The Seventh Veil of Salome

De: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Narrado por: Caitlin Kelly, Atlanta Amado, Victoria Villarreal, Arthur Morey, Andrew Eiden, Kristen DiMercurio, Frankie Corzo, Lauren Fortgang, Javier Prusky, Fred Sanders, Lee Osorio, Cassandra Campbell

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine—but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.

“Whenever I want to read a book I know will be good, I go to Silvia Moreno-Garcia.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, BookPage, CrimeReads

1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times.

So when the film’s mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled, and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.

Two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood—a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue—make for a sizzling combination.

But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod: a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart.

Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.

©2024 Silvia Moreno-Garcia (P)2024 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“In Moreno-Garcia’s skillful hands, you’ll find the satisfaction of richly drawn characters, saturated settings and deftly constructed plot twists. . . . No matter the genre—gothic, horror, noir—she’ll embody its essence with a verve all her own. The Seventh Veil of Salome, Moreno-Garcia’s tenth novel, is an old Hollywood tale crossed with fire and brimstone. And like her previous works, it’s a compulsive page turner [and] a shrewd examination of faith and desire.”—The New York Times Book Review

“When I want to read a book I know will be good, I go to Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Her genres are ever-changing, and her ability to take on a wild story each time is incredible. You never know what she’s going to do, but you know it will be a page-turner.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six

“Using a kaleidoscope of perspectives, Moreno-Garcia skillfully depicts the rise of a starlet in 1950s Hollywood, capturing not only the glamour of poolside parties but also the sordid underbelly of the industry. That alone would be a great read, but she also weaves in the original story of Salome, adding rich layers to a story that bubbles with anticipation and will leave you spellbound.”—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Spectacular

outstanding

Wonderful performances from various voice actors. This was a truly riveting listen and interesting story.

Didn't enjoy the pacing

I have enjoyed the author's other books, but not this one. I felt like it dragged out forever. The character development was painfully slow and many sections could have been omitted entirely. Then, the ending felt beyond rushed. The book approached the climax and then, just...jumped past it all. Would not recommend.

Excellent character development and cultural knowledge.

Very slow start but Silvia is one of my favorite authors so I stuck with the story and it soon had me enthralled.

Well thought out.

Enjoyed the story, it was what I needed for a flight home. It’s a bit fluffy & fun but gives one a great feeling of Hollywood in the 1950’s. The audible version is very well done.

Predictable

Spoiler: Characters are predictable as is the story. Interesting look into the days of classic Hollywood but you already know ethnic actors and actors of color were discriminated against. You know the rich guy’s parents aren’t going to want him dating a Mexican born actress, Nancy is jealous because she didn’t get the role. You could write the outline for this typical tale without reading this book. It was nicely written but nothing new or exciting here.

Great Story Telling

I love how Silvia mixes history, myths, etc in her stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great, great book!

It is almost like watching a movie

Hollywood glamor and scandal but with a Hispanic main character! I was blown away by the writing and voice acting.

The Seven Veils of Hell?

The first third of the book was painful to get through—a perfect example of excessive description and unnecessary detail that doesn’t add to the story in the end. About two-thirds in, however, the book starts to make great points through Vera’s development, her strong work ethic, and defiance toward her mother. I found myself rooting for greater character exploration, especially as Jay also struggles with family dynamics. Nancy’s relationship with her father could have been an interesting thread to explore further also.

As an entrepreneur myself, I saw my own story reflected in Vera’s defiance of society’s expectations, her strong work ethic, but most of all in the artistic expression of her dance—her craft.
There was a clear opportunity to draw stronger parallels between Vera and Salomon and to explore the tormenting consequences of Nancy’s actions. The ending felt rushed, unexpected, and insufficient.

Nonetheless, if you really think about it, the book offers unique insights and valuable social critiques. Unlike Salomon, Silvia had all the right steps for a great dance, the right ingredients for a great tamale, and still fell short.

Excellent story!

I started this book without knowing what it was even about. I was greatly surprised at how quickly I was invested in the characters. The different story lines were so well woven together that I couldn't stop listening. Well done!

Another hit!

I’ve loved SM-G’s novels in the past for their gothic horror and magical realism. This one has neither and it still knocks it out of the park. Ending was very emotional. I know I’ll be buying a print version and treasuring this one!