The Fire Keeper

Spoiler Alert! Warning! This page contains spoilers for The Fire Keeper.

The Fire Keeper is still incomplete This article is not yet finished because it deals with material that is yet to be released. As such, some of the information might be inaccurate and is likely to change when new information becomes available.

The Fire Keeper
Attribution
Author	Jennifer Cervantes
Cover artist	Irvin Rodriguez
Publication Information
Release date	September 3, 2019
Pages	432
Chronology
Preceded by	The Storm Runner
Followed by	The Shadow Crosser

The Fire Keeper is the second book in the Storm Runner series by Jennifer Cervantes under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Synopsis

In this fiery, fast-paced sequel to The Storm Runner, Zane Obispo has an impossible choice to make: save other godborns like him from the angry gods, or rescue his godly father from his eternal prison. Featuring gods from both Maya and Aztec myth!

Zane Obispo's new life on a beautiful secluded tropical island, complete with his family and closest friends, should be perfect. But he can't control his newfound fire skills yet (inherited from his father, the Maya god Hurakan); there's a painful rift between him and his dog ever since she became a hell hound; and he doesn't know what to do with his feelings for Brooks. One day he discovers that by writing the book about his misadventures with the Maya gods, he unintentionally put other godborn children at risk. Unless Zane can find the godborns before the gods do, they will be killed. To make matters worse, Zane learns that Hurakan is scheduled to be executed. Zane knows he must rescue him, no matter the cost. Can he accomplish both tasks without the gods detecting him, or will he end up a permanent resident of the underworld? In this cleverly plotted sequel to The Storm Runner, the gang is back together again with spirited new characters, sneaky gods, Aztec royalty, unlikely alliances, and secrets darker than Zane could ever have imagined. Secrets that will change him forever.

Development

According to Jennifer Cervantes, most of the book takes place in different locations in Mexico and one scene will involve a snowy mountain. ReadRiordan first revealed Aztec royalty taking place in this book.

On January 16th, Cervantes released part of the cover and a quote from when the mud person released beetles. On January 22nd, Cervantes revealed on Instagram that the opening of the book would be "The Prophecy of Fire was only the beginning. But fire spreads. Until it burns everything in its path." It was line from Santiago in the previous but was originally said by Antonio Marcel De la Vega of Venice Beach, California.

On February 4th, Rick Riordan revealed the book's full cover as well as its official release date. A week after that, a trailer for the book was released. On Valentine's day, Jennifer Cervantes recited a poem that first revealed the bat god appearing in the book. On February 28th, Cervantes said the book will also include a shadow bruja, a death magician, a house named El Grito (Spanish for The Scream), and a Red Queen. On March 15th, she clarified that the El Grito is in San Miguel de Allende, it inspired a scene with the Red Queen, death magician, and a tree of masks.

Five months before the release of the book, Cervantes revealed a quote from five pages. She did it again ten weeks before the book's release and revealed that the name of the bat god she talked about is Camazotz.

Plot

Opening Letter

Zane Obispo writes another letter to see if any godborns like are out there, he is about to go on a quest. A few months ago, he wrote a story to convince the Mayan Gods that he died so no one defies them. He admits that he likes Brooks whose helping him rescue his father, Hurakan, who didn't deserve to be in prison breaking the Sacred Oath having Zane. He wrote this letter before the current story, and someone prevented him from burning this note.

Searching for the Location

Rosie, now a hellhound

It was Lent, Zane Obispo was on a quest with in a double kayak, they were paddling through a mangrove on Isla Holbox to get to the west inlet. They were going to get the location of Zane's imprisoned father, the gods moved his prison every month or two. Zane named the cane the spark striker gave him "Fuego", but his fire powers died down after defeating Ah-Puch. Jazz had been sending them slow information due to the shadow magic of Ixtab, they also met a man named Old Man Pedro who was coordinating the "messages," he spent most of his days painting wall murals or drinking cerveza. Brooks had become stronger as a Nawal, she could now turn into a bigger hawk, but it currently was raining hard which is bad for flying. Nevertheless, she transformed into a giant hawk and carried Zane because see he didn't how a boat was any better. When they got to the inlet shore, Rosie appeared and a terrified bird flew away, she had a coconut containing a message from Jazz. Brooks and Zane were forced to chase it and prevent Rosie from hunting. Unfortunately, the bird escaped through a tear in space, Zane fell into the sea with the coconut after Brooks hit an invisible wall. It seemed that the shadow magic was a barrier keeping them in as well as keeping the Mayan Gods from finding them. Brooks thinks Ixtab is trying to cover her own butt as the gods would likely be furious for her about telling them that Zane, a forbidden godborn, had died.

When they got back home, Zane used Fuego to open the coconut that revealed a black obsidian disk. It contained paper that revealed Hurakan’s current location: WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort in South Dakota. In four days, three demons would appear there. Brooks checked out the rip in the sky while Zane practiced his fire with Rosie, she rip through it with her talons but it will close instantly. They thought about using the gateway map that Ms. Caballero gave them to look for portals, if that doesn’t work then they go through Xib’alb’a through the Beast, but first they went in for dinner.

A Mysterious New Guest

That night, Zane only found one portal on the map in Cancún, beyond the barrier. He wore the Jaguar Jade that Pacific gave him around his neck, but he hasn't been to the Empty lately. He heard a man say Time for the story to escalate and She's here then went outside to the beach, he tried to practice his powers with matches but he could still only create fires as big as lemons.

Suddenly, he saw a hooded girl in a boat onto the beach, Rosie then came out of nowhere but didn't attack her. The girl collapsed and bled but Rosie healed her with her saliva. The girl actually recognized both the hellhound and Zane, in her boat was the story he wrote for the gods! The godborn introduced herself as Renata Santiago, she was called by the magic of the book. Ren claimed to hear the music of her father's viola after she finished the book, she heard scratching on her roof and then the sky cracked some flying things open which chased her. Her abuelo realized what was happening and took her to Sievers Cove in Galveston where Ren got into the boat and received a blessing from her abuelo. The boat moved all by itself, she was also have absence seizures which Zane realizes was her godborn's power like his shorter leg. Her deceased father was a brujo who didn't like to talk about it, Rosie lighted a fire on wood. Ren's mother broke the Sacred Oath after Hurakan, the shadows, or sombras, around Ren were moving, it was her magic. Zane decided to let Ren stay on the island for now, but then he and Rosie heard a noise. Three shadow monster appeared, Rosie and Zane couldn't fight them off and Ren was fast asleep. Brooks arrived only to fail as well, Ren suddenly woke up and the shadows disappeared, she knew about Brooks as well who found out about Ren. The shadows come out of Ren's dreams but not all of them can be monsters. When Ren left with Rosie, Brooks announced that their plans will continue and Ren can call her abuelo tomorrow.

Zane's uncle, Hondo, who started working out and doing yoga, woke him up after nine. He decided not to tell his uncle anything but he already saw Ren's boat and book. Zane doesn't want Brooks to read it, Hondo also met Ren who was with his mother in town. She came over to her brother saying he didn't replace the tram's tire for their tour, Ms. Cab also called, Ren was currently there. But Zane's mom is happy that he put out the message to the godborns, Ren's abuelo is on his way to the island. Zane woke Brooks up who told him to go check on Ren.

Something's Muddy

When Zane arrived at Ms. Cab's casita, the nik’wachinel offered him a seat and some chocolate. She knew about his plan of leaving and Zane felt funny after eating. When he tried to leave, Ms. Cab showed him a piece of paper that said Ixtab only wanted to hide him to keep him from realizing his true power. Zane suspected this Ms. Cab as a fake and felt funny, she opened up a stuffed bird and out came beetles that covered him up and "mapped" him. During this, Zane saw images of places in New Mexico. Before the imposter could finish, Rosie and Brooks arrived and the beetles retreated. The fake Ms. Cab tried to plead ignorance of this but was burned up by Rosie just as Mr. Ortiz arrived.

The real Ms. Cab, along with Ren, was tied up inside, the fake was a mud person from the beginning of the world. But this freshly made one was too sloppy to have been the gods' creation, it was actually from an amateur supernatural due its magic coat. Ren used telepathy on Ms. Cab earlier who heard about what happened the previous night. They all wondered what was in the chocolate Zane ate and if someone wanted his powers stolen. Ms. Cab suddenly heard a message from the ancestral seers that said In the dark, you shall choose the path, but beware. All roads lead to the gods' angry wrath.. Not only that, but also something Zane heard before: The Prophecy of Fire was only the beginning. Fire spreads. Until it burns everything in its path.

Into Xib’alb’a

Zane planned on going through Xib’alb’a to get to South Dakota once he got the gateway map. On the way, Ren mentioned her connection theory between the gods and aliens, the sarcophagus of King Pakal depicted him on a spaceship. She said that the need to stay together like what happened with the Prophecy of Fire, any fighting would make them weaker, she suspected Ixtab as her mother. They ran into Hondo who followed Rosie's smoke trail and put together that Ren was another godborn. He insisted on coming along and Ren agreed. Zane wrote a note for Ms. Cab to tell his mother what they were doing.

When the got to the Beast, which was hidden by shadow magic, they crawled through a small entrance. Rosie lead the way and eventually sniffed at a wall. Zane used Fuego to open it into a snowy landscape. Zane, Brooks, and Hondo accidentally step on a thinly frozen lake and fall in. They landed in an icy chamber full of eyeballs, Ren and Rosie joined them from an elevator. Brooks realized that this was the Rattle House, the second of the six fatal houses. Ms. Cab's map didn't seem to be working, a panel of ice opened and out came Quinn, Brooks' sister! Things have changed for her being undercover, they bargain the map for Quinn to get them out of there.

An escalator led to the Pus River, but first the group passed some statue's depicting Ixtab when she first ruled Xib’alb’a. They arrived at Junkyard Row, where things no one in Xib’alb’a needs goes. Clementino was the warden, she was called by Quinn who talked to him. He said they needed to get sanitized and change their clothes.

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Characters

• Zane Obispo
• Brooks
• Rosie
• Ren Santiago
• Hondo Obispo
• Quinn
• Hurakan
• Ixtab
• Ah-Puch
• Jazz
• Fausto
• Itzamna
• Camazotz
• Red Queen
• A faceless villain
• Antonia Caballero
• Mrs. Obispo
• Mr. Ortiz
• Clementino
• Mud Person
• Shadow monsters

Trivia

• Jennifer Cervantes dedicated this book to Julie Bear, the girl who “adventured with spirit and returned with fire.” It was also dedicated to all the write creating and waiting.
• As Lent is usually in February or March, it is assumed that The Fire Keeper takes place seven or eight months after The Storm Runner.

Mentions of Other Cultures

• With all his workouts, Zane thought his uncle was secretly training for American Ninja Warrior.
• While everyone was getting sanitized, Hondo mentioned that he used to watch Blue's Clues.