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spicycronereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Set in San Antonio, Texas, Goddess of Filth is the story of five Latina friends and amateur brujas who graduated from high school a year ago. It is told primarily from the points of view of Lourdes and Fernanda, with Fernanda’s sections sometimes narrated by Tlazoltéotl, the Náhuatl-speaking goddess of filth who inhabits her after the girls summoned “an old spirit” in a ceremony inspired by The Craft. The main cast of characters is rounded out by Ana, Perla, and Pauline. Short sections are also narrated by Father Moreno, a serial unaliver obsessed with purity/La Virgen, who is brought in by Fernanda’s mother to address the changes in her daughter after she is inhabited. The final major character is Dr. Camacho, a Professor of Mexican and pre-Columbian history who Lourdes enlists to help them figure out who is inhabiting Fernanda. She helps them identify Tlazoltéotl and translate her Náhuatl, fulfilling the goddess’ desire to have her stories heard in a world where they have been largely lost to history or eclipsed by Catholicism.
The goddess responds to the girls because of their strong friendship and we see that as one of the central themes of this book. Living in a world where Brown girls are subject to interlocking oppressions of gender and race, the girls have fierce love for one another that helps them survive. Their experiences with the goddess lead them beyond surviving to claim their power and ultimately thrive. One of my favorite quotes is “Everything about her could be considered a nightmare, but I wasn’t scared. She flowed with fury, beauty, and power” (loc. 352).
This is not a romance genre book but there is a bit of romance (and some spice!) between Fernanda and Pauline’s brother, Ruben. The romance plot serves primarily as a catalyst for Fernanda’s embracing of her pleasure and pursuing her own desires and goals. So I give it an unexpected 🌶️🌶️. There is really not much romance or spice but what is there is swoony, steamy, and undeniably intersectional feminist.
Speaking of which, the novella has lots of diverse representation- the five Latina girls being the foremost. Even among them we see diversity in class representation with Lourdes having to work a lot to help support her family and care for younger siblings to help her mother in the wake of an absentee stepfather. The other girls’ families seem more financially stable, though still working class or lower middle class. Fernanda is the only one headed to an Ivy League college with a slate of scholarships.Though Dr. Camacho does help Lourdes gain admission and a scholarship to UTSA, which validates her knowledge and problem-solving skills that come less from high school and more from documentaries and street smarts.
Overall I really liked this short horror novella. I did find that I had the same reaction here that I often have with short stories - really liked it on an intellectual or conceptual level but it was too short for me to feel emotionally invested. I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read about young women of color claiming their power in a world of patriarchy and white supremacy that operates through school, family, and church. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️
The goddess responds to the girls because of their strong friendship and we see that as one of the central themes of this book. Living in a world where Brown girls are subject to interlocking oppressions of gender and race, the girls have fierce love for one another that helps them survive. Their experiences with the goddess lead them beyond surviving to claim their power and ultimately thrive. One of my favorite quotes is “Everything about her could be considered a nightmare, but I wasn’t scared. She flowed with fury, beauty, and power” (loc. 352).
This is not a romance genre book but there is a bit of romance (and some spice!) between Fernanda and Pauline’s brother, Ruben. The romance plot serves primarily as a catalyst for Fernanda’s embracing of her pleasure and pursuing her own desires and goals. So I give it an unexpected 🌶️🌶️. There is really not much romance or spice but what is there is swoony, steamy, and undeniably intersectional feminist.
Speaking of which, the novella has lots of diverse representation- the five Latina girls being the foremost. Even among them we see diversity in class representation with Lourdes having to work a lot to help support her family and care for younger siblings to help her mother in the wake of an absentee stepfather. The other girls’ families seem more financially stable, though still working class or lower middle class. Fernanda is the only one headed to an Ivy League college with a slate of scholarships.
Overall I really liked this short horror novella. I did find that I had the same reaction here that I often have with short stories - really liked it on an intellectual or conceptual level but it was too short for me to feel emotionally invested. I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read about young women of color claiming their power in a world of patriarchy and white supremacy that operates through school, family, and church. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Genocide, Torture, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Colonisation
nathiddles_106's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Trafficking
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
albernikolauras's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Goddess of Filth follows a group of friends nearing high school graduation who jokingly host a seance that ends with a surprise. Castro deals with themes like coming of age, sexuality, parental expectations, and religion in a very literal way. It's all tied into the horrors of being a teenage girl, and it hit those beats well.
The story was a bit brief and I felt like the build up was a little uneven. The writing was perfect both through the seductive and the gross parts - perfect for this sort of story. The Goddess of Filth was an interesting character as well. I wanted a lot more of the friendship interactions between the whole group. The ending of the book was exactly what it needed to be. When I finished, I felt satisfied, but I don't think this book will stick with me for very long.
The story was a bit brief and I felt like the build up was a little uneven. The writing was perfect both through the seductive and the gross parts - perfect for this sort of story. The Goddess of Filth was an interesting character as well. I wanted a lot more of the friendship interactions between the whole group. The ending of the book was exactly what it needed to be. When I finished, I felt satisfied, but I don't think this book will stick with me for very long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Gore, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
kelleykamanda's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Classic exorcism story with a POC twist. Entertaining story but the writing was simply okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Classism
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