Fans of retellings of classical mythology will love Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s innovative take on modern Mayan myth. When Casiopea Tun, a young woman living in Southern Mexico in the 1920s, accidentally restores to life the spirit of a long-dead god, she’s faced with a simple choice: help him regain his full immortality and restore himself to the throne of the Mayan underworld, or die trying. Thrown into a centuries-wide web of deceit, magic, and deep family betrayal, and for the first time free of the chains of her tyrannical grandfather and abusive cousin, Casiopea sets out to find her own destiny, amidst forces so large and ancient she cannot possibly hope to understand them. But, this might mean that they fail to understand all that she can become, too.

There is something so beautifully tender about this story, from the rich descriptions and vivid imagery of the Yucatán, to the soft inner voice and subtle strength of Casiopea herself. Reading this piece feels rich, like diving into a pool of warm water in the middle of summer, or smelling expensive perfume while walking past the window of a shop. I was hooked from the very start, caught like a fly in a web in the middle of Casiopea’s complex family dynamics, and the senseless cruelty she has been forced to endure as an almost Cinderella-figure from such a young age. So, once the magical elements of this book began to appear, I was already deeply invested, and more than ready to learn about Mayan mythology, a topic I knew embarrassingly little about prior to picking up Gods of Jade and Shadow. Moreno-Garcia’s extensive research, collated into the ending appendix, was deeply appreciated for this reason.

I also really enjoy how many different worlds are colliding head-on in this story, not just the ancient past and present (as the Mayan god Casipoea has summoned is trying to figure out what his place in the modern day should be), but also spheres of colonial and nationalistic power. Without giving too much away, I find the discussion the text introduces about 1920s Mexico and the growing influence of the United States to be deeply interesting and very important. The old gods of Mexico and of its indigenous populations are literally dying out or being forced into semi-eternal slumbers, and both the gods themselves and the mortals who worship them are struggling to either hold on to tradition, or re-shape the world as they know it. Alongside the rich imagery, beautiful mythology, and sweet romance of this story, there is also a fantastic discussion of what it means to live in world that is changing out from under you, one that is determinedly leaving you behind or forcing you to conform.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and would highly recommend Gods of Jade and Shadow to anyone looking for a refreshing and relevant take on adapting world mythologies for a more modern audience.