I’m gonna do it!
Randomly make my way through this leaning tower of TBR. Of
course, my pile is in no order, therefore some of these titles may be quite
old. You can’t read words off a page. That’s what my Dad always says. Age
doesn’t matter. Just start reading. And review. Read and review.
Gabino Iglesias
ZERO SAINTS
Synopsis: Meet Fernando. Running from Cartel killers,
Fernando flees to America from Mexico City. Finding work as an enforcer and
drug-dealer he settles into a low-life groove. However, things are never that
easy for Fernando. Soon he is caught in the cross hairs of a brutal drug lord, serious
about staking his claim, a point made clear by the torture and murder of one of
Fernando’s associates.
Be warned, Fernando is made of more than anyone can imagine
and he will call on every corner of strength and force to survive.
Review: ZERO SAINTS is completely original. Equal parts noir
and horror, Gabino melds his beautiful anger and artistic prose with ease and absolute
sincerity. He slices his characters wide open, figuratively and literally, showing
their fine and fragile inner-workings. These characters are real and vivid. As
you read you can almost sense their presence behind you, an unsettling
side-effect.
Our main man Fernando is a hard fellow to appreciate. His
chaotic journey begins when he watches his friend tortured and beheaded, a
scene described in horrific and visceral detail. From this point on we follow
as Fernando dances between worlds to stay alive. This difficult duality is
clarified by Gabino’s generous sprinkling Fernando’s native Spanish throughout
the manuscript. Gabino reminds us our character is a fish out of water. Living
in a land that is not his home. He is lonely, afraid, and capable of horrible
acts.
Adding to the nerves and shivers is the otherworldly
atmosphere that hangs over the tale. An ex-rapper with a killer eagle. A dog
more human than canine. Santa Muerte. Voodoo. Tarot. Fernando’s almost manic
habit of prayer. These shadowy details heighten the sense of dread and
uncertainty.
ZERO SAINTS grabbed me from the very beginning. By taking a
crime/noir framework and filling it with occult and horror aspects Gabino has added
to the genre. No small feat and not often accomplished. Though I’ve written
mainly noir, I am a horror gal in my heart, and this book captured
and thrilled me. I loved it and highly recommend. Gabino is a wonder. Oh, I want a print of that cover. Spectacular.
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