“On my nightstand was the Maya mythology book Mom had given me for my eighth birthday. It was part of a five-volume set about Mexico, but this book was the coolest. I figured it was her way of showing me my dad’s culture without having to talk about him. The book […] was filled with color illustrations and stories about the adventures of different gods, kings, and heroes. The gods sounded awesome, but authors lie all the time.”

This excerpt from the opening chapter sets the tone of the novel by introducing the concept of Mayan mythology. It also foreshadows Zane’s supernatural origins and the true identity of his father. Zane consults the book throughout the novel, seeking answers and even performing rituals to banish demonic energy. At this point, the book is Zane’s primary source of information about the myths and legends of Mayan culture, but as his quest progresses, he begins to notice the inaccuracies in the book. The final line of this quotation foreshadows this even as it delivers a comical criticism of fiction authors, for this profession has jokingly been described as lying for a living. All humor aside, the statement possesses a grain of truth. Even authors of nonfiction accounts write the version of events that fits the story they want to tell, which is why Zane’s book doesn’t match the truth of the Mayan world. The passage also reflects Cervantes’ implied injunction that people should think for themselves and to do their own research to find the truth.