The excellent narrative voice and compelling plot, are also enhanced by the well built villain. It's is so empowering.Īnd it does all of this while still telling a compelling, exciting, suspenseful, and intensely unsettling horror story.Ĭastro’s prose, storytelling style, and characters, will drawn readers in from the very first lines, while Lourdes’ strong and honest narration will hold them glued tot he page for the duration. All in a satisfying, fun, and scary horror novella package.Īnd it is very sexy but in a way that acknowledges that women are sexual beings and when we are young we are taught to be good girl sand suppress that. Gives voice to those that history, racism, sexism, and modern society have rendered voiceless. But at the same time it is also about how the world takes power from young women, especially of color, and how they need to fight to take that power back- at all costs.

I am going to share some of those here because they are all appeal based.Īn awesome possession story which reclaims the trope from Christianity and gives it back to indigenous traditions. Displaying exhilarating talent, this compelling and immersive novella will appeal to fans of both Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts and Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties.įurther Appeal: I took so many notes when reading this 160 page book. Narrated mostly from Lourdes’ point of view, with peeks into Fernanda, the Goddess, and the evil Father Moreno, this is a story that calls on young women to embrace the power of their strength, sexuality, and intelligence, and to not let the world be afraid of it, or them, but it is also an action packed horror novel, filled with terror, violence, and monsters, both real and supernatural, anchored by a pervasive sense of dread that constantly reminds the reader what is really at stake when women are silenced. However, Fernanda’s mother calls in Father Moreno, to oust the demon, but his sin is no match for the Goddess’ ancient powers. This forces them to embrace the Goddess, her knowledge and power, as they take control of their lives despite the limitations race, class, and gender have placed on them. Lourdes leads a seance during one of the girls’ final evenings together and Fernanda is possessed by the Goddess of Filth, a powerful Aztec deity who eats sin, steals secrets, and champions female sexuality.

īoldly reclaiming the possession trope from Christianity, Castro introduces readers to four friends, proud Chicanas, about to begin their adult lives.

Goddess of filth by v castro