I really like this author, especially the fact that I never quite know what I’m going to get when I open one of her books. She jumps around genres, going from gothic suspense to fantasy to paranormal historical romance and I get a little excited with each new release.

Certain Dark Things is labeled as dark fantasy horror and the version I’m reading is actually a rerelease with a new publisher. This is a vampire book, but not like the many, many vampire books I’ve read before. Set in Mexico City, a vampire-free zone, Certain Dark Things introduces its readers to an alternate timeline, where vampires were discovered in the 1970s and have since built themselves up into power structures much like the mob or cartels. Instead of your garden variety bloodsucker, vulnerable to light and holy water, these vampires are many and varied, divided up into different clans depending on their nationality.

Atl is a vampire native to Mexico, whose family roots lie deep in Aztec culture. She’s also on the run from a group of Necros vampires who killed her family and want to eliminate her as well. She teams up with a local street boy, who becomes her companion throughout the book and helps her as she’s finding a way out of the country and to safety. There is a bit of romance and some action, but mostly this book is a bunch of walking around and having conversations.

While I liked the premise and world-building, and the idea of different species of vampires in competition with each other over resources, this book dragged for me. And despite the gritty, dark undertones, I had trouble staying engaged. I WANTED to like it more than I actually did. At about 50% in I started skimming to get to the end and find out what happens. Which… was fine.

Not my favorite by this author, but an interesting premise.

For those that like vampire novels, this is a quick and interesting read. I'm not typically one to pick up a vampire story, and I wouldn't have picked this one up if not for the author, but I liked it well enough. The characters were good, but I honestly didn't care about the "action" plot and really wanted more of the main characters just hanging out.

Full disclosure: vampires are not my thing. I've always avoided them - all the books and movies (especially the glittery ones...) I'm just not into it.

But I am totally into Silvia Moreno-Garcia - always. So I got over my dumb no bloodsucker "rule" and sucked it up (pun intended) cause I literally ate this one up and I am now (gasp!) a vampire fan. (as long as SMG writes it tho)

I loved following this "neon-noir" novel about dangerous vampires who live amongst humans - but are banned from certain cities and zones - including a dark and gritty alternative Mexico City. It was so much fun to immerse myself in - fast-paced, dark and suspenseful.

When Atl, a vampire, reluctantly falls for Domingo, a street kid - she gets him entangled in her "vampire-drama" and he goes on the run with her to get out of the city. But it's not so easy - vampires are banned, and hunted. But other vampires are also hunting her.

It was a super creative story. I only wish it was longer and it would be cool to see more of this world. I craved a bit more depth to the story and deeper dive into the background of this new world, and wish she had delved more into the different species of vampires as she described them at the end (sort of a vampire 'glossary') - but still a really enjoyable read for this non-vampire fan :)

3.75 stars. This was such a unique book full of fantasy and adventure. I love a good story that involves vampires so I was intrigued from the beginning. I loved that it included real myths. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends who want something unique. And what can’t Sylvia do? She is the queen of all genres of books it seems.

DNF at 34%. I just couldn’t get into this book and didn’t want to force myself to finish it when there are so many other books out there. The different types of vampires was an interesting concept, but I just don’t think the noir genre is for me. I didn’t really like any of the characters or the setting.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me access to this eARC!

I love Silvia’s writing and this story was certainly no different. The vampires she created were intriguing , especially one the dynamics between the clans were introduced. The ending was eventful, tragic and satisfying all at the same time. How many authors can do that?

Honestly, this is one of the more interesting takes on vampire lore in a long time. The detail added into the history and culture of Moreno-Garcia’s vampires makes for a refreshing take on the supernatural genre so popular today.

A really unique and atmospheric tale - loved Mexican Gothic and this one was so enjoyable too! Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader.

Certain Dark Things is a compelling and compulsive novel that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. Moreno-Garcia has given us a new and unique look at vampires in a gritty and contemporary setting.
Highly, highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A wild ride of action, vampires, and knock-you-around-and-throw-you-to-the-ground suspense.

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started CERTAIN DARK THINGS, but what I got was a vampire novel, unlike anything I have ever read before. Moreno-Garcia brilliantly weaved together a dark and twisty tale filled with a re-imagining of vampire lore.

There is something so fresh about this novel. From beginning to end, there was a raw and gritty depiction of life for humans as well as vampires. As the reader is sent into this world, there is a pace that keeps it all moving so there are no lags. It is a high-octane read but also packs into the narrative the history of these vampires as well as Atl’s backstory. The way the author lays it all out there is both disturbing and addictive.

I do want to give props to the plucky sidekick, Domingo. He adds an innocence to the story that only a character who doesn’t have the “real-world” vampire experiences would have. He also adds some of the lighter moments within these pages that I personally enjoyed and needed.

This new-noir vampire tale will grab you from the first pages and not let you go until the end. It is a must-read for fans of horror and dark fantasy.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a mash-up of genre fuckery bringing together elements of neo-noir, horror, near future sci-fi, contemporary fantasy, and action.

Domingo, a 17-year old street kids gets drawn into a world outside his grasp when Atl, a vampire on the run from an enemy gang that wants her dead, ends up in his path. Together, the pair navigate guns, gangs, anti-vampire laws, and the police.

I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved the whole vibe of the novel, it has a really interesting energy with a well-developed, gritty, and vibrant world. The vampires are not your typical gothic vampires, and I loved the worldbuilding when it came to the different types of vampires.

There was a lot of great (and violent) action, and the variety of different POVs each added a unique view point that added to the overall story.

However; while Domingo feels like the primary main character of the book, he was also the most annoying for me. His good-natured naïveté felt in conflict with his experiences on the street. So many of his actions were driven by his interest in Atl as a partner, and I just didn't feel enough chemistry for that to feel realistic. His character just grated on me, whether for the reasons stated above, or for other reasons, your guess is as good as mine.

And while each POV added a unique viewpoint to the story, none of the characters really felt like they were driving the plot. They each make decisions and take actions, but the events that drive the plot forward come more from characters that are peripheral to the POV. The first publication of Certain Dark Things in 2016 made Silvia Moreno-Garcia's second published novel, and this problem is more common in newer authors, so I won't necessarily fault the book for that.

Overall, if you're someone who loves vampire novels, this reinvention of the vampire in a unique setting is definitely one to check out!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A magnificent, gory tale of warring vampire cartels and first love.

Atl is a vampire in Mexico City running from a past she wants to keep hidden while Doningo is a young, naïve street kid who is looking for his place in the world. When these two meet, and Atl's past rears it's head, these two will be in for a life and death adventure.

First off, I've seen a lot of people hoping for something like Mexican Gothic. If you go into this book with that expectation, you will be disappointed. This is a re-release and this book has issues that more recent releases do not. For example, the dialogue is stilted which takes the reader out of the flow of the book. What saves this book is the world building, vampire lore, and likable main characters. I found myself rooting for Domingo a lot. If you like sympathetic characters or vampire books, this is for you!

Thank you to Tor Nightfire, author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is not your normal run of the mill vampire story.

Certain Dark Things takes place in an alternate Mexico City, in a world where vampires are known to exist.

The vampires are separated by different regions of Mexico, each region has a different clan of vampire. They differ in appearance and in how they feed.

The characters, the clans and the general landscape all have a depth that builds for an unforgettable story. I highly recommend.

Read if you like vampires and/or pulpy types of stories. You'll enjoy it. Dont read it just because you liked Mexican Gothic or another book by the same author. You won't.

This is an earlier work of Silvia Moreno-Garcia about an alternate Mexico City. In this world vampires have taken over most of the country (and world) with a few remaining holdout havens for humans. There are many varieties of vampires in this world..Moreno-Garcia seemed to mine a variety of folklore and myth for this, and it was the most interesting part of the book!

The stilted dialogue and slow-moving plot, not so much. There was a lot of hurry up and wait, and not enough backstory on the feuds and codes of the vampire clans for the main thrust of the plot to be compelling.

I've enjoyed other books by her (although I havent made it to Mexican Gothic yet), but this one didnt work as well for me. It seemed to be "everyone's writing a vampire novel now, so here's mine."

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Nightfire, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for an advance ecopy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book - I’m a sucker for a good vampire read. While I enjoyed the new twist on different vampire types, on the whole, it was a little disappointing. Mexican Gothic was a superior book in every way.

I arrived to this book because I read Mexican Gothic and loved it. I know that Moreno-Garcia has spoken about how her books are all very different from each other and while it was not exactly what I expected, Certain Dark Things is still a pretty compelling tale. I read it while the video game Cyberpunk was really popular, and it felt like the perfect backdrop for that.

I have really enjoyed Moreno-Garcia's book and this one doesn't fail to my expectations. I found it a quick, fun read. Moreno-Garcia creates a slick and elegant world peopled with vampires. I found it one of my most interesting reads of the year. Strong recommendations.

I received this from Netgalley which did not influence my review. This was such a fun, dark vampire story. Two things really breathed life into the vampire genre (no pun intended), Mexico City as a setting and moving beyond the European Dracula sort of vampire. I'm a huge vampire fan but even I want something a little different from time to time and we have it here.

For one, the vampires here aren't necessarily good or evil, they just are. One of them describes vampires as 'their hunger,' so that means they don't play well with their food. In this world there are many types of vampires, most of them incapable of getting along. Mexico City, like many places has banned vampires for all that's worth.

Domingo is a homeless teen, a garbage picker who crosses path with Atl whose vampiric lineage traces back to Mexico's indigenous people. Domingo is intelligent (so you do feel sympathy for his terrible circumstances) and a huge vampire fan. He is constantly comparing Atl to the vampires he knows from stories and comic books. He wants to be with her, to help her. He has a good heart.

Atl is on the run from the Necros, the youngest in the evolution of vampires (they all have different strengths and weaknesses and feeding types/appearances it's very well done) and the most vicious. Her family has run afoul of them. At best Atl is slated to be killed by them or imprisoned/raped/tortured and then killed for his amusement when Nick catches her. All she has is her enhanced Doberman Pinscher and Domingo. Her only plan is to stay alive long enough to get forged papers that will get her to South America where she can hide and thrive.

The action unfolds over a few days as Domingo tries to help Atl escape, hoping to go with her while dodging some of the young gangs he has to deal with, one of which he has ended up on the bad side of. Atl is trying not to feel drawn to Domingo, he is only human after all, not really worth her time. We have Ana, a detective who is trying to stay uncorrupted, who has vampire killing experience and is slammed by misogyny at all sides at work and we have the drug dealers who want Ana to help get rid of the vampires as they're bad for business.

There are several threads in this, many points of view and characters you really want to see have a happy ending but then you remember this is horror (the author calls it neo-noir) and that happy endings are not guaranteed. Whether or not it has one is up to you to find out. I thought this was a fun ride and it resolved in a very believable way. I enjoyed the dark world Domingo and Atl exist in and was glad of the glimpse into it.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was interesting and different from what I'm used to, the world-building was intricate and interesting, and the characters were fascinating. There were great elements of horror sprinkled throughout the book, though nothing too overwhelming (which is good for me cuz I'm a scaredy cat). The mythology of the vampires, and especially Atl's people, was such a great exercise in world-building that I immediately wanted more stories set in this world. This was such a fun read that it makes me want to go and pick up another Silvia Morena-Garcia book even if it's about a totally different subject.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.