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Shadow Bruja #1
The Lords of Night
J. C. Cervantes's new spin-off from the STORM RUNNER trilogy.
Fourteen-year-old Renata Santiago is the most powerful godborn of them all, a bruja with a unique combination of DNA. The Mexica blood from her dad's side gives her the ability to manipulate shadows. Her mom Pacific, a Maya goddess, gifted her a magical rope that controls time, and Ren recently used it to save a few gods from getting stuck forever in 1987. She brought them back to the present, but her BFF Ah Puch, the once fearsome god of death, darkness, and destruction, is now a teenager with no divine powers.
Ren is also a girl with ordinary hopes and dreams. She wishes, for example, that her blog about alien sightings would garner more respect. She's always been absolutely convinced that there's a connection between aliens and the Maya civilization. Plenty of online haters feel differently, and they call her a fake, a liar, and a loser.
When Ren receives an email about an alien sighting in Kansas, she thinks it may support her theory. She also suspects that the cinco--five renegade godborns--are up to no good. Soon she finds herself embroiled in a quest to prevent the troublemakers from awakening the nine Aztec Lords of Night. Problem is, none of Ren's friends are available to help her hunt down the cinco and the dangerous gods they are resurrecting. Ren has no choice but to team up with two strangers recruited by Ah Puch: Edison, a teen hybrid demon, and Montero, an eleven-year-old Aztec hunter. Succeeding in this quest will prove that Ren is no fake, liar, or loser. But it isn't just another challenge. It could well be an impossible one that leaves Ren questioning her very existence.
Fourteen-year-old Renata Santiago is the most powerful godborn of them all, a bruja with a unique combination of DNA. The Mexica blood from her dad's side gives her the ability to manipulate shadows. Her mom Pacific, a Maya goddess, gifted her a magical rope that controls time, and Ren recently used it to save a few gods from getting stuck forever in 1987. She brought them back to the present, but her BFF Ah Puch, the once fearsome god of death, darkness, and destruction, is now a teenager with no divine powers.
Ren is also a girl with ordinary hopes and dreams. She wishes, for example, that her blog about alien sightings would garner more respect. She's always been absolutely convinced that there's a connection between aliens and the Maya civilization. Plenty of online haters feel differently, and they call her a fake, a liar, and a loser.
When Ren receives an email about an alien sighting in Kansas, she thinks it may support her theory. She also suspects that the cinco--five renegade godborns--are up to no good. Soon she finds herself embroiled in a quest to prevent the troublemakers from awakening the nine Aztec Lords of Night. Problem is, none of Ren's friends are available to help her hunt down the cinco and the dangerous gods they are resurrecting. Ren has no choice but to team up with two strangers recruited by Ah Puch: Edison, a teen hybrid demon, and Montero, an eleven-year-old Aztec hunter. Succeeding in this quest will prove that Ren is no fake, liar, or loser. But it isn't just another challenge. It could well be an impossible one that leaves Ren questioning her very existence.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
91 people are currently reading
2981 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Cervantes
19 books826 followersJ.C. is a New York Times best-selling author. Her books have been published in more than twelve countries and have appeared on national lists, including the American Booksellers Association New Voices, Barnes and Noble’s Best Young Reader Books, and Amazon’s Best Books of the Month. She has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including the New Mexico Book Award and the Zia Book Award.
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
October 27, 2022
This was so good and makes me mad for not having book 2 already?! I cannot wait for the sequel and I loved this first book in a series! So much fun, review to come soon!!(:
November 11, 2023
This was such a fun start to the spinoff series to the author's Stormrunner series. It's been over a year since I read that series, so my memory was a little rusty about the universe and who the characters were. In particular, Ah-Puch seemed so familiar and it took me a bit to realize that this was a spin-off series, since I didn't immediately remember who Ren was. But even if you didn't read the Stormrunner series, the author does a decent job of giving you the basics of this world so that you're not completely lost. I really like Ren in this story as she learns about her destiny and decides who she wants to be. I love that she is generally optimistic about things, although she spends a lot of time questioning whether she should be a leader. I love her team, especially Edison, although Marco and Monty sometimes got annoying. But overall, I think they're the right team for her.
Without going into detail, the basics of this series include Ren learning about her magic and her destiny all while fighting to keep the nine Night Lords (Aztec Gods) from wakening and overthrowing the Mayan gods (most of who are babies at this point--this is what remembering the events of the trilogy would have explained). Joining her are Edison, Montero, and Marco, my favorite being Edison. Ah-Puch is there as well, although as a baby god, his powers are limited. I like how his relationship with Ren develops in this book and I also like the different folks they meet along the way.
This was definitely a fun start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next one, especially because this one definitely left us hanging!
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Without going into detail, the basics of this series include Ren learning about her magic and her destiny all while fighting to keep the nine Night Lords (Aztec Gods) from wakening and overthrowing the Mayan gods (most of who are babies at this point--this is what remembering the events of the trilogy would have explained). Joining her are Edison, Montero, and Marco, my favorite being Edison. Ah-Puch is there as well, although as a baby god, his powers are limited. I like how his relationship with Ren develops in this book and I also like the different folks they meet along the way.
This was definitely a fun start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next one, especially because this one definitely left us hanging!
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2022
It’s fair to state that The Lords of Night was my most anticipated non-Star Wars book for this year. Everything about this book had me excited. From the premise, to the great mytholigcal universe JC Cervantes established in the Storm Runner trilogy, to the amazing cover we got for this book. Also, does not hurt how many wins the Rick Riordan presents imprint has been doling out since its creation. There have been very few misses within the imprint.
With all of this going for it, there is no way it could live up to my internal hype, right? Wrong, so wrong. This book beat my expectations right into the stratosphere. This first book in the Shadow Bruja duology is surprisingly connected to the main Storm Runner series, but also stands on its own two feet. One thing I have come to learn is that in these MG books, they tend to repeat things a lot that might be lore related. So even for readers who have not read the Storm Runner trilogy, fear not, as you can still get the summary version of those events and enjoy this book.
The book itself is a joy from cover to cover. Well a joy, that might be oversimplifying things. It is a joy to read, but the ending, well I don’t like being a tease, but you could tell that every step in this book built up to that step. It left me making sure there was no extra pages for me to read. After that, I simply got up, walked away the book, and attempted to process the book. Definitely one of those type of amazing heart shredding endings. The Storm Runner trilogy has nothing on this book, and that is why I am giving this book a perfect 5/5 stars. 100/100. 10/10. All the perfect ratings!
With all of this going for it, there is no way it could live up to my internal hype, right? Wrong, so wrong. This book beat my expectations right into the stratosphere. This first book in the Shadow Bruja duology is surprisingly connected to the main Storm Runner series, but also stands on its own two feet. One thing I have come to learn is that in these MG books, they tend to repeat things a lot that might be lore related. So even for readers who have not read the Storm Runner trilogy, fear not, as you can still get the summary version of those events and enjoy this book.
The book itself is a joy from cover to cover. Well a joy, that might be oversimplifying things. It is a joy to read, but the ending, well I don’t like being a tease, but you could tell that every step in this book built up to that step. It left me making sure there was no extra pages for me to read. After that, I simply got up, walked away the book, and attempted to process the book. Definitely one of those type of amazing heart shredding endings. The Storm Runner trilogy has nothing on this book, and that is why I am giving this book a perfect 5/5 stars. 100/100. 10/10. All the perfect ratings!
October 22, 2024
shaking crying throwing up rn because I THOUGHT I WAS SAFE. I thought it would be fine to read this despite the fact that the sequel releases on some unspecified date in 2023.
I WAS SO WRONG. what a brutal way to end this book 😭
I'm also here to state once again that I truly love Ren <3 I'm really glad this spinoff exists so we can get a closer look at her thoughts and motivations and struggles. absolutely loved the emotional arc she went through here and I think it was done very well.
the squad in this book is so fun!! Ren is one of those characters that has great chemistry with basically every single other character so the whole thing was very lively. It was great seeing ah-puch again, love him sm, as well as getting more of his and Ren's dynamic. which. yeah they're making me go insane. this was already true in the first series and it's even more true in this book. they are soooo vibe
2022 popsugar reading challenge: A book by a Latine author
I WAS SO WRONG. what a brutal way to end this book 😭
I'm also here to state once again that I truly love Ren <3 I'm really glad this spinoff exists so we can get a closer look at her thoughts and motivations and struggles. absolutely loved the emotional arc she went through here and I think it was done very well.
the squad in this book is so fun!! Ren is one of those characters that has great chemistry with basically every single other character so the whole thing was very lively. It was great seeing ah-puch again, love him sm, as well as getting more of his and Ren's dynamic. which. yeah they're making me go insane. this was already true in the first series and it's even more true in this book. they are soooo vibe
2022 popsugar reading challenge: A book by a Latine author
February 29, 2024
I didn’t think this one was as good as The Storm Runner series, but I definitely still enjoyed it. The story was fun and I liked that we got to see some of the same characters from before. I also enjoyed getting to see more of the Aztec gods this time and not just the Mayan ones.
May 18, 2023
I decided to read this for a podcast that I'm on, Reading Queens, and I'm so glad I did! I haven't read middle grade in FOREVER, and this was a nice break. Such a fun story!
December 28, 2022
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
I’ve heard amazing things about The Storm Runner series, so when I saw the author was starting a new series (from Rick Riordan Presents, no less), I thought it would be the perfect chance to read some of her work! Plus, it’s kind of impossible for me to resist the idea of not only Aztec and Mayan mythology but also the idea of a shadow witch. Sounds pretty cool, right?
The Lords of Night is the first in a companion series to The Storm Runner series. It’s filled with magic, Mayan and Aztec gods, danger, adventure, and a really fun squad of superpowered godling children.
For some reason, I actually hadn’t realized that this is a companion series to The Storm Runner, which I think is a pretty big thing to keep in mind. You must read that series before reading this one, or this book makes a whoooole lot less sense. Despite missing out on a whole chunk of the story, I did enjoy the adventure and little bit of a mystery in this one. Plus, this squad? Oh my gosh, they are soooo fun. How do I get friends like this in the real world?
My Thoughts
- It’s really important to know that this is a companion series to The Storm Runner series by the same author, and reading that series is basically required for understanding what’s happening in this book. I say that because it’s something I wish I had known going in, but I had somehow missed that fact? I wanted to start my review with it, because it’s super important, big red letters, underlined, and lit up in neon. While it’s possible to read and enjoy this book without reading the other series (I mean, I did it, after all), you will not understand what’s going on in a lot of it, and you will be extremely confused. The book starts on a note that makes it feel like a sequel, which had me confused right from the start. The characters already know each other, and they make references to things that have already happened and that they’ve already been through. I’m not sure where the disconnect was with this one, if it was just poor marketing or my failure to pay attention, but I did notice that on Goodreads, the blurb of one edition mentions that The Storm Runner is a prequel series (at the very end) but the other editions do not. And of course, the edition that it defaults to when I look up the book does not include that information in it. So I’ve included it here, right upfront, just in case!
- The Lords of Night launches into action almost immediately and carries it right through the end, with plenty of action, adventure, and mystery to hook readers and take them along for the ride. Despite being confused at first, as I said, it doesn’t take long for the story to ramp up, which immediately grabbed my attention. Ren is involved in some pretty dark stuff . . . pun only sort of intended, considering she’s a shadow witch. Sorry, not sorry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Lords of Night are pretty quickly introduced, and I love the way it’s done, so I won’t ruin it for everyone. The writing for their introductions is so lovely and gripping! It really sets the tone. So not only do our intrepid young heroes need to figure out who the heck these Lords of Night are, but also how Ren is connected to them and why they seem so fixated on her. I was immediately hooked on this mystery and all the weird happenings surrounding it. Strange symbols, ghostly apparitions, and the way these lords seem to know something about Ren that she doesn’t. Cervantes weaves a very tense, suspenseful atmosphere that caught me up in it.
- This isn’t your everyday band of heroes. This squad is unexpected, unorthodox, and probably not recommended, but it sure is fun. Of course there’s Ren, the shadow witch, who’s at the center of it all. This is her story, obviously, so it makes sense that she’d be there. But there’s also Ah-Puch, also known as A.P. for short, who is a god with a bit of a teenager complex. By which I mean he’s definitely been de-aged into a teenager. I’m sure you can all imagine the nightmare that would be, especially if you were an all-powerful god previously.
Then there’s Edison, who’s . . . different. I’m not at liberty to say how. Shhhh, it’s a secret! Needless to say, he didn’t have a traditional upbringing, and he’s really just experiencing life out and among people for the first time in this book. It’s daunting, as one can imagine. He’s also delightfully out of touch with modern society, having spent way too much time watching old movies, and it shows. Still, it’s hard not to fall for his simple charm.
Then there’s Monty, who is . . . something else. She’s a bit younger than the others, but entirely eager to prove herself, both to them and to her family. For her, this quest must go right and successfully conclude. Everything is at stake for her. Not that it sours her mood any. On the contrary, she’s more determined than ever.
Despite everyone having kind of a lot going on in their lives right now, they’re all-in for this adventure, each for their own reasons. And together, as a team? Well, they almost get by. I wouldn’t go as far as saying they’re competent, but they certainly work well together, and they’re super funny, to boot!
- Despite everyone having kind of a lot going on in their lives right now, they’re all-in for this adventure, each for their own reasons. And together, as a team? Well, they almost get by. I wouldn’t go as far as saying they’re competent, but they certainly work well together, and they’re super funny, to boot! Ren, for example, starts the book off dealing with cyberbullying. Which may seem like such a simple thing in the face of all the things she’s been through, but even godborns have insecurities. And being called names never feels good. Each member of the squad has their own demons to overcome (sometimes literally), whether it be familial obligations and pressure, finding a place to belong, or, you know, suddenly finding yourself a teenager with no god powers (*shudders*). I appreciated how the personal journeys were slipped in alongside the overall quest. It added an extra depth to the characters.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
I’ve heard amazing things about The Storm Runner series, so when I saw the author was starting a new series (from Rick Riordan Presents, no less), I thought it would be the perfect chance to read some of her work! Plus, it’s kind of impossible for me to resist the idea of not only Aztec and Mayan mythology but also the idea of a shadow witch. Sounds pretty cool, right?
The Lords of Night is the first in a companion series to The Storm Runner series. It’s filled with magic, Mayan and Aztec gods, danger, adventure, and a really fun squad of superpowered godling children.
For some reason, I actually hadn’t realized that this is a companion series to The Storm Runner, which I think is a pretty big thing to keep in mind. You must read that series before reading this one, or this book makes a whoooole lot less sense. Despite missing out on a whole chunk of the story, I did enjoy the adventure and little bit of a mystery in this one. Plus, this squad? Oh my gosh, they are soooo fun. How do I get friends like this in the real world?
My Thoughts
- It’s really important to know that this is a companion series to The Storm Runner series by the same author, and reading that series is basically required for understanding what’s happening in this book. I say that because it’s something I wish I had known going in, but I had somehow missed that fact? I wanted to start my review with it, because it’s super important, big red letters, underlined, and lit up in neon. While it’s possible to read and enjoy this book without reading the other series (I mean, I did it, after all), you will not understand what’s going on in a lot of it, and you will be extremely confused. The book starts on a note that makes it feel like a sequel, which had me confused right from the start. The characters already know each other, and they make references to things that have already happened and that they’ve already been through. I’m not sure where the disconnect was with this one, if it was just poor marketing or my failure to pay attention, but I did notice that on Goodreads, the blurb of one edition mentions that The Storm Runner is a prequel series (at the very end) but the other editions do not. And of course, the edition that it defaults to when I look up the book does not include that information in it. So I’ve included it here, right upfront, just in case!
- The Lords of Night launches into action almost immediately and carries it right through the end, with plenty of action, adventure, and mystery to hook readers and take them along for the ride. Despite being confused at first, as I said, it doesn’t take long for the story to ramp up, which immediately grabbed my attention. Ren is involved in some pretty dark stuff . . . pun only sort of intended, considering she’s a shadow witch. Sorry, not sorry. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Lords of Night are pretty quickly introduced, and I love the way it’s done, so I won’t ruin it for everyone. The writing for their introductions is so lovely and gripping! It really sets the tone. So not only do our intrepid young heroes need to figure out who the heck these Lords of Night are, but also how Ren is connected to them and why they seem so fixated on her. I was immediately hooked on this mystery and all the weird happenings surrounding it. Strange symbols, ghostly apparitions, and the way these lords seem to know something about Ren that she doesn’t. Cervantes weaves a very tense, suspenseful atmosphere that caught me up in it.
- This isn’t your everyday band of heroes. This squad is unexpected, unorthodox, and probably not recommended, but it sure is fun. Of course there’s Ren, the shadow witch, who’s at the center of it all. This is her story, obviously, so it makes sense that she’d be there. But there’s also Ah-Puch, also known as A.P. for short, who is a god with a bit of a teenager complex. By which I mean he’s definitely been de-aged into a teenager. I’m sure you can all imagine the nightmare that would be, especially if you were an all-powerful god previously.
Then there’s Edison, who’s . . . different. I’m not at liberty to say how. Shhhh, it’s a secret! Needless to say, he didn’t have a traditional upbringing, and he’s really just experiencing life out and among people for the first time in this book. It’s daunting, as one can imagine. He’s also delightfully out of touch with modern society, having spent way too much time watching old movies, and it shows. Still, it’s hard not to fall for his simple charm.
Then there’s Monty, who is . . . something else. She’s a bit younger than the others, but entirely eager to prove herself, both to them and to her family. For her, this quest must go right and successfully conclude. Everything is at stake for her. Not that it sours her mood any. On the contrary, she’s more determined than ever.
Despite everyone having kind of a lot going on in their lives right now, they’re all-in for this adventure, each for their own reasons. And together, as a team? Well, they almost get by. I wouldn’t go as far as saying they’re competent, but they certainly work well together, and they’re super funny, to boot!
- Despite everyone having kind of a lot going on in their lives right now, they’re all-in for this adventure, each for their own reasons. And together, as a team? Well, they almost get by. I wouldn’t go as far as saying they’re competent, but they certainly work well together, and they’re super funny, to boot! Ren, for example, starts the book off dealing with cyberbullying. Which may seem like such a simple thing in the face of all the things she’s been through, but even godborns have insecurities. And being called names never feels good. Each member of the squad has their own demons to overcome (sometimes literally), whether it be familial obligations and pressure, finding a place to belong, or, you know, suddenly finding yourself a teenager with no god powers (*shudders*). I appreciated how the personal journeys were slipped in alongside the overall quest. It added an extra depth to the characters.
February 3, 2023
3.5
"𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧. 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮."
-A.P.
What I liked:
This is definitely one of the best middle grade books I've ever read in the past while, and the younger me would've probably rated this higher-but it was really good. I loved the relationships, the character growth, and the way each character found growth through this fun adventure! The writing was great and I really liked those small emotional moments that meant a lot. I was super intrigued by the Lords of the Night and the Unknown x Aztecs x Mayan Gods thing going on. I wasn't too surprised by the plot twists, but this was an entertaining read. I do wish that Zane showed up though! Edison and Monty were really interesting characters who I liked!
What I didn't really like:
-Ren
Now this is a big problem because I probably would've loved this so much more if I liked the main character. I can't say I hate her, but I have no particularly positive feelings towards her besides indifference and the occasional irritation. I don't think this is bad writing on the author's part-I just don't think my personality type goes well with how she acts, so that annoyed me. I was fine with her except that I found that she could be super arrogant, literally saying, "I'm the most powerful godborn!" [She said that more than 2 times.] I don't like how she instantly assumed that Edison was weaker than her and decided to go easy on him. She looks at lots of things like they're beneath her and overestimates herself while underestimating quite literally a lot of other things.
Conclusion: This was a really entertaining book and it was fun to read. I can't wait for book 2 and I thought the ending was really well-written and tragic. If Ren's alive, hopefully she can become more humble...
"𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧. 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮."
-A.P.
What I liked:
This is definitely one of the best middle grade books I've ever read in the past while, and the younger me would've probably rated this higher-but it was really good. I loved the relationships, the character growth, and the way each character found growth through this fun adventure! The writing was great and I really liked those small emotional moments that meant a lot. I was super intrigued by the Lords of the Night and the Unknown x Aztecs x Mayan Gods thing going on. I wasn't too surprised by the plot twists, but this was an entertaining read. I do wish that Zane showed up though! Edison and Monty were really interesting characters who I liked!
What I didn't really like:
-Ren
Now this is a big problem because I probably would've loved this so much more if I liked the main character. I can't say I hate her, but I have no particularly positive feelings towards her besides indifference and the occasional irritation. I don't think this is bad writing on the author's part-I just don't think my personality type goes well with how she acts, so that annoyed me. I was fine with her except that I found that she could be super arrogant, literally saying, "I'm the most powerful godborn!" [She said that more than 2 times.] I don't like how she instantly assumed that Edison was weaker than her and decided to go easy on him. She looks at lots of things like they're beneath her and overestimates herself while underestimating quite literally a lot of other things.
Conclusion: This was a really entertaining book and it was fun to read. I can't wait for book 2 and I thought the ending was really well-written and tragic. If Ren's alive, hopefully she can become more humble...
February 8, 2024
An enjoyable, exciting, and inventive story with some genuinely thrilling and scary moments (the maze! the street fight! the alien symbol!). Ren, A.P., and Edison are a lot of fun, and the Lords of Night make for intimidating villains. I also appreciate that the loose ends from the Storm Runner series continue on here.
I wasn't crazy about the pacing; every time I was really getting into the action, it seemed to stall for a quieter scene. I didn't get why Marco was so randomly included (of all the potential cameos from the first series, that wasn't one I was looking for), and Monty didn't work for me - her powers were ridiculously convenient and seemed to come out of nowhere, plus her near-instant rapport with Ren didn't ring true. I wish there had been more development of the human villains, especially the new, plot-convenient arrival of Ezra. I'm equally intrigued about her motivations, and why anyone thinks the name 'Ezra' could be used for a girl.
I think this book was overall weaker than the Storm Runner series, but the ending was a fabulous cliffhanger and I'll definitely read the sequel!
I wasn't crazy about the pacing; every time I was really getting into the action, it seemed to stall for a quieter scene. I didn't get why Marco was so randomly included (of all the potential cameos from the first series, that wasn't one I was looking for), and Monty didn't work for me - her powers were ridiculously convenient and seemed to come out of nowhere, plus her near-instant rapport with Ren didn't ring true. I wish there had been more development of the human villains, especially the new, plot-convenient arrival of Ezra. I'm equally intrigued about her motivations, and why anyone thinks the name 'Ezra' could be used for a girl.
I think this book was overall weaker than the Storm Runner series, but the ending was a fabulous cliffhanger and I'll definitely read the sequel!
March 22, 2024
This book was a little confusing in the begining, but as you work your way through the book things start to make more sense. Otherwise this book was very good! Left me feeling a little sad, but it had a bunch of really good clifhangers all throughout the book. I reallyy liked this book and would reread.
October 27, 2022
This book is readable for someone that hasn't read the series before it, with plenty of context to keep you mostly grounded. I think I'd have enjoyed it more if I could read the previous series, though.
March 1, 2023
Nothing beats a great sequel to an already loved book to motivate my students to read! Added this book to my classroom library and it quickly became a hit with my students that love mythology and fantasy. It even captured the eye of some other students, too, who have become J.C. Cervantes fans.
Thank you, Disney Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you, Disney Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 21, 2023
This book was soo good!!! The ending. OMGGGG the ending. I NEED to read the sequel but it's not in my library! But this book is just so awesome. Definitely a must-read. <3
August 20, 2023
Yes..I did it again I read the sequel before the actual series 😂😂
September 5, 2023
Was für ein toller Start in die Spin off Reihe!
November 6, 2024
Pretty sure I should have read The Storm Trilogy first
October 11, 2022
When I saw this book, I knew that I wanted to read it. I went in without reading the synopsis, only knowing it was book 1 in the series… about 30 pages in, I got the feeling that there were bits I was missing, but they weren’t exactly important to what I was reading, just back stories on other characters. Come to find out, this is a sequel series to The Stormrunner Trilogy, which is on my TBR. 🤦🏻♂️
Even though I was missing bits of information from previous books, I feel like the world was still really well thought out and explained. I loved Ren!! I don’t feel like I’ve read a character with powers quite like hers, so it made the story feel fresh and new for me.
I enjoyed learning about Mayan and Aztec Gods, as well as falling in love with this world and the characters… but now I’m going to need to read the original trilogy and maybe come back and reread this again. I loved this book, but would it have been even better had I had all of the back story? We will be finding out!
Thank you to the publisher and Rockstar Tours for gifting me a copy of the book.
Even though I was missing bits of information from previous books, I feel like the world was still really well thought out and explained. I loved Ren!! I don’t feel like I’ve read a character with powers quite like hers, so it made the story feel fresh and new for me.
I enjoyed learning about Mayan and Aztec Gods, as well as falling in love with this world and the characters… but now I’m going to need to read the original trilogy and maybe come back and reread this again. I loved this book, but would it have been even better had I had all of the back story? We will be finding out!
Thank you to the publisher and Rockstar Tours for gifting me a copy of the book.
June 5, 2025
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Mit Ren gegen die Götter – Nachtkönigin beginnt J.C. Cervantes eine neue, spannende Reise innerhalb des beliebten Storm Runner-Universums (Zane gegen die Götter)– und was für ein gelungener Auftakt es ist! Als Spin-off zur ursprünglichen Reihe ist dieses Buch ein mitreißendes, humorvolles und tiefgründiges Abenteuer, das alte Fans abholt und gleichzeitig neuen Leser:innen die Tür in eine faszinierende Welt öffnet.
Im Zentrum steht Renata „Ren“ Santiago, eine Figur, die man bereits als Nebencharakter aus Band 3 von Zane gegen die Götter kennt. Jetzt jedoch tritt sie in den Vordergrund und zeigt, wie viel Tiefe, Mut und Entwicklungspotenzial in ihr steckt. Ren ist nicht nur die mächtigste Gottgeborene ihrer Zeit – sie ist auch ein Mädchen mit Schuldgefühlen, Selbstzweifeln und einem bemerkenswerten Sinn für Gerechtigkeit. Sie stammt von der Maya-Göttin der Zeit ab und hat zudem eine geheimnisvolle Schattenmagie väterlicherseits geerbt. Trotz dieser außergewöhnlichen Herkunft ist sie erstaunlich nahbar und menschlich gezeichnet.
Nach den dramatischen Ereignissen der Vorgängerreihe sehnt sich Ren nach Ruhe und Normalität. Sie möchte sich ihrem Blog widmen und weiter der Theorie nachgehen, dass die Maya-Zivilisation Kontakt zu Außerirdischen hatte – weit weg von göttlichen Kämpfen, Zeitreisen und gefährlichen Missionen. Doch natürlich kommt es anders: Ein mysteriöser Hinweis auf eine Alien-Sichtung bringt sie zurück in eine Welt voller Magie, antiker Götter und uralter Bedrohungen. Dabei muss sie sich auf eine unkonventionelle Truppe verlassen: ein (machtloser) Gott des Todes, ein junger Dämon und ein Aztekenjäger in Ausbildung. Gemeinsam stehen sie uralten Feinden gegenüber – darunter die berüchtigten „Cinco“ und die geheimnisvollen Lords of Night, eine bedrohliche Gruppe, die tief in der aztekischen Mythologie verwurzelt ist.
Besonders gelungen ist Cervantes’ Umgang mit der Mythologie. Während die ursprüngliche Storm Runner-Reihe den Fokus klar auf die Maya-Götter legte, steht hier die aztekische Mythologie im Vordergrund – komplex, düster, faszinierend. Die Autorin schafft es erneut, kulturelle Elemente respektvoll und spannend in eine moderne Fantasy-Erzählung einzubinden. Ein besonderes Lob verdient das Glossar am Ende des Buches, das nicht nur Begriffserklärungen, sondern auch Aussprachehilfen bietet – ein tolles Extra, gerade für jüngere Leser:innen.
Auch die Figurenkonstellation überzeugt: Ren wächst im Verlauf der Geschichte spürbar über sich hinaus und lernt, Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Die Dynamik innerhalb der Gruppe ist unterhaltsam, mit viel Witz, aber auch berührenden Momenten. Besonders Edison und Montero, zwei neue Begleiter, bringen frischen Wind in die Geschichte und sorgen für starke Dialoge und emotionale Tiefe.
Selbst wer die ursprüngliche Reihe nicht kennt, wird sich in Ren gegen die Götter – Nachtkönigin gut zurechtfinden – Cervantes streut gekonnt Hintergrundinformationen ein, ohne dass der Erzählfluss darunter leidet. Dennoch empfehle ich, zuerst The Storm Runner-Reihe zu lesen, um alle Nuancen und Entwicklungen besser würdigen zu können.
Das Buch endet mit einem echten Cliffhanger, der einen sehnsüchtig auf den zweiten Band der Dilogie warten lässt. Obwohl die Geschichte insgesamt rund erzählt ist, bleiben einige Fragen offen – Spannung für die Fortsetzung ist also garantiert.
Fazit:
Ren gegen die Götter – Nachtkönigin ist ein spannendes, humorvolles und zutiefst mythologisches Abenteuer, das mit einer starken Heldin, tollen Nebenfiguren und einem faszinierenden Weltenbau begeistert. Wer auf actionreiche Fantasy mit kulturellem Tiefgang steht – ganz besonders in Verbindung mit mittel- und südamerikanischer Mythologie – wird dieses Buch lieben.
4 von 5 Sternen!
Mit Ren gegen die Götter – Nachtkönigin beginnt J.C. Cervantes eine neue, spannende Reise innerhalb des beliebten Storm Runner-Universums (Zane gegen die Götter)– und was für ein gelungener Auftakt es ist! Als Spin-off zur ursprünglichen Reihe ist dieses Buch ein mitreißendes, humorvolles und tiefgründiges Abenteuer, das alte Fans abholt und gleichzeitig neuen Leser:innen die Tür in eine faszinierende Welt öffnet.
Im Zentrum steht Renata „Ren“ Santiago, eine Figur, die man bereits als Nebencharakter aus Band 3 von Zane gegen die Götter kennt. Jetzt jedoch tritt sie in den Vordergrund und zeigt, wie viel Tiefe, Mut und Entwicklungspotenzial in ihr steckt. Ren ist nicht nur die mächtigste Gottgeborene ihrer Zeit – sie ist auch ein Mädchen mit Schuldgefühlen, Selbstzweifeln und einem bemerkenswerten Sinn für Gerechtigkeit. Sie stammt von der Maya-Göttin der Zeit ab und hat zudem eine geheimnisvolle Schattenmagie väterlicherseits geerbt. Trotz dieser außergewöhnlichen Herkunft ist sie erstaunlich nahbar und menschlich gezeichnet.
Nach den dramatischen Ereignissen der Vorgängerreihe sehnt sich Ren nach Ruhe und Normalität. Sie möchte sich ihrem Blog widmen und weiter der Theorie nachgehen, dass die Maya-Zivilisation Kontakt zu Außerirdischen hatte – weit weg von göttlichen Kämpfen, Zeitreisen und gefährlichen Missionen. Doch natürlich kommt es anders: Ein mysteriöser Hinweis auf eine Alien-Sichtung bringt sie zurück in eine Welt voller Magie, antiker Götter und uralter Bedrohungen. Dabei muss sie sich auf eine unkonventionelle Truppe verlassen: ein (machtloser) Gott des Todes, ein junger Dämon und ein Aztekenjäger in Ausbildung. Gemeinsam stehen sie uralten Feinden gegenüber – darunter die berüchtigten „Cinco“ und die geheimnisvollen Lords of Night, eine bedrohliche Gruppe, die tief in der aztekischen Mythologie verwurzelt ist.
Besonders gelungen ist Cervantes’ Umgang mit der Mythologie. Während die ursprüngliche Storm Runner-Reihe den Fokus klar auf die Maya-Götter legte, steht hier die aztekische Mythologie im Vordergrund – komplex, düster, faszinierend. Die Autorin schafft es erneut, kulturelle Elemente respektvoll und spannend in eine moderne Fantasy-Erzählung einzubinden. Ein besonderes Lob verdient das Glossar am Ende des Buches, das nicht nur Begriffserklärungen, sondern auch Aussprachehilfen bietet – ein tolles Extra, gerade für jüngere Leser:innen.
Auch die Figurenkonstellation überzeugt: Ren wächst im Verlauf der Geschichte spürbar über sich hinaus und lernt, Verantwortung zu übernehmen. Die Dynamik innerhalb der Gruppe ist unterhaltsam, mit viel Witz, aber auch berührenden Momenten. Besonders Edison und Montero, zwei neue Begleiter, bringen frischen Wind in die Geschichte und sorgen für starke Dialoge und emotionale Tiefe.
Selbst wer die ursprüngliche Reihe nicht kennt, wird sich in Ren gegen die Götter – Nachtkönigin gut zurechtfinden – Cervantes streut gekonnt Hintergrundinformationen ein, ohne dass der Erzählfluss darunter leidet. Dennoch empfehle ich, zuerst The Storm Runner-Reihe zu lesen, um alle Nuancen und Entwicklungen besser würdigen zu können.
Das Buch endet mit einem echten Cliffhanger, der einen sehnsüchtig auf den zweiten Band der Dilogie warten lässt. Obwohl die Geschichte insgesamt rund erzählt ist, bleiben einige Fragen offen – Spannung für die Fortsetzung ist also garantiert.
Fazit:
Ren gegen die Götter – Nachtkönigin ist ein spannendes, humorvolles und zutiefst mythologisches Abenteuer, das mit einer starken Heldin, tollen Nebenfiguren und einem faszinierenden Weltenbau begeistert. Wer auf actionreiche Fantasy mit kulturellem Tiefgang steht – ganz besonders in Verbindung mit mittel- und südamerikanischer Mythologie – wird dieses Buch lieben.
4 von 5 Sternen!
February 26, 2023
This book absolutely broke me. I loved it and I hated it at the same time. I love this world and this story.
#edison4eva
#edison4eva
August 14, 2022
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I enjoyed reading about Zane Obispo in The Storm Runner books; so I knew this series would be just as good and it did not disappoint! I liked that we learned a bit about the other gods and Ah-Puch was back again. It was great to explore more of the Mayan and Aztec myths and legends.
November 24, 2022
As she tries to return to normal, 14-year-old, Ren, daughter of Pacific, goddess of time, pursues a tip left on her alien sighting blog. This leads her to an unsettling symbol in a cornfield. The symbol references the Lords of Night, Aztec gods who were linked to good and bad fates. As she investigates, signs point to the possibility of the involvement of rogue godborns. Teaming up with demon hybrid, Edison, and hunter, Montero, the trio sets out to stop the ungodly alliance and save the world. Will she succeed?
Narrator, Stacy Gonzalez draws the listener into the story with her unique character voices and narrative style. She keeps pace with the author’s writing pace and pair well with their writing style. The characters are well-developed and engaging. The story is full of plot twists and turns. Fans of Rick Riordan presents, mythology, and fantasy will want to pick this one up. Although it is possible to listen to this one out of order, it is recommended that you listen to the Storm Runner novels first.
Please note: A copy of this book was given to us in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expresses are our own. No other compensation was received.
Narrator, Stacy Gonzalez draws the listener into the story with her unique character voices and narrative style. She keeps pace with the author’s writing pace and pair well with their writing style. The characters are well-developed and engaging. The story is full of plot twists and turns. Fans of Rick Riordan presents, mythology, and fantasy will want to pick this one up. Although it is possible to listen to this one out of order, it is recommended that you listen to the Storm Runner novels first.
Please note: A copy of this book was given to us in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expresses are our own. No other compensation was received.
February 8, 2024
Oh come on. I usually won't rate books with this kind of ending UNTIL I finished what's after the CLIFFY, but I'll make this an exception because at least I was focused on it all the way. And if I find what comes next unsatisfactory, I suppose the concluding book's rating can suffer lol.
October 12, 2022
RATING:
4 STARS
J.C. Cervantes’ first book in the Shadow Bruja series, The Lords of Night is an action-packed, mythology-filled, lovable tale. A spin-off from the original books in The Storm Runner series, reading this book is like coming home and seeing an old friend after some time away. Familiar, but things have changed (in a good way).
After the events of The Shadow Crosser, Renata Santiago (or Ren) wants a break. No evil quests to defeat villainous gods, no time traveling, no teleporting - just some time to pursue her theory of the Mayan civilization being connected to aliens, and running her blog Eyes in the Sky. But when she gets a message claiming a possible alien sighting, she’s swept back up into the world of Mayan and Aztec gods, and forced to rely on her friends (namely the powerless god of death, a demon, and an Aztec hunter in training) to get out alive.
Ren is the most powerful god-born alive, due to the dual heritage she carries - part of her being descended from the Mayan goddess of Time Pacific, and the other a shadow brujx on her father’s side. Despite her powers, she struggles with confidence and she carries a lot of guilt for the events of The Shadow Crosser, and that crosses over into this book. I loved getting to see her growth over the course of the story, and how she comes into her powers a bit more. Zane being out of the picture really allows Ren to step into a leadership role. I also liked seeing the addition of some new characters to combat old foes (the ‘Cinco’) and the newly introduced Lords of Night. Edison and Montero are great allies to Ren, and I was quite intrigued by the Lords of Night myth (having never heard of them before, the glossary at the end of the book helped a lot - especially with pronunciation).
Given that the main character of The Lords of Night is one of the side characters of The Storm Runner series, this is likely a book best suited for fans of the original series. I truly enjoyed how worldbuilding is structured in both series. Each one has elements of Mayan and Aztec mythology, though The Storm Runner series focuses more on Mayan mythology and The Lords of Night focuses more on Aztec ones. As such, the two sets of books have very different tones (especially since they have different leads). For those who haven’t read the original books, please note that the author does a great job of providing sufficient background information such that any readers new to The Storm Runner universe will not find themselves lost. I do, however, recommend reading The Storm Runner series first for the best experience.
If you enjoy zany, action-packed, mythology-inspired middle-grade tales, this is the book for you! I’m so excited for the final book in the duology to come out so readers (including myself) can see what happens next for Ren and the crew. The cliffhanger this book ends on is quite painful. Thank you to the author J.C. Cervantes, Rick Riordan Presents, Disney-Hyperion Books, and Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Lords of Night immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
J.C. Cervantes’ first book in the Shadow Bruja series, The Lords of Night is an action-packed, mythology-filled, lovable tale. A spin-off from the original books in The Storm Runner series, reading this book is like coming home and seeing an old friend after some time away. Familiar, but things have changed (in a good way).
After the events of The Shadow Crosser, Renata Santiago (or Ren) wants a break. No evil quests to defeat villainous gods, no time traveling, no teleporting - just some time to pursue her theory of the Mayan civilization being connected to aliens, and running her blog Eyes in the Sky. But when she gets a message claiming a possible alien sighting, she’s swept back up into the world of Mayan and Aztec gods, and forced to rely on her friends (namely the powerless god of death, a demon, and an Aztec hunter in training) to get out alive.
Ren is the most powerful god-born alive, due to the dual heritage she carries - part of her being descended from the Mayan goddess of Time Pacific, and the other a shadow brujx on her father’s side. Despite her powers, she struggles with confidence and she carries a lot of guilt for the events of The Shadow Crosser, and that crosses over into this book. I loved getting to see her growth over the course of the story, and how she comes into her powers a bit more. Zane being out of the picture really allows Ren to step into a leadership role. I also liked seeing the addition of some new characters to combat old foes (the ‘Cinco’) and the newly introduced Lords of Night. Edison and Montero are great allies to Ren, and I was quite intrigued by the Lords of Night myth (having never heard of them before, the glossary at the end of the book helped a lot - especially with pronunciation).
Given that the main character of The Lords of Night is one of the side characters of The Storm Runner series, this is likely a book best suited for fans of the original series. I truly enjoyed how worldbuilding is structured in both series. Each one has elements of Mayan and Aztec mythology, though The Storm Runner series focuses more on Mayan mythology and The Lords of Night focuses more on Aztec ones. As such, the two sets of books have very different tones (especially since they have different leads). For those who haven’t read the original books, please note that the author does a great job of providing sufficient background information such that any readers new to The Storm Runner universe will not find themselves lost. I do, however, recommend reading The Storm Runner series first for the best experience.
If you enjoy zany, action-packed, mythology-inspired middle-grade tales, this is the book for you! I’m so excited for the final book in the duology to come out so readers (including myself) can see what happens next for Ren and the crew. The cliffhanger this book ends on is quite painful. Thank you to the author J.C. Cervantes, Rick Riordan Presents, Disney-Hyperion Books, and Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Lords of Night immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
August 10, 2024
For all the girls who were told no.
At first glance it’s simple - if you’ve actually read the Storm Runner series, you would’ve known that Cervantes is a talented woman; otherwise, shame on you for never even knowing J. C. Cervantes’s gender.
Then, if you’ve read the book, you would’ve realized that this is slightly more than just about the author’s gender identity. It is about Renata’s own struggle as an individual. Even though she is the most powerful godborn as SHIHOM, she still isn’t the main character, who also has a powerful girlfriend, an uncle that teaches fighting, and the ability to write books.
Anyways, Renata explore her own power as she fights [Redacted] with the help of [Redacted], [Redacted], and [Redacted], while struggling with her own powers and her heritage as the daughter of Pacific and her family’s occupation as Mexica brujas .
That looks like a great sentence structure for you to use later in life. Surely everybody has a friend that is a Mexica bruja who wields shadows.
Sorry. Got off topic.
The Lords of Night is focused on Renata and her past, present, and the tenuous future, if you read the book, which has an undeniably abrupt end.
But really, Cervantes’s end to that book is just… sad. It is when something that you knew was inevitable, but still feels like it wasn’t supposed to happen, like there should’ve been some way to stop, something that changes the story, a thread plucked to just the right effect that could’ve reversed the end.
And that is what made the most beautiful sacrifices. When an important, critical character, for the good of everybody else, does not necessarily die, but gives up an important part to themselves so that the plot line continues in the protagonists favor as much as possible, while in hindsight, a move done better earlier could’ve prevented the incident as reflected by the readers, who don’t suffer from dramatic irony syndrome, a common ailment among characters which causes temporary blindness, deafness, memory loss, and other symptoms that often result in near-death experiences.
So to sum my ramblings up, a - not necessarily good, but certainly memorably sad - sacrifice is seemingly preventable, involving an important and critical character, preferably with a backstory and a dream for the future that the character will now never be able to accomplish that readers can relate to.
I probably should never have written that.
But anyways, I’ll burn that bridge when I come to it.
Speaking of deleting sections from my review in the imminent future, I just realized that The Lords of Night have some of the most positive first-page reviews out of any book I’ve currently read. I mean, the first page for Keeper of the Lost Cities have an average rating of about 1 to 1.5 stars, and here, everybody's just… mellow. Everybody’s just saying how great the book is, even if it’s a bit sad (I swear, the only reason The Lords of Night only have 4.1 stars is that people were disappointed that Renata [Redacted].
The Lords of Night is a great book. It explored Aztec myth as it clashes with Mayan myth, even if Renata [Redacted]. It was just a bit overwhelmingly sad, with all the disappointment from the parent, the power struggle (as in, the struggle to control power, not struggle for power,) death, and the not-so-kind ending with Ixtab.
Speaking of which, where is Zane? Five stars.
At first glance it’s simple - if you’ve actually read the Storm Runner series, you would’ve known that Cervantes is a talented woman; otherwise, shame on you for never even knowing J. C. Cervantes’s gender.
Then, if you’ve read the book, you would’ve realized that this is slightly more than just about the author’s gender identity. It is about Renata’s own struggle as an individual. Even though she is the most powerful godborn as SHIHOM, she still isn’t the main character, who also has a powerful girlfriend, an uncle that teaches fighting, and the ability to write books.
Anyways, Renata explore her own power as she fights [Redacted] with the help of [Redacted], [Redacted], and [Redacted], while struggling with her own powers and her heritage as the daughter of Pacific and her family’s occupation as Mexica brujas .
That looks like a great sentence structure for you to use later in life. Surely everybody has a friend that is a Mexica bruja who wields shadows.
Sorry. Got off topic.
The Lords of Night is focused on Renata and her past, present, and the tenuous future, if you read the book, which has an undeniably abrupt end.
But really, Cervantes’s end to that book is just… sad. It is when something that you knew was inevitable, but still feels like it wasn’t supposed to happen, like there should’ve been some way to stop, something that changes the story, a thread plucked to just the right effect that could’ve reversed the end.
And that is what made the most beautiful sacrifices. When an important, critical character, for the good of everybody else, does not necessarily die, but gives up an important part to themselves so that the plot line continues in the protagonists favor as much as possible, while in hindsight, a move done better earlier could’ve prevented the incident as reflected by the readers, who don’t suffer from dramatic irony syndrome, a common ailment among characters which causes temporary blindness, deafness, memory loss, and other symptoms that often result in near-death experiences.
So to sum my ramblings up, a - not necessarily good, but certainly memorably sad - sacrifice is seemingly preventable, involving an important and critical character, preferably with a backstory and a dream for the future that the character will now never be able to accomplish that readers can relate to.
I probably should never have written that.
But anyways, I’ll burn that bridge when I come to it.
Speaking of deleting sections from my review in the imminent future, I just realized that The Lords of Night have some of the most positive first-page reviews out of any book I’ve currently read. I mean, the first page for Keeper of the Lost Cities have an average rating of about 1 to 1.5 stars, and here, everybody's just… mellow. Everybody’s just saying how great the book is, even if it’s a bit sad (I swear, the only reason The Lords of Night only have 4.1 stars is that people were disappointed that Renata [Redacted].
The Lords of Night is a great book. It explored Aztec myth as it clashes with Mayan myth, even if Renata [Redacted]. It was just a bit overwhelmingly sad, with all the disappointment from the parent, the power struggle (as in, the struggle to control power, not struggle for power,) death, and the not-so-kind ending with Ixtab.
Speaking of which, where is Zane? Five stars.
December 11, 2022
What worked:
The story incorporates elements from Latino, Mayan, and Aztec cultures in developing the supernatural conflict. Ren is the main character and she’s a shadow bruja; bruja is a Spanish word for a witch. Other Spanish words are blended into the dialogue and narrative and readers should be able to easily use context to understand their meanings. Gods from different cultures are both allies and enemies although most of the allies have limited or lost powers. One of Ren’s closest friends is the god of death named Ah Puch which seems like a strange alliance for a book’s protagonist. The author makes him almost human as he displays emotions and feelings for Ren; caring and empathy are not qualities readers normally find in godly characters.
Similar to the related series, the author creates uncertainty and mystery as Ren tries to stop some ancient gods from being awakened. She hears a voice at times saying he knows her but she has no idea who he is or how he always knows where to find her. Ren’s teamed up with two other characters she’s only just met so she really doesn’t know much about them. She begins to think they’re actually a dream team but fate may present more of a challenge than they’re ready for. A prophecy arises that makes Ren question her past and future as she may be forced to turn against her friends. Suspense is created as the number of awakening gods counts down to the end of the prophecy. The book’s conclusion is quite shocking.
What makes this story of a young heroine with powers unique? Ren’s character has tremendous abilities but she’s full of unpredictability. She’s able to manipulate shadows as weapons and the shadows sometimes act on their own to protect her. However, Ren encounters situations where they no longer obey her commands and are out of her control. She also wields a time rope but she hasn’t learned to use it to its full potential. It comes in handy as a weapon but she hasn’t mastered how to manipulate time. In addition to her iffy powers, Ren has self-doubts and may be overly concerned about others. Her enemies are aware of these weaknesses and use them to play with Ren’s mind. She’s more apt to remain with her friends in dangerous situations even when it undermines their mission. Ren is the main character and hero but readers can’t always tell how she will behave as the plot moves along.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is a spin-off from the Storm Runner series that starred Zan Obispo. References are made to past events and characters that are related, but different, to what’s happening in this book. It’s not necessary to read the other series but it adds background knowledge to the relationships and experiences found in this one.
The Final Verdict:
The tone is very much like the Storm Runner books and lovers of folklore should easily connect with this story. The adventure of this supernatural protagonist checks off many boxes for entertaining middle-grade novels. I recommend you give this book a shot.
The story incorporates elements from Latino, Mayan, and Aztec cultures in developing the supernatural conflict. Ren is the main character and she’s a shadow bruja; bruja is a Spanish word for a witch. Other Spanish words are blended into the dialogue and narrative and readers should be able to easily use context to understand their meanings. Gods from different cultures are both allies and enemies although most of the allies have limited or lost powers. One of Ren’s closest friends is the god of death named Ah Puch which seems like a strange alliance for a book’s protagonist. The author makes him almost human as he displays emotions and feelings for Ren; caring and empathy are not qualities readers normally find in godly characters.
Similar to the related series, the author creates uncertainty and mystery as Ren tries to stop some ancient gods from being awakened. She hears a voice at times saying he knows her but she has no idea who he is or how he always knows where to find her. Ren’s teamed up with two other characters she’s only just met so she really doesn’t know much about them. She begins to think they’re actually a dream team but fate may present more of a challenge than they’re ready for. A prophecy arises that makes Ren question her past and future as she may be forced to turn against her friends. Suspense is created as the number of awakening gods counts down to the end of the prophecy. The book’s conclusion is quite shocking.
What makes this story of a young heroine with powers unique? Ren’s character has tremendous abilities but she’s full of unpredictability. She’s able to manipulate shadows as weapons and the shadows sometimes act on their own to protect her. However, Ren encounters situations where they no longer obey her commands and are out of her control. She also wields a time rope but she hasn’t learned to use it to its full potential. It comes in handy as a weapon but she hasn’t mastered how to manipulate time. In addition to her iffy powers, Ren has self-doubts and may be overly concerned about others. Her enemies are aware of these weaknesses and use them to play with Ren’s mind. She’s more apt to remain with her friends in dangerous situations even when it undermines their mission. Ren is the main character and hero but readers can’t always tell how she will behave as the plot moves along.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is a spin-off from the Storm Runner series that starred Zan Obispo. References are made to past events and characters that are related, but different, to what’s happening in this book. It’s not necessary to read the other series but it adds background knowledge to the relationships and experiences found in this one.
The Final Verdict:
The tone is very much like the Storm Runner books and lovers of folklore should easily connect with this story. The adventure of this supernatural protagonist checks off many boxes for entertaining middle-grade novels. I recommend you give this book a shot.
November 19, 2022
When I had heard that Renata from the Storm Runner trilogy was getting her own series, I was certainly curious. A few side characters from other books I read have gotten the spot light, and sometimes while it was good, it didn’t add much to the series. With Lords of Night, I can safely say that it not only adds things, it expands them in an interesting way.
After helping Zane and the other godborns save the Mayan gods, Renata has struggled going back to normal life. Being away from her friends is hard enough, but also being told that her website is stupid for believing in aliens doesn’t help. When Renata is told about a mysterious alien sighting, she soon uncovers a plot by the renegade godborns to awaken the Aztec Lords of Night. With her godborn friends busy and her Mayan god friend Ah-Puch still stuck as a teenager with little to no powers, Renata is forced to rely on two strangers. Edison, a teenage half demon and Montero an eleven-year-old Aztec hunter. Together, the three must go on a mission to find a way to keep the Lords asleep. One that will unearth secrets that will change everything Renata thought she new about the world, and herself.
Just like the previous series, the characters are fun and interesting. Edison for example has learned about the world from old movies and shows. As a result, he knows bits about things, but is still out of touch with what is considered the latest trend. Montero is high energy, but like Edison is loyal. She is eager to prove herself, but is also cautious like any hunter. Unfortunately, other than these two, we don’t get to encounter a lot of new characters. The few that are introduced are interesting and each add to the Mayan and Aztec mythologies, but it still felt like a shallow puddle compared to the last series.
With Renata, she still is confident and brave. Though this time around she is forced to take on a leadership role instead of supporting from the sidelines. This shakes up her confidence, and forces her to make decisions that she might not have been able to make in the previous trilogy. The same goes for Ah-Puch. Still trapped in the body of a teenage due to the events of time travel, Ah-Puch is forced to be more vulnerable with Renata. This allows us to get to know him on a personal level as compared to when he was a villain. His relationship with Renata shines even more in this book, which is something I enjoyed each time they got to talk.
The areas that Renata and her team got to explore were interesting, but just like the lack of new characters, it felt like a bit of a letdown. This didn’t impact the pacing however, as I never once thought a part of the story was going to fast or slow. The ending was a bit rushed, although the way it set up the next book will keep me guessing till next year. Until then, I can say that the book was a nice start to the series.
After helping Zane and the other godborns save the Mayan gods, Renata has struggled going back to normal life. Being away from her friends is hard enough, but also being told that her website is stupid for believing in aliens doesn’t help. When Renata is told about a mysterious alien sighting, she soon uncovers a plot by the renegade godborns to awaken the Aztec Lords of Night. With her godborn friends busy and her Mayan god friend Ah-Puch still stuck as a teenager with little to no powers, Renata is forced to rely on two strangers. Edison, a teenage half demon and Montero an eleven-year-old Aztec hunter. Together, the three must go on a mission to find a way to keep the Lords asleep. One that will unearth secrets that will change everything Renata thought she new about the world, and herself.
Just like the previous series, the characters are fun and interesting. Edison for example has learned about the world from old movies and shows. As a result, he knows bits about things, but is still out of touch with what is considered the latest trend. Montero is high energy, but like Edison is loyal. She is eager to prove herself, but is also cautious like any hunter. Unfortunately, other than these two, we don’t get to encounter a lot of new characters. The few that are introduced are interesting and each add to the Mayan and Aztec mythologies, but it still felt like a shallow puddle compared to the last series.
With Renata, she still is confident and brave. Though this time around she is forced to take on a leadership role instead of supporting from the sidelines. This shakes up her confidence, and forces her to make decisions that she might not have been able to make in the previous trilogy. The same goes for Ah-Puch. Still trapped in the body of a teenage due to the events of time travel, Ah-Puch is forced to be more vulnerable with Renata. This allows us to get to know him on a personal level as compared to when he was a villain. His relationship with Renata shines even more in this book, which is something I enjoyed each time they got to talk.
The areas that Renata and her team got to explore were interesting, but just like the lack of new characters, it felt like a bit of a letdown. This didn’t impact the pacing however, as I never once thought a part of the story was going to fast or slow. The ending was a bit rushed, although the way it set up the next book will keep me guessing till next year. Until then, I can say that the book was a nice start to the series.
May 16, 2023
Ren is recovering from her last adventure with Zane, Marco, and the rest of the godborns. When she hears of a possible alien sighting in Kansas that sounds an awful lot like the Maya demons Ren and gang have just got done fighting, Ren really wants to check it out. Especially when it sounds like the rogue godborns were there. What she finds, though, is evidence that someone is trying to wake the 7 Lords of Night from Aztec lore. Something which seriously freaks out Zen's best bud, A.P. And when the god of death and such gets freaked out, you take notice. A.P. sets Ren up with some new questing buds, Edison (half demon) and Monty (who comes from a long line of Aztec warriors and must prove herself on this quest to gain her official title). The trio must find the necessary instruments to stop all the lords from waking before things get really, really bad. Again.
Argh! Cliffhanger!!! It was fun to hang out with Ren again. (For those unfamiliar, Ren was a side character in the Shadow Runner series and gets to be front and center in 3 books of her own. She has both Maya and Mexica heritage. You should really read the Shadow Runner trilogy before this to understand what is going on; just about everyone other than Edison and Monty had lots of page time and character development in those prior books, and a lot of world building ground work was done in them that this book assumes you know.) Zane does show up for little bits as well as some others from before, but we spend most of the time with Ren, Marcos, A.P. (Ah-Puch), and Ren's new questing buddies. A.P. is a much more likable character from Ren's perspective, and even provides some of the humor. There was a good questing adventure going on, Ren is figuring out how to be a good leader, Edison and Monty are providing comic relief and tada nick of time help, and then we got to that ending! Now to count down the months until the next book comes out and hopefully we can get Ren out of a certain sticky situation. And in the meantime I have to decide where to shelve this. Middle grade or YA? Ren is 14 so it is right between the two target audiences.
Notes on content: 1 minor swear that I noticed. No sexual content. There are battles between humans and humans, humans and supernatural creatures, and between supernatural creatures. Some of them just provide setbacks or magical bindings, while some battles result in some injuries (no really gory injuries or anything).
Argh! Cliffhanger!!! It was fun to hang out with Ren again. (For those unfamiliar, Ren was a side character in the Shadow Runner series and gets to be front and center in 3 books of her own. She has both Maya and Mexica heritage. You should really read the Shadow Runner trilogy before this to understand what is going on; just about everyone other than Edison and Monty had lots of page time and character development in those prior books, and a lot of world building ground work was done in them that this book assumes you know.) Zane does show up for little bits as well as some others from before, but we spend most of the time with Ren, Marcos, A.P. (Ah-Puch), and Ren's new questing buddies. A.P. is a much more likable character from Ren's perspective, and even provides some of the humor. There was a good questing adventure going on, Ren is figuring out how to be a good leader, Edison and Monty are providing comic relief and tada nick of time help, and then we got to that ending! Now to count down the months until the next book comes out and hopefully we can get Ren out of a certain sticky situation. And in the meantime I have to decide where to shelve this. Middle grade or YA? Ren is 14 so it is right between the two target audiences.
Notes on content: 1 minor swear that I noticed. No sexual content. There are battles between humans and humans, humans and supernatural creatures, and between supernatural creatures. Some of them just provide setbacks or magical bindings, while some battles result in some injuries (no really gory injuries or anything).
November 7, 2022
I JUST REALIZED I DIDNT UPDATE MY GR 😭😂
But okay. The Lords of Night is an exhilarating middle grade fantasy that will take you for a ride. Maya and Aztec gods, family secrets, dangerous quests—it’s all in here!
Upon reading the first few chapters of this book, I already knew it was going to be a fast-paced, thrilling adventure! And upon finishing the book, I just knew I had to have more!
It’s easy diving into this book. Ren is an interesting character with unique powers, and yet there’s still much we don’t know about her parentage or where her powers really originated. We see this haunt Ren throughout the book, and is another question that hangs around her mind as she goes to discover more about The Lords of Night and how they can save the Maya gods.
There’s a lot of history and mythology in this book as well and I just loved diving into the world-building. I do feel like I needed to know more about the mythology (which is understandable since this is a spinoff from the Storm Runner trilogy). I want to be immersed and I hope there’s more of it in the sequel!
The characters gave life to this story as well. Apart from Ren, there’s Edison, Monty, A.P. and Marco and I loved getting to know them and their backstories! I feel like there’s so much more to learn though, especially about Edison and I am just so excited for what’s to come. (I have a few theories, I’m not going to tell though!)
I also adored the storytelling here in The Lords of Night. Yes, it was fun and fast-paced most of the time, but there were also moments where it was gritty and dark.
And that ending! What a way to set up the next installment. That was one cliffhanger I’ll take to heart. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I know a lot of MG and fantasy/mythology lovers will, too!
A big thank you to Rockstar Book Tours for including me on this tour!
(This review was originally published on my blog!)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
But okay. The Lords of Night is an exhilarating middle grade fantasy that will take you for a ride. Maya and Aztec gods, family secrets, dangerous quests—it’s all in here!
Upon reading the first few chapters of this book, I already knew it was going to be a fast-paced, thrilling adventure! And upon finishing the book, I just knew I had to have more!
It’s easy diving into this book. Ren is an interesting character with unique powers, and yet there’s still much we don’t know about her parentage or where her powers really originated. We see this haunt Ren throughout the book, and is another question that hangs around her mind as she goes to discover more about The Lords of Night and how they can save the Maya gods.
There’s a lot of history and mythology in this book as well and I just loved diving into the world-building. I do feel like I needed to know more about the mythology (which is understandable since this is a spinoff from the Storm Runner trilogy). I want to be immersed and I hope there’s more of it in the sequel!
The characters gave life to this story as well. Apart from Ren, there’s Edison, Monty, A.P. and Marco and I loved getting to know them and their backstories! I feel like there’s so much more to learn though, especially about Edison and I am just so excited for what’s to come. (I have a few theories, I’m not going to tell though!)
I also adored the storytelling here in The Lords of Night. Yes, it was fun and fast-paced most of the time, but there were also moments where it was gritty and dark.
And that ending! What a way to set up the next installment. That was one cliffhanger I’ll take to heart. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I know a lot of MG and fantasy/mythology lovers will, too!
A big thank you to Rockstar Book Tours for including me on this tour!
(This review was originally published on my blog!)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
December 8, 2022
Star Rating: 3 stars
Note: This is the 1st book in the Shadow Bruja duology, but it is loosely connected to the Storm Runner trilogy so this will not be an in-depth review.
As I have mentioned in multiple pervious reviews, I try to read everything that Rick Riordan publishes through his imprint. (There are slight exceptions.) The one I was able to get to most recently was The Lords of Night by J.C. Cervantes, book 1 of the Shadow Bruja duology, which tells the story of a character we met in her pervious series, Renata Santiago, and her friends as they struggle once, again, to keep the world from ending.
My favorite part about this book, as it is about most books, is the themes. In this one, the author talks about bullying, what it means to be a leader, the fact that everyone has darkness inside of them, and how to conquer fear. Although she didn’t go as in depth as I like about most of my themes, I do like that she had a lot of life lessons that her target audience, middle grade readers, need to know about and probably need to learn how to manage.
Although this book was a good break to break up the heavier adult epic classic science fiction and fantasy I’ve been reading, it wasn’t my favorite that been released from this imprint. (That still belongs to Tristian Strong, Aru Shah, and Paola Santiago!!) This is mostly because she didn’t go as deep with the themes as I would wish, as I am a theme reader, and also I was super confused in the beginning because it has been 2 years since I read the connect Storm Runner trilogy, and in the first part of this book, she refers a lot of events that happened in those books and since it had been so long, I could have really used a summary or recap, and she didn’t really give me that.
All in all, if you are the target audience for this book and if you have read the Storm Runner trilogy, then you will probably enjoy this book. For me, it did what I wanted it to, and now I feel refreshed and can return to my adult epic classic science fiction and fantasy. 3 stars and a solid read!!!!!
Note: This is the 1st book in the Shadow Bruja duology, but it is loosely connected to the Storm Runner trilogy so this will not be an in-depth review.
As I have mentioned in multiple pervious reviews, I try to read everything that Rick Riordan publishes through his imprint. (There are slight exceptions.) The one I was able to get to most recently was The Lords of Night by J.C. Cervantes, book 1 of the Shadow Bruja duology, which tells the story of a character we met in her pervious series, Renata Santiago, and her friends as they struggle once, again, to keep the world from ending.
My favorite part about this book, as it is about most books, is the themes. In this one, the author talks about bullying, what it means to be a leader, the fact that everyone has darkness inside of them, and how to conquer fear. Although she didn’t go as in depth as I like about most of my themes, I do like that she had a lot of life lessons that her target audience, middle grade readers, need to know about and probably need to learn how to manage.
Although this book was a good break to break up the heavier adult epic classic science fiction and fantasy I’ve been reading, it wasn’t my favorite that been released from this imprint. (That still belongs to Tristian Strong, Aru Shah, and Paola Santiago!!) This is mostly because she didn’t go as deep with the themes as I would wish, as I am a theme reader, and also I was super confused in the beginning because it has been 2 years since I read the connect Storm Runner trilogy, and in the first part of this book, she refers a lot of events that happened in those books and since it had been so long, I could have really used a summary or recap, and she didn’t really give me that.
All in all, if you are the target audience for this book and if you have read the Storm Runner trilogy, then you will probably enjoy this book. For me, it did what I wanted it to, and now I feel refreshed and can return to my adult epic classic science fiction and fantasy. 3 stars and a solid read!!!!!
March 23, 2025
...
...
...well it wasn't as bad as Dragon Pearl.
Actually, scratch that. Say what you will about Dragon Pearl, but at least it diverged from what I'll call "the Riordan formula." For those not familia with said formula, here's the tidbits:
-A group of tweens discover they're half god, half mortal (or equivalent)
-The gods of (insert mythology here) are real
-The world will end in X days unless the tweens stop it from happening.
-The actual deities of said mythology are incompetent, and only the tweens can save the world.
-Humour, and lots of it, to the point where it undercuts gravitas.
Here, some of the formula has already happened in the original trilogy (I assume), but really, it's the same thing. Tweens have X days to save the world (Lords of Night are awakening), the mythologies are Mayan and Aztec this time (FFS, they even visit Vegas a bit - it's not just copying the plot of Percy Jackson, it's copying the locations), there's a trio of heroes with their own skillset, and, well, stuff happens.
Is this book bad? No, not by any means. But the problem, at least for me, is that even when this story isn't set in the Halfblood Chronicles shared universe, it's the same damn tropes packaged and recycled all over again. The only thing that really stuck out to me was when the protagonists entered a maze to make their way to a Night Market, in that it felt like "Dungeons and Dragons does Mayan/Aztec mythology," but that's still recycling DnD.
Anything I liked? Well, Monty's arguably adorkable, Edison as a half-demon is...actually, that's still an old trope that's been done better, and while the idea of enmity between the Aztec and Mayan pantheons has the seeds of something potentially interesting, nothing interesting is done with it here. I've no doubt some people might enjoy this, but if you've read literally any other book in this series, Halfblood Chronicles or RR Presents, you're basically reading the same overall story. :(
...
...well it wasn't as bad as Dragon Pearl.
Actually, scratch that. Say what you will about Dragon Pearl, but at least it diverged from what I'll call "the Riordan formula." For those not familia with said formula, here's the tidbits:
-A group of tweens discover they're half god, half mortal (or equivalent)
-The gods of (insert mythology here) are real
-The world will end in X days unless the tweens stop it from happening.
-The actual deities of said mythology are incompetent, and only the tweens can save the world.
-Humour, and lots of it, to the point where it undercuts gravitas.
Here, some of the formula has already happened in the original trilogy (I assume), but really, it's the same thing. Tweens have X days to save the world (Lords of Night are awakening), the mythologies are Mayan and Aztec this time (FFS, they even visit Vegas a bit - it's not just copying the plot of Percy Jackson, it's copying the locations), there's a trio of heroes with their own skillset, and, well, stuff happens.
Is this book bad? No, not by any means. But the problem, at least for me, is that even when this story isn't set in the Halfblood Chronicles shared universe, it's the same damn tropes packaged and recycled all over again. The only thing that really stuck out to me was when the protagonists entered a maze to make their way to a Night Market, in that it felt like "Dungeons and Dragons does Mayan/Aztec mythology," but that's still recycling DnD.
Anything I liked? Well, Monty's arguably adorkable, Edison as a half-demon is...actually, that's still an old trope that's been done better, and while the idea of enmity between the Aztec and Mayan pantheons has the seeds of something potentially interesting, nothing interesting is done with it here. I've no doubt some people might enjoy this, but if you've read literally any other book in this series, Halfblood Chronicles or RR Presents, you're basically reading the same overall story. :(
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