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_likethefruit's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Murder, War, Torture, Stalking, and Police brutality
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
meskeets's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, and Murder
merri217's review
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
flaminggecko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, War, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Classism
unlikelyplaces's review
4.0
I’m not overly sure how to talk about this one. It’s really not my usual genre but I picked it up because I wanted to try this author’s work and I’ll read anything set in the 70s but I did really enjoy it.
This is a noir/mystery/thriller novel set in Mexico in the 70s during a time of extreme political control known as the “Dirty War”. The story itself follows a woman called Maite and a man called Elvis as they investigate the disappearance of a missing woman.
I loved the way the characters lives sort of circle around each other and interweave throughout the novel. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and am definitely interested in picking up more of their work.
My main issue with this was that I really couldn’t stand Maite. I don’t think she’s meant to be particularly likeable but I just found her a very irritating pov, especially early on in the novel. Once the story got going through I was hooked.
As I say, this is really not my usual genre so I don’t know how much I can say about how good it really is but I had a good time and learned about a period of history that I didn’t know about before so that’s a win for me.
This is a noir/mystery/thriller novel set in Mexico in the 70s during a time of extreme political control known as the “Dirty War”. The story itself follows a woman called Maite and a man called Elvis as they investigate the disappearance of a missing woman.
I loved the way the characters lives sort of circle around each other and interweave throughout the novel. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and am definitely interested in picking up more of their work.
My main issue with this was that I really couldn’t stand Maite. I don’t think she’s meant to be particularly likeable but I just found her a very irritating pov, especially early on in the novel. Once the story got going through I was hooked.
As I say, this is really not my usual genre so I don’t know how much I can say about how good it really is but I had a good time and learned about a period of history that I didn’t know about before so that’s a win for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
vagrantheather's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
4.75
Civil unrest in 1970s Mexico leads a well connected student activist, Leonora, to go into hiding over some photographs that show what the state doesn't want seen. This story follows Maite, her neighbor, as she tries to figure out what happened to Leonora, and Elvis, a private militia thug assigned to tail her.
Absolutely loved the characterization and character development. I could see where others would not find the plot very compelling but I enjoyed it. I especially liked how the interpersonal dynamics played out. Compelling prose.
Absolutely loved the characterization and character development. I could see where others would not find the plot very compelling but I enjoyed it. I especially liked how the interpersonal dynamics played out. Compelling prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Sexual content and Police brutality
ad1t1s's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Sexual content
msradiosilence's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
TLDR; 4 rating, Maite is so funny, and I really liked this!
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, the fact that Maite opened up and told Ruben about Cristabol and he still left her for the artist bitch?? Are you kidding me? I hope she leaves his ass again.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
alisonvh's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
The writing could be better, but the plot completely sucked me in. I devoured this book in just a few days when I was on vacation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Abandonment, Death, Stalking, Murder, Violence, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
buer's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Velvet Was the Night is a historical fiction with a strong romantic bent, starring Maite and Elvis. Maite is a woman in her thirties who loves reading romance and listening to records in lieu of having the husband and children that her mother keeps pestering her about. When her neighbor, Leonora, asks her to cat sit while she is out of town, Maite acquiesces - only to find herself suddenly living a life akin to the ones she reads about in her graphic romances. On the other side of the equation Elvis is a young man who has always existed on the criminal side of things. He too loves records and books and he has a strong sense of ethics that drive him to sometimes make surprising choices. The historical events surrounding this story are true, but the main players are fictional, making for a pulpy thrill ride in the midst of a tumultuous historical time in 1970s Mexico City.
Both Maite and Elvis exist in shades of gray. Maite technically a law-abiding citizen, but she lies to her co-workers, despises her family, and has a penchant for stealing small trinkets from people she knows or works for. Elvis has a job that has him beating people up and threatening them constantly, but is profoundly loyal and has a strong sense of ethics that sometimes make it hard for him to do his job. Over the course of the story both Maite and Elvis become even more gray as they grapple with their personal ethics and their current lifestyles.
I personally found Maite to be a pretty obnoxious. She is incredibly self-deprecating and is constantly day dreaming about sex. She only wills herself to act when a man is a part of the equation. However I'll be the first to admit that in spite of me not liking her as a character, Moreno-Garcia did a great job of shaping action around a stagnant and unlikable main character and constantly throwing her into contrast against Elvis.
My usual disclaimer: I listened to this book rather than reading it, which makes it difficult to evaluate the writing. Gisela Chípe was a great narrator, although a few of her deeper voices felt a little cartoonish and I didn't love how ditzy Leonora sounded. She is easy to listen to for long stretches and is overall very engaging.
Both Maite and Elvis exist in shades of gray. Maite technically a law-abiding citizen, but she lies to her co-workers, despises her family, and has a penchant for stealing small trinkets from people she knows or works for. Elvis has a job that has him beating people up and threatening them constantly, but is profoundly loyal and has a strong sense of ethics that sometimes make it hard for him to do his job. Over the course of the story both Maite and Elvis become even more gray as they grapple with their personal ethics and their current lifestyles.
I personally found Maite to be a pretty obnoxious. She is incredibly self-deprecating and is constantly day dreaming about sex. She only wills herself to act when a man is a part of the equation. However I'll be the first to admit that in spite of me not liking her as a character, Moreno-Garcia did a great job of shaping action around a stagnant and unlikable main character and constantly throwing her into contrast against Elvis.
My usual disclaimer: I listened to this book rather than reading it, which makes it difficult to evaluate the writing. Gisela Chípe was a great narrator, although a few of her deeper voices felt a little cartoonish and I didn't love how ditzy Leonora sounded. She is easy to listen to for long stretches and is overall very engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, and Police brutality