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Monstrosity
Dear reader,
When we were children, we dreamed of being heroes. We wanted to slay dragons and defeat the monsters that scared us.
As we grew older, we were forced to try and find our monsters. We had been told they would be easy to spot. Monsters had too much teeth, too much fur, too much size.
These were lies. We stopped wanting to be heroes. We started to want to be more, to be too much. We wanted, needed, more than the world could give us. We wanted more than what we were told we should be. We wanted to become monsters.
Dear reader,
I want three things for you as you read these stories. I hope you find a story that brings you joy. I hope you find a story that gives you some discomfort. Finally, I hope you find a story here that makes you too much, that makes you just a little bit monstrous.
May you be enthralled and entertained by my accounts of monsters... and may these stories help you wake up the monster inside.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2019
60 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Laura Diaz de Arce
36 books30 followersLaura Diaz de Arce (1987-Present) was born and raised in South Florida by two immigrants. In 2011 she graduated from the University of Florida and went on to earn her masters in literature. Her words can be found in Clash, Enchanted Conversations, and Book Riot. She lives in South Florida with her husband and two cats in a cabin built on a swamp. In her off time, she dyes her hair new and unnatural colors. You can often find her as a recreational tour guide at Ikea (she is not paid by Ikea) or on late night ice cream binges. Or you can follow her musings on Twitter, Instagram, and Patreon at @QuetaAuthor.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 14, 2021
Yes! This is a collection of short horror stories that encompasses the strong female characters. I really enjoyed how different each one was and the variety of styles between them. Every story I enjoyed something from and that's not too common with me and short story collections.
Some of my favorites were:
- Three Beats Per Measure
- Some Dreams Just Aren't Worth the Trouble
- A Promise
- Roja
While reading Three Beats Per Measure I couldn't help but relate with the MC because of all the rage she feels and how she is forced to try to contain it. During the time I read this story, I was having a really rough week and was fairly emotionally exhausted, so whenever the story shared glimpses of the MC's rage--I couldn't help with snap my fingers and verbally say, "yyeessss." I loved it and needed it.
One story I didn't think I would like because it was very fairytale style (which isn't for me) BUT I kept on reading and ended up loving the story. Usually you can get an idea in the start of a short story if it's going to jive with what you like as a reader but Laura was able to keep my interest and have me WANT to finish a story based off of her amazing storytelling abilities.
Again, this really is a great collection and more people should pick it up. You all are really missing out if you don't.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Some of my favorites were:
- Three Beats Per Measure
- Some Dreams Just Aren't Worth the Trouble
- A Promise
- Roja
While reading Three Beats Per Measure I couldn't help but relate with the MC because of all the rage she feels and how she is forced to try to contain it. During the time I read this story, I was having a really rough week and was fairly emotionally exhausted, so whenever the story shared glimpses of the MC's rage--I couldn't help with snap my fingers and verbally say, "yyeessss." I loved it and needed it.
One story I didn't think I would like because it was very fairytale style (which isn't for me) BUT I kept on reading and ended up loving the story. Usually you can get an idea in the start of a short story if it's going to jive with what you like as a reader but Laura was able to keep my interest and have me WANT to finish a story based off of her amazing storytelling abilities.
Again, this really is a great collection and more people should pick it up. You all are really missing out if you don't.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
October 6, 2022
Absolutely stunning writing 😍😍
October 30, 2024
Good writing. Was a bit to get into at first. It got better after.
November 30, 2020
In the introduction to Laura Diaz de Arce’s Monstrosity, she acknowledges that in our society, being “too much” is often seen as being monstrous. She also dedicates the book to anyone who fits this exact description, but also concedes that instead maybe this world is simply not enough. These words mirror the standards to which women are all too often held. Monstrosity is unapologetically female. Almost all of the main characters are women, and even though almost all of them are monsters it needs to be stated that nearly none of them are monstrous.
Monstrosity is divided into three parts: “Hominum,” “Mutatio,” and “Monstrum.” There are definite themes to each section, with “Hominum” containing mostly human monsters. I found myself relating strongly (should I admit this?) to the characters in the first two stories, “Without Him (and Him, and Him) There is No Me” and “Three Beats Per Measure.” These two stories could very well be combined into one and at least for me, it would not feel off or out of place in any way. “Without Him” is a strong nod to sexual identity – as women, we aren’t encouraged to enjoy or like sex. Look at the comment section of any social post mentioning sex workers or sites such as OnlyFans and you’ll see scores of men berating the same women to which they masturbate for daring to put themselves out there, for capitalizing rather than letting someone else do it. “Three Beats” is pure rage, which women are also not supposed to express or experience. Frankly, I absolutely delighted in the extent that I related to these two women and I retract my previous about whether to admit it. The last story in this first part is called “La Bruja Y El Vendedor or How Eduardo Found His Heart” is a straight up fairy tale that seamlessly weaves Spanish with English. Don’t be afraid of this if you don’t speak or understand Spanish, there are translation apps online for you to use. It enhances the story’s atmosphere, and if you skip this story because you don’t want to do the work then you don’t deserve this story.
The stories in the second part, “Mutatio,” are otherworldly – literally. Every single one of these could be expanded into at least a novella. “Plum Moon” was the most intriguing for me, once again weaving a thread of rage into a science fiction setting. “Change” is a fantasy tale with a ton of subtle hints to a pretty mysterious backstory that I’d like to see more of. “A Promise” is a sadly optimistic tale of a world gone bad and what we’re leaving for future generations.
Monstrosity’s final section, “Monstrum,” is pure sex. Lots of sex, with plenty of death and violence thrown in. This last part also has the most actual real monsters. There’s a sexy succubus bookseller in “Hardcover, Softcover,” a creature just looking out for her child and trying to keep her head above water while making a living. The beings in “Mandibles” are a quartet of sisters also just trying to feed themselves and live their lives. I’m not sure what exactly they are – when reading it, I immediately considered them Lamia, but I could be and am most likely not correct. The sex machine in “The West Hamberline Bordello Opens at Five” is an actual sex robot, although not always just used for sex.
These twelve stories will probably read differently for different genders. I am a woman, so I’m not certain how a man will interpret any of them. I fear they may read them and immediately feel defensive, and that’s unfortunate because these are very good stories that share some very interesting perspectives. I read an e-book edition, and I caught one spelling error that looks like it may have simply been a case of a synonym being used in place of the intended word. Had there been more errors, I probably would have dropped a star. Considering that in the last story I wrote I misspelled a word I definitely know how to spell, I’m more than willing to overlook a spelling error.
There are frightening stories here not solely because they’re scary or because bad things happen to people, but because in some of them you will be forced to look at yourself maybe a little differently. Laura Diaz de Arce is not an author whose name you’ll come across often, but I’d like to see more from her, and hers is a voice that definitely deserves to be heard.
Monstrosity is divided into three parts: “Hominum,” “Mutatio,” and “Monstrum.” There are definite themes to each section, with “Hominum” containing mostly human monsters. I found myself relating strongly (should I admit this?) to the characters in the first two stories, “Without Him (and Him, and Him) There is No Me” and “Three Beats Per Measure.” These two stories could very well be combined into one and at least for me, it would not feel off or out of place in any way. “Without Him” is a strong nod to sexual identity – as women, we aren’t encouraged to enjoy or like sex. Look at the comment section of any social post mentioning sex workers or sites such as OnlyFans and you’ll see scores of men berating the same women to which they masturbate for daring to put themselves out there, for capitalizing rather than letting someone else do it. “Three Beats” is pure rage, which women are also not supposed to express or experience. Frankly, I absolutely delighted in the extent that I related to these two women and I retract my previous about whether to admit it. The last story in this first part is called “La Bruja Y El Vendedor or How Eduardo Found His Heart” is a straight up fairy tale that seamlessly weaves Spanish with English. Don’t be afraid of this if you don’t speak or understand Spanish, there are translation apps online for you to use. It enhances the story’s atmosphere, and if you skip this story because you don’t want to do the work then you don’t deserve this story.
The stories in the second part, “Mutatio,” are otherworldly – literally. Every single one of these could be expanded into at least a novella. “Plum Moon” was the most intriguing for me, once again weaving a thread of rage into a science fiction setting. “Change” is a fantasy tale with a ton of subtle hints to a pretty mysterious backstory that I’d like to see more of. “A Promise” is a sadly optimistic tale of a world gone bad and what we’re leaving for future generations.
Monstrosity’s final section, “Monstrum,” is pure sex. Lots of sex, with plenty of death and violence thrown in. This last part also has the most actual real monsters. There’s a sexy succubus bookseller in “Hardcover, Softcover,” a creature just looking out for her child and trying to keep her head above water while making a living. The beings in “Mandibles” are a quartet of sisters also just trying to feed themselves and live their lives. I’m not sure what exactly they are – when reading it, I immediately considered them Lamia, but I could be and am most likely not correct. The sex machine in “The West Hamberline Bordello Opens at Five” is an actual sex robot, although not always just used for sex.
These twelve stories will probably read differently for different genders. I am a woman, so I’m not certain how a man will interpret any of them. I fear they may read them and immediately feel defensive, and that’s unfortunate because these are very good stories that share some very interesting perspectives. I read an e-book edition, and I caught one spelling error that looks like it may have simply been a case of a synonym being used in place of the intended word. Had there been more errors, I probably would have dropped a star. Considering that in the last story I wrote I misspelled a word I definitely know how to spell, I’m more than willing to overlook a spelling error.
There are frightening stories here not solely because they’re scary or because bad things happen to people, but because in some of them you will be forced to look at yourself maybe a little differently. Laura Diaz de Arce is not an author whose name you’ll come across often, but I’d like to see more from her, and hers is a voice that definitely deserves to be heard.
November 23, 2020
I was gracious enough to receive an ecopy of Monstrosity from Laura in exchange for an honest review. This collection of short stories meshes several genres easily, although it is branded as horror. It’s not in your face horror, but Laura’s wordplay creates a sense of dread that creeps over time. The pacing drives you forwards causing difficulty turning away from the book, I finished it in two sittings. It’s unique in the way that it’s broken into three parts, Hominum, Mutatio, and finally Monstrum, each one representing a loose theme for the stories contained therein.
Hominum, loosely encompasses human struggles with internal battles, causing us to become monstrous. A clear standout in this section was La Bruja Y El Vendedor or how Eduardo found his heart. The fairytale-esque storytelling creates a sense of peace in a way, and the “Spanglish” adds to the beauty of this tale, but the witch gets what she wants.
Mutatio represents a transition to monstrosities, either by choice or fate. My favorite was CHANGE. I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it was, but the world that Laura has built here leaves more to be desired. I could definitely see Laura expanding this world into a standalone series. The writing here made me feel as if I were attending the ceremonies myself, smelling the fires and herbs. Then came the beautiful end, we all crave change don’t we.
I couldn’t leave this section of the book without mentioning Plum Moon, I connected with the protagonist on a personal level. The opening scene hooked me, and at the same time presented me with a sense of dread that flourished by the end, but the good kind of dread, leaving you satisfied. You’re definitely able to pick up that something isn’t quite right, and then it all goes wrong, but the ending brought a sense of peace, that’s where she belonged.
The third and final part is Monstrum, the monsters and all their glory! Standouts, include Mandible and Hardcover,Softcover but let’s not forget the inhabitants of The Hamberville Bordelo.
Mandibles, ancient beings live among us, merely existing, meager shells of a once thriving population. Partaking I n chance meals, until betrayal resurrects a primal instinct.
Hardcover, Softcover follows the daily life of a Succubus and teenage daughter. When livelihood is threatened, the Succubus will come out to play.
Hominum, loosely encompasses human struggles with internal battles, causing us to become monstrous. A clear standout in this section was La Bruja Y El Vendedor or how Eduardo found his heart. The fairytale-esque storytelling creates a sense of peace in a way, and the “Spanglish” adds to the beauty of this tale, but the witch gets what she wants.
Mutatio represents a transition to monstrosities, either by choice or fate. My favorite was CHANGE. I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it was, but the world that Laura has built here leaves more to be desired. I could definitely see Laura expanding this world into a standalone series. The writing here made me feel as if I were attending the ceremonies myself, smelling the fires and herbs. Then came the beautiful end, we all crave change don’t we.
I couldn’t leave this section of the book without mentioning Plum Moon, I connected with the protagonist on a personal level. The opening scene hooked me, and at the same time presented me with a sense of dread that flourished by the end, but the good kind of dread, leaving you satisfied. You’re definitely able to pick up that something isn’t quite right, and then it all goes wrong, but the ending brought a sense of peace, that’s where she belonged.
The third and final part is Monstrum, the monsters and all their glory! Standouts, include Mandible and Hardcover,Softcover but let’s not forget the inhabitants of The Hamberville Bordelo.
Mandibles, ancient beings live among us, merely existing, meager shells of a once thriving population. Partaking I n chance meals, until betrayal resurrects a primal instinct.
Hardcover, Softcover follows the daily life of a Succubus and teenage daughter. When livelihood is threatened, the Succubus will come out to play.
November 19, 2019
Monstrosity is a collection of short stories by Laura Diaz De Arce. The general theme is one of transformation/metamorphosis/change, be it physically or emotionally. I enjoyed each one of these stories, all of which highlight the author's own diversity. From swamps to space, the settings and stakes are varied. I don't often read short stories, as often I find them unsatisfying, but this collection left me wanting for nothing.
My favourite of the tales were La Bruna y el vendedor, or how Eduardo found his heart, and hardcover soft cover. I loved the concept of these tales and thought they were, like all the other tales within, well written and executed perfectly.
My favourite of the tales were La Bruna y el vendedor, or how Eduardo found his heart, and hardcover soft cover. I loved the concept of these tales and thought they were, like all the other tales within, well written and executed perfectly.
February 4, 2021
Monstrosity is filled with delicious short story morsels that combines wit, horror, science fiction, and feminism. The collection is divided into three parts: hominum, mutatio, and monstrum. Each section contains four gripping stories guaranteed to connect with readers.
In hominum, we meet a woman who morphs into the perfect partner for her various boyfriends, a lady who seeks therapy to quench her anger, an addict, and a love story written in Spanglish. Mutatio focuses on body horror and mutations including a story of a young woman fleeing an abusive stepfather, a goddess finding her place on Earth, a science fiction story of an explorer seeking a better planet and future for her family, and another scifi tale of space exploration and mining. The final section monstrum tells the story of a young woman lost on a hike, a group of sisters with a secret, an AI sexbot, and a mysterious bookstore owner just trying to take care of her child in a small town.
With a largely female cast, there is a strong wave of female empowerment through these stories as well as memorable strong-willed characters with dark secrets. There are graphic moments of disturbing images balanced with beautiful imagery and insight into human behavior. Readers of various age, gender, and life experiences will interpret these stories completely differently. For me, I sympathized with the raw anger and frustration felt by the woman protagonists trying to navigate a demanding and often unfair society. The stories of mothers protecting and sacrificing for their children will resonate with many readers. This would make a great book club selection as I imagine the discussion would include a lot of rich and eye-opening insight.
I got a free copy for review.
In hominum, we meet a woman who morphs into the perfect partner for her various boyfriends, a lady who seeks therapy to quench her anger, an addict, and a love story written in Spanglish. Mutatio focuses on body horror and mutations including a story of a young woman fleeing an abusive stepfather, a goddess finding her place on Earth, a science fiction story of an explorer seeking a better planet and future for her family, and another scifi tale of space exploration and mining. The final section monstrum tells the story of a young woman lost on a hike, a group of sisters with a secret, an AI sexbot, and a mysterious bookstore owner just trying to take care of her child in a small town.
With a largely female cast, there is a strong wave of female empowerment through these stories as well as memorable strong-willed characters with dark secrets. There are graphic moments of disturbing images balanced with beautiful imagery and insight into human behavior. Readers of various age, gender, and life experiences will interpret these stories completely differently. For me, I sympathized with the raw anger and frustration felt by the woman protagonists trying to navigate a demanding and often unfair society. The stories of mothers protecting and sacrificing for their children will resonate with many readers. This would make a great book club selection as I imagine the discussion would include a lot of rich and eye-opening insight.
I got a free copy for review.
November 25, 2020
In the introduction to the book, Laura Diaz de Arce asked us to find a story that:
1.Brings us joy.
- The Swamp King - this is a modern day fairy tale where a king passes on his crown. A superb story that left me smiling.
2. Gives discomfort.
- Without Him (and Him, and Him) There is No More - this is the first story in the book and truth-be-told, it made me extremely uncomfortable. It is a very graphic, sexually explicit story that made me question whether I wanted to continue on with the rest of the stories. I quickly understood that this was a writing technique used to show how the main character views the world she lives in. I am glad I continued on with the rest of the book.
3. Makes you a little bit monstrous.
- Mandibles - this is a true horror story. Creatures disguised as women who feed off the human race. Although they have evolved to eat only the sick and dying who wish to die, they are still hunted by those who want to rid the world of their kind.
Overall, I found this collection of stories to be extremely entertaining. We are taken on a ride through dark fairy tales, sci-fi journeys and true tales of horror. It has a little something for everyone who enjoys a monstrously adventurous trip to the dark side.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1.Brings us joy.
- The Swamp King - this is a modern day fairy tale where a king passes on his crown. A superb story that left me smiling.
2. Gives discomfort.
- Without Him (and Him, and Him) There is No More - this is the first story in the book and truth-be-told, it made me extremely uncomfortable. It is a very graphic, sexually explicit story that made me question whether I wanted to continue on with the rest of the stories. I quickly understood that this was a writing technique used to show how the main character views the world she lives in. I am glad I continued on with the rest of the book.
3. Makes you a little bit monstrous.
- Mandibles - this is a true horror story. Creatures disguised as women who feed off the human race. Although they have evolved to eat only the sick and dying who wish to die, they are still hunted by those who want to rid the world of their kind.
Overall, I found this collection of stories to be extremely entertaining. We are taken on a ride through dark fairy tales, sci-fi journeys and true tales of horror. It has a little something for everyone who enjoys a monstrously adventurous trip to the dark side.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 15, 2019
I've always had a weakness for short fiction with its ability to condense a full narrative into a relatively small amount of space. Monstrosity continues this tradition with rage, fury, empathy, humor, and satisfaction. This book is an exploration of the concept of monster and what that entails.
Monstrosity is organized into three sections Hominum, Mutatio, and Monstrum. Hominum focuses on mainly human stories and the monsters we can become. Mutatio involves stories of transformation into monsters. Monstrum uses non-human monsters as the focal point of the story.
A few of my favorites include:
Hominum:
Three Beats per Measure - Gripping tale on what it means to inherit monstrosity
La Bruja Y El Venedor o How Eduardo Found His Heart - A sweet love story involving a Bruja.
Mutatio:
Plum Moon - a sci-fi horror story which takes the standard "crew explores a foreign planet and trouble arises" and flips it on its head.
Monstrum:
Mandibles - A tale of sisters who are the last of their kind and what you would do to survive
Hardcover, Softcover - A succubus raising a human child takes on the local government which threatens the livelihood of her family.
Grab a copy and let out your inner monster.
Monstrosity is organized into three sections Hominum, Mutatio, and Monstrum. Hominum focuses on mainly human stories and the monsters we can become. Mutatio involves stories of transformation into monsters. Monstrum uses non-human monsters as the focal point of the story.
A few of my favorites include:
Hominum:
Three Beats per Measure - Gripping tale on what it means to inherit monstrosity
La Bruja Y El Venedor o How Eduardo Found His Heart - A sweet love story involving a Bruja.
Mutatio:
Plum Moon - a sci-fi horror story which takes the standard "crew explores a foreign planet and trouble arises" and flips it on its head.
Monstrum:
Mandibles - A tale of sisters who are the last of their kind and what you would do to survive
Hardcover, Softcover - A succubus raising a human child takes on the local government which threatens the livelihood of her family.
Grab a copy and let out your inner monster.
August 5, 2018
Laura's stories tiptoe around sweet and creepy themes like ballerinas. I greatly enjoyed reading them.
"The Swamp King" is my favorite, a take on tales like "Donkeyskin" where women have to escape their dreadful stories. But the rest are also really cool:
Without Him (and Him, and Him) There is No Me - Haunting, and reminding us of the dangers of surrendering our hearts to people we don't know.
Three Beats Per Measure - Sometimes what we inherit can be a tragic, violent legacy.
Some Dreams Just Aren't Worth The Trouble - Emily wants to fly. The problem is that this isn't a fairy tale.
El Vendedor Y La Bruja o How Eduardo Found His Heart - This one is a fairy tale, and a sweet one.
Change - We always have to pay a price for sacrifice, and tradition. The inevitable tragedy arrives.
A Promise - Our heroine prepares to find a new home. But it's not easy when you volunteer for an exodus.
Plum Moon - Another space story, and one much darker. Humans seek to colonize all of space for resources, but not every planet is friendly. This one is very hostile.
Roja - A nice rewrite of "Little Red Riding Hood," with a twist. I'm more partial to Laura's fairytales.
Mandibles - Beware the predators in the dark. There is never just one
The West Hamberline Bordello Opens at Five.- Joan should be asleep when she's shut off. But she's always awake. And she remembers bits of what her human deletes. A contemplative story on consent and autonomy.
Hardcover, Softcover - Growing up and learning about The Talk sucks. Kids are going to grow up, though, and learn about love and desire. This is a great grand finale as a succubus running a bookshop tries to weather the storms of her daughter growing up, and a threat from the church.
"The Swamp King" is my favorite, a take on tales like "Donkeyskin" where women have to escape their dreadful stories. But the rest are also really cool:
Without Him (and Him, and Him) There is No Me - Haunting, and reminding us of the dangers of surrendering our hearts to people we don't know.
Three Beats Per Measure - Sometimes what we inherit can be a tragic, violent legacy.
Some Dreams Just Aren't Worth The Trouble - Emily wants to fly. The problem is that this isn't a fairy tale.
El Vendedor Y La Bruja o How Eduardo Found His Heart - This one is a fairy tale, and a sweet one.
Change - We always have to pay a price for sacrifice, and tradition. The inevitable tragedy arrives.
A Promise - Our heroine prepares to find a new home. But it's not easy when you volunteer for an exodus.
Plum Moon - Another space story, and one much darker. Humans seek to colonize all of space for resources, but not every planet is friendly. This one is very hostile.
Roja - A nice rewrite of "Little Red Riding Hood," with a twist. I'm more partial to Laura's fairytales.
Mandibles - Beware the predators in the dark. There is never just one
The West Hamberline Bordello Opens at Five.- Joan should be asleep when she's shut off. But she's always awake. And she remembers bits of what her human deletes. A contemplative story on consent and autonomy.
Hardcover, Softcover - Growing up and learning about The Talk sucks. Kids are going to grow up, though, and learn about love and desire. This is a great grand finale as a succubus running a bookshop tries to weather the storms of her daughter growing up, and a threat from the church.
March 20, 2022
See the monster in us all.
As children, we are told fairy tales with monsters you can see. The big bad wolf, the evil witch, a gruesome monster in your closet or under the bed, they are all visibly scary but when you grow up, you find out real monsters are very well hidden in others that look just like us.
However there are monsters that look terrifying but wouldnt hurt a fly, they have terrible reputations but just want to be left alone to live out their lives in peace. In the old fairy tales we have one sided stories, except now would you wonder who were the real heros and villains?
The author does a wonderful job illustrating these facts. Every short story is different than the one before and after but somehow fit together perfectly and you can read the whole book in one sitting, feeling like you've read 10 different books. Some stories are sweet, some are vile, both teach us to look beyond one's appearance, and remember it's what's on the inside that counts.
As children, we are told fairy tales with monsters you can see. The big bad wolf, the evil witch, a gruesome monster in your closet or under the bed, they are all visibly scary but when you grow up, you find out real monsters are very well hidden in others that look just like us.
However there are monsters that look terrifying but wouldnt hurt a fly, they have terrible reputations but just want to be left alone to live out their lives in peace. In the old fairy tales we have one sided stories, except now would you wonder who were the real heros and villains?
The author does a wonderful job illustrating these facts. Every short story is different than the one before and after but somehow fit together perfectly and you can read the whole book in one sitting, feeling like you've read 10 different books. Some stories are sweet, some are vile, both teach us to look beyond one's appearance, and remember it's what's on the inside that counts.
June 13, 2019
**I was sent an ecopy by the author for review**
While the cover makes the book seem mostly horror, the genres of the stories range from the scary to the sci-fi, with some Chilean folklore mixed in. Admittedly, "How Eduardo Found His Heart" was a bit difficult for me to read, as it was in "Spanglish." But the gist was still heartwarming. The last two stories are tied for my favorite. There's the tale of an android prostitute gaining sentience and one with an ancient succubus trying to raise a preteen daughter and fight conservative city ordinances.
I also loved how much worldbuilding the author can fit into small stories. Sci-fi can be difficult enough to pull off in full novels, but she can create whole worlds in a couple thousand words. If you love the weird and the absurd, this is the perfect read.
While the cover makes the book seem mostly horror, the genres of the stories range from the scary to the sci-fi, with some Chilean folklore mixed in. Admittedly, "How Eduardo Found His Heart" was a bit difficult for me to read, as it was in "Spanglish." But the gist was still heartwarming. The last two stories are tied for my favorite. There's the tale of an android prostitute gaining sentience and one with an ancient succubus trying to raise a preteen daughter and fight conservative city ordinances.
I also loved how much worldbuilding the author can fit into small stories. Sci-fi can be difficult enough to pull off in full novels, but she can create whole worlds in a couple thousand words. If you love the weird and the absurd, this is the perfect read.
December 24, 2018
The stories are relatable, and don't sugarcoat how twisted our world and nature as humans really are. The term human is actually just an understated term for what we all really are.... troubled monsters.
Pitiful, lovable, and mischeavous characters are all here with their own twisted lifestories to share which keeps one from being bored easily. Some can be disregarded as simple fictional fairytales (yeah right.. fairytales) While some are possible real-life events happening right now... somewhere in this world. I don't know how but this somehow makes me think that teens going through the 'dark phase' would totally appreciate this.
Super thanks to Smoking Mirror Press for the copies I recieved and I hope you read this honest review of mine.
Pitiful, lovable, and mischeavous characters are all here with their own twisted lifestories to share which keeps one from being bored easily. Some can be disregarded as simple fictional fairytales (yeah right.. fairytales) While some are possible real-life events happening right now... somewhere in this world. I don't know how but this somehow makes me think that teens going through the 'dark phase' would totally appreciate this.
Super thanks to Smoking Mirror Press for the copies I recieved and I hope you read this honest review of mine.
June 1, 2019
A great eye-opening book filled with great stories that show the darker, yet more peachy and ironic sides of things. The author sure has balls (pardon the word) , to be honest.
Not everyone would feel confident in writing a story that also raises the topics of what our modern world truly faces right now. Those small perspectives of the people that most would deem.... Irrelevant in society turn out to be filled with deeper stories and scars that they themselves are burdened by.
The title is the word that glues them all together, the one similarity of these different stories. The Monstrosity of things.
They were all beautiful monsters in their own worlds.
Not everyone would feel confident in writing a story that also raises the topics of what our modern world truly faces right now. Those small perspectives of the people that most would deem.... Irrelevant in society turn out to be filled with deeper stories and scars that they themselves are burdened by.
The title is the word that glues them all together, the one similarity of these different stories. The Monstrosity of things.
They were all beautiful monsters in their own worlds.
February 9, 2020
De Acre is definitely an author to follow. The stories in this collection are quite varied and very well written. Definitely worth picking up.
My favorites (one from each section):
• Hominum •
La Bruja Y El Vendedor or How Eduardo Found His Heart - A truly lovely story and so beautifully told. I sighed happily at the end.
• Mutatio •
Plum Moon - one of the best sci-fi horror short stories I’ve read. Great writing on display here.
• Monstrum •
Mandibles was *such* a good monster story. Loved it.
My favorites (one from each section):
• Hominum •
La Bruja Y El Vendedor or How Eduardo Found His Heart - A truly lovely story and so beautifully told. I sighed happily at the end.
• Mutatio •
Plum Moon - one of the best sci-fi horror short stories I’ve read. Great writing on display here.
• Monstrum •
Mandibles was *such* a good monster story. Loved it.
April 17, 2019
Hooked from the first page.
Laura weaves a story that lulls you in immediately, dropping bread crumbs of the worlds she builds, unsatisfied with simply ensnaring you with her diverse cast of "monsters." I love how she sprinkles in Spanish without giving an immediate translation, trusting the reader to pick up and understand, her prose as fluid as the sexuality of the characters in these stories. Nothing quite as fascinating as relating to something monstrous.
Laura weaves a story that lulls you in immediately, dropping bread crumbs of the worlds she builds, unsatisfied with simply ensnaring you with her diverse cast of "monsters." I love how she sprinkles in Spanish without giving an immediate translation, trusting the reader to pick up and understand, her prose as fluid as the sexuality of the characters in these stories. Nothing quite as fascinating as relating to something monstrous.
September 13, 2019
A succubus mother, an android prostitute, a carnivorous-curious purple moon, and a vampire coven with praying-mantis-like mandibled jaws are but a few of the weirdly wonderful protagonists who shine in this brilliant collection. I couldn't put it down--it was a total blast. Highly recommended (if you, too, are weird--if not, you probably should not read this book).
November 28, 2021
visceral yet poetic
I’m usually not a fan of shorts because I prefer to get into the meat of a story. However. These are written so beautifully!! There’s a primal visceral connection to the ebb and flow of the writing of each collection of chapter stories that draws you in and forces you to take just one more spoon full. The word smithing is next level.
I’m usually not a fan of shorts because I prefer to get into the meat of a story. However. These are written so beautifully!! There’s a primal visceral connection to the ebb and flow of the writing of each collection of chapter stories that draws you in and forces you to take just one more spoon full. The word smithing is next level.
March 11, 2022
I really enjoyed the short stories in this book. All the stories tell accounts of how women can be perceived as "monstrous", usually by misjudging them. Some of the stories, on the surface, show female characters as being typical fictional monsters, but the underlying message tells of women just trying to find themselves and demanding to be allowed to exist, without being forced into a box.
December 13, 2023
Novela de terror de 232 páginas, publicada en 2021. No he podido disfrutar de la historia a causa de la pésima traducción que la ha hecho prácticamente ilegible. Constante referencia a las drogas y numerosos errores de estilo y acentuación. No recomiendo en absoluto este libro.
November 27, 2019
A bit like the Twilight Zone - enough said and enough withheld to make me want to read more and more. Most enjoyable!
March 18, 2021
I only enjoyed maybe quarter of these short stories. Not nearly as scary as I'd hoped
May 22, 2021
From people hyping I expected more. Book was okay read. Some stories stood out. Otherwise felt like a pretty average read.
August 19, 2020
One of the best collections I've read this year! Gritty, disastrous, and featuring a hefty sprinkling of dark fairy tales and lore, these stories knocked the breath out of me.
June 29, 2021
Left me wanting more (in a good way)
So many of the stories made me wish there was a continuation to the story. Would definitely recommend and i hope the author returns to some of the stories later on.
So many of the stories made me wish there was a continuation to the story. Would definitely recommend and i hope the author returns to some of the stories later on.
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