The Shamshine Blind is the story of a world where emotions have been weaponized- your emotions can be altered with the press of a trigger. When Argentina succeeded in weaponizing emotions, the US lost power and struggled to thrive. Set in 2009, Kay Curtida is working as a small-town agent who has never seen a big case come through before. When two important cases materialize Curtida is sent down a dangerous rabbit hole. She will need the help of her rookie, her chief, and old friend to crack the case- before she is taken off it or taken out. 

Paz Padro has created an intricate and horrifying world that is fascinating to read about. The creativity was mind-blowing. The world-building was incredible, with terrifying details and realistic consequences to deadly actions. The idea of the Hope Count was so clever and I enjoyed learning about all of the different color pigments. I think my favorite part of The Shamshine Blind was the focus on the strengths of neurodivergent people and the strengths of being neurodivergent.

I found it hard to connect with the main character, Kay Curtida. This was mainly due to the difficulty she had with  emotions, it made it challenging for me to relate to her choices. It could be painful to see as she ignored or rejected emotions and instead threw all her energy into the case. I thought the pacing was good when it came to solving the case and slowed when it came to Curtida dealing with her thoughts and emotions. I would have appreciated more character growth from Curtida, though maybe we will return to her in another novel! This is definitely an author to watch; I’m looking forward to seeing what Paz Pardo writes next! 

Thank you to Paz Pardo, Atria Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.