The author's writing style made for a unique and intense reading experience. These stories borderline on the erotic and horrific. WIth vivid imagery, the author manages to make quick work in bringing the reader into the world of these tales. Some of these were memorable and others didnt quite appeal to me however overall this was a great collection for lovers of horror erotic writing.

This was hot and miss throughout. Since chapters I found I really enjoyed and invested myself to, others just felt really disjointed and didn’t work. Altogether an ok read.

The recent shift to horny books has lost some of what I loved about V. Castro’s work. I feel like by moving sexual desire to the forefront, the emotional core of her previous works is lost. There’s still hints of the rage, loss, and love that made me enjoy her stories in the past, but they feel less prevalent. This one isn’t bad, but the storytelling seems to take a hit with unnecessarily horny/graphic scenes. I guess I just expected better (or different?) than this.

This was really not for me. I love horror but don’t tend to enjoy gore, and I knew this book would be a risk for me…but actually it wasn’t the gore that put me off, it was the writing itself. It just didn’t work for me.

If you’re craving a horror read that’s as sizzling as it is chilling, look no further than The Pink Agave Motel. 🚪💀 This isn’t your average spooky story—prepare for a stay that’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

V. Castro’s writing is so phenomenal that I have to give this 5 stars. 🌟 And for all the fantasy romance authors out there, Castro’s ‘bedroom scenes’ are a masterclass in how to do it right—no cringe-worthy language in sight!

Expect a wild ride through a world of intense lust, cannibalism, blood, sorcery, and all the gore you can handle. 🩸✨ Dive into this gripping collection—you’re in for a thrill! 📚🔥

This is some saucy horror. If you don't like that in your horror stories, you might find a stay at a different motel more to your taste. The Pink Agave Motel is not for the squeamish.

I wanted to give this 4 stars but I think that was really just me not being a big fan of short stories. V. Castro is an excellent writer so if I ignore it being short stories, I have to give this 5 stars. And all those ladies writing fantasy romance could take some notes from Castro's 'bedroom scenes'. Not once did I wince at the terminology or metaphors used.

Buckle up, you are in for some well written lust, cannibalism, blood, sorcery, gore, and horror.

I appreciate Castro's nod to her culture in her writing. You can tell she values her heritage and finds it both beautiful and otherworldly.

The smut and the fantastical element are not for me, but I can appreciate the the vivid descriptions of the inhuman residents of Agave hotel and the gore/horror aspect a bit.

First first first,
thank you do much Netgalley for accepting me.
Second,
Two words from me. Captivating and interesting. Reading this was smooth and grand. Thank you so much,

I was captivated by the vivid storytelling that seamlessly intertwines elements of horror and cultural identity. Each story offers a unique perspective, rich with emotion and a strong sense of place, showcasing Castro's ability to create atmospheric settings that linger in the mind. The characters are diverse and well-developed, making their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply.
However, while many stories are compelling, a few felt underexplored and left me wanting more depth in their conclusions. Some narrative threads could be a bit disjointed, which occasionally affected the overall flow of the collection. Despite these small drawbacks, the powerful themes of resilience and belonging, paired with Castro's evocative prose, make this a striking read that I would highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

An unfortunate DNF, I understand the writers goal with the grand, over the top descriptions, but I couldn't get very far without not being able to take the characters seriously.

It's tricky to give a star rating for a short story collection when your enjoyment fluctuated throughout. The Pink Agave Motel is a contemporary horror collection unlike anything I have read before. The stories were gory and shocking with features of effective sexual tension. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the title story at all, I found it confusing and too long. I also struggled with the writing style throughout the book and struggled to immerse myself at times. This short story collection is not for the faint of heart, I can not stress enough how bizarre and weird this read is - it's definitely up there with one of the most unearthly books I've ever read. There were stories within this collection which I really enjoyed and I will be returning to them again in the future.

The Pink Agave Hotel is imaginative in its themes and range of stories.
The title story was interesting.
The prose and half of the stories were not my cup of tea, though.
I hope this book and its right audience meet soon.

Whew, who knew you could write short stories about sexual liberation and throw in some horror and terror undlerliments. Definitely a good read for fall and Halloween!

Fantastic collection of stories and a novella by one of the best horror writers working today. The stories are short and feature a wide variety of classic horror monsters and themes given an erotic twist with great endings, especially the mummy story Shrouded and the apocalyptic vampire story that starts the collection Carnival of Gore. The titular novel is a fascinating vampire story that spans decades and includes some of the most horrific imagery I’ve read n in a vampire story. I loved it!

This is just poor writing. Plot or paragraph-nothing goes anywhere. Nothing to recommend it. The writing goes past idiosyncratic.