I loved Monstserrat (Momo) and Tristán. I think they are my favorite Silvia Moreno Garcia characters. I loved them individually and especially together. I liked, but did not love the story they were in. And it wasn’t so much the plot, because that’s great, but there were times when I was frustrated with the info dumps. I think we got bogged down in detail too many times.
Monserrat and Tristán have been friends since they were children, when Monserrat saved Tristán from bullies. Momo is the no nonsense brave one, and Tristán is the good looking charmer. Momo does not believe in miracles, but she needs one. Her work is drying up (because she’s a woman) and her sister has cancer. Tristán’s career has never recovered from the terrible accident that killed his girlfriend, left him with a facial scar, and a bad reputation. Tristán’s new neighbor, faded horror film director Abel Urueta, offers then the possibility of something new and something more. They have an opportunity to take their old love of Mexican horror films and turn it into a boost or new direction for their careers. Abel sees them as a chance to undo the curse on his incomplete last film. All of this leads them into the world of racist magicians and the occult.
Monserat and Tristán’s long friendship is portrayed beautifully. They bicker and take each other for granted. They have the complete lack of respect that is so often a part of those friendships you start as children. Monserrat drives the action, She is drawn into the writings and teachings of Ewers, the German magician who learned from Nazi occultists and then studied and stole from indigenous magicians in South America. Ewers combined his magic systems with racist ideology and then tried to enhance his magic with film making. Tristán may get by mostly on charm, good looks, and a beautiful voice, but he’s also Momo’s emotional core. As Monserrat gets deeper in, Tristán tries to support her, and in the process, he grows up.
The ending is perfect. All of the slogging pays off in the end.
CW: cancer, poverty, misogyny, queerphobia, murder, Nazism, racism, colorism
I received this as an advance reader copy from Del Ray and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
