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 - Tordotcom - 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)
