Certain Dark Things

Product Information

SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Gods of Jade and Shadow, Mexican Gothic, Untamed Shore, and a bunch of other books. In Certain Dark Things, the author grants them all equal space, with each version being a separate vampire subspecies native to different areas. Her range in her writing never ceases to amaze me, same with her never wanting to limit herself to one genre. Each of her types wholly stands apart from the others, with not only distinct powers and abilities, but also with personalities and beliefs that make them instantly distinguishable from each other.

The world building is very basic and by that I don’t just mean the actual physical world our characters inhabit. The perfect blend of fantasy, horror and noir, with vivid characters and set in a Mexico City that became a character in and of itself . And she was a beauty, with that black hair and the dark eyes and the way she stood, so damn graceful. Atl and Domingo stand little chance at all of making it out alive before the city devours them all – but they are determined to try.She wasn’t wearing a fancy outfit, but it fit her well; the clothes were of good quality, he could tell as much. She’s going to need to trust him with not just her secrets, but with her life, if they both are going to get out of Mexico City alive. But as with all rules, there are times

But ultimately, the end of the book is such a fizzle that I felt more frustrated and disappointed than anything else. The author also plays around with some noir and vampire tropes, most notably with Atl and Domingo, subverting the mortal/vampire romance in some ways, and leaning into it in others. She has also edited several anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a. I started skimming because while I cared what happened to Atl and Domingo, I fast lost interest in the mechanations of what was going on with the various conflicts.Her YA novel Gods of Jade and Shadow was nice enough, but overly simplistic compared to the way it was sold (which may be more marketing’s fault than the author’s) and then Mexican Gothic was so much fun and a really great horror novel that had a lot more to say than just “oh look, creepy house”. Once Domingo realizes how much Atl needs help, the two work together to find a way to get out of town and escape her pursuers, a sadistic vampire named Nick and Rodrigo, the companion who’s trying to keep Nick under control. Picture this a runaway vampire with roots tracing as far back as the Aztec empire and a teenage trash collector are on the run in a futuristic Mexico City. These are not your typical bloodsuckers, and I'd be willing to give the author another shot at a vampire book that didn't focus on these particular characters and plot lines. Domingo, a lonely street kid trying to stay out of trouble and gather garbage to pay for his next meal.

It’s set in Mexico City in an alternate reality where vampires have been living among humans for years.

The only reason he’s arrived in Mexico City is to murder Atl, who turned down his advances shortly before he murdered her family.

Yes, I’m back reviewing ANOTHER Moreno-Garcia book and I’m sure you will all be shocked when I say I loved it.

The next story was of a pop star, the singing sensation of the month, and then there was another ad, this one for a shoulder-bag computer. I really enjoyed the overall idea and the setting; particularly, how humans and vampires live side-by-side. I have never been there so I would have appreciated at least some description of the characters’ surroundings.