Gods of Jade and Shadow takes place against the backdrop of Mexico in 1927. Hun-Kamé continuously describes the difference between himself and Vucub-Kamé, stressing that his own view allowed for the inevitability of change among mortals. Mexico mirrors this idea in its culture. The book offers a glimpse at the acculturation of the time with the merging of American and Mexican traditions. In every city, Casiopea notes the popularity of American culture, such as flapper dresses and short hair. The Carnival and Veracruz, once a smaller religious and cultural celebration, has exploded into a lively street fair and tourist attraction. The American influence creates a new event that is less about a celebration of local culture and more about a commodity that people from many different countries can experience.

The modern lies of figures from Mayan myth also show how times change and how the past adapts to the present. Though the Mayan gods and beliefs have been pushed aside by the emergence of Catholicism, the figures of myth find places in society. Loray makes his home in the vibrant city of Mérida, which was once The White City but whose name changed due to cultural shifts.