I was hoping for something like Goddess of Filth, but this was more like Anne Rice plus a bunch of very colorful explicit scenes that were unexpected and kind of hilarious. Great cover, but the inside is not for me.

My experience with this author is hit/miss, but this one was relatively short and sounded pretty awesome. It wasn't that. It was cringe worthy and graphic, gratuitously so. I'm all for steamy and sexy, but this was corny and I couldn't get past it. I think the book was trying to do too much in too little space and the plot suffered for it. I DNF at 52%. Thank you too Netgalley and Ballantine Del Rey for the review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review. I have to start by saying that I wanted to love this book, the cover is one of my favorites from this year. This book could have been so powerful but I couldn't get past the lack of substance. I've seen people critique the sex, and I completely understand; the sex was partially the issue, the main problem was the lack of development of the plot. It started off well, it just went downhill from there. I have heard good things about Castro's other work, so I will try something else!

I thoroughly enjoyed Immortal Pleasures. I’ve never read an erotic horror book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect and this book was everything. It was equal part informative historical fiction, messy vampire drama, and hot sex. I loved every minute of it.

Immortal Pleasures offers a steamy blend of fantasy and romance, with a storyline that is sure to attract fans of the paranormal genre. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and the book certainly delivers on the passionate, intense moments that readers of this genre look for. The supernatural elements add an intriguing layer to the story, keeping the reader engaged in the mysterious world the author has created.

However, while the romance and passion are well-executed, the plot itself felt a bit predictable at times. The character development could have been deeper, with certain emotional arcs left underexplored. Additionally, some of the pacing felt uneven, particularly in the middle sections, where the story could have benefited from a stronger narrative focus.

Overall, Immortal Pleasures provides an enjoyable read for those looking for a sensual escape into a world of immortal beings, but it may not stand out for readers seeking a more complex storyline. Still, it’s worth a look for its exciting moments and enticing premise.

I, unfortunately, read this three times and hated it a little more every single time. I had such high hopes for it! The cover was beautiful, the description was promising, but it fell short in every way imaginable. Disappointed is an understatement.

Thank you to Del Rey for my arc.

This was okay. I didn’t really connect with anything going on and found myself skimming bits and pieces because of how slow the story was.

Unfortunately, the writing did not live up to the premise. It felt increasingly hasty, the romance was underdeveloped and the vampire mc felt very mercurial.

The concept of an Aztec vampire out for revenge was incredibly intriguing, but unfortunately, the execution didn't quite meet my expectations. There's no denying that Castro is talented, but the overall delivery was lacking, and some of the writing felt awkward or downright cringey at times. This is such an interesting concept, but the main character the prose just didn't work for me.

I’ve enjoyed the majority of v. Castors books but this ones smut scenes were a bit much and the metaphors odd. It was interesting and I enjoyed the premise but the follow through wasn’t as great.

Immortal Pleasures by V. Castro tells the story of The Malinche as a vampire in a modern day setting. Now known as Malinalli she retrieved stolen artifacts to their rightful homes. Experiencing life as a vampire has its allures and Malinalli explores them to the fullest capacity but someone from her past lurks in the shadows. I really liked the premise of this book. La Malinche is not a person remembered fondly and to see her story being told in a new way was my favorite aspect of this book. It really puts into perspective the fact this was a young woman doing what she need to survive. She was put in a n impossible position and this explores and she’d light onto the people truly responsible for the way her life turned out. Malinalli was used and discarded but in this story she reclaims her identity. Overall, I enjoyed this book and it’s definitely an interesting read. 3.75⭐️

V. Castro once again has made me fall in love with another of her books.
The book not only shows the past of how Malinalli came to be who she is now, but also how certain people she met along her mortal and immortal lives impacted her both negatively and positively. The way the author wrote scenes made it easy to see what was going on and experience it along with the character. I honestly love Malinalli's brutal honesty and confidence. Some of her confessions I doubt many would ever verbally say. Her confidence in her body and her sexuality was bravo! V. Castro does amazing with uplifting instead of shaming her female characters. I also appreciated the new take on vampirism that once turned the body keeps it's scars and doesn't automatically become perfect.
This book resonated on several levels with me. Culturally and Emotionally were two of the main ones. I don't want to give too much away because this is a must read!

This one was good! I love the concept and the writing style, I think a few parts dragged but overall. Fun sexy read

This....this was weird. I really enjoyed how the book was set up but the character motivations really mucked everything up for me. I had to skim the last 20% but I'm still so interested to see what V. Castro can do....this just didn't work for me in any way.

This book was not for me.
To me it read more like a textbook on the Aztec culture and folklore, rather than a fun vampire type book. Maybe V. Castro's writing style just isn't for me.
But if you are interested in either the Aztec culture or reading about different takes on vampires, I would recommend this book to you.

This was so passionate! I loveeeeee. dark historical fantasy and this checked all those boxes. Vampire? YES PLEASE. The spicy scenes were SPICY.

I mean this with all the love in my heart. I did not love this book. I was sure I would. I love old timey mexican folklore and I love vampire smut. They're both fun! This was too weird though. If you ware really into laughing while reading this might work for. It is hilarious but I don't think it is supposed to be and that made me feel all bad.
I hope the author keeps writing even if I don't like this one.

Did not get to this one anywhere near close to publication. When I do get to this book, I will still post a short review on goodreads, and edit this one if I am able.

I love V. Castro's The Haunting of Alejandra, but her latest book, Immortal Pleasures, fell short for me. I loved the concept of it, but I couldn't get into it. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

I was excited to read this book, but the prose and writing style made it very difficult. I first heard of the historical significance of the MC last year while reading a nonfiction book (On Savage Shores) and her story stuck with me ever since. To read a book from her point of view, specifically as a sort of redemption arc was too good to pass up. I wish this book lived up to the hype. La Maliniche as an avenging vampire is as exciting a character as I could possibly imagine, but this fell short. I struggle to pin point the why, but overall? It just seemed rushed and thrown together, which was at odds at how well the historical aspect was handled.