Silver Nitrate

This isn’t a jump-scare, slasher-type horror - it’s the kind that creeps under your skin. Blending the occult with the gritty reality of Mexico’s 1990s film industry, the novel captures both the supernatural horrors lurking in lost films and the real-life struggles of those trying to survive in a cutthroat industry. Montserrat and Tristán are far from your ‘standard’ heroes - they aren’t larger than life protagonists but flawed, deeply human characters who are just trying to make it through life. Montserrat, a talented sound editor, is constantly underestimated in a male-dominated field, while Tristán, a ‘former’ star, is stuck in the shadows of his past. Their complicated but deeply loyal friendship is one of the novel’s strongest aspects, and I loved the natural queer representation woven into the story. The horror elements in Silver Nitrate are layered. On one level, there’s the supernatural (cursed films, ghosts, blood magic, and dark rituals) but just as terrifying are the real-life horrors of power and prejudice. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s signature slow-burn style builds tension throughout, making every eerie revelation hit even harder. Her writing is always rich with historical and cultural detail, and here, she brings 90s Mexico to life. The pacing is deliberate. The setup may be slow, but once the story takes off, it’s impossible to put down.

Promising premise, interesting characters and a fantastic cover. Perfect conditions for an amazing book. I was very excited to read this one. Unfortunately, it was quite underwhelming. I liked the writing style and had no trouble getting through the book. The two main characters are unique and very well written. Their dysfunctional relationship kept things interesting and was probably the reason, why I didn’t mind finishing the book. All I can think of the rest of the book is: great idea, poor execution. The lack of horror disappointed me the most. Yes, it’s a spooky story and it actually has the potential to be quite scary but the way it was written, the way the story was told and the creepy parts were described made sure nothing would actually scare you. Though the elements are definitely there, the story couldn’t manage to get you invested enough. The threats don’t feel real, there are hardly any consequences and throughout the book you’re confident everything is going to be fine. Which, in my opinion, defies the whole horror genre. Also the plot unfolds too slowly. And while there is a heavy focus on countless details that will never be mentioned again, we rush through meaningful or establishing character moments without looking back. It’s a pity. Even though this book couldn’t convince me, I’m really interested in Moreno-Garcia’s other books and plan to read at least a few more of them. Because there is definitely something there and her books keep speaking to me.