If you’re already tearing through your copy of The Storm Runner, we hope you spent some time with Uncle Rick’s introduction. If you haven’t jumped in yet, read these palabras to find out what’s in store. . .

Welcome to the volcano

Zane Obispo has a pretty sweet life.

Since last year, he’s been homeschooled, which means the other kids can’t pick on him anymore. He gets to spend a lot of his time out in the desert of New Mexico, wandering and exploring with his faithful boxer-dalmatian, Rosie.

His mom loves him like crazy. His uncle Hondo is a fun housemate, even though he’s maybe a little too addicted to pro wrestling and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

As for the neighbors, Zane only has two: friendly Mr. Ortiz, who grows top secret chile-pepper varieties in his garden, and Ms. Cab, who works as a phone psychic and pays Zane to help her out. What’s not to like?

And did I mention the volcano in Zane’s backyard? That’s right. Zane has his very own volcano. He and Rosie spend a lot of time climbing around on it. Recently, they even found a secret entrance that leads inside. . . .

Yep, life is good! 

Er, except that Zane was born with mismatched legs. One has always been shorter than the other, so he walks with a limp and uses a cane. He’s learning to deal, though, and is a crazy fast hobbler.

Oh, and also . . . Zane just got accepted to a new private school. He doesn’t want to go, but his mom is insisting. Class starts tomorrow.

Then there’s the accident—Zane sees a small plane crash into the mouth of his volcano. He was close enough to glimpse the pilot’s face . . . and either it was a very good Halloween mask, or the pilot was an alien zombie monster.

On top of all this, there’s a pretty new girl in town—Brooks—who warns Zane he’s in mortal danger. But Brooks doesn’t exist, according to the school records. And how does she know who he is, anyway?

Soon, Zane discovers that nothing in his life is what he thought. There’s a reason he was born with a limp. There’s a reason he’s never met his father—a mysterious guy his mom fell in love with on a trip to the Yucatán. Something very strange is going on in Zane’s volcano, and Brooks claims it’s all tied to some ancient prophecy.

How much do you know about the Maya myths? Did you know the Maya have a goddess of chocolate? (Dude, how come the Greeks don’t get a goddess of chocolate? No fair.) The Maya also have shape-shifters, demons, magicians, giants, demigods, and an underworld that may or may not be accessible from the back of a local taco shop.

J. C. Cervantes is about to take you on a trip you will never forget, through the darkest, strangest, and funniest twists and turns of Maya myth. You will meet the scariest gods you can imagine, the creepiest denizens of the underworld, and the most amazing and unlikely heroes, who have to save our world from being ripped apart.

Maya myth and magic is closer than you think. In fact, it’s right in our backyard.

Welcome to the volcano.

Welcome to The Storm Runner.

Rick Riordan