Point of View

Through her choice of Elvis and Maite as the primary characters in her novel, Moreno-Garcia affirms her disinterest in simple moral binaries. A more conventional version of Velvet Was the Night might emphasize the heroism of Maite and the relative villainy of Elvis. By approaching the story from the respective viewpoints of these two characters, however, Moreno-Garcia complicates easy moral judgements. She explores the interests, desires, and flaws that Maite and Elvis share; both characters ultimately crave an escape from the disappointments of their current lives. In this way, Moreno-Garcia suggests that the two characters share profound and intimate similarities. She thus rejects conventional, familiar notions of good and evil.

Moreno-Garcia also utilizes the third-person limited perspective throughout Velvet Was the Night, a choice that helps to deepen the novel’s connection to noir and mystery. In alternating chapters, Moreno-Garcia describes the actions and affairs...