With a lot of different voices to cover the story, the author does a good job of telling the reader what is happening with Salome and the actress born to play her, Vera.

I loved the old hollywood, the personalities, the inside look at what Nancy was going through. I loved that the author did not set this out to be a horror novel, yet there was some horror like things, The Baptists head, the hinting of incest, murder.

I loved how the author developed Vera. Yet I felt that the character was not as developed as Nancy was.

Also you could have cut out the entire Salome story line and it would be about the same story.

There was so much unneeded things in the book, that did not enhance the story that at times it was confusing. I wondered why did I need to know or hear from this bit character.

This is not the authors best book, however, its still an ok read.

Salome and a woman playing Salome in a 50s Hollywood production are on parallel tracks in this newest offering from Moreno-Garcia. Like her previous book Silver Nitrate, she displays her deep knowledge, reverence, and delight in filmmaking from this period. This is the first book of hers that I have read which does not contain otherworldly elements and I did find myself missing them. She is so great at creating creepy atmosphere. Despite going in a different direction for this book, she still has her same clear voice that allows you to enter the inner world of her characters.

This book took me on a trip and back! I absolutely adore anything that Silvia Moreno-Garcia creates. However, this one in particular was amazing; I felt that I was watching this book play out. The emotions came alive and that ending I can’t believe it! I will definitely be picking up a physical copy when this book comes out and add to my collection. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to share this wonderful book. This review is of my own accord. #TheSeventhVeilofSalome #NetGalley

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favorite thing Silvia Moreno-Garcia has written, along with Mexican Gothic. I was completely transported into the story from the first page. I love how this reads like a documentary on Hollywood, the studios, rising and falling movie stars, and the sword-and-sandal era of film. But also a realistic adaptation of a Biblical story of the beheading of John the Baptist.

The cast of characters felt so alive; and I half believe they could have been or are inspired by real stars from that golden decade. I keep expecting to see the name, “Vera Larios,” on an old film poster. And I can’t help imagining what a real version of the song, “Salome’s Dream,” would sound like. If she was a two-faced temptress or lonely woman desperate to be free of the shackles of her time.

This novel is both a tragedy and a triumph. And as I expected, Garcia did not disappoint in her ability to wreck me and leave me stranded in a puddle of emotions. Everything she writes is so unique unto itself. I never know what to expect when she releases a new book, other than an engrossing tale with tight prose to match. A great deal of intrigue, a dash of romance, and the inevitable turning of pages.

I must say this story is a strong contender for my favorite of the year. And I can’t wait to see what Garcia will come up with next!

We get to see Ms. Moreno-Garcia spin a a classic golden age of Hollywood tale here, and it's frankly fascinating to see her lean into the historical fiction side of her oeuvre, as opposed to the fantasy or horror. We get the tale of a fictional biblical epic focusing on Salome (including a sort of novelization of the fictional movie interpsersed throughout), and the whole novel is framed like it's being told over a dimly lit table in a dingy old bar. Yes, there's lots of period typical racism and sexism, but you can see the disaster coming throughout the book, and the players lean into their doom rather than away. This was a great read, and will be a perfect pool read for you in July!

The Seventh Veil of Salome
By Sylvia Moreno Garcia

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey

Publishes August 6, 2024

“A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine—but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic”- from SMG’s website.

Sylvia Moreno Garcia is an auto buy author for me- I can always depend on her to deliver a truly rounded story and I have loved every FMC she has written.

The reason why I loved this novel so much is that it is set in the 1950s in Hollywood when the “sword and sandal” biblical epics were very popular. Salome is an intriguing character to begin with but add in the golden age of Hollywood “glitz and glamour” and all the behind the scenes drama and it’s right up my alley!

Vera (our heroine) and Nancy (the antagonist-ish) are both very relatable characters which is another reason why I enjoyed this much. When a story has a good villain that i can understand and visualize, I buy in. Also the parallels between our protagonist, antagonist, and the historial character both are trying to portray are really unique as all are women fighting to be seen and be in charge of their own lives.

The other thing I enjoy about SMG’s books is that she includes a playlist for her novels which helps to immerse you in the reading experience! I find them on Spotify but I believe most have a list in the back of the book as this one did.

If you like historical fiction or a fan of SMG’s I think this would be a great read.

Thank you to Del Rey Books and Netgalley for an eARC of this book!

Just when I thought nothing could possibly surpass "Certain Dark Things", "The Seventh Veil of Salome" drops into my lap. Initially apprehensive, as neither of my latest Silvia Moreno-Garcia reads ( "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau" and "Silver Nitrate") were big standouts, mainly due to the storyline falling into the "male main character saving the female main character, then they fall in love" trope, "The Seventh Veil of Salome" broke the mold, shattered my expectations, and has me craving even more.

As someone who grew up identifying as devoutly Christian but has since left the church, I never in my wildest dreams expected to love a Biblical story retelling. But the way that Salome's tale is told, interwoven among 3 POV's featuring the titular main character, a newly discovered Mexican actress who's set to play her in a new movie, and a scorned & downtrodden would-be actress, is a masterpiece in storytelling.

The slow pacing really suited the story structure and plot, allowing full immersion into the psyches of Salome and Vera & Nancy. The gradual character development never felt boring; the small "interviews" & gossip column pieces spliced between the main character' stories, the political underpinnings of Salome's era, and the whirlwind relationships the characters were involved in served to buffer the story while also building a more multi-dimensional picture of who these characters are. The main storyline with Vera & Nancy is set in the 1950s, but the omission of time signifiers adds a dreamlike quality as the perspectives drift from one character to the other. The conclusion is a little predictable as the story unravels, especially with scattered notes hinting at a dramatic ending, but the abrupt epilogue really suits a story told in this style, and Garcia executed this perfectly.

Oftentimes in mythical historical fics, I feel authors try too hard to adhere their characters' story to the mythical figure's story, but this was not the case here. Though there were parallels with Salome, each female character felt distinct, with an undercurrent of "art vs artist" in the way Moreno-Garcia told Salome's story in contrast to the way the director told Salome's story.

This is a story style and genre we have never seen before from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and it continues to amaze me how easily she seems to take on new genres like putting on a new coat. This book had me REELING, it is by far my favorite SMG book to date, and I cannot wait for it to be released to the world on August 6th!

Muchas gracias a Netgalley por darme el acceso a leer nuevamente a mi autora favorita.

Siempre es un placer leer a Silvia y esta vez no fue la excepción, una historia situada en Hollywood de los años 50s, la visión de 2 mujeres en la industria del entretenimiento y su camino durante el rodaje de esta película tan esperada. Vemos cómo se maneja el mundo del entretenimiento, que se necesita para tener publicidad; como siempre tenemos referencias y ese punto crítico que la autora añade, por ejemplo como no era tan común tener actores de otras nacionalidades, como se refieren a ellos y los hacen algo exótico, esta es de las cosas que más disfruto en sus libros junto con los buenos personajes y el buen romance.

Aunque ya estoy acostumbrada al estilo de la autora esta vez tarde en conectar con la historia, no fue hasta poco antes de la mitad del libro que logró engancharme, pero una vez que lo consiguió fue más fácil continuar y el final vaya que lo disfruté.

Si son fans de Silvia les va gustar esta historia para mí son 3 estrellas y media.

I love this book and this author. I’m so glad I’ve read another one of this author’s outstanding stories. I read Silver Nitrate so I could tell that the author has a deep love of cinema. This book was way better than Silver Nitrate (though not as amazing as Mexican Gothic). Like the author’s other books, the author addresses heavy-hitting issues like racism, colorism, classism, etc. In this book, the author handles these issues with grace and such insight.

I loved Vera and her character. I also loved other characters in this book like Marla and Joe. Marla’s character kind of reminded me of the actress, Rita Moreno. I disliked many characters too. Nancy was definitely one of the worst. I didn’t really love reading the story from her POV. Yet, I understood that it was maybe necessary. In the beginning, I sort of felt bad for her also.

I’m so excited to read more of the author’s books. At this point, I’d love to read all of her other books.

If you have read any of my reviews, you will know I love every book Silvia Moreno Garcia has written, and this is no exception.

Vera is our charming protagonist, scouted by chance while working as a dental office receptionist in Mexico city. Ferried away to Hollywood to star in a sword and sandal flick - helmed by a notoriously fussy director. She's in way over her head, through no fault of her own.

I loved the chapter to chapter changes in point of view, and the mounting dread and tension that loomed over even the most tender moments was so effective. Weaving the narrative of Salome throughout really worked for me.

I hope fans of Moreno Garcia's more fantastical offerings (Mexican Gothic, Silver Nitrate) give this one a chance!

Usually I am all for a book told from multiple POVs, but at times the plot of this book suffered because of it.

There are three main characters who narrate the story: Vera — the up and coming Mexican actress, Nancy — the self-absorbed talentless wannabe, and Salome whose story takes place in ancient times. On top of these narrators, there are various cast and crew of the film giving their side of the story in an interview type fashion. There are also excerpts from a gossip rag.

While I can see how the author was trying to weave together the three women's stories to show their similarities, it was not always successful. The abrupt POV changes were at times jarring and became tedious after awhile.

The plot itself is extremely slow moving until the last 10% where it flies by. This is also the only part of the book where the rapid POV changes work and are a welcome storytelling device.

Even though the ending was exciting, I did feel it was too abrupt. As a reader, I had been slogging along through these characters' inner monologues and lack of forward moving plot, and when something dramatic finally happened (which is something the blurb promises), it gets a couple pages and the book promptly ends! It was frustrating, to say the least.

I did really enjoy the way the author portrayed Vera's struggles with experiencing racism and microaggressions, and as much as I hated Nancy, her POVs were done in a way that made me want to keep reading despite how much I couldn't stand her.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC for review.

SMG has done it again. Silver Nitrate was my favorite of 2023 and now The Seventh Veil of Salome is on track to become my favorite of 2024. With her knowledge of old Hollywood and movies at the time she constructs a beautiful reenactment of the death of John the Baptist in true movie form. A no name from Mexico Vera is shoved into the limelight when discovered at her dad’s dentist office. Her life becomes a true Hollywood story as she goes up against racism and sexism in the 1950’s while trying to make it big. So well written and she always adds a playlist at the end for even more immersive experience. Thank you so much @netgalley and @randomhousedelray for the advance it was truly lovely.

The Seventh Veil of Salome follows the storylines of three women across two different timelines, weaving in points of view from multiple different people that touch the story of how a fictional movie was produced in the 1950s in Hollywood. Each of the three women, from the biblical extrapolation of Salome herself, to an aspiring and grasping extra, to the woman plucked from the obscurity of an administrative role in a dentist office in Mexico and cast into the lead role of a highly anticipated film, are fighting for more agency in their lives and for their choices to be seen and respected.

Hollywood has never been a friendly place for women, a fact that Silvia Moreno Garcia doesn’t shy away from detailing in describing what real actresses experienced in the 1950s. Adding more layers, especially at that time it was an actively hostile place for LGBTQ individuals and people of color. Our ingenue, Vera Larios, sits at the intersection of being a dark skinned, Mexican woman trying to make her way in an industry very much made to exclude her. When she skyrockets into the lead role that fellow actress Nancy had also been hoping to land, Nancy’s ambitions turn to roiling resentment and racism.

Woven throughout their two points of view is the story of Salome herself, as she tries to balance her desire for limerence or political power or just escape from underneath her uncle-cum-step father’s purview. We also get snippets of perspective from the director, the writer, and many others who tangentially touch the project of this big film, as if they’re being interviewed after the fact or some grand disaster.

For me, these smaller interspersed perspectives spurred me on to read more than the three major POVs or plot alone might have. Something big clearly was coming and it kept me guessing about how exactly the disaster would occur.

Each woman was written so fully, as whole people, that they could have easily walked off the page. Benny, Nancy’s sometimes boyfriend, sometimes fixer, was perhaps the only character I felt was a real characateur of himself; but the women in particular were rich with motivation for each of their choices, regardless of whether the reader agreed with those choices.

I’m never not amazed at how fluidly Moreno Garcia slips between genres. I don’t think there’s been a single work of here that I’ve read that’s been in the same genre and I’ve loved them all. This fits squarely in a historical fiction setting, and it accomploshed for me a similar effect to a story like “The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard” or “Daisy Jones and the Six,” just with an emphasis on Hollywood rather than fashion or music. I can also see a comparison might be made to elements of the “Seven Husbavds of Evelyn Hugo.”

This was an absolutely compulsive read for me, and I’m grateful to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my review.

Nancy is an aspiring actress who is envious of Vera's casting because she is unable to secure a major role.
I particularly liked the two women's points of view as they traverse Hollywood in the 1950s, racism, sexism, tabloids, romance, and envy. The beginning is so intense and hopeful. The chapters that tell Salome's story in her own words didn't sit well with me; I wanted to fast-forward through them. A few additional production members' points of view are included, although they didn't add much. The plot didn't work out the way I had intended. Although I truly enjoyed the original plot and the main characters, there wasn't enough drama, character growth, or set action. In the end, the book's execution fell short of expectations. This is my first Sylvia Moreno-Garcia so I will definitely be reading her other novels. Although this one did not hit the way I wanted I am still interested in this author.

Love Moreno-Garcia's writing and the era her book takes place in- the plot just didn't feel 'substantial' enough for me.

With its blend of fantasy and historical fiction, 'The Seventh Veil of Salome' is a gripping read that'll keep you guessing till the very end. Perfect for fans of captivating storytelling and enchanting worlds, this book is an absolute must-read!"

Ahhh i love Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the way she can just weave a story together and it just makes sense and keeps you on your toes wanting to know more about every character. This book didn't disappoint at all. A girl gets picked for a large hollywood blockbuster of a movie and then another girl get a little jealous and wants the spotlight as well. I loved how this story was told and how rich that characters are but i shouldn't have been surprised. I have read every book that Silvia has written and this was an automatic request. Also the cover is absolutely gorgeous I need a physical copy for my shelf so it can sit next to the other books by this author.

Thanks to Random House | Del Rey and NetGalley for sending this digital ARC of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's 'The Seventh Veil of Salome.'

I'm a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and was delighted to be able to read and review 'The Seventh Veil of Salome.' Her novels to this point have generally been full-on horror/supernatural-themed or have some element of the supernatural throughout. This one is does not have either of those elements.

It's the story of three women told through the common theme of the biblical character 'Salome.' Vera, a Mexican actress plucked from obscurity to play the role in a swords and sandal epic in 1950s Hollywood; Nancy, a bit-part wannabe screen goddess who believes she was born to play the role of Salome and becomes obsessed with Vera and getting 'her' rightful role back; and Salome herself, who's negotiating the labyrinthine intrigues of the court of Herod Antipas and who becomes obsessed with John the Baptist/Jokanaan. The biblical storyline overlaps with the film-making aspect as those scenes that play out in the ancient middle east are those that are spooling out in the film.

Each woman has a complicated relationship with one of their parents - Vera and Salome, their mothers, and Nancy, her father. All still deeply connected to them in deeply unhealthy dynamics. There's another (male) character who also has a poisonous relationship with his mother.

Throughout the novel we alternate between the viewpoints of these three main characters (as well as others) as the narrative progresses towards a 'big event' towards the end. Vera's uncertainty about her talent and abilities and battles with her mother, Nancy's obsession with getting the role 'back' and her various toxic romantic entanglements and Salome's passion for Jokanaan and revulsion of her step-father/uncle. I enjoy the multi-viewpoint/narrative structure and found that it drew me along at a great clip.

As usual, Moreno-Garcia's writing is wonderful and her evocation of place and time is powerful. You feel like you're in Hollywood in the 1950s. Sprinkled throughout the fictional characters and situations are multiple examples of real people and real happenings of Hollywood at the time. For instance - I had no idea that Lana Turner's daughter killed her mother's then paramour, a thuggish mobster. Now I do. (That's not really a spoiler!). This book is unrestrained in presenting the open racism, misogyny, and homophobia that was prevalent at the time and reflect the power of the gossip columnist and studio system that lived in a delicate balance at a time when a salacious snippet could ruin a career and/or a life and the sliding scale of support that actors/actresses could expect based on the studios' investment in their career.

All really fascinating and enjoyable.

Another Silvia Moreno-Garcia triumph.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book tells the story of three very different women who are undertaking different journey. Two who are actresses have different dreams with their new roles. This book was a fast read.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is truly incredible because she will never write the same book twice, and yet now that I've read through her entire catalogue, I can see the clear through-line of her themes, and the general optimism and love that carry through the beating heart of each of her books.

It might feel odd to say that given that each book often explores heavy topics, and this one is no different, but it's so accurate.

This book in particular is a fascinating blend for SMG, in that she tells the story of a young actress starring as Salome in a sword and sandals movie in the 1950s, and yet she also tells the story of Salome as she imagines it. As she weaves these stories together, their similarities and differences become more apparent, and as always, the ending feels like the perfect catharsis for the story being told.

You are damnation, and yet I long to be damned

Thanks to netgalley and Del Rey for my early copy of this book.