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adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It took me a bit to get my thoughts together about this book. Overall, I really enjoyed but the ending was significantly better than the rest of the book.
I'm just going to start with the few things I didn't care too much for in the book. I think the pacing at times was questionable and I really didn't care for Martin's chapters even though I understood why they were necessary. While Casiopea was a sympathetic main protagonist, I really wasn't that invested in her as a character. Hun-Kame and was really well-developed as a god with the correct amount of weight and drama given to him but I also just wasn't that invested in him. I am also just not a big fan of god/mortal relationships especially when the human is a teenager, it feels weird. While I do think this book handled that trope incredibly well, I'm still just not a big fan of it.
I just in general have very mixed feelings about the relationship. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's beautiful writing style lends itself so some very emotionally intense at times painful but other times very sweet moments in the relationship. The relationship plays out how it should and how honestly a relationship like that would turn out. As much as I don't like this trope, I think it does ultimately really help the themes of this book.
I think the way a lot of societal issues were talked about like religious guilt instilled by the Catholic church, anti-indigenous sentiment, colorism, etc. was incredibly well-done. I really enjoyed the Mexican Jazz Age aspect of this book and that setting helped not only with plot development but with bolstering the mood and themes of the story. The handling of Mayan storytelling and beliefs was also just incredibly well done and I really enjoyed how much of it was incorporated into the storytelling.
One of the highlights of this book id Moreno-Garcia's writing style. I love the lyrical storytelling that is very reminiscent of not just fairy tales and folklore but many oral traditions of storytelling. This style blended so beautifully with both the core plot as well as the themes of the book. I also loved the themes of compassion, humanity, forgiveness, and autonomy so deeply as well as the coming of age aspects of this story.
The best part of the story is honestly the final trial to the end. Not only does the ending deliver so wonderfully on the core themes of the story, there some beautiful writing moments that not only made me care about the main relationship but legitimately left me in tears. The ending alone means I cannot recommend this book enough to others.
I'm just going to start with the few things I didn't care too much for in the book. I think the pacing at times was questionable and I really didn't care for Martin's chapters even though I understood why they were necessary. While Casiopea was a sympathetic main protagonist, I really wasn't that invested in her as a character. Hun-Kame and was really well-developed as a god with the correct amount of weight and drama given to him but I also just wasn't that invested in him. I am also just not a big fan of god/mortal relationships especially when the human is a teenager, it feels weird. While I do think this book handled that trope incredibly well, I'm still just not a big fan of it.
I just in general have very mixed feelings about the relationship. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's beautiful writing style lends itself so some very emotionally intense at times painful but other times very sweet moments in the relationship. The relationship plays out how it should and how honestly a relationship like that would turn out. As much as I don't like this trope, I think it does ultimately really help the themes of this book.
I think the way a lot of societal issues were talked about like religious guilt instilled by the Catholic church, anti-indigenous sentiment, colorism, etc. was incredibly well-done. I really enjoyed the Mexican Jazz Age aspect of this book and that setting helped not only with plot development but with bolstering the mood and themes of the story. The handling of Mayan storytelling and beliefs was also just incredibly well done and I really enjoyed how much of it was incorporated into the storytelling.
One of the highlights of this book id Moreno-Garcia's writing style. I love the lyrical storytelling that is very reminiscent of not just fairy tales and folklore but many oral traditions of storytelling. This style blended so beautifully with both the core plot as well as the themes of the book. I also loved the themes of compassion, humanity, forgiveness, and autonomy so deeply as well as the coming of age aspects of this story.
The best part of the story is honestly the final trial to the end. Not only does the ending deliver so wonderfully on the core themes of the story, there some beautiful writing moments that not only made me care about the main relationship but legitimately left me in tears. The ending alone means I cannot recommend this book enough to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Colonisation
CW: Religious Trauma/Guilt, Colorism, Chronic Illness and Terminal Illness are both magical in nature.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Slavery, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun, fast-paced, full of interesting twists and incredible, imaginative visuals. I dropped into this book and never surfaced. Couldn't put it down and really enjoyed the exploration of mythology, magical realism, 1920s Mexico, and the lovely character of Casiopea.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Colonisation
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first book by SMG and I'm in love with the way she writes, this is exactly what I would've wanted to read as a teen obsessed with urban fantasy. It's obvious and appreciated that the author did her research before writing, plus the love story is woven so beautifully with the actual plot that it's compelling without taking over the action. The ending is bittersweet but so, so satisfactory and the characters and character growth is beyond anything I've read in a while. 5 stars!
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Revisiting after a recent re-read (2022): It is a brilliant story and I love the ending, although the timeline and flow of the story could've done with some editing to make it run seamlessly.
As for the romance, I still think there's something there but at times it can feel forced especially because it tends to fade to the background when not needed for plot purposes. I also think it tends to conflate love with lust but eh that's just me being nitpicky.
I would still recommend it and think it's great for people who like urban fantasy but would like to see other mythologies represented.
----------------------
Revisiting after a recent re-read (2022): It is a brilliant story and I love the ending, although the timeline and flow of the story could've done with some editing to make it run seamlessly.
As for the romance, I still think there's something there but at times it can feel forced especially because it tends to fade to the background when not needed for plot purposes. I also think it tends to conflate love with lust but eh that's just me being nitpicky.
I would still recommend it and think it's great for people who like urban fantasy but would like to see other mythologies represented.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an incredible experience. It reads so much like a fairy tale, yet the emotion of the writing is so poignant, the plot so incredibly well-woven, the mythology and culture around it so profoundly fascinating; and Casiopea, while having many of the stereotypical “adventurous female protagonist” traits, is so likeable. I rooted for her and Hun-Kamé the whole way through. What an incredible achievement this is, and how much I loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Mythmaking. It’s greater than you or I, this tale.”
This book has left me breathless. It was absolutely spectacular.
This book has left me breathless. It was absolutely spectacular.
Gods of Jade and Shadow is about a girl named Casiopea who unlocks a chest and accidentally frees a Mayan god of death. This death god requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s death but success could make her dreams come true. Together, they set off on a harrowing, life-changing adventure set in the Jazz Ages that takes you from the jungles of Yucatán, to the bright lights of Mexico City and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.
I was drawn in by the unique premise of this book and was not disappointed at all. The plot was amazing. I loved the adventure that these two went on. Things kick off from the very start of the novel and it just keeps going. I was kept on my toes the entire time, completely entranced by this rich world.
I adored the characters more than I can express. Casiopea is such a lovely girl who has been through a lot in her life but remains resilient and kind hearted. She keeps her dreams locked within herself and looks up at the stars. She is a hero who believes the world should be just and fair. Defiance runs through her veins and she always keeps her head held high. I loved reading about her so much. Hun-Kamé, our god of death is exactly what you would expect and yet not. There is a harshness to him that must come with godhood but there is also kindness deep within. We see his many faces as we move throughout the novel and I found myself loving every part of him. I really enjoyed the dynamic between him and Casiopea. The relationship that blossomed between them was so beautiful and left me aching. By the end of this novel I was in tears.
The writing in this book was exceptional. Silvia Moreno-Garcia has such an amazing way with words. There are so many lovely descriptions and beautiful lines in this novel that tugged at my heartstrings. This story was very well crafted and the world that was created was so rich. It was extremely easy to become lost within these pages.
It is rare that I find a novel in which both the plot and characters are excellent but Gods of Jade and Shadow has done it. This has instantly become one of my favorites and I know it will remain in my heart for the rest of time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Gods of Jade and Shadow was such a beautifully written story. I loved how it blended 1920s Mexico with mythology both in the worldbuilding and the love story.
I also love how the author chose to show the complexity of kindness in the main character. I couldn't help relating to Casiopea and her dreams. I feel like a gained a friend while reading this book.
While I loved most of the story, there were many instances when I thought certain plot points were overexplained. I think a lot of YA books break the "show don't tell" rule, but there's a certain point when the author has to trust that even young readers can read between the lines.
I also love how the author chose to show the complexity of kindness in the main character. I couldn't help relating to Casiopea and her dreams. I feel like a gained a friend while reading this book.
While I loved most of the story, there were many instances when I thought certain plot points were overexplained. I think a lot of YA books break the "show don't tell" rule, but there's a certain point when the author has to trust that even young readers can read between the lines.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault