Praise for Conan and Robert E. Howard:
Howard’s writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks. —Stephen King
In Howard's grim and all too realistic view, the barbarians are always at the gate, and once a culture allows itself to grow soft, decadent or simply neglectful, it will be swept away by the primitive and ruthless. —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post
I read books, and I dreamed of Mars, and the planets in those books, and of the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard’s Conan books… —George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones
Howard wrote pulp adventure stories of every kind, for every market he could find, but his real love was for supernatural adventure and he brought a brash, tough element to the epic fantasy which did as much to change the course of the American school away from precious writing and static imagery as Hammett, Chandler, and the Black Mask pulp writers were to change the course of American detective fiction.—Michael Moorcock, award-winning author of the Elric saga
Those of us who believed in Conan at the right moment in our lives never stop believing. We might not grow up to become him, but we never grow out of him, either. —Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians
Praise for V. Castro:
“In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it.”—Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs
“V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro’s not already on your radar, she should be.”—Christopher Golden, NYT bestselling author of Alien: River of Pain
“Writing in breathtaking, atmospheric prose, Castro merges brutal realism and supernatural terror to create a fierce, memorable tale.”—Publishers Weekly starred review
“Castro's novel shifts seamlessly from deliciously gory horror narrative to… a tale of righteous vengeance.”—Kirkus starred review
“Castro’s expert storytelling upends classic horror tropes to make… an exhilarating and frightening literary ride.”—Los Angeles Review of Books
“A deliciously sinister story”—Harper's Bazaar
“A truly original and surprising work of fiction.”—Toronto Star