Silvia Moreno-Garcia never misses when it comes to creating immersive worlds, and The Seventh Veil of Salome is no exception! Set in the glitzy yet shadowy world of Golden Age Hollywood, this book mixes noir, historical fiction, and a touch of the uncanny to tell a story of ambition, secrets, and danger. The writing is lush, the atmosphere is spot on, and the characters—especially Salome—are captivating. It didn’t fully hit the five-star mark for me, but it’s a fascinating, well-written read that I’d definitely recommend!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

disclaimer : I received this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

content warnings: sexual harassment, racism, misogyny, violence, blood, murder

rep: mexican m/c

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a tragic story of both Vera & Salome. It is probably Silvia Moreno-Garcia's weakest work in my opinion but a good novel nonetheless. Taking place in the atmospheric Los Angeles & hollywood. A likeable & complex female character facing both misogyny & also racism. We see her story alongside that of Salome, a Jewish princess from the new testament- a role that Vera is playing. Both compelling stories but the pacing in the middle was a real drag for me. A good novel from Moreno-Garcia but not her best.

I really wanted to like this. And there were elements I did like - the author's take on the behind the scenes in Hollywood, the Daisy Jones & the Six interview form style, the characters even. But it was just too long and unnecessarily so.

The writing of the parallel stories of Salome and of two actresses during the 1950s Hollywood is amazing in this book. I could not put it down.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become an auto-buy author for me, because her characters are so humanly multi-layered and her stories are so original and deeply touching.

I received a digital copy as a NetGalley ARC for this review, but the audiobook of it is also very well narrated.

Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I have read enough Moreno-Garcia by now to recognize almost all the reoccuring themes of her previous work in The Seventh Veil of Salome - prejudices against Latine people, the sexism intertwined with racism, and cultural appropriation, surrounding a greater mystery at the center of the story. In this instance, though, her love for and meticulous research done on Old Hollywood are also revealed. And how could one incorporate so many allusions and drop so many hints at real-life scandals of the glamorous 1950s and earlier decades without being obsessed with them? I wouldn't call myself uneducated on the topic, but I definitely had to google names just to find out if these actors really existed. And often, they did!

As white and as conservative many black-and-white movies may seem to us these days, POC have always been an integral part of the film industry, and in no small number. This novel captures the prejudices of the time, the obstacles non-white actors have had laid in their path, and the anxieties of white people regarding the perceived threat of immigration. All of this in the form of a mockumentary transcript, including newspaper "clippings" and interviews concerning the great tragedy behind the success of another (fictional) expensive sand-and-sandal movie of the time. This is a writing format I would love to see repeated in fiction. Even more charming than this true crime-adjacent aspect were the passages told from the biblical Salome's POV. Lush, enchanting, and tragic, they put me in the mood for another Cleopatra rewatch of my own.

Unfortunately, what usually keeps me from going 100% feral over a Moreno-Garcia novel also happened here: The ending somehow lacked the momentum of a 5-star read. Perhaps with the exception of the plot twist of Mexican gothic (and not even that one, really), her writing has never taken me by surprise, but I kind of yearn for another twisty slap in the face by an author who goes all in on the historical research and accuracy. Give it to me!!! I know you can do it.

In this clever, dual narrative story, we meet Vera Larios in 1950s Hollywood as she lands the part of Salome in a new studio epic, having been “discovered” in her father’s dental office. Being cast as the lead in a big-budget movie throws Vera into a new world where she must overcome her self-doubt in order to succeed. She must also deal with jealousy and bad feelings from more established actors in Hollywood, including Nancy Hartley whose animosity towards Vera only darkens as her love life takes an unexpected twist.

Interwoven in the stories of these two women is that of Salome herself, which adds a really interesting spin on the other part of the narrative. I thought the book was cleverly written, engaging, and rather heartbreaking. I would definitely recommend it to any fans of historical fiction.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

My first Silvia Moreno-Garcia book and I wonder why I haven't picked her books yet.
I was amazed with how complex the characters and storyline is, but at the same time the book was written very smoothly.
She is usually known for writing gothic literature but this historical fiction did not disappoint at all.
The book is a perfect blend of drama, complex layers and complicated characters and even better writing style.
The book has great character development, placing is equally good and also great mention to details.
The book has multiple plots and storyline / timelines going at the same time so can be confusing at the beginning but once you get the hank of it, there is no going back and you will not be able to put down the book.

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Silvia Moreno-Garcia always delivers a different book from the one before. She switches genres, setting and mood in her books. I enjoyed the historic fiction with mystery elements. I loved the main characters. Moreno-Garcia knows how to write strong women. The climax was not as strong as hoped. There was a lot of build of but the ending didnt deliver. I did enjoy it and will keep reading books from this author.

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a clever juxtaposition of the story of Salome, daughter of Herodias who is the wife of the tetrarch Herod Antipas in first century Palestine, and Vera Larios, a Mexican actress in 1950s Hollywood who has been chosen to portray Salome in a sword-and-sandals epic.

The background of the historical Salome is one of power politics involving Ancient Rome and its client states. Rome is expanding its influence but not yet ruling absolutely. Its allies and collaborators therefore need to tread carefully, and Herod is concerned about a fiery preacher who been denouncing his rule (and morals). Salome, however, by Jokanaan...

Larios also inhabits a complex world. She has come into an increasingly paranoid Hollywood, a place stalked by the House Un-American activities Committee and still subject to the Puritan moral hypocrisy of various self-appointed censors but also one, haunted by racism (Larios, as a Mexican, is firmly an outsider and looked down on). Things are starting to change as the studio system declines, but this uncertainty only makes everyone even more insecure. Gossip sheets exploit this, trading in innuendo and stereotypes.

Beyond this dichotomy, the book is structurally fascinating since the film Larios is involved in is clearly the same "story" as that which the Salome sections tell (for example, some of the dialogue echoes). But the story is being rewritten as the book progresses (in a late episode, we hear the screenwriter describing the closing scene as he would have had it, the studio bosses having insisted on somethings else). The historical Salome's life is not, therefore, fixed, but mutable, a matter of contention and at the mercy of those same prejudices, Puritan constraints and political and commercial imperatives that rule Hollywood itself. That's appropriate for a character being portrayed by another woman, Vera, who is in turn manipulated and (mis)represented by family, publicists, witnesses, and the Press.

Witnesses? I use that word because while there are lengthy narrative sections where the camera follows Vera (if I can use that analogy) of Samole, there are also interventions in the voice of the many characters who play a part in this story - other actresses and studio figures, for example, and people who were lucky or unlucky enough to witness the events - and they all have their own spin, often informed (again) by prejudice and jealousy.

Vera has - as soon become evident - stepped into a nest of vipers, with others convinced that she doesn't merit the part - or that she doesn't, morally, deserve it. A Mexican? Surely not! The outworking of jealously and resent meant in an industry that embodies whim and fashion is both fascinating to see unfold and awful to anticipate, giving a real edge of noir as scenes unfold in seedy hotel rooms and down-at-heel diners, all leading up to... well I don't want to be spoilery... all leading up to the inevitable conclusion in the final reel. As a nasty chain of events unfold, innocents will be caught up, reputations ruined and the truth left to wither.

All in all and exciting, complex and atmospheric novel with a steely core of accusation.

Sadly, not for me. I find all of the characters detestable, the writing is basic, the historical exposition of the Biblical story is tedious, and the constant use of the word 'fuck' as verb, adjective and noun is beginning to seem like some kind of tic. This is one occasion when I feel a thesaurus would have helped. Abandoned at 6%.

I requested this as it’s a Moreno-Garcia, that’s all I need to know. It sounded interesting as well – it’s a faux historical documentary about the golden era of Hollywood and a tragedy on the set of a movie production. This is linked to the tale of Salome, which apparently is quite vague so leaves a lot for interpretation. This was interestingly told – in interview recaps and a mix of historical and move set scenes, and how these start to mirror each other. It was a quick read, but not something I’ll revisit.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia rarely misses and this was another win for me. I really enjoyed the writing, the author managed to create a very vivid world and great atmosphere. It almost felt like this could be two books - I'd love to read an even more fleshed-out story of Salome. Those bits felt so melancholy and intriguing, bringing me the same feelings I had reading Circe by Madeline Miller. The other half of the story felt very Taylor Jenkins Reid, with the look at a fictionalised starlet in the golden age of Hollywood. My two favourites to read so I had no choice but to enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC, all thoughts are my own.

As before when reading works by Silvia Morena-.Garcia, the story sounds intriguing but unfortunately the author loses me somewhere around the last third. I absolutely love 1930s/40s/50s Hollywood and am therefore willing to ignore some bumps in the road when it comes to pacing, tone, and storytelling. However, the story of Salome and the preacher was a bit too much for.

Solid three-star read, not my favorite but still liked it.

Set in 1950s Hollywood, it tells the story of the filming of “The Seventh Veil of Salome” from the perspective of various cast members during its shooting and the two actresses vying for the top role. Alternate chapters also follow the tale of the film itself. Not a favourite read but an entertaining and clever one. I’m a huge fan of Moreno-Garcia and will always pick up her books. 3.5

I enjoyed the timeline jumps and structure of the book. However, I thought some of the character perspective changes were clunky; I struggled to know and reber who was speaking in any given chapter. I also found that the chapters about Salome herself were not well integrated and felt a bit jolting.

Thanks: Received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again!

The Seventh Veil of Salome is historical fiction that starts off tackling the story of Salome, a minor biblical character trapped in forbidden love and forced to make difficult decisions about her future. From there the story unfolds weaving the story of Salome and Vera Larios, who unexpectedly lands the role of Salome in an upcoming flick despite having very little acting experience. She finds herself the centre of gossip, all in the name of 'free press' this all with a backdrop of racism in Hollywood of the 1950s.

We also follow Nancy, a Hollywood veteran has struggled to land parts after being in Hollywood for 4 years and believes that Salome should be hers. She is impulsive, scheming and determined to get back the role she can't believe went to an unknown Mexican girl. She struggles with accepting that her dream role isn't hers and sets out to do what she can to get it back.

The flow of the story is wonderful, there were no lulls and the addition of other smaller POVs added to the intrigue and understanding of the two main characters. The ending was unexpected but very satisfying, the way that Moreno-Garcia is able to weave together the strands of this book to create a beautiful feminist storyline along with it being historically accurate is to be admired.

This book for me is a 5 star and I am grateful to netgalley and Quercus for providing me the arc.

Ohhh I just loved this! The weaving together of the biblical tale of Salome and the Hollywood retelling of her story with Vera Larios as the leasing lady was seamless. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become one of my favorites. Everything in the book felt lush and vibrant and immersive.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey (Random House Publishing Group) for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was expecting this to have the charm of Old Hollywood, I did not get that. Very underwhelming, I wanted to like it but he story and characters were left lacking.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to review.

I love Old Hollywood so I was very excited to read this story, set in 1950s Hollywood. Unfortunately, I didn't love it as much as I hoped to. I found Salome's parts quite boring and wished the story had just focused on Vera and Nancy. Silvia did her research on the real actors mentioned and I did feel that I was being transported back in time to the 1950s. I felt that the story ended very abruptly and I wish the parts about Salome had been cut and we could have had a bit more about Vera after the events at the end of the book.