Customer Reviews

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've gotten a little clever with the title of my review. It refers to the fact that thriller writer James Rollins also writes fantasy novels under the name James Clemens. I think Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow really is like the perfect offspring of the Rollins and Clemens styles--some science, thrills and adventure, mixed with a generous amount of fantasy. And this IS his first novel for young adults.

Now, the book is written for kids aged ten and up. I'm a 40-year-old woman, so I'd be, you know, up. There isn't a doubt in my mind that this book will find an audience with its intended readership, but that it will also be read by many of Rollins adult fans who are, like me, young at heart. The great thing is that there's something for everyone. It's a terrific book for parents and kids to read together.

The novel is told from the point of view of 13-year-old Jake Ransom. He and his older sister Kady come from a long line of archeologists and adventurers. Their parents were lost under mysterious circumstances on an expedition three years earlier, but despite this tragedy, Jake is ready to follow in their footsteps. He's fascinated by history and science, and spends all his time engaged in some form of learning. Kady's a little different. She's... popular. (And great job writing some strong female characters, Mr. Rollins!)

Near the beginning of the novel, Jake and Kady receive a surprise invitation to a museum exhibit opening in London. The exhibit features Mayan artifacts recovered from the senior Ransoms' last fateful expedition. Jake and Kady attend the opening amidst much fanfare. It's an eventful day; the opening is timed to match exactly a full eclipse of the sun, plus there's an electrical storm raging. Alone with an artifact, during some extraordinary atmospheric conditions, all the puzzle pieces come together and Jake and Kady are transported--inexplicably--to another world. And they're about to be eaten by a t-rex!

Jake and Kady have come to Calypsos, and while they explore this village and its unique inhabitants, they are searching for a way home. Unfortunately, they get embroiled with a VVV--a vaguely Voldemortian villain--and are intimately caught up in an epic battle of good and evil. The book actually reminded me more of Lloyd Alexander's beloved Chronicles of Prydain with its own epic battle than anything else (but others with a better vocabulary of YA fiction may have more apt comparisons).

Here's the thing... This novel is the first of a promised series. It does a great job of setting up the principles, the situations, the conflicts, and so forth. And this arc of the story is complete. The one thing you should know is that none of the bigger picture questions are answered. As you finish this novel, it will leave you wanting much, much more.

I read a galley of this novel, but I can't wait to see all the illustrations in a finished copy. It's coming out right in time for my nephew's birthday, and I'm very much looking forward to reading this and future Jake Ransom adventures with him.

Thanks to James for once again dipping into his (bottomless) well of creativity to write something entirely unexpected. 2009 is going to go down as the most prolific for Mr. Rollins...between Jake Ransom, The Doomsday Key and the Alter of Eden, this man is keeping BUSY, no doubt about it!

Yes, this is NOT a story in keeping with the average Sigma Force novels--and yet that doesn't make it any less entertaining. This novel PROVES you don't have to infest a book with expletives and sex in order to be thoroughly exciting and VERY worthwhile to read (not that a typical Rollins novel was loaded with that anyway). I didn't used think this way all that long ago, but after giving in and picking up the Harry Potter series in an attempt to find additional common ground with my children, I discovered something quite unexpected along the way: Books for younger readers can still be every bit as fun to read as anything else out there.

While I have no independent information to confirm this, my guess is after writing the latest Indiana Jones story, a few ideas began to churn around in his head and the result is our Jake Ransom tale, which in MY opinion seems to be clearly inspired from a Young Indiana Jones perspective. Again, I have ZERO evidence to back this up, but if I had to guess, I'd say this is a fair bet that I am at least partially correct.

So how IS the story? Well, without giving away the plot details (which I absolutely HATE people doing btw), this is James Rollins...what do you expect but fun, thrilling adventure?? At least thats what I expect, and so far, I have been ANYTHING but let down. If nothing else, the previous novels have steadily been raising the bar and I got literally everything I expected (and quite a bit more to be honest) from Jake and his first adventure...yes, by the looks of things, this will NOT be Jakes one and only escapade (thankfully). The story reminded me a little of Indiana Jones (obviously) with a bit of The Mummy, not to mention a healthy dose of Supernatural, too--and a whole lot of action blended quite well together, making one VERY well written tale that I submit is just as fun to enjoy as anything else in Mr. Rollins large--and expanding--list of adventure tales to choose from.

I eagerly await Jakes next story.

This book has something for everyone. Adult fans of James Rollins will enjoy a style that combines the author's fiction style with the style of his fantasy-author alter-ego, James Clemens. It blends fact with fiction with his usual flare to create fascinating pictures of both this world and the world in which the main characters find themselves.

Younger readers will find a fast-paced tale full of adventure and excitement, with likable characters and a world that draws in even the most picky readers.

Whatever your age, this one leaves you wanting more.

Let me say first of all that I am a Rollins fan. While I liked the characters of Jake and Kady I was a little disappointed the way Rollins introduced a hodge podge of different lost civilizations in one place and the reason they were there.

The big battle scene at the end seemed to be missing something, maybe it just was not quite suspenseful enough and the antagonist (Skull King) really wasn't that scary.

One of my favorite things that Rollins did was the use of Mayan symbols, modern technology mixed with the fantasy world and the explanation of how things reacted better.

With that said I will continue to read to my boys about the young adventurer Jake and his sister.

Jake Ransom and his sister Kady are transported into a world filled with ancient civilizations, dinosaurs and mythical creatures. Following in the footsteps of their parents, Jake and Kady attempt to figure out where they are and how to get home. This book was jam packed, sometimes almost too much so. A reader could get lost with the references to mythology, ancient history and a sort of physics. I liked the main characters and think that this could be a good book for a strong boy reader. I read this book on my Kindle.

[...]

I gave this to two twelve year old boys who loved it and are enthusiastically waiting for the sequel. Both thought the action was engrossing, but I was most caught by how deeply they cared not only about Jake, but about the "secondary" characters including sister Kady, and newfound friends Maya, Baachuk and Pindor. James Rollins is creating this adventure with a huge scope and, like in his adult novels, he includes visual clues and takes real information to mind-stretching extremes. I recently read a review that said something like, James Rollins doesn't write novels, he builds roller-coasters and he's certainly given us a thrill ride here.

Three years ago, Jake and Kady's parents disappeared on a mysterious expedition. Now, Jake is 13 and an aspiring archaeologist, while his older sister Kady cares about popularity. Then, a strange envelope signed to Jake and Kady shows up on their doorstep. The envelope contains an invitation to a museum exhibit that features artifacts discovered on the last expedition of the Ransoms. The next thing they know, Jake and Kady are transported to another world that includes t-rexes, cavemen, Mayans, and Romans!

I did not really know what to expect when I received this noel. Most children adventure novels for me are average or miss. This one was average, but the novel included some great parts. I liked how Jake and Kady's parents mysteriously disappeared. It hooked me to the novel before I even started reading. I also liked the world (Calypsos) that Jake and Kady find themselves in. Rollins created a world with so many secrets and oddities. I mean where else can you find Mayans and Romans together? ;) Another thing that I really liked was the history in the novel. Rollins included facts from many ancient civilizations. Instead of just giving readers another adventure novel, Rollins also gives a history lesson-one that's far more entertaining than my World History class. I also liked how Rollins left questions unanswered but did not end in a major cliffhanger. It was a great way to end the first novel of a series.

Now for the negatives. I thought that most of the characters were boring and cliche. There was nothing unique about Kady, and Jake was not much better. The lack of uniqueness made the main characters uninteresting, which is never good. The only minor characters I particularly liked were Pindor (Jake's friend) and Pindor's brother. Considering this book focuses on adventure, I can overlook some of the issues I had with characters.

I love James Rollin's books and this one is no exception!! I'm half way through it and would have finished it if I didn't have to work! Ha!

I have been a fan of James Rollins for years now--especially the Sigma Force series--and eagerly await each new novel, but I was unsure of how Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow, targeted at younger readers, would work out. The blurbs are a little misleading. Jake Ransom owes much more to Lord of the Rings, Narnia or Harry Potter than it does to Indiana Jones. While Jake's adventures are rooted in human history, the action takes place in an alternate universe inhabited by representatives of various human (and pre-human) cultures, as well as species from the paleo-historic record. In this strange reality, the laws of physics are bent and science is replaced by a type of alchemy associated with magical crystals. Most of the action takes place in the city of Calypsos, protected from roaming T-Rexes and the evil minions of the Skull King by a strange energy field, and there's even a couple chapters devoted to the local sports craze (a game that is sort of like polo, but played from dinos instead of ponies). The rousing climax of the novel is truly epic--a battle on the scale of something from Tolkien's imagination.

Still, maybe I'm not the best person to judge this book. Last night as I was reading a chapter to my sons at bedtime, my youngest asked me: "What's the next book going to be about?"

That has got to be the best recommendation any author can receive. Evidently, the results are in; my boys think Jake is a winner.

Connecticut teenagers Jake and Kady Ransom come from a long line of archeologists and adventurers. Jake is preparing to be an adventurous archeologist. He studies history, science and taekwondo, and practices his expedition skills digging up fossils in his backyard. Kady, while also very intelligent, is not so studious. She is a popular cheerleader who is more concerned about her social schedule than following in her ancestors' footsteps.

Three years ago, their parents disappeared without a trace while on a Mayan expedition. While attending a British Museum event featuring artifacts recovered by their parents, Jake and Kady are transported to another world.

Calypsos is inhabited by plants, animals, and people from different places in time (e.g., dinosaurs, Neanderthals, Mayans, and Romans). While searching for a way home, Jake and Kady join with the inhabitants to fight the Skull King, a dark lord who wants to destroy the peaceful village.

The Skull King's Shadow is a fast-paced adventure that combines fantasy, mythology, science and history. Rollins creates strong characters and a vivid world. While a complete story, the broader questions are left unanswered. As the first in a series, the reader will have to read the entire series for the answers. The Skull King's Shadow is an Indiana Jones adventure that will hopefully inspire young readers to explore the history and science revered in the book.