Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

24 reviews

meika_one's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

This one took me a few weeks to get into.  I had to remind myself that the content of conspiracy theories can be a slow burn.  I found the characters to be unlikeable in the first few chapters as well, but they let me in eventually.  There were some deep themes about connection and loss woven into the plot, and it didn't disappoint with the magick/Nazi/Templars plot once it got going.  The second half of the book pulled me along easily to the end (and made a difficult morning at work after 3 hours of sleep (oops)).  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol

wenwanzhao's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.75

Only Silvia Moreno-Garcia can get me to read horror. I’m not sure why, but I just like the way she writes. I think that she is able to do third person perspective in a way that’s intimate without being unbearable. I feel like the last third was starting to unravel, but the first two-thirds were genuinely extremely riveting and fun to read.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Alcohol, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Drug use

erandle's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Blood, Classism, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cancer, Drug use, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Violence, and Addiction

caidyn's review

dark 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

Another enjoyable read by Moreno-Garcia!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Blood, and Car accident

r_o_s_e's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Colonisation, Classism, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Racism, Ableism, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Medical trauma, and Medical content

brandongordon's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Xenophobia and Alcohol

amandas_bookshelf's review

dark mysterious slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, Alcoholism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Alcohol and Cancer

cadence99's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

Overall I really liked this book- I
felt like the character development was much improved from the books that I’ve read of hers in the past. I’d highly recommended it to anyone who can handle supernatural horror. A lot of if also felt very historical fiction heavy, with all the elements of old Mexican horror movies inserted throughout, and I really enjoyed that about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Ableism, Bullying, Car accident, Colonisation, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Chronic illness, and Death

Moderate: Biphobia, Addiction, and Cancer

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Stalking, Suicide, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Animal death, Genocide, Vomit, and War

jamieleepilk's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Addiction

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Racism, Violence, Death, and Xenophobia

Minor: Vomit, Misogyny, Alcohol, Self harm, Blood, and Cursing