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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Dnf @ 13%
Not feeling this. I’ve been bombarded with like 60 different names of random people. The constant pov changes are confusing.
Not feeling this. I’ve been bombarded with like 60 different names of random people. The constant pov changes are confusing.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my favorite SMG work, unfortunately. Admittedly, I didn't really understand the Salome story, which probably impacted how I absorbed the story overall. Some of the characters didn't get the comeuppance they deserved (looking at you, Nancy!) , and the way a couple of storylines were wrapped up (i.e., Vera) had a distance to them that made it feel like an afterthought.
medium-paced
I love a good Old Hollywood story, so when I heard Silvia Moreno-Garcia had written one, I jumped on it—especially since I needed a book by a Latine author for a reading challenge. And wow, this one was something special.
The Seventh Veil of Salome is totally different from other books I’ve read by Moreno-Garcia—no supernatural or magical elements here. Instead, it’s a slow-burn, moody story set in 1950s Hollywood that dives deep into ambition, power, and how women get crushed (or consumed) by the roles they’re forced to play—on and off the screen.
The story follows Vera, a young Mexican actress who’s unexpectedly cast as Salome in a major film, and Nancy, an extra who is very convinced she should’ve gotten the part instead. The movie they’re filming retells the biblical story of Salome, and that storyline runs parallel to theirs—with Salome herself even narrating part of it. It all builds toward that moment: the dance before Herod, and the infamous request for the prophet’s head.
The book doesn’t shy away from the racism, misogyny, or cruelty of the era, which made it hit even harder. That said, I do think the character balance was a little off—Vera felt a little too perfect, while Nancy leaned so far into the “jealous villain” lane that I struggled to connect with her at all.
But the writing? Gorgeous. Moreno-Garcia’s prose is so elegant and atmospheric, and the way she blends genre with a very literary, slow-burn style worked really well here. It left me feeling kind of haunted, a little heartbroken, and super impressed.
The Seventh Veil of Salome is totally different from other books I’ve read by Moreno-Garcia—no supernatural or magical elements here. Instead, it’s a slow-burn, moody story set in 1950s Hollywood that dives deep into ambition, power, and how women get crushed (or consumed) by the roles they’re forced to play—on and off the screen.
The story follows Vera, a young Mexican actress who’s unexpectedly cast as Salome in a major film, and Nancy, an extra who is very convinced she should’ve gotten the part instead. The movie they’re filming retells the biblical story of Salome, and that storyline runs parallel to theirs—with Salome herself even narrating part of it. It all builds toward that moment: the dance before Herod, and the infamous request for the prophet’s head.
The book doesn’t shy away from the racism, misogyny, or cruelty of the era, which made it hit even harder. That said, I do think the character balance was a little off—Vera felt a little too perfect, while Nancy leaned so far into the “jealous villain” lane that I struggled to connect with her at all.
But the writing? Gorgeous. Moreno-Garcia’s prose is so elegant and atmospheric, and the way she blends genre with a very literary, slow-burn style worked really well here. It left me feeling kind of haunted, a little heartbroken, and super impressed.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quickly marked down as one of my favorites by SMG. Her usual themes are all there but in a more unorthodox format. The way the characters' perspectives rotate in with the the plot of the movie being filmed worked extremely well, along with the chapter-less setup.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
I had no idea what this book was about so was surprised to discover there was no supernatural bent to this book, unlike the majority of SMG’s previous books. I really enjoyed the three distinct voices of Vera, Nancy and Salome, particularly the writing of Salome and that entire time. Not my favorite book by SMG, but worth a read.
emotional
mysterious
medium-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