Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

Jake Ransom
	HarperCollins edition, 2009
Author	James Rollins
Language	English
Series	Jake Ransom
Genre	Thriller fantasy novel
Publisher	HarperCollins
Publication date	28 April 2009
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	399
ISBN	978-0-06-147379-1
Followed by	Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow is a young adult novel by James Rollins, part of the Jake Ransom fantasy adventure series.

Plot synopsis

When a mysterious envelope arrives for Jake Ransom, he and his older sister, Kady, are plunged into a gripping chain of events. An artifact found by their parents (on the expedition from which they never returned) leads Jake and Kady to a strange world inhabited by a peculiar mix of long-lost civilizations such as the Romans, Mayans, and the Dinosaurs, a world that may hold the key to their parents disappearance.

But even as they enter the gate to this extraordinary place, savage creatures soar across the sky, diving to attack. Jake's new friends, the Mayan girl Marika and the Roman Pindor, say the creatures were created by an evil alchemist - the Skull King, Kalverum Rex. as Jake struggles to find a way home, it becomes obvious that what the Skull King wants most is Jake and Kady - dead or alive. Will Jake stay and help his friends or will he turn his back on his new friends?

Characters

Jake Ransom
Kady Ransom
Marika Balam
Pindor Tiberius
Bach'uuk
Henry Bethel
Huntress Livia
Kalverum Rex a.k.a. The Skull King
Centurion Gaius
Magister Balam
Magister Oswin
Magister Zahur
Morgan Drummond
Heronidus Tiberius
Marcus Tiberius
Astrid Ulfsdottir
Elder Wu
Mer'uuk
Jake and Kady's parents
Museum Curator
Randy White
Craig Brask
John Harry

Reception

According to Kirkus Reviews, Rollin's debut novel for children "starts out as a realistic thriller but takes a big left turn into fantasy without abandoning the thrills. Dollops of real science are nicely integrated, but the characterizations harbor no surprises."^[1]

Publishers Weekly also highlighted the inclusion of non-fiction material, noting that novel "presents a wide range of interesting historical information while telling a rollicking good story". They also referred to the novel an "exciting time-travel adventure" and Jake "an Indiana Jones in the making".^[2]

Booklist's Ilene Cooper compared the plot, as well as the main character Jake, to Harry Potter, but noted that "stylistically, [...] Rollins is no Rowling, though his short paragraphs and staccato sentences make this a fine read for the reluctant or those who put a premium on action." Cooper added, "Oddly, things get a bit more ho-hum as they become more fantastical."^[3]

References

^ "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow". Kirkus Reviews. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^ "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow". Publishers Weekly. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^ Cooper, Ilene (15 March 2009). "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow". Booklist. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

[1] "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow". Kirkus Reviews. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

[2] "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow". Publishers Weekly. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

[3] Cooper, Ilene (15 March 2009). "Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow". Booklist. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

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