A review by mrtvavrana
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

 

After reading Mexican Gothic in 2022, I took a long break from Moreno-Garcia. The novel did not meet my expectations, and it took me a while to pick another of her books up. I am glad I went with Silver Nitrate, as this novel really took me by surprise and exceeded all of my expectations.

Mexico City, 1990s. Montserrat is a talented sound editor, working among men. She is constantly being left out and punished for speaking out despite her undeniable talents. She is in love with her best friend, Tristan, who one day discovers that his new neighbour is the cult horror director Abel Urueta.

They grow closer, and Urueta claims he knows a way that will change all their lives. He talks of a German Nazi occultist called Ewers and a film they have never finished, the remainders of which are stored on silver nitrate stock inside of his freezer. The film was infused with magic, he claims, and finishing the spell would break the curse that has been plaguing him for decades.

Despite their doubts, they decide to help. But soon, they begin to realise that the mysterious occultist and magic might be more real than they have ever imagined.

I found the premise fascinating and unique. The pace was quite slow at the beginning and also in the middle. But things definitely sped up as the novel neared its end. While I did enjoy the story, I felt like it was a bit… Cramped? There was a lot of theory on magic, two main characters and their complicated lives and relationships, and then a set of 5 more people and their own messy pasts, the cult, the work… It was a bit overwhelming, if I'm being honest.

The characters were okay. Not necessarily likeable or remarkable. I did like Montserrat; it is difficult to find a metalhead girl in literature. But I had high hopes of her working with Ewers in the end. Mostly because of her deep interest in the occultism and magic.

I hated that she ended up with Tristan in the end; she deserved so much better than that pathetic mess of a man.

I did not like the ending very much, if I am being honest. I hoped that it would be left at least a bit open or that we would perhaps see Montserrat working with magic in the future.

The atmosphere Moreno-Garcia created in this novel felt like watching a VHS on a summer evening. It made me think of classic slasher horror, even though the genre has not much to do with this novel.

This time I definitely do not leave disappointed, but I am also not perfectly satisfied. Hopefully, my next book from the author will finally scratch the itch, as I am obsessed with Moreno-Garcia's writing style and the atmosphere she creates in her books.