Lily’s Monster, by Cliff McNish, a chilling YA horror that takes on mature themes with gut-wrenching emotional depth, writes GEMMA JOHNSON
Lily’s Monster is the most recent offering from Cliff McNish, published by Fox and Ink Books.
A Young Adult horror, the back cover of the book offers a warning: ‘For Older Readers – Mature Content Warning’ and I concur.
It’s dark, sombre and gruesome. Cliff is not shy of delving into heavyweight topics—a refreshing approach.
In modern culture, there can be a tendency to steer away from challenging subjects, sheltering young people from them. This does little to prepare for the sometimes harsh realities of the real world.
Cliff tackles them head-on, plunging the reader straight in from the very start of the story.
Holly is the central character, brilliantly written.
She is relatable on a range of levels—mental health, complex family dynamics, bereavement and isolation.
Her character arc develops smoothly throughout the story, juxtaposed with the increasingly difficult circumstances she finds herself experiencing.
It’s difficult not to take a liking to Holly. I found myself rooting for her, my maternal instincts kicking in, wanting to rescue her.
Early in the story, we see Holly as a victim of circumstances that have ground her down, particularly relating to the death of her brother Adam.
However, as the story progresses, Holly evolves into a fierce fighter, very much the representation of the ‘Final Girl’ energy found in horror films.
With no help around, she is forced to become her own hero—and she does so with great strength.
The story is written from Holly’s perspective, which allows the audience to build a relationship with her—one that is a rollercoaster of emotions.
And what of Lily?
Lily is a character that arrives when the family settles into Gant House, seeking solitude following their recent bereavement.
There is a question mark over Lily from her first appearance in the story. Who is she? Where did she come from? Why is she there?
Cliff is very skilled at keeping the audience guessing. Small crumbs of clues are given within the writing, but I was pleased to see that the true identity of Lily wasn’t fully exposed until the latter half of the book.
It added a sense of mystery and intrigue, keeping the reader engaged.
I am a fan of horror in any context—films, books, podcasts.
My favourite approach to horror is the slow burn—the build-up, the playing tricks with your mind through smoke and mirrors, the leading one way then the other.
Cliff is slick with this.
The psychological horror element relates very much to Lily and Gant House.
Cliff’s writing allows the reader to create imagery, placing themselves at the heart of the action, feeling every twist and turn.
There are sharp moments of gore and horror, especially in relation to the relationship between Holly and her father.
The description of the confrontations is a gut punch for the reader. I was moved to tears at several points and found myself gasping at the injuries inflicted on Holly.
I was engrossed in this story from the first few pages but, so uncomfortable was the story in parts, that I found myself needing to take a step back and have a break.
When I say it was an emotional rollercoaster, it is actually more like the emotions felt when jumping from an aeroplane (I imagine)—intense and dramatic.
It is a truly chilling story, one that stayed with me beyond the final page.
As the winter nights take hold, light a candle and get comfortable with Lily’s Monster. I completely recommend.
