(Originally posted on my blog, pluckyreader.com)

Some time ago, I read that Rick Riordan was opening his own publishing imprint. As an avid reader of Riordan's work, I was pumped. The more I read, the more excited I got. Not only was he starting an imprint, he was going to use this imprint and his influence to publish original middle-grade works by authors of color.

His goal, as he has stated on his own website, is to publish authors of various cultural backgrounds to retell the stories of their mythologies, the way he has with Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology.

I love few things the way I love a modern retelling of an ancient culture or mythology. I gobbled up the Percy Jackson books like they were candy. I swallowed up The Kane Chronicles whole. The Heroes of Olympus books held me captivated. And I'm not typically a serial reader. But these series were all so entrancing and wonderfully, brilliant delivered.

So to find out that Riordan was searching for storytellers who were able to pen the stories of their individual cultures made me giddier than I'd care to admit.

This weekend, I had the pleasure of reading the second book from Rick Riordan's new imprint, The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes.

"Zane Obispo spends every day exploring the sleeping volcano in his backyard. "The Beast," as he calls it, is the one place where he can escape other kids, who make fun of him because he has a limp and walks with a cane.

After a twin-engine plane crashes into The Beast, a mysterious girl named Brooks shows up at Zane's doorstep, insisting that they meet at the volcano, where she will reveal a terrible secret. Zane agrees, mostly because beautiful girls like her don't usually talk to him. Brooks tells him that the volcano is actually a centuries-old prison for the Maya god of death, whose destiny is directly tied to Zane's. No way, Zane thinks.He's just a thirteen-year old nobody, and destiny or no destiny,he wants nothing to do with any of it, especially some god of death.

But Brooks opens his eyes to the truth: magic, monsters, and gods are real, and Zane is at the center of an ancient prophecy that could mean the destruction of the world.Suddenly finding himself entangled in a web of dangerous secrets, Zane embarks on a quest that will take him far from home and test him to the very core.

Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate."

There is hardly a more likable character than Zane Obispo. He's so endearing. And injured. And I don't mean his limp. He's injured by the world. He's jaded from the problems that face a young boy who has a limp in a world where children are cruel. His affinity for his old neighbors is adorable. I mean. Seriously, I was sold on this kid from the very beginning.

Not only is Zane basically the most lovable character in all of fiction (beat out only by Wilbur because, let's face it, pigs are better than anything) he's surrounded by a lovable cast of characters. From the old people he loves, to his quirky uncle, to his Mom, and his new friend Brooks, this ensemble cast of characters captured my heart.

After Zane witnesses a plane crash into the volcano near his house, Zane's world is turned upside down. He is thrust into a world full of terrifying monsters and action and adventure. And Zane learns that he must save all of humankind, alongside his shape-shifting friend, Brooks, and his Uncle Hondo.

This book is packed with action and adventure. I literally gasped on more than one occasion while reading. Unlike my last two reviews, I am not sad that I read this book quickly, at all. I am sad that I could not read it quickly enough. I didn't want to put it down, and I couldn't get Zane out of my head whenever I wasn't reading.

This book may be classified as a middle grade novel, but it explores big concepts. It explores the true power and strength of a boy seen by society as broken and injured. It explores what it really takes for a young boy to realize his true potential.

The writing is wonderful. The characters are lovely. The story is enchanting. And for me, personally, the source material of Mayan mythology is so interesting. I have always loved reading about Mayan culture, for as far back as I can remember.

If you're looking for a good read for the entire family, I highly, highly recommend The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes.

Plucky's rating?

4 /5 stars.

Yours,
The Plucky Reader
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were not influenced in any way by the publisher or author.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 2005, I picked up a book called Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif. It sounded interesting and I was taking Latin, so I thought I might enjoy it. I devoured it in less than twenty-four hours (and managed to get my Latin homework done too!). It was amazing and in the 13 years that have followed, I haven't missed a single Riordan book. Today, I am a librarian and we can't keep Riordan"s books on our shelves. I was excited to hear about Riordan's new imprint--more demigod books for my eager readers!
As much as I have enjoyed all Riordan"s books, a bit of me has always been sad that I will never again experience the feeling I got when I first picked up The Lightning Thief. It was the delight of discovering a new world inhabited by a dyslexic character (like me!) that was inspired by my favorite class (Latin). I can truthfully say that The Storm Runner captured my attention the same way The Lighting Theif did all those years ago. I was able to experience that excitement all over again!
The Storm Runner introduces us to Zane Obispo, a young man with a limp, a dog, a volcano, and an absent father. All this comes together one night when a place-flown by a...zombie?-crashes into his volcano, thrusting him into the world of Mayan mythology. The Storm Runner is a rollercoaster ride of a book and I enjoyed every second of it! I knew very little about Maya mythology before picking it up and I learned a lot from the book. Readers might want to keep the glossary at the end bookmarked to help with pronunciation of some of the people and places they are going to be introduced to as they read. I cannot wait to get The Storm Runner into the hands of my mythology loving patrons!

The Storm Runner is a fast-paced, dialogue-rich story that will reel you in from the very beginning. The use of dialogue to help the story flow smoothly. The book is recommended for readers as early as third grade; my nine-year-old found it very easy to follow along with.

Aidan and I were immediately drawn to the main character Zane, a disabled Hispanic boy. Having characters of color, especially in books geared towards such a critical age is wonderful. I’ve often written about my troubles getting Aidan to read and how its nearly impossible to find books that will keep him interested.

Aidan’s own words:

“Zane reminds me of myself. he asks a lot of questions. I mean a lot! I like to do daring and dangerous stuff all the time–but I need to know what I’m doing first.”

From the mouths of babes…

Some of my favorite scenes involved Zane and his family. His uncle Hondo fearlessly rescuing his nephew from demons; his mother cautiously protecting him from his destiny in a way that only a mother can. Several scenes with bullies were especially important as it helped my son process and learn how to overcome his own. Even down to the anger felt towards the absent parent, The Storm Runner covered a variety of topics that my young son not only loved but understood and appreciated.

Admittedly, I don’t know much about Mayan mythology, so I stopped several times to research certain names so that my son would be able to follow. The Storm Runner has made both of us want to learn more. While not 100% necessary in order to follow along, it might be helpful if you have questions that you want to be answered immediately.

There were plenty of twist and turns, many of which I did not expect. By the end, many of the plot points were tied up nicely, leaving just enough for the sequel.

The message of the book is simple: belief in yourself. When the odds are stacked against you, its the one seed of hope that keeps us going.

This is an amazing book for all kids (and for everyone who feel like it) who love an amazing fantasy adventure filled with friendships,amazing story and a lot of mythology. Also,it's amazing fro everyone who loved any Rick Riordan's book,because you will feel like home with this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone who needs a little escape to another world.

[3.5 stars]

Full disclosure, I forced my way through this book even though i was in a major reading slump so i reserve the right to totally change my mind upon rereading.

Frankly, I will read anything the Uncle Rick slaps his name on. And after reading and LOVING Aru Shah and the End of Time, i had very high expectations for this book. Sadly I was disappointed.

This books lacked one major thing that I expected, humor. There were definitely funny parts, but where i would laugh out loud reading Rick's books, and Aru Shah, I didn't do that with this one. Which kinda bummed me out.

But my main gripe about this book is my most hated trope, and that's a boy meeting a girl, and all of a sudden he's low-key obsessed with her, to the point of stupidity. Like I just can't handle that crap anymore. I'm over it. It really made the story drag too, like i feel this book could have been a lot shorter.

Also, something happened in the first 100 pages that got me so mad I basically pouted for the next 300. But i can't say what, because spoilers.

Anyway, what I did LOVE about this book was the family dynamics. The disabled rep. And Hondo, Jazz, Rosie, and Ms Cab. They were really what made this book for me.

I know I said a lot of negative things in my review, but I do think this was a pretty decent first book. And the way it ends, I think i'll like the second book a lot more.

This book was an adventure from beginning to end. I had a hard time putting it down and was sad when it finished. This is a perfect book to recommend to all my Rick Riordan fans. I learned much about the Mayan gods. Zane has never been comfortable with himself and his short leg that means he limps. It's been an easy target for bullies. Now, he learns that leg is a result of his father being a Mayan god and is supposed to be the source of his strength. After freeing the evil god of death, Zane needs to defeat him or end up serving him forever... And he only has 3 days.

>>Can TOTALLY see this as a kick butt movie. And I mean a good one.
>>I was completely swept up in the journey and the characters.
>>Full of surprises and twists
>>The ending gave me chills!
>>The only thing I didn't like was how Mr. O was cheered on for pursuing Ms. Cab when she's made her objections clear. Especially in a book that's bound to be popular among boys, that's a terrible message to encourage.

Favorite Quotes:
"Being a member of my family wasn't automatic--it had to be earned."

"I was getting pretty sick of that word deal. It was only four stupid letters strung together, but they had thorns that knew how to draw blood."

"But that's not what worried me about him. Sometimes the bruising on the inside is what gets you the worst."

"Like Mr.O had said, Destiny comes knocking, and if you don't open the door, she will come in through the window."

The Storm Runner is one of those rare books that I wish I could read over and over for the first time-- that's how good it was. I couldn't put this book down because of its fun storyline along with its likable heroes and cool villians.

What makes this book worth five stars is mainly its plot. The progression of the story was so well-done, and not a single page was unnecessary or boring to read. Every single chapter was worth reading; there are several sections that I would even read again because they were so exciting by themselves. (One of my personal favorite parts was the game of Slam with Jordan and Bird.)

The main characters were also a great part of The Storm Runner. Our protagonist, Zane, is a disabled person of color. In a time where representation is so important, I'm glad that a book published by an established author has these things in it. In fact, pretty much every character that isn't a demon is Hispanic, which I thought was awesome. The rest of the gang was likable, too: Hondo, Brooks, even the Seer-turned-chicken. And I loved that there was a main villain, Al-Puch, who was so strong that you loved to hate him.

The Storm Runner was amazing because of its storyline and characters, and also its plot twists. Not only that, but I also liked the fact that the book is formatted as a letter that Zane is writing-- a small detail that I thought was cool. I reccommend The Storm Runner to readers of all ages, because everyone can enjoy this novel no matter what they like. This book has action and adventure that everyone can appreciate.

Disclaimer: I received an earc from NetGalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: September 18, 2018

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, slightly mature scenes)

Pages: 448

Author Website

Amazon Link

Synopsis: A contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology from Rick Riordan Presents!
Zane Obispo spends every day exploring the sleeping volcano in his backyard. "The Beast," as he calls it, is the one place where he can escape other kids, who make fun of him because he has a limp and walks with a cane.
After a twin-engine plane crashes into The Beast, a mysterious girl named Brooks shows up at Zane's doorstep, insisting that they meet at the volcano, where she will reveal a terrible secret. Zane agrees, mostly because beautiful girls like her don't usually talk to him. Brooks tells him that the volcano is actually a centuries-old prison for the Maya god of death, whose destiny is directly tied to Zane's. No way, Zane thinks. He's just a thirteen-year old nobody, and destiny or no destiny, he wants nothing to do with any of it, especially some god of death.
But Brooks opens his eyes to the truth: magic, monsters, and gods are real, and Zane is at the center of an ancient prophecy that could mean the destruction of the world.Suddenly finding himself entangled in a web of dangerous secrets, Zane embarks on a quest that will take him far from home and test him to the very core.
Feisty heroes, tricky gods, murderous demons, and spirited giants are just some of the pleasures that await in this fresh and funny take on Maya mythology, as rich and delicious as a mug of authentic hot chocolate.


I’ve only read the first book of the Rick Riordan series but damn I got so many Rick Riordan vibes while reading this book! It was truly amazing! I felt like the characters were vivid and developed, the plot was developed and intriguing, and the pacing was on point. The whole story made me learn and appreciate so much more about the Maya culture and now I want more!

However, I do feel it’s a bit longer than most middle grade books and a little more mature than the one’s I’ve read before, so just be sure your child can handle it or that you’re on hand to explain some of the more mature scenes.

Verdict: A book that is absolutely amazing.

Rick Riordans books have always been captivating to any audience who chose to read them. Now Disney Books along side Rick Riordan have blessed us all with publishing more mythology inspired novels.

J.C. Cervantes is an incredible author, this book was extremely well written, I was hooked within the first page. Unlike most books that start out super slow and don’t pick up until midway through, Storm Runner picked up immediately and continued with a fast pace through all 448 pages.

I also loved how there was disabled representation, often times authors try to make a character disabled and 9 times out of 10 they fail and don’t have an accurate representation of that disability, so this was absolutely amazing.

Another note on this book and it’s accuracy is the myths and the folklore, spot on! Round of applause for the author.

Thank you Disney Books for sending me a copy for review, I look forward to picking up a hard back ASAP!

P.s the cover is beautiful 😍😍

Librarian: Let's get real here. Basically every children/teen librarian in the US (and a decent amount Internationally) is going to be buying everything this imprint puts out for the foreseeable future. Between the diverse characters, Own Voices aspect, and the tried and true formula, there is no way these aren't going to make it into the collection. And honestly, so far they probably should. We'll see if that continues, but for now at least, the same kids who devour Riordan's books will be devouring these.
Reader: I knew more or less what I was getting when I started reading this book. After all, I've read all of Riordan's books (yes, including his adult books) and I had read Aru Shah, which seemed to indicate that the books chosen to be part of his imprint would stick fairly closely to his formulas. That's what we got with Aru Shah, and honestly, based on the description I was expecting much the same for this one (now the next one... I have high hopes that we'll start to see the imprint authors abandoning the formula with that one). In that I was not wrong. This book is so much like one of Riordan's books, that it feels like it could have been written by him. That being said, the reason Riordan's books are bestsellers is because his formula is not unenjoyable. It's intrinsically fun to read stories that blend ancient mythology with the modern world.
And this is a fun one. Zane is a great hero, and I love his supporting cast. Plus this one deals with the fact that mythology is actually kind of dark, something which Riordan's only just started to do. (And the Mayan's have a goddess of chocolate. I can totally get behind that!)
If I'm being honest, I actually liked this one a lot better than Riordan's last book. This one left me eager for the next book. Unlike basically the entire Trials of Apollo series. (I, like many readers, had the strong desire to throw The Burning Maze across the room. If it had been a physical book instead of a kindle one, I probably would have.)

Prepare for a gush fest people because I LOVED this book!

The Storm Runner is a new middle grade fantasy novel that is being published through the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. If you aren't aware, sort of the purpose of this imprint is to provide a stage for diverse voices to tell stories based upon myths and folklore from various cultures around the world. This book is based upon Mayan Mythology and is full of angry gods, magic, mythological creatures and a ton of action and adventure.

Our main character, Zane Obispo, is a kid who has struggled a bit in his social life due to a limp caused by the fact that one of his legs is a little bit shorter than the other. Throughout school, Zane has had to deal with bullies and the feelings of inadequacy that can come when you feel like people are only seeing your faults, as opposed to the rest of you. Despite this, Zane is a sweet baby cinnamon roll who is full of good humor, love for his family and respect for his elders.

I truly fell in love with Zane's character. I think he is an incredible role model for young readers and, heck, even adult readers. Not only is Zane a great character but he is surrounded by a whole flock of amazing side characters who bring humor, love, depth and drama to this adventurous tale. After witnessing a demon crash a plane into a volcano near his house, Zane ends up heading out on a quest to save the world with his new friend, Brooks (who also happens to be a shape-shifter) and his lovable Uncle, Hondo. Together these three battle scary enemies and plot incredible schemes to save all of humanity. Through his travels with his Uncle and friends, Zane discovers who he truly is and how powerful he can be.

There was so much action in this book. Literally, scene after scene of edge of your seat moments that keep you glued to the pages long after 'lights out' time has come! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves middle grade stories and/or books based upon mythology. Additionally, I think this would be a great book for parents or guardians to read with the kids in their life. I think there are a lot of great discussions to be drawn from this book and a lot of fun that can be shared as well. Overall, this is a fantastic story that will leave you feeling like magic is not only possible, but real.

Thank you so much to Rick Riordan presents and Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. It was such a wonderful experience, one I will be thinking about and dreaming about for some time to come. I really appreciate the opportunity and hope that this series is a big success and continues on!

Posted to Goodreads: Homeschooler Zane has a good life in New Mexico. He has his mom and his uncle and a cool dormant volcano to explore but when Zane gets a scholarship to a local private school his life changes. On the first day of school he meets Brooks a pretty girl who tells him he is part of an ancient Mayan prophecy. Zane, his uncle and Brooks embark on a journey to to fulfill his destiny and save their loved ones.

I had high hopes for this book after "Aru Shah and the End of Time". Unfortunately, I never felt like "The Storm Runner" was able to be its own story away from Rick Riordan's legacy. The story didn't quite flow right for me with the pacing feeling off especially with the action sequences which seemed little to long. However, I think my biggest issue was that I never really warmed up to Zane. In books like this (Percy Jackson, Aru Shah, etc.) the characters are always well developed with a lot of personality and I never felt like Zane got to the point that he felt real. I'm sure that some of Riordan's readers will enjoy this book but I'm hesitate to introduce it to new readers.

What a great story! The Storm Runner, by J.c. Cervantes,m is about a boy named Zane; one of his legs is shorter than the other, which already adds welcome diversity to all the books out there about heroic characters. He encounters bullies when he changes schools, but he also meets a girl, Brooks, who seems friendly.

We learn that according to a prophecy, Zane is supposed to release an evil, Aztec god, and Brooks is not who she appears to be. This is a fun, exciting adventure that kids --especially fans of Rick Riordan's books--will truly enjoy.

My e-copy was provided by NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.

I have one question. Why aren't there any Mayan ancestors in my family tree? Seriously, they have a goddess of chocolate! Anyway, this latest from Rick Riordan Presents focuses on the story of Zane Obispo and the prophecy that is tied to his fate. It foretells that someone will release the imprisoned god of death. Actually, he is the "lord of three things...Death, disaster, and darkness." So what does one kid with a limp have to do with a conflict between ancient Mayan gods that could destroy the world? Zane himself has no clue, so readers learn about it as he does.

Along the way we meet various members of the Mayan pantheon, as well as demons, seers, giants, and shape-shifters. Zane's mother, his uncle (a huge fan of wrestling), his dog Rosie, and his neighbors Mr. Ortiz and Ms. Cab are the only ones Zane trusts. He has just started a new school and already clashed with bullies and the principal. There is a volcano in his backyard. He sees a plane crash. A mysterious girl shows up and warns him about the prophecy. What would a typical teenage guy do? You guessed it - the opposite of what everyone advises him to do.

So we have deadly chili peppers, magical chocolate drinks, enchanted party wear, giant serpents, jaguars, storms, owl attacks, killer basketball games, and all while our hero tries to survive long enough to either fulfill or fall victim to the prophecy. Which will it be?

For those who loved Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles, and have now found the joys of the new imprint with Aru Shah - this is your latest crush to be. Welcome to the incredible world of Mayan mythology. Highly recommended for middle grade readers and up.

This series is too perfect already and it hurts my eyes. IT TRULY HAS EVERYTHING I WANT IN A MIDDLE GRADE!
-A well developed main character with a ton of heart
-Plot twists that had me at the edge of my seat
-DIVERSITY UP THE WAZOO
-Fantastic mythology references, specially introducing Mayan Mythology!

Okay, my list could go on and I'll force myself to end it there. Just know I need book 2 because that ending was evil and I'll be crying in my corner until it's in my ends.

This is a terrific action story about Zane, a boy who has one leg shorter than the other. He has a dog named Rosie and lives with his mom and his uncle and there's a volcano in their backyard. Zane is going to a new school this year, one where there will hopefully be fewer bullies. After his first encounter with bullies at his new school, Zane meets a beautiful girl, Brooks, who seems to want to be friends. It turns out, Zane has been prophesied to release an evil Aztec god but Brooks is there to stop it. This book follows Riordan's usual model of a slightly handicapped hero who is unaware of his power who is dropped off the deep end of adventure. There are scary monsters, unlikely reveals of superpowers, a lot of danger and some rescue missions. It was a very fun story and kids are going to love this one.

The mythology in this book was the best part for sure. The middle was the strongest part, full of action, an unexpected cast of interesting characters, and twists that kept coming. I thought the beginning started off a little to clumsily and the end lacked polish as well. That being said, the middle of the book carried me through and again, I LOVED the Mayan representation and the mythology & worlds were so cool. I hope kids get excited about this soon to be out book for back to school time!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book, but it just missed the mark with me. Everything about it seemed promising: the imprint, the POC protagonist, the mythology, and yet the execution felt clunky and crowded in my opinion. I seem to be in the minority on this one, though.

Thank you Disney Hyperion for the eARC of this book! The Storm Runner is the newest Rick Riordan Presents book, this time focusing on Mayan mythology.
Our hero is Zane Obispo is used to being the underdog- he walks with a limp (and a cane) due to an unexplained short leg, and is constantly mocked at school. But when he releases an imprisoned Mayan god, he can't rely on anyone else to save the world. Luckily he comes across some friends along the way.
This story is structured as a debrief to the Mayan gods after Zane's adventures- that means there are funny asides, which I love. Zane is a hero I think a lot of people (kids especially) will relate to. He's easy to root for, as is his companion- his Uncle Hondo. The care they take of each other is really wonderful to read.
If you love Rick Riordan's books, I think you will love The Storm Runner. If you've ever felt lonely & picked on, I think you will love The Storm Runner. And if you love adventure stories sprinkled with magic, loveable heroes, and a wonderful cast of characters, you will love The Storm Runner!