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cynsworkshop's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Certain Dark Things takes readers into the battle between warring vampire families in the heart of Mexico City. Think Sin City, but with a vampiric spin.
As a massive fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I had to read Certain Dark Things, her vampire-induced horror. Absolutely thrilling, this novel was filled with unique vamps, a little romance, and lots of action.
Storytelling
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this novel. Moreno-Garcia is a brilliant writer who always surprises readers by jumping into different genres. I never knew what to expect from her stories, constantly entering them with awe because I knew this story would not be predictable.
And that remains true with Certain Dark Things. This is a multiple-POV novel, with Atl and Domingo being the central points of view that drive the story forward. Each is haunted by the ghosts of their mistakes, but together, battling rival vampire gangs, they find peace with one another.
Atl begins the story on the run, disillusioned and angry at the mistakes that cost her her family’s lives. She was hot-headed, and now she has to live with that for the rest of her life. Then, she meets sweet Domingo.
Oh my god, Domingo is the sweetest human being in the world. He is honest but also tries to see the silver lining, fascinated with vampires. He sometimes seemed like a child in how he fangirled over Atl. Still, his brightness and levity make the story and the relationship that grows between them gut-wrenching.
I loved the story’s pacing; it flitted between the characters to give the world more structure. Moreno-Garcia really delved into the neo-noir setting of the story. We see the mechanics of the gangs, how vampire species differ, and how the police can work in the partially corrupt system.
The world-building was fantastic because it felt gritty, raw, and violent. Certain Dark Things is about feuding vampire gangs; you can bet it is violent.
Final Thoughts
Absolutely fantastic, Certain Dark Things is absolutely thrilling. It is action-packed, and Moreno-Garcia does not lose that emotional element, creating such a wonderful dynamic between Atl and Domingo. Reader, be warned, it is a bittersweet ending that tugs on the heartstrings.
Like this review?
trin's review against another edition
2.0
Vampires in Mexico City! Unfortunately, the rules of the world, as described in the glossary, were much more interesting than anything that actually happened in the book.
smfaulkner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
alle_kat97's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rachelasteen's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
leubanks19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
caaleros's review
4.0
Certain Dark Things takes different vampire mythologies from many different culture to create a fascinating world in this neo-noir horror novel. Atl comes from a line of bird-women blood drinkers with origins in the Aztec Empire. When another vampire clan kills her family, she runs to Mexico City, a place where vampires are not welcome. Atl allies herself with Domingo, a garbage collector whose loyalty makes Atl think twice about killing him. With the enemy vampire clan, cops, and an anti-vampire group all after her, Atl and Domingo race to get out of the city alive. Silvia-Moreno’s story delivers complicated characters, a refreshing mythology, cinematic writing, and a setting that comes alive on the page.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
kittykitcat's review
3.0
I certainly don’t regret reading this book. It has all the cool little vampire stuff you may expect if you’re a fan of vampire media. It also comes with a good lot of Native Mexican folklore, to add a welcome bit of variation to the formula.
That said, I think this book shows it’s age now. Silvia has clearly gotten better at writing. This book is not bad at all, but it falls into overdescription quite often. It wouldn’t be that bad if it were just about the stuff that will matter (vampire lore, powers, etcetera), but a lot of it doesn’t, so I wound up skipping pages a few times.
I will say the overall package is quite nice. There’s your daily dose of cool vampire shenanigans, alongside one of the best covers I’ve seen in a while. Seriously, props to whoever made it.
That said, I think this book shows it’s age now. Silvia has clearly gotten better at writing. This book is not bad at all, but it falls into overdescription quite often. It wouldn’t be that bad if it were just about the stuff that will matter (vampire lore, powers, etcetera), but a lot of it doesn’t, so I wound up skipping pages a few times.
I will say the overall package is quite nice. There’s your daily dose of cool vampire shenanigans, alongside one of the best covers I’ve seen in a while. Seriously, props to whoever made it.