Written by Emma Knight
Gods of Jade and Shadow is inspired by Mayan mythology, which is not written about very often but it really should be. From this book alone, I want to know more about the demons that lurk around the world and the different Gods. Moreno-Garcia links religion and mythology together seamlessly by showing the power of words and belief in what seems improbable.
Life through the eyes of Casiopea changes from dull to vibrant through a simple prick of a finger after noticing a black chest in her grandfather’s bedchamber. This takes her on a journey past the borders of her confined small town to the world that is embracing a new revolution known as the roaring ’20s.
Casiopea is a headstrong female with such curiosity that causes her to open a forgotten chest and reawakens death himself (just another Tuesday in Uukumil you know). Lord of Xibalba, God of Death, King of Shadows; who also prefers to be called Hun-Kamé, had been decapitated and put in a chest by his twin brother, Vucub-Kamé. The only chance he has to regain his throne is retrieving the missing parts of himself while trying not to become mortal while in the Middleworld. Casiopea has to follow him on the journey as a piece of his bone had been lodged into her finger when she opened the chest and he is the only person who can take it out unless she wants to cut her hand off. What a great way to start the day and a good excuse to leave the house… This journey takes them throughout Mexico and out of their comfort zones leading them to have to rely on each other.
“Here lodges a shard of bone, a tiny part of me. Even now it provides nourishment. Every moment that passes, that nourishment, that life , flows out of you into me. You will be drained entirely, it shall kill you, unless I pull the bone out.”
In a time where dresses and hairstyles are getting shorter and the dancing is getting quicker, Casiopea dreams of exploring the world on her own but is held back by her family. There is a great contrast between Casiopea’s relationship with her cousin, Martín, and the Hero twins.
In both relationships, you can see the strain of rivalry and inadequacy when comparing them. It was great how the book changed the point of view between characters as you could see the motivation behind each persons actions and gave the book more depth.
This book builds a world that is vibrant with life, rich in culture, and followed by haunting shadows that makes your spine tingle. Each character and each location is so beautifully constructed that you are completely immersed in this extraordinary book. You feel like you are with them every step of the way, not just watching from a distance.
“The imagination of mortals shaped the gods, carving their faces and their myriad forms, just as the water molds the stones in its path, wearing them down through the centuries. Imagination had also fashioned the dwellings of the gods.”
God of Jade and Shadow is a page-turner that immerses you in a forgotten culture and it is a coming-of-age story about finding what you really want in the most unlikely of circumstances. Silvia Moreno-Garcia truly has a gift for writing that should be acknowledged more frequently as words have such a great power in this book as they transport both characters and readers into another world.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of July 23rd 2019.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
