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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work, so I was quite glad to read this one - her writing is, in itself, a pleasure. This is the first historical fiction I've seen from her - most of her work is fantasy or science fiction, but this is more of a noir novel set in Mexico in the 1970s. The writing is really excellent!
One of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's gifts is that she writes equally well in a wide variety of genres. That means that sometimes - like this time - you're not really sure what genre you're reading in. Moreno-Garcia calls it noir and it certainly is that, but it might also be a romance novel and I didn't know whether it was or not until the Epilogue. That's a feature, not a bug.
Mostly, it's a character portrait of a couple of flawed individuals whom I quickly started caring about, whether or not they ever even met each other or fell in love. The story kept me engaged for other reasons. Which isn't surprising from Moreno-Garcia. She's probably my favorite current author.
Mostly, it's a character portrait of a couple of flawed individuals whom I quickly started caring about, whether or not they ever even met each other or fell in love. The story kept me engaged for other reasons. Which isn't surprising from Moreno-Garcia. She's probably my favorite current author.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Murder
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
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
I liked that Maite and Elvis were kinda losers. The set-up was so interesting, I want to read more about this time period now. And I should have seen that El Mago was Leonora's uncle coming but I didn't really, so that was a nice moment.
Strong start but a muddled middle...
VELVET WAS THE NIGHT is a noir set during political unrest in 1970s Mexico. There are two points of view: Maite, a young secretary whose neighbor goes missing; and Elvis, who has been hired to squash resistance among students and protestors.
I went in expecting a mystery, which led to disappointment as the missing neighbor isn't a huge part of the plot. Once I realized VWTN was more of a historical character study, I found it more satisfying.
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for this review.
VELVET WAS THE NIGHT is a noir set during political unrest in 1970s Mexico. There are two points of view: Maite, a young secretary whose neighbor goes missing; and Elvis, who has been hired to squash resistance among students and protestors.
I went in expecting a mystery, which led to disappointment as the missing neighbor isn't a huge part of the plot. Once I realized VWTN was more of a historical character study, I found it more satisfying.
Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for this review.
I liked a lot about this book, the whole vibe is classic noir. I was never sure the entire book who I was really rooting for, which I love.
The main character is a little irritating - she’s excessively naive and self-deprecating, which is sort of grating.
The main character is a little irritating - she’s excessively naive and self-deprecating, which is sort of grating.