Motherhood makes for powerful storytelling. Horror fiction about motherhood highlights the insecurity and physicality of having and raising a child and all its attendant fears. In alejandra’s ghost By V. Castro, the many complexities of motherhood are revealed in a story inspired by La Llorona, the center of Mexican folklore. After learning the naked story of La Llorona as a young adult, it inspired disgust and a deep curiosity to learn more about the heartbroken murderer of her own offspring. There’s a reason why you can find versions of these undead women in white dresses in all cultures, from the Banshees of Ireland to the Hantus of my own background, the Langsuir and Pontianak of Malaysia. In form of alejandra’s ghostThey awaken a universal primal terror, and if you dive deeper you’ll find much more than what’s on the surface.
Note: This book comes with several content warnings including maternal mortality, suicide attempts, child endangerment, and rape.
alejandra’s ghost By V. Castro
You will find extreme horror and body horror in Castro’s novel, but what makes it satisfying is its candid take on motherhood and its feminist perspective. Alejandra’s story is one of generational trauma, colonialism, and the endless sacrifices women make as a reward for bringing life into the world. Taking a critical look at the story of La Llorona and questioning the identity of the story’s true villain, Castro demands that we think twice about maternal suffering and grief.
Alejandra is a stay-at-home mom of three children and her husband is always ready to meet her needs. When we meet her, she is questioning her marriage and life choices, and she is struggling with isolation and alienation. Alejandra loves her children dearly but she feels defined by them. She can’t identify her value beyond what she provides as a mother and a wife, and it doesn’t help that she has no job, no money, and no family to give her emotional support.
Her relationship with her adoptive parents is strained, and Alejandra was just beginning to get to know her biological mother when her husband’s work took him away from her mother. She is torn away from her Mexican American culture, but community is the only thing that can help her survive the generational haunting that lies ahead for her and her children.
When a vampire appears in her home, Alejandra can only believe that she is headed for a mental breakdown. The evil of the veiled creature infects her, telling her she is worthless and ungrateful, but it isn’t until the monster comes for her children that she decides to look deeper into her family history and ask for help from the local curandera to find answers and the strength to fight back.
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This is fantastical body horror you don’t want to miss, especially if you’re looking for stories about motherhood and cultural connections. Books reinforcing the real benefits of maternal wellness and healing are always welcome on my shelves.
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