Goddess of Everything by Paul DeBlassie III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘Goddess of Everything’ by Paul DeBlaisse III follows Gabriel de LaTierra as he is caught between the shackles placed upon him by his own mother’s supernatural powers of filial piety and religious devotion and his need for the truth, love and freedom. The book’s greatest strength is by far it’s world building and the foundations that predicate it- the powers bestowed upon characters like Gabriel and Mother Juana de la Cruz are rooted in Latinx legends and myth, making for a very interesting and rich read, and the setting of the sandy and desolate deserts of New Mexico not only reinforces the suffocating and almost drowning atmosphere of the story, but allows characters of colour to shine. DeBlaisse’s deep love for Latinx culture is embedded in everything- from something simple like the food that characters eat to the great and awesome displays of power that bring about ill-omens or earth-shattering feats.

DeBlaisse’s writing style in ‘Goddess of Everything’ is also a clear and evident highlight. Through the use of vivid and striking descriptions, DeBlaisse makes readers feel not only as if they’re witnessing the events first-hand, but as if they’re the characters themselves- as if the wrath of Mother Juana has broken through the confines of the book to wrap a ghostly and phantom hand around the necks of the audience. Reading this story, I could taste, hear, smell, see and, most importantly, feel everything the characters were experiencing as if I was having an out-of-body experience- every word cutting straight through the heart and into the soul. Everything was so detailed, I could almost believe that the events actually occurred- as if there was actually such a dangerously obsessed order that went around inflicting divine punishment on anyone who dared even blink the wrong way.

DeBlaisse’s narrative form also allows for some compelling and interesting characters. Gabriel is a great and likeable protagonist who ultimately just wants to do right by the world, allowing readers to be deeply sympathetic to his plight. His relationship with his wife, Consuela, is also believable and charming, with Consuela being a strong character in her own right as well. The stand-out character, however, is none other than ‘Mother’ herself- being downright terrifying due to the sheer lengths she’d go to to keep holding onto her power and yet utterly captivating as more and more of her psyche is unravelled as the book goes on. A mother’s love has never been so hideous and fascinating.

Overall, if you want a book to exacerbate the mood of a dark and stormy night or you’re just in the market for a good old-fashion spook that will settled in your bones and make you jump, then ‘Goddess of Everything’ is a must-read.

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