You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This was a fantastic start to the Rick Riorden presents series by Cervantes. Zane is a likeable character, with all the faults and inconsistencies that we humans are. He has a supportive family who challenge him. The people he meets along his journey are fun and the bad people are in his path for a reason.
I enjoyed learning about Maya myth and can't wait to finish reading the trilogy.
I enjoyed learning about Maya myth and can't wait to finish reading the trilogy.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While the emphasis on Mayan Mythology with a disabled main character should be a very unique and entertaining read, The Storm Runner fails to meet every beat it tried to hit. Zane has potential to be a very interesting character but the only personality he has is complaining about his limp caused by a shortened leg, for which he uses a cane. While it is normal to have a character develop from self-hating to self-loving over the course of a book or series, Zane's self-pity quickly becomes annoying and during most fights there are various ways that his limp disappears all together, sending mixed messages to disabled readers.
Brooks is described as the most amazing person ever by the biased main character while in the story itself she is very dull and uninteresting. Again, this bias is completely normal for main characters to have, you want your main characters to be interested in their love interest. But if you say a character is amazing, prove it within the story itself.
Brooks is described as the most amazing person ever by the biased main character while in the story itself she is very dull and uninteresting. Again, this bias is completely normal for main characters to have, you want your main characters to be interested in their love interest. But if you say a character is amazing, prove it within the story itself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death
The relationship between Zane and his dog... Ok. Maybe it is not the thing I should be most focused on given possible end of the world and stuff but it was so heartwarming!
Also, through no fault of my own, I got sucked into a non-finished (as of now) series I really want to finish.
Overall a very good adventurous read.
Also, through no fault of my own, I got sucked into a non-finished (as of now) series I really want to finish.
Overall a very good adventurous read.
I really wanted to love this book, but it was much too slow for me. At times, I wanted to DNF, but I kept going, and was pleasantly surprised by the ending, so I am glad I finished.
I don’t know what to rate this book. I think I might have read it at the wrong time, but there were too many similarities with PJO and Aru Shah. I’ll have to come back to this...
I am of two minds about this book. It was enjoyable and interesting. I read it in about a day. I also like that Rick Riordan and company are promoting diverse stories, myths, and authors, but it read a lot like Percy Jackson with different names for the characters and gods/goddesses. It isn't exactly the same, and the concept is slightly different... no camp, only a hint of other "godborn" instead of demi-gods), but I can't say it is a favorite like Riordan's books. Did I like it? Yes. Will I read the others? Maybe. if I come across them, but I can't see myself seeking them out like Riordan's works or buying copies.
3.5 stars
The Storm Runner is the first book I’ve read from Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, and it was a fun read. It reminded me of my carefree childhood days reading Percy Jackson, and this was unexpectedly nostalgic.
I really liked all of the Maya mythology. I knew essentially nothing about any of their gods or myths before reading, and while I know a novel like this is not intended to educate, I did learn quite a few things. The best part, in my opinion, is that there’s a Maya goddess of chocolate. Sure, it’s mostly irrelevant, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
I also liked the characters. Zane was a snarky protagonist I couldn’t help but root for. He has a bad leg and uses a cane, and while that does impact his life, it isn’t the entirety of his character. He’s also Latinx, but as I am neither Latinx nor disabled, I cannot speak on either representation.
The side characters were interesting as well. Zane’s family is so supportive, though his mother is absent for most of the novel and his quest. I liked his uncle Hondo, a younger man obsessed with wrestling and determined to help Zane no matter what. Brooks was a mysterious companion that piqued my curiosity. However, my favorite was undeniably Rosie, the three-legged boxer-Dalmatian mix that Zane found, abandoned, and gave a home. She was the sweetest doggo and I’m glad things worked out, at least in that regard.
It becomes clear fairly quickly that Zane has a crush on Brooks. While I don’t have anything against romantic storylines, I appreciate that Cervantes put the plot first. I’m not sure a romance won’t develop in forthcoming novels, but for now, it was nice to read a story sans romance.
My biggest issue with this novel was the pacing. As intriguing as the story was, much of the middle dragged and I even considered DNFing. It was only my curiosity that made me push through, and upon finishing I do believe this could’ve been shortened. The ebook was nearly 630 pages, and that really didn’t seem necessary.
All in all, The Storm Runner was an enjoyable Middle Grade novel, but I don’t think I’ll read the next installment.
Representation:
• Zane, the protagonist, is Latinx and disabled; he uses a cane when walking.
CW: death of pet
The Storm Runner is the first book I’ve read from Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, and it was a fun read. It reminded me of my carefree childhood days reading Percy Jackson, and this was unexpectedly nostalgic.
I really liked all of the Maya mythology. I knew essentially nothing about any of their gods or myths before reading, and while I know a novel like this is not intended to educate, I did learn quite a few things. The best part, in my opinion, is that there’s a Maya goddess of chocolate. Sure, it’s mostly irrelevant, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
I also liked the characters. Zane was a snarky protagonist I couldn’t help but root for. He has a bad leg and uses a cane, and while that does impact his life, it isn’t the entirety of his character. He’s also Latinx, but as I am neither Latinx nor disabled, I cannot speak on either representation.
The side characters were interesting as well. Zane’s family is so supportive, though his mother is absent for most of the novel and his quest. I liked his uncle Hondo, a younger man obsessed with wrestling and determined to help Zane no matter what. Brooks was a mysterious companion that piqued my curiosity. However, my favorite was undeniably Rosie, the three-legged boxer-Dalmatian mix that Zane found, abandoned, and gave a home. She was the sweetest doggo and I’m glad things worked out, at least in that regard.
It becomes clear fairly quickly that Zane has a crush on Brooks. While I don’t have anything against romantic storylines, I appreciate that Cervantes put the plot first. I’m not sure a romance won’t develop in forthcoming novels, but for now, it was nice to read a story sans romance.
My biggest issue with this novel was the pacing. As intriguing as the story was, much of the middle dragged and I even considered DNFing. It was only my curiosity that made me push through, and upon finishing I do believe this could’ve been shortened. The ebook was nearly 630 pages, and that really didn’t seem necessary.
All in all, The Storm Runner was an enjoyable Middle Grade novel, but I don’t think I’ll read the next installment.
Representation:
• Zane, the protagonist, is Latinx and disabled; he uses a cane when walking.
CW: death of pet
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
