Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale

When starting this book, I was not really prepared for how heavy and emotionally draining it would be. Like from the very beginning, the book pulled me into a world filled with pain, mystery, and horror so twisted I sometimes asked myself why I was actually still reading it, but then again, the story was just that good. The book follows the journey of Julian, a troubled 17 years old boy who went to the prestigious Excelsior Academy, an institution with an image built on discipline, faith, and excellence, but what he finds is only cruelty, manipulation, hypocrisy, and silence, which involves both the students and the school authorities. Sometimes I find it very difficult to continue because of how scared I was for Julian. Like whenever I am reading, I like to immerse myself in the main character, so I really felt like I was going through the pain too. Although a ray of sunshine from the constant horror was Lucia, I might even consider her my favorite character because of the way she stood up for herself and everyone around her, especially when she was helping out Julian. Honestly, this, in turn, lifted my own spirits to continue reading because normally this book was just too dark for me, like, really. Another thing I liked about this book was how El Grim Cojuelo was portrayed. His presence was haunting and made Julian's suffering feel even darker, this really made the scenes hit harder, to the point I actually got goosebumps sometimes, and sometimes I cried. I actually did.  But between his parents, his BPD diagnosis, and the constant harassment he endured, Julian was written a little too weak for my liking, and I am not going to lie, it did piss me off sometimes to the point I would even consider dropping the novel to act out, the character was that frustrating. Overall, if you enjoy dark academia, Gothic horror, tragic characters, and stories that are not afraid to break your heart, I would recommend this book. It is not an easy read, but it is one that will stay with me for a long time.  Also, I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars

Mortal A Grim Tale is a prequel to Mortal Vengeance. It's a tale which is full of excitement, horror and thrill that makes us think about deeper issues. ‎ ‎It takes us into the world of Excelsior Academy in Santo Domingo where beauty lies through the eye of a child but beneath is a world full of oppression. ‎ ‎As a teacher rules over her students with an iron fist, leaving no room for individuality or creativity. Making the only way to survive is to remain silent and follow the rules to the letter. ‎ ‎Julián a seventeen-year-old a reflection of his environment,starts to feel the weight of the silence and pressure and he carries the darkness on the inside. But then Julián meets a creature, Grim Cojuelo, and his world turns upside down. He then begin to realize his guilt and that the creature is set to hunt him down. ‎ ‎Although His best friend, Lucía, is brave but perhaps not strong enough to pull Julián out of his own darkness. As he becomes obsessed with the creature to the point he sees him, hears him and even fears him. ‎ ‎This story is a blend of the supernatural and reality joined , making the horror of the story very relatable and terrifying. ‎Making us realize the connection between the spiritual and physical world. ‎ ‎It was an amazing read and one full of lessons, horror and courage. I definitely recommend the book

I have to admit, when I first started reading this book and saw the chapter titles I thought it was a trick to get my attention. Every single chapter title is a saying about the devil. I was wrong about this book at first impression. The author, Torres De la Rocha uses these sayings as a way to build something bigger and more important. This book is a story about how people become monsters because of the systems that are supposed to keep us safe. What really got to me was the character Julián. It was not the plot that was around him. How he felt about what he had done. There is a line in the book where he talks about feeling guilty and how it's worse than any bad thing that can happen to you. He says it is like a birthright for people who're devout Catholics, something i can actually relate to as a confidant to many friends who are practicing Catholics. The author shows how Julián is suffering by building up the feelings of guilt and shame little by little. We see this when his teacher, Profesora Lourdes humiliates him in front of everyone and when his family has to give up things because of what he did. Profesora Lourdes is a scary character but not because she is supernatural. She is scary because she is like people we know in life. The scene where she follows Julián into the hallway and sings a song to him while the other kids record it on their phones is really disturbing. This scene works because the author understands that when people in power abuse others it does not need to be supernatural to be bad. It just needs people to see it and do nothing. I also liked how the author worked with the characters. The ethics class that Padre Ignacio teaches is like the backbone of the story. This book trusts you the reader to handle ideas and does not try to simplify them. If you read this book you will be rewarded for your effort. You should really read this book if you think that the scariest things are not ghosts or monsters but the systems and people that can hurt us in our lives.

This is a captivating story that takes place in the capital city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and focuses on Julian Diaz, a seventeen-year-old student and devout Catholic, who experiences anxiety, trauma, backlash, manipulation, and verbal abuse from teachers and classmates daily. He is haunted by visions and nightmares of the Grim Cojuelo—a depiction of the Devil or the Grim Reaper—which further affects his academic and social life. Plagued with guilt, confusion, and horror, he is vulnerable yet slow to share his problems with his closest friends. He meets several other teenagers, irrespective of their staunch religious backgrounds, who are suffering in silence as well, going through varying levels of abuse. Julian feels shunned by all who know him, including his family, and is nearing the end of his wits. However, a string of events occurs, and all who ill-treat him become witnesses to shocking encounters that appear to make Julian’s visions come true. Readers are in for a shocking and incredible reading experience filled with twists and turns that will tug at their emotional heartstrings and keep them glued to their seats till the very end. The author’s writing style is very poetic, elegant, and meticulous. I appreciate the rich display of metaphors, personifications, and similes throughout the book’s content, creating an intricate literary language that depicts vivid and picturesque scenes of life at Excelsior Academy; a testament to the author’s eloquence and creativity. There are also traces of humor, tragedy, mischief, horror, plot twists, drama, revenge, and suspense that add gravity to the frolicky nature yet staunch religious upbringing of many of the teenage characters. It evokes vivid memories for readers such as myself, who have childhood backgrounds in Catholic educational institutions. This story is worthy of being used in a drama or movie script. The author also offers an insightful view into the culture of Saint Dominique, highlighting its societies and institutions that prioritize staunch Catholic values, as well as its popular beliefs that form the framework of the inhabitants’ mindsets—the folklore of the Limping Devil, diablo cojuelos, the sereno, and how they correlate with the history of the Taino people and Santo Domingo. The characters in this book, along with their distinct traits, are very interesting. The villainous roles of Professor Lourdes, Sister Maria Gracia, and some members of the clergy, as well as Lucia’s intellect and Fernando’s sentience are well-written, making them relatable to readers. Lucia is by far my favorite character, because she is smart, resilient, ambitious, and empathetic. The emotional intensity of this book’s content is overwhelming. It is tragic to observe the inner conflicts Julian goes through daily, without the awareness of his parents, who have invested so much in his education. As the protagonist, Julian is introspective and imaginative in a dark, hyperbolic way. He is also very insecure, melancholic, and psychologically traumatized. He has rather unique views on religion that are reminiscent of Dante’s “Inferno” or H. P. Lovecraft’s “Call of Cthulhu” is heightened by the guilt from condemnations and accusations he faces every day. Julian is subconsciously trying to resist the emotional and mental burden brought upon him by the expectations of his family and society. I am glad that Lucia, Monika, and Fernando are always there to guide, empathize, and comfort him. Overall, I am impressed with the major disclosure on the importance of emotional and mental health among the youth in society. A question that still lingers in my mind is why Julian hesitates to fully share his psychological troubles with his best friend Lucia. I do not have any dislikes to offer about the book, nor did I encounter any grammatical errors while reading. Each chapter comes with a befitting title that makes reading more interesting, and I truly like the author’s aura as indicated in the “About the Author” profile section. I think this book’s context and style are emotionally intense, powerful, and memorable, and therefore do not hesitate to rate it a perfect 5 stars. I cannot help but be compelled by the book’s subtle but impactful messages on Christian philosophy, the rich poetic justice, the awareness of emotional, mental, and physical abuse on teenagers, as well as the hypocrisy and religiosity that many people cloak themselves with to hide their nefarious deeds—typical of the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing. This is one of the most thought-provoking and engaging books I have ever read. I recommend this book to adult readers who are interested in tales of religious philosophy, world history, folklore, and psychology. Readers’ discretion is advised, due to the presence of profanity, as well as portrayals of abuse and mild sexual content.

Mortal A Grim Tale is a prequel to Mortal Vengeance. It's a tale which is full of excitement, horror and thrill that makes us think about deeper issues. ‎ ‎It takes us into the world of Excelsior Academy in Santo Domingo where beauty lies through the eye of a child but beneath is a world full of oppression. ‎ ‎As a teacher rules over her students with an iron fist, leaving no room for individuality or creativity. Making the only way to survive is to remain silent and follow the rules to the letter. ‎ ‎Julián a seventeen-year-old a reflection of his environment,starts to feel the weight of the silence and pressure and he carries the darkness on the inside. But then Julián meets a creature, Grim Cojuelo, and his world turns upside down. He then begin to realize his guilt and that the  creature is set to hunt him down. ‎ ‎Although His best friend, Lucía, is brave but perhaps not strong enough to pull Julián out of his own darkness. As he becomes obsessed with the creature to the point he sees him, hears him and even fears him. ‎ ‎This story is a blend of the supernatural and reality joined , making the horror of the story very relatable and terrifying. ‎Making us realize the connection between the spiritual and physical world. ‎ ‎It was an amazing read and one full of lessons, horror and courage. I definitely recommend the book