5/5

Captivating, alluring, all consuming.... Silvia Moreno-Garcia has done it again

The mix of an actress from Mexico trying to navigate the racist streets of Hollywood while trying to secure her own happiness and the story of Salome is done insanely well... I loved the exploration of racism and how it impacted/impacts Hollywood, the Orientalism.... mixed in with the biblical story I'd never heard of (given I am not christian or even close to an abrahamic religion)

This book was such a joy to read... and the romance? For both Salome and Vera..... unbelievably alluring!!!

The Seventh Veil of Salome pairs the stories of a 1950s Hollywood ingenue and a Herodian princess as they each fight for survival in their danger-infested milieux.
Vera Larios, a young Mexican woman unexpectedly cast in the lead of a 1950s Hollywood film, wields a measure of charisma and star power in her new life but is threatened on all sides by those who see her standing in the way of their dreams, including a bitter former starlet, her boyfriend's privileged family, and her own mother. Vera's connection with her character - the sensual Salome, lover and the betrayer of John the Baptist- seems to bring to life the parallel narrative of the young Judaean princess, which is interleaved with Vera's chapters. Like Vera, Salome is struggling to move from pawn to player in the chess game of influence and politics in her family's court; each of them must contend with outside powers as well as their own traitorous hearts.
Moreno-Garcia weaves a satisfying tale with her typical mastery of genre conventions. The Hollywood era is expertly evoked, right down to the tremendous pressures of McCarthyism, homophobia, and race and gender prejudice. Vera and Salome are distinctly evoked characters but each combines a watchful reserve with impetuous longing for the freedom to do as she wishes. It's clear from the beginning that each tale converges on a tragedy, but the suspense of who will survive and what they will pull from the wreckage pulls the reader along on a current of suspense.

I struggled with this one.

I simply love and adore Silvia Moreno-Garcia but this genre was just not for me.

Her writing is superb and the story was engaging but I go for more the vibe of Mexican Gothic which is one of my favorite books ever.

I will always read her books no matter what and if you are fan you should pick this one up this summer (August 6, 2024).

Thank you the NetGalley for an e-arc.

4.5 stars rounded up.

I really loved this.

This is a Hollywood 1950s noir using the casting and filming of the Seventh Veil of Salome intertwined with the biblical story of Salome. I feel like saying more about the plot gets immediately into spoilers.

It is excellent. Read it!

The story of Vera Larios, young Hollywood actress in the 1950s, entertwined with Salome from the biblical story, is an enchanting time traveling tale that will keep readers hooked.

Sylvia Moreno-Garcia does a fabulous job that allows readers to transport themselves into various times, following the story of three women fighting for what they believe in. As usual, Moreno-Garcia does a great job of researching various cultures and time periods to make the reader feel they are actually in a different world of past. This story is glitz and glamour meeting the stories of ancient times.

3.5 stars - The drama, the betrayal, Hollywood! This undeniable reminded me of the international bestseller The Seven Husbands of oft Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The story follows mainly Vera, a young Mexican woman who was discovered out of nowhere, to take on the role of Salome in a new Hollywood movie.
Nancy is another aspiring actress who just can’t get her big break and is jealous of Vera landing the role.
The beginning is so promising and passionate, I really enjoyed the two women’s POVs as they navigate Hollywood in the 50s, racism, sexism, tabloids, romance and envy.
What didn’t work for me are the chapters about Salome‘s story herself, I wanted to skip through them. There’s also a few other POVs from production members that didn’t contribute much. The story didn’t come together as I‘d hoped. I really like the initial set up & main characters but it didn’t deliver enough on drama, character development or what was happening on set. Ultimately, the book wasn’t executed to its full potential. I did enjoy the writing and characters though, so I will read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC against an honest review.

I will read ALL THINGS that Silvia Moreno-Garcia puts out…this is one of my autobuy/autoread authors. This book was so good. I will try and keep this short, simple to ensure it is spoiler free but this book was perfect. If you are in the neighborhood for a good contemporary historical novel then this is absolutely the book for you.

You follow three women (Vera, Nancy & Salome) throughout this book and watch them survive in their own ways through this storyline. There is so much to this book, so many layers, so many different stories (different POV’s) with each of the women through this book that you are just immersed in it all and get lost within this entire book. I wished that it never ended honestly.

This was easily a 5 star read for me. Beautiful, brilliant and will leave you with every single emotion imaginable. I will be shouting this book from the rooftops to all who love this genre, author or just want something new and out of their comfort zone.

After reading a few of Silvia Moreno-García's novels, I can now say without a doubt that she is the QUEEN of haunting and gothic novels. This book kept me intrigued the whole way through and I had a hard time putting it down! I highly recommend it!

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Random House, Del Rey for providing me with an eARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate it!

I love and hate this book! I hate it only because that ending cut to the heart. Where was the justice for what had happened? Was there even justice? There was so much build up in the last pages, and for it to just end that way, especially when I was emotionally invested in the possibility for a better conclusion for a certain couple, it was heartbreaking! There’s nothing wrong with this type of ending, and in some ways this certain vagueness matches well with the underlying story of Salome, which in a Biblical context we don’t know much about her actual character, and whether she truly wanted John the Baptist beheaded.

Although “The Seventh Veil of Salome” is not speculative fiction, it’s still as absorbing as “Mexican Gothic” or “The Daughter of Doctor Moreau”, only in its own unique way. The story reveals the genuine hardships of race and the perception of race in Hollywood in the 1950s. The racism behind not letting a Mexican family purchase a home during that time was a very real thing in California. What I found the most relatable was Vera’s family dynamic, and the certain strictness of Mexican parents, specifically Mexican mothers. Sylvia Moreno-Garcia is without a doubt an exceptional storyteller, bringing a realistic touch to her stories and her characters, and "The Seventh Veil of Salome" proves just that.

This is a novel for movie lovers. The production of "The Seventh Veil of Salome" has started, there is drama along every corner and Moreno-Garcia has woven and intricate tale that takes readers along for the ride. VERA is a freshly discovered actress, dealing with discrimination and unwanted attention as well as self doubt, while NANCY is full of self condfience to the point where she can no longer blame her self for her mistakes. Sprinkled between the two main characters POVs is Salome's point of view as she determines how to handle love, desire and power. Tension is built throughout the novel as there are snips from interviews from the future about an event that changes both VERA and NANCY's acting careers.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's dedication to research is showcased in this novel. She constantly references real actors and actresses, real movies, as well as scandals. As a person that loves to know everything there is to know about a film, this novel is a sweet treat, that really lets you into the other side of movies... indeed the darker side. Excellent tension building and great character development! Moreno-Garcia has a talent for making you sweat while you wait for what happens next!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again in this book, it had that Hollywood feel that I was looking for and enjoyed about the time-period. It had everything that I wanted based on the description, the characters worked with the Golden Age of Hollywood and I enjoyed how strong everything was. It was written perfectly in with Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s previous books that I enjoyed in the past.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a historical fiction set in Old Hollywood during the Sword and Sandal era of film-making. Vera is a young Mexican woman working in her father’s dentist office when she’s scouted out to star in the upcoming The Seventh Veil of Salome. Little does she or anyone else know that Nancy, an American woman who wants stardom, isn’t going to accept Vera’s potential rise to stardom.

The multi-POV structure really worked for me, shifting between Vera, Nancy, Salome herself, and a rotating cast of people who worked on the film or had inside knowledge. The structure creates three timelines: the cast and crew are, mostly, after the set of the book’s main storyline, Salome’s is set during the time of John the Baptist, and Vera and Nancy are mostly during the time of filming. The Salome POV gives the reader a view of what the movie’s story arc would have been and intertwines with Vera and Nancy’s story more and more.

I really liked Vera and her character arc. There was a lot of growth from someone who does what she thinks she’s supposed to do and tries to please her mother to someone who will be firm in what she wants and what she needs. Vera’s love of music played into her romance with Jay, a son of a wealthy business owner and an aspiring jazz musician, who also catches Nancy’s eye.

Content warning for period-typical racism

I would recommend this to fans of Old Hollywood films, particularly in the era of Hedy Lamarr and Audrey Hepburn, readers looking for multiple-POV works of historical fiction, and fans of Silvia Morenp-Garcia.

I've read everything Silvia Moreno-Garcia has written and I am once again amazed at her talent in so many different areas. No two books follow any kind of formula and to be honest, could have been written by different authors.. In this case the setting was similar to the last book and I enjoyed the world of movie making again, this time in Hollywood. The author's note is very enlightening as to the inspiration for this book. I did not know about Oscar Wilde's play, for example. A reminder of what Hollywood was all about in the 1950s was much appreciated also. At first I wasn't sure the multiple viewpoints was going to work but ultimately, at the end, I realize how clever it was a fantastic way to move the plot along at a good pace while we got to know the characters and their motivation. LOVED IT! The author creates such an amazing experience for the reader; atmospheric with an underlying sense of dread/suspense througout. Thank you to all for letting me read this early so I can sing its praises as I wait for the next one!

The Seventh Veil of Salome is another good story by an author whose work has become must read material, Silvia Moreno-Garcia. While feeling fresh and new, I feel that Salome does not beat books such as Mexican Gothic, Velvet is the Night or Daughter of Dr. Moreau as her best book.

Beautifully written with a dual story, they both sucked me in immediately. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a wonder! She writes so many books that are vastly different from each other, but manages to do it all well!

I received an early copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s triple timeline, noir-esque tale of Old Hollywood, Biblical lust, and delusion. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In lesser hands, this story would have been over-full and overwrought. This author handles all the drama, all the characters, all the time jumps with ease and clarity.

This is our story: In the modern timeline, a documentary is being made about the 1950’s “sword-and-sandal” epic The Seventh Veil of Salome and surviving members of the cast and crew are being interviewed. The casting and filming of the movie is the second timeline. We meet Nancy Hartley, a wildly ambitious, wildly mediocre extra who begins a one-sided rivalry with the movie’s unlikely star, Vera Larios. And in the third timeline we follow the story of Salome herself, with all its intrigue and (historically inaccurate) romance.

The modern documentary interviews are short, but they add interesting insights into the other stories. Salome’s story is a richly imagined tale-well-told and the part I found most interesting. But it was the making of the movie that provided the most food for thought.

The studio system is showing the cracks that will eventually break it apart, discrimination against even the most famous Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ artists has hit an all-time low, and McCarthyism has sent blacklisted creatives into hiding or exile. The push and pull of 1950’s ‘traditional’ family values vs. modern sensibilities is played out through the experiences of Vera. And Nancy searches relentlessly for her version of The American Dream, but at what cost?

My one problem with this book is that, after an amazing buildup, like a low, steady drumbeat of dread barely audible under everything that happened, the ending of the 1950’s storyline was rushed and anticlimactic. The author focused so much care and attention on the end of Salome’s story, while Vera and Nancy’s stories felt trivialized.

That was my only objection, however, and I rated this 4 ½ stars. I highly recommend The Seventh Veil of Salome for fans of classic Hollywood movies and their stars, those who don’t mind some light tinkering with Biblical tales, or readers looking for some really epic historical fiction.

This was stunning! I love Moreno-Gracia’s writing as well as her unique stories. All the women who are focused on in this story were amazing. There was nothing I would change about this story.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a story set in the 1950's about Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican woman who ends up being cast as Salome in a big-budget movie. Every actress wanted to be cast in this role so Vera quickly becomes the talk of the town as she is not someone who would have typically been cast. Readers follow Vera’s journey as she tries to portray the role of Salome and figure out her own identity.

The way this story was told was unique. It focuses on three women as the main characters: Vera Larios, Salome, and Nancy Hartley, an actress who refuses to accept Vera's casting as Salome. The story unfolds via documentary-style narration from multiple characters and firsthand narration from multiple characters. It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I did I was hooked. I found myself curious about how things would resolve. The story has a bit of a thriller element to it as well with how the story unfolds. I tend to read for casual enjoyment without analyzing the layers of the stories but if you like to analyze then this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me an eBook ARC in return for my honest review. This book is expected to be published on July 16, 2024.

Silvia does it again. What a novel. I was highly, highly anticipating this one, because I thought the premise was so cool and I knew that Silvia had the chops to deliver. It took a second to really get cooking, but once it did, I was fully absorbed. It's hard to find a genre fiction writer like Moreno-Garcia that excels in atmosphere quite so well. Every tone she goes for, she nails. I was even a little skeptical that she included the Salome timeline, because I was worried it would take me out of the narrative too much, but by the end I was fully sold on why she included it. A master class in dramatic irony. The whole thing soaked in dread. It's delicious. I wish a few of the characters got to speak for themselves at the end, it did end just a little too abruptly for me. But everything else was wonderful. I wish a studio would pick up rights to all of Moreno-Garcia's stories, it's absolutely astonishing to me she doesn't have an entire cinematic universe by now. I want to see this story on screen so badly!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, it's always such a privilege to get to read Moreno-Garcia's work early!!

This book made me an even bigger Silvia Moreno-Garcia fan (and I'm already a BIG FAN!!!). Compelling action, relatable and complex characters, and one of the best uses of POV shifts I think I've ever read.

Vera is an unknown actress, discovered in Mexico City and cast as the lead in a long-awaited film adaptation of the Biblical story of 'Salome'. Nancy is a LA party girl, trying to make it big and escape the seediness of her friends, apartment, and boyfriends. One is cast as Salome, while the other is convinced that she is the true Salome. The two women mirror and distort each other as the book progresses, surrounded by their drastically different yet somehow concentric Hollywood circles. Salome herself gets a POV chapter as well as the movie filming progresses to its beautiful and violent finish.

The staging of Salome as a 1950s film worked so well for me: I loved the production as the backdrop for bitter jealousies but also beautiful moments, like Vera's complicated relationship with self=confidence and her body as a Mexican woman in Hollywood. Nancy was definitely a bitter character, and could have seemed a bit stereotypical, but her motivations and backstory gave her good depth. Highly recommend this book for lovers of historical dramas and just an entertaining, well conceived read!