Offering a truly original take on the vampire myth, Moreno-Garcia's republished novel Certain Dark Things imagines a world where the existence of vampires became known in the 1960s, leading different countries and cities to take different attitudes to them. Spain and Portugal were hostile, creating a wave of vampire emigration to more tolerant Mexico - however, Mexico City has been declared "vampire free' making existence there difficult for them. Moreover, in this world there are a variety of vampire subspecies, the native Mexican one being rather different form these European variants. In the resulting chaos and conflict, vampire politics and custom therefore plays a big part and makes it harder for All, fleeing the murder of her family, to find safety from her enemies.

Atl is as different as you can imagine from the traditional European aristocrat in a cloak with a castle in the mountains. Her ancestors were priestesses of the war goddess, fallen on harder times since the coming of colonialism but rising somewhat in fortune on the back of the drugs trade - until the arrival, again, of more ruthless Godoy vampire clan from Europe. But there's more to it than that. All is a spoiled younger daughter, not destined to lead her family and caught up in what is basically a gang war without the experience or, you might think, the common sense to survive. But she has two things on her side: a fierce desire for revenge, and Cualli, her fearless dog.

She has something else, as well, though it is not always welcome: the fascination, and growing devotion, of a human boy, Domingo, a homeless garbage-collector who lives in the tunnels under the city and dreams of the world he seems in his comic books. Of course this includes vampires, stories about which are popular in this world as in ours, and just as sensationalist. Perhaps Domingo's interest is initially piqued by curiosity, but he quickly becomes fascinated by Atl and by the dangerous world she inhabits, offering her what help he can. But he's no match for arrogant young Nick Godoy, or even for the human thugs who attend him. It seems a very uneven match, even before experienced vampire-hunting policewoman Ana takes an interest in the exponentially rising body-count on her doorstep.

All of this makes for an exciting, pacey and absorbing story taking place among the pulsing night clubs and neon-lit streets of modern Mexico City. Moreno-Garcia takes aim at some hoary myths about vampires while deftly constructing her own counter-mythology, taking account both of the colonial background of Mexico and of vampire tales and stories from other parts of the world. It is above all intelligent and believable, if you're willing to accept the premise of vampires, making the personal dilemmas of Atl and Domingo that much truer and sharper.

Atl could consume Domingo. She needs to do so. She has killed before. So what is holding her back?

Domingo should run, putting as much space between him and Atl as he can. Why won't he?

Yes, there is a thread of romance here but it's complicated, illicit, taboo in vampire society. But Atl doesn't have much of that left. her family has been destroyed and Mexico City is pretty empty of allies. So she's pushed back on her own resources, needing to work out for herself what is right, what is necessary, both to survive and to be able to live with herself. It's no easier for Domingo, a resourceful young man who has already survived in a harsh world but is also in many respects näive and sheltered.

Best of all (for the reader, not for Atl and Domingo) time is very short with enemies closing in and few places to hide. So whatever Atl and Domingo are going to do, they'd better do it quickly...

As a read, Certain Dark Things is exciting, tender, complex and always fun. I'd strongly recommend.

Thank you to Quercus Books for an e-arc of this book!

Admittedly, I did not finish this book. I read 35% before deciding on this, which does upset me. Objectively this is not a bad book and I strongly recommend if you enjoy Vampires as Moreno-Garcia has crafted an amazing world with such interesting Vampire lore, I loved seeing where they lived and what each sub-species was like! I would also strongly recommend you pick this up if you love crime/noir plots as this is the direction the book takes--and unfortunately this is one of the reasons why I chose to DNF this book as I did not enjoy the direction the book goes as I find it hard to connect with crime plots.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book as it really added to the creepy/horror feel this book gives. Though, I did struggle to connect with the characters at times, it was also a little off putting with the number of POV's and constant switching, however, this would work for some people but not me personally.

I am sad I made the decision to DNF this book, but please don't let this deter you as it is a good book which will certainly find its audience and I definitely recommend giving this book a try when it releases.

Certain Dark Things is a unique take on vampire lore and mythology from a femme fatale crime noir lens.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has firmly cemented herself as an author that is capable of writing in a variety of genres. Her creativity and storytelling seems to have no limits. This is impressive.

The standout feature of this novel is the vampire lore which is incredibly unique to anything about vampires that I have ever read. The characters in this story are fierce and very gritty. It’s set in an alternate Mexico City setting where vampires are very much part of normality and are out in the open.
I particularly loved the character of Atl, a gorgeous young vampire. She had such a fresh and fierce feel about her.

Silvia also creates a completely new vampire lore which I enjoyed. There are explanations of different sorts of vampires which I found fascinating.
As a whole Certain Dark Things certainly stands out in a league of its own. Lovers of vampire books will find it to be a unique and gritty take on vampires.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by Silvia Moreno Garcia and once again I’m blown away. Even though it’s about vampires, I didn’t think it was overly dark. In this story there are different subspecies of vampires which is thoroughly explained in a section at the end of the book, which I think should have been at the beginning of the book instead. I didn’t quite get the romance between Atl and Domingo, I felt they were more friends than lovers. Highly recommend for fans of fantasy/vampire genre.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved everything Silivia Moreno Garcia has published so far. I love the immediate connection Domingo and Atl. I’m always so interested in folklore and how it varies from culture to culture so I loved this version of Vampirism. Overall great book, I can’t wait for more from the author

I’m not usually a vampire person so in fairness I don’t have a lot to compare this book to, but god DAMN I loved it. It has honestly inspired a vampire reading streak in me that I’m genuinely scared of because I don’t think any vampire book will live up to it.
It was perfect parts mystery, suspense and blood. I loved (most of) the characters and the detail that went into each of them. Even the vampire folk lore made me believe that the author has been living in an alternate universe where these exact events happened-which I would love to visit by the way but would 100% be dead by day 2.
The only issue I had was with the end, it made me feel like there needed to be a sequel and it didn’t really make sense to me either? Why would she just up and leave him??!!
None the less, I enjoyed it immensely and it has set me up for a vampire addiction for life although I feel I’ll be disappointed by whatever comes next.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia sets a dark and intriguing tone in Certain Dark Things. Told from multiple points of view, the story of an alternate Mexico where vampires aren't a secret offers a multi-faceted take on legends and lore. As usual, Moreno-Garcia excels at gently pulling her readers into a quietly explosive tale.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a very talented writer that just seems to be able to get it right no matter what genre she is writing. I have read several of her books and I am left impressed each time, this one was no different. Even though it was a 2016 release, this is the first time I have encountered and read Certain Dark Things and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was gritty and dark and everything you might want in a vampire filled novel set in Mexico. There are mutilple point of views which I always enjoy as it helps to open up the perspective a little for the books. The characters were well written, especially the relationship between human and vampire, which is something that people might have opposing views on.
We don't see much of the world building outside of Mexico City but are brought little snippits now and then, I think (if there is ever a book 2) that I'd like to see more of the outside world and more of the different subspecies of vampire that are mentioned. We only really get to see 3 and there are a lot more mentioned.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, its a girrty urban fantasy about vampires, and I love me a vampire book.

First of all the cover of this book is amazing and if that doesnt draw you in then the blurb will. Its been a while since Ive read a vampire book so when I saw the book description I was extremely excited to read this book.

Its a great book with a great cast of characters. When Domingo, a garbage collector runs into Atl their two, very different worlds collide. Her family has been murdered and shes trying to escape Mexico City. Its a romance but definitely not a sweet story. Its full of what you would expect from a Vampire book and a lot more. I enjoyed the rich background of the vampire clan. Brilliant book. If you love vapires and all the gore, you will love this.

*Trigger Warnings*
*Violence, gore, sex, mind-control, death, amputation*
Mexico City is a vampire free zone when the rest of the world is full of them. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a vampire on the run approaches him at a subway station . Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized.
Atl needs to escape the city, quickly, as she is pursued by members from the rival narco-vampire clan. Her plan doesn't include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in what will happen?
This is a vampire book but unlike anything I have ever read before, the explanation and exploration of Aztec and Mexican culture is fascinating and the introduction of the varying subspecies of vampire and the politics makes this book so interesting. This alternate history where vampires have been discovered and now are being policed as well as integrating into society is so well done and feels as though it could be real.
I loved all the characters in this book, especially Domingo and Atl as they are the main characters but also just kids that have been thrown into a world neither of them were prepared for and are just trying to get by. Domingo is adorably awkward and feels so authentic to how a teenage boy faced with a beautiful girl would be which makes for some funny moments in a very dark book.
This book is a neo-noir thriller with vampires and is so beautifully written its a compulsive read! Morally grey characters, human gangs, vampire clans and the criminal undercity of Mexico city all come together in an amazing story of revenge.

I was actually surprised I haven't heard of this book before given my general fascination with all things vampire. This book takes the vampire myth to a different place, both representation and location wise. I liked how the author weaved in the Vampire with the Aztec myths. This is not something I thought would work, and yet it came out organically.

Even though the intermingle of Vampire and Aztec sounded and is pretty awesome, the plot fell a bit short for me. Maybe it's because the book itself is short, less than 300 pages and even more so when it was written from multiple perspectives in third person. Being third person narrative PoV made it feel somewhat impersonal and maybe it's why I couldn't connect with the characters.

I would recommend this book if you're looking for a little bit of YA horror with a nice mix and match of myths.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the copy of this book. The opinions on this book are solely my own.

Imagine rolling all of my favourite vampiric tropes into one novel? This book absolutely spoilt me for content; you've got a variety of different vampire 'breeds' mixing mythologies and folklore in new and modern ways, whilst also giving that 'stranger things' vibe of 80's/90's aesthetic in the best way. It never feels over done, and it just goes to show what a master of the craft Moreno-Garcia is.

Domingo is a 'lost boy', collecting garbage from the streets to earn petty cash, borderline homeless, lost and bewildered by the vampires he meets. Atl is a 'Selene' - leather clad, black bob'd vampress who wants more than the life she's stuck in; hunted by those who should be her kin, and carrying a dark past of secrets. And Rodrigo is a Renfield (though they hate the term), a fixer for powerful vampires and currently babysitting Nick - a powerfully petulant vampire, who burns through whiskey quicker than a toddler with their favourite juice. And with just as much grace. Each character shows a deeper layer of danger, another sordid detail of the vampire world which exists in Mexico City under the Orwellian gaze of the Sanitation department. And as I said before, I loved it. Each character has a distinct voice, and individualised writing style which is fun and empathetic. The problems are a mixture of the supernatural and the mundane; and really, it all boils down to the survival of the fittest.

On of my favourite things about this novel was how the previous depictions of vampires are used less as a 'beat for beat' source material, but more as a tapestry of folklore, interchangeable depending on the type of vampire the characters come in contact with. For example, watching Atl struggle not to pick up the dropped candies and start counting them,. a myth attached to Slavic (though probably other renditions of vampires too) which suggests that you should drop grains of rice to get away from a vampire, as they'll be forced to stop and count each grain and you'll have your chance to escape.

This was such a fun read with deeply moving moments, clever interpretations of a fascinating monster. And it's guaranteed Moreno-Garcia as one of my favourite authors in regard to Gothic Fiction and Modern Gothic narratives.

Thank you so much Quercus Books for this ebook of my most anticipated book via NetGalley! I still can’t believe I got it, Im so happy and grateful! 😭💕

AND I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS COVER SO MUCH. I am so happy she republished it with this amazing cover, hopefully it will sit on my bookshelf one day in physical form.❤️

I don’t even know how to start this review… I loved this book so much!!!

I love to learn about Latin American mythology, stories, folklore, and magic since I was a little girl, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is just so magical for me, I really love to read from her.💖 I would read anything this woman writes.
I love that every one of her books are different genre, but she still manages to build in beautifully the mythology elements in her books, feels so effortlessly educational. And her writing style is so recognizable, so magical and gory and scary, and her characters are so complex and different, that you just starting to like them before you realize.


This was such a fresh take on the vampire genre, with Aztec mythology, different species of vampires, dark scenes, a lot of blood/gore, action and with a hint of romance and family. The world building was solid and wonderful, the characters developed beautifully, and I had a guess how this book will end, and it was perfect even if it was a little sad.
Also, Atl’s dog Cualli is a neon tattooed Doberman…. uhm, YES PLEASE! How cool is that?!

I loved that unlike other typical vampire books, in this one the protagonists changed roles. So a younger boy Domingo, who is a naive, romantic character, fell in love with Atl, who is a smart, badass, strong, beautiful and dangerous vampire girl. My hearth was so happy when Atl and Domingo warmed up to each other more and more, even that I think Atl already knew how their story will end, but she risked it, as she said: made a sacrifice, that she never knew before.🖤

Overall, this is one of my favorite books EVER and my favorite book cover of this year.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does not miss!

Has been a while since I've read a vampire novel so original, engaging, and genuinely thrilling to read. I fell head-first in love with this book.

The story follows Atl and her journey out of Mexico City to escape the vampire clan that murdered her family and the human law enforcement that wish her dead too. Along the way, she meet Domingo and of course, their relationship begins to unfurl as this crazy escape unravels. This story is so enthralling from the very moment in begins. The dynamic of the divergent viewpoints gives a real tension to the narrative and reads like a TV series you just want to binge exploring the reality of power and nature in the most stylish of ways.

The characters as well are all really well-developed. Domingo as the lead is the perfect choice as we navigate the world with him and his human vulnerabilities are the key to his strength making him more endearing than ever. The development Atl goes through is so engaging to watch especially as her relationship with Domingo develops through out. Nick provides a truly dastardly antagonist to the narrative and the glimpses of the him we get through his chapters make his end all the more satisfying.

I thought nothing could top Monero-Garcia's Mexican Gothic - a masterpiece that if you haven't read, you truly must read - but this was a ride I just want to dive back in. Perfect worldbuilding reminiscent of Resident Evil Village, a thrill of an escape story, and characters you'll root for until the very end (and there's a dog!) - it feels like Vicious with vampires and I could not get enough. This is the book of 2021 you all need to be reading.

It's been a while since I've read a vampire novel. The genre is so heavily saturated and in a post-Twilight world most vampire novels fall into the same tropes and feel like a homogeneous bulk of teen fiction.

Certain Dark Things could not be further from this.

In Certain Dark Things we're thrown into the chaotic, hubbub of an alternative Mexico City, a nation city, which has become the last bastion of vampire free life in a Mexico which has become over run with vampires from across the world following their penalisation and expulsion from other countries.

The story follows Domingo, a garbage collector, and Atl, a vampire with lineage back to the ancient Aztec Empire, as they attempt to stave off attacks from local gangs, vampire-narcos, and the police.
The multiple POV structure of the book works perfectly, showing us the world through different narrators, and giving varied takes of the events that unfold throughout the book. From Domingo's naivete, romanticisation, and boundless curiosity to Atl's stony, grief-stricken, and at times unhinged perspective.

The characters of this book are masterfully written, each serving a deliberate purpose and offering a unique perspective. We see the world of Mexico City through the eyes of the entitled rich, police officers just trying to make a living, gangs who exploit the vulnerable, the vulnerable they exploit. All this amounts to a rich and believable world and a true sense of what its like to live in it.

The world itself is perhaps my favourite thing about this book. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has said it was inspired by Mexican film noir and its startlingly clear that this was an influence. From out literal man-eating femme fatal to the dark, grimey setting the classic film genre shines through with subtlety and nuance. Add to this a cyberpunk aspect where you can practically hear the neon buzzing and pet dogs can be biologically enhanced and you have one of the most unique worlds fiction could offer.

But the uniqueness isn't limited just to the world, this book oozes it. The vampires of the book are genius, drawing on folklore from various cultures they're all distinct and terrifying. There are eleven different subspecies of vampire in this book, coming from virtually every corner of the world including Egypt, West Africa, China, Russia, India, South America, and Europe, all of which are explained in detail in a vampire encyclopedia at the end of the book. Truly the thought that went into crafting these vampires is astounding.

The story itself is well paced and fits in with our real understanding of corruption and gang wars making it a perfect amalgamation of fantasy and reality. It's action packed and blood soaked yet balanced with moments of closeness and believable character development.
The ending is bitter sweet and though I would've loved for it to had a happy ending, I think that wouldn't have suited the real, gritty, and biting tone of the book.

Overall, Certain Dark Things is a refreshing and insightful addition to the vampire horror genre and definitely carves out its own path in the saturated genre.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno - Garcia

Personal Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars

Trigger Warnings: Slavery, adult-minor relationship, blood & gore depiction,
physical injuries, including amputation & eyeball trauma, emesis, murder, gun violence, dismemberment, death of a parent recounted, death of a sibling recounted, animal abuse, including dog fighting.

Book Statistics:
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Year of Publication: 2021(reprint), 2016
Pages: 272

Thank you to Quercus Books and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of 'Certain Dark Things' in exchange for an honest review.


This is really a good book. I just have to say that it is not my favorite. I have not read any other of Moreno - Garcia's works so I can't compare any of her other books.

I really liked the concert of the book and how complex was the stories about the different vampire folklore and how they all navigated in this world or how they perceived humans.

The writing was fitting to the story and it was that, that helped me get hooked in the story and want to learn more.

I loved the diversity, how the majority of the characters were people of color and how complex, fierce and badass the female characters were.

My favorites were of course, Domingo and Atl and I liked the way they grew in the over spam of the book.

Domingo in a way, idolizes Atl and he believes her to be this sort of "ideal woman", when in reality she could hurt him in every way she wanted and let's be honest , she is a vampire and it would be easy for her to do.

Atl on the other hand, while managing her life as a vampire and trying to piece her life together after what happened to her family, is a complex character with ideals and a culture that she loves and respects deeply.

I liked the villain of the story and how spoiled and rotten in a way he was while trying to keep up with his glamorous life as a vampire and hunting down people.

Unfortunately, the part of the story I disliked was the ending and my annoyance to what Moreno - Garcia was building up but never delivered is the reason I rate this book 3 stars. The final pages of the book did not do justice to how amazing and mesmerizing was the rest of the book.

Lastly, I adored Atl's cute and beautiful dog.

Vampire gangs... 🍷🩸

Genre: #ParanormalFantasy #Horror

My rating: 4/ 5 🩸 GR: 3,68/ 5 🩸

Another pleasant book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I've never been a huge vampire fan, but over the past few years I've really enjoyed reading books written by this very talented, Mexican author. That's why I gave this book a chance.

TBF, it took me by surprise, because until this book I wasn't aware of so many vampire varieties! ( There is also a mini encyclopedia about them at the end of the book).

Story is set in alternate Mexico city, where vampires were confirmed to exist amongst the people in the late 1970's. It's 21st century now, and main character, vampire girl Atl is trying to survive. She's hunted by another vampire gang. Atl is a vampire and her ancestors were Aztecs. She "befriends" human boy, to be his constant "food" supply, but she might need to make a choice, between his life and huger.

The book is full with vampire stories, drug dealing, music of that time.

If you read any of authors books before, you will be aware of her talent creating the right atmosphere about the times she's writing about. She didn't fail with this book. 🩸❤️

If you're vampire lover and enjoy tales from different cultures, this book is definitely for you. ❤️🍷

Having read four Silvia Moreno-Garcia books in the space of two months, I have come to appreciate how she can write "small world stake" books and make them feel as epic as an "end of the world" book. These are much quieter books than a lot of others in SFF, focusing on a few people and their entangled crises, but that ultimately don't affect the wider world or even country. It's everything to their lives, though.

In CERTAIN DARK THINGS, this is even more obvious as, though there are mentions of the vampiric drug wars, the conflict doesn't actually involve that. Atl is on the run, and an angry young vampire boy is after her, drawing in some local cops but mostly the world doesn't change. There are plenty of stakes, keeping the story engaging, but the intimacy of the story is what gives it its power.

There are no faceless CGI armies to defeat, just a crazed vampire (a perfect allegory for a spoilt, rich kid who doesn't respect women and is used to getting his own way) and the exhausted member of staff trying to do his job and rein the boy in. It lets you really get a feel for the threat they pose.

The setting is a lot of fun. It's modern day but alternative world, very much a fresh new take on urban/paranormal fantasy. The author's familiarity with Mexico City really shines through in the details that bring it to life - both the gritty and the beautiful bits. The blend helps it feel realistic for vampires to be there, ingratiating themselves into the country's underworld.

Vampires control the drug trade in all of Mexico, save the capital, with a variety of vampire types from mythology around the world. These are not the vampires of black-and-white movies (as Atl likes to point out), but far more insidious and dangerous - not to mention less silly looking. No capes!

With all these re-releases of out-of-print books after the success of Mexican Gothic, I'm hoping Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a long career ahead of her and I'm looking forward to more of her books.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
I really enjoyed this book.
I liked all the characters and I really loved how the author did the vampires. I was getting quite sick of reading the same basic vampire story over and over.
This book was a quick, fun and unique read and I highly recommend you read it.

Certain Dark Things is not like the vampire stories that were written after the Twilight saga was published. It’s not exactly about triumphant vampire-human love, even if there is love, it is still more about interactions between the local and ancient vampire subspecies and the colonising European subspecies.
The story is told by four characters - Domingo (human, street kid, sorts and sells garbage for living), Alt (probably last descendant of Aztec vampires, on a run form rivaling vampire cartel members), Ana (human, vampire hunter, local police), Nick (immigrant vampire from Europe, who has promised to his father, that he’ll find Alt and makes her pay for what she has done).
As I said it’s not a human/vampire love story, like they have been written by Laurell K. Hamilton or Charleine Harris or J.R. Ward, but it still has a bit of love and a lot of blood and action. Mexico City has its own role in this story, with it’s constant rain, and location and mix of multiple cultures. And even if it is a fantasy story about vampires, it still has some real history in it and at the end the author introduces all kinds of different vampire subspecies that are still believed to be alive in America.
A wonderful read!