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tamara_joy's review against another edition
I was expecting the magical realism of her other books that I have read and loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Alcohol, and Classism
writingcaia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
As always the author takes me with her haunting writing, her noir and somewhat morbid inspiration.
It was not my favourite of hers but still a great and short read.
A story about sharks and scorpions, the desert and the ocean, little towns and big dreams, people who deceive, people who want to escape and those who are pawns.
A coming of age story with a noir thriller vibe, in Baja California under the scorching sun and the heat of wildlife.
It was not my favourite of hers but still a great and short read.
A story about sharks and scorpions, the desert and the ocean, little towns and big dreams, people who deceive, people who want to escape and those who are pawns.
A coming of age story with a noir thriller vibe, in Baja California under the scorching sun and the heat of wildlife.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
jayisreading's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Untamed Shore takes place in a sleepy coastal town in 1970s Baja California, where the protagonist, Viridiana, spends much of her time bored and longing to get out. Little does she know, her life would take a drastic turn when three Americans arrive one summer and hire her as a personal assistant. True to Moreno-Garcia’s style, there’s a lot of setting up the atmosphere that happens at the start, with much of the action happening later in the book.
I’m not sure if this novel will fully satisfy mystery or thriller lovers, but Moreno-Garcia always has a way of writing that draws you in and keeps you wanting more, I feel. When it came to the twists, I found most of them to be a little predictable, though it didn’t take away from the overall mood of the story. If anything, Untamed Shore felt like an opportunity to watch Viridiana grow as a young woman, especially as she learns from her entanglements with the three visitors in more ways than one.
I felt that the novel ended rather mysteriously, which I don’t think is a bad thing— If anything, it feels like an appropriate way to end a book that was clearly inspired by film noirs. It certainly sets things up for Moreno-Garcia to write more about Viridiana, should she want to.
I admit I wasn’t entirely invested in the book, in part because I wasn’t a huge fan of most of the characters, but I always enjoy how Moreno-Garcia adds her unique twists to different genres and time periods.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ugh SMG's writing is just top tier. I listened to this one on audio, and, while a very different book from Daughter of Dr. Moreau, it was equally as good. I'm so excited to read more from her!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A little bit over the top with the old timey movie references but superb plot twists and character... development (?) as always.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Vomit
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Fast-paced crime novel from the shape-shifting author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I’ve read one of her books about ancient Mexican gods (Gods of Jade and Shadow) and one that’s a creepy gothic novel of phantasmagoric evil (Mexican Gothic), and now this. She’s an amazing author and I want to read everything she’s written.
This one takes place against the endless desert, sky, and sea of Baja California where multilingual Viridiana spends her time giving tours to the occasional tourist and helping out at her mother’s store. She’s hired on as the secretary for a wealthy American, his young wife, and her brother, and nothing is really as it appears. Her employer is fairly straightforward but the two younger members of the rented house are harder to read. It’s clear there’s a lot of tension in the house and then everything falls apart.
A tense and clever story of a resourceful young woman who will do whatever it takes to escape her small town.
This one takes place against the endless desert, sky, and sea of Baja California where multilingual Viridiana spends her time giving tours to the occasional tourist and helping out at her mother’s store. She’s hired on as the secretary for a wealthy American, his young wife, and her brother, and nothing is really as it appears. Her employer is fairly straightforward but the two younger members of the rented house are harder to read. It’s clear there’s a lot of tension in the house and then everything falls apart.
A tense and clever story of a resourceful young woman who will do whatever it takes to escape her small town.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
bryn_cavin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
horizonous's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Suicide
◦ Death = Death of a loved one