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Desire & Power in Ancient Times & 1950s Hollywood
Review of the upcoming Del Rey / Penguin Random House hardcover/audiobook/eBook (July 16, 2024) read via a NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded January 9, 2024).

The Seventh Veil of Salome is a clever blend of ancient folklore and historical fiction with the glamour and glitz of 1950s Hollywood. Young Mexican ingenue Vera Larios is hired as an unknown face to act the role of the supposed Biblical temptress Salome in a new film adaptation. Nancy Hartley, a rival starlet, has been angling for a breakout role but lands only a bit part in the crowd scenes for the picture. As we toggle between the stories of the two actresses we are also able to read the historical story from Salome’s point of view in what becomes apparent as the screen treatment (not the screenplay) of the upcoming film.

Both actresses face obstacles and barriers in their journey. Vera is trying to break free from her manipulative mother but must also deal with the promotional system of old Hollywood with forced dates and public appearances while constantly ducking scandal sheets and studio gossip. Nancy is desperate to become a star and will begin to use some shady characters and contacts in her pursuit of her dream. The suspense builds as parts of the story are told in hindsight by other characters who keep making references to a tragedy which the reader is yet to discover.

The modern day story is paralleled in the ancient historical fiction where Salome is caught between her desire for the Biblical prophet Jokanaan (curiously, Oscar Wilde’s assumed name for John the Baptist is used throughout), the demands of her mother Herodias and stepfather Herod Antipas and the various cousins and suitors with which she is alternatively plotting and conspiring or trying to avoid.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has done a thorough job of research in order to produce this epic adaptation which is perhaps closer to the historical truth of the story that Wilde’s blood-drenched spectacle. No spoiler from me here, but the finale is more in keeping with the historical reality. The modern day story comes to its own shocking conclusion in a suspenseful finish.

My thanks to author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, publishers Del Rey / Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.

Soundtrack
As she has done for several of her novels, Silvia Moreno-Garcia provides a playlist for The Seventh Veil of Salome which is listed (but not yet linked) at the back of the Kindle ARC which I read, but which is too long (55 songs!) to transcribe here. It will likely be linked from her own review closer to the July 16, 2024 publishing date or you can search for it at the Random House Books around that time as well.

As a teaser for the playlist, the 1st song on it is Roxy Music’s Avalon which you can listen to on YouTube .

Trivia and Links
There will likely be a book-kit available closer to the publishing date and the best place to find it again will be at the author’s own review.

I read Oscar Wilde’s Salome (1893/4) as a prelude to reading The Seventh Veil of Salome and my review provides links to its various historical sources and to some of its free public domain editions.