Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Gods of Jade and Shadow

Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

40 reviews

abominablesnowaro's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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imaginingly's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective 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? No

4.5

it’s very much -a god takes mortal from her abusive household and takes her on adventure to win his throne back- vibes
i loved this, honestly. a lot of new terms i have never heard of and it was out of my comfort zone but i’m so glad i read it

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paolina's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.0

That was a lot of fun to read. While it did follow a lot of myth tropes, the characters' individual actions and dialogue were unexpected enough to make it refreshing.

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vittorioseg's review against another edition

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I didn't get into the world. The way Sivia describe the setting and the characters, for all its fairy tale conception, its incredibly dry. I didn't feel excitement or enjoyment, just this travelologue who was droning about for they paycheck. it was never a story for me, just a bunch of descriptions tied together through bland dialogue.

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tallismarlowe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

Loved this book; it got me out of my post-graduation reading slump. The backdrop is spectacular, and the character's voices shine through so perfectly. The action starts early on, but goes a little slow, and the stakes are a little off kilter, but I adored how subtle and complex the writing was, and the prose was amazing.

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angel_kiiss's review

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adventurous informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

It's a great concept but executed rather poorly. This American Gods but make it Mexican and Indigenous sounds like an interesting concept and it's enough to get you to pick up the book, but personally, I wasn't drawn in by the Cinderella lifestyle the main character was living and couldn't get behind the way the plot influenced her and not how she influenced the plot. Our protagonist, Casiopea, is pushed around by the plot and is only there as a prop to help in the god's adventure until the very end when she finally gets some agency of her own and makes a decision that actually affects the story. Up until that point, which is about 85% into the book, none of her actions actually have an effect on what is happening. In the end, her stubbornness and courage allow her to overcome, but up until then, this could literally have been any other girl with enough luck to get out of her oppression. Casiopeadoesn't run away and then find a god, she goes about daily life and is suddenly thrust into a god's path. "You have to come with me," he says. She has to bend so the plot can continue. Not the other way around.
I also was not a fan of the romance aspect. I think some authors forget that not all stories need romance, and this one definitely didn't. The romance between Casiopea and Hun'Kaman felt forced and as if the only reason they fell for each other was that their lives were now connected. Not once did I feel like there was anything actually there for her to fall in love with. We get told she's falling in love. In fact, we almost get told everything. This book is mostly telling not showing and the historical aspects felt shoved in rather than intertwined with the historical setting. We just happened to be in 1920s Mexico, but really it could have been any decade in some part of Southern Mexico. The time period only added to act as some filler in between plot events.

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claudiamacpherson's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

Casiopea Tun is treated like a servant in her family's home, but she dreams of escaping their small town and seeing the world—maybe even driving an automobile! When she opens her grandfather's mysterious chest and comes to face-to-face with a god of death, she makes a deal to help him reclaim his throne. On their journey across Mexico, they meet demons and dress in the latest fashions, but they must complete their journey before time runs out.

4.5 stars

This was exactly my type of book: mythology, adventure, and the 1920s setting, not to mention the wonderful characters. Casiopea is smart, brave, and (most importantly, to me), extremely kind. Maybe it was just how she was treated in the beginning of the book, but she definitely feels like a Cinderella-type character. I loved Moreno-Garcia's writing style and vibrant descriptions, and the ending was perfect!

I am a sucker for characters who make selfless sacrifices for those they love, so...yeah I loved the ending!

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just my judgement of how happy the ending is because I always wish someone would tell me that before I read books):

A bit bittersweet, but more sweet than bitter. It's not a perfect happily ever after, but I can't stress enough how much I loved the ending!

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