Set in 1920s Mexico, the story follows Casiopea Tun, a young woman living a life of servitude in her grandfather’s house. Her circumstances change when she opens a mysterious wooden box, accidentally releasing Hun-Kamé, the Mayan god of death. Bound to the deity by a shard of bone lodged in her finger, Casiopea must travel across the Yucatan peninsula and into the underworld of Xibalba. She helps Hun-Kamé reclaim his throne from his treacherous brother through a series of trials involving magic, demons, and historical cities.
Readers interested in mythology and historical fiction will find a narrative that substitutes standard European tropes for Mayan folklore. The book provides a detailed look at Jazz Age Mexico and the internal politics of a supernatural hierarchy. Those who finish the story walk away with a specific understanding of how indigenous legends intersect with mortality and personal agency. It serves anyone looking for a standalone fantasy that prioritizes atmospheric setting and cultural heritage over long-running series conventions.
- Published
- 2019
- Language
- EN
