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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mesmerising like a heat shimmer and just spooky enough.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I predicted exactly how this book would end, and I'm not even mad – Silvia Moreno-Garcia leans all the way in to her shark motif/metaphor and I'm here for it. The only time predictability in a book is acceptable is when the author deftly deploys foreshadowing and metaphors to signal the reader. Moreno-Garcia definitely accomplishes that here.
Even though this book contains many of the foundational tropes of a noir, it's still unlike any other story I've ever read. It's comfortable but fresh, tropey but unique.
Even though this book contains many of the foundational tropes of a noir, it's still unlike any other story I've ever read. It's comfortable but fresh, tropey but unique.
Reads like a Baja California version of Knives Out.
Moreno-Garcia is easily one of the best writers today.
Moreno-Garcia is easily one of the best writers today.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just my kind of book. Atmospheric, suspensful, complex women looking out for their own interests. I don't usually love coming of age books but this was a delight.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder
medium-paced
A slow paced thriller set on the beach of Baja California, Untamed Shore follows Viridiana as she begins working for a family that is spending their summer in the area. She becomes a translator and personal assistant for Ambrose, who is dictating a book to her and making her live in the house so she will be accessible to him. He has come with his younger wife Daisy and her brother Gregory.
Viridiana becomes entangled with Gregory and when one of these three American tourists dies, she learns that there were secrets they were keeping.
I didn't find the plot particularly suspenseful. It was slow to start and then when events started to occur, I wasn't as invested. The characters weren't developed in a way that made me care very much.I thought it was tragic when Ambrose was killed, but I couldn't pin down how I was supposed to feel. He had flaws, but I didn't feel he was the demon others made him out to be.
Viridiana becomes entangled with Gregory and when one of these three American tourists dies, she learns that there were secrets they were keeping.
I didn't find the plot particularly suspenseful. It was slow to start and then when events started to occur, I wasn't as invested. The characters weren't developed in a way that made me care very much.
I want to be up front that I think Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a brilliant writer and I love the project of what she is doing in all her books: centering Latinx characters, history, and culture in a variety of genres they have typically been erased from. Here, she is doing that in a noir thriller and as always, the writing and the project are very well executed. That said, this is not a genre that particularly appeals to me and the main reason I picked this up is because of the author. Readers who are more into this type of book would probably enjoy it much more.
Untamed Shore is a slower-paced, character driven thriller set in a small coastal town in Mexico known for fishing sharks, and it easily feels like it could have been one of the classic black and white films that are referenced in the book. Viridiana is 18-years-old and has never left her small, conservative town, but dreams of bigger things. Her mother wants her to settle down with her uninteresting ex-boyfriend and work in his family's stationary shop. Instead, she takes a job opportunity as a translator and assistant to an American man trying to write a book for the summer. She moves into his rental home, along with his much younger wife and her handsome brother. Things take a dark and complicated turn as Viridiana must decide how to navigate the complex web she has entered and what she wants for herself.
This is partly a coming of age story, partly a noir thriller and the text is entirely populated with morally gray characters. Honestly, I had a hard time being all that interested in most of the story, even though I can see what the author was trying to do. I think this is more a matter of personal taste than anything else, but I didn't care that much for any of the characters and found myself bored by the minute and day-to-day details. That said, the ending was brilliant and I loved the way she wrapped things up in an unexpected way. Thematically, this is a rich story that touches on racism, colonialism, and misogyny. It has deeply feminist undertones and while I found Viridiana to be frustratingly naive and reckless, she does eventually learn and we see how her world has led to her choices. If the type of book this is sounds appealing, definitely pick it up. And regardless, Moreno-Garcia always has beautiful, smart and thoughtful writing, even if this particular genre wasn't quite my cup of tea. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Untamed Shore is a slower-paced, character driven thriller set in a small coastal town in Mexico known for fishing sharks, and it easily feels like it could have been one of the classic black and white films that are referenced in the book. Viridiana is 18-years-old and has never left her small, conservative town, but dreams of bigger things. Her mother wants her to settle down with her uninteresting ex-boyfriend and work in his family's stationary shop. Instead, she takes a job opportunity as a translator and assistant to an American man trying to write a book for the summer. She moves into his rental home, along with his much younger wife and her handsome brother. Things take a dark and complicated turn as Viridiana must decide how to navigate the complex web she has entered and what she wants for herself.
This is partly a coming of age story, partly a noir thriller and the text is entirely populated with morally gray characters. Honestly, I had a hard time being all that interested in most of the story, even though I can see what the author was trying to do. I think this is more a matter of personal taste than anything else, but I didn't care that much for any of the characters and found myself bored by the minute and day-to-day details. That said, the ending was brilliant and I loved the way she wrapped things up in an unexpected way. Thematically, this is a rich story that touches on racism, colonialism, and misogyny. It has deeply feminist undertones and while I found Viridiana to be frustratingly naive and reckless, she does eventually learn and we see how her world has led to her choices. If the type of book this is sounds appealing, definitely pick it up. And regardless, Moreno-Garcia always has beautiful, smart and thoughtful writing, even if this particular genre wasn't quite my cup of tea. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.