A review by cervina
The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes

J. C. Cervantes celebrates her Mexican heritage by bringing powerful deities, spirits, and other creatures of Mayan mythology to life in The Storm Runner, her first installment in the namesake trilogy.

The action-packed middle grade book features 13-year-old Zane Obispo as the protagonist, whose life is flipped upside down when he makes a new friend, Brooks, and discovers his pivotal role in an ancient prophecy. We follow Zane on his thrilling and treacherous journey to save the world and himself from mayhem before time runs out. As he uncovers more secrets, Zane realizes his true potential and finally learns to let go of his deepest insecurities.

Cervantes’ vivid, artful depictions of the story’s gruesome monsters are nothing short of magical; her humorous and fast-paced writing is sure to captivate the imaginative minds of young readers. There is decent representation of Latinx characters, but I have mixed feelings about the problematic portrayal of Zane’s disability. His moments of internalized ableism may be upsetting for some readers. As for the plot, The Storm Runner is pretty much a Mayan retelling of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson. Although the execution of her story is top-notch, Cervantes is missing originality.

In this empowering and gripping tale, Cervantes redefines what it truly means to be strong and leaves us with the heartwarming message to embrace our quirks. I would recommend The Storm Runner - for the amazing storytelling - to fans of Rick Riordan and anyone who wants a palate cleanser from Hellenocentric fantasy.