Gods of Jade and Shadow

By: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Narrated by: Yetta Gottesman

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's 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 • 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)

Beautiful Unexpected Love Story

The details, narration and overall story are great! I knew once I started I wouldn't be able to cope with finishing this book! Now I'm tempted to listen all over again! Its a slow, steady burn but worth the ride!!!

Great Story!

The narrator is slow to get into the story, but that's part of the story itself! Great to listen to and the narrator brings you into the world of this book as the author draws you in with the creativity of her mind! Can't wait for more books from this author Silvia M-G!

Absolutely loved it

Rich and wonderful. It turned out very different than I expected, but I loved it even more than expected too.

Loved it, loved listening to it.

Great story and wonderfully performed. Captivating and sweet. I recommend this book for sure.

Engaging fantasy

Awesome characters and world building. An ending I did not expect. Highly recommend for fantasy fans.

Intriguing and dynamic story read smoothly

I came in with no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. This book is multidimensional and very beautifully connected.

great, unpredictable story

I enjoyed the detail of the worlds, great escape. I hope this becomes a movie.

Drives your imagination

Loved every min of this book. The history and folklore intertwined with the details by the author paints a beautiful and colorful picture.

She’s such an incredible author

I bought this book because of how much I loved Mexican Gothic, and honestly, it’s such a different story and yet such a similar thoughtful telling. It’s beautiful and intense and you feel every emotion right along with the characters. The narration was fantastic as well.

Magical

I think my heart beats more slowly now. How captivating and romantic! I'll gift copies!