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cemeterygay's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Classism, Murder, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Colonisation
CW: Religious Trauma/Guilt, Colorism, Chronic Illness and Terminal Illness are both magical in nature.boba_n_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moreno-Garcia sure is the master of slow burn stories! Though I am not well-versed in Mayan mythology, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned quite a bit about Mayan mythology along the way. The concept and imagery of Xibalba was probably my favorite part. Moreno-Garcia is so good at crafting an atmosphere and pulling her readers in and not letting them go until the last page. I enjoyed this book a lot - the relationship between Casiopeia and Hun-Kamé and the dynamic between Casiopeia and her terrible cousin, Martín, were some other notable parts of the reading experience.
I recommend this book if you enjoy any type of mythology and adventure as well as fully immersive and atmospheric writing.
I recommend this book if you enjoy any type of mythology and adventure as well as fully immersive and atmospheric writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Blood
imaginingly's review against another edition
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Violence
stwilson's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse
theirgracegrace's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Gaslighting
therese_nook68's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
5.0
5/5 stars
A favorite of the year!
I didn't really know what I was expecting from this book — I knew very little about the plot and the characters and very limited people that I knew had read this book. But I think you should go into it without knowing a lot other than the bare bones of the plot and that there's a lot of build up.
This was such a heartbreaking book and I loved reading about the characters and their personal journeys. I am so emotional over the ending and in some ways, it was a happy ending?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Animal death, Self harm, and Domestic abuse
gabbadabbadoo's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexism
kelseynakano's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Death, Murder, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
rotfaced's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I agree with several other reviews here, which stated it more succinctly than I would: This book had a lot of potential, and is even enjoyable, but moves too quickly and with too little care and detail to really slip into. There were parts of the book that were very fun and even surprising, but the story is hindered by the very thing it seeks to emulate, which is fairy-tale formula. Many of the major events end up being:
- Main Characters have to confront a challenge.
- They are imperiled, briefly, by the challenge, but the peril does not feel overmuch.
- MC triumphs without any significant struggle.
- Later, the main characters talk.
- We check in on the villains.
- Rinse and repeat.
Just because this is an intentional and meaningful structure does not mean it is a good one.
The ending was stronger than the journey. It felt like we were rushing to get there. The writing can also be a bit too brief, and I feel we lose a lot of the momentum in this way. It is both a fast read and painfully slow at times. I was excited to read a story about Mexico in the 1920s, but the time period is merely a set dressing with very little actual impact on the characters. MC does become more compelling the further you get into the story.
The actual lore and magic is very cool, though. Also, some of the characters are QUITE good, but I think it says a lot that one character who shows up for all of two scenes was more exciting and lively than several characters who persist throughout the entire book.
Overall, I sit on the fence of giving it a 4* rating. With some reflection, I feel it falls a bit short for me, but it is worth the read and enjoyable nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
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