**A Mesmerizing World-Building Experience**

The talk about the world-building in "Gods of Jade and Shadow" was beautiful and a story that I could very easily see in my head. I really got all the feelings of the Jazz Age and just the different places they travel to because this is a quest type story so they end up going to a bunch of different cities. They start out in a more rural area and then end up going to Mexico City at one point, some other places. The author did an excellent job of conveying the atmosphere of the Jazz Age, with its unique fashion, music, and social norms. I could almost smell the cigar smoke and feel the jazz notes dancing in the air.

The world-building was also filled with commentary on history and society, which added another layer of depth to the story. The author's research was evident, and I appreciated the attention to detail that went into creating this rich and immersive world. Whether it was the intricate mythology of the Mayan gods or the complex social hierarchy of Mexico City during that time period, every aspect of the world felt well-researched and authentic.

**A Distant Connection**

One of the things that kept me from fully investing in the story was feeling like I was being told a folktale or myth. The characters seemed to be part of a larger narrative, one that I wasn't entirely sure was meant for me. This sense of detachment made it difficult for me to connect with them on a deeper level. It's as if I was reading an adaptation of some ancient myth, rather than the actual story.

This feeling of distance also carried over into my relationship with the main character, Cassiopeia. While I liked her, I never really felt like I understood her motivations or emotions. She seemed to be more of a prop in the larger narrative, rather than a fully fleshed-out person. This lack of connection made it hard for me to become invested in her journey.

**A Compelling Plot**

Despite this initial feeling of detachment, the plot of "Gods of Jade and Shadow" was compelling and engaging. The addition of a Mayan death god added an element of excitement and unpredictability to the story. I loved how he seemed to bring out the best (and worst) in Cassiopeia, and their relationship was a highlight of the book.

The author did a great job of pacing the plot, with moments of tension and release expertly balanced throughout the story. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I never quite saw what was coming next. While it wasn't always easy to predict what would happen, it was always engaging and entertaining.

**A Beautiful Writing Style**

The writing style in "Gods of Jade and Shadow" was beautiful and evocative. The author had a keen eye for detail, and the descriptions of the characters, settings, and creatures were vivid and immersive. The prose was often poetic and lyrical, which added to the overall atmosphere of the story.

One of my favorite aspects of the writing style was the way it wove together history and mythology. The author's use of language created a sense of depth and richness that drew me in and refused to let go. It was like reading a work of art, with every sentence carefully crafted to create a specific effect.

**A Mixed Emotion**

Overall, I found "Gods of Jade and Shadow" to be a beautifully written and engaging story, despite some initial reservations about the world-building and character connections. The plot was compelling, and the writing style was stunning. However, my inability to fully invest in the characters and their journey left me with mixed emotions.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy and mythology, particularly those who enjoy stories that explore the intersection of history and mythology. While it may not be perfect for everyone, "Gods of Jade and Shadow" is a captivating and immersive tale that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

**A Great Read**

If you're looking for a story that will transport you to another world and keep you engaged from start to finish, then "Gods of Jade and Shadow" is definitely worth checking out. While it may have some minor flaws, the overall experience was too great to ignore. The author's writing style, pacing, and attention to detail all combined to create a truly unforgettable reading experience.

As for the future of this story, I would love to see it brought to screen someday. With its rich world-building, compelling plot, and beautiful writing style, I think it would be an adaptation that audiences would love. The characters were well-developed enough to make for great performances, and the mythology and history added a layer of depth that would translate beautifully onto the big screen.

**A Final Thought**

In conclusion, "Gods of Jade and Shadow" is a mesmerizing world-building experience that will captivate fans of fantasy and mythology. While it may have some minor flaws, the overall story was engaging and entertaining, with a beautiful writing style that drew me in from start to finish. If you're looking for a great read, then this book is definitely worth checking out.

However, if you're someone who prefers to connect more deeply with their characters or struggle with world-building, then you may find "Gods of Jade and Shadow" to be less satisfying. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference – but I would highly recommend giving this story a try nonetheless.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey guys it's Sam and this is my spoiler free review of gods and Jaden shadow by Silvio Moreno Garcia this is an adult fantasy standalone and takes place during the Jazz Age in Mexico this follows our main character of Cassiopeia and her mother and her are sort of outcast from their family her family is very wealthy family in this part of Mexico and so she is kind of looked down and almost treated like a Cinderella type character because her mom ended up marrying someone who is indigenous and the family was just very much not into that so they treat her very poorly particularly her cousin but one day she goes into her grandfather's room and discovers a chest and opening it and she releases a Mayan death God and he tells her that she needs to help him on this quest to get back his underworld Kingdom and everything kind of goes from there so first off the talk about the world-building this was beautiful and a story that I could very easily see in my head I really got all the feelings of the Jazz Age and just the different places they travel to because this is a quest type story so they end up going to a bunch of different cities they start out in a more rural area and then end up going to Mexico City at one point some other places and I just got the feeling of the Jazz Age and how people looked and how people acted in all of that and there's a lot of just like commentary on the history and everything that was going on kind of like politically and just socially and everything so I could really get a feeling in a sense of where these characters were living there was also a lot of talk obviously of Maya and also Aztec folklore and mythology and we got some imagery there as well which was very beautiful and sometimes just a little like beautiful and creepy I compared this and I have compared this to American Gods by Neil Gaiman American Gods has predominantly I would say Western folklore though there are some like African stuff in there too but there's a lot more like the Western mythology this obviously has the mine and the Aztec but in that similar vein of like seeing some of the creepy things that gods are doing that same feeling was present in here next much about our characters so Cassiopeia as a main character I really liked but I did feel at a distance from all of our characters I mentioned this in my wrap-up but the thing that kept me from getting really fully invested in the story is that I felt like I was being told a folktale or a myth and that these characters are part of this folk town myth and in that way I felt very separated from them the same way that I feel separated from like the characters in the Odyssey things like that I am market those characters in like retelling form that I am and they're like original myth so this just felt like I was just very distant from them I pulled for Cassiopeia and I liked her but I still just didn't feel this like super close connection to her I also never felt like she was particularly in danger because this felt like a folktale or a myth I was like this is all gonna work out like I just had that sense almost the entire time in a way that whether that was what actually happened or not it just didn't keep me from feeling like super invested in this story this does have a death and the maiden type trope going on which I really liked so I did like our death God I found again the imagery with him and what was going on with him and their relationship to be really interesting and how being around her was sort of making him more humid and just their bond and their connection from like we're luck tint companions to friends to like maybe more that was a really good dynamic that I liked watching I also found our villains to be fairly well fleshed out they were again characters that you could understand they were more antagonists yes they all did really bad things but throughout the story you kind of get to see like how they got here and what the situations in their lives made them the way they are which is interesting do I want a full book about people turning into villains no but do I like to see it kind of sprinkled in the story so I kind of get where they're coming from a bit even because you know every villain is the hero in their own story yes as far as the plot I kind of touched on that like I said this very much reads like a folk tale myth quest type story so it does kind of follow some of those beats that you're familiar with if you've read some of these kind of quest folk tale type stories so that was just a very easy read this is a fairly quick read but at the same time I also find myself not super compelled to pick it up it wasn't necessarily like fast pace not that I wanted to be but just just had the same cadence like I said of like a folktale or a myth so I found myself not rushing through it and just kind of like sitting with the pretty imagery and everything like that but again really beautiful writing and just had that folklore feeling that I think the author was going for but overall although this was very beautifully written and they had very beautiful imagery I wasn't emotionally connected to the characters and their story so I end up giving this 3.75 out of 5 this is a story I would love to see brought to screen though so comment below let me know what you thought of gods of jade and shadow thank you all for watching and I'll see all the guys soon byehey guys it's Sam and this is my spoiler free review of gods and Jaden shadow by Silvio Moreno Garcia this is an adult fantasy standalone and takes place during the Jazz Age in Mexico this follows our main character of Cassiopeia and her mother and her are sort of outcast from their family her family is very wealthy family in this part of Mexico and so she is kind of looked down and almost treated like a Cinderella type character because her mom ended up marrying someone who is indigenous and the family was just very much not into that so they treat her very poorly particularly her cousin but one day she goes into her grandfather's room and discovers a chest and opening it and she releases a Mayan death God and he tells her that she needs to help him on this quest to get back his underworld Kingdom and everything kind of goes from there so first off the talk about the world-building this was beautiful and a story that I could very easily see in my head I really got all the feelings of the Jazz Age and just the different places they travel to because this is a quest type story so they end up going to a bunch of different cities they start out in a more rural area and then end up going to Mexico City at one point some other places and I just got the feeling of the Jazz Age and how people looked and how people acted in all of that and there's a lot of just like commentary on the history and everything that was going on kind of like politically and just socially and everything so I could really get a feeling in a sense of where these characters were living there was also a lot of talk obviously of Maya and also Aztec folklore and mythology and we got some imagery there as well which was very beautiful and sometimes just a little like beautiful and creepy I compared this and I have compared this to American Gods by Neil Gaiman American Gods has predominantly I would say Western folklore though there are some like African stuff in there too but there's a lot more like the Western mythology this obviously has the mine and the Aztec but in that similar vein of like seeing some of the creepy things that gods are doing that same feeling was present in here next much about our characters so Cassiopeia as a main character I really liked but I did feel at a distance from all of our characters I mentioned this in my wrap-up but the thing that kept me from getting really fully invested in the story is that I felt like I was being told a folktale or a myth and that these characters are part of this folk town myth and in that way I felt very separated from them the same way that I feel separated from like the characters in the Odyssey things like that I am market those characters in like retelling form that I am and they're like original myth so this just felt like I was just very distant from them I pulled for Cassiopeia and I liked her but I still just didn't feel this like super close connection to her I also never felt like she was particularly in danger because this felt like a folktale or a myth I was like this is all gonna work out like I just had that sense almost the entire time in a way that whether that was what actually happened or not it just didn't keep me from feeling like super invested in this story this does have a death and the maiden type trope going on which I really liked so I did like our death God I found again the imagery with him and what was going on with him and their relationship to be really interesting and how being around her was sort of making him more humid and just their bond and their connection from like we're luck tint companions to friends to like maybe more that was a really good dynamic that I liked watching I also found our villains to be fairly well fleshed out they were again characters that you could understand they were more antagonists yes they all did really bad things but throughout the story you kind of get to see like how they got here and what the situations in their lives made them the way they are which is interesting do I want a full book about people turning into villains no but do I like to see it kind of sprinkled in the story so I kind of get where they're coming from a bit even because you know every villain is the hero in their own story yes as far as the plot I kind of touched on that like I said this very much reads like a folk tale myth quest type story so it does kind of follow some of those beats that you're familiar with if you've read some of these kind of quest folk tale type stories so that was just a very easy read this is a fairly quick read but at the same time I also find myself not super compelled to pick it up it wasn't necessarily like fast pace not that I wanted to be but just just had the same cadence like I said of like a folktale or a myth so I found myself not rushing through it and just kind of like sitting with the pretty imagery and everything like that but again really beautiful writing and just had that folklore feeling that I think the author was going for but overall although this was very beautifully written and they had very beautiful imagery I wasn't emotionally connected to the characters and their story so I end up giving this 3.75 out of 5 this is a story I would love to see brought to screen though so comment below let me know what you thought of gods of jade and shadow thank you all for watching and I'll see all the guys soon bye\n"