Gods of Jade and Shadow

By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Narrated by: Yetta Gottesman

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." (Bustle)

Nebula Award Finalist

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR • Tor.com • 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)

©2019 Silvia Moreno-Garcia (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Casiopea is not a damsel in distress, but rather a young woman coming of age in a time where music, myth, art and exploration thrum colorfully around her.... Readers will be floored by Moreno-Garcia’s painstaking attention to detail. Her descriptions of the emotionally charged interactions between realistic human characters and otherworldly gods, witches and demonic forces are unforgettable, as are the fairy-tale and folktale aspects of the plot." (BookPage starred review)

"Set in a lushly rendered and gorgeous world, this is historical fantasy at its best: a fresh, feminist coming-of-age tale that lets the ancient and the new meld and clash in a tale you can't put down." (S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper)

"An evocative and moving modern Indigenous fairy tale filled with quiet moments of vulnerability and honesty. Oh, my heart!" (Rebecca Roanhorse, Hugo and Nebula award-winning author of the Sixth World series)

Room for improvement

The story was decent. It felt to me a little uneven. Dialogue of struck me as anachronistic. The narration was reminiscent of an adolescent doing a “cold-read aloud”. Awkward inflection and odd phrasing detracted from what might have been an entertaining novel.

This was a slow burn, that had me compelled by the end. I love the cosmology, and the language is beautifully visceral.

I found my mind wandering a bit through the narration. It is well presented, it just didn’t “grab” me.

Great to listen to.

I love the Mexican mystical theme. I just finished Lovecraft County and wanted to keep the vibe going and this is a good to follow with. great female lead

OMG

This is one my new favorite books. It was SO well written. The words provided the most amazing imagery. The story and narrator were both amazing! Can’t wait to hear more from both.

I want a sequel

Incredible tale of supernatural beings and strange people who we see but do not see.
Beautiful scenery.
Lovely style of writing.
I just want more of this please.

Amazing story concept

I really enjoyed the use of mythology but also felt like it ultimately fell short in immersing us in the fantasy. It’s a romance story. If you’re looking for an immersive story that explores the mythology it uses, then this will not be for you.

Her words paint pictures.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes in a way that brings her world to life. It is almost a visual experience. The story is enthralling and the heroine is inspiring. The performance of the narrator is well paced easy to follow and pronunciation is correct which is appreciated.

5/5

I loved it. Every book I read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is always so good! I highly recommend. It may seem slow to start but once it gets going, it’s tough to put down or pause.

Gorgeous

A beautifully told story. Utterly captivating. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end.

Captivating and Difficult to Turn Off

It’s a classic quest story arc but avoids cliches and triteness. I loved it more and more as the book went on and was so pleased with the ending.