30 review for Latinx Screams

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Michael Hicks – Dec 22, 2020

   Over the last few years, diversity in publishing has become a point of contention, particularly within the contents of authors and stories published in anthologies and the editor’s role in actively seeking diverse voices. For quite a long while, anthologies have been, largely, the domain of white male authors, particularly white male marquee, name-brand authors. Thankfully, times are changing and a growing number of minority creatives and open-minded editors are taking the reins of what used to Over the last few years, diversity in publishing has become a point of contention, particularly within the contents of authors and stories published in anthologies and the editor’s role in actively seeking diverse voices. For quite a long while, anthologies have been, largely, the domain of white male authors, particularly white male marquee, name-brand authors. Thankfully, times are changing and a growing number of minority creatives and open-minded editors are taking the reins of what used to be an old boy’s club, operating under the mantra of being the change they want to see. Add to this list, editors and authors V. Castro and Cynthia Pelayo, and their most recent anthology, Latinx Screams, a 100% Latinx through-and-through compilation of short stories from authors of diverse Latinx cultures. Hector Acosta kicks off the antho with his contribution, “Sangre Derramada,” which shines a spotlight on immigrant workers in a New Mexico chicken processing plant that was recently aided by ICE. After one of the plant’s frozen chicken packages is found to have contained a severed finger, an inspector is brought in to investigate. While Latinx Screams contains some hair-raising moments, one of the most prominent themes that stands out across this grouping of 12 stories is that of family. “Frijoles” by Laura Diaz de Arce follows a curse afflicting a soldier’s descendants across the generations, while Richie Narvaez’s “Galán” is a near-future sci-fi story of a family’s first robot examining the culture clash of tradition versus modernity. Across this anthology we get a strong sense of how important family is to these authors and how much familial identity and companionship forms the bedrock of these Latinx cultures. Acosta’s story documents the struggles of working a job as arduous as working in a chicken processing factory, and why so many immigrants are willing to take on such hard, thankless work. Sergio Gomez’s “Come, Play” is a story of friendship, and a morality tale involving a pair of kids who sneak out well past their bedtime to go on a midnight frog hunt. E. Reyes’s “Behind the Mountain” plays a bit like a Latin Pet Sematary as family members seek to have their lost loved ones resurrected. My personal favorite, though, was A.E. Santana’s “Imperial Slaughterhouse,” wherein Lucía returns home to visit her hospitalized father one last time. Santana balances and intertwines complex family drama and horror wonderfully, and while the element of selling one’s soul to a devil is of particular interest, the author reminds us once again that humans can be the most monstrous evil. V. Castro closes out the anthology with a fun Christmas story, “Pancho Claus vs. Krampus.” While Latinx Screams is not overly concerned with Christmas, or even holidays as a whole, the book’s Christmas Day release gives this peculiar inclusion its raison d’être. Castro briefly explores the network of Claus clans that help spread joy to kids every December 25, with Pancho handling those areas south of the equator. His first day of retirement doesn’t go quite as planned, though, as Pancho stumbles across the demonic Krampus while on vacation in Iceland. Castro does some deft worldbuilding in short order, communicating everything we need to know about Claus network in a few brief sentences, and she leaves the door open for some future X-Mas hijinks. To that, I can only say, bring it on! Latinx Screams certainly delivers on both its premise and its promise, and it’s a welcome addition to the growing canon of diverse horror anthologies.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Gerardo Pelayo –

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Cynthia – Dec 22, 2020

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Brad –

5. 

   5 out of 5

   The Grim Reader –

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Benito Corral –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   VIctoria Nations –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Bark | Ladies Of Horror Fiction –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Justin Lewis –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Alexander C. Bailey –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Richelle SheReadsHorror –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Jamie –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Victoria Anastasia Belle –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    J.M. Horn –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Roxie |The Book Slayer| Voorhees –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Sonora Taylor –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Madeleine Hernandez-g –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Alicia (A Kernel of Nonsense) –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Priscilla (Bookie Charm) –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Brandi Guarino –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Eve Harms –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Blake Blanco –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Stefano –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Cassie –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Tania Reads –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Marilynn Montano –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Rebeka Schwarz –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Amy Noire –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Jordan –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Crystal Yakel-Kuntz –