Silvia Moreno-Garcia always surprises me. All her books are so different, yet so interesting and they really draw me in every single time. This one did not disappoint.

I loved this original take on vampires. The blending of Aztec history with vampire lore mixed in with a little drug cartel made for an interesting ride. This is not a story you see everyday. I also loved how the relationship of Atl and Domingo grew and even though there was a little romance it wasn’t the focus of the story. It was a great read to get into for October.

I must say I am enjoying the writing of Silvia. She always grips me from beginning to end. The writing was amazing, the history was fun, the mythology was well explained and the characters intrigued me well enough. I loved Atl and Domingo's relationship and bond. They were such a comical pair to me. The plot still has me iffy, but I overall enjoyed this story.

I never read books about vampires, but this one caught my attention because it was by an author I’ve been dying to get to. And I really enjoyed it so much. The layers and motives of each character was fantastic. Moreno-Garcia paints a vivid world of Mexico City where vampires are outlawed in the city and drug cartels run rampant. It was a wild ride, but so much fun! Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book. This is my first read from Silvia Moreno Garcia and I was excited to finally read her writing. I loved her author's note and just the fact that this book is about Vampires and takes place in a country that I want to visit made it an even more anticipated read.

These vampires are not your Twilight or Lost Boys. They kind of remind me of the vampires in Blade. This story takes place in Mexico City, Mexico and we are following a vampire named Atl who is on the run from the new gang that has taken over her over territory and killed her clan. She meets Domingo a street kid who collects garbage and lives in old train tunnels. She drags him into her troubles and eventually bonds him to her to be her Renfield.

This book takes a lot of terms from the Dracula era and Domingo is obsessed with old vampire comics and constantly tries to compare Atl to them. Atl also has a modified Doberman named Caullie who I am obsessed with. The gang that killed her clan are called the Necros and the hefe's son is running after her to kill her.

I ended up giving this a 3 out of 5. I loved the writing style and the story. I was very annoyed with Domingo. He was very childish and annoying with his constant questions. Everytime Atl would deflect one of his questions or tell him to take a hike and leave her alone, he acted like a kicked puppy.

Another thing that is totally my problem is that I was not able to pronounce the Spanish words for the clans. When I finished the book, I then found that there was a glossary of the words and what they mean. If I would have read this as a physical book, then maybe I would have a better understanding of parts of the story. But right now, that remains a mystery until I get my own copy and have a re-read.

A fresh take on the vampire mythos. I really liked how the world knows about vampires, and in some ways coexists with them, but in other ways, humans are still seen as food. There are many different species of vampires. This book focuses on Atl, who comes from an ancient line of Aztec vampires, and Nick, one of the Necros form of vampires. Nick wants to kill Atl. Add in a young human assistant, and a police detective determined to stop the vampires, and you get a great story. I loved the world building here, and the writing was intriguing. I recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in return for my honest review.

In Mexico City, vampires have been outlawed by the criminals and cops im the city. Domingo is a lonely street kid just trying to survive when he meets Atl, a descendant of Aztec vampires who is on the run from another vampire clan. Vampires, criminals, law enforcement, and humans all collide in this neo-noir tale. Will Domingo and Atl make it out of the city alive?

I was so excited to read this one. The whole take on vampires is so original. I don't think I have ever read a book quite like it. With that said, the actual plot and pacing of this book wasn't my favorite. It started off really strong and hooked me in right away, but around halfway I realized it was just a pretty basic 'will they fall in love and get away?' type story. The writing was very good and I even got to listen to a bit of the audiobook, which I really enjoyed as well. This is definitely a neo-noir type novel. The underworld of Mexico City is on full display showing how gritty the city is with the cops and criminals working in tandem. The world building here is incredible and quite realistic. The author imparts a very unique take on vampires with all the different clans who all possessed different traits. I really enjoyed how Aztec culture was highlighted in the story- I felt Moreno-Garcia melded history and myth together in a very authentic way. The characters are pretty well written and you are aware of all of their motives. I would have liked a little more information on the genetically modified animals but overall I loved how the bond between humans and their dogs eas displayed. There is a very clear bad guy and you are rooting for the main characters from the start. I really enjoyed the relationship between Atl and Domingo, especially when she explained away a lot of the sillier and more common vampire tropes that Domingo had read about.

I think anyone interested in vampire literature will definitely enjoy this unique take on vampires. If you are looking for a neo-noir vampire book, this is the only one that comes to mind. Those who enjoy some history involved in their fantasy reads will like the references to Aztec culture.

Certain Dark Things is the immersive vampire horror book that your TBR has been missing. Its the perfect ode to classic horror films, the kind where vampires don’t sparkle in the sun and there’s no fated love for which the earth will be scorched. No, its the kind of horror that is built on richly detailed lore, from the neo-noir setting to the various types of vampires with their vastly different clans and forms and feeding habits. Don’t expect jump scares and cliché attempts at shock horror. Instead, expect to enter a world in which you wouldn’t survive. It’s dark and corrupt and violent and the odds are stacked against you.

My favorite part of reading this book was how incredibly character driven it is. Each chapter follows the perspective of a different character, both “good” and “bad” but all of them morally grey. I found myself rooting for and damning each one in turn, and it was fun to have such a voyeuristic perspective of the storyline and its conflicts.

Of all the characters explored, the main character Atl will remain my favorite. The author has stated that their goal in writing her was to write a true femme fatale, an actual man-eater, and Atl is that - sensual and strong and mysterious and vulnerable. Basically she’s my dream girl and I would have loved the opportunity to explore her character more. She drove the entire plot yet remained a mystery through to the end. Was this appropriate for her character? Yes. Do I still want more? Also yes.

Despite the gore and grit, the superb storytelling had me relying on this book as my go-to read before bed. I could imagine myself as the little boy in The Princess Bride, cozied up and being submerged in to a new world that I could never have imagined on my own, which is the best part about books. Definitely pick this one up if you’re a fan of classic vampire movies, deep lore, and lots of character exploration.

I picked this up after reading Mexican Gothic, although this was a very different read I still really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone who like The writing of Mexican Gothic but wanted a different Genre.

I adored Gods of Jade and Shadows so I jumped at the chance to review this book.

It’s such a beautiful vampire noir. There’s so much more than just good vampire/bad vampire here. Multiple vampire clans, each with their own traits and customs, are introduced. I think I have a pretty good grasp on human differences. Luckily, there was a vampire encyclopedia to help me keep the clans straight.

The beginning of Atl’s and Domingo’s relationship felt a little choppy. There were a few characters that I felt could have been explored more. I know for sure there’s plenty more I’d love to know about how the clans interact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Certain Dark Things is a mysterious and intriguing story that makes you think again about your typical vampire stories. Set in Mexico City, the existence of vampires is common knowledge and has completely changed the world as we know it. As in previous books by this author, the world-building is amazing. Moreno-Garcia writes such elaborate scenes. The imagery in her writing is beautifully done. I never felt bored with the pacing or lost interest while reading. I also enjoyed the vampire concept in this story. These vampires were never human nor do they ever want to be. This book puts a great twist on the typical sexy vampire theme some vampire stories lean toward. I really enjoyed this and hope it evolves into a series of books. I would love to read more set in this world.

The characters, setting, and pace of this novel kept me reading. It features alternate world building and some fresh and imaginative takes on worldwide witch and vampire folklore.

When getting into the novel, I felt lost at points regarding the characters and setting. It felt as if I had missed some important earlier parts of the novel. Maybe it was due to not seeing the encyclopedia appendix until finishing the book. Or maybe I didn't pay enough attention as the story unfolded. Maybe it unfolded slower than I expected.

Complicated characters with interesting backstories were my favorite thing about the book. It was a little more violent than I expected though, moving past spooky and psychological scares into some genuine horror.

This book is really in a league of its own. The writing style of this book drew me in, a bit of a literary fiction "Holden Caulfield" tone, especially with Domingo's POV. Domingo is a young kid living on the streets of Mexico City and working as what he calls a "garbage collector", rummaging through dumpsters and repurposing/selling what he can salvage. He runs into Atl on the subway, an alluring young woman with a dog with glowing tattoos. Atl is a Tlahuihpochtli, a breed of vampire hailing back to the Aztecs whose features include dark talons and bird-like feathers and the ability to fly. In this world, vampires run rampant, all different species mingling with humans. Except, they're not allowed in Mexico City.
Seems alluring right? It is. The writing is incredibly rich and fulfilling, the only problem I had was that I was extremely bored.
Obviously, if vampires aren't allowed in Mexico City, then what on earth is Atl and her tattooed dog doing there? It turns out she's on the run and some very bad people are after her. She enlists Domingo's help and....well I expected chaos to ensue. But it didn't. The pacing of this book was so slow that at 45% I had to put it down.
I really wanted to like this book because it promised all of my favorite things: dark, gritty atmosphere, vampires, an urban setting, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing. But I wasn't able to push through waiting for something to start to happen.

Unsurprisingly (given it's Silvia Moreno-Garcia), this book was EXCELLENT. I loved her take on vampires and the different classifications/sub-species that we get introduced to, and I loved badass Atl, her amazing dog, and the way the story developed around her. I also loved the focus on Nahuatl culture, history, and language. It's a pretty darn fast read, and it's fairly action-packed throughout, in addition to being a very character-driven work.

Certain Dark Things is a unique vampire story following various characters. The story mostly focuses on Atl, a vampire with Aztec roots, and Domingo, a street kid who lives on his own and collects trash for work. Atl finds herself in Mexico City, being chased by narco vampires, who are known for being violent. When Atl and Domingo meet on the subway, Domingo soon gets wrapped up in helping Atl escape.

I have to be honest and say I have mixed feelings about Certain Dark Things. I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia, but I think this being a re-release has only solidified the fact that Moreno-Garcia has grown in her writing and storytelling. This book has some great qualities, don’t get me wrong. Vampires always draw me in, I love them. Moreno-Garcia’s take on vampires is so original and interesting. The story contains different species of vampire with different histories and qualities. Some of the vampires included in Certain Dark Things were completely new to me and I found learning about these species so engaging.

I think that aspects of this novel that lost me were the amount of characters, and the sedentary plot. The book follows so many different perspectives and I found myself bored with most of them. All of the characters are important to the story of course, but I don’t think it was necessary to follow every point of view. Alongside the constantly shifting perspectives, the story moves quite slowly. Atl is trying to find a way out of the city as she is pursued by other vampires who want to kill her. Some moments are action packed, but most of the story takes place in rooms where characters are just hanging out (or at least that’s what it felt like). This wouldn't be a bad thing, but the character dynamics that get focused on during these moments left much to be desired. The backstories sometimes added to the story, but the strange relationship between Atl and Domingo was unnecessary and felt kind of thrown in.

I never regret reading anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. If you think the vampire aspects of this novel sound interesting, I do think they make the novel worth reading. Other than that, nothing really sticks out that makes this book something everyone should pick up ASAP. Moreno-Garcia has written so many good books, each one different from the next. If you want a vampire story, this one's for you, but if you're looking for anything else I’d recommend looking elsewhere in her backlist.

*ARC copy provided through NetGalley

Much more gruesome than I expected, this story paints a perfect picture of a Mexican underworld that is very much real even as if it doesn't have real vampires.

Beautifully written in multiple perspectives and whip smart. Moreno-Garcia has become a quick favorite of mine and her writing is consistently lush and immersive while the stories are artfully and distinctly different from each other. The take on vampires and horror is deft and while it may not keep you awake at night for fear, it just might make you want to stay awake to ponder their existence (and to finish the book).

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are all mine.

That cover is gorgeous! And hey, who doesn’t want to read a book about a vampire and her glowing dog?

“Bribes could buy almost anything back north, but this was not the North. This was good old Mexico City, which had fallen to the Spaniards but would not yield to vampires.”


In this alternate world, vampires were revealed to the world in the 1970s, leading to political upheaval all over the world. While the rest of Mexico may be controlled by various vampire gangs, Mexico City has only the staunchly human variety. Vampires aren’t allowed within the city, and this is enforced by various health checks and general human nosiness. But when the Godoy vampire family massacres a Northern Mexico clan of vampires, the sole survivor flees to the city, leading other vampires – and a bloodbath – straight to several unsuspecting humans.

“We are not very nice creatures. You are foolish to seek the company of vampires. Have you any idea what I am talking about?”
“Humans are not very nice either,” Domingo said.”


The POV switches between multiple disparate characters: Domingo, the street kid who’s enchanted by the beautiful woman he meets on the subway; Atl, the vampire running for her life; Rodrigo, who’s accompanying Nick, the spoiled Godoy heir, to kill Atl; and Ana, the detective who gets mixed up in all this due to one of Nick’s impetuous kills. I absolutely adored Atl, who’s spent much of her life as the younger sister of the heir apparent partying it up and generally shirking any form of responsibility. Friendless and on the run, she has no choice but to accept Domingo’s help. Domingo is, frankly, ridiculously naive and he falls for the beautiful Atl quickly, which causes him to make, well, some particularly dumb choices. He’s got zero idea how the vampire world works but he’s so earnest about helping Atl. I spent a good portion of the book wanting to either slap him or wrap him in a blanket and feed him soup, which is pretty much the reaction most teen boys engender in me, so, props for accuracy. Rodrigo and Ana I didn’t care as much about, though they served as interesting foils for the much younger characters: one committed to ridding the world of vampire violence, and one who’s perpetrating it. And, of course, there’s Cualli, Atl’s genetically modified dog, who is a very good boy. I loved his interactions with Domingo.

The pacing moves along at a breakneck speed, with very few pauses, which fits the barebones plot very well. It also makes this a quick and enjoyable read. While most things feel streamlined, it does dole out several extremely interesting bits of vampire lore. I liked the various types of vampires, especially the Aztec-linked Tlahuelpocmimi and the Revenants (super creepy).

“In the end, we are always our hunger.”


Overall, this was a delightfully noir take on vampires, highly recommended for anyone looking for a violent bloodbath involving not-your-usual vampires.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

There are a lot of vampire story out there so if you’re writing one please make sure you do not fall into the trap of overly used themes and plots. That said this book had solid world building but it was lacking in a good story/plot. The characters were well liked or hated. The story itself is where it all falls short. Again vampire stories have been told in so many different ways it is now hard to have a new story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan- Tor/Forge for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved Mexican Gothic, so I am not surprised to say I also loved this dark vampire novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. She is such a talented writer and spins an exciting and thrilling story! Her ability to create creepy vibes and vivid settings is amazing and makes for a great read. This supernatural noir centers around a drug war between vampires, and I can not believe how action-packed and engrossing this story is. I devoured it in a few sittings and will be recommending this to all my patrons for a great creepy read leading into the Halloween season!