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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Murder
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
sad
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:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual harassment
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me a minute to get into this book but when it hooked me, I couldn't put it down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
The Seventh Veil of Salome is incredibly well written. It’s probably my second favorite Silvia Moreno-Garcia book so far (and that’s only because Mexican Gothic is so good.)
The embedded layers of narrative are expertly well handled, and circle so well with the question of who gets to set history threaded through the novel. Who is and isn’t reliable, who is actually telling the story, and if we are supposed to see any true reincarnation are all questions that are satisfied, if not truly resolved. (Because they don’t need to be and this novel lets you ponder!)
It’s a book that’s a classic tragedy in the sense that we’re told from the beginning it is one. Then there’s one storyline where we know the tragic ending and the question is how we get there, and another storyline where we know it’ll be tragic and we’re spiraling to it but don’t know how.
And even despite that the ending isn’t emotionally devastating and Moreno-Garcia will not let our dual heroines suffer for other’s machinations. (No spoilers, but she’s always been an expert writer on that front).
This book was also such a good exploration of ways patriarchy (both in the ancient world, the 50s, and today) offers women limited options and uses racism to turn them against one another. Nancy isn’t unsympathetic (remarkably) but she is unquestionably racist and shaped to blame a Mexican woman for her troubles rather than look at her own failings or how the sexist system she grew up in is really at fault. And it’s this twisting and her own refusal to accept responsibility that leads to the novel’s violent conclusion.
Moreno-Garcia has always been skilled at presenting complex women and complex themes, while never losing the story she’s telling. Seventh Veil of Salome really illustrates her skill at layering it all. 100% recommend.
The embedded layers of narrative are expertly well handled, and circle so well with the question of who gets to set history threaded through the novel. Who is and isn’t reliable, who is actually telling the story, and if we are supposed to see any true reincarnation are all questions that are satisfied, if not truly resolved. (Because they don’t need to be and this novel lets you ponder!)
It’s a book that’s a classic tragedy in the sense that we’re told from the beginning it is one. Then there’s one storyline where we know the tragic ending and the question is how we get there, and another storyline where we know it’ll be tragic and we’re spiraling to it but don’t know how.
And even despite that the ending isn’t emotionally devastating and Moreno-Garcia will not let our dual heroines suffer for other’s machinations. (No spoilers, but she’s always been an expert writer on that front).
This book was also such a good exploration of ways patriarchy (both in the ancient world, the 50s, and today) offers women limited options and uses racism to turn them against one another. Nancy isn’t unsympathetic (remarkably) but she is unquestionably racist and shaped to blame a Mexican woman for her troubles rather than look at her own failings or how the sexist system she grew up in is really at fault. And it’s this twisting and her own refusal to accept responsibility that leads to the novel’s violent conclusion.
Moreno-Garcia has always been skilled at presenting complex women and complex themes, while never losing the story she’s telling. Seventh Veil of Salome really illustrates her skill at layering it all. 100% recommend.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated