Reviews

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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northernbiblio's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

lyla_lynn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is the last time I read a book by this author because her works just aren't for me. I feel like the pacing is so slow only to have a small amount of rapid action during the climax then it just ends. I don't like that kind of pacing and I had a hard time rooting for the main characters. I was hoping there would be a whole lot more spooky things happening but it was another let down.

blewballoon's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It took me a while to get through this book, but I think ultimately I enjoyed it. The two leads with alternating perspectives are very different from each other and both have their own flaws and strengths.

Spoiler

I feel like turning their friendship into a romance in the very last chapter didn't quite work. I would have liked a little more development throughout to make it feel less sudden.

For a horror book, I would say the horror elements are fairly mild. I enjoyed learning about Mexican film and culture. The story is set in 1993, but the characters reflect on Mexico's past as well.

Spoiler

I got a little bored with the villain backstory and spending time with the older, somewhat underdeveloped characters that were there to provide threats, rescues, and exposition mostly.

I would recommend if you like the idea of niche horror movies, but don't actually want a book with really disturbing or gruesome scenes, and don't mind a slower pace that's more character focused.

Content Warnings

jiggityjog's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

madzsmiled's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Ever the Lovecraftian storyteller, Sylvia Moreno Garcia crafted an incredible story about reclaiming magic and ritual from white supremacists. Monsterrat and Tristán play off each other so well, and as someone in film, it was easy to fall into Monsterrat's character. Silver Nitrate was a loving tribute to physical film and horror, and I loved every minute.

Spoiler

The romance didn't feel rushed! I feel like it was inevitable that Monsterrat and Tristán would end up together, but it was through shared trauma and realization that they were able to finally come together. I wish we had more background into their childhoods - their secret language felt a little shoehorned in - but otherwise, the ending felt earned.

I also loved how Ewers was portrayed as a shifting mass of smoke and ash. It was such a cool description that reminded me of the firey nature of silver film.