Reviews with content warning for Blood - Silver Nitrate

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Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

59 reviews

writingcaia's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

As always, Silvia takes me on slow, but increasingly addictive ride. I couldn’t stop.
Nazis, sorcerers, a lot of old-school horror movies, a cursed film reel, and a friendship that drives the story forward as it intertwines with powers old and new.
It’s really all, the characters, their dialogues, the relationships, the historical and immersive context, the pointed descriptions. It connects, it sizzles, it feels real, and because of that, it wraps you in its darkness and fears.
The whole tale evolves beautifully and has a perfect ending.
Also, loved the bisexual main rep, in the midst of such prejudiced setting - misogyny, racism, eugenics.
Another great one, and I just want to say next, please! 💜🤌🏼

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ncoletti's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

3.5

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spines's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

fun! the protagonists are both very flawed and snarky (and bisexual) and it's so refreshing that i get to be annoyed with them both at times. the mystery/occult portion was good but not great, definitely didn't scare/grip me the way mexican gothic did but it was still cool and spooky at times.

the romance wasn't super fleshed out but i still think they're sweet together, and i love the july talk shoutout in the acknowledgements

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jordandotcom's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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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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iamamyyyyy's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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brandongordon's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

"Silver Nitrate" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a rollercoaster of a novel that combines elements of horror, thriller, crime, and gothic genres, all set against the backdrop of a decaying 1990s Mexico City film industry. Moreno-Garcia's ability to seamlessly blend these genres with historical Mexican settings is nothing short of impressive, and "Silver Nitrate" is another testament to her storytelling prowess.

The story revolves around Montserrat, a reclusive sound editor, and her childhood friend Tristán Abascal, a washed-up actor. Their unlikely reunion sets the stage for a tale filled with eerie mysteries and supernatural encounters. The plot takes a unique twist when they team up with Abel Urueta, a once-famous Mexican horror film director, to complete a cursed film project, "Beyond the Yellow Door," initiated by a Nazi occultist who believed in the power of silver nitrate film for sealing spells.

What makes "Silver Nitrate" stand out is its vivid portrayal of 1990s Mexico City, a city grappling with the aftermath of neoliberal reforms and changing tastes in the film industry. Moreno-Garcia's attention to detail paints a haunting picture of this era, although at times, the abundance of references to actors, directors, and horror films can feel a bit overwhelming and weigh down the narrative.

The novel also delves into a fascinating aspect of Latin American history - the specter of Nazism in the region. While Nazi presence was more pronounced in other Latin American countries, Moreno-Garcia skillfully explores the compatibility of Nazi ideology with regional ideas of racial supremacy, discrimination against Indigenous groups, and the desire to "better the race."

Despite some moments of heavy-handed exposition and telegraphed romance, "Silver Nitrate" truly comes alive when the supernatural mystery takes center stage. Moreno-Garcia's inventive storytelling and carefully constructed plot keep readers engaged and curious throughout the narrative. The unraveling of the mystery is a captivating and electrifying experience, much like our protagonists' relentless pursuit of clues to ward off Nazi spirits and curses.

In conclusion, "Silver Nitrate" may have its occasional shortcomings, but it ultimately shines as a compelling and atmospheric blend of genres. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's ability to infuse historical context with the supernatural creates a memorable reading experience. If you're a fan of horror, mystery, and historical fiction, this book is well worth your time.

If you're hungry for more insightful book reviews and recommendations, be sure to visit my blog, Edge Of Your Book, at https://www.edgeofyourbook.com, where I share in-depth insights into captivating reads like "Silver Nitrate" and many more. Happy reading!

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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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pmhandley's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

As with most books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the storyline is a little convoluted, but god, it's not boring. Silver Nitrate is, in a lot of ways, repeating the themes in her other works. Dark magic set in Mexico City, or Mexico as a whole. Not subtle metaphors where the evil is really white supremacy. Nothing really happens and then suddenly EVERYTHING happens at a rapid pace. But it still always manages to be a new story and wildly creative. The only thing I could have gone without is the romantic subplot, but it doesn't get in the way of the larger story, so it's pretty unobjectionable. And of course, the most important lesson to take away from this book is the evergreen lesson of "don't hang out with Nazis, nothing good happens."

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megan_harper's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

4.0

The first third was slower than other books I’ve read by SMG, but there was a lot of context to set in order to build a strong world.

Overall, I really liked the fact that the flaws in Monsterrat were used in the climactic scenes in ways that caused her to doubt herself. I also appreciate that while the tension between Monsterrat and Tristán was thrumming in the background, it wasn’t a central plot line and wasn’t overly romantic.

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