Certain Dark Things
Written by: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Tor Nightfire
2021
Certain Dark Things takes readers into the battle between warring vampire families in the heart of Mexico City. Think Sin City, but with a vampiric spin.
As a massive fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I had to read Certain Dark Things, her vampire-induced horror. Absolutely thrilling, this novel was filled with unique vamps, a little romance, and lots of action.
Storytelling
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this novel. Moreno-Garcia is a brilliant writer who always surprises readers by jumping into different genres. I never knew what to expect from her stories, constantly entering them with awe because I knew this story would not be predictable.
And that remains true with Certain Dark Things. This is a multiple-POV novel, with Atl and Domingo being the central points of view that drive the story forward. Each is haunted by the ghosts of their mistakes, but together, battling rival vampire gangs, they find peace with one another.
Atl begins the story on the run, disillusioned and angry at the mistakes that cost her her family’s lives. She was hot-headed, and now she has to live with that for the rest of her life. Then, she meets sweet Domingo.
Oh my god, Domingo is the sweetest human being in the world. He is honest but also tries to see the silver lining, fascinated with vampires. He sometimes seemed like a child in how he fangirled over Atl. Still, his brightness and levity make the story and the relationship that grows between them gut-wrenching.
I loved the story’s pacing; it flitted between the characters to give the world more structure. Moreno-Garcia really delved into the neo-noir setting of the story. We see the mechanics of the gangs, how vampire species differ, and how the police can work in the partially corrupt system.
The world-building was fantastic because it felt gritty, raw, and violent. Certain Dark Things is about feuding vampire gangs; you can bet it is violent.
Final Thoughts
Absolutely fantastic, Certain Dark Things is absolutely thrilling. It is action-packed, and Moreno-Garcia does not lose that emotional element, creating such a wonderful dynamic between Atl and Domingo. Reader, be warned, it is a bittersweet ending that tugs on the heartstrings.
A Vampire Tale Like No Other | 'Certain Dark Things' Review
Certain Dark Things takes readers into the battle between warring vampire families in the heart of Mexico City. Think Sin City, but with a vampiric spin.
Cynthia Ayala
Cynthia Ayala-Bujnicki majored in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. Editor-in-chief of Cyn's Workshop, she loves to read and write while tending to her pepper plants. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids Dante and Selene and two furbabies Mr. J the Kitten who Thinks He's Batman (yes, that is his full name) and Nyx.
