Reviews with content warning for Blood - Certain Dark Things

Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

111 reviews

agador_spartacus's review

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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wanderlust_romance's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

I found this story to be interesting and a refreshing change of pace from my regular reading material, especially when it comes to genre - dark, noir, fantasy set in Mexico City with vampires, and a minor romantic subplot. Certain Dark Things is told in three different character points of view (third person voice for all). Aspects of the book I enjoyed:

The human character (and eventual love interest) Domingo. He was kind, awkward, a bit naive, but genuine and forthright. He was also a refuse collector. He was able to see what others had discarded and see that these objects still had value and worth. His work is that of the unseen. It was interesting to see him put forth in the limelight as a main character, when for much of the story his vampire counterpart Atl must remain in the shadows.
The mystery and chase surrounding the clan of vampires in pursuit of Atl, and consequently Domingo.
Atl's struggle with their feelings for Domingo. As a vampire in Mexico City, and on the run from a dangerous vampire clan out to get her, Atl is also reeling from the violent loss of her mother and haunted by the taunts of her deceased older sister. And in a city where being a vampire is a danger in and of itself (Atl is a vampire, to be clear), she is lonely but feels unworthy and undeserving of the affection offered to her so easily.
This was dark and gory and fast paced and violent in the moments it needed to be, without being gratuitous or over the top.
Loved the bits of Aztec mythology woven into the story

The only aspect I struggled with was the POV of Anna, the police officer, though to a lesser extent than perhaps American policing. Anna may have clapped back at the corrupt actions and misogynist attitudes of her contemporaries, but she was never painted as a hero. So there's that -\_(' '/)_/-

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marysespieces's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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alloftaysreads's review

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dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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stardust_heidi's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Overall enjoyed the book. The ending didn't really do it for me (waahhh) but I can get over it. I really enjoyed all the different vampires and lore about them. I liked the gritty noir vibes.

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ahopper7's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was the most unique vampire story I’ve read to date. I loved the world building and the lore with the use of multiple different cultures to build different types of vampires. I’ve also discovered I LOVE neon noir in books, the gritty and dark setting within Mexico City was so captivating, I think atmosphere is SMG biggest strength. I was also here for the different POVs and the way the plot progressed, and I think the bitter sweet ending was the best suited for the type of story.

This book was about to be a 3 star if she had killed off the dog though, I was going to be pissed buuuut she didn’t.

The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star for me is the romance. Just like with Mexican Gothic, it felt completely unnecessary. With Domingo and Atl, their dynamic made way more sense as friends/like family vibes,

and I’ll always get the ick when there’s a sex scene with an under 18 character and someone older.

So I would have enjoyed this story a lot more without that subplot.

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styx_the_gremlin's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I really like this books take in vampires and the setting in a slightly cyberpunk Mexico City. Definitely something fresh in the realm of vampires, easy to read too and very gritty.
However some of the characters come a bit short and the ending is quite abrupt, with some storylines hanging loose or seemingly just ultimately there to advance plot for Atl and Domingo.
Also their love story is very icky considering he's underage.

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abby_can_read's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

📱
This book was fine. It wasn't for me. I really wanted to like it. The worldbuilding is what interested me the most.

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abditoryalive's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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ashdawn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'm not a huge fan of most vampire stories, but this was SOOOOOO GOOD. It combines so many different folk lore vampires (it also fascinates me how wide spread vampires are throughout cultures), with high action, and comentary on women's equality and colonialism.

Kinda mad about the ending, even if it was a very good ending that makes so much sense for the characters.

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