S.W. Lothian – Author

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It’s not a secret to readers of my books that I like action and adventure and trap-laden settings that seem impossible to beat. It’s the very core of my Axel Rhodes series, inspired by the likes of Indiana Jones. Throw in likable and relatable characters, a setting that’s exotic and full of tension, mystery, and the unexpected, and you have a solid base for a gripping story. Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake is one of those series.

As soon as I saw cover shots and recommendations for this Rob Lloyd Jones series on my Instagram feed, I knew I had to read them. In a world where there’s only an instant to grab attention before flicking to the next thing, the incredible covers were like a magnet and I was the metal.

Jake and his sister, Pan, are as normal as they could be, and so are their parents. That is, until a family holiday to Egypt turns their lives upside down. The premise is interesting. Parents who have a secret, which is suddenly revealed when events take a turn for the worse. The whole family dynamic changes as Jake and Pan discover their parents are way cooler than they ever suspected.

This is where the parents usually fade into the background in these types of stories, so the focus is solely on the kids. But this one is different, Mum/Mom and Dad still play an integral and active part as the plot unfolds. I’ve read (somewhere, but I can’t remember where 🙂 ) that this was intentional, RLJ wanted to have the whole family unit involved in the adventure.

Jake needs to step out of his troubled past to find his parents, and Pan has to learn to be herself and stop hiding her strengths. As a pair working together, they make a formidable team against an enemy that has a far bigger goal. The Atlas family are the biggest threat to their plans and there is plenty of rivalry and action filled with gadgets, close escapes, and dramatic confrontations.

Modern Egypt serves as the backdrop to this story that propels us into long lost tombs full of traps (a favorite of mine), secrets, and epic chases. The pace of the story is spot on, I never found myself drifting off at any slow points (I didn’t notice any), and there was always something just out of sight that kept me reading.

Rob Lloyd Jones has delivered a great ride in the first Jake Atlas book, and I’m so glad that there are 3 more ready for me to continue the journey.

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This is a series I’m determined to finish. I love the action, the adventure, the setting, the characters, and … everything else. Awesome covers with maximum pop unfold to reveal a great read for fans of adventure, gadgets, and settings that are packed full of secrets and traps.

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