I am beyond excited that this book was given a new lease of life by re-publication because it’s absolutely fantastic. A combination of a gripping plot and some of my favourite characters ever written made this a huge hit for me. Just weeks after praising Velvet was the Night, Certain Dark Things is now my favourite Silvia Moreno-Garcia book. I am here for this unique take on vampires in an alternative Mexico City

Atl is a blood-drinking vampire on the run from a different species of vampire after they killed her family. She has entered Mexico City, a vampire free zone where she has to look over her shoulder in every moment in order to not get caught. There she meets Domingo, a young man growing into his adulthood. Domingo grew up on the streets and hasn’t had an easy life, but appreciates every good thing that happens to him and loves music. When he and Atl meet you couldn’t put two more different people (lol and vampires) together. But the two have to get Atl out of the country so she can escape those who pursue her, including investigator Ana Aguirre, a cop with vampire experience, and Nick, a vampire from the family who killed Atl’s relatives.

So I am completely obsessed with the dynamic between Domingo and Atl. Domingo is such a cinnamon roll despite being roped into street crimes since he was young. The guy gives his entire heart to Atl despite knowing she’s a vampire and could kill him in an instant. Atl takes him on as her Renfield, a human assistant to a vampire, despite knowing her family would disapprove of it. Atl is the grumpy to Domingo’s sunshine, she tries everything to not have any emotional connection to Domingo but he does everything he can to change that with his unstoppable caring nature. I love that this book is just a snapshot of Domingo and Atl’s lives but it packs in so much connection and really looks at what it means to be human.

The plot focusses on Nick and Rodrigo searching for Atl, and how Atl and Domingo avoid them. There are fights, there are skirmishes, there are some really tense moments. I also really liked Ana, the detective also searching for the vampires. All of these points of view gave so many perspectives for a relatively short novel, I was blown away by the depth achieved in less than 300 pages. Shoutout to Atl’s modified dog, I love him a lot.

Overall this is definitely my favourite vampire book. The ending couldn’t have been more perfect in all its bitter-sweetness. Love, love, love!!!! Silvia Moreno-Garcia nailed the character connections and I am hear for it.

Certain Dark Things is the perfect blend of fantasy, horror and noir, with vivid characters and set in a Mexico City that became a character in and of itself.

Domingo is a street kid looking for his next meal when he finds Atl, a beautiful and mysterious girl who invites him back to her place... only Domingo might in fact be her meal. Atl is a Vampire, a member of the ancient Aztec clan and she's on the run. A feud between her clan and the Godoy's, a rival Vampire gang, ended in the death of Atl's mother and sister and led to her running for her life. But it's not just the Vampires she has to be careful of, the gangs of New Mexico aren't happy to hear blood suckers have returned to their streets and they're out for blood. Atl will have to rely on humans and Vampires alike if she is to make it out of Mexico City alive.

Certain Dark Things is told from multiple perspectives: Atl, a Tlahuihpotchtli a race of Vampires that goes back to before the Aztecs. Domingo, a lonely street kid trying to stay out of trouble and gather garbage to pay for his next meal. Nick Godoy, a Necro, a more traditional style of Vampire with sharp teeth and pale skin. Rodrigo, a Renfield, a companion to Nick's father who has been sent to hunt down Atl. And Ana Aguirre, a cop and past Vampire killer who is investigating the death of a young woman. While all these characters play a pivotal part in the story and add to the atmosphere and tension, Certain Dark Things is Atl and Domingo's story.

Atl is used to comfort, never wondering where her next meal will come from, but now that she's on the run all that changes. She has to learn where to place her trust, and though the voice of her sister is telling her that a human is not someone she can trust, Atl see's something in Domingo that she understands. He is naive and enamoured with her, but he also knows the city inside and out, something that Atl knows will come to use. They are both on their own, both looking for a way out of the holes they are in, they just need to learn to trust one another.

I loved the twist on the trope of male vampire/ innocent female lover. It was so interesting seeing the shift in power dynamic. Domingo's life on the street made him the perfect person to become a Vampire's assistant, his desperation for solidity, for something regular ensures his loyalty, and while Atl does take advantage of this, she also see's the strength in it. They are both looking for something the other can't provide; Domingo, a relationship that will last and Atl someone to take some of her pain away, someone she can lean on. Though the romance doesn't play a large part in the plot, I did love how Moreno-Garcia progressed it throughout the story, and felt it was written extremely well.

With Certain Dark Things, Moreno-Garcia introduces us to her world of Vampires expertly. There are a multitude of different races from Atl's Tlahuihpotchtli clan of matriarchal run shape shifters, to the Godoy's Necro style who can control people's minds by sharing their blood. Lovers of Vampire lore will notice the little nod's to tales of old, but she manages to make Certain Dark Things and the Vampires that inherit it completely her own. Moreno-Garcia uses folklore/mythology reference to give us the understanding of why each vampire race is different than the rest, and has an epic glossary at the back with a more detailed description of each type of Vampire and the historical reference's she drew from for them. As well as this she explains how different countries dealt with the realisation of Vampires, and how exactly they came to be expelled from Mexico City. As usual her world building is sublime and her use of Mexico City as almost a character of it's own, the descriptive writing she uses to bring it to life, make for a unique read.

Certain Dark Things is perfect for those looking for something a little extra in their Vampire novels. While Moreno-Garcia brings certain tropes that we know and love into the story, the addition of gang style violence, her use of Vampire races and the colonialism references that come with it and her expertise in writing unique and complicated characters make sure that it will stand out in the genre. She manages to blend together multiple genres to make a dark and sometimes gruesome novel, that any horror fans will be sure to love. Another book by the author that just proves her writing prowess and her ability to jump between genres with ease.

I’ve read a few of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books now and I really enjoy how different each book feels to me. Certain Dark Things is a Mexican vampire vs vampire story that is oddly charming. I really enjoyed reading this book,

What sets CDT apart from a lot of vampire stories is it’s fresh take on vampire mythology, backed by a rather extensive glossary/vampire encyclopaedia at the end. SMG has spent a lot of time on world building and it makes a well used theme feel different and new. There are various vampire species, all of which have separate quirks, fighting styles and history. SMG also explores details like why vampires prefer virgin blood, an almost OCD trait of counting to seek control in the world and even an addiction to sugar to curb hunger. I really enjoyed the thought put into this book.

Then there’s Atl, a vampire on the run from a rival vampire family after her family is slaughtered. I loved Atl, she’s feisty, she’s a total badass who can grow wings (!!!), has a modified Doberman, visually she creates a stunning image. but Atl is also lost, vulnerable, evasive, full of self loathing and desperate for something or someone to hold onto. A vampire story with that kind of vulnerability was something I really warmed to, a character treated like a young woman with a lonely, guilt ridden life ahead of her, not just simply a vampire. Domingo, a young man she crosses paths with and ultimately forms an attachment with, is as lost, looking for someone to call home. There are some really tender, sweet moments of intimacy between these 2,

There’s also some quality action scenes in this book, vampire vs vampire, vampire vs gangs, it’s exciting. This book isn’t overly long and yet, for me, it had just enough action, intimacy and a colourful world containing it all. Could the characters have gone further? Could the plot have gone further? Perhaps, but I didn’t feel it needed to and that was part of its appeal.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book, I’ll absolutely be ordering a copy now for my shelf.

3.5 stars
Set in an alternate world,where Mexico City is a vampire free oasis (and one of the last cities to refuse entry of any kind to vampires) and follows Domingo, a garbage collecting homeless kid just trying to survive the cities’ heavily policed streets. Until he meets Atl, a descendant of ancient Aztec blood drinkers. She’s smart,beautiful and deadly—Domingo is transfixed.

Atl needs to escape the city quickly, to get as far away from rival vampire drug gang currently pursuing her. Domingo isn’t apart of that plan but, little by little his scrappiness and undeniable charm help her warm to him. But with the trail of corpses piling up behind her, the cops and crime bosses start to close in.

As vampires,humans,cops and criminals are about to collide, Atl and Domingo have little chance of making it out alive— but they’re determined to try...

This was really good. It’s a darker, grittier and altogether refreshing take on the vampire genre, I loved the introduction of Mexican vampire folklore (which was incredibly fascinating as most vampire fiction is eurocentric when it comes to vampire lore.)

The writing was good and the characters were well written, I especially liked Domingo and his optimism despite the struggles he faces as a 17 year old living on the streets. I also felt the connection (and budding friendship) with Atl was perfectly developed and felt natural—Domingo’s earnestness balanced out Atl’s distrust and standoffish-ness to make them the perfect duo.

It’s told through multiple POVs, the majority of which was from Atl and Domingo’s perspectives but we do get chapters from the rival vampire gang pursuing Atl, as well as a police officer also on the hunt for both vampires.

I’ve only read one other book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, but Certain Dark Things was so vastly different from The Beautiful Ones (which I loved) that I was a little hesitant, as it’s listed as a vampire crime noir (I’m not generally a fan of the crime genre.) But, I did actually enjoy it—the supernatural elements helped to keep the pace going and the folklore used in the narrative’s exposition was really interesting.

Overall it’s a solid (an unique take) on the vampire genre.

Though it is primarily a supernatural based story,it does read like a crime/mystery book—so if that’s a genre you like (and would love a little vampire drama with your crime noir) then this is the book for you.

Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

It's been since Twilight and TrueBlood that I haven't approached the world of vampires.
Leaving aside the series of Tracy Wolff, which I read only recently, since it is purely trashy, from Silvia Moreno-Garcia I would have expected a completely different story from what I just finished reading.

Certain dark things is set in Mexico City, a city infested with vampires, because, who knows why, they are "free" there.
The protagonist, Domingo, is a garbage man and during his working hours, he runs into a vampire on the run.
Atl flees from the enemy clan, because yes, as if that were not enough there are a myriad of clans that the author takes care to list at the end of the book.
So what do you do, you don't help a poor defenseless vampire?
And what do you think the charming, dark vampire does? Doesn't he intersect a story with handsome Domingo?
Atl and Domingo's story has some predictability, at times it managed to interest me, except when it came to the dog.
On the upside, it's really quite smooth.

Fun fact, I've previously read a book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and alas, even that didn't blow me away.
Now... I became aware of the author thanks to Mexican Gothic, which by the way I haven't read yet, but given the hype that gravitates around this book and given my personal experience with the author, I'm honestly afraid to read her great masterpiece.