An atmospheric formula diving into the stories that inspired the darkness in various goddesses across cultures. V. Castro features both popular goddesses while making space to give the podium to lesser-known goddesses. The inclusivity is impeccable with an incredible amount of research written into a brief space. I enjoyed the format with the beautiful art of each goddess and the origins of their lore that describe their essence. I appreciated the variations that were mentioned and the imaginings of the kind of wisdom these goddesses intend to instill in our lives. A riveting insight into the stories that give life to the goddesses above and below.
What is the dark feminine? An essence of embracing your femininity so unapologetically that masculinity seeks to redefine your strength. That is the theme amongst the various goddesses V. Castro chooses to introduce to readers familiar and new. There were moments I would argue that it is almost too positive in the V. Castro’s words of wisdom from the goddesses – but she is shedding light on how to redefine how we see these “dark” figures. The narrative takes away the demonized version of the goddesses that Catholicism has done to damage these divine ladies reputations. Come into this with an open mind to learn the lore and take away a perspective beyond demonized ideals. Thank you Netgalley, Watkins Publishing, and V. Castro for this advanced digital copy.

The standout feature of this book is undoubtedly its illustrations—each depiction of the characters mentioned is rich with detail, evoking both beauty and primal strength. The artwork alone makes it worth flipping through, as it breathes life into these dark feminine archetypes in a way that feels both ancient and freshly reimagined.