Blood. Neon. Death. That’s the cocktail Silvia Moreno-Garcia serves in Certain Dark Things, and I was more than happy to drink it in.
At its core, this is a vampire novel—but not your typical, cookie-cutter vamps. SMG pulls from Mexico’s indigenous mythologies to create a gritty, bloody underworld that feels alive in a way most supernatural urban settings don’t. The Aztec-inspired Tlacuache and their rival clans aren’t just window dressing—they’re rooted in place, history, and culture, which hit me in a way that’s hard to explain.
The story follows Atl, a beautiful, deadly, winged vampire, and Domingo, a street kid with a heart too big for his own good. Atl’s on the run from a rival narco-vamp family; Domingo’s just happy to be along for the ride… until “the ride” turns into a fast-paced plunge through Mexico City’s blood-soaked alleys. I loved the way Moreno-Garcia’s city hums with danger—it’s equal parts crime syndicate, ancient rivalry, and “maybe don’t walk alone at night unless you’re cool with being on the menu for the things that go bump in the night.”
The good and bad: this book is prime “scream at your protagonist” material. You will scream at Domingo for trusting people he shouldn’t. You will scream at Atl for pushing people away when she needs them most. If you like to scream at your favorite characters, you might love this one.
The pacing is razor-sharp, the romance is… messy (as it should be in a noir), and the worldbuilding is immaculate. SMG has this knack for writing characters who feel human even when they’re definitely not. The result is a story that’s as much about identity, belonging, and survival as it is about blood and bodies.
If you like your vampires dangerous, your cities morally gray, and your protagonists infuriating but lovable, Certain Dark Things will sink its teeth in and not let go
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