A woman is haunted by the Mexican folk demon La Llorona in this "utterly terrifying and wholly immersive . . . story about generational trauma, colonization, systemic oppression, and the horror at the heart of motherhood" (Library Journal, starred review). "Castro is one of the most exciting genre authors on the scene right now, and this might be her most powerful book yet."--Paste (Most Anticipated Horror Novels of 2023) Alejandra no longer knows who she is. To her husband, she is a wife, and to her children, a mother. To her own adoptive mother, she is a daughter. But they cannot see who Alejandra has become: a woman struggling with a darkness that threatens to consume her. &nbsp; Nor can they see what Alejandra sees.&nbsp;In times of despair, a ghostly vision appears to her, the apparition of a crying woman in a ragged white gown. &nbsp; When Alejandra visits a therapist, she begins exploring her family's history, starting with the biological mother she never knew. As she goes deeper into the lives of the women in her family, she learns that heartbreak and tragedy are not the only things she has in common with her ancestors. &nbsp; Because the crying woman was with them, too. She is La Llorona, the vengeful and murderous mother of Mexican legend. And she will not leave until Alejandra follows her mother, her grandmother, and all the women who came before her into the darkness. &nbsp; But Alejandra has inherited more than just pain. She has inherited the strength and the courage of her foremothers--and she will have to summon everything they have given her to banish La Llorona forever.

The Haunting of Alejandra: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Castro, V.

United States

Del Rey

Genre Fiction

An ancient Aztec vampire roams the modern world in search of vengeance and love in this seductive dark fantasy from the author of The Haunting of Alejandra. "Hauntingly rendered and decadently written,&nbsp;Immortal Pleasures&nbsp;is a surprising and fantastical portrait of one of history's most fascinating (and perhaps most misunderstood) figures."--Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke Hundreds of years ago, she was known as La Malinche: a Nahua woman who translated for the conquistador Cortés. In the centuries since, her name has gone down in infamy as a traitor. But no one ever found out what happened to La Malinche after Cortés destroyed her people. In the ashes of the empire, she was reborn as Malinalli, an immortal vampire. And she has become an avenger of conquered peoples, traveling the world to reclaim their stolen artifacts and return them to their homelands. But she has also been in search of something more, for this ancient vampire still has deeply human longings for pleasure and for love. When she arrives in Dublin in search of a pair of Aztec skulls--artifacts intimately connected to her own dark history--she finds something else: two men who satisfy her cravings in very different ways. For the first time she meets a mortal man--a horror novelist--who is not repelled by her strange condition but attracted by it. But there is also another man, an immortal like herself, who shares the darkness in her heart. Now Malinalli is on the most perilous adventure of all: a journey into her own desires.

Immortal Pleasures

Break out the keytar, throw your horn-hands, and get ready to rock down to electric avenue! Gory Days is set in an alternate evil '80s where androids take the stage, a washed-up rock star discovers the secret to time travel, and an aspiring musician puts her demo tape into the wrong hands. Stories include Don't Stand So Close to Meat, Hip to Be Scared, and Dead Over Heels.10 stories by Staci Layne Wilson, Mark Wheaton, Darren Gordon Smith, V. Castro, Sean McDonough, and Brenda Thatcher.

Rock & Roll Nightmares: Gory Days: '80s Edition Short Stories

McDonough, Sean

Wheaton, Mark

Wilson, Staci Layne

Smith, Darren Gordon

Thatcher, Brenda

Humor & Satire

Excessive Nuance

Catrina's Caravan is a horror anthology series featuring stories by the best Latinx writers of horror as told by Catrina, a suspicious harbinger of darkness on the run from a violent priest. Leading a caravan of misfits and marginalized folks, Catrina goes from town to town, one step ahead of her rival, giving the local residents gruesome lessons they will never forget through the mechanism of immersive storytelling. The frame of each story reveals a little more about the past and twisted mission of this mysterious, gaunt and seemingly unaging figure. In three harrowing tales by Latine authors, we peer into the dark corners of the modern world and witness a horrifying, winged retribution for those who abuse refugees at the border. We join an overwhelmed mother on a Chicago subway just in time to see her lucha-libre-obsessed child be tempted by a demon, and we watch as an ancient yet beautiful predator in southern Mexico sates her hunger with the flesh of crude tourists. While crafted in the tradition of great horror anthology comics, this spine-tingling new series taps into the particular darkness of Latino cultures, drawing forth a rich fount of horror with textures and nuance that will reward readers in the know and make fans of those who don't.&nbsp;

Catrina's Caravan: Catharsis (1)

Comics & Graphic Novels

Bowles, David

Pelayo, Cynthia

Rodriguez, Hector

Graphic Novels

Chispa

We all have different reasons for loving horror. For me, it all began with those iconic Mexican tales of La Llorona and La Lechuza. But back then I never thought I could or would write horror, even when I picked up Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz. I didn't know of any Brown women delving into the depths of the dark corners of storytelling. As a woman, I know I can, and I do. Latinx Screams was born from my frustration at seeing countless horror anthologies with zero Latinx representation despite the fact I know so many who devour horror. Instead of bemoaning the situation, I decided to do something about it. If you don't see it, create it. My hope for Latinx Screams is twofold. I hope Latinx lovers of horror will find comfort in these voices and maybe see themselves reflected in some small way. Perhaps they have their own stories tucked away, but they're unsure if there is a place for them. Yes, there is.I want the greater horror community to read these incredibly talented writers from various Latinx cultures and decide to read more diversely. There is true value in seeing the world through different eyes. When we share with each other, we can create a greater understanding. We live in a time when this is more important than ever. Every story is different, as is every voice and experience. I truly believe you will enjoy all of these stories. Thank you.V. Castro

LATINX SCREAMS

Burial Day Books

The Queen of the Cicadas (Fiction Without Frontiers)

NOMINATED FOR A BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVEL\n2018 - Belinda Alvarez has returned to Texas for the wedding of her best friend Veronica. The farm is the site of the urban legend, La Reina de Las Chicharras - The Queen of The Cicadas.\nIn 1950s south Texas a farmworker- Milagros from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is murdered. Her death is ignored by the town, but not the Aztec goddess of death, Mictecacíhuatl. The goddess hears the dying cries of Milagros and creates a plan for both to be physically reborn by feeding on vengeance and worship.\nBelinda and the new owner of the farmhouse - Hector, find themselves immersed in the legend and realize it is part of their fate as well.\nFLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

Flame Tree Press

"In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it." ―Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs\n2018 - Belinda Alvarez has returned to Texas for the wedding of her best friend Veronica. The farm is the site of the urban legend, La Reina de Las Chicharras - The Queen of The Cicadas.\nIn 1950s south Texas a farmworke r- Milagros from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is murdered. Her death is ignored by the town, but not the Aztec goddess of death, Mictecacíhuatl. The goddess hears the dying cries of Milagros and creates a plan for both to be physically reborn by feeding on vengeance and worship.\nBelinda and the new owner of the farmhouse - Hector, find themselves immersed in the legend and realize it is part of their fate as well.\nFLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

The Queen of the Cicadas

"In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it." --Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs 2018 - Belinda Alvarez has returned to Texas for the wedding of her best friend Veronica. The farm is the site of the urban legend, La Reina de Las Chicharras - The Queen of The Cicadas. In 1950s south Texas a farmworke r- Milagros from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is murdered. Her death is ignored by the town, but not the Aztec goddess of death, Mictecacíhuatl. The goddess hears the dying cries of Milagros and creates a plan for both to be physically reborn by feeding on vengeance and worship. Belinda and the new owner of the farmhouse - Hector, find themselves immersed in the legend and realize it is part of their fate as well. FLAME TREE PRESSis the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Mestiza Blood

A short story collection of nightmares, dreams, desire and visions centered around the Chicana experience. The stunning, star-reviewed V. Castro weaves urban legend, folklore, life experience and heartache in this intimate anthology of modern horrors.\nFrom 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.\nFLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Castro, V.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Castro, V.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Castro, V.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Haunting of Alejandra: A Novel

The Haunting of Alejandra: A Novel

Immortal Pleasures

Rock & Roll Nightmares: Gory Days: '80s Edition Short Stories

Catrina's Caravan: Catharsis (1)

LATINX SCREAMS

The Queen of the Cicadas (Fiction Without Frontiers)

The Queen of the Cicadas

The Queen of the Cicadas (Fiction Without Frontiers)

Mestiza Blood