Mestiza Blood by V Castro
I would like to thank Flame Tree Press for an advance copy of this collection in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher – Flame Tree Press
Published – 25/1
Price – £12.95 paperback £6.96 Kindle eBook
From the lauded author of The Queen of the Cicadas(which picked up starred reviews from PW, Kirkus and Booklist who called her "a dynamic and innovative voice") comes a short story collection of nightmares, dreams, desire and visions focused on the Chicana experience. V.Castro weaves urban legend, folklore, life experience and heartache in this personal journey beginning in south Texas: a bar where a devil dances the night away; a street fight in a neighborhood that may not have been a fight after all; a vengeful chola at the beginning of the apocalypse; mind swapping in the not so far future; satan who falls and finds herself in a brothel in Amsterdam; the keys to Mictlan given to a woman after she dies during a pandemic. The collection finishes with two longer tales: The Final Porn Star is a twist on the final girl trope and slasher, with a creature from Mexican folklore; and Truck Stop is an erotic horror romance with two hearts: a video store and a truck stop.
With horror both atmosphere and energy are often key factors in a good story. That ability to make the reader take a gasp; feel uncertain and then feel the rollercoaster tip suddenly downwards without any brakes and you hope the track is fine at the bottom. The author VA Castro last year wowed me with their excellent horror tale Queen of the Cicadas but for 2022 we are treated to a collection of their short fiction in Mestiza Blood which offers a mix of tales based around modern Mexican folklore and grabs you throughout.
In this collection I particularly enjoyed the following tales
Night of the Living Dead Chola – The opening tale is a fine example. The dead beneath the Rio Grande rise up from its waters. Our narrator is one of them and she searches for the man that murdered her and dumped her body. It pulses with vivid imagery of the many dead in this river now rising back to shore and then moves to our main lead’s search for her killer. We aren’t quite in zombie fiction as we usually know it and I really liked the ending’s payoff and resolution.
The Demon In My Eye - This story is told in a world shaped by a magical apocalypse. Our narrator can kill people through desire and touch. It’s a visceral tale of sold body parts; gang fights rebellions and sordid corporations. More dark fantasy than pure horror and the dialogue is sharp as well as in the gutter. Exploring our lead’s powers and abilities is also a delight to explore.
Donkey Lady Bridge – This tale is very much a reminder that curiosity killed the cat. Our narrator had a night out with friends and walked home over a bridge with a bad reputation and encounters a strange scary figure. She escapes but wants to find out more. Initially narrated by tape we get the balance of the strange encounter with a character who is really just most of the time more interested in balancing family life with a life of her own and then we take a turn into the land of Mexican myth leaving things open-ended but fascinating. Another favourite in the collection
Nightmares & ICE – Ariela and her baby daughter are on the wrong side of the border with nowhere to go and a strange creature offers help. As well as a myth of a creature that preys on the young and weak, we also get an insight into the lives of those seeking new lives who end yup exploited or worse. Smart and punchy storytelling
Cam Girl Sally – This tale takes us more into noir territory with a tale of a young woman facially disfigured in a school shooting and facing a ruined college career moves into being a cam girl. A suspicious client though offers an opportunity. Such an unusual tale and when we find the identity of the mark we have little sympathy – tense, amusing and a great ending! One of my favourites
Dancehall Devil – A barman tells us of a nightclub where one night five strange women taught an odious man a lesson no one will forget. A tale that treads a line between the erotic, social commentary, and a touch of folklore as we watch a man make himself a target for a lot of well-deserved pain. Smart, weird, and tense storytelling.
Street Fighter - a mother and her daughter encounter a vicious fight and show some compassion to the apparent victim and then that proves a costly mistake. A short action-packed horror scene with a quite remarkable monster and fight-back. You’ll feel the tension and grab for escape our characters feel.
The Most Wonderful Time of The Year – this tale deals with parental pressure at Xmas; that search for the toy your child expects you to provide. Imagine if something magical offered this – would you accept a deal? Brutal and darkly funny it’s a great tale exploring how desire can push us to be monsters.
The Cold Season – this is more a dark science fiction tale. The rich can re-incarnate their minds into new bodies – immortality is possible. Our narrator walks us through the process and history of the invention. It deftly moves from moments of humour – an adult mind trapped in a baby’s or kid’s body with the mind of an adult; grief as you watch other loved ones die and then explains the societal impact of these new immortals on our world. A great tale and I loved the worldbuilding Castro created.
This a immensely enjoyable innovative selection of tales and underlines that V Castro is an author to watch out for and in particular this collection highlights both their versatility and flair for unique tales. I highly recommend this for horror and dark fantasy fans.
