Reading a new Moreno-Garcia is like listening to the album from a favorite band that sounds NOTHING like the previous albums, all experimental and strange. That’s what reading a Moreno-Garcia book is like. Unusual. Unexpected. And yet, entirely intriguing. Not only are her books infinitely clever, but they are also unique and different. Some authors choose a genre and dig in, producing book after book with the same tried-and-true formula. While I appreciate that, I also know that breaking out of that mold takes guts.

I loved Mexican Gothic. It’s one of my favorite creepy historical fantasies. I didn’t think it could be topped as my favorite Moreno-Garcia. I was wrong.

Enter The Seventh Veil of Salome. Anything Old Hollywood is certain to be a favorite of mine, and this book was no exception. How Moreno-Garcia wove together multiple modern (1950s) storylines with the Biblical storyline was super fun. While at first I was puzzled by the Salome chapters, I grew to understand Moreno-Garcia’s desire to give context and draw parallels between both stories. Both stories ended in tragedy, much like a great film noir. And that’s exactly what Moreno-Garcia did; she wrote an excellent noir. This book is for film lovers. Thank you, Mrs Moreno-Garcia. Bless you.

This transports readers straight into Golden Hollywood, a world glimmering with glamour on the surface but shadowed by envy, ambition, and betrayal. SMG, known for her vivid storytelling, once again captures an era with lush detail, but this time she pairs it with the moral decay hidden beneath the golden sheen.

Vera is a rising star plucked from obscurity - an unknown Mexican woman cast in the biblical role of Salome and struggling to keep her part. Nancy is an extra actress striving for her big break whose desperation to rise from obscurity to stardom adds tension as she convinces herself that Vera is her enemy and not the system in which they both struggle. It’s a tale of two women grappling with their own desires, but also with a world that’s more than willing to devour them both.

What I loved about this book is how it explores the power struggles of Hollywood while weaving in the legend of Salome. The parallels between Vera and Salome, both of whom are caught between duty and desire, add layers to the story. The Salome chapters mirror the dynamics happening behind the camera. Moreno-Garcia skillfully draws these two storylines together, creating a fascinating reflection on the roles women are forced into.

There’s plenty of what you’d expect from a 1950s Hollywood epic—scandals, secrets, and the pervasive darkness lurking beneath the glitz. Racism, sexism, and exploitation are ever-present, and the author doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly side of the industry. You feel the weight of those struggles in Vera’s journey, especially as a Mexican actress trying to break into the spotlight.

For me, the tension throughout the novel is what makes it so compelling. Moreno-Garcia ratchets it up so subtly that before you realize it, you’re holding your breath. That gradual buildup of pressure makes the characters’ decisions feel even more significant. However, I think that the ending felt a bit rushed and left me wanting more closure. There’s a sense that not everything is wrapped up neatly, which could be purposeful.

While The Seventh Veil of Salome may not be my favorite of her works, it showcases Moreno-Garcia’s incredible talent for blending historical settings with emotional intensity. It’s a captivating, if bittersweet, look at ambition, desire, and the price of fame. If you’re a fan of her atmospheric storytelling and enjoy the darker side of Hollywood, this one’s definitely worth reading.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Del Rey for the complimentary pre-released copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Every film studio in 1950s Hollywood was making a sword-and-sandals movie based on biblical stories, preferably with a seducing woman and a powerful man falling under the woman’s spell. The moviegoers were also tired of seeing Gary Cooper and wanted Richard Burton’s animal magnetism. Hence, in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s new novel “The Seventh Veil of Salome,” a seasoned movie director decides to make a movie based on the story of Salome, a young woman who danced so beautifully that she could ask Herod for whatever prize she wanted – and she asked for John the Baptiste’s head on a silver platter. The director casts an unknown Mexican ingénue Vera in the leading role.

Vera, a shy girl with a preference for classical music, seems an unlikely fit for the Hollywood spotlight. Yet, her grace, fresh and unexpected in the cutthroat world of Tinseltown, sets her apart. The allure of the Hollywood spotlight, with its false smiles and fake friends, is a tempting yet treacherous path for Vera. Nancy, an actress who had her sights set on the role of Salome, finds herself resenting the charming newcomer. Will Vera succumb to this allure, or will she stay true to her honest ways? And how far will Nancy go to reclaim her place?

Separated by centuries, there is another young girl, Salome. Like Vera, she is on her path to discovering who she is and what she wants. And just like Vera, she must distance herself from her family and admit her feelings. This fascinating woman became the subject of paintings and an opera. The contrast between the two eras, the 1950s Hollywood and the biblical times of Salome, is stark and intriguing. We know what will happen after her dance, yet we can’t take our eyes off her dancing.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia wrote an engaging story of three women. Men are in the background; they mostly set the stage for women. The background of old Hollywood was fascinating, but what truly stands out is the author’s unique perspective on it, obviously based on her thorough research and her love of cinema. The earlier book of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, “Silver Nitrate,” also talked about the old movies world. I read both of these books, and they are very different – “Silver Nitrate” is more of a horror story, while “The Seventh Veil of Salome” feels like a psychological mystery with a touch of a coming-of-age novel.

I tremendously enjoyed the author’s latest venture into the alluring world of old movies. I was entertained and learned about Hollywood of the past. Interestingly, my reading of “The Seventh Veil of Salome” coincided with the Emmys Awards, where the subject of diversity was, once again, raised. Vera, being a Mexican woman, faces prejudice, which didn’t entirely disappear in 2024. This novel takes a reader into the past but makes one think about our times, which is the greatest gift any book can offer.

I'm normally a massive fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I think she's a master at genre bending and until this book I would have said that her writing grips me every time. However, this was a miss for me. I thought the two timelines with different sets of characters were confusing and they never quite came together in a way that made the story cohesive for me.

The lives of three complicated women intertwine in this story of 1950s Hollywood and a little known Biblical figure. Moreno-Garcia beautifully wove these stories together, using different aspects of all three women to reflect and contrast each other. I particularly enjoyed the scenes depicting the movie script of Salome, struggling with whether to follow her misguided heart or her hopes of revenge. If you enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you definitely need to read this.

I really enjoyed this novel. I enjoyed the way it was written in an interview like style. I enjoyed the time piece around 1950s Hollywood. I thought everything about it was unique and enjoyable.

The cast of characters was definitely a plus for me. I liked having so many different point of views of the people surrounding the overall activities in the potline. I did not find any of the POV to be unnecessary or boring or to halt to the pacing of the book.

I thought the accurate descriptions of the way Mexican people were treated in California/Hollywood in the 1950s definitely lent an air of authenticity to the novel. It is not very often discuss how racist people can be towards the Mexican community and therefore it feels very swept under the rug in a lot of cases. That did not happen here it was first and foremost in the experience of our Mexican starlet.

The book definitely gave an emotional response, not only to the characters, but to the story in general, which is exactly what I'm looking for in a novel. I found this to be just a whole lot of fun to read, and I definitely will always read anything by Silvia Moreno Garcia.

I want to love Moreno-Garcia, but this is the third book of hers I’ve disliked. The plot within a plot, while well executed, wasn’t as enjoyable as I expected and the paranormal/horror elements were underwhelming as well.

I enjoyed parts of it but I don’t think her books are for me. The writing was amazing but the plot didn’t pull me in. And there were way too many characters. After reading two of her books that I didn’t like I don’t think I’ll be reading any more.

This was a highly anticipated read for me, but it lacked in portions where I felt that I had no connection to the characters. I ended up being a bit disappointed. I enjoyed the story of Nancy and Vera, but was a bit disengaged with Salome portion. Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the ARC to read and review
3/5

(4.5 rounded up) Like all the other Silvia Moreno Garcia books that I’ve read, this was a treat to read. It was well written and I felt immediately immersed into the world of both Salome and Vera.

I knew next to nothing about the story of Salome but the author does a great job of laying out the story in a way that keeps your attention. The story is told in multiple POVs, none of them bored me but I do have to say Salome and Vera’s chapters were my favorites. Nancy’s chapters were also really good.

I feel like this story perfectly captured what Hollywood was like at the time. The Seventh Veil of Salome does an excellent job of painting a picture for modern readers. From the outside looking in, Hollywood seemed to be nothing but glitz and glamour. This book delves into the dark side of the movie making business. It touched on the racism that actors who didn’t fit Hollywood’s stereotypical look faced. The pressures that women were put under by the studios. The men who felt entitled to women because they were famous. All of this made for an engrossing story. This was different from the other books by this author. It seems she tries something new with every book. I’ve really enjoyed all the books I’ve read from her and this one is no exception.

This book didn’t quite get get a 5 star for a few reasons. The biggest one being that the ending felt rushed. The rest of the story felt like a slow burn and then the ending wrapped up very quickly in my opinion. I would have liked to have spent more time with the characters in the aftermath of what happened. Some of the POVs didn’t seem to add much to the story. Or maybe I just had my favorites. Either way, an excellent read. I recommend it those who enjoy historical fiction, stories about Hollywood, etc. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy for review.

Love love love the Old Hollywood glamour and intrigue in the newest story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia! She’s an author that I’ll read anything she writes. Full of behind the scenes drama and the retelling of the story of Salome. This novel is beautifully written, as always. Five stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this title.

I can’t state enough how much I look forward to a new book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. She captures characters so richly, with complex desires and nuances to their personalities and motives that make the stories so real and appealing and enticing. I love getting lost in her story worlds over and over again.

Not at all what I expected from Ms. Moreno-Garcia. The Seventh Veil of Salome is a straight historical fiction story that includes imagined scenes from the Bible. I loved the look at old-school Hollywood. The ending is rushed and a bit of a letdown with one aspect of the story left dangling. Still, it highlights Ms. Moreno-Garcia's writing skills and reaffirms her strong story-telling ability.

Moreno-Garcia has done it again. This had Evelyn Hugo vibes all over it. I felt like Garcia is remodeling horror to be so interesting and literary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

-Quick Response-
Wow, wow, wow. I read “The Seventh Veil of Salome” after reading “Velvet Was the Night”. The latter fell short of my expectations for a Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel. HOWEVER, this book was different. The writing pulls you in and envelops you immediately as Moreno-Garcia weaves together the tale of 3 very different women who have parallel live paths.

-Plot-
Vera Larios was “discovered” while working at her father’s dentist practice in Mexico. Now she’s starring as the lead of The Seventh Veil of Salome, a long awaited movie - but Nancy has had her eye on that part and she’ll do anything to get it.

-Characters-
The three main characters were well written. Their personalities were complex and realistic. Some characters are very easy to dislike while it’s just as easy to like others.

I applaud Moreno-Garcia for writing the relationships the way she did; between each of the women and those in their lives.

-Writing-
The pace was perfect, vacillating between multiple points of views: primarily those of the three women (Salome, Vera, Nancy), as well as other players in the women’s lives. This novel is layered in it’s story telling: on the first layer, you have a contemptuous relationship (mainly one-sided) between two women who are vying to play the role of the ever-complex Salome in a new film. When we peel back that veil, we see that it’s a love story, the next veil reveals a story of an empty woman, and the final veil recounts a religious tale.

I found the chapters were appropriate in length, and spent just the right amount of time with each woman. There were also snippets from either the gossip magazines or secondary characters that provided clues and context to what was to come.

-Reading experience-
I could not put down this book. My only regret is not starting this ARC as soon as I received it.

-Do I Like this book?-
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - negative emotions and all.

-Do I Recommend this Book?-
I recommend this book to everyone. It’s got a little bit of everything: suspense, romance, drama, Hollywood in the 50s.

-Trigger warnings-
Domestic violence
Racism
Micro-agressions
Colorism
Victim blaming

Hollywood 1950’s and every actress is vying to play the role of Salome. Young Vera Larios is cast in the roll and Nancy Hartley is jealous. She’s desperate for fame, but her career is stalled. Both actresses are clawing their way to the top. Racism, drama, sex, tragedy and tears.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s *The Seventh Veil of Salome* is a mesmerizing blend of historical intrigue and modern suspense, showcasing the author’s signature talent for immersive storytelling. This latest addition to the GMA Book Club Picks delivers a captivating narrative that skillfully combines elements of mystery, romance, and Hollywood.

Set against a richly detailed backdrop, Moreno-Garcia paints a vivid portrait of a world both glamorous and shadowy, drawing readers into a web of secrets and deception. The plot centers around a complex cast of characters whose intertwining stories unfold with tension and elegance. The novel’s pacing is deliberate, allowing for a gradual buildup of suspense that keeps readers hooked.

I wanted to read this fast but it's not possible! I needed to absorb and savor every word. Those last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat.

This historical novel is told from mainly three different female perspectives.

Vera is plucked from her life in Mexico to star in a Hollywood movie about Salome. She must navigate the snide comments from the gossip magazines, a particular extra on set and the public in general.

Salome is dealing with a mother who uses her as a pawn to gather information, favors etc. Her stepfather is eyeing her in an unfatherly way. And his advisors want her to marry an ally.

Nancy is an actress. She's always reaching for a bigger and better for herself. When an unknown woman is chosen for a role she auditioned for, Nancy's uglier side comes to the surface.

Thank you so much to the author, Random House and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

The Seventh Veil of Salome weaves together the biblical story of Salome with Vera, an actor chosen to play Salome in an upcoming Hollywood epic, and Nancy, an older Hollywood character who believes the role of Salome should be hers.
Salome, according to the Gospel of Mark, at her mother’s urging, performs sensual Dance of the Seven Veils for her stepfather, and in return granted anything she wants. In furtherance of her mother’s agenda, Salome requests the head of John the Baptist.
Vera, a young Mexican woman, is brought to Hollywood to play the role of Salome in what is touted to be Hollywood’s next great epic. Vera struggles with insecurities brought on by her disapproving mother and the demands of Hollywood, both on and off the set.
Nancy, an older actor still looking for her big break, uses sex to get what she wants, which at this moment includes getting Vera out of her way.
Parts of Moreno-Garcia’s writing is gripping and intriguing, however, when mixed with long slower passages, fails to seamlessly integrate the stories.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia never fails to deliver a book I enjoy! I took my time with this one and I think that was a good choice. The Seventh Veil of Salome is historical fiction set in 1950's Hollywood, following Vera- a young Mexican woman plucked from obscurity and caste in the lead role of a "sand and sandals" Biblical film about the girl who requested the beheading of John the Baptist. But it is also a story of jealousy, betrayal, backstabbing, and forbidden love.

The structure of the book is really interesting - we read the story of the film as if it's actually happening, Vera's experiences getting into Hollywood, and then brief perspectives from a range of side characters. Some as if they are being interviewed years later. I imagine this non-traditional method of storytelling might be frustrating to some readers but I really liked it. The mirroring of the quasi-historical Salome with the experiences of Vera are striking. This gets into the racism and misogyny of Hollywood during this era and what it was like to be a woman of color performing on screen. It was clearly very well researched and I was thoroughly engaged and invested throughout.

A word of warning though to those who are new to this author's work- she almost never writes happy endings. With a couple of exceptions, they are bittersweet or downright tragic and this is no different. I loved it though- excellently done! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.