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.

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.