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A review by puttingwingsonwords
Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is an absolutely incredible book! Man Made Monsters is a collection of short horror stories following various branches of the same Cherokee family through the past, present and future.
Storytelling and the passing on of history is one of the book’s central themes. Cherokee language is key in this. It is incorporated not only in the stories, but also in Jeff Edward’s amazing illustrations preceding each story. You can see an example of this on the cover.
Throughout the generations, through genocide and oppression and apocalyptic threats, the book’s central family struggles to hold on to their language and their stories—but hold on they do.
I was impressed with the wide variety of characters, styles, tropes and themes presented in these stories. Each one of them stands well on its own, while also adding to the whole of this family’s long history.
Taking on all kinds of classic monsters and horror staples, the love for the genre can be felt on every page. But while the inspiration from horror classics is clear, each story brings something interesting and new to whichever monster it features.
By the end of the book, there’s the feeling that these stories have always been around, and will continue to be created far into the future, even if the book is over.
Whether you’re an experienced horror lover, someone new to the genre, or you’re just interested in reading more Indigenous fiction, you should read this book.
Storytelling and the passing on of history is one of the book’s central themes. Cherokee language is key in this. It is incorporated not only in the stories, but also in Jeff Edward’s amazing illustrations preceding each story. You can see an example of this on the cover.
Throughout the generations, through genocide and oppression and apocalyptic threats, the book’s central family struggles to hold on to their language and their stories—but hold on they do.
I was impressed with the wide variety of characters, styles, tropes and themes presented in these stories. Each one of them stands well on its own, while also adding to the whole of this family’s long history.
Taking on all kinds of classic monsters and horror staples, the love for the genre can be felt on every page. But while the inspiration from horror classics is clear, each story brings something interesting and new to whichever monster it features.
By the end of the book, there’s the feeling that these stories have always been around, and will continue to be created far into the future, even if the book is over.
Whether you’re an experienced horror lover, someone new to the genre, or you’re just interested in reading more Indigenous fiction, you should read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Mass/school shootings, Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Pandemic/Epidemic