The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.“A spellbinding fairy tale rooted in Mexican mythology . . . Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical fairy tale about identity, freedom, and love, and it’s like nothing you’ve read before.”—BustleNEBULA AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF … AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • Tordotcom • The New York Public Library • BookRiot
The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.
Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.
In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.
Praise for Gods of Jade and Shadow
“A dark, dazzling fairy tale . . . a whirlwind tour of a 1920s Mexico vivid with jazz, the memories of revolution, and gods, demons, and magic.”—NPR
“Snappy dialog, stellar worldbuilding, lyrical prose, and a slow-burn romance make this a standout. . . . Purchase where Naomi Novik, Nnedi Okorafor, and N. K. Jemisin are popular.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“A magical novel of duality, tradition, and change . . . Moreno-Garcia’s seamless blend of mythology and history provides a ripe setting for Casiopea’s stellar journey of self-discovery, which culminates in a dramatic denouement. Readers will gladly immerse themselves in Moreno-Garcia’s rich and complex tale of desperate hopes and complicated relationships.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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The book takes place in 1920s Mexico and follows Casiopea, a young woman, living with her mother at her Uncle’s estate and is mostly treated like a servant. She sees to her Uncle’s needs while being casually tormented by her jealous cousin, Martin. While the family is out one day, Casiopea finds the hidden box where her Uncle’s secrets are kept. Casiopea, of course opens the box and accidentally unleashes a trapped God who’s brother is the source of her Uncle’s wealth and good fortune. Casiopea is now tethered to the God and is a reluctant participant in his quest to regain the throne his brother stole from him.
This was the September pick for my book club and the genre is really a departure for me. I was reluctant to read it and even borrowed it and returned it twice before I actually did, but WOW! I’m really glad I did (which is one of the best reasons to join a book club!). The author’s descriptions are so textured and vibrant that the reader is transported to 1950s Mexico and is immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of Casiopea’s journey. Casiopea is brave, strong and resourceful which is always a pleasure to read. All of the characters are fully developed and realistic, although not all are likable. The story is suspenseful, interesting, a fun adventure that leads to a satisfying ending.
It is no surprise that after I read and loved Mexican Gothic that I would want to read more of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s books, so when I saw there was a group read on Instagram of Gods of Jade and Shadow I was immediately in. I am happy to report that I was very satisfied with this book and what a sweeping tale it was! Filled with Mexican mythology and folklore, Gods of Jade and Shadow is so much more than just another fantasy novel. I think it is something that will appeal to both grownups and young adults alike, and I found it very captivating.
I listened to the audio of course and absolutely loved Yetta Gottesman’s narration. She was perfect as Casiopea and it was so nice to hear the different names and terms as opposed to me trying to read them. I know I would have botched everything, but Gottesman brought the book alive for me and helped me with the pronunciation of so many words. Gods of Jade and Shadow is a beautifully told novel and if I wasn’t sure before, I am now positive that I love Moreno-Garcia’s writing. Everything was very vivid, and her writing technique really helped me picture everything.
If you are interested in mythology and different cultures along with fantasy, this would be a perfect book to pick up. It has a great flow, and I enjoyed every minute of it. While Gods of Jade and Shadow wasn’t quite a five-star read for me, I still loved it and don’t really have any complaints. I think some parts did get a little confusing, and I would have been fine with only Casiopea’s viewpoint (she was amazing), but overall it was a very stunning novel and I look forward to reading many more books from Moreno-Garcia!
I enjoy mythology of all kinds, and this book is heavily salted with Mayan mythology that is even explained more thoroughly in a glossary in the back of the book. Still, I generally read adult fiction, and, like so much contemporary fiction, this is young adult. It simply does not address any mature themes in any meaningful way. It is predictable. It is a Cinderella-like tale that sets itself up for a sequel. It is well-written but in a pop manner that offers no intellectual challenge. It was simply okay. I doubt that I will keep it on my bookshelf, for I will not be tempted to read it again.
I enjoyed Gods of Jade and Shadow, though it was slow. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened to Casiopea. This book is based on Mayan myths and folklore. I now want to read more Mayan folklore to better understand the gods and myths this book is based on.
Ms. Garcia researched her characters well and used her knowledge of the Mayan and Mexican language and folklore to build the world. The characters weaved their way into my dreams, too. That is usually a sign the author is a good storyteller.
Gods of Jade and Shadow has a lot of things I love. Mythology, gods, mystery, 1920s, and set somewhere that isn’t the US or UK. I wasn’t familiar with Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing style at the time, so I had no idea what to expect. But once I started reading, it was hard to stop. Casiopea and Hun-kame are an odd couple together, but what do you expect from a God of Death and a human girl? I love that Casiopea has a chance to escape her abusive family, even if it might cost her her life. If she stayed there she wouldn’t have had the chance to live either.
The story itself is enchanting, the worldbuilding mesmerizing. Moreno-Garcia knows how to add colour to her worlds, even if they’re the shadowlands. The emotions evoked by those places are real, and I experienced them as Casiopea did. Despite having never been to Mexico and barely knowing things about the culture, I didn’t feel left out, like you should ‘know’ to be able to understand it. Casiopea’s adventure with Hun-kame is universal, a fairy tale like many others. A tale everyone can enjoy.
I give Gods of Jade and Shadow five stars. I absolutely loved it. It made me feel all the feels. I cheered very hard towards the end and it left me full of love upon finishing it. It’s definitely a book I’ll reread more than once. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mythology and fairy tales.
ne of the most unique fantasies I’ve read this year. The world building is absolutely stunning and completely immersive, the characters are wonderful, and the ending is bittersweet and yet so, so satisfying.
A big theme in the novel is this idea of myth and myth-making, and the narration style surrounds you with the feeling that you are a part of a story that is greater than yourself–that you are seeing a myth as it is being brought to life. This story is one of love and family and tradition, but it is also a story that questions and challenges these institutions in a way that is true to the characters and time period at hand. It’s a tale as old as time, but also, a tale for the modern age.
A must-read if you love non-Western fantasy (or would like to try one out), strong heroines, and subtle yet captivating romance.
Very original, I never read anything like it.
Half way through the book I thought that it was going to turn into a type of book that I really do not enjoy – I won’t say what kind since I don’t want this to require a spoiler alert. I kept reading because the writing was enjoyable and – I was wrong, mostly. Very entertaining reading and a good introduction to old Mexican gods and mythology.
Great to read a book based in Mexico. Very good story line.
The beautiful cover design and the title first caught my attention, then I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of gods and heroes set in Mexico of the 1920s. The amalgam of Mayan religious traditions with standard folktale narrative and 20th-century social changes was delightful, and the characters were interesting, entertaining, and believable. There was an almost dream-like quality to the narrative that was appealing for this story. Will probably appeal most to readers with some interest in folklore.
I really love this book and I highly recommend it. It is written in the style unlike any I have ever read before.
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I’m glad I took the chance and gave it a go. There weren’t any major surprises in GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW. The plot was pretty straightforward: A woman helps a “resurrected” god rediscover his lost identity by searching for the missing body parts his brother hid from him to keep him from regaining his throne in the Mayan underworld of Xibalba.
While the ending was satisfying and pretty much what I expected, the beauty of this story is in the journey and the growth of its main characters, Casiopeia Tun and Hun-Kamé. Alongside a host of other endearing (I’m looking at you, Loray) characters they meet along the way, Casiopeia and Hun-Kamé learn things about themselves that teach them how to be better. Sacrifice works on a lot of levels here. It’s a subtle but powerful story.
If you enjoy slow-burn literary fiction centered around myths–especially Mayan–give GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW a try.
Gods of Jade and Shadow looses ancient, frightening gods from pre-Columbian Mexico into the jazz era, to both plague and beguile our young heroine. Casiopea Tun runs away from her unbearable life into a dark adventure in which gods and humans seek to manipulate her to their own ends.
This folktale retold is a cut above, powerfully written with a beautiful voice.
I enjoyed her combination of tragic and comic in the story. I also enjoyed her resolution of conflict that discovers the unique solutions. I also felt she ended the story well, not too cut off and open to a continuing.
I adored this fresh, fast paced gem! A fairytale from the dark side, this story puts together an unlikely duo for a fantastical journey through Mayan Mythology. Set in 1920’s Mexico, the multilayered story comes to life with enchanting characters and great dialogue. Some laugh out loud moments, a spark of romance and an underworld game of high stakes makes this book a great read.
My real rating would be 4.5 Stars!
As a member of the SFWA I figured it was my duty to vote in the Nebula Awards, so I started reading the novels nominated and this is the one that caught my attention and got my vote.
First off, it’s set in Mexico in the 1920’s and utilizes regional mythology, which I thought was awesome. I don’t do spoilers, so what I can say is that is well done, very entertaining. It has a 3rd Omniscient narrative that turns it into something of a fairy tale or mythic story, and this is where the .5 gets docked for me, and it may be a little unfair as I am also reading The Hobbit with my daughter right now, so Moreno-Garcia is getting compared t Tolkien a bit, as the Hobbit also weaves a mythic legend in the same POV. Moreno-Garcia’s’s writing is high quality, but for my taste it carries more “professional writer voice” than it does “great story-teller voice” which is something that Tolkien did with amazing skill. Tolkien sounded like a story-teller sitting around the fire, Moreno-Garcia sounds like a talented modern writer telling a story and because of this I’m never sucked into the world and its story like I could be. I could also compare it to American Gods, if you are a fan of that, this could be worth checking out.
Still, this is a fun read and it got my vote for the Nebula’s, so give it a shot if it sounds promising!
My town selected this novel for their annual One City / One Story program, and I loved every fantastical minute of it. Set in 1920s Mexico City (as well as Baja California and El Paso), it’s lush, descriptive, emotional, and surprising.
Really fabulous fantasy based on Mayan mythology and set in Jazz Age Mexico — definitely a great change of pace from the standard, overrepresented Eurocentric fantasy world of knights, castles and dragons. Both grim and hopeful, bloody and beautiful, it’s an easy world to lose yourself in, all the way to the final page of Casiopeia’s journey.
I got this with book of the month, so glad I did. This was a wonderful read, different and full of adventure and surprises. Wouldn’t we all like to be pulled from our lives to be taken on an adventure by a hunky myan god?
I was unfamiliar with Mayan mythology, and this book was an appealing introduction. I loved the mythic elements and unusual setting of this Jazz Age Mexican fairy tale. At first, I thought this might be a Cinderella story, so I laughed when I read that, “Had Casiopea possessed her father’s pronounced romantic leanings, perhaps she might have seen herself as a Cinderella-like figure.” But our heroine is too pragmatic for that, and her story is far more empowering.
The story starts slowly, but once Casiopea Tun resurrects Hun-Kamé, a Mayan death god, I was hooked. I enjoyed the world-building and loved the two main characters. Their banter is amusing and the slow-burn romance that develops between them is touchingly bittersweet. I cried at the climax, but was laughing again during the denouement. It was a fitting ending.
I loved the author’s writing style, which reminded me of sitting around a fire late at night listening to a storyteller. I expect this will be an enchanting audiobook. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology, fairy tales, romantic fantasy, or coming of age stories.
The author provides a glossary at the end of the book that I wish I’d noticed sooner.
Note that the book contains demons, death gods, and violence, but nothing too graphic. The romance is understated and chaste.
Thanks to Random House for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley, which I volunteered to review.