Reviews with content warning for Violence - Bohové jadeitu a stínu

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Bohové jadeitu a stínu by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

80 reviews

moonytoast's review against another edition

medium-paced

2.5

I really liked pieces of this story: snippets of prose, overarching concepts, and certain themes. However, the overall book itself felt too meandering in its plot and tone. Casiopeia has the foundation of a great, compelling character, but at moments she just feels like an empty vessel. I still really loved the Mayan mythology here and I will very much be reading other works by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the future, but this was a tough read.

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catcherinthepi's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

As I really loved Mexican Gothic, I needed to read another novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I found this one in a lending library. Moreno-Garcia masterfully immerses you into historical settings in her work, weaving in aspects of ancient myths, and this one is no exception. That being said, the characters left much to be desired for me; this story ultimately kinda felt formulaic to me, and the characters were a plucky underdog heroine and a brooding mysterious male love interest, which is a tried and true trope. I also found her writing relatively basic, so...yeah. Read it for the world-building and otherwise expect some stereotypical plot lines and characters.

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wooblatoober's review against another edition

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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.

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alex_wordweaver's review against another edition

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emotional informative lighthearted reflective tense 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

5.0

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! These two are so stinkin' cute!!! *squishes Casiopea and Hun-Kame's faces together*

Hun-Kame gives me suuuuuuuuuuch death god vibes. I mean, I know he is one, but he just radiates death god energy (death gods can be such secret squishy lovey sexy nerds sometimes behind that aloof exterior). Martin deserved a chancletazo at the beginning, but his sad-sackness at the end earned him a reprieve. Vucub-Kame... *gestures at him vaguely* He's a decent villain, cool looks--he's definitely a Sesshomaru--can see him having possible redemption arc if ever there's a sequel, or if not redemption, at least some on-the-heroes' side anti-heroics. Even with all the stuff you learn about him in the book in his sections, still feels like there's a lot unknown about him. Which is great! Makes me want more. I'm just less inclined to squish his face. I will hug each and every one of his owls, though; they deserve pets for being such good messengers and Huracán especially for having to carry Martin.

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jilljilljill's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-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

4.5

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booksemmahasread's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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audreyywood's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is a simple fairy tale novel that gives a good intro into Mexican/Mayan mythology. However, I feel like it was a bit shallow in its story telling at times, making the story feel jumbled and a bit rushed. I wish that characters stories/motives were developed and explored more; maybe in ways that highlight the character as a whole rather than just as a means to move the story along. It often felt like the book was going in many directions at once.
Despite all of this, it was an easy read with a mostly satisfying ending.

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