I received this book from Jo Fletcher Books/Quercus in exchange for an honest review.

In Mexico, 1927, Casiopea gets the chance to escape her humdrum life in a small town when she accidentally frees a Mayan god and ends up on a quest to bring him back to full immortality. As Casiopea begins to experience real life for the first time with Hun-Kame, she gets a glimpse of the person she could be and the magic the world has to offer.

This is a wonderful, vibrant adventure that really brings to life what the roaring 20s was like in South America from Casiopea's small village with deep Catholic roots and virtues to Mexico City and flappers, alcohol and women with short hair.

I loved Casiopea's character growth in this world and the type of courageous, strong and plucky young woman she was from the get go - even when she was being treated as small by her entire family. I loved her belief in herself in always striving for more and the wish to see and do everything. The relationship that slowly blossoms between herself and Hun-Kame is really gorgeous and I could have read their small, tender exchanges forever. There is nothing steamy or even sexual about their dialogue or scenes together but the characters gelled so well, I just loved it.

The world of Mayan mythology was also fascinating, and one i have never really read or known about before. I loved that the gods in this book received their power from the true power of human imagination who first created them and believed in them and how in some ways, their power was directly linked to humans (and in the case of Casiopea and Hun-Kame, physically as well). This was a great adventure story with some truly beautiful writing, and one that made me slow down and relish every single word.