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mikepalumbo's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Gun violence, and Murder
sapphire_mayo's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If you do the audiobook you should be at least kind of fluent in Spanish, a lot of the internal and external dialogue is in Spanish. But it was a very well done audiobook. I think the story could have given a bit more, especially at the end.
osstockton's review
dark
emotional
medium-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? Yes
4.0
paulataua's review
3.0
Following ‘Fiebre Tropical’ this was my second ‘Frontera’ novel, or whatever they call writings covering people from South American roots living in the States that are written in a mix of English and Spanish. Again, despite never having officially studied Spanish, I had little difficulty getting what was going down. Unlike ‘Fiebre’, pretty much a romance story, this is a real gang coming of age piece set in Austin, Texas, which certainly has its gory moments. I appreciated the story it was telling, and there were parts I really liked, but it never really rose above just that. I will buy and try his ‘Coyote Songs’ should it jump out at me on the bookstore shelves, but only if that happens.
santanajas1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
caracabe's review
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.5
michaellouisdixon's review
5.0
Zero Saints is a dark and intense journey. Gabino Iglesias leads us to a place many pinches gringos no tienen experiencia. Fernando's world is distinct in its culture, language, and ethos. If you don't speak the language, you might just have to work a little bit to submerge yourself deeper into the story, but it's worth it. Beneath the surface of a noir/horror story is a rich tale of identity, strength, and courage. And it's a kickass thriller tambien.
made_in_dna's review
5.0
Hardcore from beginning to end. Gabino Iglesias has always been a top tier indie author, but Zero Saints is a whole new level of crime thriller. Tense and gut-wrenching it holds your cojones in a vice for the entire novel. Filled with blood, gore and violence, yet every word is an exercise in elegance. The author digs deep into the darkness within all our hearts -- our doubts, fears, the skeletons we thought we'd buried, the waking nightmares we cannot outrun -- and exposes them in our reading relationship to the protagonist. Well-thought out. Perfectly paced. Realistically crafted. Just beautiful.
screamdogreads's review
4.0
Zero Saints was an incredible book to experience, and yet it's rather difficult to review. Like many readers, I felt absolutely bombarded with its brilliance. Gabino Iglesias really knows how to pack a huge amount of great content into a rather short novel. It's a violent, gritty, emotional rollercoaster, it's an absolutely batshit crazy read.
I absolutely loved my time with this book, it's so unapologetically gruesome and yet it never once felt overdone, not once did I get the impression that it was trying too hard, everything in this novel just worked. The prose is simple, sharp and to the point while also bordering on lyrical. I chose to listen to this on my flight to the states, and found that it makes for a really excellent audiobook. It's super intense, and the narrator does a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life.
While I'm 100% going to be picking up a print copy, because, I mean, look at it. I recommend that everyone gives the audiobook a try.
I absolutely loved my time with this book, it's so unapologetically gruesome and yet it never once felt overdone, not once did I get the impression that it was trying too hard, everything in this novel just worked. The prose is simple, sharp and to the point while also bordering on lyrical. I chose to listen to this on my flight to the states, and found that it makes for a really excellent audiobook. It's super intense, and the narrator does a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life.
While I'm 100% going to be picking up a print copy, because, I mean, look at it. I recommend that everyone gives the audiobook a try.
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Animal death, Torture, Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug use, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence