Throughout this story...we run into shady humans, shadier Gods/demons and other powerful paranormal entities but these supernatural beings keep this story solid. Ms. Moreno-Garcia weaves a colorful and imaginative tale of a family feud between two Gods of Death and a innocent but strong-willed young woman who becomes our unlikely hero.

My full review is here: https://youtu.be/zd7Q5vxG82A (Brazen Babe Reviews Youtube Channel)

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld. -Goodreads

Talk about rich in history! I fell in love with this book. As I am currently writing this review, I am struggling with what exactly how I want to say things. So let's start with the history and the world building. 

The Jazz age is mentioned within this book but it is not the focal point within the setting. Mexican history, its Gods, its moral compass, ethics and food are the focal point of the setting. Moreno-Garcia brings you into this world that is vibrant and even the dull environments have some sort of shine that you are just excited to see. The image of the world that Casiopea walks through is extremely clear and it is written in a way that is detailed without you feeling overwhelmed. I loved the fact the author added the moral compass of the time. Because it makes a huge difference to decisions made, the world and to Casiopea herself. This was very important part of the story and I am glad the author kept true to that time period by adding this. 

Speaking of Casiopea, I didn't really care for her. She wasn't a bad character. She was experiencing a form of freedom she has never had before and I liked the fact that she was taking it and taking as much of it as she could. How Casiopea was written is an important part of the story and there is nothing I would want to change about her but I don't feel as if she was the point of the story. Let me explain. Yes she is the protagonist, she keeps the story moving and moving pretty well but my focus wasn't necessarily on her. It was on everyone surrounding her. 

For instance, the Mayan god of death was a very interesting character. I wanted more of his view and more of his mission. Things weren't easy for him or Casiopea but there could have been a more thrilling and more dramatic aspect to their mission. I really liked what the author did between Casiopea and the Mayan god of death. It is different from your typical novels that include a form of romance and really liked this moved. It felt genuine . .  it felt real because it was built and cherished.  

I loved the ending. It wasn't what I was expecting but man it was perfect. It was one of those I never knew I needed it until it was there. . .  yeah that is exactly what it was. 

Overall, fantastic plot, fantastic writing, easy to get into, easy to to see, feel and fall in love. The pace of the novel was good. The down time the book did have was filled with the history that I was craving. Super happy this is not a series and a standalone. 

4 Pickles

This book was absolutely gorgeous, both inside and out, and I enjoyed reading every minute of it! Silvia’s storytelling skills are always impressive and I always end up being drawn in by her settings, characters and plots. Gods of Jade and Shadow felt like reading a fairy tale or an epic mythological journey, but set in the Jazz Age of Mexico, which was just so unique and fun to read about. I loved learning about Mayan mythology and this book has made me even more interested to learn more about Mayan myths and legends.

I especially loved the characters in this story. The protagonists were people I truly wanted to root for, and the antagonists were both cruel and relatable at the same time. Casiopea is one of my favorite characters, and we really see her grow so much in this story, she goes from being a girl with dreams to embracing her independence and recognizing her own strength. I just felt so much for her and all of her pithy, tactless responses throughout the story!

I also really loved the way the two Lords of Xibalba, Hun-Kame and Vucub-Kame, were portrayed and overall the entire mythological cast and setting. All of the descriptions of the underworld of Xibabla and its denizens really made me feel like I was journeying there with Casiopea and her cousin, Martin.

Gods of Jade and Shadow was an amazing story and I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

A mighty quest awaits young Casiopea when she links up with the Mayan god of death in Gods of Jade and Shadow.

Casiopea is an eighteen-year-old girl in rural Mexico in the 1920s. After bleeding on a bunch of bones in a chest, she awakens Hun-Kame, the Mayan god of death. They embark on a quest to retrieve the god’s missing bones and defeat his evil brother so he can take his rightful place as king of the underworld.

I adored this historical fiction fairy tale of quests, fate, and magical realism. If any of those themes resonate with you, pick up a copy of Gods of Jade and Shadow. You won’t be sorry. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Gods of Jade and Shadow was my introduction to Mexican mythology and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautifully written guide. Full of magic and mystery, Gods of Jade and Shadow was an engrossing and thrilling read that kept me captivated from start to finish.
I loved this book! I loved the magic, the traveling, the way that Casiopeia stood up for herself and showed her strength over and over again. Casiopeia is a smart and feisty character-she’s always talking back even when she knows she’ll be punished for it. Her courage and strength was empowering to read and her end to the story-perfect!

*****Given Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley****

I was enchanted by the cover at first sight. The book is just as enchanting. Book is set back in 1920's Mexico, something I don't usually come across along with Mayan mythology.. We have a strong willed heroin traveling across Mexico with a Mayan Death god to save the his life and help him become God of the Underworld again.

This book was so much more than I expected. The strong Casiopea, stuck in a small Mexican town made to become servant to her elitist family. She dreams of leaving and just happens upon Hun-Kame, she does get to leave but not the way she imagined she would. They venture out to try and restore Hun-Kame as King of the Underworld and end up learning more about themselves and each other than they could imagine.

We get to travel all across Mexico and into the Underworld, I loved these parts as you hear bits and pieces but to have a whole book dedicated to just this mythology was perfect. All was perfect and bittersweet.

Very much reads like a fairy tale but for adults. Loved this book and loved all the Mayan references. I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow is a story of family, pain and love — beautifully weaved through the fabric of Maya and Mexican culture.

Several months ago, I toured a museum exhibit on Maya culture in Salt Lake City for a story I was writing for The Deseret News. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak one-on-one with the exhibit’s curators from Belize as well as a few Maya women from Chiapas, Mexico. It was an eye-opening experience for me. Learning about the Maya in school, they were always set in the past — long gone. But the Maya people, including their culture and languages, are alive to this day.

One of the curators emphasized the importance of embracing Maya pride — the importance for the Maya and their descendants to understand their ancestry and celebrate their heritage which has often been diminished.

Gods of Jade and Shadow does just that. Moreno-Garcia embraces Mexico and Maya pride through her charming (though certainly dark) tale.

The story centers around four primary characters: The reluctant but strong-minded Casiopea, her ill-tempered cousin Martín, the God of Death Hun-Kamé and his cunning brother Vucub-Kamé. Yes, family plays a role here — as it often does in Latinx culture. But even more so, pain between family members takes center stage.

There’s a lot to be said about these characters, each arc marking the importance of humility, sorrow and the hope of forgiveness. But the book’s main character, Casiopea, stands a head taller than the rest. It’s hard to pin it down, but there’s something endearing about her. Or maybe, rather than something, many things.

Her tenacity. Her courage. Her compassion. Her longing to love. Her ferocity. Her faith.

In some ways, Casiopea feels like a sister — accompanied by the love, frustration and pride you would expect. Like men of old mapping legends among the skies, Moreno-Garcia has taken the brightest stars of humanity and shaped them into a beautiful heroine.

Casiopea hearkens back to those great Maya virtues of curiosity and pride. The Maya, after all, are among those who mapped the skies. And like them, Casiopea’s gaze is often pointed upward (it’s no mistake that her name is Casiopea). And though she’s forced into the conflict between Hun-Kamé and Vucub-Kamé, she carries herself with a sense of dignity, knowing her worth and never compromising her values.

That said, there are moments where the story lags. Expect a lot of travel and talking. Point A to Point B to Point C to Point D. Some readers may have trouble sifting through all of that. But the story largely chugs along, and many are sure to enjoy the story’s slow-burning romantic aspects.

It’s all tied together with vivid imagery that makes the setting and characters pop. Early 20th century Mexico feels tangible here — from its bright colors, exciting music and the distant hum of automobiles and trains riding into the frontier of a new era. The same goes for the Maya world with its nightmarish underworld and its ghostly inhabitants. The author paid careful attention to get those right.

At the end of it all, I’m left with a heart-warming tribute to the Maya and the Mexican people — one that instills pride through its inspirational heroine. It’s worth the read.

Originally published on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/gods-of-jade-and-shadow-silvia-moreno-garcia-book-review/

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing a digital advanced reading copy of this book!

I'm a huge fan of mythological-based fiction and when I first came across this title, I was very excited. The story takes place in Jazz-age Mexico where a lone woman, Casiopeia Tun, is feeling stifled by her family in her small town in the Yucatan. Her life takes an interesting turn when she mistakenly frees a Mayan death god who is set on regaining his throne that was taken from him by his twin brother. The two embark on a journey across Mexico where they encounter other supernatural creatures from Mayan folklore that ultimately becomes a battle of life and death. This was an enjoyable novel and although I know a little about Mayan mythology, I got to delve into it a little further. It was cleverly adapted to a somewhat-modern setting and the author did a great job of vividly bringing jazz-age Mexico to life but also character building as Casiopea slowly becomes a force of nature while watching the god she travels with becomes more human. Highly recommended, especially for fans of mythology or historical fiction with a little bit of magic.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a true work of speculative fiction - part historical fiction and part fantasy. The story follows Casiopea Tun, working like Cinderella for her wealthy extended family. The Leyvas are the wealthiest family in their small town in the south of Mexico. One day seeking revenge for their slights and cruelty, Casiopea accidentally wakens Hun-Kamé the deposed lord of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld. In order to retain his realm, the unlikely pairing travel across to Mexico to collect the god's severed finger, eye, and a stolen necklace.
The highlights of Gods of Jade and Shadow are the GORGEOUS cover, the journey throughout Mexico, and the rich Mayan mythology. Based on the epic of Popol Vuh, Moreno-Garcia does an excellent job of infusing myth and 1920s Jazz Age. If I'm remembering correctly, this is the first fantasy story I've read set in Mexico and I would love to see more fantasies set here! Throughout their quest, Casiopea and Hun-Kamé visit major Mexican cities (Veracruz, Mexico City, Tijuana, and more) and I enjoyed the historical notes Moreno-Garcia shared about them. As someone not well versed in Mexican history (a major failure of the US education system in my opinion), I am excited to learn more about the 1920s in Mexico and Mexican history more broadly.
I did not always love the prose and pacing of the novel. Some emotional beats did not really come through the writing. Moreno-Garcia asks ambitious questions in the story: what is reality versus myth? What defines a hero? What is the nature of gods and faith (I really appreciated the introspection Casiopea had about her Catholic faith)? What does it mean to dream.

I recommend Gods of Jade and Shadow to fans of historical speculative fiction - Deathless by Catherine Valente, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, and The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty. It will definitely be of interest to readers wanting to read diverse fantasy with settings outside of Europe!

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Casiopea Tun, who works for her grandfather by day and dreams of a better life at night, finds adventure in the form of Hun-Kamé, the Mayan God of Death. After accidentally resurrecting him, Casiopea is forced to be his companion on his quest to regain his throne.

Full disclosure here, I did not finish this book. I only read ten chapters (roughly 25%) and the plot had only just started to pick up. All the opinions I have about this book apply only to the first quarter.'

The strongest part of this book (aside from the beautiful cover!) was the plot. It's pretty typical trope-y stuff--girl awakens god, girl is forced to go on quest with said god to retrieve belongings stolen by a jealous family member in order for him to regain his throne, possible romance (?). But tropes can be fun sometimes, especially when they're set in jazz age Mexico!

Unfortunately, the rest of the novel didn't really live up to it's potential. I really wanted to like this book. Jazz age? Mexican mythology? Gods? Sign me up! But I really struggled getting into this book. For starters, I am not sure what the target audience of this book is. The author has insisted it's an adult book, not a YA book. While it's got a bigger vocabulary than I would expect for a YA novel, in all other ways (tone, content, syntax, etc) it's written like it's a YA novel. Granted, from other reviews it sounds like this gets better the more you read, but it was a struggle to get as far as I got.

I also didn't find any of the characters particularly compelling. I didn't need them to be likable, I needed them to be interesting, and they just weren't. I think part of this for me came out of the fact that this author TELLS everything instead of showing. This is my single biggest pet peeve in writing and can and does ruin books for me.

Personally, I didn't have a lot of fun reading this book. But I know other people do like it, so if failure to "show, don't tell" doesn't bother you and you really like the jazz age, mythology and stories about traversing the underworld and overworld, or just think this cover is gorgeous (because it is totally gorgeous), give it a shot.

I was given a copy of this ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If there was ever a book that I needed in my life, it was this one. Since learning there are other mythologies besides Greek gods at a young age, I’ve been fascinated by these civilizations from central (Aztec/Maya) and southern (Inca) America. Even in college, I received a minor in Latin American studies because I was interested in taking courses on literature, anthropology, and Spanish language, learning as much as I could about these different types of cultures. I like learning about this! And there are not a lot of novels that feature Mayan gods! The only other “comparable” book I know of (someone rec me more Mayan/Aztec/Incan books, thanks) is Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard, but that is about Aztecs, not Mayans (and it’s set in the height of the Aztec empire, which is a very different vibe from this novel)! I know that Aztecs/Mayans/Incas are not the same so I do want to be considerate of each work that I read, just offering some context for why I’m so excited for this book. So when I heard about this book that not only features a Mayan God of Death, but is also set in 1920’s Jazz-age Mexico, I was elated–there are not enough novels like this! I have read one of the author’s other books, set in Mexico City, Signal to Noise, about childhood magic and music, but this novel sets an entirely different tone.

This is an adult fantasy novel. We’re introduced to Casiopea Tun, age 18, in the first few pages. She’s had a tough life. She and her mother live with Casiopea’s grandfather, Cirilo Leyva, after her father dies. Her grandfather constantly shames Casiopea and her mother for running away with a poet, a man of “indigenous extraction,” and, after her father dies, generally being down on their luck. She and her mother work in the house cleaning and cooking for the rest of the family to earn their keep. Casiopea is antagonized by her cousin Martín, who consistently bullies and berates her. Casiopea has dreams of moving away from the small town of Uukumil for a better life.

The catalyst for the story is that Casiopea releases Hun-Kamé, a Mayan god of death, from a chest in her grandfather’s room. Hun-Kamé was imprisoned there by his twin brother, Vacub-Kamé. When Casiopea released Hun-Kamé, a piece of his bone attached in her. Their life forces became intertwined. Together they travel across Mexico to recover pieces of Hun-Kamé that were scattered by Vacub-Kamé when he took usurped Hun-Kamé.

As you’re reading, it may become obvious that there is a lot of “telling” rather than “showing.” The author intentionally wanted the book to feel like the story was being relayed through spoken word. She elaborates more in the thread below (click through to read all of it):


Silvia Moreno-Garcia
@silviamg
So, let's talk about showing vs telling. I like showing, but I also like telling. I grew up with my great-grandmother telling me stories (she couldn't write). So in GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW I wanted to have the feeling of someone 'speaking a story.' Hence a prologue, which we cut.

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This story telling method works for the novel. It never feels that we lack for description, every encounter with Mexico feels lush and beautiful. The entire journey through 1920’s Mexico feels true to the time. From Uukumil, the pair travel to Mérida by mule-pulled railcar, then from Mérida they travel by train, to Mexico City, and finally make their way to Baja, California. At each location they stop at lovely hotels, eat at local cafés, get new contemporary wardrobes, even Casiopea gets a roaring 20’s short flapper hairstyle. The descriptions of each location are nostalgic and lovely all in one. We’re seeing them through the eyes of Casiopea. I loved the fish out of water sense from both Casiopea and Hun-Kamé, who is the lord of the Underworld (Xibalba) and generally does not travel to the middle world of Earth. The characters are complex and have different motivations. When Casiopea releases Hun-Kamé from his prison, her motivations to help him are based on 1) she has to or she will die, but also 2) she has always wanted to get away from her grandfather’s house. As Casiopea and Hun-Kamé travel together, each gains what the other loses. Casiopea gains magical ability, while Hun-Kamé becomes more human. I loved their almost romance here. I don’t want to get into too many spoilers, but near the end when Casiopea thinks of a modern name for Hun-Kamé, it broke my heart for them!

Meanwhile, Casiopea’s cousin, Martín, is motivated to stop Casiopea on her journey with Hun- Kamé by 1) threats of death from Vacub-Kamé, and 2) by insecurity and change in the status quo. Martín is a good antagonist because he does have some inward reflection about why he does what he does, but ultimately Casiopea is able to stand up for herself and not be ruled by his or her grandfather’s decisions.

The story comes to a head in Baja, where Vacub-Kamé is amassing great amounts of power to take over the country and make people worship him and Xibalba again. Each brother uses their human counterpart in a contest across the underworld to determine once and for all who should rule.

This book was a lot of fun, besides my personal interest in this story, it moves quickly, has interesting characters and setting, and allows readers to be swept away by the grandeur of the time. My only tiny criticism is that I wish Casiopea cared more about leaving her mother behind, but really I understand the reasoning for decisions she made. In the author’s note in the back of the book, she mentions that this book is based off the Mayan myth of Popol Vuh, there’s also a glossary in the back for those who may not catch all the terms as they appear in the book. Thanks again to Del Rey books and NetGalley for letting me read this. It was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint.

For fans of Uprooted, The Bear and the Nightengale, Howl's Moving Castle, and Catherynne Valente. This book is a wonderful adventure, set in Jazz Age Mexico. Casiopea Tun is my favorite kind of fantasy protagonist. I don't want to give too much of the plot away, because I think this book works better when you don't know what's coming. But in particular, I loved the way the book considered the impact of belief on folklore, myth, and deities.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a story of gods, sacrifices, and freedom. Grounded in a setting that will transport you to prohibition, flappers, and the way change can be slow to come by. What is the most relatable to Casiopea is her indomitable spirit, her yearning for change, and her patience. Mixed with fairy tale themes, Gods of Jade and Shadow is a story not only about her encounter with gods of her own, but also her quest to find her own future.

Casiopea lives in a country on the brink of change, a moment between trends, religions, and culture. Feeling like she does not belong with her family, and sorely mistreated by them, Casiopea has never fit in. And her future has always been uncertain, whether it existed at the whims of her family or based on the fate of a god's quest for revenge. Gods of Jade and Shadow is a story about power, mercy, and forgiveness.

Magical realism abounds in Gods of Jade and Shadow, following the adventures of Cassiopeia Tun and the inconveniently resurrected Mayan god of death on a whirlwind tour of 1920's Mexico. A Cinderella-like tale, Cassiopeia is set against her selfish, abusive cousin, who aligns with an opposing god. The glamour of the setting rushes by, as Cassiopeia spends the majority of the middle of the book either unconscious or drooping with fatigue. It reads like a fairy tale, lovely in its own right, but sadly predictable even without familiarity with the mythology mined. A decent read, but not top tier.

3.75 stars. I was very excited to get this ARC from NetGalley. This book weaves together Mayan mythology with story elements familiar to most readers, like Cinderella or Pandora. Cassiopeia, named for the constellation her (late) Mayan father loved, is tired of slaving away for her rich relatives in the hopes of one day receiving a small inheritance. Frustrated, she opens a locked chest in her grandfather’s room looking for treasure only to discover the bones of the Mayan lord of the dead, Hun-Kamé. Cassiopeia agrees to help Hun-Kamé regain his throne from the brother who attempted to kill him and help him find the missing body parts preventing him from his full power. Along the way, she finds adventure, a sense of independence, and maybe even romance.

For anyone looking for a clean YA romance, this would be a good option in that there is no sex, just kissing. There is a brief mention of male nudity when Hun-Kamé is resurrected, but it’s not described. However, it should be noted that in true Mayan fashion, there is a lot of violence and blood-letting but it’s very meh about it. Like, oh hey, you might get your head chopped off. C’est la vie (or, you know, la mort)!

I liked the 3rd person omniscient narration with asides such as “what they did not know was.” It made comments about characters and added a traditional element or feel to the story as if it was a myth passed down from generation to generation with the storyteller adding in their own flair.

I also liked that the romance was slow-building and believable rather than the insta-love common in a lot of books, especially since there is such a gap between the mortal Cassiopeia and godly Hun-Kamé. However, in some ways, the story was almost too slow, so that the last 40% of the book seemed to contain most of the action and the first part was mostly going from point a to point b.

Overall, it was a very good book, but I feel perhaps that there was so much hype around it, that it did not live up to my expectations. That said, should Silvia Morena-Garcia write a follow-up, especially one about our heroine’s road trip, I will definitely find a way to get my hands on it.

*I received an eARC of this curtesy of the author and publisher from NetGalley, all thoughts are my own*

as soon as I heard this was mayan mythology I immediately requested it & started reading (this was back in march) and I have to say I’m quite disappointed.

this book is set in 1920s mexico which is a setting I’ve never read about or seen in any media which was extremely appealing. I also adore mesoamerican folklore & mythology so to learn about it in this setting was enjoyable. however, these were really the only aspects I truly enjoyed.

the authors writing is beautiful setting wise but I found myself disconnected from everything else in the story. even the mythology, though I did enjoy it, was quite info dumpy and straight to the point. the dialogue and plot came off as quite clunky in my opinion which didn’t allow for me to be invested in the story at all.

I think the messages of class differences, imperialism, & feminism were there and definitely appreciated; I see what the author was doing. I also, again, love seeing diverse, own voices get published so that is yet another plus for me. overall though, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The publisher category for this book is fairy tale, but it's so much more than that. It's a historical novel, taking place in the 1920s, when Frida Kahlo would have been the same age as our heroine. It's an homage to Mexican literature: a book written in English that has the cadences of translated Spanish; it's a portal into myth—in fact, it's a portal story, where our heroine Casiopea Tun is drawn into the quest of a god, the Lord of Death. You might also describe it as Coco for grownups; it's a journey into Mexica cosmology. Casiopea starts out as a Cinderella character and then she frees the Lord of Death from prison and goes on the hero's journey to help him reclaim his throne.
The book succeeds on all those levels: a romance with a touch of the picaresque, a tragicomedy, a mythic journey. Casiopea faces demons and desires and learns the truth of herself. The story moves quickly, and it moves your heart. I loved it.
Moreno-Garcia has made an exquisite jewel of a book; most people are going to appreciate it on the Coco level, and that's fine—what a gift all the other levels are, to those already familiar with mestizo culture.
In these days of making old things new again, the stories of our ancestors become refleshed in modern attire; the art of the storyteller is to birth new meaning from the same old stories, for the core lessons of the human story remain the same, like human nature. The storyteller leaves us having introduced change into the divine realms and leaves us with the unchanged ancient wisdom: life on earth is a gift to be savored and cherished, for it is sweet and good. Nevertheless, this goodness is borne from suffering, blood, and sacrifice; a true person makes her choices knowing that one day she may be the one who bleeds, the one who sacrifices. The birth will still be worth it.
**(I received a digital advance copy from Netgalley and Del Rey for review; it was worth the migraine, and I'll be purchasing the book to reread. Huge fan!)

Casiopea lives a Cinderella-like life her in grandfather’s household where she is expected to complete household chores and do what her cousin, Martin, asks of her. She has always lived in Martin’s shadow as Martin is the eldest grandson and heir to her grandfather’s estate, but while she will do what Martin asks, she always responds to him with a bit of defiance. One day she comes across a wooden box and accidentally frees the Mayan god of death, Hun-Kame. Hun-Kame enlists the help of Casiopea to recover his throne from his brother, else Casiopea will perish. In order to do so, Hun-Kame must find what he is missing. She then journeys across Mexico with the God to recover his lost things.

If you like historical urban-fantasy, this is another good book for you. It’s great in that it is very original with its use of Mayan mythology and the Mexican setting; I am pretty sure this is the first fantasy book I’ve ever read that mainly takes place in Mexico. I didn’t necessarily find it to be the most immersive setting, but I think that may be in part due to my lack of knowledge of the area, especially given the time period. But there could have perhaps been a little more detail about the setting included to help readers learn and picture 1920s Mexico.

As for the characters, Casiopea is a Cinderella who fights back. She may be used to doing what she is told from her family, but only because in the end she realizes she doesn’t have much choice. The same goes with her experiences with Hun-Kame. He’s a God that sometimes demands Casiopea to do something for him, and while she knows she has no way out of the deal she has with him, she will ask for a moment or an appeal. She wants to have more than women of the time were granted, and she deserves it with all of her hard work. She is a sharp contrast to her cousin, Martin, who is fairly lazy and just wanders about knowing he won’t have to work since he inherits his grandfather’s estate. Martin actually is jealous of Casiopea and this causes conflict within the plot. Lastly, we have the God Hun-Kame himself, who really acts like the God he is. He will do what it takes to claim back this throne; his drive compares to Casiopea’s, which then lays a foundation for a budding romance between the two. However, I didn’t feel too much for the romance, but I did appreciate that it was not instant. It takes time for the characters feelings to develop and doesn’t rush anything. I think it also ends at a very fitting place, and there is good foreshadowing that leads up to this if you look out for it.

I do feel that the pacing was off at times and while this is a relatively short fantasy novel at 352 pages, I feel like I read around 500. It was not a quick urban fantasy read like I was expecting. This may be due to my inability to be completely immersed into the story due to the weaker points I mentioned above.

I recommend if you are a fan of the historical, cultural fantasies like The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, or the dystopian, cultural urban fantasy Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse.

Casiopea Tun is the poor relation of the wealthiest family in a small town in southern Mexico. She resents every cruelty aimed at her, and dreams of escaping to live a life of her own. What she doesn't expect is to accidentally free a trapped god and travel with him on a cross-country quest to return him to the throne stolen by his brother. From small dusty towns in the Yucatan to the bright lights of Mexico City to the shadowy realm of the Mayan underworld, Casiopea's greatest journey may be the realm of the mortal, and immortal, heart.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a book for anyone who loves fantasy and loves to imagine the crossing paths of ancient gods and the modern world. Here the modern world is Jazz Age Mexico, with short hair, fast cars, and bright lights; while the ancient world is Xibalba, the Mayan Underworld, and the struggle between twin brothers Hun-Kamé and Vucub-Kamé, the Gods of Death. Moreno-Garcia uses a beautiful, almost lyric, style of writing that reminded me of hearing classic myths and fairy tales spoken aloud. She paints the world in brilliant colors of jewels and shadows and you can feel the heat of the sun and the dust of Casiopea's travels on your skin. Casiopea delights in seeing the exciting world outside of her tiny village and the reader- and Hun-Kamé- cannot help but share in her innocent delight. We also easily share in her terror as Hun-Kamé draws her further in his quest to regain his throne and she faces sorcerers and ghosts straight out of horror stories.

Above all, Gods of Jade and Shadow is a story about building your own world and choosing your own path, even when you are sure that you have no choices. Casiopea learns who she is and her own inner strength in ways that are both heart-breaking and heart-filling. A story full of duality every step of the way, it had me smiling and crying, fearful and hopeful, and seeing the characters and their worlds change along with the adventure was completely wonderful.

It would not be wrong to call this a modern classic, and a must-read tale for fantasy lovers, those who love myths and legends, from Beauty and the Beast to The Odyssey to Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review