Atl, is a young vampire on the run from a rival vampire clan who has killed her family. Domingo is a kid that picks trash, making his way in an uncaring city ruled by gangs, with no family and no future. We follow Atl and Domingo as they try to flee Mexico City as enemies close in around them on all sides. Moreno-Garcia blends elements of old black and white Dracula horror movies, noir classics, vampire fantasy, and futuristic sci-fi cityscape, against the rich cultural backdrop of Mexico City. This horror, neo-noir, neo-tech/sci-fi fantasy set in Mexico City is a fast-paced and outstanding read. I can't wait to dive into more by Silvia Morena-Garcia.
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Definitely not your typical vampire book! I loved all the different vampire types based on culture/geographical region. The descriptions of mexico city make me want to visit and see them for myself. I really liked how the characters lives began to intersect more and more as the story got deeper. overall, a really fascinating read!

An interesting twist on vampires! Domingo is a young man without a home or family in Mexico City. Vampires are not allowed in city limits, but he is fascinated by the idea of them. In this book, we encounter two clans fighting basically like a mob story. I love the author’s breakdown of different species around the world and how they evolved. The characters both human and not are interesting and their stories are woven together well.

Certain Dark Things is a vampire noir novel centering on Atl the Aztec vampire who is on the run from another mob like vampire family.

I love noir and vampires so this book was right up my alley. I also enjoyed reading Mexican Gothic, so I knew Moreno-Garcia was already a master at mixing up genres. The book was a pretty easy and quick read, but still had plenty of action to keep you hooked. I also enjoyed the rich vampire mythology that Moreno-Garcia wove throughout the novel. It kept my turning the pages.

Would recommend to fan of modern vampire fiction.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one because I really disliked Mexican Gothic (though I really, really wanted to like it), so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I did enjoy this one, and how it even gave me some feels at the end.

"But life is no adventure, and there are no heroes--only survivors."

Certain Dark Things is about Atl, a vampire who is the last of her clan, as she tries desperately to get out of Mexico City. There is a rival narco-vampire, Nick, and his cronies who are pursuing her and want her dead. During her attempts to escape she comes across a street kid named Domingo, who attempts to befriend her.

If you're a fan of vampire stories you'll enjoy this one. Domingo is a curious guy so he ask Atl all kinds of questions (much to her chagrin) so the reader learns a lot about Moreno-Garcia's vampires, all the different clans and all their different abilities. And if you like stores about human relationships and connections, you'll like this one too. Domingo was my favorite character--so lovable, so endearing, he felt like the sweet little brother that everyone wants to have around and seeing him with Atl, who tries to be cold and hard and distant, makes him even more likable.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and I'm glad I gave Moreno-Garcia another shot.

A fantastically nuanced vampire thriller that leans heavily onto vampire lore from multiple cultures, including Aztec mythology. I love that the title recalls Pablo Neruda's XVII (I Do Not Love You...), and sets the tone for a wonderfully novela negra or neo noir novel (according to the author) that centers a street-kid named Domingo who softens a jaded vampire's heart as they try to escape a vampire-narco gang bent on catching up with Atl. An alternate universe Mexico becomes crowded with vampire subspecies from around the world that seek to benefit from the lax rules on feeding. They clash, leading to conflict, turf battles and bloodshed for all involved. Firmly in the horror genre, this books straddles other genres in much the same way Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic do. But it is terrifying and wonderful work of fiction, especially if you appreciate the diversity of vampire lore, a gritty setting and the pervasive sense of horror at every turn.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dark, gritty,violent. A fast-paced game of cat and mouse. The cover perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of the story.

A good book for those that like YA but want a little more kick. If you liked the vampires in Holly Black’s The Coldest Girl in Cold Town you may enjoy this.

Only made it to 56% before deciding to put down. Not for me at this time. May finish in the future. Too slow to get into.

This has a lot more potential that what it is giving. The premise started out interesting, but I quickly lost interest in the plot and characters. There was not enough depth to them to keep me invested. This felt too drawn out to be a novella and too short to be a full novel. The stuck-in-the-middle feeling left me wishing for richer detail and more urgency to story.

I thought that this book would be a lot more horrific than it was; I just don't think that this style of horror novel is for me. I wanted to branch out and explore a new subgenre of horror, but it didn't work out for me so well with this book, unfortunately.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's CERTAIN DARK THINGS is a zippy, pulpy romp through an alternate history Mexico City (with vampires!) that also manages to be heartfelt. Atl and Domingo are both compelling characters I enjoyed reading about, and bonus points that they sounded so like different people, with different ideas and approaches to conflict and life-in-general.

While dark (it says it in the title!), I didn't feel like this was unrelentingly dark, and thought there were nice glimmers of hope and a way forward--even if not all the characters got a happy ending.

Especially recommended for fans of Blade, Vampire: The Masquerade, and other properties that tweak the lore of vampires in new and interesting ways. I particularly enjoyed reading the worldbuilding about the different types of vampire in the included appendix.

4/5 stars because I thought the ending was a little abrupt, but that's probably just personal taste.

I feel pretty conflicted about this one. It was such a good premise with interesting social and cultural context and a great setting. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough for me in terms of plot. So, I guess I'd say that while the background, setting, and characters were fascinating, not much really happened plot-wise.

The most interesting part of this book for me was the very distinct vampire mythology from the typical versions I've seen. However, on the whole this book did not make a huge impression on me because it did not dig deep enough into the characters, mainly Domingo and Atl. I never quite felt that they were fully real to me, and I just kept feeling like something was missing the whole time I was reading. Eventually, I felt less invested in the plot as a result. I would have enjoyed a slightly slower version of this book, where you could really feel the potential life they might have been able to built before it's further threatened.

A rich, complex vampire mythology and a gritty crime noir setting? Yes, please! In this alternative present, vampires are out in the open, and there are many different sub-species of vampire, some that can enslave humans with a bite, and some that feed only on energy. Vampires from around the world have settled in Mexico City, where the laws are more lenient for them, and they run their narco-empires in the seedy underbelly of the city.
Atl is one of the lone survivors of an ancient Aztec clan, and she is on the run from the rival narco-vampire baddies. She is all alone, except for her dog, until she meets Domingo, a resourceful street kid who begins to break through her fierce outer shell. Together, they tear through the city leaving a trail of criminals and cops in their wake. Can they make it out alive?
The world-building in this book is fantastic- the fresh take on vampires and neo-noir backdrop make this a 5 star read!

Latinx Paranormal Fantasy full of Vampires and a genetically modified pup. I loved this read so much that I would love to see this world expanded.

Moreno-Garcia always weaves beautifully dark tales of intrigue. I think of the images and characters in this book well after I place it aside.

THIS BOOK KEPT ME ON MY TOES AT ALL TIMES! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a mastermind whenever she pick up a pen. The characters are created and executed flawlessly and the story keeps you engaged from the first page to the last. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title early!

Atl is a vampire on the run from another group of narco-thug vampires of a different race. She's made it as far as Mexico City, which is something of an non-vampire oasis in a country increasingly overrun by vampires from other countries, when she runs into Domingo, a street kid who works as a garbage picker. Domingo is instantly smitten and can't believe his luck when Atl invites him back to her hideout... This was a really fun story, with some very interesting vampire lore and different races of vampires from around the world. Atl is a descendant of a Mexican race of vampires who resemble large birds in their natural state, and suck blood using a proboscis and stinger, not unlike a mosquito. Then there are the Necros, European vampires who are the closest thing to the vampires we know from books and films, who are muscling in on the drug operations of the indigenous groups. And then there's Bernardino, a Revenant, a vampire who can feed on both human and vampire alike, and who assists Atl and Domingo when all seems lost. This was just a fun, fun book and highly recommended.

This is the 4th book I've read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I've loved them all.. She always creates the most interesting worlds with beautifully flawed and complex characters. I've never read another vampire story quite like this. I loved Domingo and Atl and how they slowly grew to like, care for, and trust one another. Inserting vampires into the world of drug cartels, poverty and police oppression was a fascinating thought experiment that I really enjoyed reading. If you are interested in seeing the typical vampire story flipped on its head, check this one out. Moreno-Garcia in my experience never disappoints.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After Mexican Gothic, I was excited to read Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The background, both current Mexican and Aztec that she prepared for this story helped the main tale about a street kid in Mexico City and a vampire girl take off. Another enjoyable read from a consistent author.