11/08/2021
Women, mothers, scrappers, and orphans find their power in this slightly unbalanced collection exploring the Chicana experience in 14 horror shorts that confront monsters both supernatural and all-too human. Castro (Queen of the Cicadas) probes both the good and the bad, laying bare the fear of ICE and the heavy trauma of crossing the border, but also the thrills of human connection and the quiet pleasure of raising one’s child into a better life. Human women take a stand against monsters in “Street Fighter” and “Nightmares & ICE,” while “Dancehall Devil” and “Night of the Living Dead Chola” show the sympathetic side to monstrosity. Castro’s talents shine brightest when she gives herself room to work: longer pieces like “The Cold Season” and “Truck Stop” show off impressive worldbuilding chops and a skillful hand at chronicling the passage of time. Unfortunately, shorter pieces are both less successful and more abundant: “Mal de Ojo,” for example, fumbles to find its point, while “The Demon in My Eye” rushes its exploration of its rich world and characters. Despite the unevenness, there’s plenty to recommend this female-centric collection on. Readers interested in speculative explorations of Mexican American culture and mythology—or those just looking for action-packed, cathartic narratives—should snap this up. Agent: Beth Marshea, Ladderbird Literary. (Jan.)
"V. Castro’s MESTIZA BLOOD is horror close to the bone. These are stories about desperate people who finally fall off the edge. Castro shows them hanging on by their fingernails and then somehow, clawing their way back. Her sharp eye for visceral violence and honest depictions of sexuality, aging, and class is astounding. Every story has impact. Every one feels all too real."
"This collection will rip readers apart in the best way possible."
"In The Queen of the Cicadas, there's a thin, bloody veil between worlds, the past isn't past at all, and you can feel your heart beating in the pages, the words pulsing with life. Touch them if you dare, and don't be surprised if they quiver into flight all around you."
"In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it."
Praise for QUEEN OF THE CICADAS
"In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it." - Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs
"In The Queen of the Cicadas, there's a thin, bloody veil between worlds, the past isn't past at all, and you can feel your heart beating in the pages, the words pulsing with life. Touch them if you dare, and don't be surprised if they quiver into flight all around you." - Stephen Graham Jones, NYT bestselling author of The Only Good Indians
“V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro’s not already on your radar, she should be.” - Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Ararat and Red Hands
"Writing in breathtaking, atmospheric prose, Castro (Hairspray and Switchblades) merges brutal realism and supernatural terror to create a fierce, memorable tale of Mexican folklore and horror." - Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"Castro's novel shifts seamlessly from deliciously gory horror narrative to family saga to a tale of righteous vengeance, all while maintaining its unflinching condemnation of colonialism on both sides of the Mexican-American border. A tightly paced story of anti-colonial resistance and shared history that begs to be read in one sitting." - Kirkus Starred Review
"A riveting #ownvoices novel exploring Mexican folk tales and legends mingled with the history of Texas [...] Castro does not pull any punches. Readers seeking originality and a fresh take on well-worn horror tropes should pick up this novel by a dynamic and innovative voice in horror. - Booklist Starred Review
"V. Castro’s MESTIZA BLOOD is horror close to the bone. These are stories about desperate people who finally fall off the edge. Castro shows them hanging on by their fingernails and then somehow, clawing their way back. Her sharp eye for visceral violence and honest depictions of sexuality, aging, and class is astounding. Every story has impact. Every one feels all too real." - Glen Mazzara, TV writer/showrunner (THE WALKING DEAD, DAMIEN)
"Castro delivers an unflinching, honest, raw, and thought-provoking horror tale that is both serious in its social commentary and fun to read. For fans of gruesome, vengeance-themed horror that is deeply tied to its place and the marginalized identities of its protagonists" - Becky Spratford, Literary Journal
V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro’s not already on your radar, she should be.
01/01/2022
Castro's (Queen of the Cicadas) first short story collection is filled with violent, erotic, and visceral tales featuring familiar horror themes, reinvigorated by the author's application of Chicana perspective. The opening story, "Night of the Living Dead Chola," sets the tone perfectly, as a murdered woman rises from the dry Rio Grande riverbed to seek revenge on the living. Castro goes on to unveil horrors both real and supernatural, in language that is simultaneously brutal and beautiful; the sentences fly off the page and into readers' minds, where they lodge, forcing them to think about the larger, real-world implications at the core of every monstrous encounter. Because Castro's prose shines brighter the longer she monopolizes readers' attention, the decision to end the book with the two longest and strongest stories, "Truck Stop" and "The Final Porn Star," makes for a satisfying conclusion. VERDICT This collection provides an excellent introduction to Castro's style of unflinchingly raw, unapologetically sexy, unsettlingly realistic supernatural horror; it's a solid volume of terrifying, thought-provoking, and fun tales. Readers seeking similar should check out the work of Gabino Iglesias and Cynthia Pelayo.
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