Mikaela Kadono is bummed when her parents move the family into a spooky old fixer-upper house. When she finds the house contains a secret - a message from the distant past hidden in riddles and codes, she and her friends set off on a quest to solve the mystery. Their perilous adventure takes them from the high seas to a secret labyrinth of tunnels. Success, even survival, will take all their skills, gadgets, technology, and courage. As they unravel the mystery, it seems as if the message was left specifically for them. But how could the sender of the message have known about them 100 years ago? Are they being sent on this mission from someone in the past? Or someone in the future? Little do they know, they’ve become wrapped in an evil plot to take over the world that spans not only the last century, but those yet to come.
Mikaela Kadono is bummed when her parents move the family into a spooky old fixer-upper house. When she finds the house contains a secret - a message from the distant past hidden in riddles and codes, she and her friends set off on a quest to solve the mystery. Their perilous adventure takes them from the high seas to a secret labyrinth of tunnels. Success, even survival, will take all their skills, gadgets, technology, and courage. As they unravel the mystery, it seems as if the message was left specifically for them. But how could the sender of the message have known about them 100 years ago? Are they being sent on this mission from someone in the past? Or someone in the future? Little do they know, they’ve become wrapped in an evil plot to take over the world that spans not only the last century, but those yet to come.
Mikaela gasped and sat straight up in bed. Beads of sweat ringed her brow. The details of the nightmare evaporated as consciousness took control. She was left with images of being trapped underground, of darkness pierced by a sudden explosion of blue bolts of electricity and a sickening fear for friends, but no one that she recognized. Taking a deep breath and shaking her head, she looked around the room, just illuminated by the predawn light outside. Boxes containing everything she owned lined the walls. Today was moving day, a day she’d been dreading since she’d learned her parents had bought a house in a new city.
Just a few hours later, Mikaela’s head leaned against the window of her parents’ minivan, her melancholy gaze miles away. Her thoughts were of the friends and the house she was leaving behind. For the third time in her thirteen years, she’d be the new kid at school.
Mikaela’s dad, David Kadono, was in the opposite mood as he piloted the minivan down the street. “We’re getting close!”
His newest scheme to make money was house flipping. He found this old, neglected house and scooped it up for a great price. He convinced his wife, Katie, that it was their opportunity to make it big, plus fixing up a house would be a great family project.
Mikaela’s eight-year-old brother, Tony, couldn’t have cared less. He was busy with his toy airplane, flying along in his hand against the window.
“Look, guys! Castle Kadono! The movers are already there!” Her dad was beaming.
Mikaela looked up to see a moving truck parked in front of a creepy house. It looked old and run down. A porch extended across the front, covered with a roof. Old, faded, dirty white paint was peeling from the railing and support columns. Above, two large dormer windows bracketed with old-fashioned wooden shutters stuck out from a steeply gabled roof. Centered between the windows, a smaller octagon-shaped dormer window with stained- glass made the house seem like it was more than its two stories.
“Ugh,” she groaned, “this is gonna be so much worse than I thought.”
Her dad parked, jumped out, greeted the movers, then rattled off instructions. Tony trotted after his dad, the plane in hand. Mikaela got out of the van and stood, shoulders slumped, looking at the house.
Her mom put her arm around her. “Oh, Kaela, this seems like the worst thing ever, but it won’t be. Just give it a chance… I bet great things are going to happen here.”
That’s what moms are supposed to say, Mikaela thought as she nodded and walked toward her new home. She’d come to realize her mom was right, but not in her wildest dreams could she imagine the adventure that was about to begin.
In Jake Zortman's science fiction book The Rise of the Legends, five exceptionally talented teenagers (The Drone Legends) are tasked with thwarting a villain who wants to destroy them, change events in the timeline, and rule the entire world. Mikaela, Jorge, Kendall, Collin, and Thomas are at the center of the story as they decipher future codes that send them on a perilous journey that involves time travel, artificial intelligence, and dangerous missions.
From time travel, artificial intelligence, and bullying to second chances, starting over, and the power of friendship, the story explores themes that readers will find exciting and relatable, ensuring an engaging reading experience, especially for young adult audiences. However, despite its promising setting, action-packed plot, and wonderful characters, The Rise of the Legends falls short in some aspects.
The book seems to have some plot holes, which negatively affect the overall coherence of the narrative and are one of its main flaws. The rationale behind artificial intelligence traveling to the past to aid the protagonists in a mission they have already succeeded in the future seems contrived and lacks a solid foundation. Even though there is an attempt to provide clarification in the epilogue, readers will be left with some lingering unanswered questions, which will leave a sense of confusion at the end of the story.
Additionally, there are believability concerns in the story as well due to the characterization of the main protagonists. The teens are depicted engaging in tasks that are notably advanced for their ages, such as deciphering complex puzzles with ease, despite only one character possessing supernatural abilities. This lack of realism challenges the audience's ability to fully invest in the narrative, hindering the immersive experience the book aims to deliver.
On the positive side, the book offers moments of suspense and action, keeping readers engaged as the Drone Legends navigate through dangerous challenges and mysteries. The incorporation of futuristic technology, like Kendall's DLR X900 night-vision camera and the futuristic anthro-cyborg integrated intelligence, adds a sense of intrigue to the storyline, showcasing creative world-building elements that enhance the sci-fi aspects of the novel.
In conclusion, The Rise of the Legends by Jake Zortman presents a promising premise with a diverse set of themes and engaging characters. The book caters to the young adult demographic, who will easily relate to the teenage characters, but it falls short in execution at times due to plot holes and a lack of narrative cohesion. Despite the issues I encountered, I believe the novel will make a decent choice for readers seeking a mix of science fiction and adventure in a young adult setting, as it offers moments of excitement and creative exploration.