Scan barcode
literarypenguin'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
2.0
While I did love the noir setting and tone this story had, that was out shadowed by the annoying main character and boring story. The character of Maite was vain and rude to every person she encountered especially women. She had the habit of judging people before she even got a chance to know them and how she felt about her looks played a constant role into her thoughts which got repetitive after a while. The other character Elvis was the typical gangster who wants to leave the life behind him. Nothing really stood out about him besides his love for music. The two characters didnt even really interact until the last chapters.
The mystery of the missing women, to be honest I stopped caring about what happened to her about half way through. That isnt usually how a mystery is suppose to go and that was a real letdown for me. I hope Silvia's next works are a lot better and this book won't sour any of the other wonderful stories she has to offer.
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Sexual content
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
"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.
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
_likethefruit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Murder, War, Torture, Stalking, and Police brutality
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
meskeets's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: War, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, and Murder
bookmaddie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Torture
ad1t1s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Sexual content
msradiosilence's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content warnings at the bottom. :)
First and foremost: fuck El Mago. That bitch deserved it lol.
Listen, I like Maite and I like Elvis, but I am uncomfy with age gaps. That being said, I hope Maite and Elvis find happiness and if that’s with one another? Even better. After what Ruben pulled, Maite deserves happiness.
Speaking of Ruben,
I thought this book was a different one (Certain Dark Things) but I was pleasantly surprised. I had a great time.
Rating: 4
Would I recommend? Yes, especially if you enjoy noir and complicated romances.
Content warnings: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Torture, Sexual content, Blood
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
alisonvh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Abandonment, Death, Stalking, Murder, Violence, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
bookishdaydreams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Stalking
carolined314's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Gun violence, and Gore
Moderate: Police brutality, Bullying, Alcohol, Stalking, Death, Body shaming, and Sexual content