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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
doodeedoda's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Cursing and Death of parent
alex_wordweaver's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
neens_m's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death of parent
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Loved this book. Main character is fantastic. Imagery is easy to visualize. A strong morality story for life lessons. This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I think I’m officially a fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Classism
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
Minor: Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
audreyywood's review against another edition
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.
Despite all of this, it was an easy read with a mostly satisfying ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
dreadspawn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Racism and Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
“In the world of the living, one must live.”
Premise:
We follow the hero's journey of Casiopea Tun (third person limited POV), a girl from a small town Uukumil in southern Mexico who lives at the beck and call of her begrudging grandfather Carilio and her envious cousin, Martín. While perusing her grandfather's things, accidentally releases the god of death Hun-Kamé from his imprisonment, becomes bound to him, and must travel with him to find the rest of his body parts so he can reclaim his throne in Xibalba. He will also have to confront his twin, Vucub-Kamé.
On this journey across 1920's Mexico, Casiopea meets many Mayan gods and tricksters, and all of this is inspired by mythology of the Mayan cosmos! There is a bit of a deadline with this quest though, as the reason Casiopea needs to go with Hun-Kamé is because he is feeding off of her lifeforce (there's an implanted bone shard in her hand), so they must complete this quest before he fully drains all of her life force! Sheesh!
Thoughts:
SMG is hit-or-miss for me usually, but this one has landed moreso in the middle for me! There is so much that I loved! I had so much fun with the general premise of the hero's journey and this quest-based adventure with unlikely travel partners. It was so goofy, the banter was delectable, and I really enjoyed the characterization of both Casiopea and Hun-Kamé! They challenged each other, and Casiopea especially embarked not only on this physical journey, but an internal coming-of-age. She has been mistreated and is exhausted of it, only to recognize that even the villains in her story are figuring their shit out too.
Look, I'm not out here batting for and defending her dusty crusty cousin lol. Martín is ultimately just some guy, but I appreciated Casiopea's dynamic with him, and how that evolved so much by the end. It felt authentic and relatable - don't we all struggle with family dynamics and feeling ostracized or like the outcast at different eras in our lives? I *know* everyone's biological and chosen families are different, but I do think universally, people can relate on how complex family can be.
The setting of the cities across Mexico (Veracruz, Mexico City, El Paso, Baja, etc), as well as the underworld, were immersive and littered with gorgeous prose. I don't think anyone can say SMG is a lazy or vague writer; I could totally imagine the places she was describing, and I think this would be such a good book to adapt for tv as a limited series or a film!
Quotations that stood out to me:
“In the world of the living, one must live.”
Premise:
We follow the hero's journey of Casiopea Tun (third person limited POV), a girl from a small town Uukumil in southern Mexico who lives at the beck and call of her begrudging grandfather Carilio and her envious cousin, Martín. While perusing her grandfather's things, accidentally releases the god of death Hun-Kamé from his imprisonment, becomes bound to him, and must travel with him to find the rest of his body parts so he can reclaim his throne in Xibalba. He will also have to confront his twin, Vucub-Kamé.
On this journey across 1920's Mexico, Casiopea meets many Mayan gods and tricksters, and all of this is inspired by mythology of the Mayan cosmos! There is a bit of a deadline with this quest though, as the reason Casiopea needs to go with Hun-Kamé is because he is feeding off of her lifeforce (there's an implanted bone shard in her hand), so they must complete this quest before he fully drains all of her life force! Sheesh!
Thoughts:
SMG is hit-or-miss for me usually, but this one has landed moreso in the middle for me! There is so much that I loved! I had so much fun with the general premise of the hero's journey and this quest-based adventure with unlikely travel partners. It was so goofy, the banter was delectable, and I really enjoyed the characterization of both Casiopea and Hun-Kamé! They challenged each other, and Casiopea especially embarked not only on this physical journey, but an internal coming-of-age. She has been mistreated and is exhausted of it, only to recognize that even the villains in her story are figuring their shit out too.
Look, I'm not out here batting for and defending her dusty crusty cousin lol. Martín is ultimately just some guy, but I appreciated Casiopea's dynamic with him, and how that evolved so much by the end. It felt authentic and relatable - don't we all struggle with family dynamics and feeling ostracized or like the outcast at different eras in our lives? I *know* everyone's biological and chosen families are different, but I do think universally, people can relate on how complex family can be.
The setting of the cities across Mexico (Veracruz, Mexico City, El Paso, Baja, etc), as well as the underworld, were immersive and littered with gorgeous prose. I don't think anyone can say SMG is a lazy or vague writer; I could totally imagine the places she was describing, and I think this would be such a good book to adapt for tv as a limited series or a film!
Quotations that stood out to me:
“She longed. Not for one specific thing but for everything; she had longed for a long time. He’d made this longing worse: it followed her quietly, this awkward feeling under her skin.”
“Young, as you are young. Look at you, like the dawn,” he said. “You can’t understand, of course, but one day you’ll want to be new again,” he continued. “You’ll wish to return to this moment of perfection when you were the embodiment of all promises.”
“Words are seeds, Casiopea. With words you embroider narratives, and the narratives breed myths, and there’s power in the myth. Yes, the things you name have power,” he said.
“He’d fallen in love slowly and quietly, and it was a quiet sort of love, full of phrases left unsaid, laced with dreams. He had imagined himself a man for her, and he allowed her to see the extent of this man, and he gave her this speck of heart, which was a man, to hold for a moment before taking it back the second before it faded.”
“Life had taught her to be untrusting. Dreamers and romantics like her father did not fare well, and though she had dreamed in Uukumil, she’d done so quietly, in secret.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
md3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent