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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
This book tells the story of Casiopea, a teenage girl growing up in 1920's Mexico, who accidentally frees a Mayan death god and has to go on a quest to help him reclaim his throne.
The 1920's setting and Maya myths incorporated into the plot made this story stand out, but otherwise it was disappointing.
The main character, Casiopea, was very flat and showed very little emotion throughout the story. For example, here's a scene where Casiopea and the death god are fighting for their lives:
"Despite her fear, which was real and alive, sharp enough to make her fingers tingle, Casiopea chased away panic. It would do no good to cry or scream. ... She clutched him and stared at the men who circled them not with her face deformed by terror but with a more distant look." p214
Or this one, where she has to give a witch some of her own blood:
"Casiopea frowned, but she grabbed the pincushion and pulled out a long silver pin. She held it carefully and pressed it against her little finger. Blood welled. She let a drop fall onto the dish. Another fell. The rest she had to squeeze." p196
The book is filled with passages like this - whenever there's a scary situation, or something dramatic happening (like Casiopea literally meeting a death god at the beginning of the book), she just logically tamps down all of her emotions and does whatever she needs to do.
The problem is that the author made Casiopea a normal, teenage human. I guess it's possible that some humans would act like this given the situation, but it's very boring to read. Fighting for your life, meeting a Mayan god who you didn't even realize could possibly exist, or even pricking your own finger with a big needle are all things that many humans would struggle with. It would have been way more interesting to read about some emotions, hesitation, or any reaction to these situations.
The other thing I disliked in the story was the romance. Casiopea and the death god fell in love, but
their relationship felt cliched and full of tropes. For example, throughout the story she repeatedly worries about whether she is pretty, and he repeatedly tells her she is in cringey ways like this one:
"'You said you were worried about the hair. You said it was the only becoming feature you possess,' Hun Kame said.
'It doesn't matter. A hat - '
'It's not the only one,' he said.
...
He'd said once before that she was pretty, but she hadn't quite believed him. He was merely being kind, she told herself. But even if he was, it was both nice and odd to experience such chivalry."p124
These passages didn't do much to add to the story. There's nothing wrong with romance in a book, but the way this was done was just so flat. A relationship between an immortal death god and a teenage girl should be more interesting than him just convincing her that she's pretty by making awkward comments at her. The romance ended up feeling kind of inevitable in a way but I just couldn't connect with it at all.
And overall, the supporting characters were not complicated or deep either. For example, take this description of the main villain, Martin:
"Nevertheless, sometimes cracks showed in his narcissistic facade. Martin was sent off to a good school but expelled. He'd had a hard time fitting in at the institution. Not only were the intellectual demands too much for his limited, closed brain, but he could discern scorn in the faces of the other pupils." p134. It's fine, I guess, he's a villain, but I just wished the author would have let the reader characterize Martin this way by reading between the lines a little bit, instead of spelling it out this way.
Overall, an intriguing concept but not very well done.
The 1920's setting and Maya myths incorporated into the plot made this story stand out, but otherwise it was disappointing.
The main character, Casiopea, was very flat and showed very little emotion throughout the story. For example, here's a scene where Casiopea and the death god are fighting for their lives:
"Despite her fear, which was real and alive, sharp enough to make her fingers tingle, Casiopea chased away panic. It would do no good to cry or scream. ... She clutched him and stared at the men who circled them not with her face deformed by terror but with a more distant look." p214
Or this one, where she has to give a witch some of her own blood:
"Casiopea frowned, but she grabbed the pincushion and pulled out a long silver pin. She held it carefully and pressed it against her little finger. Blood welled. She let a drop fall onto the dish. Another fell. The rest she had to squeeze." p196
The book is filled with passages like this - whenever there's a scary situation, or something dramatic happening (like Casiopea literally meeting a death god at the beginning of the book), she just logically tamps down all of her emotions and does whatever she needs to do.
Spoiler
The worst was when, at the end of the book, she slits her own throat without even hesitating.The problem is that the author made Casiopea a normal, teenage human. I guess it's possible that some humans would act like this given the situation, but it's very boring to read. Fighting for your life, meeting a Mayan god who you didn't even realize could possibly exist, or even pricking your own finger with a big needle are all things that many humans would struggle with. It would have been way more interesting to read about some emotions, hesitation, or any reaction to these situations.
The other thing I disliked in the story was the romance. Casiopea and the death god fell in love, but
their relationship felt cliched and full of tropes. For example, throughout the story she repeatedly worries about whether she is pretty, and he repeatedly tells her she is in cringey ways like this one:
"'You said you were worried about the hair. You said it was the only becoming feature you possess,' Hun Kame said.
'It doesn't matter. A hat - '
'It's not the only one,' he said.
...
He'd said once before that she was pretty, but she hadn't quite believed him. He was merely being kind, she told herself. But even if he was, it was both nice and odd to experience such chivalry."p124
These passages didn't do much to add to the story. There's nothing wrong with romance in a book, but the way this was done was just so flat. A relationship between an immortal death god and a teenage girl should be more interesting than him just convincing her that she's pretty by making awkward comments at her. The romance ended up feeling kind of inevitable in a way but I just couldn't connect with it at all.
And overall, the supporting characters were not complicated or deep either. For example, take this description of the main villain, Martin:
"Nevertheless, sometimes cracks showed in his narcissistic facade. Martin was sent off to a good school but expelled. He'd had a hard time fitting in at the institution. Not only were the intellectual demands too much for his limited, closed brain, but he could discern scorn in the faces of the other pupils." p134. It's fine, I guess, he's a villain, but I just wished the author would have let the reader characterize Martin this way by reading between the lines a little bit, instead of spelling it out this way.
Overall, an intriguing concept but not very well done.
I loved learning more about Mayan mythology but the characters had NO personality. Overall a disappointing read.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
They say the most satisfying stories have a surprising yet inevitable conclusion…and this really delivers on that! I enjoyed this fairytale retelling and it makes me want to learn more about Mayan folklore. But in the end, it was a really fun story that I finished in under a week.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism
Minor: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol
I saw a spoiler for the book which demotivated me to finish it
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I was very hyped when I heard about this book. I've been looking around for books that centered around Mexican lore and mythology. When reading this book featured Mayan gods, I knew I had to read it! And I have to say, it was a pretty decent read.
The setting grabbed my attention more than the plot did. I loved all of the descriptive details about the deities and the Yucatan area where the story began. I found myself researching these descriptions and adding it to my list of must see places. Now, the plot was a little slow for me but it was still quite interesting. I was eager to find out how Casiopea's fate was going to turn out at the end with the bone shard stuck in her hand. Was she going to make it? And what about Martin, Casiopea's cousin? Was he going to fulfill his quest? It was obvious the story was going to become a love story between Casiopea and Hun-Kame, but I was not expecting the end. I have to say, I'm glad it ended the way it did.
What I loved best about this book was Martin's character. Yes, Casiopea was a good character. In fact her stubbornness to defy people reminded me so much of myself, but I found myself wanting to learn more about her cousin instead. At first, I despised him but then I came to understand him as his background was explained. Of all of the characters, he was the one who made the greatest growth in the book. He was very well developed.
In conclusion, I was very excited to get my hands on this book. I was happy to finally read about Mexican-indigenous deities. Even though the book was not perfect, I still found myself highly entertained.
The setting grabbed my attention more than the plot did. I loved all of the descriptive details about the deities and the Yucatan area where the story began. I found myself researching these descriptions and adding it to my list of must see places. Now, the plot was a little slow for me but it was still quite interesting. I was eager to find out how Casiopea's fate was going to turn out at the end with the bone shard stuck in her hand. Was she going to make it? And what about Martin, Casiopea's cousin? Was he going to fulfill his quest? It was obvious the story was going to become a love story between Casiopea and Hun-Kame, but I was not expecting the end. I have to say, I'm glad it ended the way it did.
What I loved best about this book was Martin's character. Yes, Casiopea was a good character. In fact her stubbornness to defy people reminded me so much of myself, but I found myself wanting to learn more about her cousin instead. At first, I despised him but then I came to understand him as his background was explained. Of all of the characters, he was the one who made the greatest growth in the book. He was very well developed.
In conclusion, I was very excited to get my hands on this book. I was happy to finally read about Mexican-indigenous deities. Even though the book was not perfect, I still found myself highly entertained.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's a very sweet story about a girl and a god of death.