A fantasy novel set in Mexico during the 1920s with a side of Mayan mythology and an epic heroine? Yes, please!!!

Casiopea Tun dreams of running away to the city, filled with jazz and modern ideas, but is instead stuck in a quiet, dreary town where she works as a servant in her grandfather's house. After opening a mysterious chest in her grandfather's room, she discovers that she has unintentionally released Hun-Kame, a legendary Mayan god pulling her into a centuries-old rivalry between Mayan gods, Hun-Kame and Vacub-Kame and the adventure of a lifetime.

I really liked Casiopea because she was feisty and refused to let the men in her life dictate her actions. Additionally, I liked the banter between Casiopea and Hun-Kame, so hilarious. Surprisingly, I also liked Casiopea's dirtbag cousin, Martin. He felt very layered and he was an interesting character to read about.

The writing style was exceptional and I liked the unique setting of 1920s Mexico in the midst of the Gilded Age. Moreno-Garcia did an excellent job weaving in Mayan mythology into the plot and I love that it explained the deities without being condescending and the superb portrayal of Latin American culture.

I would've loved to give this book five stars but the ending felt kind of abrupt and though the story came to a physical end, I feel like this ending didn't leave much closure to the reader and sometimes the plot felt that it dragged on. However, I would so be down for a sequel!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing a free ARC

Wonderful storytelling, in the vein of folklore and mythology. Caseopi is a good guide and foil for the tale.

Writing style had some challenges; lots of telling as opposed to showing. 3rd person narrator expressing strong opinions about one of the characters was very off-putting and unnecessary.

This is a really solid standalone fantasy novel that in some ways feels like a throwback to the Mercedes Lackey fairy tale retellings I used to read when I was a teenager (I mean, this is better written, obviously, but similar spirit). The descriptions of the setting were really wonderful -- I don't know much of anything about the Roaring Twenties or Mayan mythology but everything was so vivid, from the haircuts to the crocodiles in the underworld. (As with any fantasy novel involving a lot of travel, I would have loved a map on the inside cover, but I was reading an ARC so there might be one planned for the finished edition.) Casiopea was an absolute delight of a heroine, kind but not to the point of self-martyrdom and so full of life! I don't want to spoil the ending but I thought the resolution of the romantic arc was perfect. Definitely recommended to fantasy fans, especially those who miss the days when a spunky heroine going off on a quest just because wasn't the sole province of YA novels.

Cassiopeia has had a difficult life, and it doesn't seem to be getting any easier. The story begins with a girl who dreams of a brighter future and quickly finds herself at the mercy of ancient gods. Laced with ancient Mayan myths, demons, ghosts, sorcerers and witches, this tale takes us from the Yucatan, through the depths of Xibalba--the kingdom of the lords of death--and back to Mexico where the hearts of readers are certain to break. With beautiful use of language, fantastic world-building, and a classic underdog story woven throughout, this book is a winner for me.

This is a beautiful, lyrical novel reminiscent of American Gods but set in Mexico in the 1920s. Casiopea is the mix-race daughter of a woman from a good family and, as such, has always been a pariah. She’s not accepted by the Indians or the Whites. When she accidentally frees a Mayan god, she decides to help him fight to get back the underworld that he is supposed to rule. They begin a journey full of surprises, unexpected allies and many, many foes. As Casiopea discovers her power, the god of death discovers his humanity. I loved Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s previous books and this one does not disappoint. Some parts are incredibly touching and her description of Mexico City in the jazz age made me long for a time machine. She points out in the afterword how this is not supposed to be an anthropological work but the legends and traditions she describes are fascinating and reminded me a little of Nordic lore. But it’s the characters that made me love this tale. Casiopea is so strong but doesn’t know it. I don’t want to give too much away but the way that she evolves is delightful. It is a somewhat slow read but all the details helped paint a vivid picture and, instead of slowing down the action as happens with lesser writers, it just makes the setting richer. Five estrellas for this novel!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine -Del Rey!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510722-gods-of-jade-and-shadow" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Gods of Jade and Shadow" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1543268579m/36510722.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36510722-gods-of-jade-and-shadow">Gods of Jade and Shadow</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088550.Silvia_Moreno_Garcia">Silvia Moreno-Garcia</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2848822849">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Ohhhh, I really loved this book. I did not want it to end. The books starts out with a young girl who is treated as a housekeeper by her family, who opens a forbidden trunk to reveal the bones of a God. The God is a God of Death but a very reasonable guy. The quest is to find some hidden items. I hate to say more for fear of revealing anything but I would highly recommend this book. Again, I did not want this book to end and when it did it was a satisfying ending. I received a arc for an honest review from Netgalley
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5483119-sherry">View all my reviews</a>

Of course a dark fairy tale based on mythology sounds attractive. Add to that the fact that it’s written by the author of Signal to Noise and the fact that it’s set in the roaring 20s and the mythology it’s based on is Aztecan and it’s a perfect sell. And while it may not have been a perfect read, it was pretty freaking good. Does the story of a mortal going on a road trip with a follower neglected deity and encountering other similar deities forgotten by their believers and forced to live among them as equals sound familiar at all? It should. It was a superb work of fiction eventually turned into a pretty decent tv show by Starz. This isn’t to say Jade and Shadow isn’t its own thing. There are undeniable resemblances, but it certainly does enough to distinguish itself as an original (enough) work of fiction. The protagonist here is a young woman of an initially undetermined, but later placed at 18 years of age. Her life went down Cinderella’s way since her father’s passing, she is now not much more than a servant in her grandfather’s estate, having to put up with her brute of a cousin. One day she finds a key and opens a trunk and inadvertently frees a ruler (or co ruler) of the Mayan Underworld and together they set off on a road trip to restore him to his throne. There is plenty of adventure, some seemingly inevitable romance and, best of all, fascinating Mayan mythology. It even also works as historical fiction, Mexico (and US) in the 1920s were interesting, exciting even. Casiopea is a charismatic strong young woman, someone with a prototypical heroic character arc. She definitely carries the book with confidence and poise. The descriptive narration is very good too. It’s definitely an entertaining fun read, I’ve enjoyed it. But here are some random thoughts…what is the target audience precisely? The author categorically denied this being a YA fiction, but it certainly can be one. Casiopea is not only young, she seems to have been written much younger than her years, especially prior to her makeover and travels. The book is well written and suitable for proper adults, but certainly seems YA appropriate. Also, the romance in there…I’m not sure it was necessary. It seems to be dragging the story to the YA level. Actually come to think of it, it seems I would have liked more emotional complexity and maturity from the plot, but is that even a reasonable expectation with this sort of fantasy? And I’m not even that much into fantasy. This was more of a fairy tale for me. Fairy tales often feature young characters. Maybe that’s how it works. Maybe I’m overthinking it. It was fun while it lasted, slightly long, but read well and quickly and passed the time very nicely. The book had a certain exotic charm to it, undeniably. Plus I absolutely love all things mythology related. And I’m sure similar minded readers will enjoy this book also. Much like a road trip, it certainly takes you away for a time on (in this case quite literally) magical adventure. Thanks Netgalley.

NetGalley was kind enough to send me a copy of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Beautiful Ones last year, and they’ve done it again with God of Jade and Shadow. As with The Beautiful Ones, my favorite part of Gods of Jade and Shadow was how each character was distinctly and uniquely themselves and, above all, human.

From the headstrong Casiopea who is determined to hold her own against both gods and men, to her cousin Martin, unwillingly thrust into the action, each character is so beautifully, lovingly rendered with every strength and every flaw carefully revealed at just the right moment. I love the way that Moreno-Garcia grows her characters–so many books that I read have the black and white lines of their characters clearly drawn. He is evil, she is good, and never the twain shall meet is the usual progression, but in Gods of Jade and Shadow, the lines get greyer and greyer, blending into each character to give them new and often surprising depths.

Perhaps you want to hate poor Martin, but I couldn’t always. Perhaps you want to like Casiopea the whole time, but I didn’t. If you want clearly defined characters, this may not be the book for you. But if you want characters who feel and hate and love just as strongly as you do and who are just as infuriating at times, you may want to give it a try.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia will be published on July 23, 2019 by Del Rey.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Casiopea is tired of disrespect from her family. So when she opens a strange chest and reawakens the Mayan God of Death, she sees it as an opportunity to get out and find her destiny. It turns out her fate is now entwined with the strange god, and he sends her on a journey to help restore him to the throne of the underworld.

There is so much to love about this dark, historical fantasy. The mythological inspiration gives it a great feel, and the descriptions of 1920s Mexico are really engaging. I had a little trouble getting into it and felt like the characters weren't fully formed, but the ending really worked. Overall, definitely an enjoyable read, and I love the inspiration.

When I had initially read the synopsis for Gods of Jade and Shadow, I knew, I hoped anyways- that it was going to be something special. And it is. It really, really is. I loved this!

Set in the 1920's in Mexico, spectacularly researched in Mayan and Mexican mythology and folklore, blending into modernity and the Jazz age.
We meet Casiopea, a strong willed woman, stuck in a position of servitude and drudgery by her wealthy relations. She caters to her mean spirited and harsh grandfather, resented and tormented by her jealous male cousin Martin. Living in Uukumil, a small town (her family are the wealthiest in it), and Martin, rude, and arrogant than ever is set to inherit everything.
Her only hope is the promise of a thousand pesos her grandfather might leave upon his passing. So she can escape to a place that is more than what narrow minded town of Uukumil has to offer. Feeling trapped and caged by her options. Beneath the boot of her relatives. She longs for more.

Upon releasing a trapped Mayan God a Lord of Xibalba , she finds herself in places she never thought could have existed or imagined she would ever visit. And at the center of a long feud between two brothers of the Underworld, her own life hangs in a precarious bargain, and the very future of the world dangles in the balance.

This was a journey of life, self discovery, humanity and what it means to walk along the side of death and see the beauty in it.

Please consider walking the Black Road alongside Casiopea and Hun-Kame when Gods of Jade and Shadow is published July 23rd!

A hauntingly beautiful fairy-tale. Moreno-Garcia masterfully paints a vivid, colorful, atmospheric world populated with well-drawn characters.

This book was brilliant! Atmospheric in all the ways I was looking for in a book. Silvia Moreno-Garcia knocks it out of the park once again.

I almost gave this up after the first few chapters but I’m glad I didn’t. Where I don’t think the characters and the history/mythology was fleshed out as much as it could have been, it was still an interesting story. I would have liked a little bit more.. development, I guess, though.

The ancient god of death has been imprisoned by his brother so when a young Mexican girl releases his spirit from a hidden box, she is bound to him and must help him find his missing body parts as well as take on his brother in the underworld. A clever mix of Alladin and Cinderella with wonderful Mayan myths this book is the Mayan mythology/fantasy we have been missing. This fairy tale is set in 1920s Mexico and is richly depicted with all the sights, jazz sounds and lush scenery from rural villages to dense jungle to the mecca of Mexico City.
Casiopea is a heroine like no other. She is basically an indentured servant who has the fortune or misfortune of discovering her families dealings with the underworld gods. Innocent but not without dreams and a need for adventure, Casiopea is in awe of, irritated, and a little in love with Hun-Kame to whom her destiny is tied to. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has brought to us a rich fantasy underworld mythical proportions and paired it seamlessly to jazz age Mexico. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

This book had everything that would make me pick it up. The first thing being a death deity, the second a girl having some sort of relationship with said death deity. But don't think this story is like that of Hades and Persephone cause it's not; it's a bittersweet story where the journey of the book was my absolute favorite. And seeing their relationship blossom was the best part.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is set during 1920's Mexico. The Jazz Age as it is known and Casiopea is one of our main protagonists. Along with the Mayan god of death Hun-Kamé who tasks Casiopea on an adventure to get back his throne and kingdom from his brother who stole it from him. Told in third person, we get to see just how things flow from the protagonists to the antagonists.

Casiopea is strong willed and so stubborn that I immediately fell in love with her. She would often get in trouble for talking back, squaring her shoulder's and sass talking back to her cousin Martín. Their relationship is so complex that you see just how similar it mirrors the relationship Hun-Kamé has with his brother Vucub-Kamé.

What I loved most about this book other than Casiopea and Hun-Kamé was the backdrop of the places they adventured to. Each description of the towns they visited made me feel as if I were actually there experiencing with them. It was so magnificent and so utterly beautiful that I read this book in less than 24 hours. There is magic from the very first page and I knew right then that this book was going to be unforgettable.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is the story of a young woman, a poor relation to a well-to-do family, and her journey across both Jazz Age Mexico and the Mayan underworld with the handsome and fearsome God of Death.

Casiopea has long yearned for an escape from her life of drudgery in her grandfather’s home, where she is not much more than an unpaid servant. One day, after being denied a chance to take part in a family outing, she opens a mysterious box and accidentally releases the Mayan God of Death from captivity. He convinces her to assist him in his quest to regain his throne from his duplicitous brother before time runs out.

This is a fairy tale/historical/fantasy/adventure novel of the highest order. Moreno-Garcia has a deft touch with description – frenetic, overwhelming !920s Mexico City comes alive as does mysterious, darkly beautiful and horrible Xibalba, the Mayan underworld. Her characters are finely drawn, as well, with understandable motivations, even when they’re in the wrong.

It’s a beautiful story and I am so delighted to have had the chance to read and learn about a time and culture I know so little about.

This review will be posted on my blog/Instagram/Goodreads which can all be found under the name TheGeekishBrunette. Links to each review will be provided when it is published on July 15th. Thank you!



Title: Gods of Jade and Shadow
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Sci-fi/Fantasy
Publication Date: July 23rd, 2019

eARC provided by publisher (Random House Publishing Group) through NetGalley. All Opinions are my own.

I was really excited to dive into this book because of its take on Mexican folklore. It is an uncommon one to be written about. It also being in the Jazz Age was another plus for me! If those two things haven't convinced you then look at that gorgeous cover! The colors are everything.

The plot, of course, is full of Mexican folklore that weaves itself into a unique and attention grabbing fantasy. The main character, Casiopea, is on a quest to help the god of death take back his throne from his brother.

Casiopea is far from being a pushover and even when certain circumstances arise with Hun-Kamé (god of death), she still holds her ground and does it the way she wants to. I loved her character and the attitude she brought along with teaching him a thing or two about human emotions. As for Hun-Kamé, he is stubborn, hard-headed, and sometimes just doesn't get it. I mean, he is a a god after all. He grows on you throughout the course of the book and I loved his character development.

The romance in this book was one that I found myself enjoying because it didn't just occur out of the blue. There was build-up and that is something I tend to need to make it more believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and hope others will enjoy it as much as I have! If you are a fan of folklore, definitely check this one out!

5 out of 5 stars

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of the most talented writers I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Her insight into the human psyche is unparalleled and her characters and settings feel beyond real. I adored her last novel, The Beautiful Ones, but Gods of Jade and Shadow completely blew me away.

Set in the magical world of Yucatán in the 1920s, Gods of Jade and Shadow tells a story of a poor young woman who becomes an unlikely ally to a dethroned God of Death who wants to take his throne back and punish his twin brother. It is a story of growing up, of finding your own path, learning to forgive and understand and of acceptance. While the book does have adventures and there are some very exciting action scenes, this book is mainly about a journey, a physical and an emotional one. Moreno-Garcia does this so well, that I could honestly feel and touch these characters while reading. And the world she created! Ah it is beyond beautiful and magical and magnificent. It pays homage to the Mayan culture with incredible creatures, dark magic, crystal pyramids and palaces set in the land of death - just BEYOND.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys strong female characters, incredible character development, magic and who loved The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden and Uprooted by Naomi Novik.

To start, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC of this novel in exchange for my personal thoughts and opinions.

I greatly enjoyed this book for the most part. I found it to be unique and original in its choice of mythology despite not being completely unique in its premise and plot. The plot has a fairly standard mortal helps god out by completing a series of quest that for some reason the god cannot do themselves. Throughout the different quests they meet interesting and unique side characters and have smaller challenges that they must overcome before the larger one. It's a fairly standard formula for a novel and there isn't anything wrong with that. The thing that makes this novel unique is the mythology that it has chosen to weave around itself and set it apart.

The novel is loosely based off of the Mayan epic Popol Vuh, which tells of the Mayan creation myth and the Hero twins of their culture. I haven't read very many, if any, novels that are based in Mayan mythology. I found learning about the culture interesting, even if it is in a fictitious narrative. It has inspired me to look and see if I can pick up some more books with Mayan culture first and foremost. I knew a little solely because of my archaeology degree and interest in most things history, but this novel reminded me of an interest in Mayan culture that I had forgotten. Moreno-Garcia did some research before the novel in terms of the Mayan culture, but also for what Mexico was like back in the 1920s and the combination of the two gave this novel a really interesting atmosphere and vibrant visuals.

However, despite these two things, I found the pacing and the character development to be a bit lacking for me. Like I said this is a fairly standard formula for a god and mortal friend story. However, I found that the pacing with small tasks building up to the larger one to be a bit slow. This could be because it included a few different POVs that were unnecessary and actually didn't help build the tension. It could also just be because I felt that there was one side task too many. Things are better in groups of three and this one had four.

Also, I don't actually feel like any of the characters really developed in this novel, except for maybe one side character and it wasn't even written throughout the novel. It just mostly happens at the end. I acknowledge that this is a standalone so there isn't going to be more time for lengthy character development, however, I still want my characters to go through some. Casiopea, the main character was perfectly adequate. She's likeable, "feisty", and smarter than she realizes. However, other than maybe growing in confidence a bit, she didn't really change too much as a character. She basically sprung from the first page as someone who was made for the journey at hand. And the gods are well... gods. They only find bits of their missing humanity.

Another side note that I want to mention is that this is supposed to be an adult novel. However, I can see why some places want to characterize this as YA. The main character is a little young for your average adult novel and the author never takes the novel to the fully dark place that it could go, since it is dealing with Mayan death gods. It does have some dark imagery involved, but it still takes on a light enough tone and there isn't anything super explicit to make it an adult novel in my eyes. The romance is barely there and certainly nothing explicit happens, there is minor language used sparingly, it has some grim and vivid descriptions of the underworld, but that is about it. There is one scene, which I cannot mention without giving too much away, that is perhaps why it is categorized as an adult novel, but I think that older teens would be okay reading it as well.

Overall, I would recommend this for anyone looking for a quick fantasy read. Especially if they want a standalone.

A similar, but perhaps expanded upon review will go up on my blog on the 20th of July.

Reading Gods of Jade and Shadow at first was a bit like reading Homer or more currently, Tolkien as it seemed it would be very difficult going. Different languages, hard to pronounce names, countries and times I knew little about. Yet as it went along it became more of a fairy tale, very similar to Cinderella. But darker, full of gods of the underworld and death.

This story is very deep, very intense and very beautiful. I loved the world creation, the characters, not to mention the depth of description and language.

Casiopea made a wonderful Cinderella. But a Cinderella for today. A Cinderella we could all aspire to. Hun-Kame was an unusual hero, being a god of death, twin to a more usual villain,Vucub-Kame, and a king without his crown. The evil "stepson" cousin Martin, played his role well, being petulant and selfish and greedy as only an evil cousin can be. And the even more evil master of the house, the grandfather, Cirilo Leyva, was a nasty, bitter old man, as fits the traditional "stepmother".

Put this cast of characters together, weave a tale of a misused girl, an evil grandfather, a vicious cousin, a cruel, greedy usurper and a god who needs to win back his crown, and you have the makings of a fairytale for the ages. This was so well written, so fully fleshed out, so vivid in its detail and so engaging in its dialog that I'd be hard-pressed not to recommend it to all.

Excellent job, Silvia Moreno-Garcia. You have placed yourself firmly in the company of the Brothers Grimm. So very well done indeed!