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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
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
On 2.7 speed! Lol
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I'm not usually drawn to horror books, so when my newly formed book club chose this as our first book I wasn't thrilled. I didn't read any descriptions before so nothing was drawing me in, not even the title or cover, but what I got out of it was a story that truly couldn't be told any other way. The way the characters histories unfold to the reader slowly as the main plot moves forward kept me constantly wanting to read more whenever I got the chance. The horror elements are lighter than I expected as there were more fantasy elements then it originally let on, but there were still many times that I thought I'd have to stop reading it before bed (though I was too engrossed to actually do it). Highly recommend this for anyone who is looking for an exciting story with stunning characters!
3.5 stars
This book follows Montserrat, a sound editor left out of the boys club running the film industry in 90s Mexico City. But when her friend Tristán discovers his new neighbour is a cult horror film director who claims that he has been cursed because of a film he never finished. Now he wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him finish the film but they soon discover that sorcerers and magic might not only be the stuff of movies.
I really liked this book. I really liked both Montserrat and Tristán as characters and I liked both of their journeys over the course of this story. I really liked the setting and how Moreno-Garcia invokes atmosphere. I loved the elements of Nazi occultism in the plot and how that and its intersections with eugenics were discussed. I thought the book was paced well and I really liked the ending. There was however, something about this book that just wasn't working for me and I'm not sure what it was or why. However, I would recommend this book and I will definitely be reading more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the future!
This book follows Montserrat, a sound editor left out of the boys club running the film industry in 90s Mexico City. But when her friend Tristán discovers his new neighbour is a cult horror film director who claims that he has been cursed because of a film he never finished. Now he wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him finish the film but they soon discover that sorcerers and magic might not only be the stuff of movies.
I really liked this book. I really liked both Montserrat and Tristán as characters and I liked both of their journeys over the course of this story. I really liked the setting and how Moreno-Garcia invokes atmosphere. I loved the elements of Nazi occultism in the plot and how that and its intersections with eugenics were discussed. I thought the book was paced well and I really liked the ending. There was however, something about this book that just wasn't working for me and I'm not sure what it was or why. However, I would recommend this book and I will definitely be reading more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the future!
I was excited by this until I found out all the nazi occultism stuff is largely urban legend and grossly overstated
Exploitation of indigenous cultures in Mexico, colorism in Mexican film industry, legacy of nazis escaping into South America
Exploitation of indigenous cultures in Mexico, colorism in Mexican film industry, legacy of nazis escaping into South America
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No