Gods of Jade and Shadow is a fun read, delving into Mayan Myth against the backdrop of the Jazz Age. I was unfamiliar with a lot of this period (in Mexico, and these myths, so it was educational.
This is the story of Casiopea, a young woman who is mistreated by her wealthy family. One day, she discovers a box of bones. A shard stabs her and she is given a connection to Hun-Kame, a Mayan god. Kame’s brother banished him and took control of his kingdom of the dead decades earlier, with the help of Casiopea’s grandfather. Now she must travel across Mexico to restore Kame to his throne.
Its a simple enough story. Girl and God go on a road trip. What makes it work is the world building. The Mayan myths are brought to life, literally, in this novel of wealth and poverty. It is set in 1920’s Mexico, a very interesting time. As the Art Deco movement was sweeping the US, a revival of Mayan art was burgeoning in Mexico. The setting of this story in that era was no coincidence. I was not 100% sold on the romance between Casiopea and Kame, but I liked how the ended it.
Worth a read.
The Skinny from the Fatty 