Monroe's Map

Felix Monroe is a gifted scientist and teenage space junkie who is obsessed with figuring out why only one star in the Perla constellation is unaccounted for in ancient Mayan astrology. In this intelligent fantasy adventure novel, Felix brokers a deal with a shifty investor to fund an expedition to Mexico, where his map says the star should correspond with a Mayan ruin. He has made plenty of star maps before, but this one haunts him day after day…taunting him with the riddle of its configuration. Why do all but one of Perla’s twenty-four stars coincide with a discovered ruin in the Lacandon Jungle? What did the ancient Maya build so cautiously and so cleverly in tribute to the twenty-fourth star that modern archeologists have yet to unearth it? In his quest for answers, Felix’s rugged journey from his hometown of Pistola, TX, to Mexico’s rainforest is the backbone of this fun sci-fi astronomy novel that delves into questions about the human condition and fate of mankind. Felix's devotion to his map and unwavering faith in his intuition take him far beyond anything he ever imagined, but as time goes by, his blind ambition consumes him to a breaking point. Were it not for the compassion and intellect of his best friend and mentor, Felix would be alone on his crusade to prove himself to the world and show everyone that his theory is correct. Regardless of the lives at stake, deep down Felix knows something important is waiting for him at his coordinates, even if it means he himself does not make it back alive. Despite everyone’s warnings, he lets his Mayan guides usher him deeper into the mystical and untamed wilderness of the world, where ancient myths and supernatural secrets lie hidden beneath the surface. As he makes his way to his destination, little does he know he is being monitored by a clandestine observer, and what he finds on his journey could change the course of history forever. This is a great read for fans of cerebral science fiction fantasy, STEM science fiction fantasy, and people who enjoy an intelligent fiction novel, a smart fiction novel, a gifted teenager novel, Latino fiction, and/or Latinx YA novels. This is specifically an intelligent mystery novel about a boy who has a destiny that is calling him, but the world seems to be against him fulfilling his purpose. It is a modern sci-fi fantasy book by one of today’s newest Latinx authors, Kristina León Cuvée, and intended for mature and young adults. It is a Mexican fantasy novel, a fun astrology novel, and astrology science novel. For readers who are more interested in science fiction, it is an exciting astronomy novel. For readers more interested in fantasy, it is a fun fantasy astronomy novel that centers on a male teenage protagonist, features strong female characters, and illustrates inspiring archetypes ranging from master and apprentice to hero and villain. Thematically it explores technology vs. man, man vs. man, and man vs. nature. The plot is anchored by a hero’s journey that starts from the safety of home and ventures into the great unknown, and also a close male/female friendship resembling that of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Fiction readers will love this book if they like being immersed in otherworldly environments, portrayals of the technological future, rugged backdrops, cultural rituals, the natural world, and meaningful characters faced with difficult decisions and humbling realities. While there is no direct comparison to this book, it has been called a cross between The Martian , The Lord of the Rings , and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince .