Jack Reynolds
High stakes. Layered characters. Series-sized adventure.
Rooted in real mythology. Written for readers who feel everything.
Jack Reynolds writes young adult fantasy rooted in real mythology, real stakes, and characters who feel the weight of every choice. Right now that means deep dives into Mesoamerican history, ancient guardian traditions, and what it actually feels like to be sixteen years old with the weight of the world on your shoulders.
The Shay Lark series grew out of a fascination with the idea that history isn’t as settled as textbooks make it seem — that somewhere between the documented past and the myths that surround it, there’s room for a story about inheritance, danger, and the courage it takes to grow into who you’re meant to be.
When not writing, Jack is usually deep in research on Mesoamerican civilizations, tracking down the kind of obscure historical detail that makes a fictional world feel real.
At the Desk
What Drives the Story
Three ideas anchor every book in the Shay Lark series — and every project that follows it.
Real History, Real Stakes
The mythology in these books isn’t invented from nothing — it’s built on real Mesoamerican history and belief, so the world feels discovered rather than decorated.
Characters Who Feel It
Every choice has weight. Shay Lark isn’t a chosen one who shrugs off danger — she’s sixteen, and she carries every consequence with her.
Series-Sized Adventure
These are stories built to unfold across books — with mysteries planted early that won’t pay off until readers have earned the answer.