Scan barcode
wooblatoober's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
so glad i read this. i enjoyed it so much & it had an ending that i had wanted to see in a novel for quite some time, which makes it very special. i wasn’t sure about, then eventually loved, the semi-omniscient narration. i thought it was interesting and different, yet wasn’t distracting, & helped to make certain moments more impactful. i felt like something was missing in regards to the romance as i read, but that’s likely purely personal since i couldn’t tell you what it was that i felt was missing. i definitely loved the climax of the story.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
the race through the black road & what happens on it kept me on the edge of my seat. moreno-garcia did an amazing job of writing cassiopea’s descent into irrationality on the black road, & her descent into thinking she’s old, when she “strays” from the path. VERY well-written, as its seamlessness reminded me of my own descents into psychosis that i’ve had. i REALLY appreciated that she chose not only to do the right thing (go to the black road), but ALSO to live her life after. after an entire romantic buildup, an ending where it just simply doesn’t happen, and where the life she’s about to live independently is more romantic than the relationship she would have had, is very special to me. i also like that the reader is unsure whether she’ll be able to be with him after her death, or, better put, after her life. i almost like to think it won’t happen, & that that’ll be okay. but i also like the idea of him watching her fall deeper in love with life, while falling deeper in love with her. but i think i like the first one more. it’s melancholy & beautiful.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
darumachan's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I loved Velvet Was the Night and Mexican Gothic for their lush settings, mysterious atmosphere, and vibrant storytelling, but Gods of Jade and Shadow fell rather flat for me.
- characters were either cliched not explored enough
- romance felt unnecessary and out of place -- almost as if an editor wanted it added in
- despite a lot of high-stakes situations and interesting-sounding challenges, I never felt really engaged -- the tension was just not there
- characters were either cliched not explored enough
- romance felt unnecessary and out of place -- almost as if an editor wanted it added in
- despite a lot of high-stakes situations and interesting-sounding challenges, I never felt really engaged -- the tension was just not there
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Self harm
Moderate: Religious bigotry
itshrewsbury's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thoughtful, lyrical, and charming. A beautiful fantasy infused with a cultural background and mythology that many western readers may not be aware of, but written in a way that was engaging and accessible to newcomers, and with a gorgeous ending. A very welcome entry into the "reimagined Death God" subgenre.
Good for fans of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, or Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Good for fans of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, or Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
libellumartinae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I AM IN YOUR WALLS SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA AFTER THAT ENDING, I... ugh... I am not going to spoil anything but pls book a therapist's appointment once you start this book because, I am not the person I was before I started this book.
alright, onto better stuff and a more coherent review: this book was delightful.
the romance, the adventure, the ethics. it had it all in a wonderful context of Mexico in the roaring twenties and I feel like there's always some difficulty when handling historical urban fantasy but somehow Silvia Moreno-Garcia always manages to actually amaze me by introducing the context in a fable-like way that explains it perfectly.
the only thing I didn't fully enjoy, was the pacing at the beginning of the chapters and the way she handled the switch of the characters, hence the absence of perfection.
in conclusion, read this book PLSSSSS.
alright, onto better stuff and a more coherent review: this book was delightful.
the romance, the adventure, the ethics. it had it all in a wonderful context of Mexico in the roaring twenties and I feel like there's always some difficulty when handling historical urban fantasy but somehow Silvia Moreno-Garcia always manages to actually amaze me by introducing the context in a fable-like way that explains it perfectly.
the only thing I didn't fully enjoy, was the pacing at the beginning of the chapters and the way she handled the switch of the characters, hence the absence of perfection.
in conclusion, read this book PLSSSSS.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Violence
pobi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A little bit tell-y rather than show-y which was a shame, but the characterisation and pacing was great! Engaging and fun
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Suicide
margaret_k30's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Death of parent
giulianalb99's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lo siento pero dnf. Estaba al 57% y aún no estaba pasando absolutamente nada, así que no voy a perder mi tiempo leyendo esto.
La trama tenía bastante potencial y al ser ambientado en México me llamó bastante la atención pero ir a más de la mitad del libro y que me aburra totalmente hace que no me apetezca leerlo en absoluto. Es MUY lento y uff… No es para mí. Demasiada descripción innecesaria y el romance entre una persona de no sé cuántos años con una adolescente de verdad que no me llama en absoluto, más bien me irrita🤷🏻♀️.
(Si alguien se lo ha leído al completo y me dice lo que pasa al final pues guay, pero tampoco me quita el sueño).
La trama tenía bastante potencial y al ser ambientado en México me llamó bastante la atención pero ir a más de la mitad del libro y que me aburra totalmente hace que no me apetezca leerlo en absoluto. Es MUY lento y uff… No es para mí. Demasiada descripción innecesaria y el romance entre una persona de no sé cuántos años con una adolescente de verdad que no me llama en absoluto, más bien me irrita🤷🏻♀️.
(Si alguien se lo ha leído al completo y me dice lo que pasa al final pues guay, pero tampoco me quita el sueño).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
solenekeleroux's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Blood
itsphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse