Dawn of the Jaguar (Shadow Bruja Series #2)

by J. C. Cervantes

Overview

Shadow bruja Ren Santiago was relentlessly pursued by the evil Aztec Lords of Night, who claimed that she was destined to be their queen, a destiny she wasn't willing to accept. So she chose death instead. Too bad death wasn't the answer to her problems. Ren soon realizes she must return to the land of the living to make things right. Unfortunately, that means negotiating with Ixtab, queen of the underworld. Ixtab offers her ten days aboveground to retrieve the discarded crown. If Ren fails, she will return to the darkness for eternity. How will Ren manage to accomplish this task when she has lost all her magic? The answer lies not in manipulating shadows or time, but in recognizing the awesome power that has always been inside her.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368067133
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	10/10/2023
Series:	Shadow Bruja Series , #2
Sold by:	DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE -EBKS
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	157,287
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

J. C. Cervantes (she/her) is a New York Times best-selling author of books for children and young adults. She grew up in San Diego and was fascinated by stories about Maya gods and magic as a child. Those tales inspired her to write a middle grade fantasy trilogy about children of Maya and Aztec gods for Rick Riordan Presents: The Storm Runner, The Fire Keeper, and The Shadow Crosser, and two spin-off novels: The Lords of Night and Dawn of the Jaguar. For more work by J. C. Cervantes, look for her YA romances Flirting with Fate, and Always Isn’t Forever, and her entry in the YA fiction series The Mirror: Fractured Path. Follow her on Hive Social @JCCervantes and Instagram: #AuthorJCervantes.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Lords of Night

"This volume sizzles with madcap fun, interweaving icons and figures from Mayan and Aztec mythology with dizzying results. The author excels at making these gods and goddesses cool and familiar. In the second half, many truths kept from Ren fall into fabulous place, spiraling into an exciting cliffhanger. This duology opener is accessible to readers who are new to this world. An engrossing, god-filled delight."
   —Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Storm Runner

"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."
   —Rick Riordan

* "A page-turning and well-written trip into the world of [Maya] mythology, perfect for fans of David Bowles’s Garza “Twins” and Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series."
   —School Library Journal (starred review)

* "Don't miss this rip-roaring adventure."
   —Booklist (starred review)

From the Publisher

2023-07-26
Young shadow bruja Renata Santiago scrambles to thwart the resurgent Lords of Night.

Following her preplanned death—intended to halt her forced coronation as queen of the nine formidable Aztec gods known as the Lords of Night—Ren wakes up in the Mayan underworld. There she makes a deal with the Mayan goddess Ixtab. In exchange for a return to the land of the living, Ren must retrieve Ixtab’s lost crown of jade and shadow and return it to her within seven days. Without her shadow magic and reliable time rope, during her brief detour through the underworld, Ren uncovers a surprising new set of powers, one stemming from her godborn might. To save the rogue godborns who have fallen under the Lords’ wrath and finally defeat the malevolent Aztec gods, Ren seeks to expose the truth behind the crown that threatens to upset her world forever. She’s assisted by friends Edison and Monty, as well as Ah-Puch, her best bud and newly restored Mayan god of death and destruction. Equal in thrills and twists to its predecessor, this duology closer crackles with a brisk pace that is maintained to the last page. Here the inspired blend of Mayan and Aztec lore takes a slight back seat to Ren’s journey of self-discovery, which proves to be captivating overall. Cervantes keeps the action humming along, and readers will appreciate reuniting with the enjoyable characters.

A satisfying wrap-up of a gripping duology. (glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews