I love me a vampire novel. Vampire novels are, by far, my favorite horror subgenre and I almost never turn down a chance to read a new vampire book. Heck, I even read one of the Twlight books and there wasn't a vampire to be found.....

Certain Dark Things takes place in Mexico City and follows a vampire named Atl and her human companion Domingo as they attempt to escape the city and avoid the various forces that are after Atl.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a great job of worldbuilding She creates various clans of vampires with various abilities and uses Mexico City as both setting and character.

The book has a noir-ish bent complete with shady underworld characters and a jaded police officer. The plot moves well and I found myself engaged and concerned about Atl and Domingo.

This was a solid vampire novel and, with spooky season upon us, I recommend it to people who like a good bloodsucker yarn.

I really like Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing. Her style of writing is one of the things that I love about her books. I think it was her writing that got me right into the book and I was sure that this was going to be a five-star book, but it was a four-star at the end. Right from the start, I liked the two main characters that we are following in this book. One of the main characters is a vampire and the other one is a human. They both meet at the subway station where the girl picks him up and she wants blood in exchange for money. Our human main character has always been interested in vampires and lets her drink his blood. This is how the book starts and I know immediately that it's not going to be love at first sight and it was going to be about something else. I really liked how there were different types of vampires in this book. There are vampires that have animalistic bodies and other vampires that are really savage. I think that the author has done a great job with building the world and keeping me interested in what is going on so far. I just loved following the characters and I wouldn't mind a sequel to this book.

I like how Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books are all different, but there is something you will like about each book at the end.

This urban fantasy vampire story was a ton of fun to read! With not one, but FIVE story telling perspectives, we get to learn all facets of what is happening in this alternate universe Mexico City where everyone in the world is aware that vampires exist. Atl, the main character, is a "princess" on the run to save her life. Domingo, is just a street kid living to work to make it to the next day. Nick, a vampire "princeling", is hell bent on a selfish revenge. Rodrigo is an old and tired human that has worked for one vampire gang for most of his life and now is tasked with "babysitting" Nick. And last we have Ana who is the human cop that was once known for her vampire hunting skills, but now just wants to provide a better and safer life for her teenage daughter. These characters are very complex and often act against what they feels is right in favor of what the world expects of them. There were a few that I found myself routing for and others that were just the right amount of antagonist. We also meet a few side characters who become very endearing to us as well as the main characters... I wouldn't even mind a side story with Bernardino! This story felt much more character based than I was expecting, but it wasn't a bad thing because that really moved the simplicity of the plot along. My one real frustration with it is the way that things ended. Not because of how, but because we just sort of dropped a few of the perspectives without any real closure. There was so much time invested in them that I don't think we were provided the justice of hearing their final thoughts, even if it was how you wanted them to end up. But overall it was really great to have a well delivered vampire story that was also a deep dive in to supernatural lore of Mexico.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for providing this review edition.

This was the first book by Moreno-Garcia that I’ve read, and I immensely enjoyed it. At first, it read like a continuation of “Mexican Gothic,” but it’s not. For me, this book was a breath of fresh air. The story takes place in Mexico City, and the author describes everything in such detail that you feel like you’re there. In addition, the characters of Atl and Domingo are engaging and intriguing. As a vampire noir, I expected this to be extremely dark, borderline horror; however, while it was dark, I wouldn’t put this in the horror genre.

The city is full of vampires from several cultures, as Mexico City is less restrictive. However, the town has outlawed vampires of all kinds. As a result, Atl is in danger at every turn; rival vampires and humans are hunting her. Of course, they have reasons for pursuing her, but they ultimately want to achieve the same goal. The only allies Atl has are her dog, Cualli, and Domingo, a street-savvy young man who wants to be her friend. Can Atl safely get out of the city, or will one of her enemies find her first?

I thought this was fantastic. I enjoyed the multiple point-of-views because it really added to the story. It was nice to get everyone’s perspective. Also, Atl and Domingo are adorable characters. I enjoyed reading their interactions. It was also great to get a bit of history about myths surrounding vampires. I didn’t know there were vampires from different cultures. It’s always nice to learn something from what you’re reading.

Although this wasn’t a continuation, it made me interesting in reading “Mexican Gothic.” I enjoyed the cultural aspect of this, and I can’t wait to read more from Moreno-Garcia. She’s on my list of go-to authors now.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican-Canadian author who has been steadily making a name for herself in the sci fi/fantasy/horror genres. Winner of a World Fantasy Award and the co-editor of the first all female Lovecraft anthology, Moreno-Garcia has been turning the publishing world on it's head with her inventive plots and unique perspective. After listening to fans who for years have been begging for a rerelease, Tor Nighfire has decided to rerelease her 2016 novel Certain Dark Things. Based off of a short story she wrote in 2005, Certain Dark things is the most inventive, original and compelling vampire novel that I've read in at least the last ten years. Something new with vampires, you say? Not possible. Oh, but it is. And it's extraordinary.

Certain Dark Things is the story of the friendship between Atl, a vampire and Domingo, a street kid who works as a garbage collector. It is set in an alternate Mexico City where vampires have been public since 1963. Mexico City has isolated itself so that it is a vampire-free zone. Health inspectors make unannounced home visits to test the occupants to make sure that no vampires are hiding within the city while human gangs make sure that any vampires found within the city are executed as quickly as possible. The rest of the country has been left to the various vampire cartels who control the drug trade. Atl is a young Tlahuihpochtli vampire that is hiding in Mexico City, after her family is attacked and destroyed by the Necros, a violent European vampire cartel determined to take over the Mexican drug trade. Alone and on the run, Atl desperately wants to make it to Latin America where she will be safe. Domingo is the street kid who helps her out and ends up becoming her friend and companion. Now Atl and Domingo must figure out how to elude the Necros and the human gangs while making it out of Mexico City without being captured or killed.

One of the things that I absolutely love about this book, is Moreno-Garcia's world building. Vampires are not one size fits all. There are various vampires tribes, but we are only introduced to a few in this novel. The first are the Tlahuihpochtli, native Mexican vampires. A matriarchal species, only the women can become shapeshifters. They can go out in daylight and only drink the blood of the young. They also have wings. Next are the Necros, the typical vampires of literature and film. They are arrogant, violent, and determined to take over the drug trade in Mexico. And finally, the Revenants who feed by absorbing the life energy of all creatures around them, especially humans. To make up for their physical disabilities, this species have tremendous mental powers enabling them to be among the most dangerous subspecies of vampire. Moreno-Garcia has created a realistic and fascinating world that I want to see more of. Her vampires are not sparkly nor sexy but unique and dangerous creatures. Each subspecies reflect not merely their geographic location but also the cultures that they come from. They experience the same issues we do as to colonization, assimilation and genocide, just with a supernatural spin. It makes for fascinating reading.

The actual story of the relationship between Atl and Domingo is sweet and touching on so many levels. They are two outcasts who come together in order to survive. One who wants to be invisible and one who already is invisible to the rest of society. But, they are able to look past their differences and open up to one another. The descriptions Moreno-Garicia gives of Domingo's life, sleeping in the tunnels below Mexico City with his treasured collection of vampire comics is at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. Domingo has managed to remain kind in a world of indifference while Atl is able to grow out of her spoiled rich girl persona.

Overall, I loved this book. The pacing was great and the characters realistic and relatable, especially Domingo. Mexico City, a location that most of us are not familiar with, is vibrant and exciting. Moreno-Garcia is able to transform it from a generic Mexican city to an exotic neo-noir setting. Her world building is par excellence. I can't think of anything more I could want in a novel. Well, other than more: more vampire tribes, more vampire life in Africa or Russia or China, more Domingo, more Revenants. Actually, what I want is for Moreno-Garcia to return to this universe and tell us more stories.

I found this to be just ok. This was a very slow read until over 60% of the way into it. Once at this point it picked up and carried the rest of the book.

This was an awesome book. I've heard about Certain Dark Things since reading other books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I am happy to see it get re-released. A wider distribution was need for fans of her writing. It takes a noirish look at the vampire genre and sets it in an alternate Mexico City that has clamped itself down against vampires. The characters are enjoyable and I liked seeing the relationships develop.

I am always a tad bit hesitant when it comes to vampire books these days. I never know if I am just going to read a recycled version of the same story I've read for 25+ years or if it will be something fresh for me. But when I saw CERTAIN DARK THINGS by Silvia Moreno-Garcia I knew it would be anything BUT ordinary. Her world building is off the charts. The Mexican lore, mythology, and culture make this book a true gem. And I am in love with the dog in this book! All the characters, even the villains, were extremely interesting and all had their own issues to deal with. It made reading this book even more fun when I could count on the fact that no matter whose 'story' I was reading that I would be engaged. I already need more vampire crime-noir!

"Certain Dark Things" was an absolute adventure to read. The story is a rush. There's danger and fear at every turn and is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. I love how deep the vampiric lore goes and how the traditions weave their way into every page. I also really enjoy the direction the romance went in. Not gonna lie, it was kind of a breath of fresh air to me.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of those authors whose writing is lyrical in a way. You can hardly bring yourself to turn away because you're so entranced by what's happening.

Originally released in 2016, Certain Dark Things sees itself fitted with a new look and an audio edition due to its re-release this month under Tor. Having only recently read another book by the same author, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I am very appreciative of the spotlight shining onto this supernatural tale that felt equally familiar and intriguing after missing its first run.

Set in a slightly more technologically advanced Mexico City, Certain Dark Things utilizes the ordinary sight of street kids, party culture, and policing to draw the reader into a world where vampires sprout bird wings because they’re from an Aztec clan. Through the point of view of said vampire, Atl, and a motley cast of screw-ups, we learn that in this world vampires have always existed but have remained a secret to the general public until the past few decades. Upon their reveal to the world, many countries restricted vampire habitation, with Mexico limiting vampire movement within its borders and barring them entirely from entering Mexico City. Thus, it is desperation and death that brings Atl to Mexico City at the start of the book. Her long-ruling family has recently become victim to genocide at the hands of a territorial war between vampire empires. Forced to go on the run with her cybernetically enhanced dog, Atl must quickly learn who she can trust and how far. Luckily, she runs into a curious street kid, Domingo, who has led a rough life made a little bit brighter by nerding out on vampire comics and movies. With his help, Atl finds that she may just survive to find a way through a city that holds treachery and danger around every corner while being hunted by the very sadistic vampire force that murdered her family.

I found the integration of certain aspects of indigenous Mexican culture into the different practices upheld by the various vampire clans represented in the story refreshing. While the energy and some beats of the story reminded me of the best parts of the True Blood TV series and the political maneuvering of the vampire clans, human mobs, and police reminded me of Jade City, the commitment to showcasing how the loss of Atl’s family, the only remaining bearers of her culture, provides a unique lens. I also found that the story balanced a fine line between what I’ve seen before and feeling new by keeping the character motivations and crises clear throughout the tale. If you’re missing vampires, have a hankering for seeing them outside of a U.S. or UK-centric space, and are captivated by character work showcasing voices in direct conflict with one another, I think Certain Dark Things may just be the read for you.

I feel like the first line of the book or the entire synopsis should have been “A vampire, a gangster and a cop walk into a bar…” and it would have worked perfectly! As soon as I heard that this was a vampire book, I decided I needed it in my life. Vampires in books making a resurgence was the best news I’ve ever gotten! It was vampire books that brought me back into reading after all. But this one…. Wasn’t quite what I was hoping it would be! Don’t get me wrong – I liked it and there were some really great things happening. Let me try to explain.

Before I go into all of that, this book has a bit of an interesting story behind it. Originally published in 2016, I believe, it went out of print for one reason or another and gained a bit of a cult following. Her newer releases were gaining steam and popularity (Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic) so, when people were looking for her other published works, they saw this book on her backlist, but couldn’t find it anywhere. They finally decided to do a reprint and, here we are now.

Not only is the above fact interesting, it’s also the main reason I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I hoped. When you read an authors newer works and then go back to previous publications, there’s the rare time where the growth in their writing is apparent. It was VERY noticeable here! Everything from descriptions, character development, and even sentence and paragraph structure felt like a step back. Her sentences weren’t as fluid and descriptions felt very sterile. We even had paragraphs go a little something like this:

“The character wanted to do this” then “The character did this and this happened” then “The character left and did this”.

The atmosphere, flow, feelings and attachment just weren’t what I had gotten from her previous books. And it was my lack of emotional attachment and connection to the characters that took it out of me. Plain and simply put; I didn’t much care what happened to these people.

Ouch. I know. Sounds harsh BUT I will say that it really made me appreciate her growth as an author and what she’s now capable of!! Mexican Gothic was one of the weirdest and creepiest books I’ve read in recent years. It’s been months since finishing it and I still think of it on a weekly basis!!!

This book wasn’t all that bad. Not even close! The premise was amazing and the plot kept me interested all the way through. But the vampire history and descriptions….. STELLAR!! The vampires in this book aren’t what you would expect and they’re not all the same! They have different abilities and rules to follow. They even have roots in countries all over the world. If she wrote an encyclopedia just info dumping an outline of the histories of these vampires, I would be all over that!

And the atmosphere – it was so close to being perfect! This book never once tells you it’s going to be a sparkly vampire novel. It’s dark, dirty, gritty, and raw, right from page one. That’s what I love about her novels. They feel so dirty and close to rotten – but in the best way possible!

So yes – it was the writing that held my love of this book back. If I could have fallen for the characters then it would be a different story. Knowing what she’s capable of now and how her stories pull me in so completely now, I’ll still read everything she writes!

In a vividly reimagined Mexico City, rules and barriers can’t keep the vampires out. Despite being told there are no vampires in the city, young guys like Domingo occasionally run into the blood drinkers, and when Domingo runs into Atl on the subway, his whole world turns upside down. As a young vampire with no remaining family to turn to, Atl reluctantly relies on Domingo for food and for answers. But Domingo has entered a dark world where all the vampire stories and comics won’t help him stay alive. Alone and on the run, Atl and Domingo will dodge other vampires, humans, and the law in their sprint to save themselves in this paranormal neo-noir.

After reading Mexican Gothic, I knew I needed to pick up this reissue of Certain Dark Things from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Full of the same attention-grabbing, fast-paced action that I’ve come to associate with Moreno-Garcia, Certain Dark Things dragged me through the gritty back streets of Mexico City on a wild ride on the run from several vampire species as well as humans. I absolutely loved Moreno-Garcia’s take on vampire lore; much to Domingo’s dismay, these were definitely not the vampires he’d read about or seen portrayed on the big screen. Moreno-Garcia intimately weaves her version of vampire lore with her cultural heritage, creating vampires of Aztec heritage, African heritage, etc. Usually, cultural diversity is not a concept I can associate with vampire myths, and it was very refreshing to see the diverse heritage living through the vampire lineage. I enjoyed the way Moreno-Garcia used Domingo as a conduit to educate the reader on the differences in vampires; just as the reader is probably used to seeing a standard vampire portrayal, so too is Domingo. Moreno-Garcia included so many facets of her vampire lore in this single novel, and I could have definitely spent hours just reading about the differences between her vampire races. Atl is a very interesting character; of Aztec heritage, alone, and on the run, she was unlike any vampire I’ve read about before and I could read a whole series (set before and/or after the events of Certain Dark Things) about Atl’s life. Atl and Domingo were stand-out characters for me for sure, but the other narrators were just as unique and interesting. Certain Dark Things is a must-read for anyone who is looking for a new twist on vampire lore. I’m certainly glad this story was reissued and can be shared with a much bigger audience.

Don't be fooled, this isn't any ordinary vampire tale. This is an interesting and innovative tale and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books are always hit or miss with me. Nothing will compare to my love for Mexican Gothic, but I am so happy Tor Nightfire is rereleasing Moreno-Garcia's Certain Dark Things as this book was a pleasant surprise for me. I chose to do the audiobook and the narrator was amazing! I *think* it is the same narrator that I loved from Mexican Gothic, but my Dory brain could have forgotten.

The book takes place in a world in which vampires exist and people know of their presence. Specifically, the book is located in Mexico City, where there's an abundance of vampires and we are quickly introduced to Atl, a descendant of Aztec vampires. She meets Domingo, a poor teenager who finds himself attracted to Atl. Silvia Moreno-Garcia creates this beautiful world-building setting in which most of Mexico has fallen to violent vampire attacks, but Mexico City has been declared a "vampire-free zone." You can immediately guess how this story will play out. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Certain Dark Things has some of the best world-building I've ever read. While the story takes a bit longer than expected to get to the main points of contention, this is ultimately due to that world-building factor, so keep reading, readers! Who knew that in 2021, I'd need to read a book about vampires? I really loved all the characters and I hope the next book Silvia Moreno-Garcia releases is in the same vein of Certain Dark Things and Mexican Gothic, rather than her latest one, Velvet Was The Night.

3.5 ⭐

A human boy and a vampire girl meet in Mexico City and form an odd friendship in this urban fantasy where vampires exist in our current reality.

There was nothing I really disliked about this book but there was nothing that wowed me either.

The story is told through multiple perspectives but the main two are Domingo and Atl (human boy and vampire girl). Domingo is curious about vampires and Alt is a vampire on the run. Mexico City is also a sort of character in itself. It is the only vampire free city in Mexico with strict check ups, but it is also described as being extremely filthy, covered in trash and neglected areas of the city full of neglected lower class.

What I enjoyed the most were the characters as this story was mainly about Alt's struggle to accept herself and what has happened to her, as well as letting Domingo in. I would almost call this book a romance. A dark romance, but still.

What I wouldn't use to describe this book is horror. Other than a few graphic bloody scenes, it's not really horror. Dark fantasy would be a better descriptor with how gloomy and gross the setting was and also how glum and sad the characters were. There truly was nothing happy about this book except for Domingo. He's so precious and all you want to do is shield him from all the bad.

The world was captivating. How all these different vampires each with their own clans, beliefs, abilities, etc. This sort of lawless order to it all. I liked how at the end of the book you get a glossary on vampires so I felt my curiosity satisfied on that point. I don't feel like the story could have elaborated more on the vampires that were involved since the plot mostly just mentioned 2 specific clans, though I would have liked more details on why their quarrel happened. The perspective of the police officer was also good because it gave a very basic understanding of the political stance Mexico has with vampires although I would have enjoyed a little bit more on that front.

Unfortunately, I did not get fully absorbed into the plot. I think it was mostly because I expected more horror, more action and ended up getting mostly a dark romance drama with a kind of slowish pace.

This was still a good book and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a gloomy story with tortured and twisted characters. It is not a YA though! It has some pretty harsh topics!

This was a wild ride and I liked it very much. All of the different vampire lore was welcome, and I loved that it was scary and very bloody. I adored Mexican Gothic but that was my first novel of hers. I like that while her books are very different from each other, she is a very good writer so I feel like I'm getting a lush experience each time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan- Tor/Forge for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a vampire story clear and simple. The story from the POV of a vampire on the run and throughout the book we learn of the other types of vampires and some of the legends around them. This was an interesting story, originally written during the time of Twilight and the excitement of Team Edward vs Team Jacob. So understandable this story got a little lost along the way. Overall the story was well written, interesting, scary and graphically gory. A good story in the end, but just not one that would keep me thinking about it for days.
I would recommend this book if you are a fan of Vampire stories. Not one of my favorites by Silivia Moreno-Garcia... I prefer her more recent works.

I had a hard time trying to genre-fy this book, but on Goodreads they call it a neo-noir and I feel like that sums it up pretty well.

Certain Dark Things is the story of Atl, a vampire from an ancient family who is in hiding after fleeing the Necros, who have killed her mother and sister, and are after her next, and Domingo, a guy who picks up trash and is picked up himself by Atl, figuring he can make some fast money by being her "friend" for a week or two. (And of course, Atl's dog Cualli, a genetically modified Doberman.)

This story follows Atl, Domingo, and Cualli as vampire narco clans, cops, and humans collide in Atl's desperate attempt to escape Mexico City and go underground, and Atl begins to discover maybe even a little humanity within herself. Absolutely riveting read!

I've been wanting adult vampire books for ever! And most importantly I love that this is for adults, and horror. All the gore.

Yes, it is written Moreno-Garcia's fashion, slow and steady, with little bits of action woven in. Characters that you're not completely sure about, whether you love them or hate them. Are they good or evil, or somewhere in between. (I know, I know, there are no such things as good vampires). But it also has a lot of Mexican cultural background, myths and beliefs. Oh and lots of misconceptions and modern beliefs about vampires. What I loved, that Moreno-Garcia takes those misconceptions that come from movies and comic books, and tears them down, and builds her vampires based on myths that come from her own cultural background.

This book is set in a futuristic Mexico City. Vampires live in the world, but hidden, as there are countries that are sending them running, or killing them. Mexico City is clean of vampires, till Atl shows up. She comes from the North, where her clan is a drug cartel. Their competitor however, kills Atl's mother, and the rest of her clan and has Atl running for her life. Now Nick, the son of the competitor, and his helpers come after Atl. What follows is a big blood bath. Now, who will make it out of Mexico City alive?

I enjoyed this book not just for the horror aspect, but for the world building and vampire lore. The author also creates this dark atmosphere perfect for these vampires to live, kill, and die in. Add in a naive good guy, and a bit of love interest and this is a great starter for the spooky season.

This is my 3rd book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. Certain Dark Things is a gritty, noir-ish story of vampires, gangs, and drug runners in Mexico City. The main character is a teen boy who devotes himself to helping a lone Aztec vampire escape the city and the various other clans of vampires who want to see her and her people wiped out. It’s a fascinating spin on the world of vampires, and while I would have liked to have seen a bit more on the origins and natures of the different vampire species, I still really enjoyed this book. It’s dark, fast-paced, and surprising.