You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

sunstruck 's review for:

Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
5.0

5/5 stars

DUDE. WOW.

This is a short novel but does it pack a PUNCH. Having never read much of the noir genre other than short stories in college, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I loved Viridiana within the first few pages - she wants, she craves, she dreams about so much more than this provincial life!! And though she's mature, she truly feels like an 18-year-old. She makes mistakes, she trusts the wrong people, she's petulant and irrational at times - and I loved it! The antagonists are also such devilish charmers. They pull you in and you WANT them to be good even though you know deep in your bones it's all a farce. I also really liked Viridiana's relationship with her secondary love interest - the subtle manipulation on top of the build-up to genuine affection. Plus the explosive, blistering climax and the fulfilling falling action - Moreno-Garcia hasn't disappointed me yet and I'm looking forward to reading Mexican Gothic even more!

Additionally, the imagery is breathtaking, especially when Moreno-Garcia uses sharks and other sealife as metaphors for the characters. All the allusions to movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and how Viridiana was shaped and influenced by them kept me engaged, created an almost sepia-toned atmosphere, and made Viridiana genuinely feel real.