The Storm Runner (A Storm Runner Novel Book 1)
Written by J.C. Cervantes
Rick Riordan Presents (Disney-Hyperion), 2018
Zane Obispo may not have thought so a few days ago, but it turns out he lives the coolest life ever. Not only does he have a smart and loyal dog named Rosie, but there’s a volcano in his backyard. A real volcano! Ok, so school is a real drag, especially because other kids make fun of the fact that Zane walks with a limp and he lands in the principal’s office for shoving a bully on his very first day at his new school. Oops. But things start looking up when a mysterious girl named Brooks shows up in the school office looking serious and beautiful and telling him he’s in mortal danger. And boy is she right.
Author J.C. Cervantes takes us on a high stakes adventure full of danger, intrigue, and lots and lots of monsters, gods, and mythical creatures. Zane and Brooks team up to save the world (after Zane releases an ancient Mayan god hellbent on destroying it). It turns out Zane is the perfect person for the job, along with his ragtag band of sidekicks including his luchadora-loving Uncle Hondo, and neighbors Ms. Cab who collects eyeballs and Mr. O who invents new hot pepper varieties.
You couldn’t ask for a more delightful cast of characters. Cervantes’ strength lies in her ability to create robust and wholly likeable people you wish you were friends with in real life. I especially adored Zane’s nervous awkwardness around Brooks, as well as his determination, resilience, and humor whether he was facing bullies at school or a nasty world-destroying god. The rest of the characters are just as brilliant, too.
The Storm Runner is the latest from Rick Riordan’s imprint (following Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time which released earlier this year), and it’s a great addition. It’s not as fast-paced as Riordan’s books or Chokshi’s Aru Shah, but it holds its own with wit, charm, and those amazing characters. I knew nothing about Mayan mythology going into this book and loved learning about it through Zane and Brooks’ eyes. Cervantes’ did an amazing job of introducing readers to this world and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
This review originally appeared on NetGalley. I received a free Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review of this title.
Alisa Williams is the managing editor of SpectrumMagazine.org. She blogs at alisawilliamswrites.com and tweets at @AWWritesStories.
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