I was really intrigued when I started this story. I was told from multiple POVs, and almost felt like you were getting two stories in one. There was the story of Vera and Nancy, who were both actresses in 1950's Hollywood, and Salome, whose story takes place in more of an ancient time period.
I enjoyed how the stories were blended, and loved that there were multiple POV's. I thought the first half of the book, though was really slow moving. The pace picked up towards the end, and I was satisfied with the ending of the story, but it almost felt a little too abrupt. I would have loved there to have been a little more time spent on unfolding of the story at the end. With that said, this was an enjoyable, very different read, that I would recommend!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a brilliant writer who expertly tackles different genres. Despite how good she is, her books don't always work for me, which was the case for The Seventh Veil of Salome. I didn't care for Salome's perspective and it stopped me from getting too invested in either Nancy or Vera.

Let me state upfront: Silvia Moreno-Garcia could write a list of names, and I would read it. I resonate with her writing, and this story was no different.

In the golden age of Hollywood, a twenty-one-year-old Mexican girl, Vera, is found and cast in the leading role of a Biblical epic, The Seventh Veil of Salome. Vera is thrust into the glitz, glamour, and seedy underside of fame that will come with a steep price. But, the story is also about Salome, the court of Herod, and all of the drama leading up to the beheading of John the Baptist, as told in the Bible.

This novel reads like a Hollywood tell-all and also a sweeping historical narrative. I was mesmerized by Vera and Salome, and I loved this story.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia takes on 50s Hollywood and the making of a biblical film. There’s all sorts of drama when Vera is cast on the lead part of Salome. I had trouble with the multiple POVs for a while, although things did start to come together and in the end it created a story that was well thought through.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: historical fiction
Hollywood, 1950s

Nancy Hartley firmly believes she's destined for stardom and the role of Salome in the sword and sandals flick Seventh Veil of Salome is hers. She's perfect; she just knows she is. But when the studio casts Vera Larios, a dental receptionist from Mexico, Nancy is livid. Vera has little confidence, thanks in part to her mother, who has always believed her younger sister should have been the star, and naivete serves no one in Hollywood.

A stunning story about rage, jealousy, love, and passion in 1950s Hollywood. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the master of the unlikable characters and the complexity of women on page. Anger and passion rule the narrative, as she weaves perspectives of Vera, Nancy, and Salome herself together towards what only feels like it could be tragedy. I couldn’t put this book down. Sometimes, SMG’s prose can veer on weighty, but the propulsion of the plot and intricacies of the characters kept me hooked on Seventh Veil.

I listened to the audiobook once released in conjunction with the eARC, and the full cast narration works really well for the format. The book vacillates perspectives between the three primary women - Vera, Nancy, and Salome - with interspersed POVs from supporting figures such as the script writer, other Latinx Hollywood folks, and juicy gossip columns.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia makes my blood boil in the best way. The rage she evokes from the realistic nature of her characters is a reflection on the truth of human emotion. Her writing is piercing and relentless even as it strikes the perfect narrative chords.

In 1950s Hollywood, the filming of The Seventh Veil of Salome begins with unknown actress Vera Larios cast in the career-defining role. She had been working as a receptionist at her father's dental practice in Mexico City when she was discovered by the director's assistant and encouraged to audition after half of Hollywood had been rejected. She has to contend with her own doubt about her abilities to play this role, her family's doubt about her move to Hollywood, the pressures of the director and the studio, jealousy and racism from her costars, and falling in love for the first time. The story is told through the eyes of Vera, the character Salome, actors, producers, writers, and reporters who were all involved at the time, alluding to a tragedy that occurred during filming. I enjoyed all of the characters' perspectives and the way the tension was built up as Vera and Salome's narratives intertwined and mirrored each other was wonderful writing. This will appeal to fans of historical fiction and especially to people who enjoy old Hollywood.

I've never met a book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I didn't live! This one is no exception! I loved all the different povs we got, and loved the connection between Salome and Vera. The ending felt a little abrupt and I wanted more, but I absolutely loved the entire story! I never wanted it to end!

Oh my goodness this was an AMAZING read. Silvia Moreno Garcia truly immerses you in the time period in such a way that you can picture Old Hollywood as well as in the story of Salome. It very much feels like two stories being told at once where they converge in the final dance of the seven veils. If i could give this ten stars I would. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before it was released.
I can’t wait to read their next book!!

The Seventh Veil of Salome masterfully intertwines ancient folklore with the allure of 1950s Hollywood, creating a captivating narrative. Vera Larios, a young Mexican actress, steps into the spotlight as the enigmatic Salome in a new film, despite being an unfamiliar face in the industry. Meanwhile, Nancy Hartley, a competing starlet, yearns for her big break but finds herself relegated to minor roles in the background. As we navigate the intertwined lives of these two actresses, we also gain insight into Salome's historical perspective, presented as a screen treatment for the film.

Both Vera and Nancy encounter significant challenges on their paths to stardom. Vera struggles to escape the clutches of her controlling mother while navigating the treacherous waters of Hollywood's promotional machine, which includes forced public appearances and the ever-watchful eyes of scandal sheets. On the other hand, Nancy is willing to resort to dubious alliances and connections to achieve her dreams of fame. The tension escalates as the narrative unfolds through the reflections of other characters, hinting at a tragedy that remains shrouded in mystery.

In parallel, the ancient tale reveals Salome's internal conflict as she grapples with her infatuation for the prophet Jokanaan—Oscar Wilde's pseudonym for John the Baptist—while contending with the expectations of her mother, Herodias, and her stepfather, Herod Antipas. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's meticulous research breathes life into this adaptation, offering a version that aligns more closely with historical truths than Wilde's sensationalized portrayal. Without giving anything away, the conclusion is both surprising and grounded in reality, while the modern storyline culminates in a thrilling and unexpected finale. Overall, an interesting read for sure!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, my fave living author, casts another spell with her newest work. We're taken on a journey through Biblical Palestine through the lens of Salome, the famous Jewish princess. Salome's struggles and vision are delicately woven into narratives of two women thousands of years later in mid-twentieth century Hollywood during a 1940's production of The Seventh Veil of Salome.
What I love so much about Moreno-Garcia's writing is that while the historical contexts are central to the plot, we really get to dive into each character's psyche and explore their morally ambiguous motivations. There is never a "likeable" character in her books and the same can be said in this one. Each character is so remarkably flawed and it's such a pleasure to watch this intricate story unfold naturally, without narrative or audience bias.
The themes explored in this book range from explorations of the various feminisms and how race, class, and culture influence the manifestation of individual understanding of feminism, highlighting Hollywood as a canvas for the vices presented by capitalist material conditions under the guise of glamour and glitz, and the overall detriment of patriarchal dominance throughout history and how women can be just as responsible for perpetuating it as men.
Additionally, I see no coincidence that one of the more prominent storylines takes place in Palestine. I think the intention here is to implore folks to study and understand the history of this region and cultivate more educated understandings of the current and ongoing g3nocide.
This book definitely will not be for everyone. I'd even argue it's one of Moreno-Garcia's more difficult reads, but the magic woven into each narrative is well worth the effort!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is back, this time with an old Hollywood Biblical epic drama that traces the mythmaking around the infamous story of Salome through the fraught production of a major old Hollywood film and the cutthroat nature of the studio system. The plot weaves together plot lines of the three women central to this epic story. First: Vera, a young Mexican ingenue plucked from obscurity to play the film's star. Vera finds herself thrust into the intrigue, glamor, and danger of the Hollywood spotlight. In her shadow: Nancy, an aspiring actress who has been trying to get her big Hollywood break for years, with only a few small roles and subsistence, seedy modeling gigs to show for it. She resents the ease with which stars like Vera are minted, while she lives a hardscrabble existence far from the life of glamor and success she believes should be rightfully hers.

These tensions and resentments mix with the racism and bigotries of the studio system, the Hayes Code, and the gossip media, which are narrated through oral history-style interviews and contemporaneous press excerpts as the story traces the film's development. Interspersed throughout is the story of Salome herself: her tenuous existence in Herod's court in the midst of political intrigue and on the cusp of civic unrest. These stories build to the film (and the Salome myth's) climactic scene: Salome's dance before Herod for a court celebration, and her request for a Jewish prophet's head on a platter.

I am once again impressed by Silvia Moreno-Garcia's dexterity as a writer, shifting into yet another genre. The scope of this book is especially ambitious. It's a rich and sumptuous book that truly feels like a larger than life Old Hollywood epic. I am intrigued by the layers of myth-making in the story: the mythos of an Old Hollywood film which gains notoriety for its offscreen melodrama and the mythic femme fatale who serves as the film's inspiration. It's richly layered and propulsively readable. The escalation to the climax is especially delicious.

Max Niemann is casting for the lead to his next film, The Seventh Veil of Salome. There are many actresses in Hollywood who want the role, but Max is looking for an unknown; someone with beauty and confident sensuality. The role goes to Vera Larios: a young, Mexican woman who works in her father’s office. Her acting experience is minimal; However, at her audition, her passion comes through and Max decides she is his ingenue.
Nancy Hartley believes Vera has stolen her part: she has been trying to make it in Hollywood for a few years and, to have money, she dates a thug named Benny, and poses for nude photographs. She did not have an audition, and there is no logical reason for her to believe Vera has stolen the role. However, she becomes obsessed with Vera, and vows to take the role that was rightfully meant for her, no matter the cost.
The book alternates between 1950s Hollywood, and the hills of northwestern Jordan in the year 30 AD. Vera and Salome are preparing for the dance of the seven veils: Vera for the movie and Salome for Herod’s birthday. They each have a reason to dance: for Vera, it is to prove she is the only one for the part. For Salome, it is for the head of John the Baptist served on a platter.
Filled with a behind the scenes look at the Golden Age of Hollywood—where the big movie studios controlled the lives of their actors and actresses—The Seventh Veil of Salome is a multi-layered book. Racism, sexism, hedonism, power, and love are explored, and the ending is the perfect Hollywood finale.
I highly recommend this book. I would like to thank Del Ray Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

It’s typical SMG - lush and vibrant and entertaining and filled with storytelling and characters a reader can fall in love with. This book surprises and rarely lets the reader down. A big winner here.

The latest by Silvia Moreno-Garcia takes a break from the Gothic horror seen in Mexican Gothic and brings us to the 1950s Hollywood scene. This book reads like a documentary & multiple POV style featuring Salome, Vera, and Nancy.

Vera, a Mexican woman with no acting experience, is cast in Hollywood to play a big role of Salome in a retelling of a Biblical story. Nancy is a struggling actress who had hopes of securing the role instead of Vera, with a sharp tongue and insane jealousy of Vera. Lastly, Salome is a princess from the AD time period who is in love with a fiery prophet who fortold the doom of her stepfather, Herod. The three women demonstrate the power men have over their lives and what it was like trying to live in a man's world. In reading each POV, we learn that Nancy and Vera are not too different from Salome, with Nancy possessing her vicious side and Vera with her softer side.

As a historical fiction lover, I have always enjoyed reading books set during the Golden Age Holleywood. I loved how SMG held nothing back in showing the reader how women, including minority women, were treated during that time. Pacing was slow to medium throughout the book, but really came together at the end. I'd recommend this to historical fiction lovers!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House/Del Ray Books, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a captivating tale set in 1950s Hollywood, where ambition and jealousy ignite a fierce rivalry. Vera Larios, a Mexican actress with no prior experience, lands the lead role in a film about the biblical Salome, much to the dismay of Nancy Hartley, a seasoned actress whose career has hit a plateau. The novel skillfully intertwines the glamorous yet ruthless world of Hollywood with the ancient story of Salome, creating a plot rich in drama and intrigue. Moreno-Garcia’s exploration of fame, power, and the struggles women face in a male-dominated industry makes this a compelling read for those who enjoy historical fiction and complex character dynamics.

This is different than what you expect in a Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel. She shows how versatile she truly is! I was swept away by this story. The multiple povs are perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Random House Publishing Group: Del Rey for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

The only other book that I've read by Moreno-Garcia is Mexican Gothic, which I enjoyed, so I was excited to check out another of her works that is completely different. And it delivered! I don't know why it's taken me so long to read something by her again because once I started this, I remembered how much I love her writing style. This book really worked for me with all the different perspectives. I found the setting of 1950s Hollywood so intriguing, especially directly against an account of Salome during biblical times. The parallels that ran between the main women (Vera, Nancy, and Salome) were just fascinating, and watching the story unfurl through each of them kept me hooked the entire time. Moreno-Garcia writes a truly atmospheric novel that made me as the reader feel as if I was transported to the settings. My one complaint was that because there were 3 main perspectives (alongside additional one-off chapters of other characters), some aspects of each character felt a bit rushed. I do wish more time would have been given to fleshing out and/or wrapping up some of the women's stories more, but other than that, this was a very entertaining and thought-provoking read that was well done. I will definitely be prioritizing Moreno-Garcia's backlist now!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel!

As a self proclaimed Silvia Moreno-Garcia stan, I was thrilled to hear she was staying within the realm of fiction around movies and movie-making, moving from Mexico City in Silver Nitrate to Hollywood. I was also intrigued at the inclusion of Salome and her biblical story.

As with all of Moreno-Garcia's work, the writing is top notch. Not only is the environment and characters well detailed, but the descriptions of the costumes and parties and all that comes with Hollywood was so well rendered. I really enjoyed Vera's POV as she navigates not only her first film, but also the racism and anger directed towards her because she was cast in the role of Salome.

I did have a bit of a harder time with this novel, though, than I usually do with Moreno-Garcia's work. I found it to be pretty slowly paced until the 80% mark, and while I understand why there was so much attention given to Vera, Nancy, and Salome herself, I thought having all three impacted the characterization of all of them. I think just having two with the inclusion of the extra POVs because the narrative is written like a biopic would have helped the pacing.

Nancy was a particularly hard POV to read from. Even though I hated her character, Moreno-Garcia really does know how to craft a well articulated terrible person. A lot of her motivations and actions, though, were just repetition until the last 80%. I didn't feel like her POV was really moving the story forward.

That said, I'm always glad to be in a world created by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It's so clear the craft and research and care that goes into her novels and stories. I also thought Salome was a really interesting figure to build a story around, out of all the biblical women.

It feels like Silvia Moreno-Garcia can write in any genre. This book follows Vera Larios, a young woman plucked out of obscurity to star in The Seventh Veil of Salome, an epic swords-and-sandals film of the sort that every great director had to have during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

The narrative structure is a mix of 3rd person limited POV from the perspective of Salome (which might be just her from the film, or might be a historical version...), Vera, and aspiring starlet Nancy; and retrospective interviews from various cast- and crewmembers. From what the interviews imply, the reader knows that something unexpected (and possibly tragic) happened during filming. This gives an ominous overtone to the portions from the characters' perspectives, since they don't know what tragedy awaits.

SMG is really playing with mythmaking: as she says in her author's note, we know very little about the historical figure of Herodia's daughter. ("Salome" likely isn't even her name!) This book looks at three different women who will become famous for three very different reasons, and gives the reader their interiority even as we see the construction of the myth.

That makes the book sound really high brow, and it's not NOT high brow. But it's also the gripping story of three women who are trying to make the best of their circumstances. I really liked it, but also cried at the end, so, y'know. Reader beware!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Moreno-Garcia is very hit or miss for me and, unfortunately, Salome falls more into the latter than the former. The book braids together a noir of the 1950s Hollywood studio system where two women are drawn to the role of Salome for very different reasons and the lush tropical courts of the “real” Salome as she attempts to scheme or maybe just survive.

I’ve read a lot of friction and non-fiction about Hollywood history and this didn’t add anything new to the conversation. I also didn’t feel like the Salome plotline meshed well until the very end.