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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
slow-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:
Yes
It took me a while to realise there wasn’t a supernatural element to this novel, it’s “plain” historical noir. I’ve yet to read a Silvia Moreno-Garcia book I didn’t like, and that’s the case here too. I like that her books are all so different from one another but they are still recognisably hers: characters that feel special even when they’re ordinary, with a slow lead up to the inevitable connection.
I do have to say I didn’t like Maite at all - somebody who keeps complaining that nothing ever happens to her, but who also doesn’t do anything to change that? Of course nothing happens to her when all she does is go to work and then lie to her colleagues about her weekends. And yeah, she was a noir character in a kind of meta way, somebody who reads fiction (comics) and imagines being one of the female characters in those comics, somebody things happen *to*. She doesn’t think of herself as a protagonist. And in a way, she isn’t! Almost everything she does in the book she only does due to external forces and not because she’s an active participant in the story - she doesn’t even care about the political landscape. Aside from her taste in music and books she is just such a boring uninspiring person that I’m like??? Why do I even care ??
Still I spent the entire time reading waiting for her and Elvis to finally meet - not sure what to expect of their meeting when they did.
In the end their meeting was both not what I expected but also exactly the right ending. For once Maite actually made a proactive decision. The ending was also left so open that I don’t know how their relationship is going to develop. It’s both infuriating and weirdly satisfying - very noir, I suppose. The kind of cinematic ending I should’ve expected.
I do have to say I didn’t like Maite at all - somebody who keeps complaining that nothing ever happens to her, but who also doesn’t do anything to change that? Of course nothing happens to her when all she does is go to work and then lie to her colleagues about her weekends. And yeah, she was a noir character in a kind of meta way, somebody who reads fiction (comics) and imagines being one of the female characters in those comics, somebody things happen *to*. She doesn’t think of herself as a protagonist. And in a way, she isn’t! Almost everything she does in the book she only does due to external forces and not because she’s an active participant in the story - she doesn’t even care about the political landscape. Aside from her taste in music and books she is just such a boring uninspiring person that I’m like??? Why do I even care ??
Still I spent the entire time reading waiting for her and Elvis to finally meet - not sure what to expect of their meeting when they did.
In the end their meeting was both not what I expected but also exactly the right ending. For once Maite actually made a proactive decision. The ending was also left so open that I don’t know how their relationship is going to develop. It’s both infuriating and weirdly satisfying - very noir, I suppose. The kind of cinematic ending I should’ve expected.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really wanted to like this book as I’m a fan of Moreno-Garcia, but the characters were all unlikeable in their own way and the ending was the only mostly engaging part of the story.
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Murder
What I liked:
The writing, the descriptions, the vibe, the history, the culture.
What was so-so:
The story. It had its ups and downs, but it never really CAUGHT me like I would have liked. Overall not bad and it was a fun read (listen) for me as I was going to and from work or cleaning around the house.
The writing, the descriptions, the vibe, the history, the culture.
What was so-so:
The story. It had its ups and downs, but it never really CAUGHT me like I would have liked. Overall not bad and it was a fun read (listen) for me as I was going to and from work or cleaning around the house.
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Started and finished date - 17.08.25 to 20.08.25.
My rating - Four Stars.
I really enjoyed is book and I really would want is book to be turn TV series also I think People who like the hacienda by Isabel Cañas or vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas may like is book. The writing was okay and the writing was easy to follow also I think the ending of book was fine. The atmosphere was well done and mystery was pretty great. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters was fine but they need to be flash out.
My rating - Four Stars.
I really enjoyed is book and I really would want is book to be turn TV series also I think People who like the hacienda by Isabel Cañas or vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas may like is book. The writing was okay and the writing was easy to follow also I think the ending of book was fine. The atmosphere was well done and mystery was pretty great. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters was fine but they need to be flash out.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
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:
Complicated
Interrupted 'The Daughters of Yalta' to read this one on a trip, and that was the right move - this went down easy on a plane!
The main lady character is a bit of a liar, a thief, and an occasional idiot, but you still root for her! And Elvis was equally compelling, although of course I'm slightly squeamish about the violent hired goon parts. But it's noir and fiction and I survived The Library at Mount Char, so I made it.
The main lady character is a bit of a liar, a thief, and an occasional idiot, but you still root for her! And Elvis was equally compelling, although of course I'm slightly squeamish about the violent hired goon parts. But it's noir and fiction and I survived The Library at Mount Char, so I made it.