Genre: Historical Fantasy
Length: 384 pages
Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 4 minutes
First Published: 2020
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Rachael’s Review
In a small town in 1920s Mexico, Casiopea Tun is too busy working as a maid to enjoy the Jazz Age. When she accidentally unleashes the Mayan god of death, she must accompany him on a cross-country adventure to help him reclaim his throne where failure will cause death and success will make her wildest dreams come true.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s historical fantasy is an evocative atmospheric read full off gorgeously penned supernatural vibes that is vivid without being scary. Although the story is firmly Young Adult in topic, the author takes a more mature reflective tone with nuanced messaging. Instead of fawning all over the handsome god of death, Casiopea’s love story is based on growing respect and trust. Overall, I enjoyed the book and was impressed with its unique feel.
Publisher’s Description
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.
Quotes from Gods of Jade and Shadow
The things you name grow in power.
He’d fallen in love slowly and quietly, and it was a quiet sort of love, full of phrases left unsaid, laced with dreams.
I follow the direction of the wind, and I cannot be blamed if a new wind begins to blow.
About Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Canadian author of novels, a short story collection and has edited several anthologies. Her works include Gods of Jade and Shadow, Certain Dark Things, Untamed Shore, and Mexican Gothic. She is the publisher of Innsmouth Free Press, co-edits the horror magazine The Dark with Sean Wallace, and is a columnist for The Washington Post and reviews books for NPR. Born in Mexico, she currently lives in Canada. Visit the author’s website →
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