Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Silver Nitrate

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

16 reviews

wenwanzhao's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Only Silvia Moreno-Garcia can get me to read horror. I’m not sure why, but I just like the way she writes. I think that she is able to do third person perspective in a way that’s intimate without being unbearable. I feel like the last third was starting to unravel, but the first two-thirds were genuinely extremely riveting and fun to read.

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killerpancake's review against another edition

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dark 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

3.75

This book feels like an ode to Dario Argento films! Two film buffs find themselves in the middle of a weird culty magic that threatens their friendship and lives. This is a little slow at times but when the creep factor ramps up it was well done and I enjoyed it! It didn't blow my socks off but I had a good time with it.

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blewballoon's review

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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.

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.

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.

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erandle's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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scottcod's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

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

3.25

This was my first Silvia Moreno-Garcia book. I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have heard great things, and I love a good cult. This just was slow and not really shocking or surprising like I hoped. I was honestly excited to get the book done with. I will try Mexican Gothic next, as I have heard better things about that.

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chelsearm's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

What if airing a reel of film was the next step in a long dead ritual?

WOW, this was a great read to start just as the weather turns. From page 1 I was in love with Montserrat, and fell into her world. Between her and Tristán, I loved that you never felt like they just “bought it” with no hesitations - a true friendship, one of them is always calling bullshit!

If you’re a fan of horror movies, old cinema, or are aware of Nazi Occultism, this is a great thriller to sink your teeth into.

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crownoflaurel's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-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

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ninajean's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

3.5

The beginning of this book was a bit slow for me since it involved providing a lot of back story that would set up the rest of the plot. I was interested reading about the film aspects. I wasn’t a fan of the romantic aspect at the end of the book between the two main characters. It was a bit unexpected and the ending felt a bit anticlimactic. They both were messy characters (we love messy bisexuals) that had a very dependent friendship, and I didn’t see the romantic chemistry between the two. The book is so well written and properly researched (there were instances where it felt a bit more info-dumpy than adding to the plot).

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ecn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is SMG at her core and I really liked the concept of the book! The only drawbacks were that it REALLY seemed like the story dragged on for too long at different moments and (like classic SMG) sped up super quickly at the end. I also felt like I didn’t get enough out of the main characters other than sho they are at their surface level. I think this book would greatly benefit from a sequel and building out this world more.
The writing was spectacular and the fantasy elements kept me entertained. I just wish it was edited a bit better and a whole lot spookier (then maybe I could feel fine with not dive too deep into the characters?).
However I will say the biggest win is having two messy/annoying bisexuals obsessed with horror (kinda) as the MCs. Huge representation win lol

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seawarrior's review against another edition

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4.0

Silver Nitrate is a wicked novel that is most rewarding in its exploration of a devoted friendship. At times I felt the book was a little slow, but I was always excited to return to it because of how quickly Montserrat and Tristán endeared themselves to me. Other reviewers are correct in observing that the novel is swollen with exposition. Yet I enjoyed learning more about this world's fictional film history, technical details and all. This is a novel to fall into, and accept that the journey with its characters is more valuable than where they end up.

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