Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Dioses de jade y sombra

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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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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