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Jaguar Sun #1
Jaguar Sun
AMAZON BESTSELLER YA Fantasy and MagicAMAZON BESTSELLER YA Love and RomanceDecember 21, 2012 - Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind? Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.Maya Delaney is just an average sixteen-year- old. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in. But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control. In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfill an ancient Mayan Prophesy and bring forth a New Age on earth. Will the spirit magic Maya wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping her from her destiny? Or will that destiny destroy her?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
50 people are currently reading
987 people want to read
About the author
Martha Bourke
8 books550 followersMartha Bourke, a native of Burlington, VT and Boston, MA spent fifteen years creating foreign language programs for young children and traveling. She now uses her knowledge of other cultures to create the world of Jaguar Sun, which includes two series: one YA, the JAGUAR SUN TRILOGY and one ADULT, the NEW BREED NOVELS. Both take place in the same 'world' and can be read together or as independent series. DESPERATE CALL, NEW BREED BOOK 5 was just released in October 2015.
Martha and her husband have carved out their own little piece of Vermont in the Massachusetts countryside. When not writing, Martha loves spending time with her animals, listening to good music, thrifting, and adding to her Converse collection. She is currently writing ETERNAL CALL, NEW BREED BOOK 6, to be released Spring of 2016.
Check out Martha's world at www.marthabourke.com
Martha and her husband have carved out their own little piece of Vermont in the Massachusetts countryside. When not writing, Martha loves spending time with her animals, listening to good music, thrifting, and adding to her Converse collection. She is currently writing ETERNAL CALL, NEW BREED BOOK 6, to be released Spring of 2016.
Check out Martha's world at www.marthabourke.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 28, 2012
Jaguar Sun by Martha Bourke is a thrilling science fiction, cultural history lesson all rolled up in a fast-paced coming-of-age young adult adventure. It is a first person narrative in the perspective of a high school student named Maya Delaney who lives in New Mexico. She comes from a family descended from the ancient Mayans (who'd have guessed?), but she's just your average, everyday awkward teenager with boyfriend trouble, a few close friends and an addiction to Diet Coke.
Also she's a shape-shifter. She soon learns, at sixteen years of age, that she has the ability to "phase" into an animal form. Along with this ability, however, Maya has to prepare herself for a number of new experiences and responsibilities.
I was captivated immediately by Jaguar Sun. The characters were lovable (and more importantly, believable), and the story kept me hooked. Just when I thought I knew what was about to happen, a twist! The first person view gives the reader a unique insight into Maya's mind and the struggles she faces with her friends, the Mayan myths, and the dreaded Toltec.
I would recommend this story to anyone! (No, really, ANYone). It's geared toward the young adult genre, and any teen reader who likes adventure would love it, but its a story adults would enjoy too!
(Can I give it SIX stars?)
Also she's a shape-shifter. She soon learns, at sixteen years of age, that she has the ability to "phase" into an animal form. Along with this ability, however, Maya has to prepare herself for a number of new experiences and responsibilities.
I was captivated immediately by Jaguar Sun. The characters were lovable (and more importantly, believable), and the story kept me hooked. Just when I thought I knew what was about to happen, a twist! The first person view gives the reader a unique insight into Maya's mind and the struggles she faces with her friends, the Mayan myths, and the dreaded Toltec.
I would recommend this story to anyone! (No, really, ANYone). It's geared toward the young adult genre, and any teen reader who likes adventure would love it, but its a story adults would enjoy too!
(Can I give it SIX stars?)
January 10, 2012
Timely and topical, this book is an intriguing glimpse into the Mayan Prophesy. The protagonist, Maya Delaney, is strong, funny and brave. Her entourage is a tremendous asset to the plot, providing humor and backup to Maya - while serving as a reminder that these are high school students who have been saddled with this awesome responsibility. The book is very well researched and written smartly. It pulls you in from the first chapter and you will find yourself wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. I have read hundreds of books in this genre and would absolutely recommend Jaguar Sun. Adults and teens alike will enjoy it. I am looking tremendously forward to the next installment of this series.
January 29, 2012
Fast-paced and fun! Interesting take on the Mayan 2012 prophecy with some well-researched mythology woven into modern day life. Perfect for older teens and adults. Quirky and likeable characters combined with an action-packed story line equals a great start to a new teen paranormal series!
February 16, 2012
This beautifully crafted YA book revolves around Maya Delaney, a high school junior in deepest New Mexico. Right from the beginning I was hooked on Maya's voice, a little snarky and flip, but also more and more overwhelmed at all the things that are happening to her. Why is this jaguar shadowing her at school? Why does she have these nightmares that leave her so exhausted?
The author does a great job of creating a little world around Maya -- her single-parent father, her loser-mom who abandoned her years ago, her friends the twins, Lyssa and Damian, and her boyfriend Matt. High school really seems like the high school I knew, complete with embarrassing drool episodes and realizing that an empty school hallway meant you were late to class.
It's amusing that Maya, despite her ancestry, can't speak a word of Spanish, even though almost everyone else in this New Mexico town does. When Maya discovers that she has powers that descend from ancient Mayan tradition, it's her maternal grandmother who shows her the way.
In a perfectly natural sequence of events Maya begins to develop her special gifts and at the same time discovers that she is meant to play a special role on the day the Mayan calendar predicted the end of the world, December 21, 2012. As that day approaches, Maya is drawn into a colossal battle between the forces of good and evil.
This book is lovingly written and full of great turns of phrase. I recently read another much more famous YA book, Mockingjay, part of the Hunger Games series, and you know what? Jaguar Sun was a far better story. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Jaguar Moon.
The author does a great job of creating a little world around Maya -- her single-parent father, her loser-mom who abandoned her years ago, her friends the twins, Lyssa and Damian, and her boyfriend Matt. High school really seems like the high school I knew, complete with embarrassing drool episodes and realizing that an empty school hallway meant you were late to class.
It's amusing that Maya, despite her ancestry, can't speak a word of Spanish, even though almost everyone else in this New Mexico town does. When Maya discovers that she has powers that descend from ancient Mayan tradition, it's her maternal grandmother who shows her the way.
In a perfectly natural sequence of events Maya begins to develop her special gifts and at the same time discovers that she is meant to play a special role on the day the Mayan calendar predicted the end of the world, December 21, 2012. As that day approaches, Maya is drawn into a colossal battle between the forces of good and evil.
This book is lovingly written and full of great turns of phrase. I recently read another much more famous YA book, Mockingjay, part of the Hunger Games series, and you know what? Jaguar Sun was a far better story. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Jaguar Moon.
February 29, 2012
4 1/2 Stars
I was intrigued with the smart premise behind this Young Adult novel and decided to delve into the shape-shifter genre after reading the blurb.
Maya Delaney has spunk, attitude, and a rather cynical view of the world as most teenagers do. She is tight with her grandmother, and still seems grief-stricken that her mother has passed away. Her relationship with her father is tentative, but it was nice to see them grow together as the story flowered.
The story opens with suggestions that Maya is haunted by some other worldly Amazon predator, although I was a bit unclear on the implications. The story quickly develops and moves on, as she realizes her destiny as a shape-shifting Mayan Goddess and the destiny resting upon her shoulders. The pacing is good, and the backstory and culture woven into the plot make for a fascinating tapestry.
The supporting cast of JAGUAR SUN is fun; family, friends, boyfriends, and villains… There was a lot to absorb, but I appreciated how each character fulfilled a role as the story came to an apex. Maya cannot save the world or herself without help from those she loves, and this concept is a comfort, and an important one, in the YA genre.
As a reader, for this genre, I would have preferred to have less language and no adult content, but I was grateful that Maya's intimate relationship was handled with innuendo. It is a sensitive subject, for teens and for parents according to personal values.
JAGUAR SUN is a well-written, shape-shifting adventure with culture and substance. It's an enjoyable read, and I do plan to grab a copy of the next in the series.
I was intrigued with the smart premise behind this Young Adult novel and decided to delve into the shape-shifter genre after reading the blurb.
Maya Delaney has spunk, attitude, and a rather cynical view of the world as most teenagers do. She is tight with her grandmother, and still seems grief-stricken that her mother has passed away. Her relationship with her father is tentative, but it was nice to see them grow together as the story flowered.
The story opens with suggestions that Maya is haunted by some other worldly Amazon predator, although I was a bit unclear on the implications. The story quickly develops and moves on, as she realizes her destiny as a shape-shifting Mayan Goddess and the destiny resting upon her shoulders. The pacing is good, and the backstory and culture woven into the plot make for a fascinating tapestry.
The supporting cast of JAGUAR SUN is fun; family, friends, boyfriends, and villains… There was a lot to absorb, but I appreciated how each character fulfilled a role as the story came to an apex. Maya cannot save the world or herself without help from those she loves, and this concept is a comfort, and an important one, in the YA genre.
As a reader, for this genre, I would have preferred to have less language and no adult content, but I was grateful that Maya's intimate relationship was handled with innuendo. It is a sensitive subject, for teens and for parents according to personal values.
JAGUAR SUN is a well-written, shape-shifting adventure with culture and substance. It's an enjoyable read, and I do plan to grab a copy of the next in the series.
March 29, 2012
In an era in which the Mayan prophecy-allegedly announcing the end of the world in December 2012-has been the subject of fascination, fear, anxiety, and fact-finding, author Martha Bourke approaches the topic from a completely different perspective. What if the TRUTH about this “prophecy” was known? What if that Truth is known only to one person-a sixteen-year-old girl? Such is the premise of “Jaguar Sun.”
Poor, poor Maya-not only does she bear the name of a primarily extinct culture, she is Hispanic, attends a primarily Hispanic New Mexico high school-and doesn’t speak a word of Spanish. Her dreams are plagued by shadow animals, which then begin appearing in the day; her mother abandoned her at age four, and her Mayan grandmother is her only hope of a confidant for her experiences. She sure can’t talk about to about-to-be-ex boyfriend Matt, or even her best friends, the irrepressible Vasquez twins.
“Jaguar Sun” is such a delightful book that the reader will be immediately captivated (I want to give it 10 stars of 5 ). Martha Bourke has a knack for being hip with the slang, perceptions, and attitudes of her protagonist’s age group (and cultural dichotomy!) and doesn’t spare it in giving readers characters we can truly relate to and with whom we can easily empathise. This book is very fast-paced, partly because it’s simply so enjoyable, the reader is turning pages and racing on, not even thinking of it as a “story,” but rather as an “experience”-an experience in delight!
Poor, poor Maya-not only does she bear the name of a primarily extinct culture, she is Hispanic, attends a primarily Hispanic New Mexico high school-and doesn’t speak a word of Spanish. Her dreams are plagued by shadow animals, which then begin appearing in the day; her mother abandoned her at age four, and her Mayan grandmother is her only hope of a confidant for her experiences. She sure can’t talk about to about-to-be-ex boyfriend Matt, or even her best friends, the irrepressible Vasquez twins.
“Jaguar Sun” is such a delightful book that the reader will be immediately captivated (I want to give it 10 stars of 5 ). Martha Bourke has a knack for being hip with the slang, perceptions, and attitudes of her protagonist’s age group (and cultural dichotomy!) and doesn’t spare it in giving readers characters we can truly relate to and with whom we can easily empathise. This book is very fast-paced, partly because it’s simply so enjoyable, the reader is turning pages and racing on, not even thinking of it as a “story,” but rather as an “experience”-an experience in delight!
March 21, 2012
High school is hard enough without adding anything to it. Just ask Maya. She's having some problems she isn't sure about and some boyfriend issues she's not sure she can handle. This is when she finds out she's a shape shifter. Maya is pretty freaked out when she sees her nightmare shadowing her during the daytime. The best place for advice- Grandma. Maya explains what's happening to her Grandmother and finds out she might be meant for even bigger things than she realizes. Her nerves are settling when she finds out her boyfriend is also a shape shifter and not by choice. They are mates. It all seems pretty confusing until Maya goes to Mexico on vacation. The trip is really much more. Follow her through the path of the unknown future she has.
LOVED THIS BOOK!! While it covered the typical teen issues, it also went three steps forward and made this a book ANYONE would be delighted to read. I found the story plausible (of course I come from open minded people where this stuff is concerned *smile*), and when I really like a book, I share it with everyone. I've shared this with everyone around me physically, now I'm sharing it with you!! GET THIS BOOK! You won't be sorry!! I can't wait for more of Maya's adventures. I hope they are on the horizon.
Nothing wrong with this book.
I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because it's addictive!!
LOVED THIS BOOK!! While it covered the typical teen issues, it also went three steps forward and made this a book ANYONE would be delighted to read. I found the story plausible (of course I come from open minded people where this stuff is concerned *smile*), and when I really like a book, I share it with everyone. I've shared this with everyone around me physically, now I'm sharing it with you!! GET THIS BOOK! You won't be sorry!! I can't wait for more of Maya's adventures. I hope they are on the horizon.
Nothing wrong with this book.
I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because it's addictive!!
April 3, 2012
One thing I love about stories is shape shifters. I love the tales of them, the rules, and the world building in this book. It definitely took me by surprise of how much I liked this book.
What I liked most about this book is the world building. I like the way the rules of the shape shifters were, the cults, and of course mixing it in with some real facts made the story much more intriguing.
The characters of the book had much growth in them. I adored how each characters were able to lean with what they are and help each other out. The loyalty that stem out of them is amazing. To see them work together to fight against darkness is great!
I loved the love interest! Why: For once, I can read a story with a love with no love triangles! YES! At first I was wondered that it would go that way, but I loved that it didn't. These two stuck by each other through thick and thin. My only gripe was bot being able to see their relation ship fully from the past. I would love to know more about them and how they got together in much more detail.
Jaguar Sun is a great tale the spans generations of history. It's filled with loads of ancient language, facts, and action. If you want a story about shape shifters and a great love, read this!
What I liked most about this book is the world building. I like the way the rules of the shape shifters were, the cults, and of course mixing it in with some real facts made the story much more intriguing.
The characters of the book had much growth in them. I adored how each characters were able to lean with what they are and help each other out. The loyalty that stem out of them is amazing. To see them work together to fight against darkness is great!
I loved the love interest! Why: For once, I can read a story with a love with no love triangles! YES! At first I was wondered that it would go that way, but I loved that it didn't. These two stuck by each other through thick and thin. My only gripe was bot being able to see their relation ship fully from the past. I would love to know more about them and how they got together in much more detail.
Jaguar Sun is a great tale the spans generations of history. It's filled with loads of ancient language, facts, and action. If you want a story about shape shifters and a great love, read this!
June 6, 2012
Ok i have to say i loved loved loved this story! Like makes the top 10 loved! The story was original and interesting and engaging and...well i could go on and on lol I def want to know what happens next. Totally amazing! If itd let me I'd give it 6 stars!
April 6, 2012
My Rating: 2.5 / 5
Review to come soon.
Review to come soon.
April 18, 2012
Three Stars: An interesting entry into the YA field; shape-shifters, Mayan lore, December 2012...all combine in this unique read.
Maya is a normal teenager, surviving high school, confused over her current relationship; typical problems plaguing a young lady. However, her life is about to get interesting when she starts having strange visions and dreams involving a jaguar. She can't shake the ominous feeling, and then she wakes after another vivid dream to find a tell tale mark on her neck. She now wears the mark of a shapeshifter. Maya's strange premonitions have come to fruition, she is indeed a shapeshifter, able to transform into a jaguar. As she learns to navigate this new found ability, she quickly finds that danger is stalking her. Maya discovers that she is the target of a dangerous group known as Toltec. This group is made up of shape-shifters determined to see that the coming age, predicted by the Mayan calendar, that promises a new era of peace and enlightenment is not ushered in. Instead they intend to maintain greed, corruption and power as the status quo. Maya quickly finds herself caught between the corrupt Toltec and the other shape-shifters who want to help usher in the new age. Maya may be the key to fulfilling the Mayan prophecy. Can she learn to use her new skills to help fulfill the Mayan prophecy?
What I Liked:
*I enjoyed this creative and original book filled with many exciting concepts such as: Mayan prophecy, shape-shifters, and the looming calendar date of December 21, 2012. This book combines all of these ideas to create an exciting adventure.
*I appreciated that this book moves away from the traditional recipe for YA books. There is no love triangle, instead this book presents a relationship between Maya and Matt that becomes a bit more complicated with the shape shifting element. The romance is a small focus, which is nice. What you get is a romance that ends up being intense and focused.
*I really enjoyed the addition of the twins, who are Maya's best friends. Lyssa and Damian are funny, witty and a bit sassy, not mention, exceedingly loyal. They totally liven up the book.
*I liked the presentation of the upcoming end of the Mayan calendar. Instead of presenting the catastrophic end of the world type scenario, we get the ushering in of a new era focused on peace and spiritual enlightenment. I liked this vision versus an apocalyptic event.
*I liked learning about the Mayan culture and many of the prophecies and history of the Mayan people. Again this is such an interesting departure from a lot of the books in the YA genre. Very unique and refreshing!
And The Not So Much:
*This book is very fast paced. I enjoy a book that moves at a quick clip, but the problem for me was that the speedy movement meant that a lot of detail was glossed over or not discussed at all. I felt that so many things could have been improved if they author had slowed down and expanded on some of her ideas.
*I liked the presentation of shape-shifters in this book. This book presents a culture where shape-shifters are not secretive. Shape-shifters bear a telling mark on their neck. The author gives us a setting where they are accepted. The problem was that there was really not a complete discussion on the shape-shifters and how they fit into society, nor was there an adequate discussion on how they came into being. This is of the topics that would have benefitted by adding more detail.
*The book mentions numerous times Maya's loser mother who abandoned her, yet this idea is never expanded upon. I was curious to discover all the details surrounding Maya's mother. Sadly, the book never provides anything more than mentions of a mother who abandoned her daughter. The whys and hows are never revealed.
*The climax and ending came across as hurried. The book builds to the pivotal calendar date, but when it arrives I was a bit disappointed in how quickly everything come to pass. Then the ending itself was one of those where you are left thinking, "That's it!?" Granted, there is no cliffhanger but it is one that just cuts off abruptly with no resolution, which to me is extremely frustrating. I had no idea going into this that it is the first of a series. This novel would have been so much better if it tied off better at the end.
Jaguar Sun is a fast book that presents us with shape-shifters seeking to bring about a new era as foretold by the Mayans of old. This book is full of Mayan culture and legend. If you are looking for a unique book that steps away from the well worn plots of traditional YA books, you should give this book a chance, especially if you love shape-shifters and Mayan prophecy. You can grab a copy on Amazon for $.99. The clock is ticking down to December 2012. Are you ready?
Favorite Quotations:
"Your dreams are where our world and the unseen world meet."
"The wall that had been between us melted away as though it had never existed. I had always cared about him, but somehting inside me changed at that moment. My soul understood his, and I knew that he felt the same."
"Every muscle, every nerve ending, every fiber of my being was completely attuned to him. He was my mate. I was home."
Posted @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Maya is a normal teenager, surviving high school, confused over her current relationship; typical problems plaguing a young lady. However, her life is about to get interesting when she starts having strange visions and dreams involving a jaguar. She can't shake the ominous feeling, and then she wakes after another vivid dream to find a tell tale mark on her neck. She now wears the mark of a shapeshifter. Maya's strange premonitions have come to fruition, she is indeed a shapeshifter, able to transform into a jaguar. As she learns to navigate this new found ability, she quickly finds that danger is stalking her. Maya discovers that she is the target of a dangerous group known as Toltec. This group is made up of shape-shifters determined to see that the coming age, predicted by the Mayan calendar, that promises a new era of peace and enlightenment is not ushered in. Instead they intend to maintain greed, corruption and power as the status quo. Maya quickly finds herself caught between the corrupt Toltec and the other shape-shifters who want to help usher in the new age. Maya may be the key to fulfilling the Mayan prophecy. Can she learn to use her new skills to help fulfill the Mayan prophecy?
What I Liked:
*I enjoyed this creative and original book filled with many exciting concepts such as: Mayan prophecy, shape-shifters, and the looming calendar date of December 21, 2012. This book combines all of these ideas to create an exciting adventure.
*I appreciated that this book moves away from the traditional recipe for YA books. There is no love triangle, instead this book presents a relationship between Maya and Matt that becomes a bit more complicated with the shape shifting element. The romance is a small focus, which is nice. What you get is a romance that ends up being intense and focused.
*I really enjoyed the addition of the twins, who are Maya's best friends. Lyssa and Damian are funny, witty and a bit sassy, not mention, exceedingly loyal. They totally liven up the book.
*I liked the presentation of the upcoming end of the Mayan calendar. Instead of presenting the catastrophic end of the world type scenario, we get the ushering in of a new era focused on peace and spiritual enlightenment. I liked this vision versus an apocalyptic event.
*I liked learning about the Mayan culture and many of the prophecies and history of the Mayan people. Again this is such an interesting departure from a lot of the books in the YA genre. Very unique and refreshing!
And The Not So Much:
*This book is very fast paced. I enjoy a book that moves at a quick clip, but the problem for me was that the speedy movement meant that a lot of detail was glossed over or not discussed at all. I felt that so many things could have been improved if they author had slowed down and expanded on some of her ideas.
*I liked the presentation of shape-shifters in this book. This book presents a culture where shape-shifters are not secretive. Shape-shifters bear a telling mark on their neck. The author gives us a setting where they are accepted. The problem was that there was really not a complete discussion on the shape-shifters and how they fit into society, nor was there an adequate discussion on how they came into being. This is of the topics that would have benefitted by adding more detail.
*The book mentions numerous times Maya's loser mother who abandoned her, yet this idea is never expanded upon. I was curious to discover all the details surrounding Maya's mother. Sadly, the book never provides anything more than mentions of a mother who abandoned her daughter. The whys and hows are never revealed.
*The climax and ending came across as hurried. The book builds to the pivotal calendar date, but when it arrives I was a bit disappointed in how quickly everything come to pass. Then the ending itself was one of those where you are left thinking, "That's it!?" Granted, there is no cliffhanger but it is one that just cuts off abruptly with no resolution, which to me is extremely frustrating. I had no idea going into this that it is the first of a series. This novel would have been so much better if it tied off better at the end.
Jaguar Sun is a fast book that presents us with shape-shifters seeking to bring about a new era as foretold by the Mayans of old. This book is full of Mayan culture and legend. If you are looking for a unique book that steps away from the well worn plots of traditional YA books, you should give this book a chance, especially if you love shape-shifters and Mayan prophecy. You can grab a copy on Amazon for $.99. The clock is ticking down to December 2012. Are you ready?
Favorite Quotations:
"Your dreams are where our world and the unseen world meet."
"The wall that had been between us melted away as though it had never existed. I had always cared about him, but somehting inside me changed at that moment. My soul understood his, and I knew that he felt the same."
"Every muscle, every nerve ending, every fiber of my being was completely attuned to him. He was my mate. I was home."
Posted @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
April 5, 2012
Everyone’s talking about it….2012! Will the world end…and, if so, how? Like a lot of people, I know very little about Mayan mythology and this book certainly shed some light on things for me. This story is about a Mayan prophesy and about shape-shifters, people who can change into animals. When the main character, Maya, begins to dream about a jaguar, she’s scared and confused. And, when she finally discovers she’s a shape-shifter, she quickly realizes that there will be many challenge in her future.
Maya is a typical teenager…sometimes snarky, sometimes happy, sometimes confused. This makes it fairly easy to like her. She lives with her father (ever since her mother left them when she was little) and has a great relationship with her grandmother. But her belief that she’s just a normal teenager comes to an abrupt halt when she learns of her fate as a shape-shifter. Maya, although scared and confused, takes everything in stride. And that’s a great thing, but it’s also one of my concerns with the book. I would have liked to have seen her struggle more with the concept of becoming a shape-shifter as well as her new abilities. It felt like everything came way too easily to her, she mastered her new skills on first try. This certainly made the book flow faster but, for me, a few extra pages of struggle would have been worth it.
The secondary characters in the book were quite likeable. Her best friends, Lyssa and Damian, are twins who are smart and sassy and lift Maya up whenever she gives in to some brooding. Her grandmother is her rock and, even though she parcels out information on a need to know basis, her love for Maya is obvious. The one character who I really wanted to like but couldn’t quite warm up to was Matt, her boyfriend and ultimate soul mate. Overall, he was sweet and good but I think it was their relationship, which was basically “almost over ” at the start of the book and turned around very quickly, that wasn’t as believable as I would have liked. I feel like I really didn’t get to know him well enough and I’m hoping that he’ll be better developed in the second book.
The second half of the story is fast paced and full of twists and turns. Maya learns that you can’t always trust everyone, even when they appear to be on your side. She also learns that sometime you have to do scary things for the good of others…those you love and those you don’t even know. Maya becomes stronger in the last part of the book, more self-assured and more determined to do what’s right. She also embraces her heritage which was nice to see.
Overall this was a quick read with an enjoyable plot and some interesting mythology built into a present day story. I think that these characters will grow and develop and that their adventures will be even more interesting in the upcoming books.
Maya is a typical teenager…sometimes snarky, sometimes happy, sometimes confused. This makes it fairly easy to like her. She lives with her father (ever since her mother left them when she was little) and has a great relationship with her grandmother. But her belief that she’s just a normal teenager comes to an abrupt halt when she learns of her fate as a shape-shifter. Maya, although scared and confused, takes everything in stride. And that’s a great thing, but it’s also one of my concerns with the book. I would have liked to have seen her struggle more with the concept of becoming a shape-shifter as well as her new abilities. It felt like everything came way too easily to her, she mastered her new skills on first try. This certainly made the book flow faster but, for me, a few extra pages of struggle would have been worth it.
The secondary characters in the book were quite likeable. Her best friends, Lyssa and Damian, are twins who are smart and sassy and lift Maya up whenever she gives in to some brooding. Her grandmother is her rock and, even though she parcels out information on a need to know basis, her love for Maya is obvious. The one character who I really wanted to like but couldn’t quite warm up to was Matt, her boyfriend and ultimate soul mate. Overall, he was sweet and good but I think it was their relationship, which was basically “almost over ” at the start of the book and turned around very quickly, that wasn’t as believable as I would have liked. I feel like I really didn’t get to know him well enough and I’m hoping that he’ll be better developed in the second book.
The second half of the story is fast paced and full of twists and turns. Maya learns that you can’t always trust everyone, even when they appear to be on your side. She also learns that sometime you have to do scary things for the good of others…those you love and those you don’t even know. Maya becomes stronger in the last part of the book, more self-assured and more determined to do what’s right. She also embraces her heritage which was nice to see.
Overall this was a quick read with an enjoyable plot and some interesting mythology built into a present day story. I think that these characters will grow and develop and that their adventures will be even more interesting in the upcoming books.
March 28, 2012
Maya Delaney is a 16 year old girl living with her dad since her mother ran off when she was a little kid. Thankfully, Maya is close with her maternal grandmother, who helps her keep in touch with her Mayan roots. Which, as it turns out, comes in really handy when Maya discovers a secret about herself that really rocks her world.
It is SOOOOO hard to talk about this book without giving away main plot points! But I'm going to try.
First of all, I am so very very glad that someone has done a story involving ancient Mayan mythology. Greeks and Romans are great and all, but this is such a fresh topic! And I am very impressed by Ms. Bourke's knowledge of the topic. She obviously put in a lot of research while writing this book, and it definitely shows. My Latin roots thank you :)
The characters: Maya is very likable, in a sweetly dorky way. She laughs at her own jokes and makes frequent asides in her own head. The twins are just hilarious. Lyssa is a firecracker and Damian is so smart. Even though he is a gay character, I'm glad the author didn't OVERTLY try to insert his sexuality into every aspect of his being. Sometimes I feel authors do that with gay characters, and it takes a lot away from the story. Matt seemed sweet enough but I didn't really get too good of a feel for him in this book. Maybe in the next one.
The plot: Mmm, definitely a couple of delicious twists in there! I was in awe when Maya finally found out the whole truth about herself and was able to make full use of her abilities. At every turn, I was like, "Dang, she can do that, too? AWESOME."
The action towards the end was also well written and fast paced, and really left me wanting more! There were plenty of LOL moments for me in the story too...but I can't divulge them without spoiling. Just know the book will make you at least smile.
The only quibbles I had with the story are minor, but added all up they led me to this 4 star review. At first, Maya seems to take everything that is happening to her way too much in stride. If it was me, I'd have been far less accepting! Also, the relationship with Matt. She goes from one day being about to break up with him, to the next knowing he's her soul mate. Even with the mystical reasons surrounding it, it was a little hard for me to buy. The final thing that threw me off happened towards the end, and again it had something to do with Matt and Maya's relationship and the lack of believability for me.
Overall, I thought this was a great read and I am very excited for the next chapter in Maya's life! Great job, Ms. Bourke.
It is SOOOOO hard to talk about this book without giving away main plot points! But I'm going to try.
First of all, I am so very very glad that someone has done a story involving ancient Mayan mythology. Greeks and Romans are great and all, but this is such a fresh topic! And I am very impressed by Ms. Bourke's knowledge of the topic. She obviously put in a lot of research while writing this book, and it definitely shows. My Latin roots thank you :)
The characters: Maya is very likable, in a sweetly dorky way. She laughs at her own jokes and makes frequent asides in her own head. The twins are just hilarious. Lyssa is a firecracker and Damian is so smart. Even though he is a gay character, I'm glad the author didn't OVERTLY try to insert his sexuality into every aspect of his being. Sometimes I feel authors do that with gay characters, and it takes a lot away from the story. Matt seemed sweet enough but I didn't really get too good of a feel for him in this book. Maybe in the next one.
The plot: Mmm, definitely a couple of delicious twists in there! I was in awe when Maya finally found out the whole truth about herself and was able to make full use of her abilities. At every turn, I was like, "Dang, she can do that, too? AWESOME."
The action towards the end was also well written and fast paced, and really left me wanting more! There were plenty of LOL moments for me in the story too...but I can't divulge them without spoiling. Just know the book will make you at least smile.
The only quibbles I had with the story are minor, but added all up they led me to this 4 star review. At first, Maya seems to take everything that is happening to her way too much in stride. If it was me, I'd have been far less accepting! Also, the relationship with Matt. She goes from one day being about to break up with him, to the next knowing he's her soul mate. Even with the mystical reasons surrounding it, it was a little hard for me to buy. The final thing that threw me off happened towards the end, and again it had something to do with Matt and Maya's relationship and the lack of believability for me.
Overall, I thought this was a great read and I am very excited for the next chapter in Maya's life! Great job, Ms. Bourke.
July 30, 2012
In a time when December 21, 2012 is a very popular topic, I figured this book would be extrememly interesting to check out!
I have to say that my favorite thing about Jaguar Sun is the world-building. Ms. Bourke chose to make being a shifter something that isn't a secret to the entire population. It's not something that can be kept a secret from anyone due to a tattoo that shows up on the back of any shifter's neck once they change.
Maya, our main character, is still in high school. She lives with her dad, because her mom ran out on them a long time ago (I expect there to be more to that story at some point in the future), and has a very close relationship with her grandmother who is a Mayan elder.
She also has two, very awesome, best friends...Twins, Lyssa and Damian. They end up playing a bigger part in this story than what we'd first think. But, besides all that, I LOVE these two! THIER relationship is so hilarious, plus the way they interact with Maya is just perfect. I love when authors choose to focus on friendships almost as much as they focus on the romance of a story.
Yes, there's some romance. In the beginning of Jaguar Sun, Maya and her boyfriend, Matt, are having some relationship setbacks, but as the story progresses, we see some of the supernatural aspects in their lives just bring them closer.
I enjoyed the premise. I enjoyed having an original story that involved shifters, but also something far from what I'm used to reading. A world where a young girl has to save the world using her shifting abilities, but it's all enveloped in a deep Mayan culture and history that just makes the story richer.
The only negative thing I can say, is that some of the characters felt a little flat to me. And that's something that I hope can be addressed in further installments.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Christy @ Captivated Reading
I have to say that my favorite thing about Jaguar Sun is the world-building. Ms. Bourke chose to make being a shifter something that isn't a secret to the entire population. It's not something that can be kept a secret from anyone due to a tattoo that shows up on the back of any shifter's neck once they change.
Maya, our main character, is still in high school. She lives with her dad, because her mom ran out on them a long time ago (I expect there to be more to that story at some point in the future), and has a very close relationship with her grandmother who is a Mayan elder.
She also has two, very awesome, best friends...Twins, Lyssa and Damian. They end up playing a bigger part in this story than what we'd first think. But, besides all that, I LOVE these two! THIER relationship is so hilarious, plus the way they interact with Maya is just perfect. I love when authors choose to focus on friendships almost as much as they focus on the romance of a story.
Yes, there's some romance. In the beginning of Jaguar Sun, Maya and her boyfriend, Matt, are having some relationship setbacks, but as the story progresses, we see some of the supernatural aspects in their lives just bring them closer.
I enjoyed the premise. I enjoyed having an original story that involved shifters, but also something far from what I'm used to reading. A world where a young girl has to save the world using her shifting abilities, but it's all enveloped in a deep Mayan culture and history that just makes the story richer.
The only negative thing I can say, is that some of the characters felt a little flat to me. And that's something that I hope can be addressed in further installments.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Christy @ Captivated Reading
June 6, 2012
Although I am 53 year old male and an author, I try to read some of the young adult stories around. I could not get into Twilight after the first chapters of the second book. I took a chance reading "Jaguar Sun" because Martha is a excellent Twitter follower and I know how reviews help an author. But, I also know it had to an honest review.
Jaguar Sun is an original story, with a setting definitely for young adults. The dialog is of your generation not mine. But I continued on to see where the story and Martha was leading me. I had not read any fictional story about Mayan culture or shape-shifters. Soon I found myself more and more intrigued on the growing powers of these teen shape-shifters and their devotion to their friend "Maya".
The story begins in New Mexico, where I once lived, so the detail was such that I could see the characters play out their roles in the terrain that is the area of the Gila national forest. The story progresses and ends in the jungle of Mexico. So there is a journey, a quest, and a plot involving good and evil, which is my kind of story.
Without giving away any spoilers, I was very much surprised with her plot development and ending. It was original and held my attention to the very end. As a writer myself, Martha engaged my imagination in her narrative that I might be able use as well. Which is the whole purpose of reading, to be taken to new worlds and situations. Martha has done that. Her explanation of Mayan culture had me researching some of her narrative.
All in all, I gave this story 5 stars not for a literary work of art, but for an imaginative, original and entertaining story.
Great job Martha! And as one of my readers have said about my stories, give me more!
Jaguar Sun is an original story, with a setting definitely for young adults. The dialog is of your generation not mine. But I continued on to see where the story and Martha was leading me. I had not read any fictional story about Mayan culture or shape-shifters. Soon I found myself more and more intrigued on the growing powers of these teen shape-shifters and their devotion to their friend "Maya".
The story begins in New Mexico, where I once lived, so the detail was such that I could see the characters play out their roles in the terrain that is the area of the Gila national forest. The story progresses and ends in the jungle of Mexico. So there is a journey, a quest, and a plot involving good and evil, which is my kind of story.
Without giving away any spoilers, I was very much surprised with her plot development and ending. It was original and held my attention to the very end. As a writer myself, Martha engaged my imagination in her narrative that I might be able use as well. Which is the whole purpose of reading, to be taken to new worlds and situations. Martha has done that. Her explanation of Mayan culture had me researching some of her narrative.
All in all, I gave this story 5 stars not for a literary work of art, but for an imaginative, original and entertaining story.
Great job Martha! And as one of my readers have said about my stories, give me more!
May 23, 2012
Maya Delaney just wanted to be an everyday high school Junior. She accepted that she was kind of geeky. She has her best friends, Damian and Alyssa, and she seems pretty content with her world. Maya biggest problem is…she isn’t sure if she fits in with her boyfriend Matt’s life anymore because he’s become the star of the HS football team…well she thought that was her biggest problem.
Maya soon discovers she is becoming a shape shifter, a panther. But Maya isn’t even an average shape shifter from Mayan legends, something is off with her shifters mark. You see, the December 21, 2012 is coming up in a few weeks and that is the end of the Mayan calendar. The world is in transition and Maya, Matt, Damian and Alyssa all are going to play a pivotal role in the direction the changing world will take. They must rely on each other and their friendship to make it through. There are dark forces at work that will stop at nothing to prevent Maya from making a positive transition for the world.
Jaguar Sun is a fabulous read! Jaguar Sun contains betrayal, friendship, action, adventure, shifting, mythology and just the right amount of romantic tension. I did find that the some of the details into the Mayan culture/rituals slowed the story down a little but for the most part Martha Bourke provided a stunning glimpse into the Mayan culture, the characters lives and battle to save the world. Great young adult read!
This copy of Jaguar Sun was given to me by Making Connections YA Edition Group on Goodreads and Martha Bourke in exchange for an honest review.
Maya soon discovers she is becoming a shape shifter, a panther. But Maya isn’t even an average shape shifter from Mayan legends, something is off with her shifters mark. You see, the December 21, 2012 is coming up in a few weeks and that is the end of the Mayan calendar. The world is in transition and Maya, Matt, Damian and Alyssa all are going to play a pivotal role in the direction the changing world will take. They must rely on each other and their friendship to make it through. There are dark forces at work that will stop at nothing to prevent Maya from making a positive transition for the world.
Jaguar Sun is a fabulous read! Jaguar Sun contains betrayal, friendship, action, adventure, shifting, mythology and just the right amount of romantic tension. I did find that the some of the details into the Mayan culture/rituals slowed the story down a little but for the most part Martha Bourke provided a stunning glimpse into the Mayan culture, the characters lives and battle to save the world. Great young adult read!
This copy of Jaguar Sun was given to me by Making Connections YA Edition Group on Goodreads and Martha Bourke in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2012
I was given a copy of this in return for an honest review.
December 21, 2012 – Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind? Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.
Maya Delaney is just an average sixteen-year- old. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in. But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control. In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfil an ancient Mayan Prophesy and bring forth a New Age on earth. Will the spirit magic Maya wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping her from her destiny? Or will that destiny destroy her?
I got in touch with the author of Jaguar Sun after seeing the sequel advertised on Facebook. I absolutely ADORED this book. Shifting has never been without responsibility, and Maya has had to learn that in this book – especially when she learns that she’s responsible for the changes in the lives of her boyfriend and best-friends.
When no one knows who they can trust, how can you save the world?
I’m looking forward to reading the second book in this series! It’s amazing and I recommend it to anyone who likes the idea of a different culture to the oft read Greek and Roman mythology.
US link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
December 21, 2012 – Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind? Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.
Maya Delaney is just an average sixteen-year- old. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in. But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control. In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfil an ancient Mayan Prophesy and bring forth a New Age on earth. Will the spirit magic Maya wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping her from her destiny? Or will that destiny destroy her?
I got in touch with the author of Jaguar Sun after seeing the sequel advertised on Facebook. I absolutely ADORED this book. Shifting has never been without responsibility, and Maya has had to learn that in this book – especially when she learns that she’s responsible for the changes in the lives of her boyfriend and best-friends.
When no one knows who they can trust, how can you save the world?
I’m looking forward to reading the second book in this series! It’s amazing and I recommend it to anyone who likes the idea of a different culture to the oft read Greek and Roman mythology.
US link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
February 12, 2014
Maybe I should have read this near 12-21-2012, then the end of the world and or Mayan calendar would have added a bit more excitement. Maybe I have read too many teen girl becomes shifter becomes goddess. I just couldn't get into this.
I liked it okay. But the main character, Maya, diet coke addict, was not independent enough. In fact, I thought she was rather a crier and a fainter. A wimp. You would think that her gifts would make her a little bit stronger. You would think that her cool twin BFFs and her handsome, smart boyfriend would be enough to bring her into a confidence and even a bit of spunkiness.
I had hopes with the plot, being about a coming world-peace. I loved the bits about centering and meditation. Those are great lessons for teens to read about with all the stresses they all go through. But somehow, the instructions got lost and didn't go deep enough, and were always cut short by something else. How in the world could she have reached any proficiency?
I would have liked to see the relationship between Maya and Matt grow, instead of a distance between them and then suddenly mates. Kind of missing something in the middle there. I would have liked to get to know the other shifter friends. And more about the one that had a crush on Maya.
Even still I have the next book and am hoping the author gained her chops and thereby a tighter story.
I liked it okay. But the main character, Maya, diet coke addict, was not independent enough. In fact, I thought she was rather a crier and a fainter. A wimp. You would think that her gifts would make her a little bit stronger. You would think that her cool twin BFFs and her handsome, smart boyfriend would be enough to bring her into a confidence and even a bit of spunkiness.
I had hopes with the plot, being about a coming world-peace. I loved the bits about centering and meditation. Those are great lessons for teens to read about with all the stresses they all go through. But somehow, the instructions got lost and didn't go deep enough, and were always cut short by something else. How in the world could she have reached any proficiency?
I would have liked to see the relationship between Maya and Matt grow, instead of a distance between them and then suddenly mates. Kind of missing something in the middle there. I would have liked to get to know the other shifter friends. And more about the one that had a crush on Maya.
Even still I have the next book and am hoping the author gained her chops and thereby a tighter story.
February 22, 2013
There was so much to appreciate in this novel that I don’t know where to start. The fact that Bourke took shifters out of mainstream Caucasian society and gave them very deep ethnic roots was brilliant. She dug into existing mythology and religion to develop a wildly imaginative and extremely captivating novel that puts coming of age into a very unique light.
You don’t just see the world that Bourke describes in this novel; you get wrapped up in it and blanketed in it. This story is extremely well written, allowing you to immerse yourself even further into the action and reaction that accompanies it. She brings everything to life very well. It is brilliant.
The main characters in this story are very well developed. You know who they are, what they’re like, and what they like. I love how real the main character seems with all of her wild exaggerations. They make her leap off of the page and into the real world. I also appreciate the fact that the minor characters are quite well developed as well. Bourke found the balance wherein you get to know these characters but they don’t accidentally eclipse the major characters.
This is an extremely vivid world which is developed in such a manner that it is perfectly suited to the very vivid story that takes place within it. It is a phenomenal story that leaves you dying for more. Luckily for us, there’s a sequel.
You don’t just see the world that Bourke describes in this novel; you get wrapped up in it and blanketed in it. This story is extremely well written, allowing you to immerse yourself even further into the action and reaction that accompanies it. She brings everything to life very well. It is brilliant.
The main characters in this story are very well developed. You know who they are, what they’re like, and what they like. I love how real the main character seems with all of her wild exaggerations. They make her leap off of the page and into the real world. I also appreciate the fact that the minor characters are quite well developed as well. Bourke found the balance wherein you get to know these characters but they don’t accidentally eclipse the major characters.
This is an extremely vivid world which is developed in such a manner that it is perfectly suited to the very vivid story that takes place within it. It is a phenomenal story that leaves you dying for more. Luckily for us, there’s a sequel.
November 3, 2016
If your reading revolves around YA paranormal, then Martha is it's new sheriff. Her debut YA novel was in a word, fantastic! It really was a shift (no pun intended) from the normal YA paranormal and I'm thrilled that I had the good judgement in picking this book up.
Maya is your typical high school junior that lives in a world where shape-shifters are known, and for the most part, are excepted in society. But even so, she is not prepared when she finds out she is not only destined to be a shifter, but is THE shifter of all shifters.
We are taken into a brief history of Mayan belief and culture, as Maya and her friends discover that Maya is a part of the prophecy of the Mayan calendar. Ms. Bourke takes us on a journey from Arizona to Mexico, filled with fun, excitement, and definitely romance.
What I loved most about this book was the close relationship I had with Maya and her friends. Set in Arizona, it seems fitting that a majority of the characters are Hispanic. Being Hispanic myself, I felt a kinship with the characters. It's not often you see Hispanics play main central characters and for that, I applaud Ms. Bourke. Her imagination and writing style makes me almost believe that perhaps, deep down, I am part of that Mayan culture and will someday become a shifter.
Maya is your typical high school junior that lives in a world where shape-shifters are known, and for the most part, are excepted in society. But even so, she is not prepared when she finds out she is not only destined to be a shifter, but is THE shifter of all shifters.
We are taken into a brief history of Mayan belief and culture, as Maya and her friends discover that Maya is a part of the prophecy of the Mayan calendar. Ms. Bourke takes us on a journey from Arizona to Mexico, filled with fun, excitement, and definitely romance.
What I loved most about this book was the close relationship I had with Maya and her friends. Set in Arizona, it seems fitting that a majority of the characters are Hispanic. Being Hispanic myself, I felt a kinship with the characters. It's not often you see Hispanics play main central characters and for that, I applaud Ms. Bourke. Her imagination and writing style makes me almost believe that perhaps, deep down, I am part of that Mayan culture and will someday become a shifter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2012
A-MAZ-ING! I've got to admit, I am quite adept at judging things without even giving them a try. This book was no exception. When I first saw it I "knew" that I wasn't going to like it. I'm just not into the whole idea of shape shifters and all that other "weird" stuff. After having read the first chapter a couple of months ago I knew that I was right. Recently the Kindle edition of the book was free for 48 hours and I figured, what the heck, I'll get it just in case a family member may be interested in reading it some day. Then I made a big mistake, I opened the book. I thought I'd just get a little bit more of the flavor of it and that's all it took. I was hooked. I couldn't put it down. The author has written so well that as the plot thickened and the tension built she kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what would happen next. Although this took away from the time I had planned on spending reading books to recommend to my students (this one I wouldn't, after all they're only 5th graders) it was definitely time well spent in an enthralling read. Looking forward now to the sequel.
February 7, 2012
When already awkward teenager Maya discovers she’s become a shapeshifter - a socially shunned minority of people who can turn into animals - she fears her life is over. Little does she know this is the least of her worries, as she is destined to play a pivotal role in the upcoming end of the Mayan calendar. (Yes, Maya is Mayan. It’s a little silly, but easily overlooked.) I sped through this book in a couple days. Maya is quite entertaining as a narrator, reminding me quite a bit of myself as a teenager. Her best friends, the ever enthusiastic twins Lyssa and Damian, are tons of fun as well. The only part I wasn’t so keen on was the romance, which was overly melodramatic, but I probably would have appreciated it more before I got old and cynical. The ending was a bit anti-climatic, somewhat clumsily clearing the way for the next book, but until then the action was well paced. In short, a quick, fun read. I’ll have to keep my eye out for the rest of the series.
March 2, 2012
Maya is my kind of girl. She has the same insecurities of any teenager, but is not letting “geek status” change who she is inside. She has a smart mouth, but still respects her elders. She has a hot boyfriend, but still thinks she’s an ugly duckling (and we all know how that story ends). All this and she has the world to save.
She is forced to grow up in a short period of time, but grandma and the twins are by her side no matter what. As with anyone in need, she puts her trust in someone who seems to be helping and finds out later it is the wrong kind of help. She has to go through physical and mental challenges that put most of us in the hospital. Yet in the end, she still is Maya, with a hint of Jaguar.
I cannot wait for her next adventure, to see what jungle the jaguar prowls through
She is forced to grow up in a short period of time, but grandma and the twins are by her side no matter what. As with anyone in need, she puts her trust in someone who seems to be helping and finds out later it is the wrong kind of help. She has to go through physical and mental challenges that put most of us in the hospital. Yet in the end, she still is Maya, with a hint of Jaguar.
I cannot wait for her next adventure, to see what jungle the jaguar prowls through
March 5, 2012
With so many YA books about vampires, zombies, and fallen angels, it's refreshing to see that Martha Bourke has done something very different with Jaguar Sun. While certainly a supernatural story, it explores mythology that just isn't seen anywhere else. I enjoyed every last second of the book. It's a quick, fun read and obviously well researched. I found myself wishing for more in a few places - more detail, more romance, more explanation - but I know there's a sequel coming. Excellent debut!
February 2, 2020
This is not my kind of book. I was stuck, with nothing to read, and found this on my Kindle. I can't imagine why I decided it was a good choice. I give it 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
The Young Adult novel contains many shape shifters and is full of Mayan folklore and prophecy. I felt it was not a well developed story, and lacked some expertise in writing. I see it has high ratings by other readers, so it may just not be the book for me. I hope you enjoy it, but I won't be recommending it.
The Young Adult novel contains many shape shifters and is full of Mayan folklore and prophecy. I felt it was not a well developed story, and lacked some expertise in writing. I see it has high ratings by other readers, so it may just not be the book for me. I hope you enjoy it, but I won't be recommending it.
March 9, 2012
This is a terrific book. The concept is interesting and different from the countless vampire/werewolves YA series out on the market now.... The heroine is likable. She is strong and tough... Looking forward to the writer's next book!
November 23, 2014
Great reading adventure!
Really enjoyed this book. Was like I was right there with the characters. Recommending to my teen and to my friends!
Really enjoyed this book. Was like I was right there with the characters. Recommending to my teen and to my friends!
June 25, 2017
Maya, who is being raised by her single father since her mother took off, is a fairly typical sixteen year old. Dealing with friends, school, boyfriend, nightmares ... though the nightmares are making everything else pale in comparison. Maya dreams she is a jaguar stalking prey. When she begins to see the jaguar stalking her in school she goes to her grandmother for help. Instead of shock or surprise, her grandmother is excited. She believes Maya is a shapeshifter, following in the footsteps of their ancestors, the Maya of Central America. As her powers begin to manifest Maya isn't the only one to realize she is unusual, and not all who say they are there to help are being truthful. And what do her powers have to do with the upcoming end to the Mayan calendar, December 21, 2012?
March 15, 2019
Awesome quick read
I've had this book on my library forever. I'm sad that I didn't read it sooner. Maya has a great sense of humor for being this magical jaguar shifter. The twins are super cool and I can't wait to see how their future pans out. I also love the idea of a soulmate or mate pairing. Add in the Mayan calendar and this makes for a really good ya book. I want to read the other books in this series.
I've had this book on my library forever. I'm sad that I didn't read it sooner. Maya has a great sense of humor for being this magical jaguar shifter. The twins are super cool and I can't wait to see how their future pans out. I also love the idea of a soulmate or mate pairing. Add in the Mayan calendar and this makes for a really good ya book. I want to read the other books in this series.
November 27, 2013
About the book:
It is important to understand this book is not set in our universe, exactly. There are certain things taken for everyday occurrences that don't exist in our world. If you've read books set in worlds where vampires exist and everyone just accepts them, then you know what I am talking about. Maya, 16, is the typical high school student with a boyfriend, Matt, and two best friends, twins Alyssa and Damian. She lives alone with her dad because her 'loser' mom took off years before. While Maya is having trouble with the new life Matt has since he become a member of the varsity football team, more trouble is lurching, following her, literally, first in her dreams and then into her school. Maya's about to change, not just in a way that is slightly accepted in her society but in a new, startling way. It is then she learns how much her friends support her and how much Matt loves her as he is forced into a change he wasn't meant for.
Her family history has made Maya one of the greats, destine to fight incredible evil about to be unleashed on the world. Her grandmother is a stanch ally and although she doesn't know all the answers, she steers Maya toward someone she thinks can help. But can Victrixa really help?
There is a lot of Maya historical religion in this book as we watch the battle between two worlds unfold. Maya is at the center of this conflict. I don't know much about Mayan mythology and religion, so I don't know how well Bourke covered those beliefs. And this book only scratched the surface. There will be more to come.
My Take:
The book is written in first person and at the beginning there are a lot of LONG parenthetically phrases. By the fourth or fifth page I was starting to worry. In reality, this just sets the tone for the character and soon those phrases give way to the story, and as a reader we now have a clearer picture of what Maya is like. Couple that with her dislike of her 'loser' mom and her almost hatred of her boyfriend Matt's movement into the 'popular' part of her school's social circles and the image is complete.
The pace of the book is a little uneven, with the beginning being very slow without enough meat and the middle and end being almost too quick, the conflicts and hidden agendas almost nonexistent. I would have liked Bourke to spend more time on the actual transformation of both Maya and Matt, as well as the deception of one of the people Maya trusted, before moving on to the larger conflict. This may also have added more tension in the beginning of the story, helping it to run smoother and faster. There was one 'continuity error', I believe, and it bothered me for the entire book. Grandma said, "I know a woman who is .... She's older than me." Yet when Maya meets the woman, she is obviously young and vivacious. Did the author make a mistake or, if not, why wouldn't Maya be taken back to find this dark haired beauty instead of what she would already have in her mind? This stuck with me because it could have been a plot point but was never used so it hung there like a half-finished sentence. Since there are more books to follow, that might be used later but it stuck with me the whole book.
Bourke writes with a style (except for those parenthetically phrases), that is easy to read, that sparks the brain to create clear clean images, and that is absorbed quickly. It is chaste enough for any age and a writing level that would suit an avid reader over the age of 8 or 9 but seems to be directed mostly to someone in high school.
The plot is a little straightforward but interesting since it involves the Mayan's beliefs; something that hasn't suffered from overuse yet.The questions left unanswered by the end of the book seem to be setting the story up for a series. And yes, I later found out that the book is indeed the beginning of a series.
My Recommendation:
I did enjoy the book and the characters. If you like something with a mythological base, suited for young teens, this could be the book for you.
It is important to understand this book is not set in our universe, exactly. There are certain things taken for everyday occurrences that don't exist in our world. If you've read books set in worlds where vampires exist and everyone just accepts them, then you know what I am talking about. Maya, 16, is the typical high school student with a boyfriend, Matt, and two best friends, twins Alyssa and Damian. She lives alone with her dad because her 'loser' mom took off years before. While Maya is having trouble with the new life Matt has since he become a member of the varsity football team, more trouble is lurching, following her, literally, first in her dreams and then into her school. Maya's about to change, not just in a way that is slightly accepted in her society but in a new, startling way. It is then she learns how much her friends support her and how much Matt loves her as he is forced into a change he wasn't meant for.
Her family history has made Maya one of the greats, destine to fight incredible evil about to be unleashed on the world. Her grandmother is a stanch ally and although she doesn't know all the answers, she steers Maya toward someone she thinks can help. But can Victrixa really help?
There is a lot of Maya historical religion in this book as we watch the battle between two worlds unfold. Maya is at the center of this conflict. I don't know much about Mayan mythology and religion, so I don't know how well Bourke covered those beliefs. And this book only scratched the surface. There will be more to come.
My Take:
The book is written in first person and at the beginning there are a lot of LONG parenthetically phrases. By the fourth or fifth page I was starting to worry. In reality, this just sets the tone for the character and soon those phrases give way to the story, and as a reader we now have a clearer picture of what Maya is like. Couple that with her dislike of her 'loser' mom and her almost hatred of her boyfriend Matt's movement into the 'popular' part of her school's social circles and the image is complete.
The pace of the book is a little uneven, with the beginning being very slow without enough meat and the middle and end being almost too quick, the conflicts and hidden agendas almost nonexistent. I would have liked Bourke to spend more time on the actual transformation of both Maya and Matt, as well as the deception of one of the people Maya trusted, before moving on to the larger conflict. This may also have added more tension in the beginning of the story, helping it to run smoother and faster. There was one 'continuity error', I believe, and it bothered me for the entire book. Grandma said, "I know a woman who is .... She's older than me." Yet when Maya meets the woman, she is obviously young and vivacious. Did the author make a mistake or, if not, why wouldn't Maya be taken back to find this dark haired beauty instead of what she would already have in her mind? This stuck with me because it could have been a plot point but was never used so it hung there like a half-finished sentence. Since there are more books to follow, that might be used later but it stuck with me the whole book.
Bourke writes with a style (except for those parenthetically phrases), that is easy to read, that sparks the brain to create clear clean images, and that is absorbed quickly. It is chaste enough for any age and a writing level that would suit an avid reader over the age of 8 or 9 but seems to be directed mostly to someone in high school.
The plot is a little straightforward but interesting since it involves the Mayan's beliefs; something that hasn't suffered from overuse yet.The questions left unanswered by the end of the book seem to be setting the story up for a series. And yes, I later found out that the book is indeed the beginning of a series.
My Recommendation:
I did enjoy the book and the characters. If you like something with a mythological base, suited for young teens, this could be the book for you.
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