The sad underbelly of old Hollywood is exposed in this unique mix of ancient and 1950's actresses not seen beyond their sex appeal. Princess Salome is seen as a biblical seductress just as her character is portrayed later in a 50's blockbuster movie. When an untested Mexican actress is cast to play Salome the Hollywood gossip mill takes notice and more than one young actress is jealous and after the career making part. Vera is quiet and trying to follow all the rules set by her family and the studio heads as the attention and flashbulbs leave her not knowing who to trust. Nancy, a fellow actress, will do anything to bring down Vera for the part and fame she feels she deserves. All three women must use their beauty to get what they want but are also pawns at the hands of others. Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a masterful job of portraying the diversity of these three women and the common problem they face as powerful men control the narrative and society's perception of them. I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters as well as the jump in time and feel that this may be her best story yet. For readers of QUEEN OF SUGAR HILL and THE BRIGHTEST STAR as well as fans of her previous novels. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Golden-age Hollywood, a time that can make or break any wannabe star. Vera Larios, a young Mexican woman who used to be a dentist’s receptionist, suddenly finds herself cast as Salome, in the role that many other women would have died, or killed, for. Having to create a whole new life in Hollywood, Vera struggles in a world that seems to be against her, and where she isn’t sure if she has what it takes to survive.

Nancy Hartley is one of the women who was vying for the position of Salome. Having been in Hollywood for years, she’s fought for every minor role she’s gotten, and now that her most recent role has been stolen by a nobody, she’s not going to take this lying down.

But Salome is more than the role of a lifetime. The young woman is layers upon layers of emotion and complexity, and how can a character such as her ever be brought to life?

I received an advanced reading copy of The Seventh Veil of Salome in exchange for an honest review.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a historical fiction novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I’ve actually read another novel of Moreno-Garcia’s before, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and I was excited when I got an advanced reading copy of this, her newest novel. Moreno-Garcia is an impressive writer, and writes in a huge variety of genres. After only having read her fantasy, I was looking forward to seeing how she tackled a historical, and especially one in Golden-age Hollywood.

A few content warnings before moving forward. This book does contain violence, mentions of incest, and a lot of racism, mostly directed at Latine folks, but also toward others. I was prepared for it, due to the era I was reading about, but it did hit me a bit. Just so you’re aware!

This book has an interesting structure. We have three main characters: Vera, Nancy, and, surprisingly, Salome herself. The narration hops between their three POVs, as well as integrating those of a few other side characters, as well as that of a few magazine articles. While reading through the main POVs, we’re reading about the story as it’s happening to them, whereas from the secondary POVs, it’s them narrating the events as they recall them for a documentary. Through these secondary POVs, and a few mentions as they’re recorded for the documentary, we find out that there’s a big event that the story is leading toward, albeit not what it is. That adds an additional tension to the story, as we read about the three main characters and how they become entwined through the course of filming this movie.

Vera was my favorite POV, likely because I could identify the most with her. As a Mexican woman who finds herself in the United States in pursuit of an opportunity, I could easily see myself in her. I might not have lived in Golden-age Hollywood, and our careers might be very different, but that feeling of wondering if you belong, and if you’re good enough, along with other cultural experiences, it really helped me connect to her, and understand her. But I loved the other characters too! Nancy was so terrible, and I loved how much she gave into her awful urges. Salome was fascinating because I never knew what she was going to do. In the end, Salome is presented with a deadly choice, and a lot of her story explains why she makes it, and in the end, while I’m not sure I would have made the same choice she did, I feel like I understand her anyway.

The intertwined stories of these three women were very compelling, and I couldn’t wait to see what they were leading to, and what big event the documentary kept referring to. Somehow, even when Nancy was so awful, I wanted them all to get a somewhat happy ending. I can’t tell you if they all did, of course, but know that I was satisfied by the time I turned the last page. I’m excited to check out Moreno-Garcia’s other titles, and I would recommend this to anyone who loves the Golden age of Hollywood, loves books about the creation of movies, or loves complex female characters.

The Seventh Veil of Salome was released yesterday. You can order your copy from your local bookstore, or from Del Rey here.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a masterful work of historical fiction that combines a dual timeline (biblical New Testament and decadent 1950’s Hollywood) and features three main female characters (Salome, Vera, and Nancy).

The story contains all of the elements that will keep you turning pages…Hopes, Dreams, Love, Ambition, and Revenge.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become one of my favorite authors. Regardless of the book genre, she creates such atmosphere and memorable characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House /Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Imaginative Tale of Ambition and Intrigue in Golden Age Hollywood

Fascinating depiction of the glamour of 1950s Hollywood, featuring two starlets from different worlds. Vera Larios, is a Mexican ingenue who lands the coveted role of Salome, and Nancy Hartley, is a bit player desperate for fame. The author’s vivid descriptions and characterizations make you feel as if you’re right there in the heart of Hollywood, witnessing the drama unfold firsthand.

What I wasn't expecting was how deftly Salome's narrative would be woven into the story. By the time I got to the end I understood the parallels between the lives of the three women. Hollywood's sordid underbelly is not what it appears on the glittering surface, just as Salome's rank and position placed her in little more than a gilded cage. Their dreams and desires are never quite within reach and their intertwined fates lead to an inevitable conclusion. Overall, this novel is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction and the lore of classic Hollywood.

It is 1:30am on a weeknight, eyes destroyed from staring at that damn phone all night, alarm going off in 4 hours. But I'm not a teenager reading fanfic all night anymore. I've been reading my early access ebook to Silvia Moreno-Garcia's newest work, The Seventh Veil of Salome. If you recognize Moreno-Garcia, you are probably familiar with her stories in Gothic horror and magical realism. This novel steps completely away from those genres.

The story itself is told like a biography, or perhaps a biopic (I'll be honest I've never consumed either) where we get multiple point of views from the past. Some are told in present tense as though someone is reflecting the past, others are told in past tense as an omnipotent narrator for the two main voices, Nancy and Vera.

Nancy has been in LA for a few years now trying to make it big. Vera has been at home in Mexico working in her father's office, where she was the shadow of her light skinned sister. After being Found, Vera is brought to Hollywood to perform as Salome in a new picture. She's a lucky girl! Or at least that's what everyone tells her.

As a bonus, as Vera films her movie we get to see Salome's story, which is in itself another rewriting of Salome. I thought it was a very creative way to fit what initially feels like two stories in one (but perhaps there are more parallels than we originally think ;) )

The story comes together nicely, and it is clear a lot of research went into the time period. The conversations between characters was so well done so as to transport you to the Golden Age of Hollywood. However, there was a spark missing that made it difficult to care for the characters or their story, but the narrative itself was interesting enough to keep reading, even if just in hope that I would eventually get invested in what any of these people were experiencing.

The Seventh Veil of Salome refers to a dance: the Dance of the Seven Veils. The author is mimicking a dance on the page, mingling music with irregular structure. There are first-person confessionals mixed within a trio of limited third-person chapters focusing on Salome in about 34AD and "present day" 1940/50s Nancy and Vera. Nancy and Vera are like the two sides of Salome: one sharp and wicked, the other soft and wavering. Both alluring. But truly, Nancy was the most interesting character here. Her voice rings true until the end, when her chapters are also much less frequent. There is a delight in her savage nature, her joy in destruction, especially her own. Vera, by contrast, I wanted to see succeed, but I also felt it was undoubtedly a fated outcome for her. The story builds, with magnificent tension until the climactic title dance, but once the dance ends, the narrative drops sharply. There are no longer the limited third-person chapters anchoring the text, and we are simply told what happens to the main characters as though an afterthought.
I did not love this as much as I expected to. The pacing felt very slow, and I wish there was context to the purpose of the documentary being made as a frame narrative. Who is making it? Why are people agreeing to speak about this after so many years? How did the film do in the box office?!
Despite my issues, I would absolutely read Silvia Moreno-Garcia again. I loved Mexican Gothic, and her writing despite the pacing did show Old Hollywood vividly, even cinematically.
Respectfully, 3.5⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Del Rey for this ARC!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia knows how to grip readers and not let go till the very end. This story is beautiful, but ugly. Easy, but also complicated. Silvia was able to balance these throughout the entire story. My only dislike was that the story felt a little slow, I wish some moments picked up. Thank you Silva Moreno-Garcia, NetGalley and Del Rey for this digital arc.

What can I say about Silvia Moreno- Garcia and her newest novel? Other than I loved it. I'll try to find the words.
1950's Hollywood: Vera Larios is pulled from obscurity to play a much coveted female main character role of Salome in the next big epic film.
Hollywood with all its glitz and glamor gets turned upside down and Moreno-Garcia digs into the underbelly of a world that is embedded in jealousy, sexism and racism.
A historical fiction timeline narrative intersects beautifully, Bringing to life the role of Salome to reflect the struggles of women knowing what they desire but finding the need to conform to the whims of society.

The novel is a slow burn but one that develops masterfully into an unforgettable end. Atmospheric and propulsive. I was joyful every chance I was able to find the time to pick up the novel. Saddened only when it all was over. Some books make you wish the story could continue indefinitely and The Seventh Veil of Salome is one of those books.

For fans of Evelyn Hugo, The Seventh Veil of Salome touches on the aspects of Old Hollywood in a much deeper, impactful way from a much more different perspective. There is no doubt that Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is incredible, and the way she weaves in these three storylines make for one beautiful narrative that also ties in the biblical history of Salome. I love the idea of biblical theology as mythology especially when creating such intriguing new plot lines, and this was absolutely incredible. It's only my second SMG book, but I'm very quickly ready to pick up the rest.

I don’t necessarily seek out historial fiction but I will read anything Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes. I always enjoy her books. I was kind of anticipating that this was horror but that’s on me the genres are historical fiction and thriller. I’d say VERY light on the thriller aspect.

It’s the story of three women; Vera, Nancy and Salome playing with the theme of desire and at what lengths people will go to meet unfulfilled desire. Set in Old Hollywood at the height of the biblical movie craze Vera and Nancy are actresses trying to make it big and get the role of Salome.

It is written in 3 pov of each of the fmcs and I thought it played really well with the pacing of the plot and was easy to keep track of all of the characters.

Enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an eARC.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's ability to write great books in many different genres never ceases to amaze me. This is straight-up historical fiction, well-researched and deftly plotted, that shines a light on women's lack of agency both in biblical times and in 1950s Hollywood. It's actually pretty depressing how little forward movement there was for women between those vastly different time periods. Moreno-Garcia weaves together the story of Salome, briefly mentioned in the Bible, with the making of an epic movie about her life. Unknown ingenue Vera Larios has been cast in the role of Salome, drawing the hatred and jealousy of Nancy, a woman who has been trying and failing to make it in Hollywood for years. Nancy was a great villain, selfish and thoughtless and brash, and yet all I could feel for her was empathy and pity, as men with power held all the cards for both women. Vera was fantastic, a character who grew throughout the novel and really came into her own. The pacing of this novel was superb and I tore through it in two days. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Del Rey for a digital review copy.

my first silvia moreno-garcia arc book!! thank you to netgalley & random house/del rey books for the copy in exchange for an honest review. i was super excited to get my hands on this book, after (like many) enjoying mexican gothic. though it took me a while to get to it, this book singlehandedly got me out of a two month long reading slump so i'm eternally grateful to it for that alone.

though comparisons can & will be drawn to "the seven husbands of evelyn hugo" for its biographical narrative set in the (not so) glamorous old hollywood era with woc as its leading characters, the stories are definitely very different! and i enjoyed both of them in their own ways.

this one is a fun, immersive blend of the stories of our three main characters: vera, a mexican newcomer to the hollywood scene, cast in the ever elusive role of salome — our second main character, whose story we see unfold as if we were watching it on screen in the movie the characters are shown to be filming. lastly, we have nancy — a struggling white actress attempting to make her big break in hollywood, who finds herself in (a mostly one-sided) conflict with vera, who becomes the target of her racist vitriol and frustrations with the la la land machine.

while i have seen some people frustrated that not a lot seems to happen, i had no problem with the pacing of the novel & enjoyed the character studies and the measured pace SMG took in immersing us in the setting and the differing (yet also similar) struggles that our main characters face across barriers of class, race and even time. we see this demonstrated in both the writing styles and thematic conflicts that the three women go through. though vera and nancy seem to be as if they come from two totally different worlds, we come to see that they are both, in their own ways, a victim of the hollywood scene — its rigidity, its misogyny, and more. the two are further connected with the interwoven story of salome, which also shines a light on how similar things are even in this historical setting. salome, a wholly interesting character in her own right, grapples with issues that both nancy and vera do as well. like nancy, salome is shrewd and cunning — running into her fair share of shady characters in her desire for power and revenge. like vera, salome is burdened under the weight of familial expectations (especially from their shared overbearing, ambitious mothers) and navigating a social system that is all too concerned with public appearances, which forces her (like vera) to be hyperaware of her self-image at all times in order to play the game right. all three women also find themselves at a crossroads which forces them to choose between love and duty/power — or perhaps a path that will allow them to have both?

even in the writing, we see these stories coalesce and take on a life of their own — something we see towards the end of the novel when salome's story comes to feel larger than life. but even before that, i really appreciated SMG's attention to detail. one moment i may have a disproportionately great time with was when joe, a scriptwriter whom vera befriended, mentioned a line of dialogue that he was considering adding to the movie. he mentions debating whether he should, and then in a future salome pov section, we see that very same line incorporated into the writing. it is not done in a way that calls attention to itself, but is a great sort of "easter egg" for readers that i really liked!

all that said, i had a fun time! i found all three women to be interesting characters, and had a great time reading all their pov chapters. even though nancy is a total bigoted racist, she was more than the two-dimensional antagonist she could've been, as there was a surprising amount of depth to her character that still made her engaging despite that. there is a level of sympathy you have for her character's lot in life, despite her egregious faults. however, i do wish we had more time with salome. though i understand that there was only so much SMG could do, considering what a minor biblical character salome was, i'm just biased because i enjoyed reading her pov sections a lot! i also found salome's relationship to jokanaan really intriguing (with its unique set-up and power balances) and was a bit bummed at how little we got with them... though i know that's probably because of what little actually precedent there may have been to go off of? still, it was a shame because i was actually more drawn to what they had going on (in some ways) than vera and nancy and their love interests. but i digress.

my only other critique was that i found the ending to be a bit rushed. i'm of two minds here — since i do enjoy how a lot of the climax of the finale was written (as well as the very end), but i do wish we had spent more time on it all in order to get a greater emotional impact and for things to play out a bit more naturally. but alas.

overall, this was a fun read! SMG has been an exciting writer to keep an eye on, as she's been so experimental in her genres. i can't wait to check out some of her other books that i've yet to get to, as well as see what she has in store in the future!

The Seventh Veil of Salome is yet another wonderfully and creatively written novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The story follows Vera Larios, a young actress starring in her first film as Salome, daughter of Herod, and parallels their intertwined journeys through courage, finding love, and forging their own paths. The novel reads like a dramatic tale mixed with conversations with characters who were there. It’s a thrill til the very end. I loved it!

I adored this book, As usual, Moreno-Garcia sets up her story and stage and readers get drawn into the world of Old Hollywood, as well as the exploration of the Biblical story of the events surrounding the death of John the Baptist. Vera Larios navigates life, work, and love in Old Hollywood as she plays Salome, the niece of Herod whose life we also explore in Moreno-Garcia's book. We see the height of both stories during the climax of the book. My only critique is that I wish we had seen even more of Vera and Salome's stories. I think that if you enjoyed The Beautiful Ones, you will enjoy this book as well.

The Seventh Veil of Salome brings readers into the sumptuous Golden Age of Hollywood. The story follows three women plotting their way through a space dominated by men. Salome's story, historical figure from the bible, is the hot topic of a movie production. Then there is Vera Larios, a somewhat meek Mexican ingenue who becomes more independent as she connects to the story of Salome. And rounding out the trio is Nancy Hartley, an ambitious actress who will do anything to get her dream job.

This is a 'contemporary read which is different from the supernatural horror that I am most familiar with when it comes to Silvia Moreno Garcia. Her writing style shines through as she blends the narratives of Vera Larios, Nancy Hartley and Salome. SMG gives the reader a world that many of us no little about, pulling back the gilded curtain to reveal the 50s Hollywood entertainment industry that very much resembles the modern one. There is also elements of film noir that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Even though this is not my usual choice for a book, I couldn't help but get pulled into this world. SMG is without a doubt one of the best story tellers that we have. She gives us flawed layered characters and rich worlds that one can't be helped to be intrigued by. I highly recommend if you like contemporary historical women's fiction with elements of film noir.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House publishing for providing an ARC of the Seventh veil of Salome.

For those of us who grew up with or grew into a fascination with the Old Hollywood studio system, and the way it thoroughly screwed over everyone involved, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest, The Seventh Veil of Salome is not to be missed.

The story primarily follows the points of view of three women: Hollywood newcomer Vera, recently arrived from Mexico to be cast as Salome in a biblical epic film that has all of Hollywood’s attention; Nancy, a bitter, self-destructive aspiring actress who resents Vera’s “undeserved” success; and Salome herself, with Moreno-Garcia taking occasional breaks from the 1950s narrative to jump way back in time and follow Salome in the days and weeks leading up to her infamous dance of the seven veils.

These three narratives are occasionally interwoven with first-person accounts from other characters in the story, in the style of an oral history, giving perspectives and context apart from Nancy and Vera’s, and while the shift back and forth from first- to third-person narration is a little jarring at first, things quickly settle into a rhythm that feels so seamless, it’s hard to imagine the story being told any other way.

If anything, the addition of the first-person narratives help inject a sense of additional tension into Vera and Nancy’s stories. It’s less what they’re saying, and more what they’re talking around, with the added perspective of hindsight, that makes the third-person narratives feel that much more breathless, and will keep the reader turning the page.

Of course, the book also unflinchingly addresses the pervasiveness of racism, misogyny, sexual assault and double standards that were once so explicit. I hesitate to confine these things to being “of their time” as the only thing that has really changed is the way (most) people no longer say the quiet part out loud. Salome’s narrative is also a nice counterpoint to this, in that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And looking at the times we live in, things aren’t much different either.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is out on August 6. Special thank you to Random House Publishing for the advance copy for review purposes.

4.5

Could not put this down!! Vera as a main character was so interesting, I loved seeing her navigate her passions, her true love, and being so infatuated with her role as Salome. Nancy was so messy and a racist POS but reading her chapters was still very entertaining. And although things still ended that same for her, I would've liked to see her suffer a little more. The separate story of Salome had me confused at first simply because of how many characters there were, it still kept me very engaged with the story and the plot overall.

Overall, I really enjoyed the drama, Vera's, Nancy's, and Salome's perspectives that made up the plot, the writing, and the tragic love story between Vera and Jay.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a stellar book about Hollywood, agency, and the stories we tell. The book follows three major characters: Vera, a Mexican woman chosen to star in a production of The Seventh Veil of Salome; Nancy, a white woman working as an extra in the same production; and the fictional character of Salome. As these stories progress and become entwined with one another, a catastrophic turn of events is slowly revealed.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a whirlwind of a book, moving at a quick pace befitting the tempestuous pace of the film production. The story quickly shifts between the three main characters while also interspersing first-person interviews with other minor characters regarding the disastrous production. She is not afraid to confront the rampant racism and sexism of the time and includes a few eerily on-point gossip columns to highlight these bigotries.

Moreno-Garcia does a fantastic job of giving unique voices and distinct personalities to all her characters, making it easy to keep track of the large cast. Nancy and Vera work as fantastic main characters due to their wildly different stories and worldviews, while still allowing for moments of comparison. The scenes with Salome felt less engaging, as it required a switch to a completely different time period and cast of characters, but the parallels drawn between all three characters were done remarkably well.

As a fan of Moreno-Garcia's work, The Seventh Veil of Salome stands out as one of if not her best work yet. The characters are beautifully rendered and the structure keeps the reader guessing until the end.

Silvia has done it again! She has a habit of writing books
I normally wouldn’t read. But because it’s her, why not!? I loved this multi time, multi POV story. I was aware of the history behind Salome but this one was a fantastic retelling. Vera was a star I couldn’t help but root for! I have nothing bad to say about this one! 5⭐️

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

The lives of three young women -- two residing in 1950s film-mad Los Angeles, one inhabiting a Biblical past -- intertwine in this noir thriller with distinct feminist undertones. When Mexican newcomer Vera Larios is chosen to portray Salome in a major studio's sword & sandals epic, she runs afoul of Nancy Hartley, an experienced bit player with a racist streak and a nasty temper. Nancy had expected the role for herself, and her ego is far larger than Vera's. Through no fault of her own, Vera also collects a second enemy when she refuses to submit to her leading man's entitled advances.

Interspersed with the stories of both actresses are glimpses of the court life of Salome herself. The tone of these is more than a bit Technicolor. Salome has two aspiring suitors, a lecherous uncle, and a passion for the doomed prophet Jokanaan, but her interior life still manages to mirror Vera's and Nancy's. As all three young women hurtle toward fates hinted at (but never disclosed) from the beginning of the novel, the reader is left wondering who, if anyone, will be left standing.

And most likely guessing wrong.

A note about culture: although racism and sexism are not the plot's main emphasis, Moreno-Garcia's view of 1955 L.A. is in no way sanitized. Nancy's vicious comments about her rival receive far less criticism than they might today, and both Nancy and Vera must cope with men unable to see past their measurements. In true Salome style, Nancy at least manages to weaponize her situation.

This novel is painstakingly researched, with author's comments at the end for those of us who geek out on such things, yet Moreno-Garcia's research never gets in the way of illusion. Above all, The Seventh Veil of Salome is pure dark entertainment. I was expecting to miss the author's usual speculative / supernatural touches, but I never did. I was too busy clicking pages, breath held for the finale.