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takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall there was not enough character depth or development, and by the ending I rather feel like nothing had changed? meaning the story was kind of pointless?
I've read a few books by this author and none of them quite hit the mark.
2.5/5🌶️
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Medical trauma, Drug use, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had a very fun time with this story. It's an earlier novel of Moren0-Garcia's so some of her character and pacing work is less strong, but that creativity and sense of place is still there.
The vampire lore she's created for this world, with the various sub-species of vampire and their clan clashes and clashes with humans, is fascinating and I want to learn more. It's absolutely the best part of the novel.
The overall plot is fairly predictable and it's slower to start, but the chapters are short and the story is engaging enough that you just keep turning the page. I'd recommend especially for the Halloween/spooky vibes.
I think some of the themes hinted at in the novel become much more prevalent in her later works.
Finally as it's a noir, the novel does get bloody and violent towards the end and I think some may be unsatisfied with the ending (true to genre).
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
nicoleonbooks's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This one is for the vampire lore enthusiasts! Certain Dark Things follows five characters through alternate universe Mexico City as vampires hunt each other down and humans try to elimate the threat that they pose. This has sci-fi elements in a noir style, interwoven with Mexican culture and history. A little understanding of the noir genre greatly enhances the experience of this novel, and can be achieved with a little Google searching. Each component pairs together to make a delicious novel.
"We are our hunger."
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The rapport between Domingo and Atl is excellently-written, driven by Domingo's adoration of Atl, and Atl's need for Domingo's help but distaste for feeling weak. Atl is using up every one of her mother's contacts along the way, relying on wisps of goodwill and loyalty from humans and vampires who assumed their obligations died long before Atl's mother did. This results in a tangle of one-off and repeating characters as Atl and Domingo navigate this loose network of contacts, just trying to get out of the city alive.
The worldbuilding is immersive, built through stories, buildings, and how the characters move through this alternate version of Mexico City where not only are vampires real but there are several kinds of them. Some (like Atl) are Tlahuihpochtli descended from Aztec blood drinker temple priestesses, but human colonization and the encroachment of other vampires, like Necros and Revenants, have made things more complicated for recent generations. Several decades ago humans found out vampires are real, and many places promptly tried to legislate them out of existence. Mexico City is one such "vampire free" zone, a situation which causes problems for Atl.
The plot is a web of pursuers and pursued, beginning in earnest when one of Atl's pursuers gets sloppy and the police find a dead human. It's a dance of obsession, violence, and death, as Atl tries to use Domingo without him spooking, while Domingo finds himself falling in love with her and not minding being used.
I loved every minute, and am extremely happy with the ending. Don't miss this one.
Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death, Misogyny, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Vomit, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Cannibalism, Bullying, Police brutality, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Ableism, Xenophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, Torture, Murder, and Child death
Minor: Excrement, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, and Sexual harassment
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I also kept looking for a theme or some allogory, and if there was some, I couldn't find it. Any message I started to find didn't fit with all the information present. It's possible there was never meant to be some deeper meaning. Either way, once I stopped looking for one, I enjoyed the book a lot more.
On the possitive end, the vibe and tone of the book was fantastic. I really loved the characters - especially Domingo and Atl. And the world building was absolutely wonderful. I found myself intrigued by every new thing a learned about the different vampires of the world and spent most of the book longing for more.
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Animal death
allthembooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
1. A 17 year old boy from the streets, that has ben through a lot of horrible things but still sees the world with hope and positivity.
2. A 23 year old vampire girl, that had everything and lost it all. Full of cynicism and violence trying to survive.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Death
applejacksbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Death
baytamax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Medical trauma, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Gore, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Torture
peachani's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Classism and Gun violence
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Colonisation, Drug abuse, and Sexual content
bumblebeefarts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gun violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury