Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

23 reviews

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

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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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yellow_star's review

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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!
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aliyyah's review against another edition

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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

5.0

“Mythmaking. It’s greater than you or I, this tale.”

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.
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