crafalsk264 's review for:

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

3.5

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

Casiopea Tun is a poor relative in the house of her wealthy grandfather who sees only her vicious, misogynist who makes her life a daily minefield. Between scrubbing the floors, polishing the woodwork, etc., she is expected to wait upon her cousin by cleaning his clothes, polishing his boots and be available when he wants her company. While cleaning her grandfather’s room, she finds a highly decorated wooden box and finds—bones. When she pricks her finger with a bone, she reanimates Hun-Kamé, former Lord of Xibalba, killed by his twin so he can assume Hun-Kamé title and his magic. In order to make his revived life permanent, Hun-Kamé must reclaim parts of his dismembered body.

Taking Casiopea on a magical road trip, the displaced god takes her to places and to meet people he needs to locate, reclaim his bones and return to life. Casiopea begins to question exactly how this out of step so called god can make her life better. Once he restores his life, will he still need Casiopea’s help and what can she expect will be required of her. Since Casiopea can never return to her grandfather’s one. After stealing from him and attacking her cousin, what can she expect at the end of the quest.

From other sources, it seems that Silvia Moreno-Garcia has taken several genres and mixed them together to make up a fantasy-Cinderellla like fairy tale, a road trip coming of age drama. She has blended humor with adventure overtones that relies on a number of Mexican folk tales, legends and  horror elements. The characters are interesting if not likable. The setting of Mexico is striking but there are so many locations that none get the development they need. The story is rather predictable. It seems to be a story that would be adaptable as an animated story rather than prose. But the blending of the various genre was interesting enough for me to stay with it to the end.

Recommend to readers who enjoy fantasy, historical fiction, mythology, romance, magical realism.