V. Castro has truly put together a horrifying collection of stories. Starting with the short stories Night of the Living Dead and The Demon in My Eye set a pace for this collection that truly kept me reading deep into the night. Exactly the time period where some of the characters in this story had to deal with their worst nightmares.

I think that my favorite stories from this collection are Donkey Lady Bridge, Pentagram Peep Show, and Dancehall Devil. Donkey Lady Bridge started as the classic ghost tale until things took a truly devious and unexpected turn. Pentagram Peep Show took a classic story that some of us know all too well and gave a truly great twist to it. Dancehall Devil contained a devious tale of revenge and it gave me vibes from From Dusk Til Dawn.

The last two stories in this collection are a little bit longer, but hold a lot of power. Truck Stop and The FInal Porn Star both were ghastly tales but for very different reasons.

Check this collection out, don't read it too late, and whatever you do if you see La Lachuza - don't follow them anywhere.

Since first reading The Queen of the Cicadas, V. Castro has quickly become an auto-read author for me. I absolutely love the way she combines Mexican folklore with current social and political issues and her female protagonists are always bad-asses.

This collection of short stories absolutely brings it! There's mystery, revenge, a slasher story, and even sci-fi, Castro giving us a good mix of every genre without it feeling like there's too much going on.

With short story collections, there's always a couple that will be a miss, but I loved every story in this one. My absolute favorite, though, was The Cold Season and I can totally see it being made into a movie.

Absolutely solid collection.

4.5 Stars

Personally, short story collections can be very hit or miss for me - more often than not, I find that I don't vibe with at least a handful of them, throwing off the collection as a whole. As a big fan of V. Castro's work, however, I decided to give "Mestiza Blood" a go, & I'm so happy I did - this is easily one of the best short story collections I've come across, not a single story in here was a miss!

V. Castro is an expert at weaving together horror, mythology, & social commentary, & every story featured within "Mestiza Blood", no matter how big or small, had something to say. Her writing is truly hypnotic, & the stories are incredibly diverse & unique. The standouts for me were "Cam Girl Sally", "Dancehall Devil", "Street Fighter", "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "Truck Stop", & "The Final Pornstar" (slasher fans, you need this collection purely for that story alone), but my favorite was easily "The Cold Season" - what an incredible story! Probably the most sci-fi out of the collection, it revolved around the idea of being able to extract your consciousness/soul out of your old & dying body & planting it into a clone of yourself to be reborn, living a fresh, new life but with all the knowledge you've gained in your previous life. I thought it was incredibly fascinating & well done, very Black Mirror-esque, & really made me take a second to think.

I highly recommend picking this up, along with all of V. Castro's other work - you definitely want to keep an eye on her! Thank you so much V. Castro, NetGalley, & Flame Tree Press for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

Mestiza Blood was my first V Castro and definitely won’t be my last! These stories were brilliantly grotesque and horrific, with something to offer every type of horror fan. Some of my most favorite stories from the collection take inspiration from Latinx mythology and there were plenty of creature feature moments. The body horror and imagery was brutally described and often very graphic, so just a warning if you don’t like reading gory bits. Even though this is a collection of horror stories, it’s often times so much more than that. Castro does a wonderful job of adding humor and heart to her horror. Her stories often include commentary on real world issues like racism, immigration/I.C.E, and the treatment of women.

It was hard to narrow it down, but my favorite stories in the collection were Night of the Living Chola, Donkey Lady Bridge, Cam Girl Sally, The Cold Season and The Final Porn Star. I’m so glad Mestiza Blood ended with The Final Porn Star, which was one of the longest and best (IMO) stories. It was an excellent tribute to the Final Girl trope and the perfect blend of myth/humor/gore. If you’re apprehensive about checking out this collection I would start there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for an ARC. I can’t wait to check out more work in V Castro’s backlog.

V. Castro is quickly becoming a name to watch in horror. Works such as Goddess of Filth and The Queen of the Cicadas have proved that she not only understands horror but also the importance of creating a brand as an author by using her own experiences. She draws upon her own background to create three-dimensional Chicana women who might feel marginalized by society but who also find ways, through supernatural powers or simple determination, to strike back. In her recent short story collection Mestiza Blood, she introduces the reader to several of these women and their own unique struggles.

Like many great collections, Mestiza Blood has a sampling of several of Castro’s stories. Some are dark fantasy with shades of urban folklore like “The Demon in My Eye,” but they also display Castro’s own unique worldview. Her story “Night of the Living Dead Chola” is a take on the zombie trope that shows both heart and darkness. “Street Fighter” starts with a woman who tries to be a good samaritan but ends up offering help to something more inclined to harm. “Mal de Oja” explores the horrors of prejudice and the ability to get revenge through supernatural means. The book also features two longer works, the paranormal romance body horror thriller “Truck Stop” and “The Final Porn Star,” a delightful take on the Final Girl trope that mixes Hispanic folklore with Evil Dead hi-jinks.

Horror fans, and even those who might not necessarily read horror, might recognize names like Stephen King and Joe Lansdale because they have built up a brand by offering up their own unique visions of horror. V. Castro has the ability to become a brand because she offers up spine-tingling stories seen through the lens of what the book’s subtitle directly calls “the Chicana experience.” She is adept at drawing on her own experiences and, through exploring folklore as well as exploring some more contemporary horrors, create something that is not only something that is truly hers, but something that reflects the horrors of women in a world that needs no supernatural entities to be threatening. Indeed, the supernatural here is an equalizer, even a method of getting vengeance. If these women are conspiring with evil supernatural forces, Castro might argue, they might just be choosing the lesser evil.

READ MY REVIEW

Cover: Fuchsia is a color I have issues with. The general impression screams horror, however, and I guess that’s the primary goal.

Mestiza Blood is a collection of short stories centered on horror and erotica, with a dash of sci-fi. Given the theme, I was really looking forward to reading it.

As it always happens with short stories, they cover a spectrum, from good to so-so. That comes with the territory, and it’s something I was expecting from the get-go: the trick with these kinds of books is to achieve a sort of balance, where the most powerful stories support the weak ones. Castro does well in that department. Her writing is poignant and clear, and it really shines in Cam Girl Sally and Night of the Living Dead Chola.

I’m satisfied with The Final Porn Star and Truck Stop, too. They’re longer than the rest, and they’re well-structured. The POV Castro uses is first limited for the most part, and while it suits some stories, it also seems to hinder the flow in a couple of others.

Another thing I’m happy with is the choice of MCs. They’re all female, they fit the ‘strong female lead’ trope to a T, but they’re crafted with care. They all have weaknesses and they read both complex and realistic. Well done.

The main issue of Mestiza Blood has to do with the erotica. While I know it’s hard to impress me when sex of any kind is involved, there are some details here that read odd—the fresh oyster that lives between her legs is a prime example of that. I mean, I need to be able to take it seriously, not to chuckle at the mental image.

3,5 stars on GR.

*Copy provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is my second V. Castro and, like the first one, I was delighted with the influence of mexican culture in horror stories, the portrayle of unhinged women, powerful and out of the box.
However I do have to say that some of these stories were not for me. Some I loved, some I didn't mind, in a typical way with short story collections.
V. Castro's use of raw descriptive language is amazing, as per usual, and the mexican folkloric tales a masterpiece to encorporate in horror tropes.
Overall, a good 3.5 read. Recommended for fans of horror stories.

Everything V. Castro writes is beautiful and raw and "Mestiza Blood" is no exception. She blends disturbingly brutal realism with the fantastical horrors of traditional Mexican folklore, cryptids and the supernatural. Each story is so neatly tied together with her lyrical, yet straightforward prose. This is a strong short story collection of feminist-forward horror. My personal favorites include "Donkey Lady Bridge," "Cam Girl Sally" and the stunningly painful "Truck Stop."
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
4/5

4 stars (rounded up from 3.75 average). I read this collection of stories in one sitting. "Night of the Living Chola" is the best thing I have read so far in 2022. This was a short story that packed an emotional punch and captivated me in every way. When I have more time I will elaborate more on each short story in this collection, but just know that this is a collection you do not want to miss by a horror author you need to keep your eyes on.
5 stars: "Night of the Living Chola", "Donkey Lady Bridge", "Street Fighter", "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", "The Cold Season", "The Latin Queen of Mictlan"
4 stars: "Nightmares & ICE", "Dancehall Devil", "Mal de Ojo"
3.5 stars: "The Last Final Porn Star"
3 stars: "The Demon in My Eye"
2 stars: "Cam Girl Sally"
1 star: "Pentagram Peep Show" "Truck Stop"

Wow. V. Castro hit it out of the park once again, this time with an absolutely staggering collection of short stories that range from gory anti-fascist mutant uprising to no-holds-barred, bloody fables where the strong woman wins despite all forces working to the contrary. Reading it will take you through nearly every emotion, from the strongest catharsis to weeping with joy to weeping with sorrow to giggling from her bleak, wry humor. It's SO diverse in the way the stories work, but they all cohere into something really fascinating, a ferocious treatise on Latina rage and power and persistence that is wholly unique. (Castro's other books are deeply concerned with this too, but they don't deal with it in so many ways in the same text.) I'm for sure not done processing this (particularly the last pair of slightly-related stories...the splatter horror there is really something!), and I don't think I will be for a very long time, but I'm so glad I got the chance to read this, and I can't wait to re-read it.

This is my first time reading Castro's work, equal parts surreal, honest, and unexpected, it takes you plenty of places you don't expect to go. I genuinely think it works best if you're either an established fan or completely unaware of her style. My favorite story was Truck Stop, I'm definitely going to be thinking back to several scenes from it for a long time. The Final Porn Star, Nightmares and ICE, and The Cold Season were all standout too.

🎆ARC review🎆

Mestiza Blood by V. Castro
I highly recommend reading this short story collection. The writing feels familiar as though written by a friend. The supernatural elements in some of the stories are written with a traditional sense and this is so comforting, albeit frightening. Some of the stories include such emotion in regards to motherhood and sexuality which I really appreciated.
My faves were
“ The Latin Queens of Mictlan”
“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
“Mal de Ojo”
Anticipated Pub date : Jan,18,2022
Publisher: flametreepress
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

Thank you to #flametreepress and #netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this short story collection.
#mestizablood #vlatinalondon
# NetGalley #arcreview #latinxbookstagram #flametreepress #ladiesfirst22

When I want earthy Hispanic Horror to chill my bones, I have two authors I turn to:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia and V. Castro. For edgy, in-your-face, take-no-prisoners, female-authored Horror, I know where to find it. MESTIZA BLOOD is V. Castro's newest collection, and if the pieces here don't "wake" you, just give it up. Ms. Castro can dig deep into the Earth, or fly among the Stars: an indefatigable imagination. Just don't expect to sleep soundly. Now you'll know the source of all those Voices you can scarcely decipher.

Last year I really liked GODDESS OF FILTH by V Castro. MESTIZA BLOOD has all of the elements I loved from that story:
-vivid imagery
-Mexican mythology
-sardonic and badass women

I just devoured the stories in this collection like Cheetos, unable to put the bag down until it was empty and my fingers were coated in orange dust. If you like horror and you haven’t read V Castro yet, please pick up this book asap. You won’t be disappointed.

I mean, how can you resist a book where a main character says: “I’ve always hated people in horror films who felt the need to investigate instead of run. Now I was one of those idiots.”

My ONLY complaint is that several stories ended before I was ready and left me wanting more! Here’s hoping that Castro expands some of these ideas into novellas or novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mestiza Blood

_Mestiza Blood_ is a varied and enjoyable short story collection from a newish voice on the horror scene with a unique take on the genre. As in her novel _Queen of the Cicadas_, Castro blends Mexican folklore, sensuality, feminism, fantasy and gritty reality into a beguiling book that's likely to delight horror fans who aren't put off by explicit content.
There are 14 stories packed into this 200 page volume and they're a mixed bunch in terms of subject matter and quality. On that second point, the encouraging news is that the stories range from good to very good. Nothing in the book is less than enjoyable and the best stories are really memorable. Settings range from post-apocalyptic cities to roadside diners to small towns to remote cabins. Characters include porn stars on the brink of retirement, immigrants dodging the authorities, mothers protecting their children and winged monsters out to make a buck.
What ties all of the stories together is the Mestiza blood of the collection's title (Mestiza meaning "a woman of mixed race, especially one having indigenous and Spanish descent"). Every tale has some element of that in it, and Castro's identity as a proud Latinx woman shines through as it did in _Queen of the Cicadas_. It gives everything a different flavour than we are used to in our horror, and it's a very welcome one.
Naturally, some stories here are better than others. For my money Castro is at her best when she gives herself enough space to play. The shorter stories can feel a bit abrupt, but the longer ones really sing. Indeed, my two favourite pieces were the longest _Truck Stop_ and _The Final Porn Star_ which both feature Castro's trademark strong Latina lead and an intoxicating mix of bloody horror and explicit sex. _Truck Stop_ in particular is shockingly but refreshingly graphic. It reminded me a bit of Frank Henenlotter's film _Basket Case_ (which is referenced elsewhere in _Mestiza Blood_) if it was porn directed by David Cronenberg. If you're feeling a bit jaded by modern horror, that comparison may be enough to make to you rush out and buy a copy. If not then let me assure that the story (and the collection) is also packed with wit, political savvy and heart.

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.

This is a hugely influential, stunning and vibrant collection of tales which more than lives up to the title-mestiza blood is impregnated on every page.

It is unashamedly Latinx and a lot of the horror is not just based in the way that women, in particular are left exposed by society to shame, degradation, and otherness, it is what is accelerated when you add in being American but recognised as such which creates this vortex of unlimited rage and anger.

The social and cultural issues discussed within these tales cover the despicable immigration crisis, the 'othering' and therefore vulnerable women and children courtesy of ICE, abandonment of cultural significance in the form of traditions such as payments to gods and monsters and so much more.

This is an echoing of feminine rage which exhorts and distorts the very structures which makes them vulnerable, and wreaks well placed vengeance on the oppressors and potential abusers of those on the outskirts of 'respectable' society. It is not a book for the faint of heart , it is someone who takes her cultural influences, sharpens them to a point and gets to work.

From ghosts seeking revenge, to a porn star making her last movie. A child abandoned to a Catholic Monastery finding her soul mate on leaving as an adult due to their very strange connection. Dystipian landscapes inhabited by the walking dead of a very different kind. Bodily transformations, alterations, demonic possessions unlike anyhting you will have come across and a trade in human (or rather, non-human trafficking) are served up, raw and wriggling for your delectation.

There are dark themes here, but ones which you are powerless to avoid staring into. This is real, authentic experiences bleeding out onto the page in the way only V Castro can bleed. She cuts you open then takes a salt cellar to the readers wounds before you can lick up the mess it makes. The honesty with which she writes about Santeria, La Lechuza , and curandera is a revelation and really makes you aware of just how little we are aware of the traditions and deities and monsters of Latino traditions. Living in a country which people in general do not recognise as your country, making you feel like outsiders in a place which you call home and has rich and complex community traditions, is a fertile ground for engendering monsters, feelings of betrayal, loss and lust.

The things which are coveted-mestiza curves, exotic appearance and the trope of sexual availability of non-white women-are the very things which, in this collection, mostly men abuse and take advantage of, (there is a particularly delicious example of a pharmaceutical CEO named Karen getting her just desserts in one of the tales) that has you cheering the monsters, cheering for destruction red in tooth and claw.

''People were ridiculed for wanting to change, for loving who they wanted to love, for seeing what was inside and making it a reality on the outside. There was no tolerance for the other.''

I am not best placed to comment on the cultural aspects of the tales as I do not have the experiences or understanding which I freely own up to. The way in which V Castro's writing has encouraged me to look into Latino culture and seek out Latinx writers is reflective of her as a starting point, a flashpoint in realising the lack of cultural awareness in which I am in need of correcting, and it is my responsibility to do this lifting and learning, not others.

She brings you this blood stained bag of tales, and let's you make of it what you will, but to me the central lesson is this (and please feel free to pull me up on my mistakes or any clumsy phrasing throughout what I have written)-change is not comfortable, growth should not be easy, learning should be painful and it behoves us all to pay witness to the way every day horror goes unchecked in the name of 'progress' .

''They trying to put the fear of the president in us.''

That is the real monster.

With horror atmosphere but also energy is a key factor of 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 highlights both their versatility and flair for unique tales. I highly recommend this for horror and dark fantasy fans.

This is a great short story collection and I was generally terrified during parts of these stories. I can't wait to see what V. Castro comes out with next!

So, as it turns out I was completely unprepared for what this collection was – in the best way possible, because wow did I love Mestiza Blood. Now, it should be noted that this collection is graphic in every sense of the world, and unflinching in its approach – we have gore and violence which are visceral in every sense, erotica and body horror – so this is certainly not the collection for the faint at heart, because Mestiza Blood dives into the dark and keeps going.

I loved it.

As with any collection, some stories resonated more than others. However, Castro has created a stand-out collection here, and even those that didn’t resonate so strongly wormed their way into my brain, and I was glued to this book from cover to cover. Part of this was due to the writing. Castro has a style that is both beautiful and raw and brutal, and the way she uses all the senses to capture the essence of horror and the stories she is telling brings the stories to life in a way that it feels as though you could blink and find yourself there. And I was pulled into this collection from the very first page.

‘My tears drip from my mouth and they taste like blood. For years, mud and garbage have weighed down my body to keep me trapped in this wet, dark grave. The tips of my fingers and toes have been nibbled away by fish swimming past my body. They all steal a little morsel of me before scurrying away.’

Night of the Living Dead Chola

There are familiar horror themes in this collection, from the classic idea of the survivor girl to revenge and supernatural twists, but you would be mistaken if you thought that this collection was familiar. Castro takes those themes and takes them apart to build them anew from the inside out, which is part of why this collection has such impact, it’s fresh, it’s raw and it’s different. As the summary says this collection focused on the Chicana experience, both through the folklore and life experience that was drawn on and the narrators themselves, which gives this collection another layer – a voice that is strong and undeniable. It is also a collection with women very much at the helm. This is their experiences, their survival, their grief and revenge, and strength – and I loved it.

‘I didn’t survive ‘that day, I died and just went to a place between life and death. But everybody’s luck changes. God can’t ignore all prayers.’

Cam Girl Sally

Overall, I did find that the longest stories in the collection – ‘Truck Stop’ and ‘The Final Porn Star’ were the strongest, because there was a little more room for development, and I particularly loved ‘The Final Pornstar’ as it combined so many elements that I loved. That is not to say Castro doesn’t hit home with the shorter stories, and I think one of my favourites was in fact the very first one ‘The Night of the Living Dead Chola’ which was just captivating from the start, and my only complaint was that I wanted more. In fact, maybe that is my only complaint with the collection as a whole – I wanted more. Each story was so consuming, so completely and utterly enrapturing, that it always felt like a shock to the system when I reached the end of one – as though I needed each to keep going, only to find myself promptly drawn into the next story.

My other favourites from this collection are ‘The Latin Queens of Mictlan’ which caught me in its imagery from the very start, and ‘Pentagram Peepshow’ and ‘Dancehall Devil’, both of which I’ve gone back and read a couple of times since.

Mestiza blood is a breathtaking collection of stories, visceral, hard-hitting and compelling, and yet at the same time, wonderfully empowering. Survival is earned at any cost. Demons are fought, both internal and external. The characters are unapologetic about eeking out a living against the horrors. It’s raw and emotive, bloody and violent, bizarre in places and undeniably sexy in others. This was my first read of Castro’s work, but it certainly won’t be the last, because what she has woven here, between folklore and reality, and everything in between is absolutely stunning – and I can’t recommend this collection highly enough, albeit with the reminder that this is a mature, unflinching book.