In a gritty, alternate Mexico City where humans and various vampire subspecies coexist, Domingo is a lonely street kid collecting garbage to survive. His life shifts when he meets Atl, a descendant of the Aztec blood-drinking lineage known as the Necotli. She is on the run from a ruthless European vampire clan that has invaded Mexico to settle a violent turf war. Together, they navigate a dangerous criminal underworld of drug cartels, corrupt police, and rival predators, hoping to escape the city before the rival gangs corner them.
Readers interested in urban fantasy and noir fiction will appreciate this grounded take on vampire biology and cultural hierarchy. The book discards romanticized tropes in favor of a biological ranking system and organized crime dynamics. It appeals to readers who want a fast-paced thriller that treats supernatural creatures as predators rather than love interests. You will finish the book with a clear sense of how specific folklore can be reinvented within a modern, metropolitan setting through the lens of displacement and survival.
Insights from Certain Dark Things
“She was a bird of prey and he was just a mouse.”
Atl doesn't act like a hero. She is a predator hiding in plain sight. It makes you realize how scary a real vampire would be.
Domingo is just a lonely kid looking for something to believe in. He chooses a monster because she looks at him. Most of us would do the same.
“The city was a sprawling, hungry thing.”
Mexico City is its own character here. The garbage and the neon feel alive. Even the shadows have teeth.
“There are different types of monsters.”
Vampires in this story are just different subspecies of animals. They have their own biology and rules. It feels more like a nature documentary than a myth.
- Published
- 2016
- Publisher
- Jo Fletcher Books
- ISBN
- 9781529415605
- Language
- EN
