‘Gods of Jade and Shadow’: Representation, Self-Confidence, and Bravery in the Arms of Mayan Folklore

I finally had the time to read Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow when I was on vacation. While on a cruise, it took me three nights to devour it. Each night, after a full day of activities and sun, I’d find my way back to my cabin, wrap my hair and tuck into bed with my Kindle. I’d also find myself reading into the early hours of the morning, foolishly telling myself “Just one more chapter!” Then I’d doze off, aided by the back and forth motions of the ship as the pitch black waves nudged it along under the sky. Let me tell you, upon reading just a handful of pages, I sighed. Reading Gods of Jade and Shadow was like meeting up with an old friend after a while–a comforting, ecstatic feeling that fills you from the inside out. Truthfully, it hasn’t been so long since I’ve read a novel from Moreno-Garcia. I filled my glass with The Beautiful Ones not too long ago and before that, I did a reread of Certain Dark Things. Yet her newest offering, which has been described as “Mayan mythology meets Jazz Age odyssey,” is a breathtaking read that had me alternatively on the edge of my seat and in awe. 2019 has taken so much from many of us, has dealt so much damage. A book such as this is a welcome read, a soft of elixir in dark times that leave us hopeless when we’re already near rock bottom. It has certainly won its place on the list of my favorite books of the year.

“Some people are born under a lucky star, while others have misfortune telegraphed by the position of t…