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A review by jakewritesbooks
Hairspray and Switchblades by V. Castro
3.0
Shapeshifting is a popular trope in horror. It has its origins in Greco-Roman mythology (thanks Wikipedia!) but there are versions of it in a lot of other cultures. In contemporary horror, I’ve seen in featured several times in Latinx novels. It’s centered in this one.
Shapeshifting is also sometimes used to tell a broader story about transformation. Maya, the central character here, is a stripper, as well as a shapeshifter, a gift she receives on her 18th birthday. It gives her the power to turn into a jaguar. The transition from everyday person to exotic dancer is well-documented in this one: the makeup, outfit, hairspray, etc. The need to put on a different persona in order to raid the pockets of the horny men who patronize the club. Maya doesn’t seem to hate the job but it is what it is: a chance to feed and clothe her sister to provide for college.
The transition from human to jaguar is painful in its own way but it comes with its own history that’s connected to diasporic persons of Mexican descent. That’s the part that’s most interesting in the narrative, when Maya has to protect her community against another shapeshifter who is feeding on other strippers.
This has the elements of a good story but the problem is V. Castro never really lets it breathe. It’s a novella but feels rushed even for that. There’s minimal development between Maya and her sister, Maya and the investigator, the mythos behind the shapeshifting and how the rules of it work. There are a lot of good ideas but they don’t come together as well.
Castro is an experienced writer and I’d love to see her come back to this and expand it into a full-length novel. With room to grow the story, I feel like it would take off.
Shapeshifting is also sometimes used to tell a broader story about transformation. Maya, the central character here, is a stripper, as well as a shapeshifter, a gift she receives on her 18th birthday. It gives her the power to turn into a jaguar. The transition from everyday person to exotic dancer is well-documented in this one: the makeup, outfit, hairspray, etc. The need to put on a different persona in order to raid the pockets of the horny men who patronize the club. Maya doesn’t seem to hate the job but it is what it is: a chance to feed and clothe her sister to provide for college.
The transition from human to jaguar is painful in its own way but it comes with its own history that’s connected to diasporic persons of Mexican descent. That’s the part that’s most interesting in the narrative, when Maya has to protect her community against another shapeshifter who is feeding on other strippers.
This has the elements of a good story but the problem is V. Castro never really lets it breathe. It’s a novella but feels rushed even for that. There’s minimal development between Maya and her sister, Maya and the investigator, the mythos behind the shapeshifting and how the rules of it work. There are a lot of good ideas but they don’t come together as well.
Castro is an experienced writer and I’d love to see her come back to this and expand it into a full-length novel. With room to grow the story, I feel like it would take off.