Gods of Jade and Shadow (October 2019) Buddy Read Discussion - Laura, Mina

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Gods of Jade and Shadow thread! This thread officially opens on October 7th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each week we will be reading by chapters. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 10/7
October 7: Chapters 1-5
October 8: Chapters 6-10
October 9: Chapters 11-15
October 10: Chapters 16-20
October 11: Chapters 21-25
October 12: Chapters 26-30

Week of 10/13
October 13: Chapters 31-35

PARTICIPANTS:
- Laura
- Mina

[Laura ☾]

So i've finished up to Chapter 5,

Chapter 1 definitely gave me Cinderella-esque vibes (the narrator even makes a comment about that )

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ God of Death emerging from a chest of bones that re-assemble themselves...And now she's to go retrieve the missing parts of him with him - Ooookay that's creepy but intriguing...I just hope she doesn't fall madly in love with him and throw her sense out the window (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Martin seems like an insufferable brat (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed the descriptions of the settings here and Casiopeia's excitement to discover the city. This Loray seems like an interesting character, it seems like there will be more than meets the eye. And he's definitely playing his own game. The comment about having a soft spot for mythmaking was brilliant!

The concept of gods is a bit similar to American gods (the idea that gods fade if no one believes in them and exist as long as people do) (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ These descriptions of Xibalba are so vivid. Vucub-Kame seems a bit like the archetypical villain/Hades figure (hide spoiler)]

Overall I'm already really enjoying this!

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

for now I've read 7 chapters and I'll read the other 3 for today later.

For a moment I thought it's going to be a Cinderella retelling, but it was just a passing thing. I started listening to it at work which could've been a...not ideal way to get to the story because of the names and some other words. I kinda like the way of the narration, it doesn't feel like a real traditional way of storytelling but there's something.

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[eh Martín what a jerk. The bone re-assemble felt so cartoonish and I couldn't imagine it any other way. I like the idea of the adventure--her having to help him if she doesn't want to die. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Yep. But I'm... well not more understanding of him because he is a brat, but I didn't see him as a big dick as in the previous chapters. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ Yes, Loray seems like an interesting character. I doubt this is the last of him we'll see. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ I like how we get to see what happens in other places, to other characters while Casiopea travels with Hun-Kume (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[It's nice that there is some conversation between the characters, I wouldn't want for them to travel and not talk at all. Hun-Kume not having a humor... precious. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[There are sorcerers that can trap a god 😄 I like that a lot, and now we know how Cirilo got to be Vucub-Kume's servant and how he got rich. Martin is patronizing even towards his grandparent because Cirilo all but gave Casiopea the key, it's a surprise he didn't get hit. (hide spoiler)]

So far I'm liking it but I'm not fully connecting to it. It reminds me of The City of Brass, have you read it? That one I liked too but hadn't fully connected to it either. I guess what reminds me of that book is the poor girl getting somehow involved with a higher being and going on an adventure.

[Laura ☾]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[yes! precious! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[yes! haha silly Cirilo! and the idea of sorcerers is intriguing (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[The conversations are just brilliant! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[she actually made him laugh! And I'm enjoying the mythological elements of this! (hide spoiler)]

No I haven't read city of brass but it's on my list!

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

It's interesting to see the new places through Casipea's eyes and to see her react to it. Her making him laugh could be because as Loray said the more time passes without his missing parts Hun-Kame becomes more human. I'm too enjoying the mythology a lot.

chapter 11 (view spoiler)[I was right about Hun-Kame becoming more mortal! I really like Vucub-Kame's chapter, I want to find out more about this character...which I probably will after some chapters since this feels like a book that'll give answers. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 12 (view spoiler)["She had not been one for tantrums as a child, but when she did pitch a fit, it was a sight to behold, and right then she felt that if she didn’t sit down, calm herself, and close her eyes, she was going to smack the god of the dead across the face." 😂 that would've been something to see.

Is it just me or does the gathering of parts seem too easy? for the ear they just came into the city, dressed her to catch Juan's attention and basically after a talk he gave them the ear. Then Hun called that thing on the crossroad and got directions. They came to Mexico cut her hair to summon ghosts and after a second of trouble they got their next destination. But maybe that's in the spirit of myth telling.(view spoiler)[/ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ Yes! This feels like a book that will give answers! And especially because it's a standalone I feel like it would be frustrating otherwise! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[It does seem way too easy! But I guess as you say it's maybe in the spirit of myth-telling (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ Casiopeia's wonder at the city is kind of endearing! And uh oh Martín has caught up with her! I wonder how he found her so easily? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ Nevermind that answers my question.. The background given here does explain more about why Martín is so spiteful but it doesn't make him any more likable. He's calling her spiteful and a brat when it's him really (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[ “Would it please you if I ran around like a headless chicken, as you do?” he inquired.
He seemed to be fond of comparing her to animals. She wondered what he’d come up with next. A turtle? A cat? She might be an entire zoo to him, both funny monkey and pretty bird. That made me giggle
So he's...in love with her? Or whatever the god's equivalent is (I wonder if it's like in Greek mythology and the gods do not feel the same kind of loves as mortals) (hide spoiler)]

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Oh, it's a standalone? :D I love it when I hear that.

[Laura ☾]

Yes! I also enjoy series but sometimes it's nice to just have the plot tied up in one book!

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I like series too but I usually don't continue to the next book immediately if there is a next book out and when I finally do pick it up I have no idea what has happened in the previous book so... standalones are great :D

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Yes, chapter 14 did show why Martin became the way he was when we first met him, but also the chapter shows how much of a brat he is and how even though he's uneducated he thinks he's still superior to others.

As for chapter 15 the love bit.. I don't think it's like in the Greek mythology as he's becoming more human by the minute and he's not in love with her..at least not yet but he may be falling in love slowly. Which is fine by me since is happening slowly and it's not insta-insta lovey although not many days have passed since she opened the chest.

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ is basically Martin being pathetic. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

Yes Martin is just pathetic!

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[
Mortals believe gods to be omnipotent and ever-knowing. The truth is more slippery; their limitations are multiple, kaleidoscopic, and idiosyncratic. Brilliant quote!
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ He's definitely getting more and more mortal! He's sleeping now! (hide spoiler)]


Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ Still loving the description of Xibalba. The storytelling in this book is great! (hide spoiler)]

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

This book has a lot of nice quotes. I'm loving it so much. I got to listen till chapter 25.

CH18 To be honest I thought Vucub-Kame overthrowing his brother off the throne was totally okay... until I heard the story from Hun-Kame. In the beginning it seemed like Hun-Kame didn't care at all, but now I get it.

CH19 I like the quest a lot, it really has the myth vibe.

CH22 (view spoiler)[ I like and appreciate that as they are nearing the completion of the task the obstacles are getting harder and are taking more effort. (hide spoiler)]

CH24 (view spoiler)[I'm intrigued to see what Vucum-Kame has in store for our travelers. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura ☾]

All caught up up to Chapter 25 - I’m also really enjoying the vibe! And intrigued to see where this will go

[Laura ☾]

Ok finished this today!

I loved the writing of this - it really felt like a mythical tale! And it was really engaging!

(view spoiler)[ I quite enjoyed the parallels that were drawn between Vucub-Kamé and Hun-Kamés relationship, as compared to Martín and Casiopeia's!

I like that it wasn't the typical and-they-lived-happily-forever-after ending! (hide spoiler)]

What did you think of the book overall?

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I finished it too 😁😁😁 Freaking love it!

Yeah the parallels were nice. Definitely liked that it wasn't that typical ending. She got her freedom to explore and that wasn't pushed aside by the love angle which is awesome and she didn't change Hun-Kame.. well not much, but what I mean he still returned to Xibalba and returned to be the ruler even though while human he almost gave all up for her.

I was so surprised when she sliced her own throat :O I didn't expect that.

This was a nice buddy read 😊 thank you. And tomorrow we'll continue it by starting Dark Triumph.

[Laura ☾]

Yes that surprised me too! I didn't expect it!


Thank you too! All the buddy reads we've had so far have been great!