Gods of Jade and Shadow

Written by:
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Narrated by:
Yetta Gottesman

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
29
Narrator
12
Release Date
July 2019
Duration
11 hours 5 minutes
Summary
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)
Reviews
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Anonymous

LOVED IT. Didn't stop listening until it was done!

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Wye333

This book spun an intriguing story of a girl with a modest upbringing, made to live with her grandfather after her father dies. Set in the 40s in a small southern town in Mexico Casiopea falls into a life of a housekeeper, running errands, washing, and scrubbing floors while caring for her grandfather. She has dreams of leaving the small town for a better life. Her life changes when she accidentally knocks over a small wooden box and frees a Mayan God. This God needs her help in recovering his throne from his evil brother. In this strange company, the two set off on a journey that will change Casiopea’s life forever. I’ve haven’t seen such determination in a character in a long time, only 14 … sharp, and smart but with all the naiveties of a teenager. This character shows you what you can do you when you make a promise and never give up. Her determination would earn her the respect of the gods. Being influenced by family Casiopea must learn about, love, life, and making the ultimate sacrifice. This book was a great read even for an old head like me. I get to escape into different lands and historical fiction, about cities, the style of the times, and different cultures.

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