
Silver Nitrate
Reviews

Old cinema, blood magic, conspiracy theories and cults is a combination I didnt know I needed in book form. I love how much care Silvia Moreno-Garcia puts into her books - there is so much depth and richness here. Likable & unique characters, with an interesting plot. This was a slow build in the beginning, but I couldn’t put it down after the first half. I could see all of the scenes so vividly in my mind - I think this would make a fantastic movie as well.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia continues to be my favorite author.

Really enjoyed this book and its blend of cinema, magic, and examination of racist Aryan myths that continue to be perpetuated about the art, cultures, architecture of Mexico and Latin America.

As someone who both appreciates the absurdity of cookers and the depth of the isomeric white supremacist conspiracy theories and esoteric alien and Illuminati history, AND the culture of horror films, can I say what an ambitious crossover? This had so much detailed and nuanced research down both sides of those roads and still managed to tell a truly weird and interesting story about people and how they relate to each other over time. Not a simple task by any measure, let alone one that pulls off blood magic and classic film nerds.

Another winner from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This one will be catnip for fans of ,the Horror genre, with the author's love of the wonderful world of Mexican Horror Cinema shining through. Silver Nitrate concerns an incomplete film that must be unearthed to summon a magician from beyond the grave. Expect a beautifully written and paced book, with 2 winning central characters, a former film director and relentless chase scenes, all bound up with potent magic. A good, solid read and highly recommended.

silvia’s best yet.

Solid, easy read, I liked Mexican gothic more but still an easy 4- or so

I loved this book. It is now my favorite by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The characters are fantastic, as is the setting. The plot device of tying magic to an old film is clever. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and suspense in this story. I loved the allusions to classic horror in this story, especially the nod to "The Keep", which is one of my favorites, but often seems to be overlooked. The way Moreno-Garcia incorporated old films, Nazis, and the supernatural to create a dark and engaging story is amazing.

I love Sylvia Moreno-García, but this book did not hit. I wasn’t moved or transfixed by the plot or characters. I couldn’t wait to finish the read.

Silver Nitrate is probably considered contemporary pulp, but it is very entertaining and hella well researched. I really love the true occult history details Moreno-Garcia uses as worldbuiling enrichment.

This read like a spooky Wikipedia article which is fun sometimes but got very long and overly expository in full novel format.

I really need this to be a movie

This book This book This book. I finished it last night and I just stared because I couldn’t believe it was over and what a freaking incredible journey this book took me on. This has got to be my favorite Silvia Moreno Garcia book yet! It’s creepy, it’s spooky, and it’s thrilling. I also love how she seamlessly inputs historical tidbits in her stories. It makes the characters and the plot truly come alive. I could totally see this book becoming a limited series and in fact, I hope it does. I KNOW this will become part of the list of books I reread every year.












Highlights

This novel uses a bit of real occult history as a backdrop and alludes to the stranger-than-fiction life of American rocketeer Jack Parsons. Silver Nitrate doesn't focus on Parsons at all, but it's super crazy and coincidental that I keep seeing his story everywhere, along with the uncanny connections to figures like Aleister Crowley, L. Ron Hubbard, and golden-era Hollywooders. What a weird world!!
This book appears on the shelf Historical fiction
This book appears on the shelf Read 2013




