Gods of Jade and Shadow

DNF - PG 14

Why?

Did not like. (Be impressed I have such disdain for a book that I read only 14 pages of. That might be a new record.)

Part of this is my own fault. I heard some less than glowing things about this book and still didn't try the preview/sample first because what they were picking at (it reading like a YA, and more on that later) doesn't bother me. (Look, I read adult books, YA, MG and a bunch of stuff with crossover appeal. I don't care about this.)

I read the first paragraph three times before I actually started the book - because every time I went to pick it up, I didn't like the way it started. I would have liked to know that this book that is ‘a dark fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore' had a Cinderella as the main character.

I'm over retellings of the main, well known Disney fairytales. I've always been over Cinderella - and this girl looks terrible even in comparison to that character. Casiopea - wait, let's take a minute to talk about the name. Casiopea was ‘named after a constellation.' Great, only there's no Casiopea constellation. There is, however, a Cassiopeia constellation. Do a Google search of the word ‘Casiopea' and you get a, and I quote, ‘Japanese jazz fusion rock band formed in 1976.'

Now, I want to talk about Casiopea, but I'm not sure I can separate my problems with her from my problems with the writing style. The story is written in a very tell-don't-show, emotionally distant, middle grade sort of way.

For example, in the first chapter, Casiopea is getting picked on by her cousin (one of the many, many relatives that terrorize her days) and he forces her out of the house without allowing her to become more presentable. (She's wearing a ragged skirt (to really drive home the Cindersoot) and no shoes or stockings.) She decides to pick her battles, and leaves without changing her clothes - or, as special note is made, without a shawl for her head.

The she goes on to say, while wandering around the town because she doesn't want to return to her house, that women would possibly be chided for walking around town without a shawl wrapping her head. The local priest is especially a problem, as he mistrusts all women thanks to Eve (yes, that Eve) and, if he saw Casiopea ‘he would drag her back to her house, but if he did, what of it? It was not as if the priest would strike her any harder than Martin would, and her stupid cousin had given her no chance to tidy herself.'

Because after she went through avoiding Martin beating her, the priest doing the same is... I mean, it's the same thing, but because we don't know why she behaving like this, there's two contradictory bits of information here.

Casiopea herself makes mention of Cinderella and how she doesn't fashion herself as a tragic heroine - instead being pragmatic and focusing tightlipped on the money that her grandfather promises she'll inherit at his death. But she is all very woe is me, I have it so bad.

The only person in her family that she receives any comfort or love from, the only one she doesn't receive abuse from, is her mother. But then, in chapter two ‘The monthly trip was one of the few occasions when Casiopea had a chance to enjoy the company of her family members and a deserved respite from her chores.' ... I don't even have words for how little sense this makes.

Also, believe me, how many times Casiopea's name is used in the narration (when she or her would have worked just as well, as Casiopea was by herself and Casiopea wasn't thinking of anyone else) you will never forget that Casiopea's name is Casiopea. (Just something that aggravated me in the first chapter.)

Now, to change the subject. Lucky me, I discovered that there's a really, really old non-human that (god of death?) forms the romance in this story with Casiopea. (Because an ancient being is going to fall in love with this girl that doesn't have the maturity of a thirteen year old.)

Finally, without getting into it as this is not supposed to be a review on the author - but in this case remarks that she made contributed to my disinterest/dislike of the book. So...Yeah.