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kt15's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
flowerwineandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
steph3nie's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
alguienmescucha's review against another edition
2.0
Entré a este libro con expectativas hasta ahí. Había visto muchas reseñas para Mexican Gothic, y no lo leí. Y me metí de lleno en este Noir para hacerme una idea propia de lo que pienso de la narración de la autora.
Creo que, en principio, la idea del libro está buena. Es interesante y da para una novela llena de acción, persecuciones, y espías. Lo único es que la acción, nunca llega. Recién en los últimos dos capítulos sentí que pasó algo realmente, el resto se sintió como una introducción muy larga. Se me hizo larguísimo a pesar de tener menos de 300 páginas, y lo terminé por pura voluntad.
La protagonista me pareció molesta, por decirlo suavemente. No soporto a este tipo de personajes y no quiero decir nada más para no spoilear. Pero dios mío, como no soporto a Maite.
Creo que este libro podría haber sido excelente, pero la ejecución de la idea no estuvo a la altura. Se torna lento, y tarda un millón de años en llegar al punto. En fin, la hipotenusa.
Creo que, en principio, la idea del libro está buena. Es interesante y da para una novela llena de acción, persecuciones, y espías. Lo único es que la acción, nunca llega. Recién en los últimos dos capítulos sentí que pasó algo realmente, el resto se sintió como una introducción muy larga. Se me hizo larguísimo a pesar de tener menos de 300 páginas, y lo terminé por pura voluntad.
La protagonista me pareció molesta, por decirlo suavemente. No soporto a este tipo de personajes y no quiero decir nada más para no spoilear. Pero dios mío, como no soporto a Maite.
Creo que este libro podría haber sido excelente, pero la ejecución de la idea no estuvo a la altura. Se torna lento, y tarda un millón de años en llegar al punto. En fin, la hipotenusa.
linnaboobooks's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy to read and review.
Set in Mexico during the 1970s with its dangerous political climate, two very different people go through life in parallel. Things become more complicated for Maite after her next door neighbor goes missing, and Elvis has to further navigate his way as a mobster.
A typical noir type novel with the added setting of Mexico and the cultural aspects applied, I think this very well could be a better movie or miniseries than a novel. The ease of which I got through it was great, although I kept getting confused as to what exactly was going on and became lost. And times where I couldn't tell if or how things were tied together. So it was a bit messy to me at times to keep up with what was going on.
Maite, although a touch annoying, she happened to be surprisingly realistic in her daydreaming and somewhat vapid ways. Which added to the noir atmosphere, it fit and felt right. And the same with Elvis.
The author does a fantastic job in creating atmosphere, as I've learned from a previous novel of hers, and I continued to be amazed by this and her characters. The nuance brought out hits all the right points of the genre she's writing in. I'll continue to read anything she puts out that interests me. Also I must add the afterword is a must to read.
content warnings for politics, gun violence, violence, sexual harassment.
Set in Mexico during the 1970s with its dangerous political climate, two very different people go through life in parallel. Things become more complicated for Maite after her next door neighbor goes missing, and Elvis has to further navigate his way as a mobster.
A typical noir type novel with the added setting of Mexico and the cultural aspects applied, I think this very well could be a better movie or miniseries than a novel. The ease of which I got through it was great, although I kept getting confused as to what exactly was going on and became lost. And times where I couldn't tell if or how things were tied together. So it was a bit messy to me at times to keep up with what was going on.
Maite, although a touch annoying, she happened to be surprisingly realistic in her daydreaming and somewhat vapid ways. Which added to the noir atmosphere, it fit and felt right. And the same with Elvis.
The author does a fantastic job in creating atmosphere, as I've learned from a previous novel of hers, and I continued to be amazed by this and her characters. The nuance brought out hits all the right points of the genre she's writing in. I'll continue to read anything she puts out that interests me. Also I must add the afterword is a must to read.
content warnings for politics, gun violence, violence, sexual harassment.
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I purchased a copy of this book at a library book sale.
"Velvet Was the Night" follows Maite and Elvis in Mexico during the 1970's. Maite is a secretary who is barely scrapping by, and she is completely oblivious to the protests happening right outside her door. Her new neighbor, Leonora, asks Maite to watch her cat for her for a few days. But, when a few days turns into longer, Maite is thrust into a world she had no idea existed. Elvis has a violent way of getting what he wants, and when he is tasked with finding Leonora, he will stop at nothing to prove himself worthy to his boss.
This was a fantastic historical fiction, and the first historical fiction I have read that is set in Mexico. I did not even realize this story was inspired by true events until the author's note at the end, because this novel reads like an exciting, fictitious story all on its own. The fact that it is inspired by real events makes it all the more interesting.
Maite as a character was insufferable, but that kind of made the story progress in an interesting way. Maite has the habit of fabricating her life because her real life is not at all interesting and is in actuality kind of sad. Her whole motivation for wanting to find Leonora is because she needs the money Leonora promised her to pay for her car to be fixed. Even when Maite discovers that Leonora might be in trouble and is mixed up in some dangerous things, Maite is still really only motivated by money.
Elvis was such a complex, morally gray character. We all know what he is doing is wrong, and he should not be harming people in pursuit of truth, but he is also just this loveable guy that got mixed up in the wrong crowd in an attempt to survive. I really enjoyed his story arch and reading from his perspective.
This story, in spite of being a historical fiction, has some twists and turns that I did not see coming, and that kept me wanting to read more. Once I started, I could not put this book down. I was pretty happy with the ultimate resolution and where the story ended up.
I definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a peak into Mexico's corruption in the 1970's.
"Velvet Was the Night" follows Maite and Elvis in Mexico during the 1970's. Maite is a secretary who is barely scrapping by, and she is completely oblivious to the protests happening right outside her door. Her new neighbor, Leonora, asks Maite to watch her cat for her for a few days. But, when a few days turns into longer, Maite is thrust into a world she had no idea existed. Elvis has a violent way of getting what he wants, and when he is tasked with finding Leonora, he will stop at nothing to prove himself worthy to his boss.
This was a fantastic historical fiction, and the first historical fiction I have read that is set in Mexico. I did not even realize this story was inspired by true events until the author's note at the end, because this novel reads like an exciting, fictitious story all on its own. The fact that it is inspired by real events makes it all the more interesting.
Maite as a character was insufferable, but that kind of made the story progress in an interesting way. Maite has the habit of fabricating her life because her real life is not at all interesting and is in actuality kind of sad. Her whole motivation for wanting to find Leonora is because she needs the money Leonora promised her to pay for her car to be fixed. Even when Maite discovers that Leonora might be in trouble and is mixed up in some dangerous things, Maite is still really only motivated by money.
Elvis was such a complex, morally gray character. We all know what he is doing is wrong, and he should not be harming people in pursuit of truth, but he is also just this loveable guy that got mixed up in the wrong crowd in an attempt to survive. I really enjoyed his story arch and reading from his perspective.
This story, in spite of being a historical fiction, has some twists and turns that I did not see coming, and that kept me wanting to read more. Once I started, I could not put this book down. I was pretty happy with the ultimate resolution and where the story ended up.
I definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a peak into Mexico's corruption in the 1970's.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Police brutality, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Grief, Death, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual content
aislinn_mac2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
janagaton's review against another edition
2.0
big disappointment for me tbh/: didnt feel connected to any of the characters, nor did i really care about the plot. the cover is stunning & there are some notable quotes, but this one definitely fell flat for me. I'll still read her other books because I loved Mexican Gothic, but I'm really sad this one didn't live up to the hype.
courtneyyyyz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5