Montserrat is a sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend, Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star, though she’s been in love with him since childhood. Tristán discovers his new neighbor is the cult horror director Abel Urueta. His tale of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed. Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse . . . but Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her, and Tristán begins seeing the ghost of his ex-girlfriend. As they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and the obscure occultist who once roamed their city, Montserrat and Tristán may find that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies.

Silver Nitrate is a 90's horror buff special dream. It is however, incredibly slow going. The level of information needed requires a reader to be told directly, It's a slow burn right until we reach the end where it's action filled and fast - leaving you wanting more. If you're a super fan or mirrored mid to late 90's movies, you'll love this one - if you're not a fan of the genre - you might find this too slow for your tastes.

Many thanks to Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

So far I've everything I've read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Each of her stories are so unique and different from the other, whilst holding on to this same tone she sets with every story.
I never really know what to expect from her books - in a good way! But it seems I can expect to love whatever she writes!

This is my second of Moreno-Garcia’s books, and as much as I loved Mexican Gothic, I am OBSESSED with Silver Nitrate!

The story expertly blends horror, magical realism and mystery for a gripping read. It combines so many different threads of history, culture and the occult into a truly chilling result.

My favourite thing though, was the two main characters. Both Montserrat and Tristán leapt off the page, as a struggling audio editor and actor respectively. They’re both such vivid characters, with a brilliant dynamic that elevates the whole story.

Moreno-Garcia is the master of atmospheric writing, and Silver Nitrate is no exception. It takes a lot of skill to make the ghost of a character we’ve never met compellingly creepy, and she manages it! The historical mystery element was also a great addition, especially given the setting, and at times it had the feel of an Indiana-Jones style adventure.

I could not put this book down, it was such a great read that drew from a number of genres and periods, and combined them all brilliantly.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

"Silver Nitrate" is my first book by Silvia Moreno García, and it did not disappoint.

Horror ranks as my third favorite genre, right after Science Fiction and Fantasy. So, when I discovered that this book was soon to be released, I couldn't resist the temptation of requesting an ARC.

While the book didn't prove to be the mind-blowing experience I had anticipated, it still captivated me enough to leave me eager to read more books by the author.

One aspect that particularly stood out to me and drove me crazy with excitement was the references to the Mexican horror movie industry. As a Mexican, I never imagined I would come across a book like this. Each time I encountered a reference to the movie and filming industry, it felt like stumbling upon a hidden gold mine.

The characters were another aspect I truly loved. Since reading "The Adventures of Amina al Sirafi" earlier this year, I have yearned for more adult characters in the fantasy/horror genre. And by adult, I mean individuals 30 years old or older. It is an absolute delight to read about mature characters who are not the typical, overly busy, burnt-out adults. Instead, Moreno's characters exude a sense of fun while also acknowledging their age. Montserrat in particular, is one of the best badass characters I have come across. I would gladly read a thousand books with her as the protagonist — that's how much I adore her.

The writing style was okay, although honestly, since the beginning I wasn't expecting any mind-blowing prose. I don’t believe that exceptional writing is essential to create a great story, especially when the narrative is as light as this one.

Now, my main issue with the story, and the reason I didn’t give the book a perfect rating, is that it felt short in terms of the horror element. When I mention the term horror, I'm not only referring to jump-scare spookiness. It could have delved into something more psychological. For the record, the most mind-blowing horror I have ever read stems from human actions rather than supernatural elements. Considering that the plot promised a "meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film", I was hoping for more terror.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and I already have my sights set on my next read by Silvia Moreno.

I love Montserrat and Tristán. Their POVs were great to follow and I enjoyed following characters that are around my age.

I didn't know what to expect going in and I enjoyed the ride. I love learning about Mexico through Moreno-Garcia's books.

I think I'm reaching the point now where SMG can write anything and I'll read it. So, I tracked down Flash Frame (the short story she mentions in the author's note) and read it straight after I finished this.

Thanks for this copy in exchange for a review.

Silver Nitrate was an enjoyable fantasy-horror thriller. It has a slow-burn start, but by the midway point the pace increases as events begin to spiral out of control. I enjoyed the blend of genres in the book. The characters were all well drawn and compelling, and the plot held my interest throughout. This is one for film buffs, as in many ways it is a homage to movies, especially B-grade horror. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's prose is as easy reading as always, atmospheric at times with excellent world building as the fantasy elements begin to creep into the narrative. It gets 4.5 stars from me.

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Another author I can’t resist! This book is brilliant and I have 2 copies on pre order! One for me and another for a friend I’m going to beg to read it it’s that good! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

Una ragazza appassionata di vecchi horror che fa il tecnico del suono freelance, e lotta per mantenere il suo posto in un mondo maschile; un attore di soap opera travolto da uno scandalo, che spera in un riscatto; un vecchio regista, sparito dagli schermi, che nasconde molte storie e un segreto.
Una bobina di pellicola in nitrato d'argento vecchia di quarant'anni, che filma un rito magico, cui manca solo il doppiaggio per portare fortuna - a chi? Al regista? All'attrice di antiche fortune o alla giovane fanatica che vi compaiono? O ai due ragazzi che completano il rito, un po' per scherzo un po' per curiosità, e iniziano a vivere strane, inquietanti, spaventose esperienze?
E intanto chi è morto cerca di ritornare.
Un romanzo originale nella premessa, affascinante nella ricostruzione di un mondo perduto, con personaggi non sempre piacevoli ma sempre credibili.
Interessante la ricostruzione della fascinazione nazista per l'occulto, e ancora di più quella sul cinema dell'età d'oro del Messico, che perlomeno come horror mi ha ricordato gli anni '70 in Italia, con la fioritura di film diventati di culto.

If you know me, then you know that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my all time favourite authors. She writes these incredibly seductive and atmospheric stories that manage to grip me no matter the genre, creating characters and settings that just draw you into the story, and Silver Nitrate was no different.

Montserrat is used to living on the edges, never quite welcomed by the boys club at her work, not pretty enough to be noticed by her long time best friend and one time crush, Tristán. Tristán is someone who long's for the spotlight, but an accident in his past and his subsequent abuse issues have limited his roles to voice overs. Their lives are mundane in most ways, until Tristán meets his neighbour and it turns out to be Abel Urueta, a cult horror director, who claims he can change their lives. He wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him re-create the last scene of one of his movies, claiming that not finishing the movie left him cursed and asking the pair to help him lift it. But after they do they realise there was more to the movie and the curse than they could have imagined, they start seeing things, things that shouldn't be possible & as they work to unravel the true mystery behind the film, the pair may come to realise that magic and curses are not simply limited to movies.

Silver Nitrate is told from the alternating POV's of both Montserrat & Tristán. Montserrat is someone who never quite fit in, whether that is at her work that's run like an old boys club, or in her personal life where she struggles to keep relationships longer than a few months. She's a loner, but don't go into this thinking that she is going to be your stereotypical horror movie damsel in distress, because that couldn't be further from the truth. She is someone who has cleaved out a space for herself in a world that looks down on her for her behaviour, looks, sense of style and sex. She's stubborn, fearless & competitive, and what she may lack in social skills she absolutely makes up for in her badassery and her ability to believe in the 'other' and in fact maybe even learn to use it.

Tristán is most definitely not your typical hero. In fact, he was a character that took me a while to warm up to. A little entitled, someone who seemingly used Montserrat whenever he was 'between' relationships. But the more you learn about him and his past, the more you start to understand his behaviour and empathise with him. He was someone who was on the peak of fame, and then an accident and the fall out found him swept out of the spotlight, left with nothing but voice over roles. He's the perfect balance of strong and sensitive, a little broken but not someone to back down from a fight, something which is certainly has to rely on.

As usual with Moreno-Garcia's work, the setting and theme the novel is set around become a kind of character, and this setting, 90's Mexico City and the film industry that the story is set around absolutely become characters in their own right. The research that must have gone into this, the depth in which we learn about film making, the glamour of it back in the day as well as all the tech parts that go on in the background were just so well developed. And once again, she shows through her work the ever changing culture of Mexico City and the racism that comes with that, the cultural appropriation, not just through film but through her magic system. How she weaves in the history of the Nazi's, using their ethos to show how, not just Nazi's, but western culture in general look down on those of colour, disbelieving that they could create anything of their own, that they had the ability to create wonders long before western culture did. All of this weaves in together to create an incredibly realistic portrayal of a city, and it's inhabitants that have been gradually, forcefully westernised, their culture all but written over.

If you've read a book by Moreno-Garcia before, you know they tend to be slow burn. She spends a lot of time building on her characters, her setting, before getting to the nitty gritty of the stories and I have to say that Silver Nitrate might have become my favourite of her books just for this part alone. The horror aspects were wondrously creepy and certainly meant I never read this book anywhere near night time, but the bits that I enjoyed the most were our characters introspection, learning through them about this history of the city, the culture, and just learning about the characters themselves. Action lovers worry not, because there are some truly epic and creepy scenes that explode off the page, but it was the slower parts that I found myself seduced by. The parts where our characters are learning about themselves, about the magic and the history of the film they re-created.

The way Moreno-Garcia merged movies and magic was incredibly well done because she shows that movies are magic in their own right. She really delves into the history of horror movies, helped by our two MC's being big horror buffs, but the specific movie we focus on was more magical than most. The magic is rife with occultism, and I loved how she showed that the magic doesn't just come from the movie being seen, but also in the making of it. The film used, the direction, the sound editing, every little bit of this comes into play in making the magic work and that allowed us to learn more about the making of films without it seeming redundant to the plot, instead she makes these parts pivotal.

This story was just *chefs kiss.* It delves into so many social issues without it seeming preachy in anyway, is filled with diverse characters (both our MC's are Bi), it's atmospheric, seductive, just wondrously creepy in the best way and another read that absolutely cements Moreno-Garcia as one of my all time favourite authors!

Hi and welcome to my review of Silver Nitrate!

I am a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I have been ever since I read Mexican Gothic, so much so that I’ve read almost everything that came before and everything she’s written since. I honestly don’t know where it went wrong with Silver Nitrate…

Did I expect too much? Did I have a bad couple of days, feeling fatigued and finding it hard to focus? Did the heat exacerbate my fatigue and thus my trouble focusing? Did the PDF’s teeny tiny font make it even harder? Was the pacing on the slow side when I actually needed a fast-paced story? I’m sure the answer to all of those questions is yes, but I’m not sure that’s all there is to it.

I found myself less invested in the story and not caring as much about the main characters as I usually do about this author’s characters. One of them just got on my nerves and not in the good I-love-to-hate-you sense. I also found the setting in space and time less atmospheric and vivid than usually. I dunno, maybe the pulpy vibe of the book just didn’t cut it for me. And maybe I’m comparing too much, but it’s hard not to when you’ve loved an author’s previous work.

The plot is said to be a meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism, which did make me expect more horror elements and general creepiness than I actually got for the most part. That said, I will add that the pace of the final 25% or so is considerably faster and did meet the expectations I had before starting the book, making me add a half star to the rating I’d had in mind.

Rune magic, a cursed film and a Nazi sorcerer, the cinema industry and cults, Silver Nitrate is full of interesting themes and even though it didn’t entirely work for me as a whole, I will be eagerly awaiting this author’s next novel.

Silver Nitrate is out in all formats on 18 July.

Massive thanks to Jo Fletcher Books (Quercus) and NetGalley for the digital proof. All opinions are my own.

This might be the best Silvia Moreno Garcia book I read so far. If it isn’t, it’s up there with Mexican Gothic for sure. I LOVED it. I loved the characters, the setting, the context (that I knew absolutely nothing about), and the general tone of the book. I really couldn’t put it down, especially the second half.

The story centres Montserrat, a horror-buff sound editor in Mexico City in the 90s, and her best friend Tristan, who was an up and coming telenovela star when he was younger. They are both having some problems getting their big break, Montserrat due to the male dominated nature of the Mexican film landscape, and Tristan because of a ten years old accident that tainted his reputation. Things change, and take a (very) creepy and unsettling turn, when Tristan discovers that his new neighbour is Abel Urueta, a great director from the golden age of Mexican horror. Urueta claims that his long lost and unfinished movie was embedded by a Nazi Occultist with a powerful luck charm, and wants the help of Montserrat and Tristan to finish the movie and bring luck to everyone. And then hijinks ensue (which incidentally is the part of the book that I couldn’t put down and got sunburned while reading as a consequence).

The thing that boggled my mind is that, while the specific characters of the book did not exist and there is no record of a cursed movie imbued with a luck charm, the premise is rooted in reality. There was a strong fascination for occultism in Germany and Central Europe in the thirties and forties, and many occultists were also Nazi supporters. There was a series of fires caused by the wrong storage of silver nitrate films. There are many movies that went lost and that inspired this book. And I knew nothing about it. And now, thanks to this book, I know a little bit more.

The book was gorgeously written. Three pages in, I felt like I had known the characters my whole life and they were my friends. I cared about them so much. And the story was beautifully creepy and gripping. It was not gory, but the horror definitely was there.

I would warmly recommend this book to students across Europe. It’s fun and I believe it will get people who are not fond of reading into the habit.

Having read Mexican Gothic and experienced the fantastic slow burn and the spine-chilling revelations that came with it, I couldn't wait to get my hands on another creepy Moreno-Garcia book.

Set in 1990s Mexico, Silver Nitrate is another slow-burner as we are introduced to the main characters Montserrat and Tristán, a duo of best friends whose lives leave a lot to be desired. Working as a sound editor, Montserrat has a profound love for cult horror movies and when Tristán discovers that his neighbour is one of her favourite cult horror directors, the story begins as he urges them to help him complete an unfinished horror film. However, the story around the incomplete movie is darker than it first appeared and the two friends find themselves caught in a web of horrors as they awaken something terrifying.

First of all, I have to point out how incredibly well researched this book was. As I tend to notice in her writing, Moreno-Garcia really does her background reading, meaning that we as the readers get a much more fulfilling experience from the authentic content. I appreciated this and it made the plot all that much more real with the thought that people genuinely had these kinds of cults and believed they could bring these evil concepts to fruition. The characters were well-fleshed and I found myself enthralled with both Monserrat and Tristán right from the start. They're relatable and somewhat ridiculous at times which only added to my affection for them. The fact that they are both bisexual and it was mentioned but never became a plot point was nice too, I appreciated that!

Sadly, however, the pace really did slow the book down a little bit too much in my opinion. While aware that we need all the information that was being presented, at moments it dragged for me and I wasn't able to dive into the book as enthusiastically as I would have liked. By the final few chapters, this book felt less horrifying than I expected, feeling more like a fantasy book than anything else. Perhaps my expectations were just too high after having loved Mexican Gothic so much, but for me this book fell a little flat. But overall I enjoyed the experience, and will probably still be grabbing a physical copy for my bookshelf! Cant wait to see what Silvia Moreno-Garcia does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I hate giving low ratings but I really didn’t like this book and ended up DNF’ing at the 70% mark. Maybe I misinterpreted the synopsis but this was a lot more fantasy/magical realism than horror so it ended up being very different to what I anticipated and it was a very slow read. I’m sure some people will love it and I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic from this author but this one really wasn’t for me.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the setting and the idea behind the novel, as well as the 'gritty' nature of the book. I did however feel the story was a bit too slow moving for me, and went heavy on the ‘info-dumping’ which I struggled with. The characters themselves were enjoyable, and the narrative linking cinema and film aspects to that of cult-like practices was inspired. Overall I think it is a good book, just maybe not my cup of tea, and a little too much ‘tell not show’.

[ARC provided by NetGalley, Quercus Books and Jo Fletcher Books. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Silver Nitrate.]

It’s been a long time since I read a supernatural horror but when the opportunity to read an early copy of Silver Nitrate came up, I was so intrigued by the description that I just had to add it to my list. And I’m so glad that I did! This book is an excellent dive into the dark world of occultism and deals with themes such as Nazism and the film industry that will leave you intrigued and unsettled. I haven’t read other books from Silvia Moreno-Garcia but this has definitely made me want to remedy that asap.

Silver Nitrate is genuinely interesting when it’s not bringing you to the edge of your seat, and I loved the connection between sound, film and magic – it really gave the term ‘movie magic’ a whole new meaning. If you’re not familiar, silver nitrate is a light-sensitive salt that was used in film to create luminous, high-contrast images that are now synonymous with older black and white films such as Citizen Kane. Unfortunately, nitrate film was very flammable and could lead to major fires in film theatres and so due to it’s volatile nature, it was phased out. This book centres around the unstable compound which adds a whole new layer of discomfort because in amongst the drama and difficulties the characters face, there’s always that worry at the back of your mind that this film is going to explode at any moment.

The hero’s of our story are Montserrat and Tristán, a best friend duo that are struggling in their respective careers; Montserrat as a sound editor and Tristán as an actor. They’re both grappling at the miniscule opportunities around them which leads to Tristán finding out that his neighbour is the cult horror director, Abel Urueta. When he claims that their luck may change if they assist with completing an old film, they jump at the chance to help. But soon they realise that working on unfinished work that a Nazi occultist channelled magic into is proving to be more dangerous that it’s worth, and pair that with the already volatile silver nitrate film and what should have been a chance to turn their luck around becomes something much darker and more frightening.

Reading this felt like slowly lowering myself into a dark hole as every new morsel of information was fed to me. Montserrat and Tristán’s efforts to unravel an old mystery steadily bleeds over into their own lives and it’s not long before they’re scrambling to uncover the truth lying within Abel’s unfinished project. A dark entity lurks in the shadows and they also have their own new powers to contend with. The pair must rise above their fear and work against the clock to bring a resolution to the horrifying can of worms that they’ve opened. One of my favourite elements of this books is the relationship between Montserrat and Tristán which felt so real – the character development that they go through is brilliantly executed and I was always in their corner.

I’m not sure how this compares to other horror books but I genuinely enjoyed Silver Nitrate and will be looking out for future releases from the author. Definitely recommend if you find supernatural themes and the film industry interesting.

This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed this book! The two MCs were great and the references to mexican cinema as well as the occult kept me interested most of the way through. I will say I found the first quarter of the book to be quite slow but overall I'm glad I stuck with. I'll happily be adding this book to my collection.

Description:
Tristan and Montserrat have been friends since they were kids. He's a former soap star whose career died in the crash that killed his girlfriend, and she's a sound engineer with an attitude and a penchant for horror.They meet an aging director with a tall tale about a cursed film, and get drawn into a bunch of spooky goings on.

Liked:
Everything held together pretty well. I liked Montserrat; was nice to see a short, spunky, take-no-shit female protagonist.

Disliked:
Wasn't keen on the writing in general. It feels the need to make its point so clearly that it risks assuming the readers are idiots; there are so many explicit similes where a neat allusion could have been made instead. Did not buy the romantic element at all. Lots of description of what people are wearing, listening to, watching etc. Felt a bit superfluous/self-conscious. Not sure how you make that feel more casual but I've definitely seen it done! Whilst there were some nice creepy moments, I expected more horror from this given the thrust of the plot. It felt like the novel was ticking boxes for horror tropes, at times, without providing anything very new and interesting. I guess that fits the setting quite well, but... I wanted more.

Wouldn’t recommend, I’m afraid. I’m still going to give Mexican Gothic a go at some point, though!

First of all, a big thanks to @quercusbooks and @netgalley for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book 😊

Newest SMG book, Silver Nitrate, is definitley one of the most anticipated books of the summer, and it is a treat!

Set in the 1990s Mexico city, we follow Montserrat, a sound engineer, and her best friend Tristan, a once popular soap opera star dealing with the reality of life that is all but glamorous. Tristan moves into a new apartment and realizes his new neighbor is a director whose movies both him and Montserrat cherish. They befriend him, and he offers them to finish his lost movie. The thing is, the movie is a way to release a spell devised by a Nazi occultist who strongly believed that silver nitrate of the movie film serves as a conduit to make a spell more powerful. Of course, who wouldn't want their life wishes come true by using a powerful spell? Well, needless to say, all hell breaks loose.

I enjoyed this book a lot! Just a little while ago I was in a mood for some occultists, spells and ghosts, and this book was a perfect one to satisfy my needs. While I felt like it moved slowed at times, the way Montserrat researched and studied the magic was beautiful to read. Tristan as a character was a bit annoying so I admit I enjoyed Montserrat's POVs more. While it's got horror elements, it's not particularly scary - they are here more to create an atmosphere of creepiness and uncertainty. Also, did I mention how awesome Montserrat is?

The climax was truly powerful and magical (all puns intended!), it was a real page turner and at this point I was a bit sad that it's gonna end because, did I tell you, I really enjoyed the occultism and spells part?

So yeah, this is a book that you will definitley want to pick up either to get away from the summer heat or save it for the Spooktober.

One more SMG book done and one more that didn't disappoint!

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
I have been thinking about this review for some days now and I finally think I reached consensus with myself.
I loved the first part of this novel, even if it was really slow: I deeply enjoyed all the information about Mexican horror, I found Montserrat to be both an amazing character and point of view, her relationship with Tristan felt very real and the first encounter with director Abel Urueta was intriguing and fascinating. A lost movie, maybe cursed, related to a Nazi occultist? Count me in.
Sadly, the novel lost me somewhere in the last quarter. Without entering spoiler-zone, I will say that I felt a change in the tone, more urban fantasy than horror, and the ‘new’ characters felt kind of rushed. The climax was not at all what I expected either. I knew beforehand that there was magic in this book, but I did not think it would take centre stage in such a way. And I know I am not being the clearest person, sorry, and that is after several days of trying different ways of explaining it.

I know for sure Silver Nitrate will appeal to fans of Silvia Moreno-García and to all the people who enjoy urban fantasy, but it just did not work for me.