experimental and surreal novel that explores the intersections of identity, self-perception, and the subconscious mind. The title itself sets the tone for a story that balances between the sacred and the monstrous, offering a metaphorical journey through the protagonist’s inner struggles.

The novel delves into themes of duality and transformation, as the protagonist wrestles with their own evolving identity and the tension between opposing forces within themselves. The monk and the monster represent two sides of the same coin—spirituality and darkness, peace and chaos—making the novel a complex reflection on the human experience and the constant battle between these contrasting aspects of self.

Tarnopolsky’s narrative is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy introspective, thought-provoking literature with elements of the fantastical, exploring deep existential themes in a poetic and fragmented style.

The author classifies this highly prized book of short fiction to be linked stories, and I recognized character names repeated from story to story, but struggled to find cohesion. The only consistencies I could gather were that Mark's sister Bella died, and he was never as close with their younger sister Laura, that perhaps due to that loss he struggles to end relationships with women, and for no reason I could discern his male friends are flawed. Or maybe that's from the lack of a father figure?

Truly Damian Tarnopolsky does make each piece unique here, from location and time setting to incorporating each piece of a coat of armor. I'm not sure if it's the experiential nature of the writing that I found jarring, or if it was the ambiguity of story shards and innuendo. I got the feeling this is so too much for itself that the title doesn't even fit on its cover.