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knitwitalex's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Racism, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Stalking, and Pregnancy
daniellekat's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The perfect vacation/beach read. This was fast paced and easy to follow. I love SMG’s writing and the way she dances through genres. Not my favourite of her books but a quick, captivating read nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Moderate: sexual coercionmorgangd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-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
This is a movie, she thought. It’s not the movie I started watching but it’s the movie that it’s become.
I need this as a black-and-white noir film, with its slow-burning plot, shift from beach romance to murder thriller, its narrator shifting her own perspectives ... Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is always sumptuous and that matches this aesthetic so well for this dalliance with noir.
I need this as a black-and-white noir film, with its slow-burning plot, shift from beach romance to murder thriller, its narrator shifting her own perspectives ... Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is always sumptuous and that matches this aesthetic so well for this dalliance with noir.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Police brutality
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
pphector's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism and Animal cruelty
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
atipsygiraffe's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Set in the small coastal town of Desengaño in Baja California in 1979, Viridiana spends her days watching the fishermen pile dead sharks on the beach. Completely bored of small town life and all that comes with it, she dreams of a life like a Hollywood film. When three rich tourists arrive for the summer, she starts working for them and life becomes a lot less boring. Desengaño means disillusion in English and is the perfect setting for this story.
Untamed Shore is a noir with a little coming of age mixed in. It starts off pretty slow with most of the action happening in the last third, but I enjoyed the slow build and you get drawn into the atmospheric setting very quickly. Viridiana is very naive at times, but extremely smart at the same time and I adored her journey and growth.
There wasn't a lot of mystery surrounding the events and I did guess the twists, but that wasn’t really the point of the novel and I was still on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all played out. The ending was so satisfying too - especially for Viridiana! The author said this is the only book she’s considered writing a sequel for and I don’t know if she ever actually will, but I’m so ready to find out what happens after the epilogue!
Untamed Shored was originally published in 2020, in a small press with promotion stopped in its tracks by the pandemic. It's being re-released on 16 February, which I'm really glad about or I don't think it would have made it onto my radar otherwise. It's not my favourite by Moreno-Garcia but one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Untamed Shore is a noir with a little coming of age mixed in. It starts off pretty slow with most of the action happening in the last third, but I enjoyed the slow build and you get drawn into the atmospheric setting very quickly. Viridiana is very naive at times, but extremely smart at the same time and I adored her journey and growth.
There wasn't a lot of mystery surrounding the events and I did guess the twists, but that wasn’t really the point of the novel and I was still on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all played out. The ending was so satisfying too - especially for Viridiana! The author said this is the only book she’s considered writing a sequel for and I don’t know if she ever actually will, but I’m so ready to find out what happens after the epilogue!
Untamed Shored was originally published in 2020, in a small press with promotion stopped in its tracks by the pandemic. It's being re-released on 16 February, which I'm really glad about or I don't think it would have made it onto my radar otherwise. It's not my favourite by Moreno-Garcia but one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexism
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
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol
bookishcori's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Murder