Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of the Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This book is different from her usual writing in that it is historical fiction as opposed to her usual gothic horror l. It is still dark and moody. Moreno successfully weaves the stories of the three women together incorporating the past and the present. She has proven that she can write any genre and I will read it.

Nancy and Vera are both inspiring actresses in the 1950s. When Vera, who has never acted before is chosen for the role of Salome over Nancy, her jealousy takes over. The story alternates between the stories is the two women and the real Salome, the character they are fighting over.

I really enjoyed the unique and creative storytelling Moreno-Garcia used in this piece, especially the way she interwove characters from the Hollywood Golden Age with biblical characters (or at least how they were presented onscreen). I did feel like the writing got a bit bogged down in too many details at times, and it could have been a bit shorter.

I'm a little conflicted on what to say about this book. It's Silvia Moreno-Garcia so the writing is excellent and the characters are well thought out. But it also felt kind of like nothing happened until 85% of the way through. And when the plot did pick up it was soap opera predictable.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is told primarily through the eyes of Vera (our ingenue star), Nancy (an extra with leading lady dreams) and Salome herself (a princess who wants more). Gossip columns, interviews and colleagues add to the narrative as well. Vera is a newcomer to Hollywood and as naive as possible and Nancy is almost cartoonishly evil. I enjoyed Salome's narration and her feelings about the mysterious prophet and her uncle were deep and fascinating.

I don't know a lot about Salome and I enjoyed learning a little bit more about her. I also like that Moreno-Garcia focused on a mythological woman from Christianity as the Greek myth re-tellings have been constant lately. I still enjoy them but it was nice getting a new perspective.

I don't want to spoil anything but I will reiterate the predictability of the Hollywood story and I don't feel like the novel really broke new ground on that aspect.

I think if this is your first novel on old Hollywood and the studios then it could be really enjoyable. Or if you like predictability in your novels (which I do find comforting sometimes - I am someone who loves to re-watch my favorite movies because I know what's coming) then I would recommend. Overall it was a mostly enjoyable if slightly boring read.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia immerses readers in the glitzy and tumultuous world of 1950s Hollywood, where the coveted role of Salome becomes the focal point of a riveting tale. Moreno-Garcia skillfully interweaves the lives of three compelling women: the mysterious Salome herself, the transformative Mexican ingenue Vera Larios, and the ambitious bit player Nancy Hartley. Through a half-documentary narrative style and shifting perspectives, the novel exposes the darker side of the entertainment industry, addressing issues of racism, sexism, and fierce competition. The characters are flawlessly layered, with Moreno-Garcia's expert research vividly portraying the glamour and grit of the era. As tragedy looms, mirroring Salome's story, the author delivers a thought-provoking commentary on ambition and the sacrifices made for fame. The Seventh Veil of Salome is a dazzling blend of women's and historical fiction, earning its five stars for its captivating storytelling, rich character development, and nuanced exploration of Hollywood's complexities, reaffirming Silvia Moreno-Garcia's status as a literary force to be reckoned with.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this upcoming release!

I was a total sucker for this! Albeit, it is my first read from this author. Her work has harmed so much attention and accolades that I somehow managed to never dive deep into her catalogue.
If I could describe this book in three words I would say, poetic, enthralling and lush. The writing, the scenes the characters, it’s all just so lush and polished. The dual timelines worked well for the story, bringing the reader deeper into this tale of old Hollywood and rich storytelling. Bravo!

<b>Desire & Power in Ancient Times & 1950s Hollywood</b>
<i>Review of the upcoming Del Rey / Penguin Random House hardcover/audiobook/eBook (July 16, 2024) read via a NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded January 9, 2024).</i>

<i>The Seventh Veil of Salome</i> is a clever blend of ancient folklore and historical fiction with the glamour and glitz of 1950s Hollywood. Young Mexican ingenue Vera Larios is hired as an unknown face to act the role of the supposed Biblical temptress Salome in a new film adaptation. Nancy Hartley, a rival starlet, has been angling for a breakout role but lands only a bit part in the crowd scenes for the picture. As we toggle between the stories of the two actresses we are also able to read the historical story from Salome’s point of view in what becomes apparent as the screen treatment (not the screenplay) of the upcoming film.

Both actresses face obstacles and barriers in their journey. Vera is trying to break free from her manipulative mother but must also deal with the promotional system of old Hollywood with forced dates and public appearances while constantly ducking scandal sheets and studio gossip. Nancy is desperate to become a star and will begin to use some shady characters and contacts in her pursuit of her dream. The suspense builds as parts of the story are told in hindsight by other characters who keep making references to a tragedy which the reader is yet to discover.

The modern day story is paralleled in the ancient historical fiction where Salome is caught between her desire for the Biblical prophet Jokanaan (curiously, Oscar Wilde’s assumed name for John the Baptist is used throughout), the demands of her mother Herodias and stepfather Herod Antipas and the various cousins and suitors with which she is alternatively plotting and conspiring or trying to avoid.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has done a thorough job of research in order to produce this epic adaptation which is perhaps closer to the historical truth of the story that Wilde’s blood-drenched spectacle. No spoiler from me here, but the finale is more in keeping with the historical reality. The modern day story comes to its own shocking conclusion in a suspenseful finish.

My thanks to author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, publishers Del Rey / Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.

<b>Soundtrack</b>
As she has done for several of her novels, Silvia Moreno-Garcia provides a playlist for <i>The Seventh Veil of Salome</i> which is listed (but not yet linked) at the back of the Kindle ARC which I read, but which is too long (55 songs!) to transcribe here. It will likely be linked from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5922257740">her own review</a> closer to the July 16, 2024 publishing date or you can search for it at the Random House Books <a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/randomhousebooks/playlists">Spotify playlists</a> around that time as well.

As a teaser for the playlist, the 1st song on it is Roxy Music’s <i>Avalon</i> which you can listen to on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpA_5a0miWk">here</a>.

<b>Trivia and Links</b>
There will likely be a book-kit available closer to the publishing date and the best place to find it again will be at the author’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5922257740">own review</a>.

I read Oscar Wilde’s <i>Salome</i> (1893/4) as a prelude to reading <i>The Seventh Veil of Salome</i> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6179295283">my review</a> provides links to its various historical sources and to some of its free public domain editions.

You never know what to expect when diving headfirst into a Silvia Moreno Garcia book- which is a true testament to her versatility. The Seventh Veil of Salome was completely different than anything else she has written- and perhaps the most beautiful. The expert mirroring of Vera to Salome is handled with the most beautiful and delicate of hands, which gives the reader such a dreadful feeling knowing that if Vera is mirroring Salome- we are headed to no place good! The different viewpoints and switches are pitch perfect.

The first word that comes to mind when I think of this book is lush. The prose is lush, the settings are lush, the movie sets are lush...it's absolutely stunning. We have two protagonists: Vera, an ingenue in 1950s(ish) Hollywood and Salome, the character she's portraying in a movie. The novel goes back and forth in time between the two women and the very different, equally treacherous worlds they are forced to navigate. The tension builds so subtly I didn't even notice that I was holding my breath for the last 50 pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wowwwwwwwwww just stayed up till 1am to finish this because I couldn't put this down. My heart is </3. I am feeling messed up by the ending.

I loved the parallel plots: one about Salome and her family, basically the movie happening in real time, as well as Vera Larios, the actress portraying Salome. This read like Taylor Jenkins Reid, with multiple perspectives peppered in that made it easy, not more difficult, to follow. I really really enjoyed it, but stories with sad endings ruin me, and this book did just that (in a good way). Will be recommending to my friends and book clubs!

I'm a huge fan of Old Hollywood stories, and of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work, so I loved her take on 1950s Hollywood in this drama about the making of a sword-and-sandal epic starring a young Mexican actress, Vera Larios. There was so much great historical detail that really immerses the reader in the setting, and Vera is a charming, likeable heroine. I wasn't quite as interested in the story-within-a-story about Salome, the central figure of the film Vera's making, but still loved the book overall. Highly recommended for Old Hollywood fans!

This was my 3rd book from Moreno-Garcia and it might be my favorite! I've never read a book so transportive, I loved the parallel storylines between 1950s Hollywood and Biblical Rome. I wasn't familiar with Salome's story picking this up, but loved Moreno-Garcia's author note to give even further context and background into her inspiration for this novel. I highly recommend it.

It’s clear that the author is a very talented writer, and while the dual timelines presented a vivid depiction.of each era, I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about the whole story. One character in particular, I know she’s supposed to be awful and Moreno-Garcia did such a good job there, I can’t stand her and had a hard time with those sections. Ultimately, I’m going with 4 stars for the clever writing, but I wasn’t fully absorbed by the story like I expected to be.

For those who associate the author with gothic thrillers, this is more of a straightforward romance, if slightly more literary and less spicy. It includes a lot of golden-age Hollywood references for classic film buffs, and generally succeeds at capturing the atmosphere and "types" of the period.
The characters and settings are vivid, if sometimes one-dimensional. The pacing lags in spots (villain Nancy is well established early on and the length could do with less of her). Otherwise, this will probably appeal to the authors' fans and maybe fans of books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an author that I can confidently pick up and know I'll enjoy. The Seventh Veil of Salome does not disappoint. Moreno-Garcia effortlessly steps between different time periods and weaves together a memorable story. I highly recommend this one. Oh, and the cover art is always gorgeous.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital advanced copy.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an auto request for me. She has proven herself across genres, repeatedly turning out new stories that are each fully engrossing.

This felt like a mix of Daisy Jones and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in format. There's two main POVs, Vera and Nancy, with interviews of the supporting characters throughout. It tackles both the Mexican American experience in LA during the time as well as immigrant experience (Vera is discovered in Mexico but has family members that already live here). There's as many layers to this story as there are veils and I love that you get Salomes POV here as though it's the movie script.

Anyway, the characters jump off the page, the sense of place and setting is fantastic as always and it's a real page turner. Recommended.

The Seventh Veil of Salome tells the story of three women, Salome of historical infamy, Nancy a never was failed actress trying to survive in Hollywood and Vera, a young Mexican woman plucked from obscurity to be the lead actress in a new film about Salome.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Del Ray for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 5 stars.

I absolutely loved this book in devoured it in only a day or two. I have always loved Old Hollywood and stories about Old Hollywood and this hit the mark for that era so perfectly. If you are a fan of films like Sunset Boulevard or LA Confidential then this book would be perfect for you. Nancy (the Norma Desmond) of this book is so well written as they stereotypical wannabe starlet who thinks all her failures are the fault of someone else. Her racism and abusive behaviors make her a good villain that its to root for her downfall (but will it actually happen?)

I loved Vera as the main character, she was well written, likable, strong when she needed to be and willing to stand up for herself. There were several times during the story that I found myself truly worried about what was about to happen to her so I think you can say that I definitely grew to care about her character.

I will absolutely recommend this book to others, I will be purchasing a copy of this book for my home library and I will be posting about this book on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) prior to its release date in July. One bit of warning to other fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia that this book does not contain supernatural elements. I know that this may be a bit expected with this authors books at this point, but believe me the book doesn't suffer at all by not having any of those elements.

I have read everything that Silvia Moreno-Garcia has written and will continue to do so. The way she writes her characters-even villains like Nancy-is so compelling and makes them 3 dimensional, real people. Absolutely stunning.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that intertwines the lives of three women in different eras. The author, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, masterfully weaves together the stories of Salome, Vera, and Nancy, giving us a unique and insightful perspective on each of their lives.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is the author's interpretation of the life of Salome. Through her vivid descriptions and compelling narrative, the author brings to life the character of Salome and sheds light on the events that shaped her into the woman she became. Then we have the two actresses, Vera and Nancy, who have roles in a 1950s movie about Salome. The author skillfully shows the similarities between these three women, despite the different time eras they live in. It is fascinating to see how family and our surroundings shape us and our decisions.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Seventh Veil of Salome and found myself completely immersed in the story. The characters were well-developed and relatable, and their struggles and triumphs felt authentic. The writing was beautiful and evocative, transporting me to different periods and settings.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read. The Seventh Veil of Salome is a powerful exploration of women's lives and the impact of our surroundings on our identities. Kudos to the author for writing such a compelling and moving novel. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House/Del Rey and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for this ARC in exchange for an opportunity to share my thoughts.

Another gripping novel by SMG that I was eager to get my hands on when I’d first caught sight of it on NetGalley. I love anything old Hollywood and don’t let the cover fool you, this is much more than a tale of romance. Nancy Hartley was by far the most infuriating character and hats off to Silvia for making my new personal fictitious enemy. It floats between multiple POV’s from our beloved Vera, Salome, Nancy and people on the set.

The dichotomy between the two main women is, in my opinion, really cool. They both represent different versions of Salome-Nancy being the vain and callous Salome, while Vera is the innocent and sweet girl Salome is portrayed in some pieces of media. I ventured to read Oscar Wilde’s short play just to better acquaint myself as I knew very little about this biblical tale. I think if an author can command you to want to know more about what they’re writing, job well done!

SMG proves to be a versatile author and this being a shining example. Writing horror thrillers, romance and historical dramas is no small feat, yet she does it effortlessly!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc in return for honest feedback.

I went into this story not knowing what it would be about. I had heard great things about the author and wanted to delve into her work.

I was absolutely stunned by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. From the first page, I was absolutely mesmerized. I simply could not put this book down. The style of narration tied into the parallel stories of Vera and Salome were written phenomenally. I felt for Vera as she was trying to find her way amidst the prejudices against her. Oh how I loathed Nancy but in the best way possible. She made the perfect antagonist. Add Jay's character as the rich "pretty boy" and we have an amazing cast of characters. The story of Salome had me refreshing my mind on this Judean portion of history. I love how Moreno-Garcia depicted what had occurred.

The setting for the story and the addition of familiar old Hollywood names provided a beautiful layout for this phenomenal. story.

I will be preordering this novel for myself and as a gift for my sibling.

Thank you again NetGalley for allowing me to read this 5 plus star masterpiece.