Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silver Nitrate

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Genre: Fiction, Horror

Format: Physical

Publish Date: July 2023

Read: August 2024

Favorite Quote: You made a haunted house out of your own flesh and bones.

Story Synopsis: Montserrat and Tristan, lifelong friends, share a love of horror movies. Tristan is a washed-up soap opera star whose traumatic past affects everything in his life. Montserrat is a level-headed sound editor for Mexican cinema, but as a woman, she’s constantly at risk of losing her career rather than seeing it blossom. When Tristan runs into a former horror director, a surprising friendship unfolds between the three and opens the door to the occult, witchcraft, and blood magic.

Why does this book beguile? I’ve heard so much about Silver Nitrate since its publication, and I wanted to read it much closer to Halloween, knowing it was a horror book. It’s fantastic! It’s a quick read with a rich storyline for Montserrat and a great magic system. I love how it’s set in the early 90s but has plenty of throwbacks to the 50s. Silver Nitrate also depicts relatable characters: Tristan is the self-involved former actor with a heart of gold, and Montserrat is the no-nonsense, blunt, and logical person of the pair. Together, their longstanding friendship allows them to delight and annoy each other while uncovering nefarious magical plots in Mexico City.

Rating: 4.5/5

Link*: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

If you’re interested in this, read*: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia