The Baby-Eater by Chad Morgan
Every culture in the world has some legend of a creature akin to a vampire. Some of those lesser-known myths are quite interesting to those who have a love of vampire mythology. For example, in Albania, there is the Shtriga, which is said to suck the blood of infants at night while they sleep, then they turn into a flying insect. Another legend I’ve recently come across is set in West Africa, where the Ewe people believe in a creature called adze, which can take the form of a firefly and hunts children. Then there is the manananggal, which originates from the Philippines, and is described as a being capable of severing its upper torso to fly into the night with huge bat-like wings and prey on unsuspecting, sleeping pregnant women in their homes — something categorized as an aswang species.
A MOTHER’S FEAR COME TO LIFE
The Baby-Eater by Chad Robert Morgan uses the very unique and absolutely terrifying myth of the manananggal to tell a story that will satisfy readers craving a different type of vampire tale. As a new mother, I may have lost some of my edge when it comes to the idea of anything terrorizing (or in this case eating) babies, so I was left irrationally scared of this bogeyman by the end of the book. The idea of finding something — human or otherwise — standing over my baby’s crib pops into my head whenever I step into my daughter’s room now. I won’t even get into the whole “baby-eating” thing, because the nightmares will never end …
Nevertheless, I’d be lying if I didn’t recognize and even at times relate to the antagonist’s struggles between being a good mother and fighting the alluring darkness. As a horror author who thrives in the shadows and deals with the demons that lives within us all, it is not always easy to keep those things away from my all-too-curious infant daughter.
A REFRESHING TWIST ON A FAMILIAR TALE
The protagonist in The Baby-Eater is of mixed descent, but he knows next to nothing about his Pinoy heritage when he finds himself in the Philippines with his mother for a family reunion. As he discovers his roots, the reader is also being educated on the interesting culture and traditions of these people. While the folklore does take center stage in The Baby-Eater, for me it is the protagonist’s discoveries of who he is and where he comes from, the subtle — albeit important — building blocks of any person’s identity, that makes this book a standout read.
While I did find The Baby-Eater unsettling, I also enjoyed reading about the lesser-known vampire mythology and diverse characters that represent a culture I’m not as familiar with. It’s refreshing to pick up a book that does exactly what you expect from a title like The Baby-Eater — scare the living hell out of you.
DON’T SWITCH OFF THE LIGHTS
Readers can expect a bloody battle as the village is forced to come to terms with the fact that 1.) monsters exist, 2.) they’re being preyed upon by something out of lore, and, 3.) they need to put an end to the horror. This realization will see difficult decisions being made for the greater good by the daughter of the manananggal, Malaya. I don’t want to give too much away, so let’s just say that apart from the bloodshed and the sometimes humorous parts, there are some very touching moments … and perhaps an unexpected twist that will leave you wanting more.
I was told to read this book with the lights on, a warning I didn’t heed. Don’t make my mistake. Even if there are parts that can be considered humorous, The Baby-Eater goes all out to frighten readers. So, keep those lights on … and maybe double-check on your young ’uns.
