The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

Blurb

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.

Review

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my favourite authors and I fully plan on reading all her books so I was quite excited to read this book which I bought at Christmas. I was not disappointed. 

The first thing that struck me about this book was just how clever it was. It doesn’t just tell one woman’s story it tells three and they are very different from each other. Vera is an unknown Mexican who is cast as the lead in a Hollywood film. The film is about Salome, the well known biblical figure from the Bible. The second woman is Nancy, who has only ever had bit parts and will do anything to get that lead role she dreams about. The third woman is Salome, that legendary woman from the Bible whose dance set in motion certain events. 

I loved the setting of this book and found 1950’s Hollywood fascinating. How it all worked on the set of film, the way to publicise a film through socialising and being seen at certain events, right down to where they had lunch with other actors and writers. These scenes were so well written and well researched that it really helped me see what it was like, the glamorous parts and the not so glamorous. 

The character I really did not like in this book was Nancy. Nancy was one of these characters who was convinced that she was cheated by everyone and that she should have the best of everything and yet she wouldn’t work for anything and was horrible to people. She was jealous and vindictive and I really didn’t like the parts of the book where she featured. 

Vera was my favourite character and one that I felt very protective over. She had always been overshadowed by her sister, she even knew she wasn’t her mother’s favourite child and her mother regularly compared her to her sister. Vera was innocent and polite and kindness itself. She wanted to help everyone and be friends with everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how Salome was portrayed. I could not put this book down and it very nearly made the 5 Dragons but I just could not get on with the character of Nancy and her storyline. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons. 

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About the author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.

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