Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fresh and captivating take on the vampire genre, set against the gritty backdrop of an alternate Mexico City where various vampire species exist. The story follows Atl, a descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, and Domingo, a street kid who becomes entangled in her world as she tries to escape a brutal rival. Moreno-Garcia’s world-building is unique and richly detailed, combining folklore, noir, and urban fantasy. While the narrative is fast-paced and engaging, some character development feels slightly thin, leaving readers wanting more depth. Still, the novel’s originality and immersive setting make it a standout for dark, imaginative fiction fans.

What to listen to while reading...
Cherry Waves by The Deftones
Me and The Devil by Soap&Skin
Hot Girl (bodies …) by Charlie XCX
BITE by Troye Sivan
Who is She? by I Monster
Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode
Blood Sport by Sleep Token
Keep the Streets Empty for Me by Fever Ray
The Killing Moon by Echo & the Bunnymen
Army of Me by Bjork
Tear you Apart by She Wants Revenge
Sacrilege by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I really enjoyed the swapping of the grumpy/sunshine trope where the male love interest was the soft one.

I actually tried to read this book and I really struggled so I thought maybe the audio version would be better. I was right. It's not often that I find myself in the position of preferring the audio version to the print but in this case, it worked out perfectly. I was pulled to this book by the description and then was frustrated that I had a hard time staying interested/focused on reading it. The audiobook flowed very well, and I enjoyed the voice for the main character.
This is 3 stars review for me just because at times I found the story a little dense but overall I was into storyline.

Short and perfect. Aztec neo-noir vampires, something I didn’t know I needed until I had it. Dark and delightful.

This was such a fantastic read! I loved the various types of vampires in this book, they're based of mythology that aren't just the European ones, and I loved learning about the different mythologies come to life in this book!

I loved the various perspectives, from Atl and Domingo, to the bad guys that are on their tail, to the cop that is investigating the vampire crimes. They all came together really well to tell an excellent story! I knew things were going to come to a head-there were 3 opposing view points, of course there was going to be some combination of clashing.

Things were rough for Atl, having her family destroyed, and being on the run, in a world where vampires aren't allowed most places. I enjoyed her time with Domingo, he was a breath of fresh air, so lively and innocent. I had to know where their story would go!

And oh, that ending! That was just a little bit sad, that after all that they went through, that that's how it's all going to end. But it's not like there was any better options, that future dream that could've been, but they couldn't really have, and that loss just made things so bittersweet.

I loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Silvia Morena-Garcia!

Absolutely loved the narration, really actually bumped the story experience from a four to a five star for me. Just a pleasure to listen to start to finish.
Also enjoyed the story, but it’s been around - this audio version though was a new experience.

Vampires are still existent. They have been banned in most countries, but Mexico is corrupt enough that officials can be bribed and papers obtained for residence. Mexico City is about to witness a battle between two houses of vampires fighting for dominance.

Atl has run to Mexico City. Her house has been dealt a horrific blow, her mother and sister who were running the house both murdered. Atl got out just ahead of her own certain death along with her dog, a huge genetically modified Great Dane. He is her only protection as she schemes to get away until she meets Domingo.

Domingo is a throwaway teenage boy. His family was poor and sent him off to make a life for himself with no resources. He has been working with the garbage pickers, not a career but a way to make some money until he can find something better. He sees Atl on the subway and is fascinated by her. When she takes him home, he volunteers his blood to her.

Atl needs a human helper to run errands she can't and provide another set of eyes for protection. What she never expected was to learn to love a human, even when she knows it is an impossible dream for them to become a couple and stay together. But the heart wants what the heart wants.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has written another intriguing fantasy. She plays with both vampire lore and Mexican folk tales to create a new story, one which readers won't be able to put down. I listened to this novel and the narrator was excellent, providing a narration that was smoky at times and warrior like at others. This book is recommended for fantasy readers.

Domingo is just a teen living on the streets of Mexico City, which is overtaken by vampires. One day, a vampire named Atl crosses his path and he becomes fascinated by her. Atl is on the run after her mother and sister are murdered by a narco-vampire clan. At first she wants nothing to do with Domingo, but the more he comes around Atl finds herself beginning to like him. However with the clan and the cops closing in on her, Atl doesn't want to take any chances and wants to get her revenge.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I really wish it was a series because I'd love to read more about Atl and Domingo adventures. This was dark, sometimes gory, and a little bit of steam thrown in and it was amazing. I will definitely be reading more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the future.

This was my first Silvia Moreno-Garcia book and it was pretty good! I got this as an audiobook and while I wasn’t a total fan of reading in that format I still found it pretty enjoyable.
Much more than your average vampire novel this book is as if vampires were fully open about their existence and Mexico City has become its own world with less restrictive laws for being a vampire.
If you’re interested in reading a book that’s a interesting take on vampires living among us definitely check it out.

I will absolutely read anything this author writes. I love her books so much, however, I wasn’t the intended reader for this book. The genre isn’t something I typically pick up in the first place and I believe that’s why I didn’t enjoy it as much. It did have it’s interesting moments and I definitely can see why some would enjoy this.

I was unable to listen to this one. My iPad where I store all my NetGalleys had to be updated and this made all of my downloads on the app disappear.

The narrator was fantastic and did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.

I’m a Silvia Moreno-Garcia fan. I’ve liked everything I’ve read by her. This was a unique vampire world. If you’re a fan of vampire stories pick this up.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again with a fast paced noir based upon vampires I. Mexico City, Mexico. This book had me hooked from page one and I live the world Moreno-Garcia created. I personally love vampire stories and was extremely intrigued by the storyline. Family, vampire clans and friends are the bonds the characters have to navigate which makes for an adventure that is page turning.

I was lucky enough to receive the audio book and the narrator did a fantastic job brining the story to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a long time since I've been in the vampire world and this was a fun return. Quite nice to just be thrown into this gritty, noir book and not be bogged down with massive descriptions of everything: the short, plot-propelled text worked. Aida Reluzco is a fabulous narrator so watch for her projects.

Silvia Moreno Garcia can do no wrong. I've read three of her books now, and each one has transported me to another time and place completely. I totally jive with her lush writing and unique characters. She writes these intense, beautiful, and flawed main characters who fall in love with equally flawed but softer, more supportive men, which is a refreshing change of pace from the intense and dominant grumps who woo the sunshine princesses.

This story in particular, Certain Dark Things, is such a unique vampire world set in Mexico. She writes about social issues and culture with polish and finesse in the midst of her paranormal lore *and* a sci-fi twist I haven't seen in her other books. And not just the Mexican culture of the time period of the book, but she weaves in bits of Mexican history pre-Spain. She reminds the reader how rich and layered Mexico's real story is!

I listened to the audiobook arc from NetGalley and @macmillan.audio. Aida Reluzco is an excellent narrator, clear to listen to quickly and a good fit for the characters.

She's probably the only author I've read who can truly write across genres with great success.

There are no vampires in Mexico City... at least there aren’t supposed to be... Domingo is a street kid just making his way in life collecting garbage he doesn’t expect the girl he meets on the subway to be a vampire but she is. Atl is hiding in the city after a war between families cost her everything. All she wants is to runaway and all the rival family wants is to see her dead... or worse. Because she doesn’t have enough problems with vampire gangs... human gangs aren’t happy that there are vampires in the city where they do t belong. Especially since certain vampires don’t care for desecration and has been leaving a trail of bodies around town. The police aren’t taking it seriously enough until the body count is too high to ignore even though Ana the only cop with vampire killing experience did try to warn them. Things just go from bad to worst to bloody and bloodier... with two lost and lonely souls stuck in the middle of it all...

I really liked this crazy at times weird story. The world they live in was interesting as was the variety of vampires. I knew it wasn’t going to end in a happily ever after there was no way it could go that way but it was a good ending. The narration was perfect.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a fun noir vampire standalone. It follows Atl, an Aztec vampire, as she is tries to escape the city after her tragic backstory. She runs into Domingo, a street kid who has a fascination with vampires, or what he knows about them from comic books. As more vampires infiltrate Mexico City trying to find Alt, the cops get involved making her escape even more difficult.

I loved this book!! It was one of the most original vampire stories I’ve heard in a long time. I loved the setting of Mexico City. In my head I pictures a black and white movie with hints of color in neon signs, the dogs tattoo, and other things like that.

The characters are unlikeable, but you still root for all of them anyway.

This was my first book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I am very much looking forward to the rest of her work.

Please excuse me while I SCREAM ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!! AHHHHH, FRIENDS, IT IS SO GOOD AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ IT!!!!

Most of you know that I’m a sucker for vampires, and this book DELIVERED. I almost couldn’t believe it was originally published in 2016 and went out of print (why?!) But now it’s back with a vengeance and was republished by Tor Nightfire, so get ready to sink your teeth into this story.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia follows Atl, a vampire from a legendary family, descendants of Aztec blood drinkers. She’s on the run from an infamous gang of Necros vampires who want to see her dead, and finds help from someone she never thought she’d go to: a human.

Domingo is no one special. He’s a street kid who collects garbage for money. He’s never met a vampire before. He knows they exist, but his knowledge of them is from comic books and movies. When he crosses paths with Atl, he doesn’t know what to believe, but he sure as hell has a lot of questions.

Atl and Domingo are an unlikely pair, but they find themselves dodging cops, calling on old friends and allies for help, and navigating their way through the dark underground world of Mexico City: a place where vampires are banned, but exist in groups small enough to hide, yet large enough to leave a gruesome scene as soon as they’re hungry.

This book was unlike any vampire novel I’ve read before. It introduced new lore, history, and different clans of vampires with unique cultures and customs. It’s not just ancient, white, European vampires in this story—although they are there, fighting with the indigenous vampires of Central America. I absolutely loved everything about this book, and learning more about what influenced the story.

If you’re looking for a new take on vampires, with classic noir tropes, politics, gangs, and a dark, gritty atmosphere, pick up this book. It’s easily one of my favorites of the year, and I can’t wait to see more people pick it up!

Thank you so much to Tor Nightfire for sending me a finished copy of this book, and to Macmillan Audio for sending me an audiobook via NetGalley. The narration was incredible, and being able to switch between listening and reading was an amazing experience. I was able to read the book faster too, which was great because I wanted to keep going until the very end!

The narrator for this one was fanatic. I enjoyed her voice a lot and she did a great job with other characters.

Certain Dark Things was a great vampire book. The different types of vampires was a refreshing take for me and I had a great time listening to this one.

I love a flawed MC and Atl def had her issues but she was an interesting character. Domingo was a sweetheart and I want him protected forever and ever.

This is a unique contribution to the vampire literary trope, embracing the Mexican setting and establishing a fascinating vampire culture with different subspecies of vampires. The narrator did a great job bringing the listener into the story, but I wasn't as invested as I would have hoped. While the world-building was excellent, I would have preferred the plot to be more involved. Still a great read for those that are looking for a vampire/noir novel!