlessly tender, as we come to know from Gerardo Sámano Córdova. A very fun and heartwarming but also bizarre and strange take on grief and pain and most importantly, siblings! I haven't read a story that captures a trauma bond between a pair of siblings so well and so beautifully. The tone takes a bit to find its footing is the only ding I have. (4.25/5)

[matcha_masha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟

Everybody fear not, Cordova’s sophomore novel balances the beastly with the emotional just as well as his debut novel. Another great story about the importance of living wildly and earnestly, and how life is a little bit more vibrant when we believe in magic.

Imps!!

[Dayana Qistina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Zando/Tin House for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Imps! was a whimsical story that centred around an estranged bond between Francisca and Pablo, who were reunited over an encounter with a strange man. The first half of the book definitely had me hooked, delving deeper into the main characters who were twins with different personalities and takes on life. Yet, their worldview was shaped by the grief that they shared together throughout their life after the passing of their mother. Their dynamics were so heartwarming and tender. However, by the second half of the book, I had started to lose the plot. It was kind of hard to grasp what’s driving the whole plot. It felt like everything was all over the place, and it did not hit as much as Monstrilio did. I did like the magical, strange and quirky tones. Overall, it was a fun, fascinating read, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for more diverse storytelling.

Imps! will be out on 23 February 2027.

Actual rating: 3.75 ⭐️

[coven · Rating 5 out of 5]

i received this arc for free through netgalley and am writing this review voluntarily

AHHH!! this is seriously my favorite arc i’ve ever received. let it be known how BAD i love monstrilio. i have been foaming at the mouth for ¡imps! since its announcement. gerardo is a horror staple for me and one of my read-anything-they-write authors. so while you wait for this to drop in February, PLS go read his debut, monstrilio.

so yeah, i think this is probably my favorite read of this year?! it’s right up there with the unworthy for me rn. gerardo is a WIZARD with his writing. the way he’s able to completely immerse you into a story, giving you completely dark, absurd, delectable horror, while serving the most beautiful themes/lessons within?? it’s magic to me. he took a SLEDGEHAMMER to my feels with this one. made me laugh, cry and provoke my shadow self. this is horror. this is incredible writing. this is why i will SCREAM about gerardo for the rest of my life.

this is a story about a pair of twins (imps if you will). a book about metamorphosis, struggling connection and grief. i’m the eldest of a big family, and while i’m estranged from most of them, i thankfully have a relationship with a sister still. this story hit really close to home for me. i didn’t know how bad i needed this until reading. it was a beautiful way to process some deeply held emotions within me. if you have a sibling or siblings, this is a MUST. this novel has sank its teeth into my heart and one i will carry with me forever. i’m eternally grateful. gerardo sámano córdova, you have done it again!!

[THE TWISTED REVIEW · Rating 4 out of 5]

IMPS! is a beautifully strange and atmospheric novella that manages to create a surprisingly rich world within a short amount of space. Blending Gothic horror, folklore, mystery, and elements of the supernatural, this is the kind of story that feels much larger than its page count suggests.

One of my favorite aspects of the novella is the way the story moves between the past and present. Rather than revealing everything about the characters immediately, Cordova slowly brings their histories to the surface, allowing us to understand their backgrounds, relationships, and individual stories piece by piece. These shifts never feel disruptive. Instead, they add context to what is happening in the present and allow the mystery to gradually take shape. For such a short book, the characters are given an impressive amount of depth.

The isolated setting is another major strength. There is something distinctly Gothic about the environment: secluded, eerie, mysterious, and seemingly separated from the outside world. That sense of isolation creates an almost timeless quality, making it feel as though the characters have entered a place governed by its own history, traditions, and secrets.

Cordova's writing also elevates the story. The prose is lyrical and sophisticated without becoming overly complicated, giving the novella a literary quality that works beautifully with its darker subject matter. There is a deliberate rhythm to the storytelling, and even quieter moments contribute to the growing sense that something unusual exists beneath the surface.

I especially enjoyed the folklore surrounding the IMPS and the inspiration behind them. Rather than treating folklore as simple decoration, the story incorporates it into the identity and mythology of the world itself. It gives the supernatural elements a sense of history and makes the novella feel like a strange folktale being rediscovered.

IMPS! was a fascinating, eerie, and beautifully written short read. It is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy Gothic settings, folklore-inspired horror, literary prose, isolated environments, and novellas that slowly reveal their secrets without needing hundreds of pages to make an impression.

[Ryan Davison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imps are generally considered mythological mischief-makers, not all quite so devious as Tyrion Lannister. In this madcap tale, an imp is a person capable of creating something better by destroying it, which opens a world of storytelling possibilities.

Our book begins with Francesca, a thirty-five-year-old woman, calling in sick to her job at a bakery early one morning. Apparently, she hasn’t called in sick in years, but ‘reliable worker’ doesn’t seem to fit her character type. The setting is Mexico City, a man knocks on Francesca’s door, she opens it and punches him in the face. No context, she just felt like it, but does have the sense to drag his unconscious body into her apartment. She flicks his nose, pulls his eyebrows, kisses him for a moment, and then prepares to chop off the tip of a finger - the reader is left searching for footing early here. She calls her twin, Pablo, whom she's not seen in years, and requests his aid during this time of emergency. Pablo arrives and knows the unconscious man on the floor. How well the setup pays off will depend on the reader.

This is a small story, occurring mostly in one apartment on a single day. We learn the implication of present-day events from flashbacks that tell a compelling tale; these are the strongest sections of the novel. The twins grew up in the small town of Las Brunas, and for intriguing reasons they were deeply important to their mother while possessing no knowledge of their father's identity.

The aspect of Imps! that works best is how well the translator captures the author’s sharp, quick, satirical tone, rooted in gushing internal dialogue, mostly from Francesca’s mind. The novel is intentionally off kilter and will be enjoyable to some, but the finale - which at 200ish pages is much of the book - does not succeed at leaving the profound impression it intends.

Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Tin House for a review copy.

[Brynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imps! has solidified Cordova as an instant buy author for me. Monstrilio was such a heartbreaking five-star debut novel and Imps! was right there with it. Cordova loves monsters and I love him for it.

Francisca and Pablo are a rare type of twin. They were born through heteropaternal superfecundation, meaning they have the same mother, but different fathers (side note, according to Wikipedia, only 19 instances of this have been reported in the world which adds to the mythical lore of this story). The only identical trait in their appearance are the two bumps resembling horns on their forehead; a trait from their mother. Growing up in a sleepy town called La Brumas, they get up to all manners of mischief and debauchery in order to “wake up” the town. Imps! they tell themselves –we are imps! But when one prank goes way too far, they are ostracized from their community and must move. Now the twins are estranged adults who haven’t spoken in years. But when a stranger knocks on Francisca’s door and falls into a comatose state, she will be reunited with the one person who can help her unravel the mystery – her brother, Pablo.

While Monstrilio is a tragic story, Imps! is a playful story about our inner child, what we lose as adults, and how the past has a way of requiring retribution. In true Cordova style, the prose is beautiful and the similes are impeccable. I loved every moment of this book. Francisca is such a vivacious character and would definitely be categorized as a “weird girl” in lit.

Thank you, Zando and Netgalley, for an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Feb 23 2027

[Jason Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaotically absurd. Absurdly chaotic. And still beautiful.

First, we are introduced to Francisca. She receives an unexpected visitor who she quickly rabbit punches, not donkey punch, that’s different, goes to catch him and then allows him to fall unconscious. She hauls him inside, pokes and prods him, kisses him, and then decides against cutting the tip of his finger off. She calls her twin brother, Pablo.

Pablo arrives and he recognizes the man unconscious in his sister’s apartment. Pablo’s been sleeping with him for a year now. And then we’re taken on a journey years in the making between the siblings.

I imagine that the experience in reading this would be similar to grinding instant coffee into a fine powder and mixing it with cocaine, snorting it and then chasing it with a tres leches cake milkshake seasoned with a heavy-handed shot of tequila.

Strangely weird and weirdly strange yet written with tenderness.

This was different and explores the relationship between estranged siblings who are still deeply connected to one another. There was humour. There was horror. There was love. A short book that could be read in afternoon.

Thank you NetGalley, Zando, and Tin House for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Imps! by Gerado Sámano Córdova. This will be published on February 23, 2027.

[Jessica Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!!

This book follows our main character, Francisca, who punches a man who was standing outside her door and then brings him into her apartment. She calls her estranged twin brother and from there, some weird things start happening. The premise was fascinating and I was so excited to pick this one up because I really loved Monstrilio by this author. I enjoyed my time reading this and I was able to read it in one sitting because it is pretty short and a quick read. I was most interested in the flashbacks to when our twins were younger and doing some questionable things. I feel like there were some deeper discussions happening here that I didn't fully grasp. I wanted to understand this a little bit more and I feel like I would have given it a higher rating if I did. I did like the sibling relationship and the weird things that take place in the book. This didn't impact me as much as Monstrilio, but I will say this book was more of a fun premise. 3.5 stars.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨

I read and ADORED Monstrilio when it came out back in 2023 and I thought Córdova was going to be a one book wonder. When IMPS! Arrived at my door I was shocked because I had no idea that Córdova was writing a new book!
WHAT A DAY THESE TWINS HAD! This entire book takes place in a singular day and so much happens to the two main characters it’s hard to believe it’s only a day.
We do get flashbacks in this story so we do get a better understanding as to why the main characters act the way they do and what lead them to become estranged.
I really enjoyed this story. It is a slow burn and there is some bodily horror and gore so keep that in mind. IMPS! Releases February 2027 and if you are a bodily horror or psychological horror lover you are going to want to read this book! I could totally see this becoming an A24 movie and I sure hope it does get picked up somewhere to be produced!
Thank you to Zando for sending me a physical copy of this book it was such a pleasant surprise!

[hadlange · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adored the flashbacks of this book, the creepy and otherworldly mixed with the fanaticism of childhood and the belief that you hold immediate power. The “here” of the book I had a harder time connecting with. The emphasis on the twins’ fractured relationship felt overdone at times, especially when it was so obvious that there was a big disconnect between the two. I did love the AAC representation in the book and that the other characters just took it in stride (although I would’ve loved some evidence that he could have longer and more meaningful conversations through this method but also I’m an SLP so this is a me thing really). I also thought the choice to make this basically a bottle episode where the characters are confined to one location (although flashbacks to other locations occur). Overall the writing and atmosphere were lovely and I wish there had been more about the twins’ childhood and lives, but I will continue to read anything the author releases. 3.5 stars

[Coral Reef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying it was a privilege to have early access to this after much anticipation following Monstrilio.

What a wild trip to go on…. Imps! follows estranged twins Francisca and Pablo in an awkward encounter with a stranger that leads to a chaotic chain of events within several hours.

Imps! is able to successfully capture a fairytale like atmosphere while incorporating humor, shocking horror and a sibling relationship after trauma. It truly felt like I was watching a movie, flying through the pages to see what would happen next.

I can’t wait for readers to experience this story when it comes out. I know I will be digesting and analyzing it for a while which is always my favorite type of read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zando for the E-ARC copy of this book. All thoughts and feedback are my own opinions.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to get an advance copy of Imps! via NetGalley, and really enjoyed it! At the beginning of the story, twins Francisca and Pablo haven’t spoken in years, but a mysterious, unexpected visitor to Francisca’s house sparks a reunion. An incident from their past has caught up with them, and they are forced to deal with long-delayed consequences. This book was in the “horror” category but there wasn’t much I’d really characterize as horror until very near the end of the book. Mainly this book has dark, quirky fairytale vibes with a splash of body horror near the end (if you’re at all squeamish about broken bones like I am, take care!). It was also quite funny - the author’s wit was definitely a highlight of this book!

[Amy-Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Imps! by Gerardo Sámano Córdova is a story about estranged twins Pablo and Francisca. They have both gone their separate ways in life until somebody, or something, brings them back together, in a fever dream like scenario.
I really liked the writing style in this book. There was mounds of tension building up throughout. Francisca is such a unique character and I loved how intricate her and Pablo’s relationship was.
The only fault I have is that the book did not delve deeper into the twins lives and story.
I will definitely be reading more of this authors work

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much go Netgalley & Zando/Tin House for allowing me the chance to read an ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. The way that Francisca's character was introduced had this quirkiness that reminded me of the movie Amelie.

The story was tender, and charming, and uncomfortable, and at times anxiety inducing.

I first fell in love with this author after reading Monstrilio on the train from Detroit to Chicago. I was so excited when I heard about the publication of Imps! And I was overjoyed to get the chance to read it. I will absolutely add physical copy of to my library once it gets released.

[Santiago Nocera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imps! opens with a scene reminiscent of Moulin Rouge: “Luckily, right at that moment, an unconscious Argentinean fell through my roof”. From there, the chaos spools. This is a truly out-there novel, a twisted tale of family, forgiveness, and purpose that’s equal parts tender and terrifying. Paca and Pablo are the unforgettable twin heroes of Imps! and I will think about their wild imaginations for a long time. I loved this book and haven’t read something so outrageously original and wonderfully weird since, well, Monstrilio.

[Kas Marek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Zando and NetGalley for the eARC.

Gerardo Samano Cordova has such a way of storytelling. The prose is always so flowery, poetic, and beautiful, even in the most gruesome of scenes.

I love how he forces his readers to dispel all their beliefs and notions to fall into his world. While I enjoyed the storytelling and metaphors, the story didn’t hit me quite as hard as Monstrilio. There was grief, loss, and pain but it was harder to pick through than in his previous story.

In the rise of weird girl lit/horror, I love that GSC is paving his own way for weird boy stories.

[Lorena Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins Francisca & Pablo have been estranged for some time, with a gulf of grief, strangeness and regret between them. That is until Francisca receives a peculiar visit from her brother’s lover. What follows is an unravelling of their past attempt to save their mother and the drastic, bizarre lengths they will go to grant her a life free from pain. Through the masterfully implemented use of memory and a somewhat gradual build up, Gerardo Sámano Córdova oscillates the reader between grief and the extraordinary.


Thank you to Zando! And NetGalley for this digital ARC

[Lungstrum · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

It took me a while to understand the tone of this book. Once I did, I enjoyed it more. The second half of the book rips along at a breathless pace, shocking and fun stuff. I appreciate the risks this book takes, it's brilliant deviance. My only real complaint is that, even though the book was short, I felt that it could have been even shorter. Maybe a novella or even a short story. The conceit was interesting, but it only takes us so far. The characters and their world never quite felt deep enough to fill out a novel.

[Cece]

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando | Tin House for my arc!

DNF - could not get into the writing style

What a weird little time. It's short, its strange, for me it was hard to follow. The storytelling was unique. The twin's relationship was so sommmething and the way the novel felt 'small'- almost claustrophobic both in the physical setting and the dread/anxiety/trauma emotional setting. The moods that came up for me were lots of curiosity and puckishness. Ultimately I didn't enjoy it a whole lot? On paper it seemed I would, but I think I struggled with the writing style.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerardo Sámano Córdova is back with another beautiful story of family that blends quirky comedy and omnipresent dread. Two siblings wrenched apart by messy circumstances reunite when a strange man arrives at the sister’s front door. If you love heart-stopping moments, violence interspersed with air pockets of levity, and a cast of queer characters, then this book will not disappoint.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Zando/Tin House for the ARC. Reviewed voluntarily.

Abercrombie-esque writing really was the cherry on top of this read. Some dread was felt, chuckles were had, and feels were felt in this (paraphrasing heavily here) story of siblings rekindling their relationship.

Honestly, makes me want to check out Monstrilio.

[Josh Escandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Zando and Netgalley for an eARC of Imps! by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. I loved reading Imps! so much, and it was such a wonderful follow-up to Monstrillo. I fell in love with the world inhabited by siblings Francisca and Pablo and the stranger Max. Imps! kept all of Córdova's hallmarks from his debut novel: heart, horror, and the strength of family.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monstrillio is one of my favorite books, so I was extremely excited about this book. The writing style is so addictive, same as Monstrillio, but this one didn’t hit the same. Maybe I need time to sit with it, but my main take away is confusion. But at the end of the day.. the writing is just so good.

[Rozuva Phynix]

Thank you Netgalley for sending me a copy of Imp.

I’ve never read from this author before I was interested in reading Imps more than Monstrilio so I requested it. Unfortunately the writing style wasn’t clicking for me so I had to dnf it.

[Patricio Padua · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exercise in absurdity that gets by mostly on vibes. While it’s threadbare plot doesn’t reach the peaks of it’s surrealist forebears, the gory final act is where it finally comes together, a catharsis for 21st century madness.