Facebook PixelBook of the Month Review + Coupon - July 2019 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Book of the Month Subscription Review + Coupon – July 2019

Megan K.
ByMegan K.Aug 17, 2019 | 6 comments

Book of the Month July 2019 subscription review

Book of the Month
4.1 overall rating
37 Ratings | 13 Reviews

Book of the Month is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, 5 curators pick out their favorite new hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month. You can also add up to 2 additional books for only $9.99 each.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Check out all of our reviews of Book Subscription Boxes for more options, too!

About this Box

The Subscription Box: Book of the Month

The Cost: $14.99 a month (less with 3- and 12-month subscriptions)

The Product: Subscribers get to pick from a selection of hardcover books each month. Skip any month you aren't interested in. Add up to two additional books for $9.99 each.

Ships to: the US for free

Book of the Month July 2019 Review

This month, subscribers picked from the following 5 books:

I'm reviewing Gods of Jade and Shadow:

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Retail Value $26.00 (found here for $19.33)

Book Summary from Amazon:

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.

Ok, so obviously the cover of this book is to die for. It immediately caught my eye! After my May review, I had also made a conscious choice to pick lighter fare this month, as I tend to always tend to be drawn to the deeper and sometimes more emotionally taxing options from this subscription. A Mayan god of death who is missing an eye should be lighter, right?

I am a lover of fiction, specifically fantasy and magic-related fares. This book was a no brainer. Since I had a pretty significant road trip planned, I did (in an act of book lover sacrilege) download the audiobook version of this book as well as take the physical book with me. I know, I know... book purists might be finger-wagging right now. But one should not turn pages while at the wheel, right? And I am not one to waste time on an 11-hour trip listening to the same album over and over or fighting over the radio with my husband.

It took me a little bit to get into this book. I think by about chapter 4 I was deeply invested, but I have to admit that I found the heroine, Casiopea Tun, immature, juvenile, and borderline bratty at first. It was seeming like a total Cinderella retelling, you know the type—a downtrodden young girl loses her loving father and becomes totally dependent on rich relatives who are cruel to her and make her clean floors and fold clothes. This book quickly becomes much more of an adventure as the chapters progress and I was tickled by the beautifully built world of the 1920s in Mexico and beyond. This book also fearlessly dives into social issues of the time, most notably the duality and internal conflicts of a colorful culture deeply influenced by both Christianity and Mesoamerican religions. The contrast between these belief systems flourishes against the backdrop of a 1920s society that is rapidly modernizing. This epic journey happens as cars are getting faster, jazz is playing in clubs, and traditional gender roles are being questioned by young women with bobbed hair and short skirts.

Without giving too much away, Casiopea and Hun-Kamé have quite a journey together. From Mexico to Baja, California, and beyond, our protagonists take us on a glittering adventure of Mexican mythology and personal growth that was a delight to experience. This tale was one of my favorites so far this year and pretty much defines enjoyable, easy, summer reading.

And Book of the Month includes a bookmark every month.

If you picked this book this month, please let me know what you think of it!

Verdict: The book I picked for the July Book of the Month was exactly what I needed. I love an epic tale, a strong heroine, and magic, especially in the summer months when everything already feels a little more magical. I was a little hesitant to pick this book because I thought my lack of Mayan knowledge would put me at a disadvantage regarding the more nuances mythology in this book, but Silvia Moreno-Garcia wove such a detail-filled and colorful world that it was easy to keep up. I love this book so much that it was hard to let go of at the end, especially since most of the books I read are series. I will have to take a look at some of this author's other works and maybe re-read this one in the winter when I need an epic mental get-away.

To Wrap Up:

If I sign-up now can I get this book? No, but you can select from the new August collection!

Check out all of our Book of the Month reviews and see what other book subscriptions made our favorites list!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What do you think of the Book of the Month subscription? Which book (or books) did you pick this month?

Starting at $17.99
Subscribe Now

Book of the Month is a popular online subscription service for books that helps millennial women discover the best new reads. We announce a curated selection of between 5 - 7 new and early release hardcover books every month. Members choose one on the site, and we ship it to them in a bright blue... read more.

Megan K.
Megan K.
I love natural/vegan beauty products, Korean skincare, unique jewelry, and weird candies from far away places. When I am not waiting for my next exciting box you can find me painting or taking photographs of interesting people. I never leave home without pug hair somewhere on my shirt and a bold lipstick on my smile.

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

6 comments

Joyce

Do not subscribe to this service. I got charged even though I opted out for the month and they refused to refund my money. Bad company

Reply ButtonReply

Michelle

Yes that is how it works if you read the fine print. They credit you but they will continue to charge you for each credit. I just cancelled seconds ago as they aren’t offering enough of what I am interested in.

Reply ButtonReply

Audra K

I haven’t started this book yet, but I’m so glad you liked it! I can’t wait to pick it up!

Reply ButtonReply

Megan K.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was really quite sad when I finished it. I think some of the allure now that I have had longer to refect is that this is such a well-paced fable-esque story. Like, there is action, but it never feels breathless.

Reply ButtonReply

Tiffany

I’m not finished with this one yet because it took me awhile to get into Lost and Wanted (which I ended up loving). I also chose this for a lighter read, and it is not disappointing. Your review captured my feelings about Gods of Jade and Shadow exactly!

Reply ButtonReply

Megan K.

Glad you love it too! I am kind of in a rut now because I have that weird hollow feeling you get after finishing a really endearing book and I am not quite ready to move on to my next one (The Whisper Man)

Reply ButtonReply