Gods of Jade and Shadow

I feel like I knew early on that it would not be a happy ending so I kept putting off reading. Historical fantasy is my favorite genre, but I typically prefer it to be written in first person. I'm more endeared to the characters, whereas third person can be, well, impersonal. I don't tend to get sucked in to the story, even if it is amazing and makes me want to find more books on Mayan mythology. The descriptions of the otherworldly aspects were my favorite part, the creatures and foliage of Xibalba, specifically. The transition into humanity that Hun-Kamé experiences is also incredibly lovely. I probably will reread this book at some point, now that I won't be deterred by the ending. I'm looking forward to reading Mexican Gothic by this author in the near future. (When my copy I preordered a month ago decides to show up.

This and my other reviews are available at my site: Aspects of Me

Gods of Jade and Shadow is a little different than my usual fantasy choices - I don't tend to read fantasy based in our real world Earth - and I was not disappointed. The journey of Casiopea Tun is one I found myself readily investing in and just as at-first rude & lofty god Hun-Kamé softens and grows on Casiopea so does he too with the reader.

The quest they embark upon doesn't have great odds and along the way they meet demons, ghosts, spirits, witches, warlocks and Lords of Death. Hun-Kamé seeks to restore his power and himself to the throne of Xibalba (a form of Underworld in Mayan history) but he needs Casiopea's help to do so. She is stuck living with her awful racist family who treat her with cruelty and disdain - she wants to escape and the time she spends with Hun-Kamé becomes some of the most vibrant and exciting days of her life; even with all the threat, dread and sacrfice.

It is set in the 1920s so some of the prose and dialogue is suitably antiquated; if you're not used to reading historical fiction it might take a little bit to get used to (like me) but it is worth it. This is a wonderful story that will teach you a few little snippets of Mexican and Mayan history along the way. Don't worry, you don't need to know anything special in advance as Moreno-Garcia not only guides us beautifully through the narrative but includes a handy Glossary at the end of the book too.

4.5/5

3.5 stars. I read it one sitting so it wasn't completely bad, but I wasn't convinced by the romance subplot, I don't think the main character had enough going for her that a god would fall in love with her? I also didn't really connect with most of the characters because we didn't really get a chance to know them, only on a surface level.

Beautifully written, it reads like a myth. I adored the two main characters.

This is such a creative and fun story. I really enjoyed it.

The 1920's.
Mexican folklore.
That's really all I needed to know to pick this up. I'm glad I did. This was a nice change of pace. I haven't read much if any Mexican folklore, and this was really good. I highly recommend it.

This was such a great book -insert crying emoji- i don't know how to properly express my love for this story but it was sooo gooood. Our heroine Cassiopeia accidentally releases a Mayan god of death named Hun-Kame from a prison and embarks on a quest with him across Mexico and California so he can win back his throne and its set in the 1920s! She's stubborn and craving adventure and escape from her boring life where she cleans and and does her mean grandfather's and male cousins bidding, he's a newly awaken angry immortal engaging with the human world more than he has ever done before and is on a quest with a young woman who isn't afraid to give him attitude. There is adventure, humor, Mayan mythology, Mexican history, magic and a slow burn romance.

Fantastical and sweet.

If someone had told me to expect a middle-grade novel I would have started enjoying this sooner. Very simplistic, yet charming in a way.

This was a very interesting read. I loved the writing, characters, and journeying along with Casiopea through her travels as she changed from a strong girl into an even stronger woman.

Gods of Jade and Shadow, a standalone historical fantasy novel inspired by the Popul Vuh and set during the 1920s, tells the story of a quest to restore a Mayan god of death to 100% pure god. The journey begins when eighteen-year-old Casiopea inadvertently frees him from a mysterious chest in her grandfather's bedroom, binding her life to his in the process. If she remains bound to him, she'll eventually die, but in order to free her, the Mayan god has to retrieve the index finger, eye, ear, and jade necklace that his brother took from him when he stole his throne and imprisoned him.

It's a delightful tale in which a courageous young woman discovers Mayan myths in the real world, and I enjoyed Casiopea's character, her dynamic with the Mayan god, and any part set in Xibalba. As a fast-paced adventure, it doesn't have much of the in-depth character development that I live for, but it's still an enjoyable novel and was a 2019 highlight for me.

Full Review on My Website

It's a solid 3.5 but I didn't love it enough to garner a 4.

This book was not at all on my radar until I read some lovely reviews recently. And then the gorgeous cover enticed me with its beautiful shades of purple and turquoise, and I couldn't resist purchasing it. I was also fascinated to get to know a bit about Mayan mythology because it's always such fun discovering new myths and legends.

This book is written in a style that I didn't completely get - some sort of an omnipresent or omniscient way of writing which made it feel like the story was happening at a distance and I couldn't get emotionally connected to it. But it is also very beautiful and poetic and has a very mythical, fairytale feel to it, which can make it a wonderful reading experience for someone who can appreciate it better than me. The author does a great job of describing the setting of 1920s Jazz Age Mexico with its new trends in fashion, fast paced automobiles and fancy rail transportation, the clash between modernity and religion. The author manages to excellently combine the mythological elements of the Gods and the underworld and various creatures with a journey through Mexico and I enjoyed it all a lot. However, it's a bit slow paced and despite dealing with the God of Death, I never particularly understood the high stakes, so the journey didn't feel very urgent or impending. But it all came together very well towards the end and I thought the climax was just perfect.

Casiopea is an endearing protagonist. She has suffered a lot at the hands of her family and longs for freedom and adventure, but none of her hardships have been able to harden her or lessen her kindness and compassion. She is also proud and defiant and clever and I thoroughly enjoyed following her journey, watching her discover herself and what she wants and desires most in life. Hun-Kamé is a God of Death who starts off as someone sure of his powers and destiny, but due to his association with a mortal, he starts to see her and the world and humanity through new eyes, feeling things like emotion and love, and wanting to be something more than just the ruler of Xibalba. I enjoyed seeing this change in his character even though I couldn't always relate to him. I thought their relationship was written very beautifully, but I'm not sure I was completely convinced with the romance. I guess it just needed a bit more page time to feel realistic. The ending made me pretty emotional though, because I didn't expect it go that direction, but it was definitely completely in character for the protagonists.

If you love reading fantasies inspired by different cultures and mythologies, you should definitely check this one out. This is a fascinating tale of adventure and self discovery set in the beautiful landscapes of Mexico, and if you particularly like poetic writing style, this might just be the perfect read for you.