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The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.. "A spellbinding fairy tale rooted in Mexican mythology . . . Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical fairy tale about identity, freedom, and love, and its like nothing youve read before." - Bustle. NEBULA AWARD FINALIST * NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * Tordotcom * The New York Public Library * BookRiot. The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfathers house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. . Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfathers room. She opens it - and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopeas demise, but success could make her dreams come true.. In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City - and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.. Praise for Gods of Jade and Shadow. "A dark, dazzling fairy tale . . . a whirlwind tour of a 1920s Mexico vivid with jazz, the memories of revolution, and gods, demons, and magic." - NPR. "Snappy dialog, stellar worldbuilding, lyrical prose, and a slow-burn romance make this a standout. . . . Purchase where Naomi Novik, Nnedi Okorafor, and N. K. Jemisin are popular." - Library Journal (starred review) . "A magical novel of duality, tradition, and change . . . Moreno-Garcias seamless blend of mythology and history provides a ripe setting for Casiopeas stellar journey of self-discovery, which culminates in a dramatic denouement. Readers will gladly immerse themselves in Moreno-Garcias rich and complex tale of desperate hopes and complicated relationships." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)