Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

Jake Ransom #1

by James Rollins

Three years ago, a mysterious package arrived for Jake and Kady Ransom.

Inside were two halves of a Mayan gold coin, their mother's sketchbook and their father's notebook.

But their architect parents failed to return from an expedition to the site of a long-lost Mayan civilization.

Now Jake and Kady are plunged into a terrifying adventure. Someone is very interested in what's happened to their parents. And in Jake and Kady themselves.

So begins a journey into a world of dangers both ancient and modern. Can Jake and Kady survive long enough to solve the mystery?

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Thriller, Childrens

399 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have known of this book for some time but for some unknown reason I have always convinced myself not to bother - no idea why but I do now know I was a fool to do so.

James Rollins is an established author with many books to his name including the novelisation of the last (latest?) Indiana Jones film, so why is this book (and the sequel so special)

Well they were written with a different audience in mind - now I will admit that the fast paced action packed, slightly supernatural thrillers he writes are easy enough to pick up and read and yes I find them highly enjoyable you could argue there is not a special audience or age group they are aimed at.

So when you have an adventure where both the protagonist and (I believe) the target audience younger than his usual choice there is something worth a second look.

Yes James Rollins has tried his hand at a YA story and in my opinion actually done a rather good job of it. I will admit that I am no expert but the story raced along as his usual break neck pace and still had a lot of twists and turns to be had. I will not give away any spoilers but the supernatural element takes definite front and centre of the story.

All I can think of is that for all his best sellers this book (and its sequel) were not well received which I think is a shame there is a lot to be liked with this book when measured against his more mature stories. Yes the sex, blood and violence is kept to a tasteful minimum but honestly I think it does nothing to distract from the story at hand.

As I said at the beginning I do not know why I put off reading this book but now that I have I am chiding myself for putting off a thoroughly good story. The question is, what about its sequel.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good thing about this book, is that even though I didn't feel totally immersed and invested while actually listening to it (as I had the audio cd) I ended up thinking about it between “readings,” and even now, a week after finishing, I find myself still harkening back to the story and wondering where it will go next.

First of all, I love the ideas Rollins has come up with here. I've always been interested in 'mixing and matching' - what would happen if various people, animals, eras, came together, etc., and so this was a great fit for me! I also really enjoyed the characters and felt they were unique from each other. The story wasn’t very predictable, and I found myself surprised several times.

I appreciated the scientific information peppered throughout the book, though sometimes the facts did bog down the narrative and flow. Still, I could appreciate Rollins research that went into the book, and kids into science and history should love all the factoids. And, for kids not into science and history, this is a great way for them to pick up a few nuggets of information along the way.

In my opinion, based on this book (the only Rollins I’ve read thus far) Rollins has a flare for plot more than a flare for words. His characters and plots are good, but sometimes his wording and phrases are repetitive or jumbled or just a little confusing. It’s as if he lacked a final editor. But, the story was enough to keep me intrigued.

As far as the narrator, he read the book with a more choppy reading style, as if the actions were more ‘stage directions’ – in other words, he didn’t instill much emotion in the narrative, only the dialogue (and even then it wasn’t loads, but it worked). I did think the various character voices needed more variation, but overall it was a voice easy to understand and listen to.

All in all, I’m giving this three stars, but I probably will continue the series if there’s another adventure to be undertaken!

****

Thanks for reminding me of this Kathryn! I look forward to reading it. Hey! We should get it and read it before he comes round for his book talk again. Then we can finally get a book signed by an author that we've read (okay, well, at least *I* can since you'd already read Alcatraz. ;>)

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is my first Rollins book, it seems like he is an old friend. I don't know him personally or anything, but his was one of the first author talks my sister and I attended and he was just such a nice man who told great adventure stories about his life and seemed to have a great sense of family. We won a drawing for a copy of his latest book and got to go to the front of the autograph line so we even got to chat with him a bit--though we felt a tad bad since there were so many fans there who probably wanted that even more! Anyway, he's a vet (as in, takes care of animals) so gotta love that! And, he's a Sacramento resident so we're practically neighbors--and, really, there aren't many famous authors from Sacramento! I'm hoping to be the next one, haha! Also, my husband began listening to several of Rollins' books in audiobook format, so I've heard about a lot of his stories.

Thus, it was hard to come to "Jake Ransom" with a blank slate, even though it's the first Rollins book I actually read. I am sorry to say I can't be more enthusiastic about it, although it certainly has its merits. It's definitely an adventure story, along the lines of Indiana Jones, but with a young protagonist and easier on the blood and violence. I like what Rollins says about Jake in his author's note,
"Jake's who I was as a kid. Someone ever curious about the world, a bit impatient, bold at times, wary at others, slightly geeky but knowing it and unable to change." Great material protagonist here! And I do think Rollins tries to build a story about family bonds and being a hero. As with all his stories, Rollins draws from history and real archaeology for his settings, so we learn about the Mayan culture here. We also have time-travel, scary winged beasts, alchemy, Romans and Vikings! But, while I was interested in what happened, I never really cared that much about any of the characters and I found the writing to be a bit weak in places. It seemed like a first-draft and while I don't doubt Rollins' cared about his work (how could you write a story featuring a version of your younger self and dedicated to all your nieces and nephews and not care!) it just seemed like some editors needed to actually do their job here.

I don't think I'll rush right out to read the sequel, but I do wish Rollins all the best--and hope he (and his editors!) bring better to the MG/YA market in the future. I will be watching eagerly...

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow is a delightful combination of fantasy, mystery, history, and suspense, along with memorable characters, mystifying riddles, and marvelous creatures. The premise of the book is especially captivating: a world where all cultures coexist in one country, speaking the same language. Rollins takes advantage of this strange culture hodgepodge, introducing the reader to a variety of characters from all backgrounds, and all sorts of customs and people. In addition, the country has its own unique culture because of the setting, with dinosaurs and crystal alchemy. Readers of all ages will find this fascinating.
The story has a cinematic feel, with vivid images of action and setting. The beginning is shocking, and gives the reader a strong curiosity to continue reading. The main characters are well-developed, admirable, and easy to relate to. There is strong empathy for Jake and Kady, and the reader hopes along with them that their parents are still alive, and that they will be found.
The mystery involving the parents seems to be the driving motivation for the story, yet this seems to take a back seat for awhile during a good portion of the book. The book veered off to be about Calypsos and its troubles, and it dwelled there too long; long enough for me to wonder when the story was going to get moving again. But the story did get moving again, and at a fast pace, delving once more into the mystery of the missing parents, and making troubles with the Skull King seem important.
The book does raise some skepticism for the reader, with unbelievable aspects of whatever world the children fall into, but before the story gets too far, Rollins brings up the questions himself, and answer them in a way that renew the book’s credibility. Rollins has a wonderful ability to know what the reader will be wondering, and either give reasons to quench it, or exploit it to keep the story engaging. This is a fun tale, with a good ending; resolved enough to keep the reader satisfied, but with enough unanswered questions to make them want to read the sequel.

[Megan G.]

I only listened to this book because the wonderful Pedro Pascal narrates. I realize this is not a book necessarily for me.

Just an aside, if I knew Jake in real life, I would punch him in his mouth for being such a turd.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

l've enjoyed Rollins' work through the years, but didn't realize he had written a couple of YA novels. lt carries a similar feel to his adult books.

Jake and Kady Ransom are a pair of orphans, who lost their archeologist parents 3 years previously while they were excavating some Mayan ruins.

The 2 of them are transported to another world where both people and creatures from different eras live together.

A good adventure story which held my interest enough that I will be reading the second book of the series.

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good: The plentiful action and thrills, as well as the exotic setting and people, should grab and hold the attention of readers who love adventure. Even reluctant readers may give this one a whirl if it's booktalked with maximum verve, and it might be a fun read-aloud for a 5th or 6th grade class.
The bad: The sentence structure is short and choppy - perhaps this is good for a reluctant reader but it certainly detracted from my own reading pleasure. There is very little character development and, although some information on Mayan culture and other historical/cultural matters is bandied about, I didn't get any sense about how these folks actually lived. Although supposedly the various groups in Calypsos are living in their traditional way (in the hopes that they'll be transported back to their own place and time one day), nothing about their way of life seems particularly historically authentic.
The ugly: At times, the fast pace is broken up by goofy events that reminded me of some b-grade kids' movie. For instance, Jake's teen sister Kady leads all the Amazon gals in an American-style cheering session, complete with high kicks, during a Coliseum game. Puh-lease...
The verdict: This was not my cup of tea at all, but I'm willing to bet that some kids will find it exciting enough to be impatient for the sequel that is to come. For grades 5 - 8.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a break from Middleton Prep, Jacob Ransom and his older sister, Katherine (Kady) are accidentally transported to a mysterious place inhabited and governed by a mixture of cultural groups from different times and places: Mayan, Roman, Egyptian, Sumerian, Medieval, Norse, and even Neanderthal. The existence of this peaceful and cooperative civilization is threatened - as are Jake and Kady - by the dark evil of Kalverum Rex, the Skull King. This fast-paced adventure combines elements of Harry Potter and Indiana Jones, and should appeal to history and mythology enthusiasts, those who like puzzles and codes, and those who enjoy character development and stories of friendship, bravery and coming of age. It's the first in what may be a popular older children's/YA series.

[Evi S · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I remember it had potential but didn't live up to it.

[X'avier Gamboa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts on the book is that it has a good plot and the characters develop throughout the time. An example of the characters developing through the story of the book is Jake who is a kid who does adventurous things such as discovering things about the Mayans. And discovering things about the world its self. Another example is Mari and Jake's friend that at first is afraid of many things and tries to be strong because he wants to be part of the best team in the lost village. But because of his father, he is not able to join the higher ranks. But it's not as worse as not being able to ride one of the animals that have been chosen for war. But then this all changes at the end when they are forced to face the skull king and the person who has been behind all of the mischiefs in the town, and he is forced to ride a saddle to save Jake.

Another thing that I liked about this book is the action in it such as jake having to do martial arts to defend himself a kid when he first discovers that he is going to go to England to be able to see the eclipse and the museum that was dedicated to his parents who died mysteriously after trying to locate the location of a great Mayan artifact. I also like the idea of a single organization being a part of a larger scheme to steal the artifacts that the parents of Jake and Kady had found. I also like the lost civilization and how it features many important parts of their history such as the mayan traditions of calculating when the next eclipse would be and when the next major events would be. I also like the feature of the UR The long lost civilization or to be exact the first ever major civilization being able to actually build their own tools to be able to build more tools. I also like the action in this book such as the portal being opened for them to find out where they ended up in.

Now the end is really excellent because it tells me that there is more action to come such as the letters actually turning out to spell atlantis at the end which tells me that atlantis might have a part to play in the book such as the alchemy that has been built off of the Atlantian people.

Lastly, the book its self is good but there are some parts in which I am confused such as the portal and how it opened. How the people them selves came to come here. Along with them coming here. I am also a bit mad at the end and how they dont learn what happened to their parents. Lastly I am mad at the fact that we didnt learn about what the serpant with tho heads that is planted through out the book and what the letters mean on the side of the entrance to the castle.

[A. Rahman Bishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the plot! I was thinking about it and wondering, WHY THE HELL I DIDN'T THINK OF IT EARLIER?! I very much liked the setting and the story he cooked. A really nice plot.
The characters were good. Good enough for a YA book.
The pacing? I think it was perfect.
The writing style? Typical Rollins-ish. Nothing much special.
The only thing that let me down is how it ended. I wanted a good confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist. But the book lacks it. If it wasn’t for this, I may have given it a solid 5 star, from a YA perspective.
Anyway, my bad for expecting things where I'm not supposed to. But overall, It was a great read.
Highly recommend for YAs!

[Tammy Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book to listen to in the car on road-trips with kids.

[Ravenous Biblioworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

I forgot how refreshing some tween/middle grade books are compared to Young Adult novels. They aren’t flooded with the angsty love triangles or romance. If there are any romance, it is limited or gets straight to the point without the ritual dancing of “Oh woe me, my heart is broken” (where I roll my eyes do wish literally that their hearts will break, and witnesss the blood gush out of their chest, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth… if you couldn’t tell I am really annoyed, and yes, I probably should take a break from reading YA novels, but for every 20 love vomiting inducing book there’s at least one really good one, so I will slave through the angst). Rollin’s novel,Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow is purely for fun. It takes its readers on an adventure.

The book begins with a man running through a jungle in the Yucatan of Mexico. He is chased by these bandits and they want what he has. Anyway, this moment alludes to Jake Ransom’s, our protagonist/hero of our story, parent’s moment of disappearance. They, jake and his sister Kady, get a package/letter and soon they find themselves in deep magical doo-doo.

They come to a place where ancient eras all blend togethe, but throughout the book the Mayan culture seems to be more prevalent than most. This book though targeted towards younger audience is interesting enough to keep my own interests (currently 25 years old). The language and rhetoric are simple but well enough to do what it needs to: create tension, scene, and setting.

The only downfall to the simplicity is the general lack of emotional and sympathetic connection with the characters. For instance, Kady, Jake’s sister, mourns for her parent’s lost, but she comes off stiff and unlikable at the beginning (she changes almost midway through the book). There’s a moment where we realize why she’s that way and she accuses her brother of being too much like their parents, which brings her pains, but the simple way everything was brought into light isn’t detailed enough to illicit any deep emotional connection with Kady. It was there, readers knew what was going on and what she was feeling, but we didn’t quite feel it.

Overall, this book is a quick fun and adventurous read. It’s one of those books you pick on a warm afternoon (or cozy rainy day) and just read for the sake of relaxed reading, that is… if you’re kinda old like me and enjoy YA and middle grade books. Younger audience will probably love this book (with the assumption they enjoy reading).

Verdict: Great library check out. I have placed this book on my “To purchase list.”

Visit my book review blog at ravenousbiblioworm.wordpress.com

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This historical fiction / fantasy novel is based on the Mayan civilization. When a mysterious invitation to an exibit of his missing parents' mayan discoveries appears, Jake and his sister Kady head off to London to visit the museum. Sponsored by a mysterious corporation, the exibit is held during a solar eclipse and when Jake puts his and Kady's coins in a golden pyramid, they are transported to an alternate time. In Atlantis, Jake, his new friends, and his sister fight mysterious monsters (like a giant scorpion) learn alchemy, and save Pangea from the Skull King.

Critique: This is an adventure story and therefore, the character development is thin.

Example: For example, the ultimate villain, Oswin goes from warning Jake that, "it's time we were all jumping at shadows." to "He showed no remorse, only distain." once he's discovered. We never hear a motive or any thoughts that he might have. Of the 5 methods of characterization, all we have is speech (which is sparse and contradictory) and action (which occurs only in the climax).

Curricular Tie: This is really where the value of the book lies. There are two distinct tracks that could be addressed using this novel. First is the idea of a utopia - like Pangea or Atlantis (both of which are referred to in the text). The mix of cultures in a peaceful milieu is an interesting idea and worth exploring in class. I would ask questions like: What kind of government would be best for such diverse cultures? How should labor be divided? The second track is the hints at Mayan culture. The glyphs in the book are accurate and it would be a fun lesson to have them write secret code messages to each other using Mayan glyphs.

[John Beta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. James Rollins is one of my favorite thriller/adventure (T & A) authors. So, I decided to give this some of my attention. Sorry, but it lacked the T & A I'm accustomed to from his Sygma Force and other novels.

[Avardsin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arghhh.... I written a good review and lost it due to goodreads being over capacity..

Right main points.. I wont spoil this book beyond the synopsis, but i reckon all fans of James Rollins, especially read this book. Hell I recommend this book to anyone.

James Rollins is my favorite author. I love he style of writing and how he twists fact into fiction/reality into fiction, to create amazing story/book worlds and with interesting characters.

I admit a first I was hesitant to read this book. Previously I have tried to read Rick Riordan's - Kane Chronicles, but i just couldn't get into the book or connect with the characters.

Jake is an interesting character. His introduction is probably one most interesting I've seen, how he went up and gave his report in front of the class.

His sister introduction wasn't that great. For parts where she does show up in the book, she comes off as self-involved and vain being. That being said they are other parts of the story, where you see chinks in her armor and actually see a caring person who hide under her armor to protect herself from being hurt.

As you may have gathered Jake sister, is not really a main character in this story. This story mainly follows Jake, Marika (Mayan; Possible Love Interest to Jake?) Pindor (Roman; Supportive friend.) All three are great characters, that you can relate to in some way.

As mentioned above I recommend this book to anyone and I would personally rate the book 4.5 out of 5.

[Luther Cobbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Jake doesn't seem to have adjusted to his parents' disappearance three years prior as well as his older sister, Kady, has. She is part of the popular crowd at school, but all he can think of is how he will one day become an archaeologist like them and figure out what happened to them.

This first story in the series begins in what appears to be a normal American setting, but it quickly changes dramatically as Jake and Kady end up suddenly thrust into a very unexpected adventure. Readers learn about several ancient cultures, with this book focusing mostly on the Mayan culture. The next installment in the series revolves more around ancient Egypt.

This promises to be an interesting series for fantasy and adventure lovers.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come. I think it's 3,5 stars but since I cannot give halves.

This was a fast paced adventure book with some historic information. I really enjoy the premises and the world James Rollins created.

James Rollins really gives soul to the characters and the various characters from different races. I really must read the second book to see where this is going. I think that James Rollins could write a dozen books, each dealing with a different civilization. This character remind me of some series that are set in museum.

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit too nerdy, perhaps

[S Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow follows young orphan and budding archaeologist Jake Ransom, as he and his sister Kadi try to return home after falling into a mysterious city full of dinosaurs and ancient civilizations. But the evil Skull King is after them and wants the siblings in his plan to take over the city...
*Sighs*
Jake Ransom is a pretty easy book to read: it's fast-paced, engaging enough, and incorporates interesting historical, anthropological and scientific tidbits into the plot. I also liked that the MC was non-magical (though most of the characters were in the world) and had to use other means to solve problems. But, there was a lot more that dragged this book down.
Jake Ransom and the List of Problems
1) Jake Ransom. I wasn't a fan of Jake - he felt like any other generic main character/hero. Jake is super smart - smarter than the teachers it seems - but no one in his class appreciates his genius. He's unpopular, and because he's smart and unpopular, he's bullied. He also seems to have no other character traits besides being smart and interested in archaeology - especially no weaknesses. He's (of course) an orphan with super important parents. There is nothing particularly interesting or unique or special about Jake, which makes me wonder why the heck he's...
2) The Chosen One. There isn't anything specific saying this, but it's the definite feeling. He's the leader of his friends. He's thinking up the idea that defeats the Skull King and being the one facing him down. He's the one the Skull King wants, and consistently gets special privileges. I kept hoping there'd be a plot twist that Kadi who he always underestimated would be the Chosen One (giving Jake a character flaw), but nope.
3) Character agency. Jake really doesn't feel like he's driving the plot - up until the climax it feels a lot like he's reacting to things instead of deciding them. I think it's because he doesn't really have a clear goal: he wants to get home, but he also wants to stay. His reasons for acting never really feel clear and so they don't drive him.
4) Why the heck does the Skull King want Jake anyways?? Besides for the fact he's the MC. Never explained.
5) The representation. *Breathes deeply* I get this book was written about a decade ago. Doesn't excuse that the entire time I kept cringing because of how badly done nearly everyone who wasn't a racialized-as-white man was written.
a) Kadi. Jake's older sister is written as obsessed with boys, clothes, makeup and having herself in the spotlight. Jake basically dismisses her as unable to do anything useful - and really the most useful thing she does is lead Viking girls in a cheerleading routine as a distraction. What I hate about this is not only does it reduce girls into a stereotype, but it also makes girls who do like those things appear as stupid and inferior.
b) Mari. Mari is a Mayan girl who is the daughter of one of the prestigious Magisters, at whose house Jake stays. However, her only real character traits seem to be shy and crushing on Jake - and actually, her crush on Jake feels like her only purpose. I have absolutely nothing against interracial relationships/crushes, but I think it's problematic when the only girl of colour in the entire book has her entire purpose hinge around crushing on the white boy MC. It felt a little like she was his "exotic" [sic] girl crushing on him. Also very disappointing that in the two main girl characters, one was obsessed with stereotypical-"girl" things and was constantly looked down upon, and the other only served as love interest material for the MC.
c) The Egyptian magister. I forget his name, but the fact that the only African (yes, in a city full of ancient civilizations, only one African civilization was named - and it's Egypt) and only dark-skinned character in the book is presented as scary, shady and possibly involved in dark magic is not good representation. It subconsciously tells you that dark-skinned men and men of African descent are scary people, which has very real world consequences.
6) "Red plus green equals yellow." This line was repeated so many times. In light, red, blue and green might be the primary colours, but it's not what kids are taught in art class. Even a simple explanation would go a long ways here from stopping kids from being confused, especially when you've been taught all your life that mixing blue and yellow makes green, and mixing red and green probably equals some kind of brownish colour.
Overall, Jake Ransom might be a quick, fun read for a MG reader, but due to its bland MC and problematic representations, it wouldn't be one I'd recommend. I'd much sooner give a reader interested in magic and different cultures Dhionelle Clayton's wonderful The Marvellers.

[Ria Bridges · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was wary of this book right from the get-go. The prologue was a rather clunky attempt at action and suspense, which didn’t give me much hope for the rest of the book. Then I read further and found out that the main character was yet another one of those too-smart and too-misunderstood genius boys, the kind that can do no wrong without learning something profound from the experience, the kind disliked even by his teachers for his awesome intellect.

It’s painfully obvious that this book was not intended to be read females. The female characters exist as pretty shallow archetypes. The love interest (or “like” interest, as we are talking about pre-teen characters) is there to be pretty and admired and sometimes make a helpful comment or two. Jake’s sister Kady is a shallow and temperamental girl who has little on her mind but looking pretty and dating popular boys. Even if you invoke Suspension of Disbelief for the scene where Kady’s shown to have skills at fancy swordwork (because swordword is totally the same as her cheerleader baton routine), any potential coolness is drained away by the new few paragraphs showing that Kady’s somewhat proud of herself for starting new fashion trends amongst the Viking girls. Eventually, she teaches the proud warriors-in-training how to cheerlead.

No, I’m not joking. They learn to cheerlead, which provides enough distraction so that Jake can sneak away and go be the big hero and work on saving the day.

Like your books to have diverse and strong female characters? Then stay far far away from Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow.

I’m not sure why this is. Perhaps the author has a thing against women, or perhaps he naively thought that girls wouldn’t possibly be interested in adventure stories and so didn’t think there was any point in putting positive female characters in. Bach’uuk, the overlooked little Neanderthal slave boy whom nobody pays attention to, got more positive page time than any female other than Marika. Feel sorry for the little boy, but don’t give a toss about the girls, because they’re icky and pointless.

I feel compelled to say something positive about this book, however, and if it has any saving grace, it’s in the pacing. The writing flows smoothly, and it can pull readers along, making them want to see what happens next, what event is just around the next corner. Rollins also, admittedly, had a knack for addressing questions that I mentally formed as I was reading. Why was a t-rex chasing a Mayan girl and a Roman boy? Why are so many diverse cultures living in one tiny area without integrating and mixing their respective cultures despite many generations having passed? Why is everyone able to understand everyone else’s speech? Some authors may have just hand-waved these issues, thinking perhaps that the intended audience wouldn’t know enough to even realise the problems, but Rollins actually addressed the questions head-on. The explanations may have been too simplistic for real life, but for a kids’ book, they were sufficient.

I also keep trying to tell myself that the plot twists would have been sufficient for a kids’ book too, even though none of them particularly surprised me. Sometimes it felt like Rollins was trying to pull a J K Rowling with his plot, and not quite managing. The reveal of the bad guy here felt like the reveal of the bad guy in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Bait-and-switch, connection to the underling, the minion’s pain… I swear I was waiting for the power of love to give Jake the power of a burning touch no evil can stand…

Ultimately, I’d recommend passing over this book. If you feel like borrowing it from a library some day, go ahead, but I wouldn’t recommend that anybody actually spend money on this thing.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya's, Romeinen en T-rexen.
Wat was hier aan de hand?

Een van de oudere boeken in mijn kast - deze is ondertussen ook weeral ruim een decennium geleden uitgegeven. Het is een van die zeldzame pareltjes in de fantasy waarin een hele hoop oude volkeren en mythologieën bijeengeraapt, samengeduwd en dooreen gehusseld worden om een unieke mix te creëren. Rollins doet dat met verve, en persoonlijk heb ik dan nog het geluk dat dit eerste boek gaat over de Maya's, een van mijn favoriete oude culturen.
Op zich dient het grootste deel van dit boek om alles in gereedheid te brengen voor alles losbarst. Opvallend genoeg valt het verhaal desondanks toch nooit stil en gebeurt er altijd wel iets om je aandacht erbij te houden. Al neemt dat niet weg dat pakweg de laatste honderd bladzijdes verreweg het spannendst zijn: het boek bereikt zijn climax, en er volgen op korte tijd een stuk of drie à vier grote onthullingen, die je warm maken voor de rest van de reeks.
Jake en Kady zijn echt toppersonages. Vooral Kady is wat dat betreft interessant, omdat Jake duidelijk zijn eigen ideeën over haar heeft en de lezer hem volgt. Naargelang het verhaal vordert, krijgt Kady dan ook steeds meer diepgang en vallen haar acties erg (positief) op. Dat gezegd zijnde, Jake als hét hoofdpersonage mag er ook best wezen. Hij heeft een opvallende achtergrond meegekregen: interesse in geschiedenis, archeologie, fossielen... Niet al te standaard in jeugdboeken, voor zover ik weet. In Calypsos is het vooral Marika die de show steelt. Zij is zo... levendig, op alle mogelijke manieren.
Daar komt nog bij dat Rollins een heel interessante wereld heeft opgebouwd, natuurlijk (met een paar knappe ideeën en twists), en wat leuke taalspelletjes erin steekt. Je komt het allemaal niet vaak tegen.
De vertaling - van Hanneke Majoor, geloof ik, ik ken haar verder niet - mag er ook best wezen. Hier en daar zitten er een paar kleine schoonheidsfoutjes in (een typfout, een woord te veel), en klinkt er een paar keer een zin wat geforceerd, maar verder geen opmerkingen. Geen perfecte vertaling, maar zeker wel een degelijke, zoals het moet zijn.
8,2/10

[Fefi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un legame tra il nostro mondo,la nascita dei continenti e dei popoli

Ebbene ci sono ricascata.Ho voluto dare un altra possibilità a questo scrittore,conosciuto con Artico,un po' forse troppo adrenalinico,ma scorrevole nella lettura.
Alla fine anche questa ho scoperto essere una serie,dedicata ai grandi popoli che hanno abitato la terra dall'inizio (guarda caso iniziamo con i Maya e pure con uno spizzico di Atlantide...).
Come inizio mi piace: è una storia fantasy,avventurosa,di viaggi nel tempo,di alchimia e di gemme,di popoli esistiti nell'antichità e di popoli e creature inventate per proseguire nel romanzo.Tutti fanno da sfondo alla ricerca di un fratello e di una sorella dei genitori archeologi scomparsi misteriosamente,i ragazzi si trovano
catapultati all'improvviso in un mondo molto strano e quasi subito vengono separati.Dei personaggi non si sa molto,solo lo stretto necessario per proseguire nella storia che risulta molto scorrevole,ma di Jake si capisce subito che è quello con conoscenze archeologiche tramandate dal padre,il classico secchione,precisino in tutto e curioso nei confronti della scienza,mentre Kady è la classica cheer leader di stampo americano.Tra i due sembra non scorrere buon sangue,ma nel momento della separazione,si capisce che in realtà sono legati.
Forse molto young adult,ma mi incuriosisce.
Interessante la spiegazione dell'autore alla fine del libro.
Speriamo velocemente nel secondo capitolo,altrimenti mi dimentico.

[Lilly Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Ransom has a problem, well more than one problem. First his parents have gone missing, second his older sister lives in a totally different world.

Jake enjoys everything Archeology related, and his goal is to be come an archeologist, in the hopes that maybe he can find his parents. Its a far flung hope, one he refuses to cling too, but its still there.

His sister only cares about parties, boyfriends, makeup and fashion as well as landing the HS jock as her boyfriend.

Jake is too smart for his own good, and his classmates hate him.

A mysterious envelope arrives at their family estate, and everything changes.

With magic, Time Travel, different worlds, a potential bad guy, who his parents worked for, and of course the Skull King. Jake and his sister suddenly find themselves having to survive, in a land they have never seen before.

If you like books similar to Harry Potter, but with fewer wands, add dinosaurs, jungles and really bad protagonist, this book just may be the one for you.

As a YA book, it was a fun read, and I stayed up past my normal bedtime to finish it. I enjoyed it, as the plot moved quickly, and the characters were fun to get to know.

Who doesn't want to travel back in time and find treasure, maybe your missing family members and take on a really bad guy and well, win?

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, adventurous story. Great for adults, teenagers, and children alike.

Jake and Kady Ransom's parents were are on an archeology dig. A few years later, the kids are invited to a museum exhibition dedicated to their parents work. Which happens to take place during an Eclipse.

While looking through the exhibition, they are sucked into another time period. A period where Roman's, Mayan's, Vikings,etc live together and speak the language All World. They make new friends and try to figure out how they got there and how to get home.

While in this ancient time, which they learn is Pangea, Jake learns that the Skull King want Jake and Kady....either alive or dead. While they are trying to help the villagers fight off the Skull King, they find something they haven't seen since their parents went missing......their dad's pocket watch. But how, in this ancient time period, could they find something that belonged to their parents? And how will they get home.

[Tony Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having now finished Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow, I know why the series was so short-lived. It's terrible. Tear-eh-bull.

James Rollins, known for his adventure-themed novels aimed at adults, is in way over his skis writing YA fiction. I've read enough of his other work to confidently say that he's not one of his generation's great writers, but he's really bad here. The characters are just a series of full body cringes, and the world building is beyond awful. It's like Rollins just put every YA trope into a blender.

Given the thumbnail of its premise (and yes, the book's cover), I was expecting something akin to a young Indiana Jones. What I got instead was a "What if Harry Potter's really dumb cousin fancied himself as Indiana Jones, and then wound up on an adventure that felt like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe meets Land of the Lost?".

I'm ultimately giving this book two stars, but believe me I'm being generous.

[Ariya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not the target reader here. Though the tale of a young nerdy boy Jake Ransom was predictably told in a sense of wide-eyed adventure, the story was enjoyable and pretty nostalgic. There are some trivial historical facts about loads of ancient civilizations (my favorites are Sumerian, Mayan and of course, Neanderthals!) in the pocket size of one children's book.

The downside of the heroes save the day trope is the execution in which the book fails to deliver. It falls into the trap of White Saviors big time. Not that it hasn’t been leading into that way but still feels cringe and bizarre, thanks to the innocent-like characters and the mystery that can hold the story and keep me going (also Pedro Pascal’s voice as the main factor, not that I read it because of him or anything.)

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to throw this read in simply because I just did a lot of reading and learning on the Maya and I thought it would be fun to surround that with some fiction. I did read Indiana Jones and the Pyramid of the Sorcerer before I got to this one, but I think they both only grazed anything substantially Mayan. I like James Rollins and this is the third book by him I have read. Obviously this one is geared towards kids. I would have absolutely loved this book when I was school age. I still found it to be fun as an adult as well.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Jake Ransom isn't a typical middle school-aged boy. During his spring break, he won't be playing video games or hanging with friends. He plans on attending a book signing of the new release written by his favorite physicist, sitting in on a lecture about the cannibal tribes of Borneo, and excavating shellfish fossils he discovered in a rock quarry near his house. No, Jake Ransom is no normal middle-schooler, but most kids his age didn't have archaeologist parents who went missing three years before, sending their notebooks and a Mayan coin broken in half before they vanished. Jake wears his half of the coin always, and so does his older sister, Kady, a senior cheer-leader who has nothing in common with her younger brother except the loss of their parents.

His vacation may not have been a normal one for a middle-schooler, but what happens when he and his sister are invited to attend a special event in London makes the week he planned look perfectly reasonable for a boy his age. During the exhibition opening displaying the antiquities his parents discovered before their disappearance, something happens to Jake and Kady. One moment they are standing in front of the replica of the Mayan pyramid his parents discovered. The next, they are in the middle of a prehistoric jungle. There they encounter a Mayan girl and a Roman boy on the run from . . . is that a T-Rex?

But dinosaurs will soon seem commonplace compared to the strange and fascinating world they discover in the city of Calypsos, at the center of which stands the full-size version of the Mayan pyramid his parents discovered. Jake is certain that the key to their return home lies inside the sacred pyramid. To gain entry they must first win the trust of a collection of people from ancient tribes stolen from around the world. And then there is the shadow of the evil Skull King that even now is stretching over the lands of Calypsos, trying to steal the power of the pyramid for himself.

Review
The Story:
Young archaeologist. Ancient civilizations. An unknown evil. I was drawn to the story from the very beginning. Jake is a version of a studious Indiana Jones. He's had the training, but he's lacked the adventures, until now. And he's prepared for them, though not always in the manner he suspected. Surprisingly, his sister, who seems at the outset to be just another beauty queen in the making with her sights set no higher than the Captain of the Football Team and the next Big Cheer, turns out to be up to the challenge as well. They manage to hold their own throughout the adventures of the book, making allies and finding a niche for themselves among the people of Calypsos. Jake, the scholar, makes friends with the local masters of alchemy, men who study the magics of the land. Kady finds herself welcomed in the halls of the Vikings and discovers a unique comparison between baton twirling and sword throwing.

Jake also makes two close friends during his time in Calypsos: Marika, the Mayan daughter of one of the master, and Pindor, the Roman son of one of the Elders of Calypsos. The threesome manage to end up in the center of all the goings-on of Calypsos, which will, in the end, put them at the center of the Skull King's attempt to takeover the city and control its magic. The ways in which the trio, along with help fromKady, Pindor's older brother and Kady's squad of youthful Viking warrioresses, combat the evil of the Skull King is exciting and unique.

The Writing:
At first, I was leery of what I would find on the page of this young adult novel. But from the first few pages, I was hooked. The writing is descriptive but easy to read, with simply constructed sentences that don't try to do more than convey the essence of the story. It isn't Hemingway, for nothing is hidden under the language, but it is to the point and reveals just what the reader needs to know to paint a vivid and compelling picture of the scene and the characters interactions.

Better yet, just when I thought I knew what would happen next, something quite different occurred. The plot did not try to point me in the wrong direction, throwing up red herrings to lead me astray, but led me along naturally with the opinions and concerns of the characters, until they, and I, found out that we were mistaken. Sometimes to a dangerous degree.

And the Skull King, when he finally made his appearance, was not of the usual 'Mwahaha' variety of villain. He was terrifying in the manner of Voldemort or a Ring Wraith (and indeed shares qualities with both of these villains). What drives him hasn't been completely revealed, as this is only the first book of a series. But it is obvious that he will not stop to get what he's after and the depths of his cunning and plotting have only to be touched upon.

Recommendation:
I enjoyed this book immensely and have the second one on order now. The fact that I found the book sitting in a bargain bin made it all the more enjoyable, like finding a ruby sitting among costume jewelry. I recommend it for any enthusiasts of adventure fiction, and it is appropraite for readers age 12 and up. I'd set the age lower except it can be a bit frightening at times, and the loss of parents can be the hardest material for younger readers to handle. That said, mature 10-year-olds could easily handle the writing and language. My 8-year-old is probably up to it, except for the material (she doesn't do parent loss well in any medium). So I will hang onto my copy until she, or her younger brother, are older enough to enjoy the adventures of Jake and his sister. And by then, I should hopefully have the full set!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book of the year, and first ever audiobook! I actually read this series as a child when it first came out, and it was really fun revisiting it. It holds up as a children’s book, and clearly I’m still as much of an ancient history nerd as I was as a kid because it was a really fun adventure story. Admittedly, I borrowed this from the library because Pedro Pascal is the one that narrates it, but hey — whatever motivation gets me reading is good enough for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s definitely hooked me on audiobooks, so I’m hoping that fact will increase the number of books I read (or listen to!) this year.