The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes (review)

New Mexico native Zane Obispo is self-conscious about his shorter right leg and limp, but, unbeknownst to him, it's a feature he inherited from the father he's never known, who turns out to be a Mayan god. As a newly revealed demigod, Zane finds himself ensnared in an impending war between factions of supernatural creatures, including Ah-Puch, the recently resurrected former god of the underworld (called "Puke" because Zane's in middle school) and his demon minions. As Zane, with the help of friends and family, quickly learns the intricacies of Maya mythology in hopes of defeating Puke, Cervantes pens a balanced and accessible presentation of ancient Mesoamerican legends with contemporary Latinx characters. Still, as secrets wrapped in mysteries tucked within prophecies begin to pile up, readers may begin to share Zane's frustration with the overintricacy, and as almost every deity Zane happens upon—from shape shifters to giants to seers to gods—seems to support his allegedly impossible mission, the odds never quite seem to be against the good guys in this supposedly high-staked conflict. Nonetheless, with a Rick Riordan cosign, this novel manages to deploy Maya mythology and its surrounding cultures as a more than effective source for the sorts of fantasy adventures too often restricted to the Greeks.