Gods of Jade and Shadow
Gods of Jade and Shadow
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
5 out of 5Synopsis
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.
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.
Review
Casiopea is the black sheep of the family, treated as a servant in her grandfather's house. When she discovers some old bones locked in a chest, she is swept up in an adventure that will open her eyes to the modern world.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Casiopea is the black sheep in her family. Her mother was the angel of her grandfather's eyes; until she eloped with a poor man with no family name and unwanted dark skin.
After her father's death, Casiopea and her mother return to her grandfather's house, in shame.
As Casiopea grows up, she is isolated - she isn't good enough to be accepted by her high-society family; but she is too connected for the local commoners to feel comfortable around her. So, she lives in limbo, trying to survive her bully of a cousin Martin, and biding her time until she can leave and start a life of her own.
After yet another family disagreement, where Casiopea is inevitably blamed, she lashes out by breaking into her grandfather's sealed chest, hoping to find something of value. What she finds instead are the bones of the god of death, Hun-Kame.
Released from his prison, Hun-Kame and Casiopea have to work together, to restore him as the ruler of the underworld. The two of them traverse Mexico in their quest.
I loved the mix of the old Mayan folklore and gods, alongside the new way of life in the 1920's. Casiopea has grown up in a small village, where anything frivolous was to be frowned upon. For her, seeing a real-life god in the flesh is on par with seeing automobiles, daring fashion and fast dances. She can hardly believe they're real.
I loved following Casiopea's story as she discovers her own strengths and is able to decide who she wants to be, and what she wants to do in life.
Hun-Kame is a cold and distant god, but throughout the story he gets more and more human. It's sweet to watch the subtle changes, but at the same time it's quite sad. These mortal touches don't belong in the underworld, and you get the feeling that, no matter the outcome in the battle against his treacherous brother, Hun-Kame is going to lose himself.
I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read more by Moreno-Garcia.
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