Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we travel back to 1920s Mexico to discuss Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s acclaimed historical fantasy novel, Gods of Jade and Shadow.

We explore the journey of Casiopea Tun, a young woman dreaming of escape from her wealthy grandfather's home in the Yucatán, who accidentally frees the Mayan god of death, Hun-Kamé, from a forbidden chest. Bound together by a shard of bone, they embark on a dangerous quest across Mexico—from Veracruz to the Black City—to recover the god's missing body parts from his treacherous brother, Vucub-Kamé.

Join us as we break down this mesmerizing tale of duality, Mexican folklore, and self-discovery. We discuss the rich world-building that blends the Jazz Age with ancient myth, the unique "parasitic" romance between a mortal and a deity, and why this Ignyte Award-winning book is a standout in modern fantasy.