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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Many thanks to Disney Hyperion for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
That was very disappointing. I feel really bad to bash this book considering the fact the Disney Press is so generous to me. That said, I am legally required to provide an honest review. I cannot, honestly, say that I enjoyed this book. I loved the aspect of Mayan mythology but I slowly realized that it was just not well done. It honestly felt exactly like Percy Jackson but with Mayan Gods. It didn't feel creative or fun. Half the time, I didn't know what was going on and the other half, I was just getting mad at the overuse of so many cliches. Better luck next time, Rick Riordian.
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That was very disappointing. I feel really bad to bash this book considering the fact the Disney Press is so generous to me. That said, I am legally required to provide an honest review. I cannot, honestly, say that I enjoyed this book. I loved the aspect of Mayan mythology but I slowly realized that it was just not well done. It honestly felt exactly like Percy Jackson but with Mayan Gods. It didn't feel creative or fun. Half the time, I didn't know what was going on and the other half, I was just getting mad at the overuse of so many cliches. Better luck next time, Rick Riordian.
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adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
The MC finds out he does not know everything about himself and in doing so frees a magic that is not what he expected. The story moves really fast and the characters are really likable, except for the main character. The MC sometimes makes tstl mistakes but he’s also a child so I guess I give him some grace for that. I enjoyed the book but not enough to make me run and buy the sequel.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**3.5 stars**
-I loved the worldbuilding and how the mythology was woven into the story. In general I just loved learning about Mayan mythology because I found so interesting
-This book utilizes a literary technique that I think is really cool. Zane is "writing" the book (I won't talk about the context of why) and so there are little comments sprinkled in where he is addressing the gods. And I didn't think too much of it when I was first reading it but it actually turns into something very unique and that extends into the next books.
-The book was constantly surprising me. There were so many times where the plot seemed like it was going towards a formula but then changed things up, which was really exciting
-My main downside is that I didn't like a lot of the characterizations. Zane was born with one leg shorter than the other so he uses a cane, and he has a really complicated relationship with his disability. His internal monologue has a lot of internalized ableism, and I believe this was purposely to eventually show Zane coming to terms with his disability, but I just did not really like the execution. It was more so a sudden change of outlook by the end instead of this nuanced grappling with the identity that I believe the author was intending.
-Some of the side characters are a bit irrelevant to the next books, they were more there for comedic effect (technically this flaw is only pointed out in retrospect after reading the whole trilogy)
-I loved the worldbuilding and how the mythology was woven into the story. In general I just loved learning about Mayan mythology because I found so interesting
-This book utilizes a literary technique that I think is really cool. Zane is "writing" the book (I won't talk about the context of why) and so there are little comments sprinkled in where he is addressing the gods. And I didn't think too much of it when I was first reading it but it actually turns into something very unique and that extends into the next books.
-The book was constantly surprising me. There were so many times where the plot seemed like it was going towards a formula but then changed things up, which was really exciting
-My main downside is that I didn't like a lot of the characterizations. Zane was born with one leg shorter than the other so he uses a cane, and he has a really complicated relationship with his disability. His internal monologue has a lot of internalized ableism, and I believe this was purposely to eventually show Zane coming to terms with his disability, but I just did not really like the execution. It was more so a sudden change of outlook by the end instead of this nuanced grappling with the identity that I believe the author was intending.
-Some of the side characters are a bit irrelevant to the next books, they were more there for comedic effect (technically this flaw is only pointed out in retrospect after reading the whole trilogy)
How do I put it ..... Absolutely awesome building of a series!!!!!!!!!!! Frankly, I did not have much idea about Mayan Mythology and the book was not a mythology book, strictly speaking. But I am getting the gist and truly loving it. I cannot wait to start the next book.
Another fun Rick Riordan Presents book this time with Maya mythology. I enjoyed it's take on a demigod. Also I thought Zane and Brooks were really cute. I hope they eventually get together in the series. They're giving me some Percabeth vibes.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Why couldn’t anyone just provide a straight answer, preferably with a step-by-step diagram?
[b:The Storm Runner|34966353|The Storm Runner (The Storm Runner, #1)|J.C. Cervantes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521232348l/34966353._SY75_.jpg|56241336] was definitely something. I think the main reasons I didn't like it as much as I think I would be the following:
1) I had too many expectations. I have been in love with Mayan culture for too many years, fascinating by it, and when I knew a book recommended by Rick Riordan himself, written by a woc, would come out I was running in circles in happiness. The bar was just too high; I don't blame J.C. Cervantes for not being at the level of one of my favourite authors (that has lots of extra years of experience), but you could see clearly that this was trying too hard to be in Percy Jackson's style and it just didn't make it.
2) Characters. I could give it a pass on characterization, but in general, they were disappointing. J.C. Cervantes had a good intention, but I couldn't oversee the insistence in making tall, ~bronze~ skinned, and slim equal to handsome, especially when talking about Mayan gods... that are part of Latin-American culture...? I think I read one (1.0) name that sounded Hispanic. Would have loved that the heritage of the characters came in more ways than dropping random Spanish words in conversations. Also, the "romance" between Zane and Brooks made me feel. Nothing.
Also, there is an important discussion about the ableism in this book that I don't feel qualified to talk about, but please do check out some of these reviews: x, x.
3) THE LACK OF MAYAS. Like. This especially. I don't know if any of the secondary characters were Maya, but if they were there was not much confirmation? Like, this book is about Mayan culture and we got zero from them. I don't think many people know that Mayas still exists; they live in Mayan communities and talk in Maya and some of them struggle with poverty. This could have been an extremely good form of bringing awareness to it but I hope, really hope, gets explored in the next instalments of this series. It's too important to be left in a corner.
With #3 comes the lack of Mexico and Latin America in general. It's just too obvious that the focus for this book was an American audience, but it had too much of usa and it hurt my soul. Also, Mayans did a lot of very cool things, could we read about them, please?
4) Too many liberties were taken. I don't know how to talk about this point. Like just so many of the story decisions felt wrong in my heart. I can see that Cervantes did her research, but I wonder how much she decided to take into consideration while writing her story.
Edit to add at this point: Cervantes never explained why the gods moved from Mexico to usa and it made me deeply uncomfortable every time I had to read "Jordan" or "Mat". I died inside.
In general, this wasn't a bad book. It was entertaining, not quite as a Riordan's book but surely getting there. But there is still a lot of work to be done, especially in terms of the diversity it is trying to portray, and I'm not sure if I'll be reading if it gets better at some point.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Definitely worthy of the Rick Riordan Presents! Can definitely say I didn't see all that coming.