Book Recommendation: Gods of Jade and Shadow

Gods of Jade and Shadow

Historical Fantasy Romance

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be—a fun adventure story steeped in Mayan mythology, with a sprinkling of historical fiction, and a thread of forbidden romance. Set in Mexico during the Jazz era, it follows Casiopea Tun, a young woman living an unhappy life where her family treats her like a servant. One day, she accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, Hun-Kamé, and then gets swept up in an adventure with him. They travel from the Yucatán to Mexico City on a mission to recover Hun-Kamé’s stolen throne from his brother.  

I really enjoyed the dive into Mayan mythology and I learned a lot about Mexican history. Casiopea was a cinderella-esque heroine who was easy to like. Hun-Kamé was the perfect brooding, mysterious, and misunderstood god character drawn by his growing attraction to this mortal woman.

It’s a lovely, rich, and evocative fairytale, full of wonder and possibility. I was swept away from page one, and the ending left me with a warm, satisfied feeling.

Why I think you might like it:

• Fast-paced adventure! Casiopea and Hun-Kamé cover a lot of ground in a short time.
• Magical creatures and folklore. I enjoy stories where the characters interact with lots of different magical creatures and beings, all with different motives and priorities. You never know what’s around the next corner!
• Epic stakes, but fairytale vibes. Casiopea is entangled with actual gods, and she even has to go to the underworld. But the book’s vibe is whimsical and gentle.
• Historical fantasy! I love historical settings with fantasy twists. It’s magical realism, so it’s fun to imagine it could have really happened.
• Nuanced approach to good and evil. The god of death is nether evil nor heroic. And neither is Casiopea.
• Good revenge story. Hun-Kamé is definitely out for revenge on his brother, who imprisoned him. 
• The power of love, and its limitations. The romance in this book is beautiful but ill-fated. But through love, we see the characters grow into new people.