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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! 💜🤌🏼
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! 💜🤌🏼
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Blood, and Racism
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, and Addiction
spines's review against another edition
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Suicide, Abortion, and Biphobia
ninajean's review against another edition
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).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Xenophobia, Murder, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Ableism and Car accident
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Drug abuse
iamamyyyyy's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Murder, Racism, Misogyny, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Cancer and Addiction
thegothiclibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
Don’t play with magic you don’t understand. You’d think this would be common sense by now, but there’s always some skeptic willing to treat mystic rituals like a game—to their own detriment. Montserrat and Tristán learn this lesson the hard way in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest horror novel Silver Nitrate. Check out my full review: https://www.thegothiclibrary.com/review-of-silver-nitrate-cursed-films/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Car accident
bookiecharm's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Ableism, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Addiction, Blood, and Racism
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
I'm stuck between a 3.5 and a 4 ⭐️ for this one. SMG's writing style is so unique, and I love that every single one of her books is so different. The discussions about Nazi occultism in this were fascinating and so socially critical, but it did get a little weird. That ending tho!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Addiction, and Death
Minor: Animal death, Ableism, and Alcoholism
bchallis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Racism
cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
A book about film, or in this case the literal power of movies, and it’s written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - sign me up!
Montserrat is a sound editor in Mexico City’s film industry in 1993. Her childhood friend and unrequited former crush, Tristán, is a soap opera star whose fame has declined following a tragic car accident that killed his girlfriend. When Montserrat and Tristán meet a film director who claims that his last movie was cursed, which thus led to his misfortunes, they offer to help him finish it. Pretty soon however, they begin to encounter some eerie outcomes.
I kid you not when I say that SILVER NITRATE scared the life out of me, but I loved it anyway. I have read my fair share of horror novels, but this one takes the cake.
The supernatural elements are creepy, especially as Montserrat gets deeper into learning more about the occult and their belief around the mysticism of performance and how that translates into film. I literally felt my body tense up reading those parts, along with one scene with Tristán and a haunting apparition and another with Montserrat being lured by a sinister character to “follow him into the night.” Chills 😵💫🫣
There are references to filmmaking, which I enjoyed, and aspects throughout that are inspired by movies in cinematic history, especially Mexican cinema. There is actually a video where Moreno-Garcia talks about two movies in particular that influenced SILVER NITRATE. Listening to her talk about the artistry behind film and how certain scenes are shot, performed, and sound edited gives you an idea of what she wanted to convey and share about film and cinema. It all comes through in her writing, which is so immersive that the whole novel itself feels as if you are watching a horror movie unfold on the big screen.
After reading SILVER NITRATE, it makes me even more excited for her next book that is also set in the film industry. This one though is sure to stay with me, even if I’m not usually into horror. Hereditary, Rosemary’s Baby, Evil Dead fans will devour this and movie lovers will enjoy it. Either way, you’re going to want to pick up SILVER NITRATE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Car accident, Death, and Ableism