Scan barcode
mynameisrebecca's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book takes traditional vampire lore and infuses it with all new species and subtypes of the familiar creature. That was appreciated and very unique, especially as the lore intertwined with Mexican culture and Aztec history. However, the book's plot was relatively one note and didn't leave much development for the characters. A split narrator structure meant shifting between 5 different viewpoints, leaving me as a reader more confused than engaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
ruthjenkins's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
The author does a good job creating a rich and diverse world of vampires and narcos, without description impeding the story. There are a few bits of exposition dialogue but they mostly make sense in the context of those characters.
The story is a little slow to get started, since the protagonist is in hiding so isn't doing a huge amount, but when the action gets going it becomes quite tense, and very violent.
The story is a little slow to get started, since the protagonist is in hiding so isn't doing a huge amount, but when the action gets going it becomes quite tense, and very violent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Torture
hlhayes7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Drug abuse and Police brutality
raechel's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
<i>Certain Dark Things</i> takes place in a slightly futuristic Mexico City, in a world where vampires have been known about for decades. Mexico City is one of the few places they're not allowed, but it's where we find Atl, who is on the run from a Necro vampire clan. She teams up with a human garbage collector and works on getting away. This plot is very what-you-see-is-what-you-get and there's no big twists or turns, but sometimes it's nice to have a basic story.
I loved the different types of vampire (we get a encyclopedia in the back of the book), and how the world is different because of it. There are strong themes of tradition, colonization, trust, and love. All wrapped up in violence and blood and neon noir. Side note: idk why this is labeled as YA but it is NOT.
A fun read and I'm honestly a little surprised this isn't a series. Atl was very cool and had a strong personality. Domingo was so sweet and naïve. Bernardino was a cool character, though I feel like more could have been done with him. If you like modern/sci-fi vampire stories this is a great pick.
I loved the different types of vampire (we get a encyclopedia in the back of the book), and how the world is different because of it. There are strong themes of tradition, colonization, trust, and love. All wrapped up in violence and blood and neon noir. Side note: idk why this is labeled as YA but it is NOT.
A fun read and I'm honestly a little surprised this isn't a series. Atl was very cool and had a strong personality. Domingo was so sweet and naïve. Bernardino was a cool character, though I feel like more could have been done with him. If you like modern/sci-fi vampire stories this is a great pick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty
ripxreads's review
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty
danielles_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall I liked this book. It’s a fast and easy read, and I like the dialogue. The characters actually talk like real people lol.
I really liked the world Moreno-Garcia created, with the different vampire lore, and how European vampires essentially colonized indigenous Mexican vampires. Humans’ reaction to the discovery of vampires was also completely understandable and well-explained. I liked the setting of Mexico City, and its colorful neighborhoods, contrasted with the poor street kids just trying to get by, forced to work under gang leaders like the Jakal.
I didn’t really love Domingo, as he seemed way too naive, especially for someone who had been living on the streets alone for at least a few years. He kind of just followed Atl around like a lovesick puppy, and she definitely took advantage of him.I will say that I liked the ending. It made perfect sense for her to leave him behind. Though I wish there had been some more reflection regarding Domingo killing someone for her, just like Bernardino had told him he would!
Atl (and most of the other vampires) is definitely a morally grey character, and I liked reading about her struggles with being a warrior, and being unable to live up to the rest of her family.I liked how she acknowledged that she got close to Domingo because he was a pure comforting presence that she needed after so much suffering and loneliness.
I didn’t like the chapters from the POV of the Godoy clan, or the cop (ACAB). We already knew that the Godoys were truly evil from Atl’s flashbacks, and I don’t think those chapters told us anything new. The cop also seemed like a pointless addition,especially because she died in the end, not having made much of an impact. I think the author should have made the Godoys a little less stupid so they could’ve done what the cop did instead.
Overall a good book, and I look forward to reading more of Moreno-Garcia’s work.
I really liked the world Moreno-Garcia created, with the different vampire lore, and how European vampires essentially colonized indigenous Mexican vampires. Humans’ reaction to the discovery of vampires was also completely understandable and well-explained. I liked the setting of Mexico City, and its colorful neighborhoods, contrasted with the poor street kids just trying to get by, forced to work under gang leaders like the Jakal.
I didn’t really love Domingo, as he seemed way too naive, especially for someone who had been living on the streets alone for at least a few years. He kind of just followed Atl around like a lovesick puppy, and she definitely took advantage of him.
Atl (and most of the other vampires) is definitely a morally grey character, and I liked reading about her struggles with being a warrior, and being unable to live up to the rest of her family.
I didn’t like the chapters from the POV of the Godoy clan, or the cop (ACAB). We already knew that the Godoys were truly evil from Atl’s flashbacks, and I don’t think those chapters told us anything new. The cop also seemed like a pointless addition,
Overall a good book, and I look forward to reading more of Moreno-Garcia’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
magneto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Picked this book up because I liked the cover design and love a good vampire book but had no context going in. Wound up really loving it and the multi POV format lent itself well to the story, I never found myself thinking a chapter was useless to the story. The world built up in this novel, with its multiple vampire species and the world political situation that results, was really interesting. Will definitely read this again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Classism
patandbooks's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Enjoyable, atmospheric read! I loved the vampire lore! With the different types that also correspond to the way they feed, their abilities & physical attributes. Reading it felt like I was thrust into this world, knowing only bits & pieces & left me feeling like it's some sort of fever dream, in the best way (which I feel like is what the MC felt).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
displacedcactus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I'm generally not a fan of vampires, but I am a fan of this author, so I enjoyed this book. As usual, Moreno-Garcia excels at creating a real sense of place. This time, we're given a "neon noir" version of modern-day Mexico City, in a world where humanity discovered vampires exist in the 1960s. Now vampire narcos have cornered the drug trade in Mexico, and there's a lot of conflict between different clans.
In this world there are about 10 distinct and diverse species of vampires -- and they are all living species, not undead who can pass on their "curse" with a bit. I felt like this was a pretty unique interpretation. I enjoyed how a lot of the old myths about vampirism still persisted, however.
The characters are all complex, as is befitting a noir story. I wouldn't necessarily call any of them "likeable", but they are all believable and enjoyable to read, even if I wouldn't want to have a beer with any of them (well, Cualli is likeable. He's a good boy. 14/10).
In this world there are about 10 distinct and diverse species of vampires -- and they are all living species, not undead who can pass on their "curse" with a bit. I felt like this was a pretty unique interpretation. I enjoyed how a lot of the old myths about vampirism still persisted, however.
The characters are all complex, as is befitting a noir story. I wouldn't necessarily call any of them "likeable", but they are all believable and enjoyable to read, even if I wouldn't want to have a beer with any of them (well, Cualli is likeable. He's a good boy. 14/10).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty
niamhyjay's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism