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What an interesting book! Historical fantasy set in 1920's Mexico and inspired by Mayan mythology, featuring a teenage girl and the god of death. INTO IT.
The last book I read by Moreno-Garcia wasn't really my thing so I was a bit dubious going into this one despite all the convincing reviews I'd read, but I was wrong to worry, this was great.
Casiopeia is the overworked outsider in her extended family, taken in by the family but treated poorly, dreaming of a freer life but unable to believe she'll actually ever find freedom. When she accidentally frees the god of death, Hun-Kame, from a 50-year slumber caused by his brother Vucub-Kame's betrayal, she finds herself bound to him, and she becomes his helper as he attempts to take the steps needed to overthrow his brother and take back his kingdom.
Many things to like about this book - I liked the setting, and the mythological inspiration, neither of which are commonly seen in widely-disseminated fantasy novels. I liked Casiopeia, who is believably affected by her years of poor treatment yet still can't stop herself from talking back to people, like, all the time. I liked Hun-Kame, how odd and inhuman he starts, and how even as he changes he still remains somehow distant. I liked that Martin is totally understandable in all his terribleness, and yet even though he's terrible Casiopeia tells him he has the opportunity to choose to behave differently going forward. (I'm not sure I believe he will though!)
( some spoilers here )
Also - the author's note at the end told me that Hun-Kame and Vucub-Kame's names translate to One Death and Seven Death and I am reminded that A Memory Called Empire borrows that naming scheme of Number Noun, and the sudden juxtaposition of the two books on top of each other in my mind is an odd experience.
The last book I read by Moreno-Garcia wasn't really my thing so I was a bit dubious going into this one despite all the convincing reviews I'd read, but I was wrong to worry, this was great.
Casiopeia is the overworked outsider in her extended family, taken in by the family but treated poorly, dreaming of a freer life but unable to believe she'll actually ever find freedom. When she accidentally frees the god of death, Hun-Kame, from a 50-year slumber caused by his brother Vucub-Kame's betrayal, she finds herself bound to him, and she becomes his helper as he attempts to take the steps needed to overthrow his brother and take back his kingdom.
Many things to like about this book - I liked the setting, and the mythological inspiration, neither of which are commonly seen in widely-disseminated fantasy novels. I liked Casiopeia, who is believably affected by her years of poor treatment yet still can't stop herself from talking back to people, like, all the time. I liked Hun-Kame, how odd and inhuman he starts, and how even as he changes he still remains somehow distant. I liked that Martin is totally understandable in all his terribleness, and yet even though he's terrible Casiopeia tells him he has the opportunity to choose to behave differently going forward. (I'm not sure I believe he will though!)
( some spoilers here )
Also - the author's note at the end told me that Hun-Kame and Vucub-Kame's names translate to One Death and Seven Death and I am reminded that A Memory Called Empire borrows that naming scheme of Number Noun, and the sudden juxtaposition of the two books on top of each other in my mind is an odd experience.
