JC Cervantes makes learning about the Maya pantheon part of the fun in her Zane Obispo middle grade series. The first book, The Storm Runner, answers the question: What would you do if you just found out you were the half human son of the Maya creation god Kulkulkan? JC Cervantes brings alive the Maya myths in the pages of this Middle Grade novel trilogy.

At school, Zane Obispo feels like he’s different because he has one leg that’s shorter than the other. What he thought was a weakness becomes a strength and a source of his magical powers. Turns out that the creation god, his father, has the same unique trait.

In story #1 we meet the god of death. Following a prophecy Zane frees him from the prison where he has languished for 300 years underneath the volcano in the tween’s back yard.

Temple of Kulkulkan

The second book of the series, The Fire Keeper, Zane discovers that writing in his book about the gods who break the rule against pairing with humans has put the godborns (half god half humans) at risk. He must gather all five dozen teens, inform them of their special status, and then hide them. Meanwhile his father is kidnapped and Zane attempts to rescue him before an evil faction puts the god to death.

In Shadow Crosser, the godborns begin training at the Shaman Institute. The first day is interrupted and the students discover that all the gods have disappeared, including the goddess of chocolate and their parents. Will their life lights go out permanently on the World Tree? Is this the end of the world as we know it? Only Zane and his friends can save the day.

I began this series following the advice of my tween. I was entertained reading it and am looking forward to next year when a fourth book is released, The Throne of Sand.

What is your favorite genre to read?

¡Olé! –Rebecca