Mist, Monsters, and the Goddess Within

V Castro’s collection is perfect for the season of mist and monsters. With Halloween just a few days away, it makes a wonderful companion for anyone who, instead of partying, would rather spend the evening exploring chilling legends about the dark feminine. 

I really find the timing of my reading of this book very well found. The first story in the collection is that of Kali, the fierce and vengeful Indian goddess. I happened to read it just after coming home from a Diwali celebration with friends, which seemed like a beautiful connection. The Indian festival of Navaratri, which also honours the goddess’s fierce form, is not that far behind us either—so if you want to grab yourself a copy October is really a perfect moment.

The structure of the collection is quite straightforward. Each chapter opens with an unsettling illustration, allowing us to meet the goddess, monster, or mythic figure visually before we dive in the story. These images set the tone for what follows. 

Then comes the retelling of the story, followed by an explanation that places it in its cultural or symbolic context. In some chapters, there are also suggestions for further reading, which I personally found very enriching. Each section closes with an oracle-card-like reflection, interpreting what this figure can teach us. These closing reflections were among my favourites.

One of the strengths of the collection is the diversity of the stories. As a storyteller and collector of folk tales myself, I like to think I have a fairly good overview of the world’s mythologies—so it was a delight that this book still managed to surprise me. It showed me new stories and revealed a few of my own cultural blind spots. I was particularly drawn to the story of Maman Brigitte from Haitian voodoo, the myth of Oshun, and the eerie Thai legend of the Krasue, a woman who has a beautiful face but no body only exposed organs. The collection shows that every culture had its on vision of the dark side of the feminine: sometimes kind, sometimes cruel, but always powerful.

If I were to change one thing, it would be the tone of some of the retellings. At times, they read a little dry, almost like a summary from Wikipedia. These myths are lush, visceral, and emotionally charged, and I’d have loved to see them come to life. But it is, of course, my storyteller’s bias.

All things considered, it was a perfectly spooky seasonal read, while it also introduced me to new myths and made me ponder certain aspects of being a woman.

Dark goddess energy is powerful and transformative, embodying the sensual, the hunter, the warrior, the mother, and even the grotesque and horrific. These 26 tales of powerful female goddesses and spirits will entrance those daring enough to explore the shadows of the human psyche, offering lessons from our ancient origins and help us understand ourselves in today’s world. Embrace your own inner darkness alongside these fierce deities and spirits, such as:

• The fierce Indian goddess Kali, who teaches not to fear endings but instead use our creativity to remove obstacles and carve out our own path.
• The mighty Yoruba orisha Yemaya, who birthed the waters of the whole planet, and teaches of the need to nurture and love oneself.
• The ravenous Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, who is the very definition of “I am woman, hear me roar!”
• The occult Greek goddess Hecate, beloved of modern witches, who offers a stunning portrayal of femininity manifesting in magic.
• And many more!

The retold legends are accompanied by information about the goddess’s history, symbols and core energy. This stunning volume is perfect for those who love fantasy and horror and all who wish to learn about the powerful female archetypes in cultures around the world.

Summary from the site of the publisher where you can buy the book.

This article was part of the Tales of the Dark Feminine Blog Tour. Check out the other participants too!