Goddess of Filth

A dark look in to female rage, perceived expectations and the courage to take your own life back. This one starts with a séance. Of all the girls, the sweet and innocent one is change afterwards. As she pushes against the expectations her parents and society pushes on her, she finds her own freedom. But how much freedom can you have when something else resides within you, too.

I loved the well-done underlying horror and fear the girls felt. They were right in that difficult time, after 12 but before 18, when they look more grown up than they are. When older men start to notice them when they shouldn't. The very real threat was always there, under the words and the lines and I loved the ominous feel of it.

It was a story that held me and show more I loved every minute of it. show less

A quick read that is impossible to put down and refrain from reading in one sitting. By far the best "possession" story I have ever read. Strong female characters and feminist themes. Could not recommend this book more.

Sexual Retribution via Latina Fury

This book does really well with inspiring the desire for justice and vengeance through feminine empowerment, especially with its ties to Central American mythology and spirituality. However, where it fell short for me was in the ending. It could and probably should have ended a lot sooner, but the need to tie up all ends kind of ruined the excitement and vehemence that started the whole thing.

Goddess of Filth is part horror, but aligns the heroines with the entity that inhabits one of them. I think that this premise could do really well as an ongoing serial story à la Charmed - there are just some cool elements that I would like to see more of and how having the Goddess impacts San Antonio, Texas.

Great concept, and I wanted to like this book more, but I struggled with it. It was so short, lots of the plot felt rushed, under-explored, or just plain thin. It was a taste when I wanted a meal. Some of the perspective shifts were jarring, and I understood by the end why they were necessary, but I had such a hard time getting into the MC's voice that any time spent with other characters felt like a digression. With the coming of age theme, I would recommend this to younger horror fans, though - just enough horror to whet the appetite without overwhelming a reluctant reader.

t’s a solid three star for me. Oh man, here are my thoughts on V. Castro’s novella, Goddess of Filth.

I had such high expectations for this as I’m a huge thriller and horror fan and I loved the idea of a Mexican retelling of The Craft (which was referenced several times in this novella). I loved that there were elements of Mexican folklore and the occult however, the story just left me feeling a little underwhelmed.

The most crucial part of the story had no build up and it was the opening scene which happened so quickly that to be honest.. if felt like the most unrealistic and unbelievable séance. Ever.

So their friend is now possessed by a “scary entity” that they know nothing about so they decided to sneak her out to a 21+ show more night club (note that the girls are between the ages of 18 and 19) where they end up losing her and when they find her but they find her in a situation that honestly, I wish V. Castro would have made scarier. When I read horror, I want to be scared out of my mind and this situation lacked any of the horror luster I was seeking.

I just felt the story line just lacked a lot of things and towards the end it just felt extremely rushed. GOF really had so much potential.

Don’t get me wrong, there were elements of feminism, there was a touch self discovery and sexuality and I felt like this could have been so much more. Specially with one of the girls being possessed by a divine feminine entity, I really wish she had gone more about her power instead of her being naked in the garden, covered in dirt and bleeding everywhere. show less

Vivid coming of age with feminist and folklore elements. V. Castor’s horror feels so real. Queen of Cicadas thoroughly freaked me out and this felt similar - don’t mess with ancient goddesses!

I feel like I have more to say or want to have more to say but can’t articulate it intelligently. Basically just read this book because it’s fantastic and V. Castro’s work will give you nightmares.

I enjoyed Goddess of Filth very much. What starts out as a gruesome and creepy possession novella turns into an inspiring coming of age/feminist tale. I would recommend this book to any reader who would enjoy a possession novella with a twist. You won't be sorry.