1950s Hollywood, everyone wants the role of Salome, the stepdaughter of Herod. Vera Larios is given the role. This becomes not only the story of Vera, but the story of Salome as well. Enter the world of Holloywood.

Thank you to NetGalley, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Random House - Del Rey for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a very hit or miss author for me, however, I can never not get pulled in to read each novel she puts out.

I was in for a shock when I realized that the author’s usual gothic horror with magical elements was not present – at all. I never would have guessed that based on the cover art.

As with all of the other’s previous novels, this one was also very atmospheric. She did a great job with her imagery, dialogue & writing to expertly capture Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Overall, I it was an “OK” story, but did have some of issues that caused my rating to drop.

First, the pacing dragged. I have a super hard time getting fully immersed in slow-paced stories. Slow-pacing is always an automatic strike for me.

The other thing that I did not enjoy was the multiple POVs of Vera, Nancy & Salome. They just didn’t mesh together like I feel like they should have. There just wasn’t a good flow/transition from one POV to the next. Additionally, the Salome chapters were so torturously boring. I dreaded them.

Everything came together in the end, however, the ending was not worth everything that led up to it. I feel like I trudged through the entire book, anxious to learn how it all ends, but then the ending was so rushed & got very little attention. It was just like “Boom – this is the ending. Done.”

Abrupt endings (and open-ended endings) are two of my biggest pet peeves as a reader, especially when I put in the work to get to said ending.

Ending thought: SMG is STILL a hit or miss author for me. I’ll probably still read her next one, though.

I love Sylvia Moreno Garcia’s writing and was ecstatic to be approved for this ARC! While I love when her writing leans more into supernatural horror like Mexican Gothic and Silver Nitrate, how she approaches historical fiction is everything. The Seventh Veil of Salome explores the lives of three women. We have Vera an up and coming ingenue adjusting suddenly being thrust into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood but also having to deal with the sexism and racism that pervades it. In contrast we have Nancy whose career has stalled and is running out of options. Jealous, she zeroes in on Vera as someone standing in the way of her success. Then of course there is the titular Salome. Her story interplays with Vera’s, foreshadowing and showing growth as they find their voice and come into their own.

I loved everything about this especially following Vera and seeing her growth. It took me a while to get into Salome’s story as I was only vaguely familiar with the players involved and most of my exposure to her was through those iconic paintings. It took me way too long to realize who Jokanaan was. Nancy was both fascinating and vile and her desperate actions added creeping tension and a sense of dread.

The exploration of the Hollywood system through Vera and Nancy seeing the glitz as well as the darker elements through completely different perspectives was so well done. The pacing was also kind of perfect and the build up of tension and pace in the climax as everything comes to a head was exhilarating and terrible and I could not stop reading. Bittersweet and beautiful, another great work by Silvia Moreno Garcia.

If you are familiar with the author’s work this is absolutely a must read. Also recommended for historical fiction lovers who are looking for a story with suspense, depth, and about finding one’s own voice.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House / Del Rey, and Ms. Moreno-Garcia for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Ms. Moreno-Garcia has written books in several different genres and does each pretty darn well. The last book I read of hers was the Daughter of Dr. Moreau, which I found fascinating, but I think I liked this one even better.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is historical fiction, combining the biblical (New Testament) story of Salome, who asks for John the Baptist's head, with a 1950s Hollywood plot. 1950s Hollywood sounds so romantic - Tinseltown, in its golden Age! - but the reality was that it was a cesspool of drugs, bad behavior, racism, nepotism, abuse of all kinds (sexual, emotional, mental), bigotry, sexism, you name it. Under that golden veneer was nothing but rot and mold. The main character in the 1950s storyline is Vera, a 20-something Mexican woman who is cast as Salome in an upcoming film, and is instantly the target of jealousy and racism, particularly from Nancy, an aspiring actress who didn't get the title role and only got a bit part in the picture. The book alternates between Salome herself, Vera, and Nancy's POVs, with side-character POVs sprinkled in such as screenwriters, secretaries, directors, and others, providing foreshadowing and background. I didn't have any trouble following who was talking.

I thought the strongest storyline was Vera's. Nancy's was a little obvious and Salome's was OK, but as with most historical figures, if you are familiar with the story, it's something of a foregone conclusion. The plot is fast-moving in general and easy to follow. The sense of dread about what is going to happen builds nicely from the get-go, which makes it even easier to fly through the pages, but does hamper Salome's story a little bit (it made me, for one, rush through her pages to get back to Vera). I also had to look up some of the old Hollywood anecdotes to see if any of them were true (looking at YOU, Errol Flynn).

Overall I really enjoyed this. I continue to be surprised that the author can pivot between genres so adeptly. Most authors shine at one particular style but so far I've liked each different genre Ms. MG has tried. I think this book would be a strong sell to the 7 1/2 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo fans, and I particularly like that it does not shy away from portraying the dark underbelly of Hollywood and LA in general, especially the racism and sexism Vera suffers. It seems the more things changed the more they stayed the same, as it took *how many* years for the Me Too movement to hit Hollywood and expose cretins like Kevin Spacey or Harvey Weinstein or (fill in the blank, there's plenty of them)?! in addition to the ongoing struggles for diverse representation in Hollywood.

Highly recommended to historical fiction readers who like compelling female characters. 4 stars.

There’s no doubt that Silvia Moreno- Garcia has beautiful writing. I knew The Seventh Veil of Salome was going to be amazing just based on the premise. Being Mexican- American makes me feel really proud of Silvia-Moreno Garcia accomplishments. I loved how the story takes place in Hollywood during the 1950’s. Vera’s story was beautiful and sad. And my heart will always ache for this character. I have many thoughts, but I need to collect myself before I put them into coherent words. What I can say for certain is that I absolutely loved it. I went to Barnes and Noble and I had to buy myself a physical copy because the cover is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

I cannot get enough of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, it doesn't matter what she writes. This is a historical fiction foray for Moreno-Garcia, this time taking us to the Hollywood of the 60s. There were no traditional numbered chapters, the narrative rotated through multiple POVS; mainly those of the star of the picture, Salome of the title, and a bitter bit player. But, there are numerous other POVs sprinkled throughout the story which made for a very interesting structure. I particularly enjoyed the Salome point of view - Moreno-Garcia took some liberties with the Herodian dynasty, but it was a very compelling storyline. I saw the ending coming as I got closer to it, but it still took my breath away. Overall, another beautiful read from an auto-buy author!

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a historical fiction that follows the stories of three women navigating life under different circumstances. Nancy has been trying to make it in Hollywood since childhood and was hoping to get her big break as Salome in a big-budget Hollywood film. Unexpectedly, Vera, a Mexican woman, is casted to play the role leaving Nancy feeling robbed. Vera must now not only navigate the complex world of 1950’s Hollywood but also free herself of imposed expectations by her controlling mother. The third protagonist is Princess Salome, a biblical character who lives under the challenging influence of her uncle and mother and must make a choice between heart and duty.

Moreno-Garcia did a beautiful job crafting each of these women’s stories and balancing their alternating perspectives. I loved the attention to detail and effort Moreno-Garcia made to bring 1950’s Hollywood to life with references to Mexican and American movie stars and films. She did not shy away from the complexities of not only being a woman but also a woman of color during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Topics of race and gender extended from the big screen into daily life and societal expectations for women. I also enjoyed the pacing of the book, which is something I’ve struggled in the past with her previous books.

Vera, Nancy, and Salome are characters I quickly came to love and appreciate for how they came to handle their own unique challenges (okay, maybe not Nancy because IYKYK). Overall, this book felt different from the previous works of Moreno-Garcia that I’ve read and I absolutely loved it.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of the most consistently brilliant writers working right now. Her work spans genres, centuries, and countries — but no matter what it’s about, when you open a new Moreno-Garcia book, you know it’s going to be great. Her new historical drama, The Seventh Veil of Salome, is no different.

The Seventh Veil follows the stories of three women: Vera Larios — new to Hollywood and starring as Salome in a new take on the historical epic, Nancy Hartley — an unhappy actress willing to do anything for her big break, and Salome herself — trapped in a life she can’t control, desperate for love and revenge. The lives of these three women weave and echo one another, setting the stage for a tragic love story of biblical proportions.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, loved the way the three narratives wove together, loved the way Moreno-Garcia plays with different textual styles. The novel doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a tragedy, but still I found myself rooting for a miraculous last-minute escape — this, in my opinion, is the mark of a good story with compelling characters. You want them to find happiness, even though you know that they won’t.

Moreno-Garcia’s books are always meticulously researched, and this one is no different. I enjoyed the way Moreno-Garcia referenced real-world celebrities and events, making the story fit into the larger historical context of the Hollywood studio system. It made the novel feel more vibrant, immediate, and alive.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is another masterfully-crafted and thoroughly enjoyable addition to Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s body of work. I would recommend it not only to fans of historical fiction, but to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted narrative.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGally for this e-gally.

I really struggled to enjoy THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME—at this point I just need to accept that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a writer who has such interesting ideas that sound so appealing to me, but the execution of those ideas is hit or miss.

An old Hollywood story will always catch my eye, especially when it's told in the style of interview or snippets of different perspectives so that the whole story gets pulled together. I love how Moreno-Garcia writes about place: her settings are vivid and inviting. Generally quite interesting and enjoyable to read.

But the characters fell flat for me. They fell flat for me, and made it a slog to keep reading because they just didn't keep my attention. My mind kept wandering from the page, and I couldn't pull myself back. Other readers seem to really have enjoyed SEVENTH VEIL though, so I'll chalk this up to the book just not being my cup of tea!

I published my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Silvia Moreno-Garcia for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Seventh Veil of Salome coming out August 6, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a few books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia now. She’s one of my favorite writers and I’ll always check out her books! This book felt similar to Silver Nitrate with the old Hollywood theme, but felt different with the Biblical aspect to it. I haven’t read much about Salome, so I thought that was really fresh and interesting. I think classic Hollywood is a fascinating topic and I love to watch old movies. There was certainly a lot of drama that happened back in the day and I think this book perfectly captures the struggles and price of fame. It may seem like it’s all glitz and glamour, but there’s also a dark side. I loved it!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classic Hollywood novels!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the e-ARC!

She’s done it again! But with a slightly different flair.

The Seventh Veil of Salome follows the journey of three different women, Vera, an aspiring actress who is the lead in the eponymous movie, Nancy, a failed actress and model who is clawing her way to the big leagues by any means possible, and Salome, the biblical character of the New Testament. We see their stories develop, culminating into a final climax of deadly consequence.

I really liked this story - as I was reading, I would walk away and still think about the characters in my head to try and piece together the mystery. The charm and perils of old Hollywood were so vividly described (althought TW for racism, sexism and SA). The setting was so beautifully described and I was sucked into it instantly.

The format is a little bit different than what Moreno Garcia usually writes: the main plot reads like a documentary, so you get an well fleshed out picture of the general story from various minor characters’ POV.

The characters were also well written - I really loved the depiction of Salome (who I first learned about through this book) and I’m now inspired and curious to learn more about her story. I really hated Nancy, which you really are supposed to, and she really reminded me of Juniper Song from R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface. You hate her so much but you can’t say she isn’t sympathetic.

The pacing was pretty consistent, which is sometimes a struggle with multiple POVs, but it was executed fantastically. I give this four stars instead of five mostly because when I compare this to Silver Nitrate (my favorite of Moreno Garcia’s books), it doesn’t deliver the same gravitas that I liked in that book.

You CANNOT go wrong with this book, and this is perfect for those who are starting out with historical fiction and want something a little bit different.

Totally by coincidence, I've read a few novels set in the golden age of Hollywood this year and The Seventh Veil of Salome is my favorite so far. However, I wanted more, and it's difficult for me to put my finger on what that is. It's fine, and great to read about the era partially from an underrepresented perspective.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my favorite authors of all time. In every book, she tackles a different genre and does something special with it. In The Seventh Veil of Salome, she takes on historical fiction, a bible-inspired story, and 1950s Hollywood. In classic Silvia Moreno-Garcia style, she takes on an exploration of women's lives and the choices they make in a patriarchal and racist world while also giving us. a very interesting narrative style. Here, we go back and forth between the story of Salome, the actress playing her in a 1950s film, and the would-be actress in the 1950s that would kill for the Salome role.

If I were still in school, I would write an essay on the recurring themes in Silvia Moreno-Garcia's novels. She loves complicated heroines, the history of cinema, and interesting family dynamics. There really is something to explore in the relationships that her heroines have with their mothers and sisters.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Just go read it!

As a Latina, reading this book about old Hollywood was both captivating and deeply resonant, shedding light on the discrimination and racism faced by actresses of color during that era.

The multiple points of were initially challenging to follow, making the first half feel slow to read. However, halfway through I began to really enjoy it and especially loved the suspense.

Vera Larios is cast in the most coveted role in Hollywood to star as Salome in an upcoming epic sword and sandals film. Vera is new to Hollywood, a complete unknown. She has no idea how to deal with the seedy underworld of that society as young woman. She is also a Mexican woman in a system that favors whiteness. Nancy Hartley was also up for the role in the movie. She is a mostly small time actress who has seen her career stall. Vera becomes an obsession for Nancy who sees her as taking what was hers.

This books was incredible. I always know I am in for a good time with a Silvia Moreno-Garcia book. She builds worlds and characters better than most other authors. This is a purely historical fiction novel. It is beautifully written and well paced. I was completely wrapped up in the story and characters. I can see this being a book that I revisit. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc!
Another stellar book by one of my favorite authors, Silvia Moreno-Garcia! This is a historical fiction set in 1950s Hollywood where Salome has the chance to be in a huge movie about a famous artist. She is set to film this movie with Vera after being chosen as an enemy of Nancy, who is jealous of Salome's newfound success.
Just like Moreno-Garcia's previous works, she really brings drama, mystery, and thrill. The setting of the golden age in Hollywood creates a lush atmosphere of luxury and indulgence often associated with this time period. This book really loves the reality behind these gilded dreams of fame and fortune. All three of our main characters are unbelievably hungry and interesting in their own way.

Inspired by the biblical legend of Salome and its long cultural trail, this story focuses on 3 women; Vera Larios is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when she nabs the leading role in The Seventh Veil of Salome, the latest sword-and-sandal epic to emerge from the Technicolor machine of 19502 Hollywood; Nancy Hartley an aspiring actress who's so far been consigned to bit-parts, is instantly filled with fury, believing the role to be hers. Then there's Salome herself, who is caught in the middle of a power struggle in the first century while falling in love with a mysterious and rebellious preacher who threatens to bring turmoil to Galilee.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for this e-arc.*

Thank you to Random House publishing group and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review. This gave me the best old Hollywood vibes. I also was intrigued by the story of Salome told in first person as well as the parallels with the main character. I am a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia ever since I read Mexican Gothic, and I recommend her newest release!

An enjoyable read overall with a great use of history and voice. And with one hell of a twist! I really loved the atmosphere that SMG created with the old Hollywood setting. There were some elements and chapters that just didn't really grip me. But SMG's books have almost always hit at the four star mark for me and it was the same with this one.

My goodness this book was amazing. I don't know if I liked the Salome or the Vera storyline better, but the fact that both were able to be woven so perfectly was impressive. The ominous foreshadowing was the perfect amount, as it didn't over promise or tease but it definitely kept me interested. I don't normally gravitate to historical fiction but I found myself loving the Old Hollywood setting of this story. I think SMG is an auto-buy author for me!