ALT READ: Gods of Jade and Shadow

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Muah haha.

Did anyone also decide to read the loser?

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

I'm reading it and loving it. I finished the winner in a few days. It was a quick and enjoyable read.

I also liked Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic and will most likely try out her other fantasy novels.

We rarely get to read about Latin American Indigenous gods.

[Mark]

I re-read Rivers of London recently. Finished The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry then moved on to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Now that I'm done, time to read Gods of Jade and Shadow.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Tassie Dave wrote: "I'm reading it and loving it. I finished the winner in a few days. It was a quick and enjoyable read.

I also liked Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic and will m..."

I also liked the vampires in Mexico City one and plan to read her other work later this year.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Mark wrote: "I re-read Rivers of London recently. Finished The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry then moved on to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Now that I'm done,..."

A final four for you! I was rooting for The Ruthless Lady's Guide. How’d you like it?

[Trike]

Tassie Dave wrote: "We rarely get to read about Latin American Indigenous gods. "

How bizarre, how bizarre.

[Ruth]

Yep, I’m reading Gods of Jade and Shadow as I read The House in the Cerulean Sea only recently. I’m about a third of the way through GoJaS and enjoying it so far - I don’t think I’ve read any Mexican fantasy before, with the exception of Signal to Noise by the same author, which has a more modern setting and doesn’t feature any gods as characters. I also have a hardback copy of Mexican Gothic awaiting my reading pleasure.

There’s an interesting contrast between the very specific time-and-place of the setting of GoJaS, with lots of precise details - like the way the women in the more cosmopolitan city have their hair cut “flapper” style whereas in the small town women are still expected to wear headscarves - and the deliberate vagueness of the setting of THitCS, where the country and decade are left unspecified.

[Mark]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "A final four for you! I was rooting for The Ruthless Lady's Guide. How’d you like it?"

The Ruthless Lady's Guide bears a passing resemblance to House in the Cerulean Sea in that (view spoiler)[the main character is trapped in a deeply unsatisfying life until she meets someone who treats her with respect (hide spoiler)] but is otherwise quite different, part Gail Carriger romance, part Seven Samurai, part French Connection, with accessory zombie mouse. An occasionally grim but fun read.

[Jen]

I haven't started it yet, but was planning to since I already read House. Thanks for the reminder that I wanted to start it!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I also wanted to say that if you are intrigued by this book, I read a recent translation of the Popul Vuh, the original text with the stories and characters she is pulling into this novel, from Milkweed a year or so ago - it's written in verse to pay tribute to the original.

The Popol Vuh

[elizabeth • paper ghosts]

I read GoJaS when it was released in 2019, and it was definitely on my list of most anticipated reads of the year. I loved the concept and the world, but I was overall underwhelmed. I think I just honestly have a disconnect with the author's writing. I want to love Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books so bad, and I diligently keep reading them (I did like Mexican Gothic more than GoJaS, and plan to read their other works), but I'm not sure if the author in general just isn't for me, of if I just haven't found the right Moreno-Garcia book yet.

[Elizabeth]

Yep. The Discord group is reading Gods of Jade and Shadow as our 'rebel' pick for April and May. I am not enjoying it as much as the books I have recently read (mainly Elatose and Cerulean, but it's not fair to compare it like that. I'll have to wait until I'm done and have had time to digest.

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry was already on my TBR so I guess I'll be rounding out the final four eventually!

[Tina]

It’s going to be many weeks before I can get the main pick from the library, so I’m going to go ahead and read the Alt pick.

[terpkristin]

I have finished up the main, so after I read my current read, I'll try this one.

[Ruth]

I regret to inform y’all that, after nominating it in March Madness and voting for it every step of the way, I have decided to DNF this book at the 50% mark. I’m enjoying the period setting and the Mayan mythology, but the actual story and characters are just not compelling me to keep reading. As Elizabeth says above, the concept is good, but I’m struggling to connect with the writing.

I have Mexican Gothic on my shelf in hardback, I hope I’ll enjoy it more than this one!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Ruth wrote: "I regret to inform y’all that, after nominating it in March Madness and voting for it every step of the way, I have decided to DNF this book at the 50% mark. I’m enjoying the period setting and the..."

There is something about her writing that gives away its structure and planning, and I felt it much more in Gods of Jade and Shadow than in the other two I read. I had other minor quibbles with Certain Dark Things (a character who I wanted to be more important than they ended up being) but didn't feel this structure as much; I think the story sings better in Mexican Gothic.

ETA: Perhaps there is a wisdom in crowds, then? ;)

[terpkristin]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I think the story sings better in Mexican Gothic."

How much horror is Mexican Gothic? I've heard so many good things but I really can't do horror.

I will still try Gods of Jade & Shadow because I've procured it. It was on some deal or some such.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

terpkristin wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I think the story sings better in Mexican Gothic."

How much horror is Mexican Gothic? I've heard so many good things but I really can't do horror.

I will still try Go..."

Very much of the gothic variety.

[Trike]

terpkristin wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I think the story sings better in Mexican Gothic."

How much horror is Mexican Gothic? I've heard so many good things but I really can't do horror...."

Oh, it’s full-on horror. It’s very close to a complete what’s-what of horror tropes and trigger warnings.

[terpkristin]

Thanks, Jenny and Trike. Maybe I'll skip that one. I'll see how Gods of Jade and Shadow goes. It wasn't expensive so if it's a no-go, at least I tried.

(I had voted for the winner and enjoyed it very much)

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

I'm not a fan of horror, but loved Mexican Gothic more than Gods of Jade and Shadow.

It's not Stephen King level horror. More Poe level.

It does have a few sections that some people may be uncomfortable with. (view spoiler)[Females being restrained and physically and sexually threatened. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Hmm, I had read The Only Good Indians last year which is like full gore horror and Mexican Gothic felt like a fairy tale next to that. Maybe it's all relative.

[Jason (jasonb)]

I read Gods of Jade and Shadow as my local library has all the copies of the winner checked out and I'm high on the list.

I have to say I loved this read. It was fast (a couple of days) but I was engrossed. I grew up in San Diego, and have driven down to Mexico City, and practically lived in TJ from age 18-21 (tho 20s TJ sounds a little more fun than 80s TJ).

I concur we don't hear enough about the Mayan or Aztec gods Central and South America. I loved the ending as it sets up for a sequel but if there isn't one, I'm okay as the story felt complete.

But honestly, I want to go a road trip with that demon (can't remember the character name - ugh). It'd be fun to see what mischief in New Orleans they will get into. So, I am really hoping for that sequel.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

Jason wrote: "But honestly, I want to go a road trip with that demon (can't remember the character name - ugh). It'd be fun to see what mischief in New Orleans they will get into."

Hun-Kamé. It depends on which version of him turns up.

(view spoiler)[When he's fully a god he isn't that much fun and a bit too serious. Near the end once he becomes a bit more human, he becomes more fun and relatable. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

I absolutely did not engage with this book at all, and I'm another who voted for it all the way through MM. The mesoamerican mythology was a refreshing change from the euro-centric stuff I'm always reading, but that was pretty much it. I enjoyed the picture of 1920s Mexico, even though we were only told about it, not shown.

I didn't like any of the characters, but the biggest disappointment was the lack of stakes. (view spoiler)[ Again, we were repeatedly told that Casiopea's life is at stake, but every step shown of the retrieving body parts/jewellery quest was wrapped up neatly with very little peril and absolutely no sense that they'd actually fail - the Black Path was the most interesting section. Even her death at the end felt rushed - I had no time to absorb it before she was resurrected and the Good Guys had won. (hide spoiler)]

I also DNF'd The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry before I even finished the sample, so I'm glad Cerulean held up!

[Iain]

I quite enjoyed the book. The mythology was a nice change of pace from the usual Euro/White American mythology we usually get. My one complaint wa that the book lacked urgency.

I felt the staked could have been played up a bit as iy was more about succumbing to temptation than the physical stakes.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Elizabeth wrote: ".I also DNF'd The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry before I even finished the sample, so I'm glad Cerulean held up!."

I noticed this is available in Hoopla now but only in audio; I'm going to give it a whirl!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: ".I also DNF'd The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry before I even finished the sample, so I'm glad Cerulean held up!."

I noticed this is available in Hoopla now but only in audio..."

Sigh... never mind. I posted elsewhere why I also DNF'd it but I'm so glad we got the book we did in the end.

[terpkristin]

I agree, I'm also glad we got the book we got. I finished Gods of Jade and Shadow and while it was fine, I agree with Iain that it didn't feel like the stakes were very high. From the beginning, I assumed how it would end (and it did). From what I've heard about the author, it seems like this book isn't quite as good as some of the others.