The most downtrodden member of an influential family, Casiopea Tun dreams of a life far from her bullying cousin and endless chores but she doesn’t imagine that her much anticipated escape will be in the company of a Mayan death god or that her continued existence will rely on them completing a dangerous quest.

I am so here for the spate of fantasy fiction dabbling in less familiar mythology. Ideal for the many among you who love Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, the prose perhaps lacks some of Arden’s lyrical grace but is more than made up for by the seamless integration of 1920s Mexico and Mayan myth. A compelling, female and decidedly no-nonsense protagonist, a dark and twisty plot and an array of beautiful settings, each vividly brought to life.

I will admit that it does feel a little formulaic. It is essentially a series of increasingly challenging boss fights sandwiched between various modes of transport and brief (but highly enjoyable) bursts of character development but I thoroughly enjoyed it regardless. Highly recommend and very deserving of all the praise it’s received thus far.

This was actually my second of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s book (which I actually didn’t realise until just now) and definitely won’t be my last! This book’s official publication date is the 23rd of July.

Big thank you to @quercusbooks and @netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is such an interesting, intricate fantasy novel that has so much potential.

I thought that this book was a very well thought out novel especially since it was a debut novel, I felt like the world made sense, I liked the political intrigue and overall, enjoyed the characters.

One of my issues was that I felt like there should have been more historical elements! It was set up as this historical fiction fantasy novel but I just didn’t feel like I connected with the historical elements of the story.

I think that the author has potential and I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future! I’d recommend this book if you’re looking for a solid fantasy novel that will have you guessing up until the end.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow is a vibrant, visceral look at the duality of Mexican folklore; the beauty, the majesty, the elegance and the underlying and constant darkness that runs through the myths and the figures that it spawns. The novel’s main protagonist is flung unexpectedly into a world in which ghosts are real and wish to feed on the living; witches can be florists and sorcerers can run hotels - accompanied, through it all, by a Lord of Death.
Through her interactions with the mystical figure, his characterisation and that of all of the deities in the novel, becomes a reflection of humanity, in all of its good and bad aspects, to reflect - even in its most exaggerated form - the realities of the human condition.
Its setting in Mexico in the 1920’s only succeeds in exacerbating this duality: the expanses of newly-imported fashion trends, the constant parties and the looming reality that the decade will soon descend into the horrific, ricocheting consequences of their northern neighbour’s market crash and the Great Depression. The bright lights of a changing world is employed as a rather brilliant contrast with the darkness of Xibalba, two planes that almost exist on top of one another. I think this is because the 1920s has always been seen as a turning-point in the nature of modern history; a decade in which old traditions are pushed aside in favour of glittering new excitements.
A generation of people who were coming of age in a very different world; one with very different rules.
This plays on the fact that, at the time of the novel’s setting, Mexican folklore has been largely forgotten and abandoned by the people who once dedicated their entire lives to them. Or rather, that older generation has died off and the one who are rising to the fold, no longer feel its pull. Therefore, God of Jade and Shadow almost becomes a sort of period urban fantasy, in which the reader sees how the old myths have shakily incorporated themselves into a world that doesn’t quite believe in them anymore.
For all of these reasons and more, the novel’s building-blocks through the use of this mythology, means that it allows for a twisting, constantly exciting story with an unmistakably sharp-edge looming in even its most innocuous scenes.

I liked this book so much, I decided to be part of it’s book tour, Gods Of Jade And Shadow is the new book from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, set in Mayan mythology this book sees us getting to know Casiopea Tun and the underworld of the Mayan Gods, and it makes for an incredible read.

From the very start of this book the characterisation is so good, Casiopea’s story and life is drawn so brilliantly, though you may get some Cinderella vibes from the beginning of this book, Casiopea is so much more than a trope in this book as she given so much character throughout this story - this is especially clear at the beginning of the book with the conflict she has with her cousin and as the book goes on, I feel Casiopea is made to be a bit more than a romantic interest too, which I feel can only be a good thing - it reminds me of Hades and Persephone.

Reminiscent in moments of books such as American Gods, Gods Of Jade And Sorrow takes us into an underworld of Mayan demons and gods and it is another reason why I loved this book. How they live in the shadows and try and gain power in a world becoming more secular makes for a fascinating read - just because no one believes doesn’t mean the gods stop existing and how the characters work in that world makes for an interesting read.

Though this book can I feel be a bit slow in moments, this is a fantastic own voices story of Mayan Mythology, with a dark edge that brings you a brilliant and nuanced female character and is definitely a book you have to read when it comes out in August. I feel like this book could be the start of a great thing, and I want to know what happens next to Casiopea - I think if you like Daughter Of Smoke And Bone, you’d like this.

https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2019/7/18/gods-of-jade-and-shadow-by-silvia-moreno-garcia

My relationship with myth has changed as I grown older. I used as a child to be more interested in the magic and the battles but as I’ve got older, I think what I find more fascinating is the fact that the gods, heroes and mysterious beasts all actually reflect human nature in their own personalities. They can represent both our best and worst traits at the same time. In this luxurious tale Silvia Moreno-Garcia provides a tale that reflects a young woman coming of age and at the same time shows that movement of seeing Gods as inhuman to reflecting ourselves back at us and remind us that humanity on a good day can do so much more.

In late twenties Mexico Casiopea Tun is forced to stay with her grandfather’s family and as she and her widowed mother are viewed as a family disgrace - forced into being unpaid servants. Casiopea must shine shoes and placate not just her bullying Grandfather but Martin her cousin who delights in antagonising her then bringing about the family wrath when she retaliates. Her future looks bleak. Confined to the family home one day she investigates a chest at the end of Grandfather’s bed; it reveals a set of bones and once touched the bones become a man who announces himself as Hun-Kame a Lord of Death (a Mayan Death God). He has been imprisoned for nearly fifty years when his twin brother Vucub-Kame usurped and imprisoned him. Hun-Kame if missing a hand, an arm and a powerful piece of magic that prevents him assuming his previous godhood sustained by a unique bond with Casiopea he announces they must now go across Mexico to find these items then take on his brother one more time.

It’s tempting when you initially start to read this novel to think it’s a much younger focused adventure as Casiopea even remarks to herself that her life as a servant resembles the start of the fairy-tale. But this is quite deceiving as the story progresses, we see a bigger more adult mythic palette reveal itself . This is a Mexico where ghosts are real and wish to feed on the living; witches can look to be florists and sorcerers can run hotels. Its much more a period urban fantasy as we see how the old myths have incorporated themselves into a world that doesn’t quite believe in them anymore. One aspect of this is the battle between Hun-Kame who feels the Gods must accept that for now they are no longer revered as they once were and Vucub-Kame who wants to bring about the return of temples and adulation. This really is a story where the future fate of the world depends upon the outcome. For Casiopea she starts to realise that how women are treated varies across the country – in her home she is a girl forced to dress hiding herself under shawls and yet in the wider world she can see women enjoying showing themselves and she starts to realise she herself has her own beauty and confidence that back home is viewed as a sin in itself

Garcia-Moreno however puts the relationship between Casiopea and Hun-Kame at the heart of the novel. Initially Casiopea is depicted as a strong-willed woman perhaps prone to disagree on principle with a command while Hun-Kame is an aloof almost dispassionate god who views humans as tools or pets. However partly due to their bond (Hun-Kame must feed on Casiopea’s mortality to live) but due to their interactions they learn from each other. The god must start to see there is more to life than endless games for power and Casiopea starts to realise that despite the claims of her family she is an intelligent strong woman who can do so much more than polish their shoes. There is a beautiful ongoing theme of looking above the world and at the wider stars. These two characters learn to go beyond their enforced boundaries, and they realise they can do so much more and ultimately that their relationship is far more than just to succeed in a quest together. Garcia-Moreno makes scenes dancing and just standing in the sea talking under a night sky just as powerful as tackling ghosts in an eerie darkened room By the end of the story we are in a true epic race against time in the land of the dead known as Xibalba where a Black Road tries to confuse and destroy the wanderers upon it. A great fantasy myth with lots of heart and as all the best myths have a romance.

The other major plus is Garcia’s writing. I’ve now read several of her work and she is a compelling writer with a beautiful eye for character and using the depiction of the world around to echo the story. Here 1920’s Mexico really comes alive as a place most European readers will be unaware of such as hotels where Pancho Villa shot the walls to the mythic land of the dead where bird skeletons and jaguars roam. I think this really opened my eyes up to Mexico’s recent and more ancient history and it’s a place that clearly blends all its histories into its current form.

This is an extremely impressive tale that immerses me in an epic quest and journey of discovery for two very different yet both powerful people who need the other to find themselves. I liked that a key theme here is learning from each other and that revenge while attractive is not always going to be the best answer. Humanity here is just as important as ancient magic. It is a truly spell bounding tale reminding me a lot of N K Jemisin’s Hundred Thousand Kingdoms with its treatment of gods. With a slight hint that further adventures could await I would be very happy to explore this wider world of myth hinted at. A beautifully brilliant story.

This book grew slowly on me and I couldn't help falling in love with the characters, the historical background and the plot.
The historical setting and the world building are unusual, it's an amazing mix of historical fiction and Mayan mythology that works really well and it's enthralling and entertaining.
Casiopea is a strong willed young woman that wants respect and is going through a life changing experience that alters her views on the world, religion and her place in the world.
Hun-Kamé, her counterpart, goes through great changes becoming human and discovering what being human means.
They are well written and fleshed out and there's a lot of character development as they change with any adventure and their changes are part of the charm of this book.
The entire cast of character is fleshed out and well written and they're all interesting and fascinating, from Martin to Vucub-Kamé, from the various spirits and mythical beings.
The style of writing is dry, almost literary and I liked the humour and how the writer convey the character emotions.
I learned a lot about Mayan mythology and Mexico in the twenties, now I'm tempted to read the Popol Vuh to learn more.
It was a great reading experience, I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Casiopea Tun dreams of a life beyond her small Mexico town until she accidentally releases a God of Death and her time is soon limited, as she is now bound to the Mayan God, Hun-Kamé, and must help him regain his missing body parts in order to reclaim his throne in Xibalba (Mayan Underground) from his thieving brother. Failure means Casiopea will lose herself and with the clock slowly ticking, together, they embark on a life-changing journey that has Casiopea leaving the clutches of her strict grandfather and experience an adventure of a lifestyle.

The central tale focuses on Casiopea and her journey from sheltered girl to a confident person who rediscovers the world beyond her small village. Her determination to go beyond what is expected of her is entertaining and thrilling. A tale of a young woman and a God with their fates tied so close together, the world they discover takes centre stage. Casiopea and Vacub-Kamé hurry though Mexico in the 1920s, beginning in Yucatán and onwards into northern Mexico. The bright lights of a changing world is a brilliant contrast with the darkness of Xibalba, crafty magic and the mischievous demons that reside beside the civilians. I really enjoyed the level of detail as you can really imagine the world unfold in front you as Casiopea experiences it all for the first time.

I really loved the inclusion of Casiopea’s cousin. Like Casiopea, he is forced to embark on a journey to bring his cousin back home. I love that it gave deeper depth to how he has come to hate his cousin and where is narcissistic tendencies comes from, and how easily things could’ve been different between them if it wasn’t for their upbringing. I wasn’t a massive fan of Vacub-Kamé, Hun-Kamé’s brother, and his chapters, but appreciate how it showed a difference in leadership between the brothers and added a lot to the major theme of family that runs through this novel.

In terms of pacing, it was quite even between the journeys to each body parts, but I do have to admit, each obstacle does give up rather easily which was quite jarring considering the stakes and risks presented to us. However, I did really enjoy each side character that we meet. Most we don’t ever meet again but were definitely memorable enough to enjoy. I especially really adored the lull moments between each trip where Casiopea and Hun-Kamé get to know each other. I’ve never been a big fan of romances where one person is like a thousand years older than the one, but each to their own, I guess.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I think any other reader will enjoy how Moreno-Garcia’s blend of mythology and history. Gods of Jade and Shadow was an enchanting story of self-discovery with an ending that is satisfying but could hint at a potential sequel. If so, I would gladly read whatever comes next.

'She pressed all her fantasies like dried flowers in books, carefully hidden where neither Martín nor Cirilo would see them. Rarely, late at night, she allowed herself to contemplate them. If she'd declared them in a loud voice Casiopea would have let them take root inside her, and she could not have that.'
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Casiopea has always dreamed of escaping to the city and creating a new life for herself, but she is stuck doing chores for her awful grandfather. One day when curiosity gets the better of her, she opens her grandfather's secret chest and accidentally resurrects Hun-Kamé the God of Death. Now with a small shard of his bone implanted in her hand, she must help him find the missing pieces he has lost in order to make him whole again, or else he will absorb all of her life and she will die.
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I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did, from the second chapter you end up engulfed in this magically dark world, that is equal parts scary and enticing. Casiopea is such an amazingly strong female protagonist, she always speaks her mind and isn't afraid to step on anyone's toes. She may only be a mortal but I wish I had her guts. Moreno-Garcia creates wonderfully real characters and weaves Mexican folklore into this novel so effortlessly. I highly recommend this to fans of Circe and the Shades of Magic series.

First, the protagonist, Casiopea Tun, is fantastic. Perhaps a little bit too proud, a little bit too arrogant, but she is pragmatic, focused and plucky, without feeling like she has been constructed just for the reader. She is also the perfect counterpoint to Hun-Kamé, a Maya death god and once Lord of Xibalba (the Mayan underworld), whom she accidentally releases from captivity.

The growing respect between these two characters from very different backgrounds is actually quite beautiful, and I loved the emphasis on Hun-Kamé gradually developing his own mortality - whether by choice, or by his own connection to Casiopea. 

The counterpoint to these two are Martín, Casiopea's cousin, and Vucub-Kamé, Hun-Kamé's twin brother, who had deposed his brother and is now Lord of Xibalba. Neither of these two are 'villains' in a traditional sense, but are almost caught up in trying to carve out their own story amongst the rivalry between the each pair. Much of Mayan mythology is based around pairs or twins, and Casiopea and Martín are the mortal counterpoint to this. Even better, Casiopea later wonders whether she has been paired up with the 'right' god based on the disatisfaction that she experienced at home - it was great for a character to actually question their loyalties.

The setting; 1920s Mexico. I loved reading about the contrast between Casiopea's isolated village comapred to the bubbling energy of the more modern metropoleis that they visited. And as Casiopea and Hun-Kamé travel across Mexico, they encounter creatures and sorcerers from Mayan myths, living amongst mortals. This had a very Gaiman-esque feel and I really enjoyed it.

On the downside - the travel between places was very much driven by the story. There were no choices presented or autonomy for the characters (except for the ultimate choice). This did feel quite 'led' but does fit in perfectly with storytelling tradition, where it makes perfect sense for each character to continue to follow the story.

Moreno-Garcia's writing style is both flowery and straightforward. There is no messing around when talking about the mortals, their motivations and experiences, and, in true storyteller fashion, she often steps away from the story at the end of each chapter, to write something poetic and beautiful. That technique worked really well for me and reminded me of A.S. Byatt's modern fairy tales.

Overall, I loved reading about mythological characters that were new to me, in a setting that was so energetic and exciting. I didn't quite know how this would all end and was very pleased with how it did end - a pragmatic Casiopea would want nothing less.

A happy 4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Overall this was a decent read. I enjoyed myself reading it and I liked the notes of culture and mythology.

I don't think that this book was something incredible, though. It felt like the characters didn't have much depth to them, we didn't really get to know them throughout the story. I also think that there wasn't much depth or a particular point to the story, which ultimately dragged the book down quite a bit.

We go back in time to 1920s Mexico, where young Casiopea Tun is little more than an overworked servant, forced to be at the beck and call of her mean grandfather and cruel cousin. Penniless, her father dead, she serves them based on the promise that she’ll one day inherit enough to make her own way in the world, but she dreams of being free. One day, she opens a mysterious chest in her grandfather’s room and frees a God. From there, we’re transported into a world of mythology and fantasy, where tales of urban folklore drive the story.

She must help the God of Death to restore himself to power, or she will die. She’s now tied to him and has no choice but to go on a grand adventure. She will experience many of the things she dreamed of – but certainly not under the circumstances she ever imagined! Of course, they have an enemy – for the Lord of Xibalba has a brother who had imprisoned him, and that brother will now use Casiopea’s cousin to try and thwart her at every step.

Written in a very traditional folklore style, Gods of Jade and Shadow felt utterly authentic. It’s a unique book about transformations, humanity, desire and adventure, quite different to what I usually read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Five Stars.

I'm so glad people recommend this book. I love stories based on folk and fairy tales, mythology and the like, and I can't really think of many that I've read that are based around Central American mythos.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is the story of Casopiea Tun, a Yucatan local who is plunged into a game of life and death between...The Gods of Xibalba, the gods of death. When she frees, Hun-Kame, one of the gods of death.

Who has been killed. By his brother, Vacub-Kame, the god of death.

Gods are weird.

Anywho, we're taken along a journey of the mythical, encountering all sorts of myths and legends, each holding a part of Hun-Kame that his brother hid away. As they travel, our god becomes more human each day, and as these things go, a bond is formed between mortal and immortal. Anyway, that's enough for a plot summary. It's very much in the fetch quest vein, however I enjoyed getting to see all of the characters they met along the way. They're only shown in snippets, so not a huge amount of characterisation is done, but enough that they don't seem two dimensional.

As for our protagonists, Casopiea is a girl who's always wanted to leave her town, and is suddenly thrown in over her head. Throughout the story we have her questioning things all the new things happening to her, wondering what she'll do with her life once this is over. And then we have the arrogant god Hun-Kame, who as the story progresses, becomes more and more human. I liked it.

I would have liked a little more detail on the things they encounter, and the mythology of the world, but that's just me as someone who knows nothing. As it stands, it's probably a lot more spelled out than some of the Greek styled books I've read. And it does feel very like it's being told as a fairytale almost. As if they're creating their own legend. The closest books I've come to it would probably be Benedict Patrick's Yarnsworld novels. Which I think is a huge plus.

And the ending was perfect.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is inspired by Mexican folklore and based around Mayan mythology, which is not written about very often, but it really should be. From this book alone, I want to know more about the demons that lurk around the world and the different Gods. Moreno-Garcia links religion and mythology together seamlessly by showing the power of words and belief in what seems improbable.

Life through the eyes of Casiopea changes from dull to vibrant through a simple prick of a finger after noticing a black chest in her grandfather's bedchamber. This takes her on a journey past the borders of her confined small town to the world that is embracing a new revolution known as the roaring ’20s.

Casiopea is a headstrong female with such curiosity that causes her to open a forgotten chest and reawakens death himself (just another Tuesday in Uukumil you know). Lord of Xibalba, God of Death, King of Shadows; who also prefers to be called Hun-Kamé, had been decapitated and put in a chest by his twin brother, Vucub-Kamé. The only chance he has to regain his throne is retrieving the missing parts of himself while trying not to become mortal while in the Middleworld. Casiopea has to follow him on the journey as a piece of his bone had been lodged into her finger when she opened the chest and he is the only person who can take it out unless she wants to cut her hand off. What a great way to start the day and a good excuse to leave the house… This journey takes them throughout Mexico and out of their comfort zones leading them to have to rely on each other.

“Here lodges a shard of bone, a tiny part of me. Even now it provides nourishment. Every moment that passes, that nourishment, that life , flows out of you into me. You will be drained entirely, it shall kill you, unless I pull the bone out.”

In a time where dresses and hairstyles are getting shorter and the dancing is getting quicker, Casiopea dreams of exploring the world on her own but is held back by her family. There is a great contrast between Casiopea's relationship with her cousin, Martín, and the Hero twins.

In both relationships, you can see the strain of rivalry and inadequacy when comparing them. It was great how the book changed the point of view between characters as you could see the motivation behind each persons actions and gave the book more depth.

This book builds a world that is vibrant with life, rich in culture, and followed by haunting shadows that makes your spine tingle. Each character and each location is so beautifully constructed that you are completely immersed in this extraordinary book. You feel like you are with them every step of the way, not just watching from a distance.

"The imagination of mortals shaped the gods, carving their faces and their myriad forms, just as the water molds the stones in its path, wearing them down through the centuries. Imagination had also fashioned the dwellings of the gods." 

God of Jade and Shadow is a page-turner that immerses you in a forgotten culture and it is a coming-of-age story about finding what you want really want in the most unlikely of circumstances. Silvia Moreno-Garcia truly has a gift for writing that should be acknowledged more frequently as words have such a great power in this book as they transport both characters and readers into another world.

[To be published July 19th 2019 on The Nerd Daily]

Gods of Jade and Shadow feels like a cross between Cinderella, Jane Eyre, and Mayan folklore. It all combines together making up what feels like a fresh fairytale set during the Jazz age in a small Mexican town. Casiopea spends her days cleaning her grandfather's house dreaming of a far away life when she stumbles across a chest that will change her life forever. Upon opening it, Casiopea accidentally releases the ancient Mayan god of death who offers her a deal resulting in an adventure. The story is beautifully written with a fantastic setting. Readers of fantasy/fairy-tales who are looking for something fresh in the genre will want to check this one out!

4.5 stars


Gods of Jade and Shadow was such a surprising book! When I read the plot I found it very interesting, so when I had the chance to read an advanced copy I was very excited! The story is inspired by Maya mythology and it is set in Mexico and follows the quest and the journey of Casiopea and the God of Death. I loved these two characters, so different from each other and yet they slowly came to an understanding, building a relationship that killed me, literally. I also loved the setting and the writing style, which was very lyrical and captivating. The finale left me sobbing and even if I know is the most logical ending, I hoped in some twist until the very end. All in all, I totally recommend this book if you want to read something original and otherworldly.

Not only does Gods of Jade and Shadow have such a striking cover, it has a very interesting story. It is set in Mexico, during the Jazz age. Our main character Casiopea lives with her mother and family but gets put into the role of cleaning more often than not. She dreams of a life of her own.
When she butts head once again with her arrogant cousin, her grandfather punishes her by leaving her behind on a family trip. As she cleans his room she comes across a chest. She opens it and releases the Mayan God of Death. Together they go on an adventure to recover a throne and to save Casoipea’s life. In more ways than one.

So here are 5 reasons to read this book:
1- I am going to start off with one of the most striking things about this book and that is the writing. Moreno-Garcia has a way with words. At first I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the book as a whole but then she just captured me with the words, continuously drawing me back into the story.
2 Casiopea is a great character to follow. She is very aware of her situation. Her mother having married and created offspring with an outsider to the family. After losing him they moved back to her mother’s family but they never did end up welcoming them back with open arms. She is stuck in the house, being used as a maid. Even though she dreams of a better life she isn’t consumed by it. She is practical and realistic enough to know that just dreaming isn’t going to get her anywhere. She also hasn’t lost her spirit despite her situation. She will not continuously bow down to her cousin and grandfather. It also makes her interactions with the Mayan God of Death, Hun-Kamé, interesting as he is not used to be spoken to like that.
3 Another great reason to pick up this book is the setting. How many books do you know that take place in Mexico. Especially during the Jazz Age. It was interesting to see the differences between Casiopea’s home town and Mexico-City that has flourished full of dance. But those aren’t all the places we get to see of Mexico.
4 Adding onto that is of course the Mayan folklore that gives us Hun- Kamé and his brother Vucub-Kamé. An interesting battle of wills as to who should be the ruler of Xibalba, the Underworld. There are bits and pieces of more characters and things from the folklore that give extra depth.
5 Lastly I’d say the romance is another reason to pick up this book. There is a certain slow build up between the two characters as they travel together. It wasn’t until they got together that I realized I really liked their bond. But it is also bitter sweet and I appreciated the realistic feel of the ending.

The publisher, Quercus Books, kindly offered me an advanced reader copy (ARC) of Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia via NetGalley. Yet, this is an honest review of the book expressing my humble opinion.

S.A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass, said "This is historical fantasy at its best" and she couldn't be more right. Gods of Jade and Shadow is a masterful historical fantasy that is not merely one of the best in the genre but re-defines the genre. If there was a dictionary that described each genre, then Gods of Jade and Shadow would be the very definition of historical fantasy.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is written in 3rd person and offers skilled and eloquent narration, but the reader also feels closed to the main character at the same time. You immediately root for Casiopea, get invested in her journey, and you don't just want her to succeed. You need her to thrive. If you are not fan of 3rd person, like me, I'll tell you this: You won't even notice it. Gods of Jade and Shadow is perfection. I was in awe with every page I read.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is inspired by Mexican folklore and features Mayan mythology, and it is set in Mexico. The world-building is outstanding. The author has managed to weave so many details into the story. I don't have words to describe how extraordinary this book is.

Gods of Jade and Shadow is one of the best books I have ever read. The author is a master of prose and world-building. Gods of Jade and Shadow is outstanding and revolutionary.

5 stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Publisher: Quercus Books

TW: Graphic descriptions of death and sacrifice.

"Then 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. That would have been both silly and unlikely.”

Gods of Jade and Shadow is an astonishingly beautiful book. This is up there amongst one of my favourite books of all time and I strongly encourage everyone to read it. The way that the Mayan mythology and Mexican history is interwoven is nothing short of magical. I was entranced by the world building and could have stayed there for much longer.

Casiopea Tun aka Lady Tun aka Stone Maiden aka heroine of my heart, is glorious. Her strength lies in herself and her compassion is a shining beacon of wonder. She is a head strong young woman who knows she wants and deserves more than the hand that life has dealt her, she just didn’t think that her souls journey would be kicked off by being the handmaiden of Hun-Kamé, Lord of Xibalba. Even though things didn’t go as planned, and she wasn’t waiting around to be rescued, she delved headfirst into the mythmaking journey she had unwittingly signed up for. Throughout this journey she cemented the woman she wanted to be and I loved every single second of her story.

"Mortals have always been frightened of the night’s velvet embrace and the creatures that walk in it, and yet they find themselves mesmerized by it. Since all gods are born from the kernel of mortal hearts, it is no wonder Xibalba reflected this duality."

Hun-Kamé is the rightful Supreme Lord of Xibalba who fell victim to his twin brothers underhanded plotting to overthrow him. Stuck in a chest, missing several personal body parts and objects, he awaits to be brought back to exact his vengeance and reclaim his kingdom. Hun-Kamé has just as much soul searching to go through as Casiopea, and she opens up his eyes (and yes: his heart) to a world filled with dreams and compassion.

The ending of this book was beautiful and I am so glad it ended the way it did.

"I do not care about your crumbs.”

"You are the Lord Hun-Kamé, and you do care about Xibalba. And life may not be fair, but I must be fair. I can't turn away," she said.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Caseopia Tun is a reluctant servant to her family, particularly her miserable grandfather and her cruel cousin, who dreams of the freedom promised to her by her grandfather's death. It's a different kind of death that sweeps her out of her town when she becomes accidentally indentured to the god of death Hun-Kamé and is bound to follow him on his other-worldly quest to reclaim his throne and get revenge.

First off, I know very very little about Mexican culture or Mayan mythology other than the tiny snippets I remember from Horrible Histories. I also know next to nothing about the 1920's time-period, so if there were glaring cultural and historical inaccuracies, I probably missed them. But I really, really doubt that there were. Silvia Moreno-Garcia had me absolutely transported from my English flat all the way to the beautiful, colourful Mexican towns and cities this story sweeps through from the first page. The descriptions were detailed and beautiful, and I'm not a particularly visual person but I could feel the hot, painted tiles of Mérida and the deep, blistering shadows of Xibalba. I made a ridiculous amount of highlights in this book, because every passing paragraph was artfully put together. I'm half convinced that Silvia did some kind of quest for an ancient god, and got gifted a mastery over words as a reward.

Silvia handled the balance of deity-magic and mundane-humanity beautifully to create a true sense that mythology and reality are balanced on a knife's edge, which seems appropriate in a novel that thrives on its duality. There are parallels between Hun-Kamé/Vucub-Kamé and Martín, between the overworld and the underworld, and between godhood and humanity. I loved that Casiopea felt like an ordinary girl. She didn't have a strange and innate ability to wield a sword, or suddenly discovered powers halfway through the novel. Casiopea's magic comes from her humanity, and her greatest ability was her desire for freedom, equality and peace, even for those she dislikes.

I'm sure that there were facets of this novel that didn't strike me as deeply as they could, simply because I'm unfamiliar with Mayan mythology, and I'm convinced that I'm definitely pronouncing every single character and place name wrong in my head (sorry!), but I want to read more about this world I knew nothing about, and will absolutely be looking into Mayan mythology with the same gusto that I used to be taught about Norse and Greek mythology.

This had a lot of potential for me. Mythologies I've never read about, the swinging 20s, a road trip not only through the real world but an underworld, cool magics? But really, this was a highly predictable and shallowly developed story with 2D characters I never felt much connection to, let alone cared about. The writing style was jarring from the start, with its of-the-era kind of style, but it felt far too telling and really distanced me from the characters and story. Action scenes were painfully bland and robotic, especially fights. I definitely didn't dig the undertones of taking advantage and abuse within the main relationship, and honestly got sick of the number of times the death god was called beautiful. There were some really cool ideas, and Martin was weirdly the only character I felt was realistic enough to semi-care about. Overall, this was sadly disappointing and could do with a lot of editing to spice up the dry writing and develop the characters more, especially Cas.