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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
No
Moreno-Garcia strikes again! I was so worried after I didn't enjoy Silver Nitrate from this amazing author, but Salome brought me right back into the fold as a Moreno-Garcia super fan. This is wonderful. Two stories told in tandem from 3 perspectives with incredible insertions of interviews from "witnesses" documentary style - absolutely brilliant! The pacing was brilliant right until the end which felt like a 2 chapter sprint and drop - no cliffhanger, just a steep drop and *fin*. I didn't mind much though because every beat of that ending was earned and perfect. I love finding an author who doesn't just tell the same story over and over, and Moreno-Garcia delivers with every story she puts out. Not every one will be for me, but I will 10% give everyone a try!
**Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC**
**Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC**
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
SMG does it again! Absolutely spellbinding, the only reason it took more than a day to read is because life got in the way. The characters are deeply developed, the plot intricately woven, the history immaculately presented. As much as I have loved SMG’s prior work, this might take the top spot. I’m so pleased to have finally had the chance to read this! Recommended reading for anyone with a pulse ;)
emotional
tense
medium-paced
I'm generally a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, so when I saw this book on display at my local indie bookstore, I snatched it up. I love the way Moreno-Garcia changes up her genres while writing consistently compelling characters, so I had high hopes for Seven Veils.
Fortunately, all my expectations were met. While I could talk about minor things here and there, overall, Moreno-Garcia remains a favorite, and this book earns 4 stars from me.
WRITING: Moreno-Garcia's prose is very fluid and evocative, perfectly capturing the mood of her settings while also not bogging the reader down too much with details. She leaves enough up to the reader's imagination and balances showing and telling.
I also found the structure of this book to be interesting. In between the POV chapters where the main plot happens, there are snippets of interviews for what seems like a documentary. Supporting characters give their insight on the protagonists or the film business some number of years after the events of the book, and I found it to be an interesting way to think about how history is framed and how stories are told. These bits also helped build some suspense by alluding to a great crisis or tragedy but never saying what it was outright. Some readers might like this but some may find it frustrating. Personally, I thought it was fine because it complimented the themes about manufacturing gossip or a salacious story.
PLOT: The plot of this book follows three women: Vera, Nancy, and Salome. In the 1950s, Nancy is an aspiring actress who has struggled to get jobs for the past 4 years. She's engaged when a party she wanted - the lead in a Biblical epic - goes to unknown Mexican actress Vera Larios. Vera comes to Hollywood to try to find herself and prove she's just as good as her younger sister. Meanwhile, the ancient/Biblical tale of Salome is woven throughout the narrative.
Moreno-Garcia did a wonderful job capturing Vera's naivite in Hollywood in the 1950s. While the dark underbelly is alluded to, most of the focus is on Vera's experience and her gracious attitude. We see plenty of darkness in Nancy's POV, since Nancy does some questionable things to make ends meet.
I also like the show build up of tension. This story isn't one to revel in empty shocks; it slowly builds up dread that becomes more and more palpation the more we get invested in the characters.
If I had to nitpick, I would say that I think some of the narrative could have mirrored Salome's story more closely, but honestly, I was happy that a lot was left to our interpretation. Perhaps the ending could have been more emotionally devastating or more satisfying. I don't know. I think whether or not you like this book will depend on how invested you are in the characters.
CHARACTERS: Vera, one of our heroines, is charming and clever and I very much wished to see her succeed. The tension with her mother and sister makes Vera sympathetic, and her love of music made for a lovely point of connection with Jay, an aspiring Jazz musician. I also loved that Vera was surrounded by people who wanted to help her rather than see her fail.
Nancy, our second protagonist, is compelling on that she's both sympathetic and has a rather awful attitude. She's egotistical and entitled, but I couldn't help feel a little sorry for her because of her part and her current desperation.
Salome is perhaps the least compelling in that she doesn't really feel real. I wasn't wholly convinced that she was in love with the preacher, but I did appreciate the web of treachery she found herself in.
Supporting characters were fine. They did their jobs, and I don't think I need to go over every single one of them. Moreno-Garcia knows how to use them to enhance her characters' arcs, and I'll leave it at that.
TL;DR: The Seventh Veil of Salome is a story about a woman's place in showbiz and the different ways women are perceived. You'll probably like this book if you're interested in character driven stories, and the 1950s setting is dazzling without being too gritty.
Fortunately, all my expectations were met. While I could talk about minor things here and there, overall, Moreno-Garcia remains a favorite, and this book earns 4 stars from me.
WRITING: Moreno-Garcia's prose is very fluid and evocative, perfectly capturing the mood of her settings while also not bogging the reader down too much with details. She leaves enough up to the reader's imagination and balances showing and telling.
I also found the structure of this book to be interesting. In between the POV chapters where the main plot happens, there are snippets of interviews for what seems like a documentary. Supporting characters give their insight on the protagonists or the film business some number of years after the events of the book, and I found it to be an interesting way to think about how history is framed and how stories are told. These bits also helped build some suspense by alluding to a great crisis or tragedy but never saying what it was outright. Some readers might like this but some may find it frustrating. Personally, I thought it was fine because it complimented the themes about manufacturing gossip or a salacious story.
PLOT: The plot of this book follows three women: Vera, Nancy, and Salome. In the 1950s, Nancy is an aspiring actress who has struggled to get jobs for the past 4 years. She's engaged when a party she wanted - the lead in a Biblical epic - goes to unknown Mexican actress Vera Larios. Vera comes to Hollywood to try to find herself and prove she's just as good as her younger sister. Meanwhile, the ancient/Biblical tale of Salome is woven throughout the narrative.
Moreno-Garcia did a wonderful job capturing Vera's naivite in Hollywood in the 1950s. While the dark underbelly is alluded to, most of the focus is on Vera's experience and her gracious attitude. We see plenty of darkness in Nancy's POV, since Nancy does some questionable things to make ends meet.
I also like the show build up of tension. This story isn't one to revel in empty shocks; it slowly builds up dread that becomes more and more palpation the more we get invested in the characters.
If I had to nitpick, I would say that I think some of the narrative could have mirrored Salome's story more closely, but honestly, I was happy that a lot was left to our interpretation. Perhaps the ending could have been more emotionally devastating or more satisfying. I don't know. I think whether or not you like this book will depend on how invested you are in the characters.
CHARACTERS: Vera, one of our heroines, is charming and clever and I very much wished to see her succeed. The tension with her mother and sister makes Vera sympathetic, and her love of music made for a lovely point of connection with Jay, an aspiring Jazz musician. I also loved that Vera was surrounded by people who wanted to help her rather than see her fail.
Nancy, our second protagonist, is compelling on that she's both sympathetic and has a rather awful attitude. She's egotistical and entitled, but I couldn't help feel a little sorry for her because of her part and her current desperation.
Salome is perhaps the least compelling in that she doesn't really feel real. I wasn't wholly convinced that she was in love with the preacher, but I did appreciate the web of treachery she found herself in.
Supporting characters were fine. They did their jobs, and I don't think I need to go over every single one of them. Moreno-Garcia knows how to use them to enhance her characters' arcs, and I'll leave it at that.
TL;DR: The Seventh Veil of Salome is a story about a woman's place in showbiz and the different ways women are perceived. You'll probably like this book if you're interested in character driven stories, and the 1950s setting is dazzling without being too gritty.
sad
medium-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
Historical fiction book based on classic Hollywood. The book had much potential, but felt a little rushed at the end. I enjoyed it nonetheless. Reads like a bio flick.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced