Why you may not like this book: A peak through the reviews might leave you confused as some people describe this as slow and some as swift. I think it depends what you are expecting. To me, this didn't have those injections of action sequences that I've come to expect from fantasy, but it was a quest and there is a time clock that pulls you toward the end. I would describe this as steady. If you want a slower, deeper character study or a faster, more action filled adventure, this will not quite satisfy. I would not recommend this for people who generally don't enjoy fairytales, as I think you will miss a lot of what Moreno-Garcia has recreated. I also would avoid if you struggle with love stories that are on the angsty/star-crossed style. I've seen plenty of comparisons between this and Cinderella, which feels kind of cheap considering the real tie is that our MC starts the story working for her rich family. This is more closely a death and the maiden story, to me, which I think is helpful in deciding if you will enjoy.

Why I loved this book: That steady pace was so delicious to me. It felt thoughtful and I enjoyed every single piece Moreno-Garcia put down, from each element of Mayan mythology to each detail about the Jazz age to every step in Casiopea's character arc.

I love Moreno-Garcia's writing. I find it very evocative and I love the ways she uses the senses in order to build her fantastical worlds. This is a setting and a story that is rich in color. She grounds the her story of gods and magic in not only a historical context, but with a main character I felt was an excellent entry point into the story. This is very much a coming of age story, and while this is adult fiction, I think the influence of that coming of age, of Casiopea being out in the world for the first time, makes this read younger than expected. I love coming of age stories, however, and I didn't mind one bit.

This story explores a lot of duality, the strengths and weaknesses of our Casiopea's character, the push and pull of Hun-Kame becoming human and more relateable, and becoming the own master of your destiny alongside the inevitable pull of death.

I loved it so much.