Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I’ve voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a story about a girl, Casiopea who isn’t treated right by her family and dreams of having adventures outside of her town. When opening a box of her Grandfather, she accidentally releases Hun-Kamé, the Mayan God of Death. Together they go on a quest to restore Hun-Kamé to power and for Casiopea to realize her dreams of adventure.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a beautifully written story filled with rich mythology and deeply layered characters. The setting and premise of the story really drew me in and Silvia Morena-Garcia absolutely delivered a refreshing tale.

The interactions between Casiopea and Hun-Kamé were so real, funny and sincere. It made for a great slow burn and I was rooting for them til the end.

The first few chapters were a bit confusing and at times the pacing felt a bit slow, but other than that a highly recommendable and enjoyable read!

This book completely surpassed all of my expectations, and introduced me to a whole new set of gods to boot. It’s the roaring twenties, and we meet Casiopea Tun, a girl who is treated like a servant by her rich family. If that all sounds a bit Cinderella for you, don’t worry, because she soon accidentally awakens the Mayan god of the underworld, and is plunged into an epic quest to restore him to his rightful throne.

I have raved about this book to my friends, and I will rave about it to you. This is such a fantastically well-realised piece of work, mixing Mexican culture with history and with rich mythology that sings off the page. Plus, the two main characters are fantastic: Casiopea is a believable, flawed heroine who you really warm to over the course of the book, and her dynamic with Hun-Kamé, the afore-mentioned God of Death, is a real slow burner. Top marks.

Arghhhh I loved this book so much! Mexican folklore for the win! So refreshing to have a new retelling of something that I've not seen before, and the writing was delicious and mesmerising. It had me hooked fro the first few pages! I urge everyone to read this!

Casiopea Tun lives in her grandfather’s house with her family in a small Mexican town. Practically one of the staff, Casiopea wishes for a life away from her family where she can do whatever she wants.
Then one day Casiopea opens a wooden box in her grandfather’s room, accidentally freeing the Mayan god of death who was trapped in the box and stripped of his throne by his twin brother.
Their fates and lives now tied, Casiopea agrees to help Hun-Kamé, the god of death, reclaim his throne.
Can Casiopea have the future she dreams of or will she have to return home?
Will they succeed? Or will Casiopea die before they can?


Gods of Jade and Shadow drew me in with its lovely cover and intriguing blurb, but the writing captured my imagination and gripped me.
I really liked Casiopea as a protagonist – she was relatable, likeable and endearing. I liked that despite the way she was treated by members of her family, Casiopea still had a rebellious spark.
I loved all the interactions between Casiopea and Hun-Kamé. I devoured every word with a smile.
The setting of 1920’s Mexico was really interesting as was the Mayan mythology.
I lived for the romance. It’s one of my favourite ever romances.
The writing style was good at setting the scene with lots of description of where the characters were, but there were a few times where I thought it was a little too much – however, that’s probably because I was being impatient and just wanted to get to the action/conversations.
At times Gods of Jade and Shadow reminded me of City of Brass which is definitely a good thing (I loved that book).

Overall this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

I requested this title because I'm addicted to the 'powerful immortal & bold independent human girl' dynamic and this is everything I hoped and wished for! This has ruined me for future books, I'm going to keep comparing them to how well that relationship was built up here!

Casiopea is a delightful heroine who may seem like a Cinderella analogue at first glance, but her personality is much more droll, snarky and aloof. She recognizes the injustice of her daily life of drudgery, slaving away for the promise of an inheritance far off in the nebulous future, but doesn't have the means to change her circumstances.

--
She was bone-tired and Mother was constantly serving her a meal of platitudes instead of any significant answers or action. But there was nothing else to do but to accept this, to accept the punishment and carry on day after weary day. Casiopea went to sleep with her head full of quiet resentment, as she must.
--

This all changes when she daringly breaks into her grandfather's treasured Mayan chest while the family is away on a monthly trip which Casiopea is barred from due to her spiteful cousin complaining about her. Instead of finding jewels or gold inside, she instead frees Hun-Kamé, the Supreme Lord of Xibalba, who had been imprisoned by his resentful brother so that he could take the throne. She also inadvertently creates a bond between them when a bone sliver lodges in her thumb, giving her a measure of his power and protection while opening a channel that feeds her life-force into Hun-Kamé. Very unfortunate, but it gives her the means, motive and opportunity to leave her miserable life behind and go on a quest with a god of death!

I love the way Hun-Kamé is depicted in this book. <3 I was wary when I first started this book because I've been burned before with stories that supposedly have centuries old vampires, for instance, who then behave exactly like a modern-day bratty teenager and the incongruity drives me nuts. But with Hun-Kamé, you never forget that he is a death god and an ancient being of great power and influence, as his general demeanor and mannerisms, his lack of human morality plus inability to understand humor make this clear (I laughed quite a bit at moments where he didn't understand Casiopea was joking, it was so endearing).

--
Death, she walked next to Death, and Death wore the face of a man. So she spoke to Death like a man, raised her voice to him, she might even defy him, but of course he was no man. She'd seen drawings of Death in dusty books. It was depicted as a skeleton, its vertebrae exposed, black spots on its body symbolizing corruption. That Death and Hun-Kamé seemed entirely different from each other, but now she realized they could be the same.

She glimpsed, for the very first time, the naked skull beneath the flesh. And if a god feared Death, should she not fear him too, rather than share oranges and conversation with him?
--

As Hun-Kamé starts off so detached and obviously inhuman, it makes his character growth over the course of the book more striking as Casiopea's humanity feeds into him and changes him. Their relationship is the most beautiful thing I've read, I love how it went from reluctant-allies-of-mutual-convenience to Hun-Kamé winning over Casiopea despite herself because of his innate chivalry and consideration for her and Casiopea proving herself to be brave and resilient, impressing Hun-Kamé. And for two characters who are such polar opposites, they find camaraderie in being with one another after having been alone for so long and it makes my heart swoon.

--
Casiopea...focused on her chores instead of socializing. In her spare time, she looked to books or the stars for company. To have someone at her side was alien and yet a delight. There was a joy in the quest, now, the joy of her nascent freedom and his company.

The Lord of Xibalba did not smile often, and he did not laugh... That he smiled now was because he was dislocated, altered and altering, and due to the mortality creeping into his veins. But it was also because, like Casiopea, he had been alone for a very long time and found an amount of comfort in the company of another being.
--

I enjoyed the style of prose, which the author has explained in more detail here, although it won't be for everyone. I often see comments from readers who say that they struggle to relate to the protagonist if it's not in the first person point of view, which seems to be quite common in YA as it feels more 'accessible'. Gods of Jade and Shadow is written in the third person omniscient point of view, so that unfortunately may be a bit alienating to some of the audience. However it is a deliberate storytelling choice by the author and works well as a framing mechanism because it gives an authentic air of a dark fairytale being told around a campfire and really emphasizes the mood that the book is aiming for. Personally I felt it added to the magic of the story and really liked the little flourishes that made it apparent this could be a new myth being passed down from one generation to another.

--
He walked to his throne room and sat on his massive obsidian throne. Vucub-Kamé pressed his fingers against the cold rock....he needed to feel the glasslike rock under his fingers, as if to assure himself it was there, it remained his, it would not vanish.

Ah, there is none more fearful of thieves than the one who has stolen something, and a kingdom is no small something.
--

The setting was wildly original, I haven't come across a book like this before set in 1920s Mexico, which was brought to life in glorious color and vibrancy with the chaotic hustle-bustle of the city streets, the overwhelming excitement of the Veracruz Carnival celebrations and incorporating all the related period details like flapper hairstyles and fashions, Prohibition and newness of contraptions like the train. Then the author elevated it to a whole other level through moments of dark ominous gloom in the realm of Xibalba with its barren grey deserts filled with the souls of tormented, its noxious swamps with skeleton birds and jungles filled with fearsome beasts. The rich language painted clear evocative images of the various locations depicted in this book and immersed me in every scene, keeping me completely mesmerized.

Pros: beautiful writing, courageous intelligent female protagonist, convincingly immortal death god, diverse characters and mythology, pitch-perfect ending

Cons: the writing style may not appeal to a wide range of readers

I only started reading fantasy books at then end of last year with The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness and The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Aden. I loved these books so much that when I found out about Gods of Jade and Shadow I knew it was a book I just had to read. Set in 1927 in Mexico, this book mixes historical fiction with Mayan Folklore and fantasy. Cassiopeia has to work in her grandfather’s house as a maid, whilst her aunts, grandfather and cousin Martin are intent on making her life a misery. In her grandfather’s room is a chest, the key always around his neck, until one day he leaves it behind and curiosity gets the better of Cassiopeia who opens the chest and finds herself on the journey of a lifetime. Hun-Káme, the god of death, gives her an opportunity she can’t pass up, a chance to travel and change her life if she will help him regain his throne. This is a colourful and magical, look at Mayan myth and folklore with an amazing cast of characters and plot that will take you on an unforgettable journey.

As most readers of my blog know, historical fiction is my favourite genre and Silvia Moreno Garcia seamlessly blends this with folklore and the ancient religion of the Mayan Gods. The detail in this book, historically and descriptively is absolutely amazing. The 1920’s was the era of the flapper girl, Jazz, the Charleston and cocktails. Silvia Moreno Garcia brings this exciting period off the page with her writing and puts in social and cultural context by including the books, music, art and politics of the period. There is also the divide in Mexico between the conventional and traditional Yucataán peninsular where the Jazz age has passed them by and the bigger cities where it is fully embraced. As well as building a picture of the period, there is also the imaginative description of Xibalba, the Mayan Underworld, where the Gods of Death live; the Jade Palace, the skeleton birds and wonderful creatures.

Cassiopeia is a young woman who feels life is passing her by. She dreams of a life away from her home town of Ukumil, her grandfather and cousin. She wants to be in the city, to cut her hair short as is the fashion and have a better life for herself. Whilst she may be treated like a maid, she is not one to simply obey her orders, she is feisty, strong and more than able to stand up for herself even when she knows it will get her in more trouble. On her journey with Hun-Kamé, she shows courage and determination even if it may cost her her life; she sees this as her chance to get away and has nothing to lose. Hun-Kamé, is a God of Death, who has been imprisoned in the chest by his twin brother Vucub-Kamé, also a God of Death. His life becomes entwined with that of Cassiopeia as he searches for four items that will restore his strength. As they become almost one person, we see Hun-Kamé have the human traits and take pleasure in the simple things of life, making him more personable. There is a supporting cast of fantastic characters including demons. a spirit who lures men to their deaths, and a sorcerer.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is as colourful read as the cover implies. Full of magical characters and wonderful places, in this world and the underworld, this book has everything a fantasy book should have. This is an immersive read as you travel with Cassiopeia and Hun-Kamé through Mexico moving ever forward with apprehension to the final showdown between Hun-Kamé and his brother Vucub-Kamé that sees brother against brother, God against God and cousin against cousin. This book will take you on a journey that you won’t want to end. Historical Fantasy at its best; simply stunning!

I really liked and sympathised with Casiopea, who is the Cinderella-type character – however, don’t go away with the impression that she is anything like the Disneyfied saccharine character who coos over mice and trills to birds. Casiopea is much too coolly self-possessed to do such a girly thing. Indeed, it is her unspoken defiance and evident intelligence that nettles her unpleasant cousin, Martin – how dare the poverty-stricken drudge be their grandfather’s favourite? He is only too aware that if she’d been born a boy, she would have inherited the family fortune and even now, she forgets her place to answer back when he taunts her.
So when a particular event takes place after she opens the box and she is offered a new life away from the family home, Casiopea is happy to leave without a backward look.

The character who she follows requires really good writing to portray effectively – he isn’t innately sympathetic, being aloof, cold and not particularly concerned with humanity, other than how the species can best serve him. He certainly isn’t someone I would generally care about – but then it is all about context. Moreno-Garcia is clever in setting him and his interests in opposition to someone much, much worse.
But one of the strengths of Moreno-Garcia’s writing – and one of the main themes she explores throughout this delightful adventure, is one of change. Casiopea and her companion affect each other. She is less angry and bitter away from the long list of dead-end chores she was forced to perform and finds a softer, kinder version of herself who isn’t afraid to intervene to stop someone being harmed. She also finds herself experiencing the world in ways she could only have dreamt of, which forces her to examine what she actually wants, as opposed to what she doesn’t want.

As for her companion, this remote, icily hostile character is shocked to find himself increasingly drawn to the girl, her mortal charm and her kindness, even though he is aware that his evident attraction to her is a sign that all is not well. The other character who undergoes a major change throughout the book is obnoxious Martin. I’m a fan of writers who give us a real insight into what makes their baddies behave so nastily – and Moreno-Garcia gives us a ringside seat to Martin’s plight when he is sent out by his grandfather to coax Casiopea to return home.

The Mexican setting, the 1920s era and above all, the increasingly dangerous tasks faced by these two mortals unwittingly caught up in a power struggle between two immortals who hate each other with a passion only reserved for sibling rivalry. I was fascinated as to how it was going to play out – and I have to say that the ending worked really well. I have found myself thinking about this one since I finished it – always the mark of a book that has sunk its claws into me.

Just a quick word, however – this retelling is a sophisticated, nuanced read designed for adults and is not suitable for youngsters, a detail that Moreno-Garcia is keen to make clear as it has been advertised as a YA read in certain quarters. Very highly recommended for fans of well written fantasy adventure. The ebook arc copy of Gods of Jade and Shadow was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest opinion of the book.
10/10

Casiopea is the black sheep of the family, treated as a servant in her grandfather's house. When she discovers some old bones locked in a chest, she is swept up in an adventure that will open her eyes to the modern world.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Casiopea is the black sheep in her family. Her mother was the angel of her grandfather's eyes; until she eloped with a poor man with no family name and unwanted dark skin.
After her father's death, Casiopea and her mother return to her grandfather's house, in shame.
As Casiopea grows up, she is isolated - she isn't good enough to be accepted by her high-society family; but she is too connected for the local commoners to feel comfortable around her. So, she lives in limbo, trying to survive her bully of a cousin Martin, and biding her time until she can leave and start a life of her own.

After yet another family disagreement, where Casiopea is inevitably blamed, she lashes out by breaking into her grandfather's sealed chest, hoping to find something of value. What she finds instead are the bones of the god of death, Hun-Kame.
Released from his prison, Hun-Kame and Casiopea have to work together, to restore him as the ruler of the underworld. The two of them traverse Mexico in their quest.

I loved the mix of the old Mayan folklore and gods, alongside the new way of life in the 1920's. Casiopea has grown up in a small village, where anything frivolous was to be frowned upon. For her, seeing a real-life god in the flesh is on par with seeing automobiles, daring fashion and fast dances. She can hardly believe they're real.

I loved following Casiopea's story as she discovers her own strengths and is able to decide who she wants to be, and what she wants to do in life.
Hun-Kame is a cold and distant god, but throughout the story he gets more and more human. It's sweet to watch the subtle changes, but at the same time it's quite sad. These mortal touches don't belong in the underworld, and you get the feeling that, no matter the outcome in the battle against his treacherous brother, Hun-Kame is going to lose himself.

I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read more by Moreno-Garcia.

I’ve not read any thing based on Mexican myths before so I was excited to read this, I wasn’t let down at all. Amazing mythology, wonderful world building, interesting and relatable characters, a touch of romance. A brilliant tale and very atmospheric, recommended read for 2019

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

"The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore."

I've not read anything inspired by Mexican folklore before (as far as I can recall?) and this was fantastic. Set in the jazz age, it's vivid and addictive fantasy; I was strangely taken with Casiopea and Hun-Kamé. A breezy read of dark tales, questions of loyalty and family, forgiveness, what price is worth paying.

Not a factor in the review itself but also... that cover.

<blockquote>“... it is a good thing I rescued you,” Hun-Kamé said.
“You did not rescue me,” Casiopea replied. “I opened that chest. Besides, I wasn’t a princess in a tower. I knew I’d get away one way or another, and I was not waiting for a god to liberate me." [loc. 720]</blockquote>

Casiopea Tun refuses to think of herself as a Cinderella figure: she's not a romantic. She's eighteen years old, and lives in the house of her bitter, ailing grandfather, who is punishing his daughter (and her child) for the crime of marrying an indigenous man. Now Casiopea's father is dead, and she and her mother are little more than slaves in the family house, tyrannised by the old man and by Casiopea's cousin Martín.

Then Casiopea opens the chest at the foot of her grandfather's bed, discovers a heap of white bones, and discovers that she has freed a long-imprisoned Mayan deathgod. Hun-Kamé was imprisoned by his wicked brother Vucub-Kamé, and he's determined to regain his kingdom. But first he must collect the missing parts of himself -- and Casiopea, whose blood sustains him, must accompany him on his quest.

In the small town of Uukumil, in the Yucatan peninsula, it might as well be 1807 -- but the outside world is changing. It's 1927, the Jazz Age is in full swing, and Mexico is in the grip of social, religious and political revolutions. And as for America ...

I found the style of this novel somewhat distancing. The narrative is consciously telling a story, describing the emotions of the characters and the broader context of their actions rather than presenting them as the characters' experiences. Casiopea is a likeable heroine, though, with dry wit and a pragmatic sensibility. The gradual humanisation of Hun-Kamé was delicately sketched, and the finale very satisfactory.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free advance copy in exchange for this review!

While this book has lush world building, interesting mythology, and well-developed characters, the writing style is very telling instead of showing. It’s very info dump-y and takes a way the connection I might otherwise felt to the characters and stories. This in turn makes me felt uninvested with the romance and the quest as a whole as I am told on how am I supposed to feel & see, rather than being shown what happened. If you’re looking for a mythology story with different deities and unique setting, this book might be sufficient for you.

My thanks to Quercus/Jo Fletcher Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Gods of Jade and Shadow’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in exchange for an honest review.

The Jazz Age is in full swing in Mexico with all its vibrancy though young Casiopea Tun is in no position to experience it. After the death of her gentle father, who loved poetry and Greek and Mayan mythology, she and her mother were forced to return to their family home. Although the family is wealthy they are treated like servants.

Casiopea is too pragmatic to see herself as a tragic Cinderella-like figure and looks forward to eventually leaving. However, her life changes when she is left alone in the house and dares to open the mysterious chest in her grandfather’s bedroom. What she finds within thrusts her into the middle of a battle for supremacy between two Mayan death gods and their shadow realm, Xibalba. In the company of a disposed god seeking to regain his throne, Casiopea embarks upon a thrilling adventure through 1920s Mexico.

There has been a lot of excitement about this title and I was so pleased to be able to read and review it early and to discover its many treasures.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has drawn upon the mythology of Mexico to create a wonderful novel, full of rich imagery and memorable characters. Casiopea is an amazing, resourceful protagonist with strong principles.

It is beautifully written with multiple layers. Moreno-Garcia confidently introduces philosophical and political elements into her narrative alongside the historical and fantastical. Certainly a novel that deserves a wide readership.

Special mention for its colourful cover art with its striking combination of Art Deco and Mayan imagery.

Highly recommended.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an author I'd follow into almost any genre, and that's a good thing given how varied her career has been so far. From the 80's nostalgia-heavy Signal to Noise to the romance fantasy of manners The Beautiful Ones, to the criminally underrated sci fi novella Prime Meridian and even the editorial work she does on The Dark Magazine (a recent addition to my short fiction rounds), Garcia brings talent, nuance and a particular eye for female characters challenging overwhelming imbalances in power over the forces against them. Now, in Gods of Jade and Shadow, Moreno-Garcia brings her talents to a historic fantasy where 1920's Jazz Age Mexico meets the gods and monsters of Mayan mythology, taking protagonist Casiopea Tun on an unexpected but long-dreamed-of adventure with a deposed Lord of the Underworld.

Casiopea's character is rooted in a satisfying set of tropes, and the novel wastes no time in establishing her position in its opening paragraph: "Casiopea Tun, named after a constellation, was born under the most rotten star imaginable in the firmament". Living in her Grandfather's house after the untimely death of her father, who her mother had previously eloped with, Casiopea suffers all the indignities of a poor relation, scorned by her extended family and community for the circumstances of her birth and for her mixed heritage, and particularly suffers at the hands of her cousin Martín, himself jealous and insecure about his position in the family as a toxic patriarch in training. Despite the misery of her situation, it's clear from the start that Casiopea is something special, and she's armed with both a heavily practical streak and a core of stubborn strength and self-belief which prevents her from being totally ground down by circumstance. While the character isn't inclined to romance, it's clear to the reader that the small, conservative town of Uukumil on the Yucutan Peninsula is unlikely to hold her for long.

Just as Gods of Jade and Shadow doesn't waste any time in setting up Casiopea's circumstances, it also doesn't waste any time in bringing her out of them (two chapters, to be precise). In a fit of frustration after an unjust punishment, Casiopea opens a mysterious forbidden chest in her Grandfather's room, and out comes Hun-Kamé, formerly Lord of Xibalba, who was deposed and imprisoned by his brother Vucub-Kamé decades before. As a condition of his awakening, Hun-Kamé leaves a shard of bone in Casiopea's finger, and it quickly becomes clear that the only way the two can untangle themselves from this new connection is for Casiopea to help the God to regain his former power - held in body parts which his brother has relieved him of and left with various other supernatural creatures - and challenge his brother for control of the underworld. Despite her concerns about eloping with a God without any long-term plan, Casiopea agrees, and the two set off on their adventures; once Vucub-Kamé realises that his brother has escaped, he descends on the family and sends Martín on his own, more reluctant, quest to stop them.

The result is an adventure that reads at times like a more adult-focused version of a Frances Hardinge novel, allowing its practical heroine to take in and respond to the changing, complex and sometimes hostile world around her, both in its natural and supernatural forms; and at other times like a lush mythological retelling, with Casiopea, Martin and the God siblings providing a sense of character-driven continuity between the historic and supernatural elements of the plot. The fact that it's a Mayan mythology being explored, rather than any of the Western European mythologies (or Egypt) which have had already had plenty of SFF expended about them (including a significant amount which transplants European mythologies directly into North America with no recognition of the continent's native belief systems), is treated matter-of-factly but accessibly, and there's plenty of recognition within the worldbuilding about the situation of Mayan Gods in an early 20th century Mexico now primarily caught between Catholic religious conservatism and a more agnostic state of modernity. Moreno-Garcia uses a writing style which morphs sparingly but effectively out of limited third-person perspective to provide descriptive flavour or character insights, giving Gods of Jade and Shadow a timeless-feeling narrative voice which is well suited to the context. As Casiopea and Hun-Kamé progress from Uukumil to Mérida (the capital of Yucutan, and formerly the locus of Casiopea's dreams of escape) and on to Mexico City, El Paso and the realm of Xibalba itself, so too do Casiopea's hopes and fears, both for the short term quest, and for her future in general, become increasingly complicated by the experiences on the quest, and particularly her feelings for Hun-Kame, who is now becoming increasingly human through their connection, and equally taken by her charms in turn.

While this isn't a romance in the strict genre sense, the romantic elements of Gods of Jade and Shadow are prominent and key to the character development, and the speed of the connection between Casiopea and Hun-Kame is satisfying to watch unfold, while also adding an interesting complication to their quest - Casiopea will die if she can't return Hun-Kame to his normal state and remove the shard of his bone from her finger, but the human side of him which allows him to love her won't survive the transformation. The connection between the two characters, and the no-win situation they find themselves in, also allows Casiopea to explore her own powerlessness in the face of the various demons, ghosts and other entities they come across, and in the direction of their quest in general: while Hun-Kame relies on her humanity to perform certain types of ritual and, as their connection deepens, to contribute more godlike powers of her own, it's clear that Casiopea has mixed feelings about how her escape from Uukumil has come about, her lack of agency on a quest that's entirely driven by Hun-Kame's needs, and the lack of options for her post-quest future in a world that's still driven by patriarchal expectations about the roles of women. In the end, the fact that Gods of Jade and Shadow doesn't take a romance-genre driven approach to Casiopea's happiness means that there's more freedom to explore these themes without assuming that her connection to Hun-Kame can provide a solution, and Gods of Jade and Shadow's final act is all the stronger for it, turning into a full-on mythological quest before offering the characters a satisfying resolution which remains true to the themes of humanity and freedom that permeate the text.

Moreno-Garcia didn't need any further cementing into my "auto-buy" list, but if I needed further convincing about her talents, this novel is it. Read it for the satisfying take on coming-of-age tropes in a fast-paced historical adventure; read it for a sweet take on the connection between a Lord of the Underworld and a stubborn young woman that avoids most of the squickiness that so often comes of that kind of thing; read it because we desperately need more diverse mythologies in mainstream SFF and this delivers; read it because the cover is amazing and people on the train will look at it and be intrigued and probably think you are a very interesting and cultured person for reading such an attractive book. Throw it on the ever-mounting pile of evidence that we are living through an outstanding time for SFF writing. Yet again, this is the real deal, and I can't wait to see what Moreno-Garcia comes out with next.

I wanted to read this book since i saw the gorgeous cover and it didn't disappoint me. It was an amazing story to read. I didn't know a lot about mayan mythology but i loved the world that author created. The ending was beautiful and it made me cry a little. I really enjoyed reading it.

I have to admit that I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I started this book. I’d seen some of the reviews already doing the rounds, and followed a few conversations about it on social media, and while they were enough to intrigue me they didn’t really give a clear indication of just where this book would take me.

On the surface this is a relatively straightforward fairy tale, albeit one with a distinctly Mayan influence. The protagonist, Casiopea Tun is initially presented as an almost Cinderella-like character, trapped in a life of servitude to her uncaring grandfather, tormented by her beastly cousin and all but ignored by her resigned mother. However, when Casiopea inadvertently releases Hun-Kamé, the deposed Lord of Xibalba, from his magical prison she finds herself bound to the newly reborn god of death and is soon being whisked across Mexico on a quest to help the god reclaim his throne. Working against her and Hun-Kamé are her cousin, Martin, and Hun-Kamé’s brother, Vucub-Kamé.

As a fairy tale, this works well, drawing the reader slowly into the mythology of the Mayan underworld and gradually introducing the various demons, ghosts, psychopomps and sorcerers of Mayan culture. In itself the surface story is well told, and the descriptions of Xibalba and the underworld are gloriously realised, bringing the Mayan land of the dead to life with a flourish (no pun intended). But there’s more going on here than just the fairy tale right before our eyes.

At its heart, this is a tale of emotional exploration and personal growth. We get to watch as Casiopea begins to question her own place in the world and explores just what it is she wants from life. Hun-Kamé has offered her heart’s desire if she helps him reclaim his throne, but as the narrative progresses she begins to wonder just what her heart truly wants.

As Casiopea herself is growing throughout the novel, so is Hun-Kamé himself. Infected with Casiopea’s humanity, he gradually loses his god-like demeanour and becomes more attuned to the lives around him, seeing the world through human eyes for the first time. With Casiopea’s help he begins to see mortals as more than just the souls he collects when their lives are done.

While this isn’t the sort of novel I’d normally pick up and read, I was intrigued enough by the Mayan influence to give it a try, and on reflection I have to say it’s not all that bad. It certainly kept me reading, and while I found the opening to be a little uninspiring by the end of the book I was definitely wanting to know what happens next. I’m giving it three and a half stars and would certainly recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary fairy tales or who has an interest in mythologies outside those normally found in western literature.

What a great read. I came for the time period, the setting and the promise of something a bit different and I got exactly what I came for. This was a brilliant tale about tales that had be rooting for Casiopea as she found herself whisked along on an adventure, finding out who she was and what she was capable away from the yoke of her oppressive family. Loved the descriptions and the atmosphere, adored the themes and so, so glad I got to read it. This was a gorgeous, rich, thick shot of art deco, Mayan folklore-inspired fantasy adventure.

I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley.

In what I would call a decent comparison, <i>Gods of Jade and Shadow</i> reminds me of N.K. Jemisin's <i>The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms</i>. There is a competent, headstrong female lead, dastardly relatives and a displaced god. But this, to be fair, is pretty much where the comparison ends and <i>Gods of Jade and Shadow</i> is a great book in its own right.

The story of Casiopea Tun starts out as something akin to a <i>Cinderella</i> narrative; a young woman is exploited by her family, abused and made to scrub floors and run errands all day long. This changes when she opens her grandfather's wooden chest and out steps a Mayan god of death. The two then set off to return the god to his rightful place on the throne of Xibalba.

I really, <i>really</i> enjoyed this book. Moreno-Garcia does an excellent job of throwing the reader back to Mexico in the 1920s, and you can feel the culture as Casiopea goes on a journey through the country, heading from city to city and mingling with witches, demons and gods.

The world of <i>Gods</i> is excellently realised, as are the characters. Casiopea as a heroine is eminently likeable (this is important to me personally) and capable, and Hun-Kamé is by turns imposing and sympathetic.

Highly recommend!

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/07/18/gods-of-jade-and-shadow-by-silvia-moreno-garcia-godsofjadeandshadow/
Gods of Jade and Shadow is the third book I’ve read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I was so excited to see this one pop up and I’m pleased to say it doesn’t disappoint. Steeped in folklore and taking inspiration from fairy tales this is the story of one young woman’s journey across Mexico, accompanied by a God, Hun,-Kame – the Lord of Shadows – or Mayan God of Death.

Casiopea Tun is the Cinderella of the story. Downtrodden and treated as a servant by her family she spends all day cleaning and running errands. And all this for one of the wealthiest and most respected families in the small dusty Mexican town in which she lives. She daydreams about the simple pleasures in life, travelling, seeing the ocean and dancing and although she holds little hope of achieving these things she remains optimistic, particularly in the face of her cousin Martin who is constantly tormenting her. Casiopea’s life changes dramatically when she one day opens a locked chest in her grandfather’s room releasing a long imprisoned spirit and in the process tying herself to his fate. Has anybody heard about Pandora and what she released – or maybe curiosity killing the cat?? Anyway, to an extent, downsides notwithstanding, Casiopea finally gets her wish to leave the confines of her family home and travel – and with a dashing and sometimes daunting God no less. What could possibly go wrong?

So, this is told in a fairly linear fashion. Casiopea and her companion must travel across Mexico, collecting various ‘items’ along the way, in order to return Hun-Kame to his former self and render him capable of standing against his twin brother, Vucub-Kame, and reclaiming his throne that was most treacherously stolen from him. We travel from place to place making the acquaintance of a number of fantastical characters.

To be honest, what I loved about this most was the difference. It’s set in the Jazz Age, beaded dresses, art deco and the Charleston are in full swing. It’s a new era and a lot of the elements, short bobbed hair for example, are shocking in the extreme. I loved seeing all of this afresh from Casiopea’s perspective and watching her gradually awaken to the multitude of possibilities. She goes from strength to strength and along the way she also falls a little bit in love. But, don’t think this is a romance, it isn’t, that’s just an aside to the story. Really this is more about Casiopea’s own journey, about her finding herself, gaining confidence along the way and being strong enough to do the right thing. Casiopea is a young woman poised on the brink of possibility. On top of that, although she has help along the way she basically becomes the hero of the piece which is just so refreshing.

The world here is not overly described but there are enough descriptions to really build up a convincing picture. I think this is one of the strong points for this particular author. She doesn’t labour the point and yet is able, apparently effortlessly (although probably not effortlessly at all) to really conjure a sense of place. Heat, dust, food, mode of travel, dress, etc. They’re all worked into the narrative without the need for info dumps. I guess this is made possible in some respects by the fact that Casiopea is so sheltered and so we, the reader, are experiencing things through her eyes and yet it just helps to really pull you into the story.

In terms of characters. Well, obviously, we have Casiopea – and what a wonderful character she is. She isn’t waiting to be rescued. She’s sheltered, downtrodden and naive and yet she isn’t afraid to grasp the bull by the horns, take risks and go out into the big wide world. What a fantastic protagonist she is. She made me smile. She’s not perfect, not always fearless, not always immune to persuasion but at the end of the day she’s just great – I simply have to applaud the author to come up with such a strong female character. The Mayan God of Death – what can I say, he’s a moody so and so. Tempestuous, aloof, superior, downright good looking and with some rather brilliantly caustic dialogue – he’s a rather decent bit of mind candy and I loved watching the relationship between the two of them grow but that isn’t the entire focus here. It’s more about the changes that people bring about in each other and it’s rather brilliantly portrayed. At the end of the day the baddies aren’t always necessarily bad and the goodies aren’t necessarily always good – and sometimes it takes somebody with a different way of seeing things to step in and connect people to their ‘better selves’ and that’s what I felt came across really well.

The ending – I’m not going to tell you. You’ll simply have to read the book. All I can say is that I thought this had the perfect ending and if the author ever wanted to pick up and revisit from the place she left off I would be the first to pick up that book.

In terms of criticisms – I don’t have much. I had a certain slowness during the middles sections of the book. It didn’t make me want to put the book down but I definitely felt a little lag in the pace. Other than that – I have nothing.

So, think Cinderella, think Labyrinth, think Pan’s Labyrinth, think American Gods – and then think of none of those thing. Yes, of course, if you like those then this might resonate with you but it strongly stands on it’s own two feet.

I received a copy, courtesy of the publisher, through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Rating 4.5 of 5 stars

A work of fantasy based on Mayan mythology and set in the 1920's, Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an exquisite work of art.
Casiopea Tun is a young woman who spends her life caring for her cantankerous and bitter grandfather and cleaning his house, while dreaming of the day she and her mother can escape. One day she opens a carved wooden box in his room and finds some ancient looking bones. A sharp shard of bone pierces her finger and the blood she sheds on the bones makes them animate. The bones are those of Hun-Kame, a Mayan lord of the Underworld and God of Death who has been dispossessed of his kingdom by his sneaky and grasping brother. Bonded by bone and bloodshed, Casiopea and the God embark on a quest to regain his kingdom, a journey that will take them from a sleepy small town in Mexico to the hustle and bustle of Jazz Age Mexico City and beyond, to the very depths of the Underworld. Along the way they will encounter several figures from Mayan legends who will both help and hinder them on their journey.
As someone who was not at all familiar with Mayan mythology I found this aspect of the story fascinating , and on a side note I really appreciated that the author included a glossary of names and brief descriptions of their roles in the legends. The descriptions of the Underworld were beautifully creepy and disturbing, and I feel like I want to know more.
I loved the character of Casiopea, and how she grew and matured over the course of the book, it was a wonderful coming of age story as she learned to stand up for herself and what she wants and believes in . Hun-Kame begins the book as an aloof and forbidding character, as befits the God of Death, but as he imbibes more of Casiopea's humanity through their blood and bone connection he becomes warmer and at times almost loquacious. The interplay between the characters is wonderful and it makes the inevitable ending of the book even more poignant.
On that note, I will say that the ending, while beautiful in its own way, felt a little hurried compared to the more gentle pace of the rest of the book, which is almost ponderous at times, especially in the first quarter or so. It is a small complaint about an otherwise charming book.
I also have to tip my hat to the gorgeous cover design, I loved the vibrant colors and Art- Deco style, it is certainly eye-catching and fits the book wonderfully.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.