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vittorioseg's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood and Body horror
miamcmillan's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
screams into the void silvia moreno-garcia i am in love with you this book is so evocative and powerful and beautifully written and every word in it feels so carefully considered and put together with such care i’m in awe
the mythology and the world building was so well done and the characters are gorgeous. i love it so much her writing is so quietly exquisite
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Blood
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
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
4.5
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.
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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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
yellow_star's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a 20's era retelling of a Mayan-Mexican folktale. It is set up as a paranormal romance as well, but if you read this expecting romance norms you will be disappointed. It also doesn't follow the standard format of a hero's journey, but I was okay with that being different. I felt at the end of the book that the main character's story was not done, the book ended kind of on a cliffhanger and I'm frustrated with it now. I love the glossary at the end of the book to explain some unique terms in it. I might have enjoyed it if I'd grown up with the story as a kid and were experiencing a new angle on a familiar story. It is a good story, even though it's not the type I like, so I'm still rating it 3.
When I started reading I was concerned it would be too dark or creepy for me- it is about a god of death- but it's not particularly intense. Check content warnings.
All characters are the same race and sexuality and lack disability, that is not diverse to me.
the entire book they are leading up to her being romantically or friendship connected with him, but instead the author throws that all out the door. It was frustrating to have a romance break up like this- these things happen in real life, but normally not in books!
When I started reading I was concerned it would be too dark or creepy for me- it is about a god of death- but it's not particularly intense. Check content warnings.
All characters are the same race and sexuality and lack disability, that is not diverse to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Murder
dariaklind's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.25
I liked the premise but unfortunately did not enjoy the books as much as I was meaning to. I liked the main character but I wish we got more of the side characters because it felt like they didn't have enough depth to me. Also, wasn't the biggest fan of the romance. Usually I like "the Death and the Maiden" trope but here it felt underwhelming and developed too fast. Nonetheless, I liked the mythological aspect and it was a fun adventure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
hanz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Suicide
angel_kiiss's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Minor: Blood, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
adeliav's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I like this book... a lot. On the surface it is a fun story rooted in a desire to escape and follow your dreams framed around Mexican mythology. Deeper it has a frame work of perception versus reality, personal will versus external circumstances, the power of thought and words, and death as a savior/means of escape.
The pacing was great, the story was intriguing and captivating, the characters are the focus and you learn to care for them or at least empathize with them. The authors writing style is perfect for the type of narrative they were telling in this book.
The pacing was great, the story was intriguing and captivating, the characters are the focus and you learn to care for them or at least empathize with them. The authors writing style is perfect for the type of narrative they were telling in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
alexiswiththefreckles's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
tatitos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood
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