Real Rating: 3.5

While my rating may suggest otherwise, this book has cemented Silvia Moreno-Garcia as an author whose titles will generate automatic interest for me. In the words of Tay Money, Moreno-Garcia is an author who shows up to each work understanding the assignment. It was clear in last year's gothic horror breakout Mexican Gothic, and it is clear again in the rerelease of this neo-noir horror novel.

This book is noir to its core. It's dark, it's gritty, it's sexy, it's messy, (and, like most noir, it's a little too heterosexual for my interests). But, as with Mexican Gothic, Moreno-Garcia expands the conversation to celebrate history, culture, mythology, and language while critiquing the impact of colonialism and capitalism. We also get a reminder here that she is in the pantheon of modern horror with folks like Stephen Graham Jones who show a real love of the classics and a desire to revive and reform to hold modern conversations.

The issue here for me was that this is messy. I know there's a glossary of mythos in the back of the book, but the front half is loaded down with too much mythos as we get are acclimated to not just how vampires fit into the cultural conversation but also the subtypes of vampires from across the globe. If this were a series, it would have room to breathe and develop, but this is a standalone and a relatively short work at that (273 pages), and I was left with too much world building and still not enough understanding. It is clear that Moreno-Garcia understood her world building, but I don't think we are allowed enough of it and enough space to absorb.

When the action kicks in during the novel's back half, this is when the reader is reminded of the author's story telling gifts. Again, the noir is here in a nice gender-bent package that I think modern readers will appreciate if the front half doesn't make them feel too bogged down.

Problems aside, take my word that CDT and Moreno-Garcia's larger oeuvre are worth your time and energy if you fancy yourself a genre fiction reader.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for the opportunity to honestly review an e-arc of Certain Dark Things.

Mexico City is one of the only safe havens left in a world full of vampires. Domingo, a garbage collector, has grown up on the streets and is just trying to survive. Atl is a descendant of the Aztec Vampires and reluctantly needs his help to escape this city without the rival narco vampires finding her. As they work together, Atl begins to grow fond of the scrappy street kid. They also start to draw the attention of the cops and local crime bosses. Will they be able to escape?

This is a very interesting, neo-noir take on vampires. I loved the lore behind each species of vampire and the incorporation of the different cultures. The world is fully developed with so many possibilities for other stories to be held within if Moreno-Garcia ever chooses to return to it.

Atl and Domingo are great characters and I love their differing perspectives on life and how those shape their interactions. They are both naive in their own ways, and we get to see them grow throughout the novel. This book is a character study, but still jam packed with action. It creates a delicious blend that is captivating to read.

This is just what I needed for the fall season - Silvia Moreno Garcia once again creates such an interesting story that feels so different from what I've read from her previously but has her signature touch. Certain Dark Things brings back the best of paranormal and the stakes are constantly being raised. The plot is gripping and the characters leave a lasting impact on the readers.

You really haven’t lived until you’ve read about vampires from Silvia Moreno-García!

The way this book takes vampires which is something so beloved and popular and really does THAT, I loved it so much! It felt right in all the best ways, I am going to need Silvia Moreno-García to be the only one who writes vampires from now on!

This is the perfect spooky season read and I would LOVE to see it adapted into a neo-noir film!

Certain Dark Things
September 25, 2021
Book Review

Certain Dark Things
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
reviewed by Lou Jacobs



readersremains.com | Goodreads


They walk among us. In 1967, a joint task force organized by the governments of the USA and Great Britain—using the latest scientific methods—revealed to the world the existence of five subspecies of vampire, lifting them from the shadow of folklore and superstition. Since that year, a total of ten subspecies have been uncovered.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia crafts a riveting crime noir alternate reality in which “real” vampires are intertwined with the human population, stalking the dark and ruthless streets of Mexico City. Atl, a femme fatale, is a twenty-three-year-old in a family that has spanned centuries—the baby of the clan. Her name is derived from the Nahuati, the language spoken by the Aztecs, and means both “water” and “war.” Her clan was the oldest in Mexico, which moved around Mexico for centuries before coming into contact with the Aztec civilization. She was a Tiahuihpochtl vampire fleeing for her life.

A drug war between her clan and the Necros, led by their leader Godoy, resulted in chaos and death. Her mother’s head was delivered to her abode in a box. She retaliated several days later by killing two of Godoy’s favorite nephews. And soon after the Necros massacred her sister. She escaped the pursuit of Godoy’s thugs, outsmarting and outmaneuvering them, and took refuge in the walled city-state of Mexico City—supposedly a vampire free-zone for the last thirty years.

By chance, her path crosses that of Domingo Molina on the subway. A seemingly carefree seventeen-year-old garbage collector living on his own. He is almost invisible to the locals, although routinely he wears a long yellow plastic jacket as he pushes a shopping cart, filled with found treasures. It starts to rain, and he seeks shelter in the subway, where he encounters the intoxicating beauty of Atl, walking by in a black vinyl jacket and holding the leash of a genetically modified Doberman. He clumsily tries to strike up a conversation. Although initially aloof, but with his naive persistence, she relents and asks him if he’d like to be her friend… for money.

He misunderstands yet follows her back to her sparsely outfitted apartment. Soon he readily accepts her offer and becomes “her snack.” She proclaims to Domingo: “I need young blood, and you’ll do.” She assured him that it was nonsense that he would turn into a vampire. This is met with great degree of consternation as Domingo is quite versed in vampire lore, supplied by his beloved comic books and graphic novels. In fact, much of his assumed knowledge is proven wrong during his association with Atl. He is later mesmerized when he sees her transform into another form. He stares while her hair turns into feathers, and her fingers grow more talon-like, as she grasps his shoulders, as her lips brush his neck, as her “stinger” pierces him, resulting in a burning sensation that spreads down his body. Their relationship markedly changes as Atl comes to depend on Domingo more and more.

Her goal, with his help, is to locate Veronica Montealban in this vast city. Veronica would hopefully provide the false documents, passports, and ID papers that would allow Atl escape to Guatemala. Godoy’s agents are hot on her trail. Capture means certain death. She has no choice but to deal first with the dangerous Revenant. His kind are dangerous to both human and vampire, and could suck out the life force of both.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia beautifully crafts a complex and dark tale with escalating tension, dread, and unexpected reveals as a dangerous cat and mouse game unfolds between warring factions of vampires, local cops, and crime lords. Told in multiple points of view from a multilayered complex cache of colorful characters that ultimately converges into a scintillating denouement with the ultimate vengeance exacted. Explored are unusual friendships and unexpected bonds, while featuring class differences and economic inequalities. Disruption in the vampire world leads to chaos. The unique, lush, and sensual prose and dialogue of Moreno-Garcia lifts horror from a marginal genre. Rejoice fans, as this story is actually a resurrection of a previously dead novel. Issued initially in 2016 to high acclaim and awards only to never be reprinted or reach paperback status as the publisher unexpectedly downsized. It thankfully has risen from the ashes and is reissued with additional material. Provided as an appendix is a detailed explanation of the various species of vampires. Their actual characteristics, their strengths and weaknesses, and, how to kill them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire Books for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cool and gritty story that takes place in a world run rampant with overindulgent vampires engaged in drug, territorial, and specie wars. There are clear allusions to colonialism as the dominant species of vampire are a European subspecies who, despite being the youngest on the evolutionary branch, are the most hardy, adaptable, vicious, and least likely to follow the old accords. As the European vampires consume more and more land in the Americas, Alt, the last of her matriarchal tribe, flees to the one place she hopes she will not be followed, a walled-off Mexico City, one of the few territories around the world that has explicitly ban vampires. Her journey, with a her new human companion and her modified doberman, is one in which explores what it means to be vulnerable yet unyielding and ultimately survival in a world that is increasing hostile to your kind.

Now this wasn't a typical book that I would have picked up. Its not really my style so imagine my surprise when I actually enjoyed this book. I was thrust into a world that I know nothing about and I was pleasantly surprised by how well I was still able to get through it. At first I was a bit hesitant because I wasn't sure if I would like the characters all that much but I did.
The story flow is really smooth too, like in a weird future way. I just got comfortable with all of the world building and the plot line
Overall it was a fun read. I still don't really see myself reading a lot more of this genre but Silvia Moreno-Garcia surprised me with this book.. Its got darkness and intrigue and all the things I love in characters.

Certain Dark Things is full of a wonderful atmosphere of darkness, smoke, and heat that Moreno-Garcia has cultivated. She has reimagined vampires not as romantic sensualists but animals with all the biologic variation of wolves and birds. Setting her story in a dystopian Mexico City is a brilliant idea, and very well done.
The world building and background work really is the best part of this story, and more than earns it 3 stars. Moreno-Garcia did a splendid job envisioning this alternate world of vampires, and I'm glad I was able to read it. But the characters and plotting let the world building work down, to a certain extent.
My biggest issue was nothing really happens most of the book and the final confrontation felt very drawn out and somewhat clumsy. Given the strength of the world building, I wanted the characters and plot to amaze me as well, but they didn't.

3.5 stars
An interesting vampire story! This story centers around a young woman vampire who is on the run from other vampires who have killed her clan. She seeks the help of a young man who lives on the streets. The story provided information about the different clans of vampires and their characteristics..

Silvia Moreno-Garcia my beloved. Is there anything she can't do?

A vampire neo-noir set in Mexico City that's gritty, rich with culture, deliciously violent and brilliantly latinx. My first Moreno-Garcia book was a noir (Untamed Shore), and I think whenever she tackles this kind of genre out comes something specifically made for me. Add impeccable worldbuilding to a formula I know I love (DIFFERENT TYPES OF VAMPIRES) and you get all my love, actually.

Domingo, street kid and Atl, vampiress extraordinaire simply won my heart from their first interaction. This is far from a romance, but I still enjoyed viewing the "human girl enters vampire world against her better judgement" trope with, y'know, a clueless teenage boy. Moreno-Garcia's character work should not be underestimated, and I'd argue it's one of her strongest feats.

I think if you like a lot of the authors other works or just enjoy a good twist on vampires with great characters and a city that's given so much love on the page it feels alive, this is the one for you. I think Untamed Shore is yet to be dethroned as my favorite book from her, but those who prefer speculative works would probably rank this ahead. ALSO THERE IS A DOG.

This is a very interesting take on Vampires - takes place in Mexico City and also has vampires with roots in the Aztec culture which I found very cool. Overall, this story was pretty well done and was very fast-paced enough to keep me engaged. The only thing I would note is that it did seem to be missing something; the world-building and character development were good but it wasn't great. I feel like there were some points that needed to be flushed out a bit more. However, that is definitely not me seeing you shouldn't read it! You absolutely should!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I was completely drawn into the world created by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and felt completely immersed in the Mexico City that Atl and Domingo were living in.
Atl, a vampire (or Tlahuihpochtli), is trying to survive in an alternate Mexico City after a rival vampire clan destroyed her family. She reluctantly teams up with Domingo, a young trash collector, to hopefully evade her enemies--including the authorities, drug gangs, and other vampires--so she can make it out of Mexico City alive.
The way this book blends vampire lore with pre-Hispanic Mexican mythology and culture was very compelling, as was all of Moreno=Garcia's vampire "backstory." Not only that, but the characters were extremely compelling as well. The plot plus the setting sucked me in (pun intended...?). Atl is fascinating as she navigates a trecherous road to safety. She is not always likable but does have rooting value, and even if I didn't like or agree with some of her choices, they did feel organic, and it was obvious that those choices made sense to Atl. Domingo is also a well-drawn character. I immediately connected with him, and rooted for him; I wanted everything to end up okay for Domingo! The secondary characters added to the story as well, and rounded out the book.
I would absolutley recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work in the past, or anyone who enjoys vampire fiction.

DNF @ 33%

I want to come back to this book, but I am not feeling it right now. I feel like nothing has happened so far, which is not a great feeling for being 1/3 through the book. And the fact that I've been laboring over it for almost 20 day doesn't help either. I have liked everything else I've read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (3 other books), so I don't want to give up on this one quite yet. It never takes me that long to read a book. But now is not the right time for it, for me

As someone who loves, but is VERY picky about, vampire mythology, I was very interested in seeing what Silvia Moreno-Garcia would do with a vampire story. She has consistently impressed me within multiple genres, and I figured that even if I didn’t care for her take on vampirism, I would at least find something to enjoy about “Certain Dark Things”. But good news! I not only liked the story as a whole, I also really liked her take on vampirism!

I greatly enjoyed our vampire protagonist Atl, a Tlāhuihpochtl vampire whose ancestors trace back to the Aztecs, and whose family is in a vampire gang war with the Necros, Central European transplant vampires who have been infesting Mexico for awhile. As Atl flees into Mexico City (where vampires are not allowed), she meets Domingo, a young man who is a bit aimless… until he meets Atl. Moreno-Garcia does a great job of bringing these two together and bringing in various vampire mythologies of vampires and servants to make their relationship both easy to like, but also a little hard to swallow. Which is almost certainly intentional, and completely appropriate in a vampire romance if we are being quite honest. I liked Domingo fine for his can do attitude, but it was Atl, with her hard exterior and suppressed pain for her lost family (and in turn violent motivations) that really sucked me in. I also LOVED how Moreno-Garcia brought colonialism into a vampire story, as the Tlāhuihpochtl are the now waning vampires that were in Mexico initially, and have been clashing with the Central European Necros, who came into Mexico and started throwing their weight around. Boy do I love social commentary in my horror, and this is how you execute it properly. And to make things even better, there is an entire encyclopedia of vampire factions within this universe at the end of the book!


It is, Deacon. It really is. (source)
“Certain Dark Things” was very fun vampire fiction! Silvia Moreno-Garcia continues her streak of genre jumping.

Serena’s Thoughts
I, too, really liked this book! I’m continuously impressed by how effortlessly (seemingly) Moreno-Garcia jumps from genre to genre, and this book is yet another example of it. Though, to be fair, this is a re-release of this book. Back when it was originally published, many publishers were cautious that “Twilight” had ruined vampire books for a good long time. But slowly and surely, this book gained a sort of cult following, strong enough to, years later, revive the book entirely (though I’m sure Moreno-Garcia’s spate of very successful recent releases has also played a part). Reading the book now, it’s hard to imagine how any publisher could ever equate this to “Twilight.”

Like Kate mentioned, in some ways, yes, this is a vampire romance. But when the romance in question is so highly questionable, with moving dynamics dependence and power inequalities, there’s no way it can be compared to the saccharine mess that was Edward and Bella. Atl and Domingo are each such incredibly complex characters, and their respective backgrounds are so rich (her recent loss of her powerful, native family to a encroaching gang of foreign vampires, and his perilous life on the streets as a trash collector). All of this plays into the slowly-built friendship and romance they develop.

It’s also incredibly dark and bloody. People die. Like, a lot of people. There are the nameless victims that one expects to find in true vampire stories, but there is also a larger cast of POV characters, each with their own compelling arcs, and their endings are also not guaranteed. I really enjoyed the action sequences and horror aspects of this story. It was just tense enough to keep me on the edge of my seat, but also too much for my non-horror-reading self.

This was another win by this author. At this point, she’s pretty much on my auto-read radar and nearing my auto-buy cateogry!

Kate’s Rating 8: A fresh take on vampire mythology with Mexican folklore as a guide, “Certain Dark Things” is a fun dark fantasy thrill ride!

Serena’s Rating 8: An excellent entry into vampire lore bringing with it an entire host of different vampires with the added bonus of the Mexican setting and history.

Truly, I didn't mean to request this particular novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I found out she had a book available to request on NetGalley and requested blindly. Like I need to read the synopsis or title before making the decision to request one of her novels? Absolutely unnecessary. As it turns out...it wasn't the book that I had read about on Goodreads. Okay, so, maybe reading the title is necessary.

When I managed to finally use my eyeballs, I realized that I had requested a vampire novel that was being re-released. Now I am a gal of the Bella Swan-Edward Cullen-Vampire craze that was. Never ran into Certain Dark Things and I've long forgotten and now abhor those very uncool days. Since that phase, I've dabbled with the undead but usually find myself rating these books okay at best. But the curse is broken! Because Silvia Moreno-Garcia gets 5 stars from me. I really, really enjoyed this snappy re-release.

First of all, I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia incorporating so much of Mexico's history and culture in her novels. Time and time again, I will read something she has written and google the history and subject matter. I've learned quite a bit about Mexico from her including the informational details she includes at the end of her novels explaining the vampire folklore.

Next, I really enjoyed her telling of vampires. And I believe it had to do with her incorporation of Mexico's folklore revolving around vampires. It was a really cool idea to treat vampires as subspecies. Not many authors get that involved and detailed. It was very animalistic and true to how I envision it would be if vampires really existed. Not going to lie, Moreno-Garcia just makes me think how lazy the other authors are now. And I'm calling out TV/movie writers too!

Now here is my real reason for the five stars, I loved Domingo. He was one of the most likable characters that I've read about in a long time. He was basically a puppy dog. He was totally sweet, innocent, loyal, and a bit naive. But in the most sincere sort of way. He was a kid, living on the streets, and would do anything to connect with the girl he couldn't even dream of having. His courage and insecurities were so relatable. I just wanted to be his hype crew when he was down on himself. Overall, Domingo just felt real to me and I think that made me fall for his character and this novel.

Okay, don't get me wrong, there are some issues. It isn't a perfect novel. But I really enjoyed it. The characters, culture, and details really highlight ways to make the vampire theme exciting again. Authors who can invigorate a topic that wasn't even interesting will always get a five-star rating from me. On that note, this is my third Siliva Moreno-Garcia book and easily my favorite.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the read!

I am sad to say that I did not enjoy this book at all and ended up not finishing it because I got bored.
I know some people will like it but this one just wasn't one that kept me interested in the story.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author. I loved the premise. I loved the classifications of the different of the different vampires. I enjoyed the different points of views of very different characters. I love the darkness. But something was lacking, something just was missing from this book for me. I think it’s being marketed more YA so going into YA, you have a certain mindset. This didn’t fit that mold. Come to find out, after I’ve finished the book, that the author classified it as “very much adult”. So maybe that was my fault. And why it seemed to miss the mark for me. To be honest, if this was developed into a series (duology, trilogy, etc.), I’d easily pick it up. I love Atl & think there is so much more of a story. I’d love a prequel about her family & how her clan connects into Aztec history! I was so fascinated by that! I’d still recommend this book to people!

Dark, gritty.... not sure how I felt about the last 1/3 of the book. It felt a little contrived and rushed at times. That said, I absolutely LOVE the world building in this. In particular, I love the different types of vampires that the author created for this world, the different heritages of the types, and how they're all fitting themselves into a modern day society that is increasingly hostile toward them. I feel like there's an immigration allegory here (not sure if it was intentional?). I don't typically like vampire books, and I dragged my feet in reading this one, but WOW it did not disappoint!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a masterful writer. I am obsessed with her parallel universe-style books, or at least that's how I read them. Moreno-Garcia almost always utilizes Mexico City as character in her books, whether the genre is dystopian future horror/scifi, gothic horror, fantasy, or noir.

Certain Dark Things was a rich vampire tale in a futuristic society where vampires are known to humans. Don't get this twisted this is not in any way, shape or form like True Blood. It's dark and futuristic. There are factions of vampires with unique powers with grudges old and new. This republication should give this book the notoriety it deserves.

Moreno-Garcia is so good at making Mexico come alive in her works, and this one is no exception. She has a way of creating places that, even though one would never want to be surrounded by the evil and sinister deeds happening with the characters, make us want to be there anyway. Certain Dark Things is a well-rounded and detailed vampire novel - and fresh take in a crowded genre, to be sure. This novel was released years ago but is, thankfully, getting a reboot and I found myself enjoying every bit of it.

Atl, a vampire from a royal lineage dating back to the Aztecs, is on the run from the Godoy family, a rival vampire clan. She comes across Domingo, a runaway teenager who helps her in her time of need. What follows is a simple plot really: try to get Atl out of Mexico City and away from those who want her dead. But simple in vampire battles and fighting it is not. There is carnage and bloodshed, and death and violence - all what a true vampire story should have. And then to round it all out, there is some romance - but the kind that ends realistically (if one can say that in a vampire novel).

The only thing that held me back from 5 stars was the amount of historical and genetic content on all of the different vampire clans - what makes one distinct from another. I felt that if this was going to become a series that dealt with each one in detail it would have been needed. But since this was a quick read it wasn't necessary and it broke up the pace just a little. Otherwise I was loving it and wanting more - reveling in the imperfect and flawed, yet detailed and lovable characters, and the delicious vampire action we can't get enough of.