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

"In The Queen of the Cicadas, there's a thin, bloody veil between worlds, the past isn't past at all, and you can feel your heart beating in the pages, the words pulsing with life. Touch them if you dare, and don't be surprised if they quiver into flight all around you."

-- Stephen Graham Jones, NYT bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

“V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro’s not already on your radar, she should be.”

-- Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Ararat and Red Hands

"Writing in breathtaking, atmospheric prose, Castro (Hairspray and Switchblades) merges brutal realism and supernatural terror to create a fierce, memorable tale of Mexican folklore and horror."

-- Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Castro's novel shifts seamlessly from deliciously gory horror narrative to family saga to a tale of righteous vengeance, all while maintaining its unflinching condemnation of colonialism on both sides of the Mexican-American border. A tightly paced story of anti-colonial resistance and shared history that begs to be read in one sitting."

-- Kirkus Starred Review

"A riveting #ownvoices novel exploring Mexican folk tales and legends mingled with the history of Texas [...] Castro does not pull any punches. Readers seeking originality and a fresh take on well-worn horror tropes should pick up this novel by a dynamic and innovative voice in horror.

-- Booklist Starred Review

"The Queen of the Cicadas is a supremely creepy story that feels like it is creeping into the real world as it is being read."

-- A Reviewer Darkly

"Castro’s expert storytelling upends classic horror tropes to make 'The Queen of the Cicadas' an exhilarating and frightening literary ride."

-- Los Angeles Review of Books

"A deliciously sinister story"

-- Harper's Bazaar

''Mexican-American author Violet Castro delivers a powerhouse horror novel with The Queen of the Cicadas [...]"

-- Rue Morgue

"A truly original and surprising work of fiction [...] plot descriptions don't do this debut novel justice as Castro weaves several familiar tropes from the slasher and ghost story sub-genres into a blood-drenched (literally) story of both personal and cultural reclamation."

-- Toronto Star

"A keenly written work of suspense that also reflects upon humanity's capacity for good and evil, The Queen of the Cicadas is a compelling page-turner for connoisseurs of the genre. Highly recommended."

-- Midwest Book Re