4/5

For fans of: Jazz Age, feisty MC, slow burn romance, Mayan gods, Mayan mythology, prophecies, sibling rivalry

The Big Questions:

• What genre is this in? YA adventure, magical realism

• Are there any swoon-worthy characters? He’s not emotionally available, but he’s hot.

• Is it spicy? No, strictly YA slow burn and I mean SLOW BURN

• Is it violent or gory? YA level violence

• Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? Buy it.

Synopsis: Casiopea Tun dreams of a world beyond her grasp. As the Jazz Age passes by her backwater town, she is stuck caring for an ailing grandfather and extended family that sees her role as nothing more than a poor relation meant to serve her betters. That is, until her feisty-ness gets the better of her and entraps her into the service of a cursed death-god. Now, she must go on a journey across northern Mexico to help this death-god regain his underworld kingdom or die under the curse they both have fallen under. Casiopea always wanted adventure, but not at the expense of her life.

Review: First off, I adore Casiopea. She is feisty, has big dreams, and finds little ways to rebel in her soul-crushing world. Her dynamic with her misogynist, small-minded cousin, Martin, is chef’s kiss perfection. He is a coward and he knows it. Even better, he knows everyone knows it and his only hold on everyone is that he benefits from a patriarchal society. It chafes him and fuels her. She rebels, talks back, and fights everyone who pushes her, even a god.

Now lets talk about said god, Hun-Kamé. He is angry, wants what belongs to him, and is hell-bent on getting it back. But his fate is literally tied to Casiopea. He is slowly sucking the life out of her, but also begins to lose his immortality. His heart starts to beat and his hold on his godhood is ebbing away. His character arc is slow, but excellent. She wants adventure and a chance to be herself, but the longer their journey goes, the more frightened she becomes of the journey and her true self. They change, for better or worse, and so do their dreams and goals. It is a great commentary on when one finally goes on an oft-dreamt journey, the reality is never what one hopes.

This is the coming-of-age story I live for. As their journey becomes more dangerous and the stakes become higher, their dreams and goals shift with the realities they face: demons, sorcerers, gods, monsters, vindictive cousins, and death itself. Exploring Mayan myths along with 1920s Mexico was a treat for the senses as the glory of the Gilded Age in Northern Mexico was on full display.

This is a great addition to a fantasy library collection for those who love coming-of-age stories in a magical realism-type setting.