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lothlorienne 's review for:
Silver Nitrate
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silver Nitrate is my second read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (my first being "Mexican Gothic" which I enjoyed). In this novel, Moreno-Garcia draws on Mexican cinema and sorcery to deliver a tale of dark magic being used to attempt the resurrection of a particularly dark magic practitioner (all using silver nitrate film). It's a very unique concept which Moreno-Garcia delves into fairly deeply, and I can't fault the world-building here. She also seems to have done a fair amount of research on Mexican cinema (or has personal knowledge) which I found interesting, and I learned a lot about silver nitrate film that I had not known before.
Ultimately, my issue with the story was based on the pacing - very little happens other than the world-building and character development during the first 70% of the novel, so I think many might be turned away by that. Moreno-Garcia writes well, but this was one slow burn that I personally didn't feel amounted to enough of a fire.
What I Liked:
- The depth of character to Montserrat and Tristan - really enjoyed all of their banter and they felt like real-life characters.
- The moment with Montserrat in the abandoned building (though she was perhaps not alone) - I felt that was the strongest horror scene and very creepy.
What I Didn't:
- Length of world-building in the first 70% with not enough payoff (for me personally)
- Would have liked to learn more about Jose Lopez - he seemed like a very intriguing character that we only really get a fringe introduction to
- Ultimately this book is perhaps best billed in a category other than horror - would have liked more creepy moments.
Ultimately, my issue with the story was based on the pacing - very little happens other than the world-building and character development during the first 70% of the novel, so I think many might be turned away by that. Moreno-Garcia writes well, but this was one slow burn that I personally didn't feel amounted to enough of a fire.
What I Liked:
- The depth of character to Montserrat and Tristan - really enjoyed all of their banter and they felt like real-life characters.
- The moment with Montserrat in the abandoned building (though she was perhaps not alone) - I felt that was the strongest horror scene and very creepy.
What I Didn't:
- Length of world-building in the first 70% with not enough payoff (for me personally)
- Would have liked to learn more about Jose Lopez - he seemed like a very intriguing character that we only really get a fringe introduction to
- Ultimately this book is perhaps best billed in a category other than horror - would have liked more creepy moments.