Five Kingdoms: Sky Raiders
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Brandon Mull |
| Products | Fantasy novel |
Five Kingdoms: Sky Raiders is a 2014 fantasy novel authored by American writer Brandon Mull, serving as the inaugural book in the Five Kingdoms series.
Main characters
Ansel
A well-known slaver responsible for capturing Cole’s companions, harboring a deep grudge against Cole.
Cole Bryant Randolph
Living in Mesa, Arizona, Cole journeys into the Outskirts to save his friends and ultimately becomes a Sky Raider. He is the central figure of the series, wielding both the Jumping Sword and Raw Shaping abilities.
Dalton
Cole’s closest friend, who was also taken and enslaved alongside him on Halloween.
Jace
A headstrong Sky Raider born into servitude, equipped with a magical rope and secretly infatuated with Mira, a fact that Cole frequently mocks.
Jenna Hunt
The object of Cole’s affection, one of the children enslaved in the Outskirts.
Miracle Salandra Pemberton (Mira)
One of five princesses presumed dead. Together with Cole, Jace, and Twitch, she seeks to defeat Carnag and depose her father, the High King.
Rueben (Twitch)
A Grindali originating from Elloweer who was sold into slavery after leaving his homeland. He possesses a magical ring that allows him to assume his Grindali form and is determined to protect his village Kasori from the Swamp People.
High King
The sovereign of the Outskirts who deprived his daughter of her powers and compelled four of the five Grand Shapers to go into hiding (with Declan residing in the Eastern Cloudwall).
Hunter Aaron Randolph
An Enforcer dreaded by the Unseen and Cole Randolph’s elder brother. In Book 3, Crystal Keepers, Cole convinces him to change allegiances.
Reception
A reviewer from Kirkus Reviews observes, “Mull provides his hero with numerous opportunities to demonstrate bravery, cleverness, and proficiency with magical equipment, creating unique creatures and environments that maintain an unconventional narrative.”
Carrie R. Wheadon of Common Sense Media remarks, “Devotees of Brandon Mull will appreciate Sky Raiders as an introductory read, although casual readers might perceive the pacing as slow and find the protagonist’s disconnection from his past somewhat unusual.”
Simon Lipskar at Publishers Weekly commends the novel’s “captivating concept, robust world-building, and multiple plot twists,” describing it as a “genuine page-turner” that skillfully combines surreal logic with intense stakes.
Tori Ackerman from Deseret News points out that Sky Raiders merges darker elements from Mull’s Beyonders series with the lighter tone of Fablehaven, making it appealing to a wide range of readers.
Regarding the audiobook adaptation, a Publishers Weekly reviewer notes that narrator Keith Nobbs delivers a youthful voice suitable for the characters, balancing vivid narration with emotional nuance, although some character voices may be difficult to differentiate.