This is definitely one of the nicest fantasies I've had the pleasure of reading this year. The protagonist, Casiopea, is a young girl with the defiance and wit of three grown men. When she mistakenly releases the Mayan god of death from his imprisonment in her grandfather's chest, she joins his quest to reclaim his missing body parts to restore him to his former power and glory and reclaim his usurped throne.

Casiopea refuses to settle with the lot she's been given in life. Forced to clean and tend house for her vile grandfather and his family of equally-vile relatives, Casiopea dreams in secret of a life filled with adventure, color, and liveliness. She doesn't expect to have that wish granted when she opens her grandfather's chest and finds a pile of bones inside belonging to the Mayan god of death, Hun-Kame.

What really endears me to Casiopea is her adamantly rejecting the notion that she behave in a meek manner. She's a very spirited and engaging lead, and it's so much fun seeing her argue with Hun-Kame, especially when you factor in that he's *the god of death* and she's casually tossing oranges at him. I love the development of their bond!

The world-building is rich and beautiful and the storytelling itself flows flawlessly. Reading this sparked the same giddy, absorbed feeling I got when I read Harry Potter and Rick Riordan's different series' when I was a kid. I've been looking for something to tickle me in that same way, to provide that feeling of nostalgia and wonderment at a piece of work so beautiful and fun, and I found it in this novel.

I’ve become a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia in recent years, with books like Certain Dark Things and The Beautiful Ones. I just love her imagination and vision, and so when I first heard about her new book set in the Jazz Age, my curiosity was immediately piqued. Then I found out that it was going to be a fairy tale-like story steeped in Mayan mythology, and I was officially excited!

Gods of Jade and Shadow takes place in a small town in southern Mexico in the 1920s, following young Casiopea Tun who spends her days working as a servant at her wealthy grandfather’s estate. Between running her tedious errands and being tormented by her infuriating cousin Martin, Casiopea has about had enough with the status quo around the place. Dreaming of one day leaving her rural little town and tired of being ordered around, she decides to break the rules and open the wooden chest in her grandfather’s room that he keeps locked up at all times. Expecting the old man to have squirreled away gold or something equally valuable, Casiopea is instead surprised to crack open the box and find a dusty pile of bones.

But little did she know, she had just freed the spirit of Hun-Kame, the Mayan God of Death, from his prison. He informs Casiopea that he was a victim of treachery from his own twin brother, who killed him years ago and trapped his spirit in a locked box with the help of her grandfather. Now Hun-Kame is determined to take back his throne, but to do that, he’ll need help. To Casiopea, he makes an offer to make all her dreams come true, if she would agree to accompany him on his journey across Mexico to gather his resources and enact his revenge. Even though the costs of failure are high and the road ahead is unknown, Casiopea agrees after only a slight reluctance for she knows this is her chance to see the world. Not that she has much of a choice. Thanks to a small shard of Hun-Kame’s bone embedded in her skin, their two fates have become inextricably linked.

And so, a peasant girl and a Mayan god embark on a road trip across the country. And yes, this is as fun as it sounds. I loved traveling to new places experiencing the sights and sounds, meeting all manner of vibrant characters, both earthly and supernatural. The easy and smooth style of the writing also made the time period come to life on the page so that you could practically feel the energy in the air and in the bustling crowds around you, or see the colors of the clothing people are wearing and smell the food scents wafting in the breeze. Moreno-Garcia is just so good at transporting her readers to new times and places, which is why I love her books.

I also enjoyed the dynamic between Casiopea and Hun-Kame. She’s a simple girl from a simple village, he’s a death lord of Xibalba, and you think to yourself, heck, this will either be a train wreck or totally awesome. Happily, it was the latter. Considering how many things could have gone wrong with this premise and all its moving parts, it’s even more impressive how the author has managed to bring it all together. Casiopea is a delightful protagonist, innocent in her youthfulness and sheltered life but definitely not fragile. She’s a force to be reckoned with, holding her own against a proud and broody god who doesn’t always seem to know what to make of his traveling companion. Compared to everything Casiopea has had to go through, poor cousin Martin didn’t even stand a chance, despite the lengths he goes to try and stop her and Hun-Kame.

There’s really not that much more left to say, not only because I think I’ve made my love for this book clear, but also because I don’t want to spill any more of the story’s secrets. I had high hopes Gods of Jade and Shadow and Silvia Moreno-Garcia surely did not disappoint, her creativity and writing talents as ever phenomenal. Dazzling, evocative and passionate, this novel is definitely best experienced firsthand, so if you’re a fan of irresistible characters, grand adventures, and mythological fantasy, don’t wait to pick this one up.

Gods of Jade and Shadow was a dazzling Cinderella-esque tale of growth, finding your own way, and love. Using Mayan lore and with a critical eye on the effects of colonialism, Moreno-Garcia wrote a fantasy quest that will have your heart from page one and bring you to tears - while simultaneously smiling - on the last. Casiopea grew up being hated by her family who judged the native blood than ran through her veins and treated her no better than a servant. When she awakened a sleeping god a death, she agreed to help restore him to power as the two tracked across Mexico and encountered fantastical creatures and myths. As the two journeyed together, they found healing, understanding, and an opportunity to change their outlook on life. This book is downright beautiful and I hope more people get to experience it!

4.5 stars

Richly evocative, Gods of Jade and Shadow is a welcome entry in a slowly expanding world of modern fairy tales. Steeped in native lore, Silvia Moreno-Garcia has created a modern-day masterpiece.

Unique and amazing story. Look forward to recommending this book to high school students or hopefully using in Literature course.

God’s of Jade and Shadow is a beautifully written ode to Mayan and Mexican mythology, weaving a story filled with twists and turns that delight. With a strong protagonist and the magical mysteries of the many gods roaming the land, it’s an enchanting read through and through.

Moreno-Garcia has painted a marvelous world, complete with the natural beauty of Mexico and the glamor of the early twentieth century. We’re transported to rural towns, beautiful cities, and sprawling metropolises filled with any number of luxuries. Coupled with historical tidbits and fashions of the age, we get a vivid picture of this beautiful land.

These moments come to us through the eyes of Casiopea Tun, a young woman who has spent her life dreaming of moving on to greater things. She’s suddenly thrown into the world she’s dreamed of and her excitement leaps off the page. Her society and her family don’t want her to be powerful and she refuses to accept their shackles. She holds more power than she knows and watching her grow into herself is half the fun of the novel.

The storytelling style adds to the magic of the tale. Moreno-Garcia writes with purpose, making each sentence an important piece of the story. There isn’t a huge buildup to a magical appearance or shock and awe from the central character. One moment she’s living a Cinderella life amidst her terrible family and, in the next, she’s awakened a god and is off on an epic journey. That sense of realism blurs the line between fairy tale and reality, making for an especially enjoyable reading experience.

Review to be published on 8/5: http://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/08/05/gods-of-jade-and-shadow-book-review

Casiopea Tun dreams of getting away from her oppressive and abusive family but her plans never included magic, quests or Mayan Gods. But everything changes when she accidentally frees the spirit of Hun-Kamé, the Mayan god of death, from a box in her grandfather’s closet. Bound to the god in his quest to regain his throne, she finds herself on a cross country journey throughout Mexico and on to the underworld. Adventure, sacrifice, and a touch of romance—this is a fabulous story based in Mexican folklore.

GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW

This is a curious novel, a hybrid creation of real imagination, that the publisher apparently had a little trouble categorizing. The publisher’s description called it a “one of a kind fairy tale”. People apparently read this to mean “young adult”. GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW is neither a fairy tale nor is it a young adult novel, even if it does have elements of the coming-of-age story. It is a mystery in the religious sense of that word, for it involves the Lords of Xibalba, the Mayan gods of the Underworld. It does have elements of the thriller—chases, exotic locales, subterfuge, danger—but as a whole, GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW should be considered an adult fantasy novel.

Why is misclassification such a problem? Two reasons—it alienates readers who expect one thing and get another, and it undermines an author seeking to widen her/his audience appeal. I have a a book club colleague who will not finish a misclassified book. The disappointment in expectations, set by the the classification, is too great for her to bear. I had some of that experience. I took this novel in the expectation that it was as labeled—historical fiction and science fiction and fantasy. It is historical fantasy only in so far as it draws extensively on POPUL VUH; in any other sense, it might as well have been contemporary. That was disappointing.

The author, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, is a highly regarded Canadian author of Mexican heritage. She has written extensively in the realm of speculative fiction, including the acclaimed SIGNAL TO NOISE and THE BEAUTIFUL ONES, and dark fantasy verging on Lovecraftian horror, including CERTAIN DARK THINGS. She is also the publisher of Innismouth Free Press. She has edited the anthology CTHULHU’S DAUGHTERS and co-edits the horror magazine THE DARK.

I confess—I have never been a fan of horror. I am a historian by training, and there is enough horror in history to last several thousand lifetimes. My training also means I tend to be unforgiving when it comes to history used merely as Hollywood set dressing.

In a small Yucatán village, Casiopea Tun dreams about the stars and the big city—any place far away from the grind of being a poor relation in a wealthy family. She has intelligence and spirit, but being young and female in her position means she gets the scut work. Casiopea has to tend to her petty, irascible grandfather and suffer the demands and insults of her petty bully of a cousin, Martín. Her refusal not to squabble with the latter gets her left behind from a family outing. In a fit of spiteful curiosity, Casiopea searches an old, but forbidden, chest in grandfather’s room. She discovers the bones of Hun Kamé, the deposed and dismembered Lord of Xibalba.

Bound to Hun Kamé by a bone shard in her finger, she is dragged along on his quest to retrieve his missing body parts and to retake his throne in Xibalba. This quest takes them from her tiny village to the regional capital, Mérida, to Mexico City, to El Paso, Texas, and, finally, down the Black Road to Xibalba itself. This is a magical, Life—and Death—altering journey from which a new, empowered Casiopea Tun emerges.

That is no surprise given that Casiopea encounters the reality of POPUL VUH. Not only does she meet Hun Kamé and Vicub-Kamé (One and Seven Death), the principal antagonists pulling and pushing at each other and Casiopea in a great game of sibling rivalry. Along the way, she meets demons, such as Xtabay, a sexy and seductive demon, who harbors ill will towards men. Casiopea is harassed by Martín, who is Vicub-Kamé’s chosen human and who is harassed, in turn by the god via his owl messengers. (These owls have nothing in common with the world of Harry Potter.) Even though the cousins begin to understand each other, they are the proxies or the champions for the gods, and by the end of the Black Road, there is no going back for them. In this mythos, the cousins, the gods, and the demons, can die, as evinced by the Hero Twins, themselves born from an immaculate conception. Altogether, it makes for a scary fantasy, where the race is run for very high stakes.

POPUL VUH suffuses every aspect of this novel, and that is its greatest strength. It is also its greatest weakness. Gods are not characters. They are too alien to be understood by mere mortals, even though they can be fascinating, exasperating, loved, and hated. All the emotional energy comes from the human side. The conflict between Hun Kamé and Vicub-Kamé is at once a cosmic power play and childish sibling rivalry. This weakness would be tolerable if the human characters could hold up their end of the story Casiopea can. Martín cannot. A paper tiger, he is merely a younger, more petty, less intelligent version of his grandfather. He is neither threat nor foil for Casiopea.

In the usual historical fantasy, the story grows organically from the history. (See GRR Martin.) Here it is the mythology of the Mayans that generates many of the characters. They have to exist in a human world that is supposed to be 1927. Why that year I do not understand. There is very little that genuinely suggests 1927; a few quick references to types of automobiles, dresses, and coiffures does not a period make. Nor does stating it is the Jazz Age.

The reference to “talkies” was utterly misplaced. THE JAZZ SINGER, the first movie that used dialogue as part of the dramatic action, did not appear in Hollywood until October of 1927. It was not until after LIGHTS OF NEW YORK, among other talkies of 1928, that film studios took up production of the new type of movie. The studios did so with alacrity, but it would not have been until 1929 or 1930 that talkies had completely taken over. Why not set the novel a few years later, the 1930s, and bring in the beginnings of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema (1933-1964). Casiopea could have truly talked about “stars” in that context. Was she a fan of Dolores del Rio or Maria Félix? Did she prefer Pedro Armendariz or Pedro Infante?

Characters have to think and behave by the dictates of their culture in a specific period. Whilst Casiopea has “small town girl” written all over her, she feels and, to a large extent, behaves in what seems to be a contemporary fashion.

A flawed opening novel of, perhaps, a series featuring Casiopea Tun. I would come back to the second book. Casiopea has potential—courage, intelligence, and spirit. Here, she is mostly knees, elbows, temper, and dreams. In any sequel, she would match up well against any man. After having been the human champion for the Lord of Xibalba, how is any man going to be challenge?

I am all for more fantasy stories centered around mythology and different cultures, but this one wasn't really for me. I found it very down-the-middle and a little soft. I never truly believed the main characters were in danger, and while i enjoyed the slow-boil relationship building, I was missing some pay-off at the end. I also didn't think the villains were particularly evil or formidable. I had high hopes for this one, and it just didn't deliver. I do think fans of mythology and world-building and fantasy may enjoy this one, and the cover alone makes it almost worth jumping into. Thanks to Net Galley and Del Rey for sending me an advanced copy in return for an honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, where have you been all my life? How did you know that I am a reader who constantly craves that miraculous blend of historical fiction and fantasy? That I love gods and mythology and that surreal line that divides immortals from mortals?

Gods of Jade and Shadow transports readers to Mexico in the 1920s–a period I’ve often loved but which is commonly viewed through a white, American lens. Seeing the Jazz Age and flapper fashion juxtaposed with Mexican culture and conservative Catholicism was a treat, but the real fun begins when Casiopea Tun opens a chest locked in her grandfather’s estate. There, the bones inside form into Mayan death god Hun-Kamé.

Betrayed by his brother, Vucub-Kamé, and locked away for fifty years, Hun-Kamé seeks the parts of himself that were stolen from him and to reclaim his place as the Lord of Xibalba. With a bone shard embedded in her hand, Casiopea must accompany the god on his journey, but leaving the life of a thankless servant in her grandfather’s house makes the choice an easy one. Instead, Casiopea must discover the life she wants to live and ensure Hun-Kamé succeeds against his brother because if he does not, it will mean the demise of them both.

Though the story takes place in a historical setting, it reads and feels so much like an untold myth being divulged for the first time. The descriptions are rich but not overbearing, and we are often inside the characters’ heads, viewing the world and their perceptions of others through their eyes. Casiopea and Hun-Kamé’s understanding of each other starts off with the expected confusion found between mortals and gods. Even though Hun Kamé undergoes his own interesting metamorphosis, his status as an immortal is almost always apparent. At no point did I feel that Hun-Kamé was anything but otherworldly, even as his relationship with Casiopea shifted and took on new shapes. Their slowburn is a fantastic one, a prime example of how it can be done with perfect pacing and care attributed to it.

Then, there’s the conflict between Casiopea and her selfish, entitled cousin Martín. He’s the type who believes that being a man and the family heir warrants him unquestionable respect, which Casiopea refuses to give him, and why should she? Martín is petty, lashes out at any perceived slight, and treats her like a servant instead of family.

As Casiopea becomes Hun-Kamé’s champion, Martín is chosen to be Vucub-Kamé’s in this contest between gods, and it’s quickly apparent to mortal and immortal alike how pitifully pathetic Martín is. But even in mythological stories like this, he has his part to play. It’s only fitting that two wronged gods seek to pit two family members with bad blood against each other. In real life, Martín would be intolerable, but I truly enjoyed reading from his point of view and seeing the slight growth he experiences; foiling him against Casiopea made me love and appreciate her all the more.

Even at the start, Casiopea is a heroine primed for a journey she always hoped she’d have the opportunity to take but didn’t know how to see it through or what she was truly capable of. Her love of stars and constellations is a testament to more than just her name, also indicating her desire to explore what the world has to offer. She realizes she has simple dreams, but they seem so unattainable for a woman of her time. She wants to dance to fast jazz music, drive an automobile, go swimming at night–all things that women would be looked down upon as “loose” for pursuing. I love her simple dreams because once she starts to give them voice, she discovers she truly wants them and wants more for herself. What is that more? She doesn’t know, but at last she has the opportunity to discover for herself what she wants her life to be.

In a lot of ways, Casiopea reminds me of Sophie Hatter from Howl’s Moving Castle, and that’s a high compliment. Those two would get along instantly, especially when it comes to not being afraid to tell off their magical boyfriends and doing what needs to be done. Like what happens with Sophie, Casiopea realizes the true power and influence she has within the narrative of her own story:

“Words are seeds, Casiopea. With words you embroider narratives, and narratives breed myths, and there’s power in myth. Yes, the things you name have power,” he said.

[…] They were quiet and they were foolish, both of them, thinking they were threading with any delicacy, and that if they somehow moderated their voices they’d stop the tide. The things you name do grow in power, but others that are not ever whispered claw at one’s heart anyway, rip it to shreds even if a syllable does not escape the lips. The silence was hopeless in any case, since something escaped the god, anyway: a sigh to match the girl’s own.

I don’t often highlight passages in books—I should—but I couldn’t pass this one up. It displays so much of what Gods of Jade and Shadow seeks to do and accomplishes with beauty and impact. The importance of words; the power of myth and stories; how even our most secret, hidden desires can make us yearn with no way to ignore or forget them. And then, there’s the unfulfilled pining between mortal and immortal, and isn’t it just [clenched fist] exquisite?

Other highlights of the book include meeting more entities of Mayan myth, Moreno-Garcia’s frightful yet beautiful take on Xibalba, and reading from Vucub-Kamé’s point of view. I adored this story from start to finish, from the social commentary to that bittersweet ending I’ll be carrying with me for awhile. Even just thinking about it, I don’t know what to do with myself. Moreno-Garcia’s writing has truly made me feel so many things that it’s hard to pick out one to commit to, and that’s such a wonderful thing because it shows how much her storytelling struck home.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is definitely not a book to leave on the shelf; much like Hun-Kamé’s bone shard in Casiopea’s hand, you deserve to obtain life and wonder from this story, just as it deserves to find a place within you.

This book is beautifully written from the first page. The language used by the author fully transports the reader into the world of the story.

I'm conflicted on this one. I really like the story, and the dialogue could carry the plot on its own. On those two factors, it might as well be the new "American Gods" book Neil Gaiman seems determined never to write. (With a satisfying ending even!) But there's a storyteller's narration that bleeds into otherwise neutral prose that I found exasperating.

Vacillating between a more poetic writer's style and the preachiness of a folktale, the book feels overlong and overwritten. The characters and conversations are drawn vividly enough that everything else gets in the way. The chapters focusing on ancillary points of view offer little but scenery, and overall it feels like this was a novella padded out to a novel's page count. This isn't a problem unique to the novel or the author, but it's disappointing when the core story is so well-constructed.

It's also notable that for a book where the characters talk about symbols and stories having meaning and power, I didn't just throw up my hands and move on to something else. It's jarring, for sure, but the characterization is so strong it works. It's only when the storyteller's voice seeps in to provide prophecy or commentary, and coming off as very judgmental while doing so, the discordant tone of the novel just fizzes into static.

A sweeping fable told through the lense of 1920s Mayan culture!!!
Channeling her inner-Cinderella, Casiopea Tun, is tidying up around her Grandfather's quarters, as she does every day, when she unintentionally frees Hun-Kame, the Mayan God of Death, from his imprisonment.
Brought back to life after his brother slayed him and captured him in locked box, Hun-Kame is ready to get his life and his kingdom back. Unfortunately, or fortunately, for Casiopea, he needs her help in order to do so.
Tied together by an unnatural bond of flesh and soul, they set out on a quest to recover the parts of him stolen and hidden away by his brother. So begins the adventure of a lifetime for young Casiopea, who is finally able to escape the degrading clutches of her family.
This is such a beautifully told story. From beginning to end, Moreno-Garcia weaves the most intricate tale of love, power, forgiveness and sacrifice. I love her writing so much. It is simple and lyrical, flowing smoothly from chapter to chapter.
I first fell for Moreno-Garcia's writing when I read, The Beautiful Ones in 2017. Even though that book was also beautifully written, this one is on a whole other level. Her writing has matured so much and this story truly transports you not only to the culture she is introducing us to but to the time period as well. Simply stunning.
I loved learning more about Mayan mythology and culture. I think anyone interested in more modern retellings of myths and legends will enjoy this one. Even if you do not think that is something you would be crazy about, at its heart, this story is a quest and it delivers in that capacity in spades.
Casiopea is such a wonderful character. Although raised in terrible circumstances, mistreated and abused by those around her, she has an incredible sense of will and resolve that she channels throughout her adventure. In her heart she has the strength of a lioness and that serves her well. I adored her, I adored Hun-Kame and the two of them together is pure magic!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and had such a great reading experience with this one. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a fan in me and I will definitely be picking up anything else she writes!

Gods of Jade of Shadow by Silvia Morena-Garcia is a brilliant new historical fantasy. It's my first novel by this author, but it definitely will not be my last. Her writing style is absolutely lyrical. I didn't want to put it down. Before this I'd never read a story that draws on Mayan folklore, but I couldn't have asked for anything better. I've probably mentioned it before, but the 1920s is one of my favorite time periods to read about as well. The magic and mythology on top of the real world culture of Yucatán come to life and pop off of the page. I don't want to go into much more detail to avoid spoilers, but it's well worth jumping feet first into Casiopea's story. Finally, did anyone else have The Road to El Dorado in the back of their mind every time they saw the word Xibalba? Or was that just me? Either way, believe the hype for this one!

July was a pretty heavy reading month, but this book was pure fun and I enjoyed every bit of it. Moreno-Garcia’s novel is set in 1920’s Mexico, where Casiopea, a young woman in Yucatan, is struggling in her oppressive grandfather’s home. It begins as a Cinderella story — Casiopea and her mother are poor relations, doing the housework for their wealthy relatives. Casiopea’s mother seems resigned to their situation but Casiopea can’t seem to help rebelling a bit, especially when it comes to her abusive cousin Martin.

Her future looks grim until one day (as in all good fairy tales) she accidentally frees the Mayan God of Death, Hun-Kame. Casiopea and Hun-Kame are now tied to each other by blood. Casiopea has to help him defeat the brother who chopped off his head, imprisoned him in a chest, and stole his underworld kingdom. If she doesn’t, they both die.

I love reading books about mythologies other than the ones I’m used to, and in this novel Moreno-Garcia has written a fairy tale based on Mayan mythology. It’s also a coming of age story for Casiopea, who is tested both emotionally and physically throughout this book. And it’s a road trip story, a quest story, and a story of the friendship between our two main characters.

I loved Moreno-Garcia’s vivid descriptions and atmospheric writing, and I also loved the way she used Mayan terminology throughout, providing readers with a glossary at the end (though it wasn’t really needed, because her writing puts everything in context). I loved the way the characters experience different parts of the region, from Yucatan to Merida to Veracruz to Baja, California. And I liked the conclusion, though it did leave me wanting more (which is really the best way to end a book).

In many ways this book reads like a lot of traditional fairy tales – think Greek mythology — in that the characters have a goal and need to defeat a series of monsters to do it. But Moreno-Garcia adds quite a lot to this traditional story, mainly in her character development of Casiopea (who has never left her family before) and Hun-Kame (who experiences for the first time what it means to be partly human). I also appreciated the various issues raised during their travels related to religion, colonization, and the Jazz Age. Moreno-Garcia has written a fantasy novel that somehow feels very real. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Note: I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and publisher Del Rey. This book published July 23, 2019. I’m also applying this book to my Reading Around the World Challenge and the Read Harder 2019 Challenge.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a fantasy story set in the 1920s. It follows Casiopea Tun, a young woman from a small town in Yucatán, as she travels through Mexico with Hun-Kamé, a Maya god. Hun-Kamé is trying to regain his throne as the god of death, but his closeness with Casiopea makes him more human every day; Casiopea is escaping her abusive and racist family for a free life, but being tied to the god of death might kill her.

This is a journey book. One of the main things I look for in journey books is atmosphere, and here it was amazing: from Uukumil to Mérida to Mexico City, I could visualize everything, and I always love reading fantasy novels that aren’t set in a stereotyped Englishland. It’s not like you can find books set in Mexico and based on Maya mythology every day, after all.
However, the setting wasn’t always enough to keep my attention, and if I had to point out what I struggled with the most while reading this book, I’d say that it was the fact that I couldn’t get invested in the relationship between Casiopea and Hun-Kamé, even though I really liked them as individuals and also liked them as a couple as an idea. Something got lost in the execution, but as I’m not sure what that something is, I can’t say if it’s more on me or on the book.
Also, I didn’t need so many chapters following Martín. Every time I got to his chapters, I put the book down and started doing something else. I kind of get why they were there, but sometimes they felt redundant, and Martín was a combination of unlikable and uninteresting that never works well as a main character.

As most of this novel is about Casiopea and Hun-Kamé going around Mexico and meeting various other paranormal creatures, some definitely less friendly than others, not getting really invested in them did make this journey not always that interesting to read about. But I can say that it was worth it, without a doubt – this book had one of the best endings I’ve read in a fantasy book this year, not because it was surprising, not really, but because it made sense in a way that made it powerful, it fit the story perfectly. It helps that I love when books go in that direction.

Another thing I loved about this book? The level of detail that the author put into everything, from the setting to the characterization to the parts talking about history – I recognized myself in Casiopea at times, for what this book said about what it’s like on a mental level to live in a strict Catholic environment and then finally leave, but what I really didn’t expect was to recognize pieces of the story of my own (Italian) family.

For example, the name Casiopea in itself. It’s a Greek name, which her town’s priest calls “Greek nonsense”, and… I have several ancestors who were named after “Greek nonsense” themselves and who were born around the time Casiopea was born. I never thought I would see characters deliberately not giving their children names of saints in a fantasy book, but I guess the Catholic church being awful around the world also meant that people tried to do the same things around the world to defy it in their everyday life.

I have more mixed feelings about the writing. Gods of Jade and Shadow is written in a way that should resemble a myth, but it didn’t work for me. It felt more removed than the average fantasy book, but it didn’t feel like a myth either, it felt like a halfway thing, and… I got used to it, but I can’t say I liked it.

An incredibly well written novel, Gods of Jade and Shadow turn an already fascinating premise into an absorbing and entertaining read. I could not put this book down and didn't want it to end at the same time. They writing style is so clean yet lyrical. I loved how tangible the character's emotions were and how tangible the world was. If I sat for long enough, I'd find myself wondering how I wasn't actually standing beside the main character in the thick of action. I also really loved the contrast of native gods versus colonial Christianity shown early in the book. It was an acknowledgement to how much culture and history was lost due to European conquests. This book set itself as one step towards reviving lost history without rewriting or taking complete ownership of the culture that so many people today continue to preserve. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Gods of Jade and Shadow wasn't quite what I expected. I've always been a fan of Mexican folklore, and entwining this with the journey of Cassieopa makes a unique story. The story is dramatic and thrilling. At times, it is dark, but not always. The setting of time and place was beautifully described, and I wanted to go there! The characters are unique, complex and fun to read. I felt a bit confused at times, but that's just me. Overall, this is a great read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

As a Spanish teacher, I am obsessed with any fictional novels I can find with MCs of Hispanic descent, or anything relating to a Spanish-speaking country or world or character or mythology. Obviously, oh so obviously, I ADORED this book! Mayan folklore and mythology inspired by the Popul Vuh???? It was my wonderland! Our MC was sassy and fierce and I loved her! The story line was exciting and full of adventure and I could not stop! The world was so immersive and I just loved everything about this book, but again, I could be biased because of my initial love of the topic! But I will definitely be on the look out for more books from this author in the future!

Thank you netGalley for the opportunity to preview this book.
Great writing, storyline and characters. I found myself immersed in the characters world.