My first read from this author and it definitely won't be my last. I just love how each book she publishes is so different to the last yet they are joined by this exquisite written delicacy.

I swear that Silvia Moreno-Garcia's ability to switch genres and deliver great novels each time is damn near unparalleled. And even if the last couple of them haven't 100% hit the right spot for me, she is certainly back to full form with Certain Dark Things, a novel she herself has called "neon-noir". It was originally released in 2015 and went out of print before coming back with a vengeance this year and if anyone tells you that vampires are going out of style, know that person is lying to you and you should immediately get yourself a copy of this book to see why.

The story follows Domingo, a street kid and rubbish collector living in Mexico City, one of the last oases in the country to be free of vampires. He's simply trying to make a living and hide from the authorities, when Atl, descendant of Aztec blood drinkers and very much a vampire, walks into his life. Domingo is mesmerised, but Atl is on the run and soon the two of them are running not just from the vampires chasing Atl, but also from Mexico City police and gangs, wanting to keep the city free from the blood drinkers. Can they make it out alive, or will this be their final resting place?

I can't understand every person who listed this as a young adult book. Yes, Domingo is 17, but this is in no way, shape or form a YA book. It's a violent neo-noir (or neon-noir and I mean just look at that cover!) and it doesn't deal with traditional YA themes. This is a story of revenge, of death and of one woman's hope that she can survive the onslaught that killed her family. It's also got a lot of lore behind it, with many different types of vampire, with different abilities and powers. It's great to watch Moreno-Garcia at work here, effortlessly going between the points of view of Domingo, Atl herself and three additional characters trying to find her (including a vampire hunter who moved to Mexico City to escape them and finds herself caught up in basically all this nonsense). But beyond this, there is a whole world that I wanted to lose myself in time after time.

The way the vampire lore is explored is brilliant, from the ideas of vampires migrating into different lands to the varying types of control they exert on humans. It's cool to see how much of it lines up with traditional views of vampires (sunlight, silver, garlic) and how much is different or completely non-existent. It made the world so much more alive and I was constantly eager for more and more details, more encounters, more everything. It's the kind of world where if she announced she would be writing another book following a different set of characters, I would immediately preorder it, because I don't think I could get enough. As some species of vampires don't get much space on the page at all, it means there is so much more we could explore. I know she's really not in the business of revisiting previous locations but if she ever made an exception, omg I would take it up in a heartbeat.

I also really liked how deliciously morally grey everyone is. I would say Domingo is probably the most innocent of the lot, but even he has his dark side and there is this well of anger in him that I actually appreciated seeing. He comes across as naive to some like Atl, who have lived a life steeped in violence, but he's also capable of a lot of things, even if he does choose to be kind first and foremost. He trusts Atl, he trusts Bernardino and he keeps thinking that if he could just do the right thing, he would easily be able to fix everything, to make everything better and have a form of happily ever after for them both. It's a bitter pill to swallow when things go wrong (and boy do they go wrong), but I found it interesting to contrast his approach to Atl's, who is constantly torn between vengeance for what happened to her family and her own fear for her life.

Overall, I feel that Certain Dark Things manages to breathe new life into a genre that seems at times quite stale, while maintaining the dark and dangerous vampires that we all love. Solid recommendation from an author whose works I'm always excited to pick up (and who has now become an instant buy for me!).

Have a look below at what others thought of the book!

“Just one more, he thought. Just that blasted girl. How long can she run, anyway?” - Rodrigo, ‘Certain Dark Things’.

My thanks to Quercus Books/Jo Fletcher Books for a review copy via NetGalley of ‘Certain Dark Things’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in exchange for an honest review. I had already preordered its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Aida Reluzco, so combined for an immersive experience.

‘Certain Dark Things’ was Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s second novel, initially published in 2016. It quickly went out of print and became a much sought-after item. So, this new, updated edition has been highly anticipated.

It is a vampire novel set in an alternative Mexico (and indeed a world) in which vampires are very much ‘out of the coffin’. Silvia Moreno-Garcia describes it as a violent, gritty neo-noir, which is told from multiple points of view.

So, in this reimagined world vampires were identified as real in 1967 and in the following years governments began either deporting vampires or setting out ‘vampire free’ and ‘vampire occupied’ zones. Mexico City is one such vampire-free zone. That doesn’t mean that there are no vampires there but they have to remain in the shadows and avoid detection.

Early in the novel Domingo, a 17-year-old street boy, meets the beautiful Atl, who reveals herself as a Tlāhuihpochtli, a type of vampire capable of shapeshifting into a bird of prey-like creature. They begin a complex association that develops throughout the novel. Atl is desperate to leave Mexico as she is being hunted.

The hunters are led by Rodrigo, who serves as assistant, a ‘Renfield’, to the head of the Godoy family, who are Necros, Central European vampires; definitely keen on colonialism and wiping out members of the native vampire clans. Mr. Godoy has insisted his son, Nick, accompany the crew to Mexico City. Rodrigo considers Nick a loose cannon with ‘more teeth than common sense’. The fifth POV character is Ana Aguirre, a police detective investigating a murder that appears to have been done by a vampire.

To the storylines of these characters add drug gangs, a vivid underworld of illicit clubs, various colourful supporting characters, a very loyal dog, and plenty of vampire lore drawn from world cultures. Yes, it is dark and violent but that goes with the noir territory.

I have great admiration for Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s storytelling skills. I expect that her early work with short stories has honed her ability to create vivid characters with a few strokes of her pen (or keyboard). Added to this, her world building is so impressive. I also appreciated her inclusion of the Encyclopaedia Vampirica at the end of the main story along with a few vampire-inspired drink recipes, and discussion questions.

‘Certain Dark Things’ more than fulfilled my desire for a noir vampire novel, that paid homage to its mythic and literary heritage.

On a side note, its cover art by John Picacio was phenomenal.

Highly recommended.

I was excited to see that Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s 2016 Certain Dark Things was being re-released! This is the 4th book by the author that I’ve read and I love her style of writing and the way she brings her characters to life.

Set in Mexico City, one of the last places in Mexico to be free from vampires, Certain Dark Things is not your typical vampire book. Moreno-Garcia once again brings her own unique twist to the genre by transplanting ideas from folklore into her novel. It’s dark, gory and bloody; the perfect read for horror fans.

Domingo is a 17-year old living on the streets of Mexico city collecting garbage to earn money. When he encounters Atl, a descendant of an ancient Aztec vampire clan, Domingo is spellbound. She is beautiful, mysterious and exotic. Atl is on the run from a rival gang of vampires and takes refuge in the unfamiliar surroundings of the city. Chased by vampires and crime bosses, Atl must escape quickly or face a gruesome death.

Moreno-Garcia’s love of dialogue and complicated characters, characteristic of her other books, can be found in Certain Dark Things. There is a sexiness/exoticness to the vampires in her book; this is especially true for Atl. Fierce, strong and stubborn, Atl isn’t used to being on her own without her clan. She’s a spoiled rich kid used to having things handed to her on a plate. Now she’s alone in a strange city with only her genetically engineered Doberman for company. Who can help her and who can she trust? Reluctantly she warms to the charms of the young Domingo, an innocent and somewhat naïve kid who thinks that vampires are just like those he reads about in his comic books. I love the interaction between the characters and the way the author brings the folklore to life in this story is fascinating- a whole new way to look at vampires and particularly the distinction between the Mexican and European vampire stereotypes.

Certain Dark Things is packed full of action with mafia-like vampires intent on destroying their enemies and a determined female cop who has reputation for putting down vampires. The world the author creates is fascinating and the city itself seems to have a life of its own within the story. Atmospheric, gritty and gripping, the author’s love of crime and noir are seamlessly brought together in this book to bring the reader a unique addition to the vampire/horror genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Certain Dark Things is out now in all good bookshops!

If you’ve seen any of my other reviews, you would know that I am just a massive fan of anything that Silvia Moreno-Garcia puts out, and Certain Dark Things is no different. Moreno-Garcia is an auto-buy / auto-request author for me and I truly cannot see that changing. Moreno-Garcia delves into so many different genres so fluidly that I know that I am bound to enjoy whatever genre she’s writing, purely because she wrote it.

In Certain Dark Things we are told the story in multiple POV’s which all centre around the vampire Atl, and how their stories all intertwine. Domingo and Atl are sunshine x grumpy personified and their growing trust and bonds throughout the novel is one of my favourite things about this book. Moreno-Garcia has a knack for writing strong women who can be vulnerable and Atl & Ana are yet another example of her doing this well.

The vampirism and the culture is outstanding. The different subsets of vampires, the explanations, the eccentricities and the danger to them is something that I’ve missed when reading numerous vampire novels. You can always trust that Moreno-Garcia will write a culturally rich and raw novel.

I received an eARC of this book from the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – upon release date I also purchased a copy of the audiobook to have that experience and the narrator was absolutely perfect for the story and I completely recommend the audiobook.

Neo(n)-noir is a sub-genre I need more of in my life! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an author I need more of in my life too, as she hasn't failed me yet, no matter what focus her novels take.

This was set in walled-in Mexico City, self-contained and safe from the vampiric clans that dominated outside of it. Domingo lives on its streets and he might not have seen any blood-suckers but he intimately knew many of the strange individuals that walked them, especially at night. Alt, a mysterious figure with a genetically-modified Doberman, might just be one the strangest, but most alluring, of all. She might also prove to be one of the supernatural figures he has been warned to avoid and that those in authority maintain have not infiltrated their city.

I love how gritty a creation this was. The filth of the city and the seething, criminal underbelly were illuminated for the reader and I loved exploring all of its hidden recesses and witnessing all of underhand dealings that occurred there. The setting was as vibrant as the characters that roamed throughout it, and they also proved just as despicable as their surroundings.

I don’t think I’ve read a vampire book quite like this one and really enjoyed it. It was less Gothic than anticipated and the vampires weren’t romanticised, expect initially through Domingo’s perspective. They also were not entirely painted as the monsters of this tale, either. They were presented, along with their human companions, as containing dualities inside of them and whilst their murders and mutilations were never excused, neither were the many just as despicable human acts, either.

Certain Dark Things is one of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's earlier works that I was desperate to get my hands on. Unfortunately, it was no longer being sold. I was so excited to hear that this new and updated edition was being released; I couldn't wait to start! This book is an atmospheric, character-driven neo-noir filled with vampires in Mexico City. Gorgeous, haunting, and slow-paced Silvia Moreno-Garcia breathed so much atmosphere into these pages. If you love complex, grey characters and aesthetic, bittersweet storytelling, you need to pick this up.

Mexico City doesn't have any vampires, supposedly. When Domingo, a lonely street kid, stumbles across a beautiful vampire on the run, he's instantly drawn to her. Atl is the descendent of the Aztec vampires, and she needs a friend in the city if she's going to survive. With crime bosses, cops, and rival vampire clans on her tail, Domingo and Atl will need a lot of luck to make it out alive.

The Mexico City that Silvia Moreno-Garcia has described is dark, atmospheric, and violently vivid. It was so easy to visualise the city and the people trying to survive inside of it. The author expertly weaved together the lives of the characters, the politics of various factions, and the underbelly of the city to create a setting that drips with style.

The highlight of this book was the complex, nuanced characters that populated it. They aren't necessarily likeable, or good, but their character development and relationships felt realistic and multi-faceted. Domingo was so desperately loyal, so lonely that even the tiniest speck of kindness would earn you his full devotion. Atl was dangerous, selfish and alone. She's frightened for her life; she's cut off from her family, a spoiled, rich woman on the run - her character was infinitely interesting. Even amongst the side cast, you have wonderful characterisation. A disillusioned cop who moved to Mexico City to give her child a better life. A rage-fuelled, misogynistic, brutal vampire who personally wants to make Atl suffer. These characters are types commonly exist in the genre, but Silvia Moreno-Garcia breathes new life into them.

Unique twists on vampire lore are always exciting to read about. In Certain Dark Things, there are various forms of vampires from around the world. Vampires are a different species to humans; humans can't become vampires. Every subtype of vampire is very different. The more popular media representations are more similar to European vampires known as Necros, than to the form of Aztec vampire that Atl belongs to. Instead of biting people with sharp fangs, she has talon-like nails and a proboscis similar to butterflies. There various forms of vampires make me desperate for another book in this vampire-infested world.

The tone of Certain Dark Things resemble a noir; it was relatively slow-paced, atmospheric, and the relationships and characters arcs felt realistic. This isn't a book where happy endings are inevitable; it's a book where people's mistakes come back to bite. I loved the bittersweet tone, how you could watch characters make bad decisions and truly worry about the consequences of their actions. Combining the genres of fantasy, horror, and noir has allowed Certain Dark Things to have a starkly different atmosphere which I adored.

Overall, Certain Dark Things was a fantastic, atmospheric read that masterfully combined a gorgeous, dark setting with a character-driven narrative to build an exciting, unique story.

Absolutely adored the story. I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. The world was detailed and I loved traversing it with the characters. It was great to read another amazing book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

6/10 stars

My full review can be found on my blog (link attached).

I’m recently jumping through Moreno-Garcia’s books: one new, one old – and let me tell you: there is a difference. Certain Dark Things is Moreno-Garcia’s second book, and it shows. It boasts of lots of great ideas, a skillfully created, moody and thick atmosphere, and an interesting plot. But the prose is clunky at times and nowhere near as polished or subtle in her later novels, and the characters, while engaging, remain early blueprints of protagonists from her other books: a sensitive, naive boy and a headstrong, wilful girl meet again and again in Moreno-Garcia’s stories, and Certain Dark Things is no exception.

Certain Dark Things reads like a love story to the vampire genre. And, like a true fangirl she admits being, Moreno-Garcia delves deep into the lore, expanding it and twisting in delightful ways. Certain Dark Things explores an alternate history, in which in 1967 humanity discovered the existence of vampires as a separate species – and not only one type, your typical Dracula vampire inhabiting so successfully popular imagination, but actually ten subspecies, vastly varying in behavior and phenotypes and place of origin. From Central European Necros to Chinese Jiang-shi to East European Revenants to Mezoamerican Tlāhuihpochtin to North American Wendigos, Moreno-Garcia gleefully goes off the deep end into the myths and legends of blood-sucking and flesh-eating monsters. She reimagines the various subspecies as separate mafia families, hierarchical and violent and bloody, hellbent on defending and expanding their territories and influence, engaged in narco-business, and the ingenuity of this idea can be confirmed by the fact that it seems so natural, so apt.

As a result, Certain Dark Things’ version of Mexico City, dark, gritty, run by drug mobs and designated as a vampire-free zone, is a character in its own right. Filled with corrupt or indolent cops, sanitation crews wielding disproportionate power, people sick with various blood diseases, street kids, homeless, dangerous teenagers and mobs vying for power, Mexico City is not a great place to live. And yet, in Moreno-Garcia’s prose, it holds a certain noir charm: no, not for living, but for watching from a safe place ;). It’s not a coincidence, I think, that part of the story takes place on an enormous landfill; nor that the main character Domingo’s occupation is collecting useful trash. Certain Dark Things explores the notions of refuse and margins, of the things that are relegated to shadows of our everyday life – and those that choose shadows as their own place. Moreno-Garcia calls her book neon-noir; the new cover certainly reflects her choice: something of a glam dystopia, part Blade Runner and part Nosferatu.

There is plenty to love in Certain Dark Things; and yet, of all the Moreno-Garcia’s books I’ve read to date this is the weakest. While the characters were engaging, and their choices ambivalent and presented in many shades of gray, ultimately I felt that Certain Dark Things lacked the subtlety of Mexican Gothic or Velvet Was the Night. Part of the problem lies in the language, which is a bit stiff and clunky, though from time to time the languid melodious rhythm that Moreno-Garcia perfected in her later novels can be enjoyed also here. Part of the problem lies in too many POVs: the two main protagonists, Domingo and Atl, are accompanied by Rodrigo, a Necros human companion (Renfield) tasked with finding and killing Atl, Nick, a young and impetuous Necros and Rodrigo’s problematic charge, and Ana, a seasoned cop and onetime vampire killer, who gets entangled into a vampire-mob conflict. While Domingo and Atl’s POVs were interesting if overly angsty, the same can’t be said for Rodrigo or Nick. And it’s an interesting side note that the only likeable male characters are those completely bereft of macho traits; it’s the women who are strong and capable, who make decisions and knowingly pay for them. Atl and Domingo – and Nick – behaved like typical teenagers: a storm of hormones, constant jumps between extreme emotions, awkwardness and angst dialed up to 11. Middle-aged Ana and Rodrigo had potential to be more interesting, but with limited exposure they only came off as embittered and tired.

[...]

My copy, Tor’s reissue, contains a few bonuses: a Vampiric Encyclopedia, a short interview with Moreno-Garcia, and recipes for two Certain Dark Things-inspired drinks. There are even some questions for a book club discussion (I think? This is something very American to me ;)).

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.

I really enjoyed Certain Dark Things. I liked Atl and Domingo, and their relationship was my favourite part of the book. I loved how their relationship developed and flourished.

What was also interesting about this book was the different type of vampires! I do admit, I did sometimes find myself confused on the different types (they all blended together a bit), but I did enjoy the mixture of Vampire mythology that was present.

The plot was interesting and tense, and I liked the mixture of perspectives to tell the story. However, the characters were my favourite part, their ambiguity, the mystery, and not the plot.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a unique vampire tale set in Mexico City. It is a fusion of noir and horror and the author melds both genres very well to create an absorbing story.
Domingo is living on the streets, collecting garbage to make some money while avoiding both the police and the gangs that control the city. One night he meets Atl., a young vampire who is desperately trying to flee the city before members of a rival vampire family can hunt her down and kill her like they did the rest of her family. Atl may need to feed but the last thing she needs is to pick up a hanger on. As bodies begin to pile up both cops and criminals are getting closer, and Atl may need Domingo more than she ever imagined.
I loved how the author incorporated folk tales into the narrative and created a world with so many different species of vampire. The world building was fascinating , I really enjoyed the explanation of the various factions of vampires and their rivalries and alliances. I recently read Velvet Was The Night , a historical noir set in 1970s Mexico and this neo noir set in an alternative version of the city was an interesting comparison. I liked the grittiness, the book is as dark as the title promises.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a tough book to review, and probably my least favourite of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books that I've read. Unlike her other works, it took me a while to get really interested in the story. I think I was probably 20% of the way through Certain Dark Things before I really got invested in the characters or the plot, and even then, there were some elements of the character development that I didn't completely buy.

That being said, there were a lot of elements in this book that I really loved. Firstly, I thought the vampire lore was a really creative mix of folklore/vampire pop culture and history and biology. The history of the vampires in Mexico, as well as the different types of vampires and their traditions were probably my favourite elements of the book. I also really enjoyed the (very gory) action sequences and the body horror.

Overall, if you're looking for a fresh take on the vampire genre, like morally grey femme fatales, and have no problems with gore, then I would recommend Certain Dark Things. However, like I previously said, I felt it was weaker than the author's other works that I've read.

(As always, I love reading the author's notes, and I particularly enjoyed how Silvia Moreno-Garcia said she wanted to write a noir novel where the 'maneater' femme fatale character is literally a maneater.)

Silvia Moreno-Garcia reimagine the vampire lore creating new types of vampires making them contemporary and varied.
They are not the sexual object of desire or projection of the perfect man, they are flesh and blood and each type of vampire comes with different characteristics and lore.
I loved this book, it's a urban fantasy but it's also the story of the relationship between two underdogs: Atl, the aristocratic vampire girl on the run, and Domingo, the homeless boy who lives on the border of the society.
The setting is a timeless and alternate Mexico City, dark and fascinating.
There's plenty of references to pop culture and we know that the setting is contemporary but there's no specific reference.
She's a talented storyteller and delivers a gripping and fascinating story, I was enthralled and read it in two setting.
The world building is amazing and rich of details, the characters are fleshed out and fascinating.
I loved this story and it would be great to read other stories featuring Domingo and Atl.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Jo Fletcher Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book has a lot of interesting elements that I ultimately enjoyed. The setting is Mexico City, an oasis free of vampires due to the combined efforts of different gangs and the government itself. Atl is a vampire from an Aztec clan who is trying to find her way out of Mexico City without being noticed by the dangerous vampires trying to find her. She runs into Domingo, a teenage boy who sifts through garbage for useful things to sell, and strikes up a relationship with him where he gets paid if he lets her feed. But Domingo has always been fascinated by the idea of vampires, and despite Atl's taciturn nature, she finds herself slowly opening up to his curiosity and his desire to help her.

There is a lot of focus on Atl and Domingo's relationship specifically, and that between vampires and their human retainers in a broader sense. Even though the vampires in this world don't adhere to any of the stereotypes, there are a lot of pop culture references to vampires we're familiar with. I really liked the different subspecies of vampires and how they have different skills and feed in different ways, but I didn't feel like this was explored as much as I would have wanted it to be. We do get up close and personal with three of the subspecies, but there appear to be several more that are only mentioned in passing. I appreciated the way the author addressed colonization through the European vampires, and I really liked Ana, the detective who is put on the case when someone ends up dead because of a vampire. Her story was fascinating to me from beginning to end.

The thing that felt most lacking for me was urgency. We find out fairly quickly that Atl is on the run, but the book takes its time before putting her in a truly dangerous situation. Instead, Atl and Domingo have plenty of time to get to know each other and walk around Mexico City for a little bit, while the vampires chasing Atl gather a team to take her down and take their sweet time doing so.

I personally wouldn't classify this as horror because none of it was particularly scary, but it does have a lot of gore so be prepared for that.

I heard about this book years ago but it was out of print and I couldn’t find a copy for dear life. I was therefore very excited to see it was being reissued and then to get an ARC. I’m also very glad to say it didn’t disappoint! Silvia Moreno-Garcia Is becoming one of my favorite authors and is an auto-buy.

This book is set in an alternate version of Mexico City and even though it was written a while ago (and we don’t have a particular time setting), it seems very modern and could be set in current times. Atl is a very interesting character. She’s pragmatic, tortured, lost, willing to do anything to survive, but is also kind and endearing. Her character arc from spoilt princess to this tough determined woman is amazing. Domingo with his kind puppy dog love is the perfect foil for her. I like their relationship and how it evolves. He gives her what she needs even as she’s fighting it, and is her protector even though she’s the big bad vampire with all the strength and killer instincts.

I like the way story unfolds and how the vampires are equally the hunters and the hunted. There is a check and power balance that determines the rules all the players must abide by. It makes for very interesting reading to see how they try and navigate around it. I loved sinking into this world and feeling my way around it. The world building is amazing and so descriptive - you can almost smell, feel, taste what being in the city would be like. I only wish there was a continuation and we got to see more of the vampire species and spend more time with the characters. Excellent read - 4.5/5 stars.

I went into this book basically knowing nothing about it beyond the fact that it was a vampire novel that had appeared on a multitude of top vampire books lists.

I absolutely adored this story. I loved the gritty noir Mexico City background, I loved the incredibly well thought out vampire lore, I loved the tenacity of Atl and Domingo, there was just so much to love about this book.

I had spent the whole of August reading a compendium of vampire stories so you might think that I had had my fill however it has just made me appreciate the true skill that is involved in bringing a unique take to the vampire mythos. This book truly is a unique take and it is a treasure to read.

WOW.

My first book by this author, although I'm now looking forward even more to read Mexican Gothic! The writing, the paranormal fantasy elements, the characters, it was all really well done! I really like this world and the various creatures in it. I can't recommend it enough! Domingo was such an interesting character, The gang warfare, and bad blood between the rivals was so fun to read. This book is DARK and therefore classifies as adult. I enjoyed it immensely!


Also just look at that cover! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc.

Huge thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the E-arc of Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I love Moreno-Garcia’s writing for a number of reasons, her range, her style and prose, ability to surprise as she transitions from one genre to another and that throughout all of this she brings to the fore the vibrant and complex country that Mexico is, never shying from its intriguing past.

Having been unable to locate an original copy of Certain Dark Things, I was over the moon to obtain access via NetGalley and I started reading with high expectations!


Certain Dark Things delivers on all fronts, presenting a noir, dark, gritty, blood pumping vampire novel. The world-building is holistic, history and races are detailed and supported by the wonderful encyclopaedia of vampires included, yet at no time does it feel like I have been forced to sit through vampire history or biology lessons.

The characters are multi-dimensional, there is no skimping and the story is told from multiple perspectives. The key protagonists are engaging, complex and I had no difficulty with empathising with them and their predicaments. The relationship between vampires and humans is explored at multiple levels, economically, socially and personally. It is in itself a complex beast and the impact is at times wounding, mortally and emotionally.

I absolutely adored this book and am over the moon that it is being re-released to a wider audience and I urge you to pick it up.

This is a book that has been on my wishlist for years but it was nigh on impossible to get second hand once the publication run ended. So I immediately requested the ARC when I saw it was being republished!

Alternate Mexico City. Modern day tech with a deep noir feel (neonoir I think the author calls it). And it's full of vampires. Lore and myth and guns and drugs and cops and gang wars all rolled into one.

I didn't know what to expect going in but I really ended up enjoying this - the urban fantasy aspects blended seemlessly into the noir throughout, and oh boy Ms Moreno-Garcia is not afraid to kill off characters, let me just say that. I also enjoyed the vampire drug war idea. Gave me slight True Blood vibes (but in a good way).

This is my second go at a book by this author, and I'm so glad I took the chance again because although I wouldn't call this horror for me, as nothing horrified or scared me, I wasn't disappointed by that fact the way I was (a little) by Mexican Gothic, because there was so much more to this than the fear factor and atmosphere - multiple plot lines, various lores and vampire subspecies, police thriller aspects, gangs and drugs and murder/feedings, all mixed together with a hand that you just KNOW has a love and respect for the Vampire.

I am NOT the biggest noir fan (in books), nor am I a police thriller reader. But this engaged me and kept feeding my interest at the perfect pace, so I happily made an exception for it.

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.