Scan barcode
kay34's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
eskupslp's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
itsme_hi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rashmipmenon's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Lani Forbes for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I came across this Mesoamerican-Aztec-inspired series when one of my Booktok friends introduced me to The Seventh Sun. I enjoyed reading The Seventh Sun so much that I looked up Book 2 and found The Jade Bones was available for review on Netgalley. I immediately put in a request to review and was over the moon when I was approved. As with Book 1, I finished reading The Jade Bones in one sitting.
The Jade Bones picks up the story from when Mayana and Ahkin when they land in the Underworld. The book follows the journey of Mayana and Ahkin in the Underworld and Yemenia and her love interest Ochinx in the outside world. In the Underworld, Mayana and Ahkin have to face a number of challenges in order to escape. They are helped on the way by Mother Goddess Omeototl. Along with her furry friend, Ona, Mayana and Ahkin begin their ascend back to the living world. The trials they face add not only a sense of adventure to the story, but also provides ample opportunity for both characters’ growth. I am happy to say that Mayana’s character was not as annoying as it was in the previous book. I say this because one of the aspects I did not like about Book 1 (The Seventh Sun) was how preachy Mayana sounded. Thankfully, that is not a problem in this book. Not only that, Mayana’s character portrays a level of maturity that comes only from trauma.
The best part of The Jade Bones for me, however, was the POV from Yemenia. Her character growth and the plotline with the mysterious Miquitz Prince Ochinx was a page-turner. I must say that I preferred Yemenia and Ochinx story to the adventure that Mayana and Ahkin were facing. As much as I want to I cannot talk more about this plotline without adding spoilers so I will leave it here.
Metzi as the antagonist was brilliant. I enjoy reading well-written morally gray characters and I think Lani Forbes has done a wonderful job making both Metzi and Coatl lovable antagonists. Metzi is brilliant, smart, and a true politician, while Coatl adds value to the plot with his storyline.
The book was fast-paced and keeps the reader on their toes. The ending was mind-blowing! I can’t wait for Book 3 to find out what happens to Mayana, Ahkin, Yemenia, Ochinx, Coatl, and Metzi. If you enjoy reading mythology-based fantasy, then The Seventh Sun and The Jade Bones are books you must read.
Overall, I give it 4/5 stars.
I came across this Mesoamerican-Aztec-inspired series when one of my Booktok friends introduced me to The Seventh Sun. I enjoyed reading The Seventh Sun so much that I looked up Book 2 and found The Jade Bones was available for review on Netgalley. I immediately put in a request to review and was over the moon when I was approved. As with Book 1, I finished reading The Jade Bones in one sitting.
The Jade Bones picks up the story from when Mayana and Ahkin when they land in the Underworld. The book follows the journey of Mayana and Ahkin in the Underworld and Yemenia and her love interest Ochinx in the outside world. In the Underworld, Mayana and Ahkin have to face a number of challenges in order to escape. They are helped on the way by Mother Goddess Omeototl. Along with her furry friend, Ona, Mayana and Ahkin begin their ascend back to the living world. The trials they face add not only a sense of adventure to the story, but also provides ample opportunity for both characters’ growth. I am happy to say that Mayana’s character was not as annoying as it was in the previous book. I say this because one of the aspects I did not like about Book 1 (The Seventh Sun) was how preachy Mayana sounded. Thankfully, that is not a problem in this book. Not only that, Mayana’s character portrays a level of maturity that comes only from trauma.
The best part of The Jade Bones for me, however, was the POV from Yemenia. Her character growth and the plotline with the mysterious Miquitz Prince Ochinx was a page-turner. I must say that I preferred Yemenia and Ochinx story to the adventure that Mayana and Ahkin were facing. As much as I want to I cannot talk more about this plotline without adding spoilers so I will leave it here.
Metzi as the antagonist was brilliant. I enjoy reading well-written morally gray characters and I think Lani Forbes has done a wonderful job making both Metzi and Coatl lovable antagonists. Metzi is brilliant, smart, and a true politician, while Coatl adds value to the plot with his storyline.
The book was fast-paced and keeps the reader on their toes. The ending was mind-blowing! I can’t wait for Book 3 to find out what happens to Mayana, Ahkin, Yemenia, Ochinx, Coatl, and Metzi. If you enjoy reading mythology-based fantasy, then The Seventh Sun and The Jade Bones are books you must read.
Overall, I give it 4/5 stars.
pemdas97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cainacol12's review against another edition
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
5.0
Loving this series. The relationships are so good 👍🏼
hollahaniya's review against another edition
5.0
there’s something about a guy making a girl feel pretty that just makes me…melt… love ya, ochix! <3
devynbrown's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
freemajo's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve had a taste of what it feels like to be in control of my own life for once, and I will never give that up... If they somehow think they can delegitimize me for following my heart instead of doing what is best for the empire, then my heart be damned.
Recommended for fans of [b:Endless Water, Starless Sky|21825776|Endless Water, Starless Sky (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, #2)|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506956765l/21825776._SY75_.jpg|41096667] by Rosamund Hodges.
Spoilers for The Seventh Sun follow! Beware!
The Jade Bones picks up right where The Seventh Sun left off, with Mayana and Ahkin deep, deep in the underworld. Now cognizant of his perfidious sister, Metzi’s betrayal, Ahkin makes an about-face and throws himself into [haha, get it?] escaping Xibalba to save the Chicome empire. The narrative moves between three third person omniscient POVs: Mayana, Ahkin, and Yemania - Mayana’s BFF/Coatl’s younger sister.
Getting equal access to Ahkin and Mayana’s thoughts highlighted the changes in their relationship. In The Seventh Sun, their sexual chemistry seemed to be the sum total of why they were together (besides the whole sacrificial death thing), but in The Jade Bones, they’re forced to truly work as a team and learn who they really are instead of who they have pretended to be.
So much had depended on Ahkin choosing her, she had made herself be who she needed to be. To become his wife. To become empress of the Chicome. But did he truly know her?
I can’t emphasize how much I appreciated this. I’ve read too many YA Fantasy novels with unchallenged instalove. Furthermore, I appreciated that Mayana, though tender-hearted, doesn’t sit back on her heels and wait for Ahkin to take charge and fix everything. Repeatedly, she questions his judgment and takes a stand.
She wasn’t going to let him tell her what to do, not when she had been right about everything from the rituals to his sister. If he wanted to stuff away his own shock and grief and mask it by pretending he was in control, then that was his problem. She was so sick of everyone telling her not to trust herself.
Mayana and Ahkin have a lot of ground to cover in the underworld; this version has nine levels: The passing of the waters, the place of paths, the place where mountains crash, the place of wind like knives, the place where bodies hang like banners, the place where beasts devour your heart, the final river, the city of the dead, and the place where smoke has no outlet. There are also three gross rivers: the river of blood, the river of scorpions, and the river of pus.
I’ve always loved stories like [b:Sabriel|518848|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1293655399l/518848._SY75_.jpg|3312237] and [b:Endless Water, Starless Sky|21825776|Endless Water, Starless Sky (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, #2)|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506956765l/21825776._SY75_.jpg|41096667] that take us on wondrous journeys through the layers of the afterlife. The Jade Bones incorporates elements of Mesoamerican mythology and weaves them into something new. There’s another long and thoughtful note from the author at the end of this installment like there was at the end of The Seventh Sun explaining the history behind these various elements and why they were selected.
Although this world is a fantasy and not based on any one historical group, it was heavily inspired and influenced by diverse Mesoamerican mythologies and traditions, many of which do share similarities.
I realize this statement might frustrate readers who haven’t studied ancient civilizations, but this is common knowledge for anthropologists. I have a BA in Anthropology, have worked as an archaeologist on a couple of digs (20BE10 and 20BE23), assisted with mortuary analysis, dug up dead horses for the police department who can’t tell the difference between a human femur and an equine one, generally done weird stuff at the intersection of culture and mortality, and I found The Jade Bones to be an interesting and not disrespectful synergy of fantasy and history. I’m also a POC, and I love that we’re finally getting Mesoamerican-inspired YA fantasy novels to consume. More, please!
Beyond Xibalba, we get a third POV from Yemania who is now embroiled in Metzi’s usurpery (this should be a word) and just trying to keep everyone alive, basically. Let me say that I love Metzi in this book! Her motivation for murdering her family and taking the throne is illuminated in The Jade Bones and not simply “But I am in LURRRV!” She’s a complicated antagonist, painted beautifully in shades of grey.
To her surprise, Metzi’s smirk softened into a genuine smile. She placed a hand on Yemania’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “You do whatever you need to. Show them all what you’re really capable of.”
Personally, I would have loved a Metzi x Yemania romance instead of what unfolds, but hey, we can’t have it all.
My sharpest criticism would be the sequencing of POVs. Literally every chapter switches POV, and most chapters end on unnecessary cliffhangers. It’s too predictable, and the novel would be significantly stronger if we spent longer periods of time with one POV before switching to the next. An insertion of a single Metzi POV would have gone a long way, too.
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for listening to my fervent plea for an ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Recommended for fans of [b:Endless Water, Starless Sky|21825776|Endless Water, Starless Sky (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, #2)|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506956765l/21825776._SY75_.jpg|41096667] by Rosamund Hodges.
Spoilers for The Seventh Sun follow! Beware!
The Jade Bones picks up right where The Seventh Sun left off, with Mayana and Ahkin deep, deep in the underworld. Now cognizant of his perfidious sister, Metzi’s betrayal, Ahkin makes an about-face and throws himself into [haha, get it?] escaping Xibalba to save the Chicome empire. The narrative moves between three third person omniscient POVs: Mayana, Ahkin, and Yemania - Mayana’s BFF/Coatl’s younger sister.
Getting equal access to Ahkin and Mayana’s thoughts highlighted the changes in their relationship. In The Seventh Sun, their sexual chemistry seemed to be the sum total of why they were together (besides the whole sacrificial death thing), but in The Jade Bones, they’re forced to truly work as a team and learn who they really are instead of who they have pretended to be.
So much had depended on Ahkin choosing her, she had made herself be who she needed to be. To become his wife. To become empress of the Chicome. But did he truly know her?
I can’t emphasize how much I appreciated this. I’ve read too many YA Fantasy novels with unchallenged instalove. Furthermore, I appreciated that Mayana, though tender-hearted, doesn’t sit back on her heels and wait for Ahkin to take charge and fix everything. Repeatedly, she questions his judgment and takes a stand.
She wasn’t going to let him tell her what to do, not when she had been right about everything from the rituals to his sister. If he wanted to stuff away his own shock and grief and mask it by pretending he was in control, then that was his problem. She was so sick of everyone telling her not to trust herself.
Mayana and Ahkin have a lot of ground to cover in the underworld; this version has nine levels: The passing of the waters, the place of paths, the place where mountains crash, the place of wind like knives, the place where bodies hang like banners, the place where beasts devour your heart, the final river, the city of the dead, and the place where smoke has no outlet. There are also three gross rivers: the river of blood, the river of scorpions, and the river of pus.
I’ve always loved stories like [b:Sabriel|518848|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1293655399l/518848._SY75_.jpg|3312237] and [b:Endless Water, Starless Sky|21825776|Endless Water, Starless Sky (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, #2)|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506956765l/21825776._SY75_.jpg|41096667] that take us on wondrous journeys through the layers of the afterlife. The Jade Bones incorporates elements of Mesoamerican mythology and weaves them into something new. There’s another long and thoughtful note from the author at the end of this installment like there was at the end of The Seventh Sun explaining the history behind these various elements and why they were selected.
Although this world is a fantasy and not based on any one historical group, it was heavily inspired and influenced by diverse Mesoamerican mythologies and traditions, many of which do share similarities.
I realize this statement might frustrate readers who haven’t studied ancient civilizations, but this is common knowledge for anthropologists. I have a BA in Anthropology, have worked as an archaeologist on a couple of digs (20BE10 and 20BE23), assisted with mortuary analysis, dug up dead horses for the police department who can’t tell the difference between a human femur and an equine one, generally done weird stuff at the intersection of culture and mortality, and I found The Jade Bones to be an interesting and not disrespectful synergy of fantasy and history. I’m also a POC, and I love that we’re finally getting Mesoamerican-inspired YA fantasy novels to consume. More, please!
Beyond Xibalba, we get a third POV from Yemania who is now embroiled in Metzi’s usurpery (this should be a word) and just trying to keep everyone alive, basically. Let me say that I love Metzi in this book! Her motivation for murdering her family and taking the throne is illuminated in The Jade Bones and not simply “But I am in LURRRV!” She’s a complicated antagonist, painted beautifully in shades of grey.
To her surprise, Metzi’s smirk softened into a genuine smile. She placed a hand on Yemania’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “You do whatever you need to. Show them all what you’re really capable of.”
Personally, I would have loved a Metzi x Yemania romance instead of what unfolds, but hey, we can’t have it all.
My sharpest criticism would be the sequencing of POVs. Literally every chapter switches POV, and most chapters end on unnecessary cliffhangers. It’s too predictable, and the novel would be significantly stronger if we spent longer periods of time with one POV before switching to the next. An insertion of a single Metzi POV would have gone a long way, too.
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for listening to my fervent plea for an ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.