Goddess of Filth by V. Castro
Creature Publishing (March 2021)
156 pages; $14.64paperback; $9.99 e-book
Reviewed by Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann
This is a possession story with a twist. A few friends gather together to channel their inner witch vibes and unintentionally conjure up an ancient goddess. This sudden presence in the friend group causes some concern among the girls and their parents. A priest is summoned which only manages to make the situation worse and more dangerous.
V. Castro does a remarkable job bringing all the characters to life on the page. The friends, Fernanda, Perla, Lourdes, Ana, and Pauline have individual personalities that really shine in dramatic sections of dialog.
A few times this book had me laughing out loud — Lourdes is sassy and spirited. Toward the middle of the story, one part made me gasp in surprise! A tantalizing revelation. Castro clearly enjoys keeping her readers on their toes. I especially enjoyed the backstory of the goddess and her mission. The cultural aspects of ancient folklore, religion, and sexuality play a strong role in enriching the intricacies of character development.
So many times I found my heart responding to everything the girls were experiencing. In one part, a quiet young woman is harassed in the bathroom by her female peers, and it felt so realistic and authentic. There is some intense, vivid imagery here to entertain all horror fans from all walks of life. Castro’s storytelling voice is strong and memorable.
