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Jack West Jr #2
The Six Sacred Stones
THE END OF THE WORLD IS HERE
Unlocking the secret of the Seven Ancient Wonders was only the beginning...
After their thrilling exploits in Matthew Reilly's rampaging New York Times bestseller, 7 Deadly Wonders, supersoldier Jack West Jr. and his loyal team of adventurers are back, and now they face an all-but-impossible challenge.
A mysterious ceremony in an unknown location has unraveled their work and triggered a catastrophic countdown that will climax in no less than the end of all life on Earth.
But there is one last hope.
If Jack and his team can find and rebuild a legendary ancient device known only as the "Machine," they might be able to ward off the coming armageddon. The only clues to locating this Machine, however, are held within the fabled Six Sacred Stones, long lost in the fog of history.
And so the hunt begins for the Six Sacred Stones and the all-important knowledge they possess, but in the course of this wild adventure Jack and his team will discover that they are not the only ones seeking the Stones and that there might just be other players out there who don't want to see the world saved at all.
From Stonehenge in England to the deserts of Egypt to the spectacular Three Gorges region of China, The 6 Sacred Stones will take you on a nonstop roller-coaster ride through ancient history, modern military hardware, and some of the fastest and most mind-blowing action you will ever read.
506 pages, Hardcover
First published December 17, 2007
498 people are currently reading
6991 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Reilly
89 books6,120 followersBorn in Sydney in 1974, Matthew Reilly was not always a big fan of reading. It was only after he read To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies in Year 10 that he realised reading could transport you to another world. Following this revelation, Matthew soon began creating stories of his own and set about writing his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while still at university studying law.
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 745 reviews
February 8, 2017
Action! Adventure!
Honestly, I don't usually go in for this kind of novel unless pressured by friends or I am just watching some SF adventure, but I can see the appeal. More than that, even. The pacing is always great and while it's not *exactly* a serial adventure right out of the 30's, it has all the pulp feel you could wish for.
Ah! But what flavor of pulp is this?
It should be familiar to all you connoisseurs of conspiracy theories. The wilder, the better. You know, like the dark sun, (or planet, if you wish), the Nemesis that comes around to wreck havoc in the solar system on a regular basis.
Oh, and the world-healing power of crystals, too.
And let's not forget the theories that mankind has gone through many stages of high-tech societies and declines! I actually approve of that theory, and not that aliens uplifted us. So much can be buried so absolutely in so little time. I can believe that there could be many very advanced societies in the past. But wait! Reilly takes it further and connects the two and has our ancient ancestors doing their worst to save us future generations from the dark star.
As long as we go on a little adventure, of course. :)
So let's get the band back together! You've already got one stone!
Oh, and not tired of traps, yet? Good news for you! We've got lots of traps. Near-death escapes, captures, torture, and even MORE traps!
I think it's good fun. We're not really dealing with reality here. Especially with the caricatures of races or real evidence of connection between Stonehenge and the Pyramids... but screw it. Let's go along for the ride. I'm used to 카지노싸이트 Fantasy as much as 카지노싸이트 Fiction. This fits the former bill nicely.
The point is just to have fun, and this novel, IMHO is better than the first. It builds on everything we went through already and steps it up a few more notches. From Sun Flares to Dark Stars! What's next?
What a cliffhanger, too! Literally. lol
But that's expected in an *actual* adventure, right?
Honestly, I don't usually go in for this kind of novel unless pressured by friends or I am just watching some SF adventure, but I can see the appeal. More than that, even. The pacing is always great and while it's not *exactly* a serial adventure right out of the 30's, it has all the pulp feel you could wish for.
Ah! But what flavor of pulp is this?
It should be familiar to all you connoisseurs of conspiracy theories. The wilder, the better. You know, like the dark sun, (or planet, if you wish), the Nemesis that comes around to wreck havoc in the solar system on a regular basis.
Oh, and the world-healing power of crystals, too.
And let's not forget the theories that mankind has gone through many stages of high-tech societies and declines! I actually approve of that theory, and not that aliens uplifted us. So much can be buried so absolutely in so little time. I can believe that there could be many very advanced societies in the past. But wait! Reilly takes it further and connects the two and has our ancient ancestors doing their worst to save us future generations from the dark star.
As long as we go on a little adventure, of course. :)
So let's get the band back together! You've already got one stone!
Oh, and not tired of traps, yet? Good news for you! We've got lots of traps. Near-death escapes, captures, torture, and even MORE traps!
I think it's good fun. We're not really dealing with reality here. Especially with the caricatures of races or real evidence of connection between Stonehenge and the Pyramids... but screw it. Let's go along for the ride. I'm used to 카지노싸이트 Fantasy as much as 카지노싸이트 Fiction. This fits the former bill nicely.
The point is just to have fun, and this novel, IMHO is better than the first. It builds on everything we went through already and steps it up a few more notches. From Sun Flares to Dark Stars! What's next?
What a cliffhanger, too! Literally. lol
But that's expected in an *actual* adventure, right?
January 10, 2019
Book two in the Jack West series.
This book redefines the meaning of ‘Action Packed’.
400 hundred pages, give or take, of the most death defying non stop action you can ever imagine. I have to admit that there were times when I wished that the author (Matthew Reilly) would take his foot off the pedal just long enough for me to take a breath and smell the roses.
The world is heading for one hell of a cataclysmic event, the end of times. There is only one hope for the world survival, Jack West Jr. and his gang of elite intellectuals. If Jack and his gang can stop the impending cataclysm not only will the world survive but there will gifts, beyond imagining, bestowed on the person responsible.
With that in mind just about every nation that matters is out to get the spoils for themselves. Jack’s biggest problem is none other than his own father, Jack West Snr. Now this is someone you would not choose to have as your father.
With Jack and his team racing against time to secure the Earth’s survival the rest of the world is hell bent on killing Jack and his gang.
As for the end, there are cliff hangers and then there is this.
There is no doubt that this is a very entertaining read but I found the pace just too unrelenting. At my age I need to take thing a bit slower. ⛱
A great read and deserved the 4 stars I gave it.
This book redefines the meaning of ‘Action Packed’.
400 hundred pages, give or take, of the most death defying non stop action you can ever imagine. I have to admit that there were times when I wished that the author (Matthew Reilly) would take his foot off the pedal just long enough for me to take a breath and smell the roses.
The world is heading for one hell of a cataclysmic event, the end of times. There is only one hope for the world survival, Jack West Jr. and his gang of elite intellectuals. If Jack and his gang can stop the impending cataclysm not only will the world survive but there will gifts, beyond imagining, bestowed on the person responsible.
With that in mind just about every nation that matters is out to get the spoils for themselves. Jack’s biggest problem is none other than his own father, Jack West Snr. Now this is someone you would not choose to have as your father.
With Jack and his team racing against time to secure the Earth’s survival the rest of the world is hell bent on killing Jack and his gang.
As for the end, there are cliff hangers and then there is this.
There is no doubt that this is a very entertaining read but I found the pace just too unrelenting. At my age I need to take thing a bit slower. ⛱
A great read and deserved the 4 stars I gave it.
July 26, 2020
Re-Read 07/20
Goddammit.
The story leads on a little from the first book in the series, with new events loosely related to things that occurred previously, featuring most of the characters we fell in love with in the previous novel. Not all of them, you understand, because this is a Matthew Reilly novel and we all know that not even the good guys are safe in one of those.
Be warned now: this review may contain spoilers for in the form of names, or the distinct absence of names.
So this time Jack and co are looking for stones and can I just say, even though there are only six that are specifically sacred, I got a little confused with what all the stones and pillars etc were actually for. Thankfully we get lots of pictures and diagrams again and the characters like to ask each other all the questions I'm thinking myself which is very helpful with staying on track.
We're globe-trotting again and yes, there's a nice tight deadline because of course nothing is ever easy. *Le sigh* There are some new faces along for the ride which is fun - I confess, I have a soft spot for Astro - but of course there are some nice grizzly deaths, too. I'm starting to suspect Reilly gets a particular joy out of feeding people to animals and I am 100% on board with that. Plus more traps! How fun are booby traps!
It's kind of a 'Part One' really, with this novel setting us up for an epic conclusion in the next novel. As such, it's a little long and more info-dense than the previous. There is a lot more history here, and more cultures involved, so the story itself is a bit more drawn out, though the action is still fierce. I never get bored with this series. It just keeps me on edge. It's also written in such a way that you can really see it playing out like a movie - all the tense moments, dramatic pauses, eleventh hour saves ... it's fantastic.
The biggest draw of the series, though, is the characters, and how they work together. I love how they all have their roles, but they're family, too. I love their loyalty to one another and, yes, the relationship between Stretch and Pooh Bear is one of my faves (and can we just take a moment to appreciate that moment in my original review down below where I coin the term 'Legolasian'? Nice, Krystal, nice.) but the dynamics between each of them is really cool to watch. Zoe also gets a thousand times more badass in this book and I am firmly in her corner. Also they're all so humble about doing all these crazy things and it totally melts my heart for them more. Case in point:
Sass levels are here to stay.
Also, SO AUSTRALIAN. What a hero. You have earned your nap, Sir.
Ok that's about it! Loved it as usual and devoured it nice and fast. And since I seem to have forgotten so much I'll be continuing my re-read with rapt attention.
*Original Review 10/15*
Another immediately thrilling ride, but a much more ambitious and epic story than the first novel in the series. I love the history stuff, the archaeology of it all, the mystery of ancient civilisations and how these are all drawn together into a rollicking adventure story. The characters are a lot of fun in their diversity, and their similarities to other characters from literature make them fun and more appealing rather than tired and cliche. My love of LOTR probably has a lot to do with why I so much enjoy the relationship between the Gimli-esque Pooh Bear and his Legolasian friend, Stretch. Likewise, Harry Potter fans will no doubt enjoy this book's own red-headed troublesome twins. These are only two of a vast array of similarities between this novel and the two aforementioned series, but the references to the series means this is almost a dedication to inspiration. For me, it simply added extra appeal. Subtracting that, this is just another fantastic Matthew Reilly adventure. The action never stops, and the turns keep coming. I'll be making an emergency dash to the bookshop to get the next one in the series ASAP!
Goddammit.
The story leads on a little from the first book in the series, with new events loosely related to things that occurred previously, featuring most of the characters we fell in love with in the previous novel. Not all of them, you understand, because this is a Matthew Reilly novel and we all know that not even the good guys are safe in one of those.
Be warned now: this review may contain spoilers for in the form of names, or the distinct absence of names.
So this time Jack and co are looking for stones and can I just say, even though there are only six that are specifically sacred, I got a little confused with what all the stones and pillars etc were actually for. Thankfully we get lots of pictures and diagrams again and the characters like to ask each other all the questions I'm thinking myself which is very helpful with staying on track.
We're globe-trotting again and yes, there's a nice tight deadline because of course nothing is ever easy. *Le sigh* There are some new faces along for the ride which is fun - I confess, I have a soft spot for Astro - but of course there are some nice grizzly deaths, too. I'm starting to suspect Reilly gets a particular joy out of feeding people to animals and I am 100% on board with that. Plus more traps! How fun are booby traps!
It's kind of a 'Part One' really, with this novel setting us up for an epic conclusion in the next novel. As such, it's a little long and more info-dense than the previous. There is a lot more history here, and more cultures involved, so the story itself is a bit more drawn out, though the action is still fierce. I never get bored with this series. It just keeps me on edge. It's also written in such a way that you can really see it playing out like a movie - all the tense moments, dramatic pauses, eleventh hour saves ... it's fantastic.
The biggest draw of the series, though, is the characters, and how they work together. I love how they all have their roles, but they're family, too. I love their loyalty to one another and, yes, the relationship between Stretch and Pooh Bear is one of my faves (and can we just take a moment to appreciate that moment in my original review down below where I coin the term 'Legolasian'? Nice, Krystal, nice.) but the dynamics between each of them is really cool to watch. Zoe also gets a thousand times more badass in this book and I am firmly in her corner. Also they're all so humble about doing all these crazy things and it totally melts my heart for them more. Case in point:
'I knew you had a reputation for daring, Captain, but this, this borders on rank impudence. You really are a bold one.'
'Yeah, real bold.' West headed aft in the direction of his quarters. 'Now, if nobody minds, I'm going to boldly take a shower and then I'm going to boldly hit the sack.'
Sass levels are here to stay.
Also, SO AUSTRALIAN. What a hero. You have earned your nap, Sir.
Ok that's about it! Loved it as usual and devoured it nice and fast. And since I seem to have forgotten so much I'll be continuing my re-read with rapt attention.
*Original Review 10/15*
Another immediately thrilling ride, but a much more ambitious and epic story than the first novel in the series. I love the history stuff, the archaeology of it all, the mystery of ancient civilisations and how these are all drawn together into a rollicking adventure story. The characters are a lot of fun in their diversity, and their similarities to other characters from literature make them fun and more appealing rather than tired and cliche. My love of LOTR probably has a lot to do with why I so much enjoy the relationship between the Gimli-esque Pooh Bear and his Legolasian friend, Stretch. Likewise, Harry Potter fans will no doubt enjoy this book's own red-headed troublesome twins. These are only two of a vast array of similarities between this novel and the two aforementioned series, but the references to the series means this is almost a dedication to inspiration. For me, it simply added extra appeal. Subtracting that, this is just another fantastic Matthew Reilly adventure. The action never stops, and the turns keep coming. I'll be making an emergency dash to the bookshop to get the next one in the series ASAP!
October 4, 2008
This was lent to me by a friend, so I did try my best to enjoy it. But this kind of action-adventure-movie transformed into a book just isn't really my thing. Not only the increasingly ridiculous situations the characters find themselves in - "Block of stone about to fall and crush me? I will block it with my titanium arm!"
Also, his use of italics and exclamations marks in the narrative made me want to kill myself, or at least write to his editor. Can someone tell him to stop doing that, please? It's completely unnecessary. My friend told me I needed to relax and enjoy the story, but I just kept getting jolted out of it by those exclamation marks.
Also, his use of italics and exclamations marks in the narrative made me want to kill myself, or at least write to his editor. Can someone tell him to stop doing that, please? It's completely unnecessary. My friend told me I needed to relax and enjoy the story, but I just kept getting jolted out of it by those exclamation marks.
December 17, 2022
Okay people, it’s time to suspend your disbelief here at the door, you’re now entering the world of Matthew Reilly. Hang on to the handrails because it’s a wild and bumpy ride!
If you’ve read any Reilly books in the past you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about and The Six Sacred Stones, the second Jack West outing, provides more of the same astounding myth and legend revelations, incredible close calls against all odds and one cliffhanger (sometimes literally) after another.
So, what’s it about? It’s about 550 pages of all-out, no holds barred, forget about laws and silly high-powered meetings discussing right and wrong. It’s all about the action, action, action baby.
No, actually, it’s about saving Earth from absolute annihilation from an approaching Dark Sun. Yep, of course it is. And to do it, West and his band of talented cohorts have to construct a Machine that, once enabled, will protect the earth and all of its inhabitants.
The construction of this fabled Machine takes them to all corners of the Earth and to all of the big name ancient wonders. Stonehenge in England, the city-state of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia, the Great Temple of Ramesses in Egypt and so, so many more. And on their trail are armed forces from just about every country in the world, all inexplicably trying to stop them from achieving their goal.
The odds are stacked hugely against them, but that’s pretty much par for the course for Jack West.
I do have one annoying thing to note and that’s the old trope of the bad guys not immediately killing the good guys. Rather than simply putting a bullet in their heads and being done with it - oh no, the bad guys have a real bad habit of leaving the good guys in a perilous situation where they’re left to suffer a slow death, leaving just enough time for an unbelievable rescue. Will they ever learn?
Matthew Reilly takes what we thought we knew about action thrillers and dials things up to 11 - Spinal Tap-style.
So, what’s the bottom line? The bottom line is you’ve really got to be in the mood to enjoy a completely unrealistic ultra-action thriller like this. Fortunately, I had just finished a couple of emotion-filled character driven mysteries and was in the mood for some mindless high-octane fun and The Six Sacred Stones filled the bill admirably.
I’m reduced to giving this a 3 star rating, though, because Reilly is basically resorting to showing us the same trick over and over and over again. Crushing odds against, overwhelming forces bearing down, an impossible riddle to solve as time is running out, rinse repeat. It quickly becomes rather same ole, same ole. I will say this though, the pages REALLY fly by.
If you’ve read any Reilly books in the past you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about and The Six Sacred Stones, the second Jack West outing, provides more of the same astounding myth and legend revelations, incredible close calls against all odds and one cliffhanger (sometimes literally) after another.
So, what’s it about? It’s about 550 pages of all-out, no holds barred, forget about laws and silly high-powered meetings discussing right and wrong. It’s all about the action, action, action baby.
No, actually, it’s about saving Earth from absolute annihilation from an approaching Dark Sun. Yep, of course it is. And to do it, West and his band of talented cohorts have to construct a Machine that, once enabled, will protect the earth and all of its inhabitants.
The construction of this fabled Machine takes them to all corners of the Earth and to all of the big name ancient wonders. Stonehenge in England, the city-state of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia, the Great Temple of Ramesses in Egypt and so, so many more. And on their trail are armed forces from just about every country in the world, all inexplicably trying to stop them from achieving their goal.
The odds are stacked hugely against them, but that’s pretty much par for the course for Jack West.
I do have one annoying thing to note and that’s the old trope of the bad guys not immediately killing the good guys. Rather than simply putting a bullet in their heads and being done with it - oh no, the bad guys have a real bad habit of leaving the good guys in a perilous situation where they’re left to suffer a slow death, leaving just enough time for an unbelievable rescue. Will they ever learn?
Matthew Reilly takes what we thought we knew about action thrillers and dials things up to 11 - Spinal Tap-style.
So, what’s the bottom line? The bottom line is you’ve really got to be in the mood to enjoy a completely unrealistic ultra-action thriller like this. Fortunately, I had just finished a couple of emotion-filled character driven mysteries and was in the mood for some mindless high-octane fun and The Six Sacred Stones filled the bill admirably.
I’m reduced to giving this a 3 star rating, though, because Reilly is basically resorting to showing us the same trick over and over and over again. Crushing odds against, overwhelming forces bearing down, an impossible riddle to solve as time is running out, rinse repeat. It quickly becomes rather same ole, same ole. I will say this though, the pages REALLY fly by.
March 20, 2018
Matthew Reilly is very quickly becoming a favourite author of mine.
This is a fast-paced, page-turning, character-loving, thrilling journey through some exotic places with some fantastic archaeology, history and geography to boot.
The end of this book left me adding more Matthew Reilly novels to my TBR list.
Even if you don’t love action, adventure and drama, you will by the end of this.
This is a fast-paced, page-turning, character-loving, thrilling journey through some exotic places with some fantastic archaeology, history and geography to boot.
The end of this book left me adding more Matthew Reilly novels to my TBR list.
Even if you don’t love action, adventure and drama, you will by the end of this.
August 10, 2011
Matthew Reilly's writing is the written equivalent of someone showing you something, then bringing it so close to your face so as to almost hit you, repeatedly. I don't understand why he thinks his audience is so stupid. Literally every page has about 4 or 5 words that are italicised; he often re-describes something, by way of an obvious aside, that occurred just the page before. He'll have his characters awkwardly explain things in a manner even more artless than usual action books (case in point: ""The Ten Commandments!" Pooh Bear explained. "You can't be serious. The two carved stone tablets containing God's laws handed to Moses at Mount Sinai?"" - really? Really, Matthew Reilly? Aaaahahaha). And he overuses exclamation marks to a fault. Hey Matthew Reilly, it's possible to create atmosphere without using fonts or symbols that literally indicate something exciting or emphatic is occurring on the page.
But terrible writing style aside, I once really liked this dude for some fluffy but intriguing action/fantasy. He was my teacher's son so I read his first book, Contest, and really enjoyed the story of an intergalactic arena where terrestrials from all over the universe had to battle it out (I was 16 ok). But somewhere along the way, his books just became the type of material that I assume they put on shelves at airports because it's like hey, shit books are better than no books, suckas!
So yeah, this book was a disappointment. Oh, and the plot - overwraught, unbelievable, the hero conveniently knows absolutely everything in the whole world. Read this book if you hate yourself.
:D
But terrible writing style aside, I once really liked this dude for some fluffy but intriguing action/fantasy. He was my teacher's son so I read his first book, Contest, and really enjoyed the story of an intergalactic arena where terrestrials from all over the universe had to battle it out (I was 16 ok). But somewhere along the way, his books just became the type of material that I assume they put on shelves at airports because it's like hey, shit books are better than no books, suckas!
So yeah, this book was a disappointment. Oh, and the plot - overwraught, unbelievable, the hero conveniently knows absolutely everything in the whole world. Read this book if you hate yourself.
:D
June 18, 2011
Whenever I read a review for a Matthew Reilly book I am immediately putting the reviews into one of two categories. Category G - they got it. Category M - missed the point.
Reilly is one of the best at writing books that could be an action movie directed by Bay or Bruckheimer. They are meant to be a flat out thrill ride of action and adventure. So many reviewers seem to expect Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky and are understandably under-whelmed. I on the other hand was expecting a novelised action film, so I was whelmed or possibly super-whelmed.
I am a huge fan of Reilly's work. I finished his first Jack West Jr book and while it retained Reilly's breakneck pacing and adventure, it lacked reader involvement. Things just happened, you didn't feel thrilled by the adventure, and the book had me second guessing the series. This second JW Jr novel stands in stark contrast and is Reilly at his sterling best. While the Scarecrow series is his best work this series is impressive and worth reading.
A little warning: buy both Six Sacred Stones and Five Greatest Warriors, as you will want to read them back to back, just as I am doing. There may or may not be a cliff-hanger that can't wait.
Reilly is one of the best at writing books that could be an action movie directed by Bay or Bruckheimer. They are meant to be a flat out thrill ride of action and adventure. So many reviewers seem to expect Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky and are understandably under-whelmed. I on the other hand was expecting a novelised action film, so I was whelmed or possibly super-whelmed.
I am a huge fan of Reilly's work. I finished his first Jack West Jr book and while it retained Reilly's breakneck pacing and adventure, it lacked reader involvement. Things just happened, you didn't feel thrilled by the adventure, and the book had me second guessing the series. This second JW Jr novel stands in stark contrast and is Reilly at his sterling best. While the Scarecrow series is his best work this series is impressive and worth reading.
A little warning: buy both Six Sacred Stones and Five Greatest Warriors, as you will want to read them back to back, just as I am doing. There may or may not be a cliff-hanger that can't wait.
August 3, 2022
The second adventure in this series is all about doing the exact same things that made book one so good, just on a bigger, more epic scale. And in that, it does deliver. It’s an action-packed treasure hunting extravaganza. It does end in a massive cliffhanger though.
July 14, 2021
ধরুন, আপনি ২০২১ সালে নেই। আপনি বাস করছেন ২০০৭ সালে। কারণ বইয়ের কাহিনীর সময়কাল ২০০৭-৮ কে নিয়ে। ২০০৮ সালে সৌরজগতে ঘটতে যাচ্ছে বিরল একটা ঘটনা। দেখা দিতে যাচ্ছে সূর্য্যের বিপরীত শক্তি কৃষ্ণ সূর্য্যের। আর কৃষ্ণ সূর্য্যের আবির্ভাব মানেই পৃথিবীর অন্তিমকাল উপস্থিত। কৃষ্ণ সূর্য্যকে আটকাতে হলে পৃথিবী চষে বেড়াতে হবে জ্যাক ওয়েস্ট জুনিয়র আর তার টিমকে। সামনে অঘোর বিপদ। শুধু বিপদ বললে কম বলা হয়, শত্রুরা যখন মিত্রের ভাব ধরে তখন বুঝতে হবে "মহাবিপদ"। এছাড়া আফ্রিকার বর্বর ক্যানিবাল নিথা গোত্রের মানূষগুলো তো আছেই।
📙যেমন লাগল বইয়ের প্লটঃ প্লট বেশ ভালোই। পৃথিবীর ধ্বংস অনিবার্য। বাঁচতে হবে, বাঁচাতে হবে। একটা টিম মূল চরিত্রকে সাথে করে রোদ বৃষ্টি মাথায় করে ছুটে যাবে। ভিলেনের টিমের সাথে দুমদাম এনকাউন্টার থাকবে। সোজা কথায় একটা রোলিন্স রোলিন্স ভাব।
📙অনুবাদ কেমনঃ আমার পড়া নাভিদ হোসেনের এটাই প্রথম অনুবাদ। অনুবাদ বেশ ভালো। খটমটে ভাব নেই। তবে মাঝেসাঝে দুই একটা লাইন বেখাপ্পা লেগেছিল। আর দুই চারটা ভুল বানান। এসব ছাড় দিলে অনুবাদ ভালো। পরের সিক্যুয়েল ফাইভ গ্রেটেস্ট ওয়ারিয়র্স -এর অনুবাদও উনিই করেছেন।
📙সিরিজ নিয়ে কিছু কথাঃ জ্যাক ওয়েস্ট জুনিয়র। অসাধারণ এক চরিত্র। তবে একে নিয়ে মাতামাতি কম। খুবই কম। যেভাবে ড্যান ব্রাউন, রোলিন্স নিয়ে মাতামাতি হয়, রাইলিকে নিয়ে ততটা হয় না। এই কথা আমি আগেও বলেছি। গ্রেট জু অফ চায়না ছাড়া রাইলির যেন আর কোন পরিচয় নেই। অথবা, আমার একার কাছেই হয়তো এমন মনে হচ্ছে। যায় হোক, সিরিজের ২য় বই এটি। প্রথম বই আমার পড়া নেই। শুরুই ছিল ৪র্থ বই ফোর লিজেন্ডারি কিংডমস দিয়ে।
এই বইটার থ্রিল কখনো বাড়ে, কখনো কমে। তবে, আসল মজা ১৫০ পাতার পরই শুরু। ওয়েস্ট টিম যখন ফিল্ডে নামে তখন ভালোই থ্রিল লাগে। আবার যখন চার দেয়ালের ভেতর মিটিংয়ে বসে তখন উলটো বোর লাগে। যায় হোক, যে মিশন নিয়ে বইটা শুরু হয়েছে, বই শেষ হলেও মিশন শেষ হয় নি। এর জন্যে পড়তে হবে পরের বই ফাইভ গ্রেটেস্ট ওয়ারিয়র্স। দেখা যাক, সামনে কি আছে?
📙যা ভালো লেগেছেঃ প্লট, অনুবাদ, থ্রিল প্যাকেজ, ক্যারেক্টারগুলোর কোড নেইম, ইত্যাদি।
📙যা ভালো লাগেনিঃ বর্ণনা হালকা বেশি মনে হয়েছে। জ্যাক বারবার বিপদে পড়েও বিপদ কাটিয়ে ওঠার পদ্ধতিটা একটু বেশিই সহজ। এইজন্যে জ্যাক বড় সাইজের বিপদে পড়লেও অমন টেনশন লাগে নি। চরিত্রের বিশ্লেষণ করতে গেলে বলব, হয়তো অনেক চরিত্রের ব্যাকস্টোরি বা ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ড আগের বইয়ে ছিল। তাও কিছু চরিত্র যেন যথেষ্ট ফোকাস হয় নি। এছাড়া কিছু কিছু জায়গায় একশন বা এডভেঞ্চার একটু বেশিই আশা করেছিলাম। ওইখানে হতাশ হয়েছি।
📙সবশেষে বলতে চাইঃ "আমার ভালো লেগেছে।" একথা বলার সময় এখনো আসেনি। কারণ স্টোরি পরের বইয়ে শেষ হবে। দেখি পাথর নিয়ে কামড়াকামড়ি কোথায় গিয়ে থামে? তবে, যতটুকু পড়েছি তার সুবাদে ভাল্লাগছে বলাই যায়। ও, আরেকটা কথা, ফাইভ গ্রেটেস্ট ওয়ারিয়র্স হাতের কাছে না থাকলে সিক্স স্যাকরেড স্টোনস না পড়াই ভালো। অর্ধেক স্টোরি পড়ে মুড বেজার হওয়ার চান্স থেকে যায়।
🍁অনুবাদঃ নাভিদ হোসেন।
🍁প্রকাশনীঃ বাতিঘর
🍁পৃষ্টাঃ ৩১৭
🍁গায়ের দামঃ ২৪০ টাকা।
হ্যাপি রিডিং। 🙂
📙যেমন লাগল বইয়ের প্লটঃ প্লট বেশ ভালোই। পৃথিবীর ধ্বংস অনিবার্য। বাঁচতে হবে, বাঁচাতে হবে। একটা টিম মূল চরিত্রকে সাথে করে রোদ বৃষ্টি মাথায় করে ছুটে যাবে। ভিলেনের টিমের সাথে দুমদাম এনকাউন্টার থাকবে। সোজা কথায় একটা রোলিন্স রোলিন্স ভাব।
📙অনুবাদ কেমনঃ আমার পড়া নাভিদ হোসেনের এটাই প্রথম অনুবাদ। অনুবাদ বেশ ভালো। খটমটে ভাব নেই। তবে মাঝেসাঝে দুই একটা লাইন বেখাপ্পা লেগেছিল। আর দুই চারটা ভুল বানান। এসব ছাড় দিলে অনুবাদ ভালো। পরের সিক্যুয়েল ফাইভ গ্রেটেস্ট ওয়ারিয়র্স -এর অনুবাদও উনিই করেছেন।
📙সিরিজ নিয়ে কিছু কথাঃ জ্যাক ওয়েস্ট জুনিয়র। অসাধারণ এক চরিত্র। তবে একে নিয়ে মাতামাতি কম। খুবই কম। যেভাবে ড্যান ব্রাউন, রোলিন্স নিয়ে মাতামাতি হয়, রাইলিকে নিয়ে ততটা হয় না। এই কথা আমি আগেও বলেছি। গ্রেট জু অফ চায়না ছাড়া রাইলির যেন আর কোন পরিচয় নেই। অথবা, আমার একার কাছেই হয়তো এমন মনে হচ্ছে। যায় হোক, সিরিজের ২য় বই এটি। প্রথম বই আমার পড়া নেই। শুরুই ছিল ৪র্থ বই ফোর লিজেন্ডারি কিংডমস দিয়ে।
এই বইটার থ্রিল কখনো বাড়ে, কখনো কমে। তবে, আসল মজা ১৫০ পাতার পরই শুরু। ওয়েস্ট টিম যখন ফিল্ডে নামে তখন ভালোই থ্রিল লাগে। আবার যখন চার দেয়ালের ভেতর মিটিংয়ে বসে তখন উলটো বোর লাগে। যায় হোক, যে মিশন নিয়ে বইটা শুরু হয়েছে, বই শেষ হলেও মিশন শেষ হয় নি। এর জন্যে পড়তে হবে পরের বই ফাইভ গ্রেটেস্ট ওয়ারিয়র্স। দেখা যাক, সামনে কি আছে?
📙যা ভালো লেগেছেঃ প্লট, অনুবাদ, থ্রিল প্যাকেজ, ক্যারেক্টারগুলোর কোড নেইম, ইত্যাদি।
📙যা ভালো লাগেনিঃ বর্ণনা হালকা বেশি মনে হয়েছে। জ্যাক বারবার বিপদে পড়েও বিপদ কাটিয়ে ওঠার পদ্ধতিটা একটু বেশিই সহজ। এইজন্যে জ্যাক বড় সাইজের বিপদে পড়লেও অমন টেনশন লাগে নি। চরিত্রের বিশ্লেষণ করতে গেলে বলব, হয়তো অনেক চরিত্রের ব্যাকস্টোরি বা ব্যাকগ্রাউন্ড আগের বইয়ে ছিল। তাও কিছু চরিত্র যেন যথেষ্ট ফোকাস হয় নি। এছাড়া কিছু কিছু জায়গায় একশন বা এডভেঞ্চার একটু বেশিই আশা করেছিলাম। ওইখানে হতাশ হয়েছি।
📙সবশেষে বলতে চাইঃ "আমার ভালো লেগেছে।" একথা বলার সময় এখনো আসেনি। কারণ স্টোরি পরের বইয়ে শেষ হবে। দেখি পাথর নিয়ে কামড়াকামড়ি কোথায় গিয়ে থামে? তবে, যতটুকু পড়েছি তার সুবাদে ভাল্লাগছে বলাই যায়। ও, আরেকটা কথা, ফাইভ গ্রেটেস্ট ওয়ারিয়র্স হাতের কাছে না থাকলে সিক্স স্যাকরেড স্টোনস না পড়াই ভালো। অর্ধেক স্টোরি পড়ে মুড বেজার হওয়ার চান্স থেকে যায়।
🍁অনুবাদঃ নাভিদ হোসেন।
🍁প্রকাশনীঃ বাতিঘর
🍁পৃষ্টাঃ ৩১৭
🍁গায়ের দামঃ ২৪০ টাকা।
হ্যাপি রিডিং। 🙂
March 22, 2017
Just like the first book in the series, I couldn't put this one down. Mattew Reilly really knows how to rope in his audience and keep them on the edge of their seats with non-stop action and characters that are easy to love. Stephen King's Dark Tower series has always been my favourite book series but I think this series may end up taking the title. Can't stop reading them and now onto the third with the fourth one waiting after that.
December 8, 2023
Sort of a mixture of magic and super soldiers. I was never able to suspend disbelief.
March 4, 2013
I will be burning this book right after Im done writing this review. As long as I can remember, it never took me this long to finish any book but this one did it for me, I would open this book, read a page and then snap it shut because it required an intellectual level of a teaspoon for someone to have to actually comprehend what Matthew Reilly is trying to explain to his readers. SO much God Damned repetition of the same stuff,over and over and over again. Not to forget the absurdity of the nicknames that you will come across in this book for instance who names someone Pooh bear, Princess, Wizard, Huntsman. In a particular scene where these so called heroes are going o rescue Wizard, the only image that kept popping in my head was a bunch of puppies going to rescue a guy named Wizard who evidently cant perform magic to save his life. To top it off, exclamation like Wham, boom, blast, whiff, whoosh, what the hell am I reading, a comic strip? There are twins who instantly give u an impression of the Weasleys twins(Harry Potter reference). this book could have been finished in around 200 pages but I have to give it to Matthew Reilly, this guy has a talent, Oh yeah, how to unnecessary prolong a book. The hero who has been out of action since 18 months can be seen fleeing from life threatening situations without even a single scratch. I get it, its fiction but seriously What the hell am I reading? never thats all I have to say, never am I going to pick up anything with Matthew Reilly written on it.
May 21, 2021
দ্বিতীয় রামেসিস এর পিতা সেটি। শেট বা শেটি না। ওনার প্রিয়তমা স্ত্রীর নাম নেফারতারি। নেফারতিতি না। নেফারতিতি আখেনাতেন এর স্ত্রী। নামটা আখেনাতেন। আকেনাটিন না!! একেশ্বরবাদী ছিলেন আখেনাতেন। একেশ্বরবাদ প্রচার করেছে রামেসিসের বন্ধু মতান্তরে শিষ্য বা পালিত ভাই মোজেস। অনুবাদে এক জায়গায় রামেসিস একেশ্বরবাদী এইটাও ভুলে লিখা হয়েছে। উপরের ভুল গুলো সহ। এই সমস্ত ঐতিহাসিক টার্মের ভুল এবং পুনরাবৃত্তি চোখে লাগে এবং খুব ই এনোয়িং ও লাগে।
September 5, 2020
খাপ ছাড়া মতো লেগেছে
May 29, 2024
If Jack Bower and Mission Impossible had a baby and it was raised by McGyver- it would be this book! OMG the twists, turns, action- it was non stop from start to finish!! Super good!!
November 21, 2019
A big sequel to Seven Deadly Wonders, and possibly even more intriguing than the first. Once again I choose to describe it as "Dan Brown meets Indiana Jones" in a story full of great bits of history and mythology. You have to suspend belief perhaps a bit more than is normal for a thriller, but this book series is totally worth it. Jack and Lilly are fantastic characters, and by now you're forced to be emotionally invested in their story.
And as an added bonus, the story has Lord of the Rings references sprinkled without, since the works of Tolkien are mentioned as a favorite story of Lilly's. Go read Seven Deadly Wonders if you haven't already, then get to this one!
And as an added bonus, the story has Lord of the Rings references sprinkled without, since the works of Tolkien are mentioned as a favorite story of Lilly's. Go read Seven Deadly Wonders if you haven't already, then get to this one!
February 5, 2008
reilly once again proves that it is possible to have nothing but action and still have a book be a fun read. barely any characters, leaps right into insane impossible chases and mayhem and wanton destruction and supernatural weirdness. a past book had a 50 page boat chase, this one has a similarly long airplane being chased by many buses on a stretch of desert highway. over the top and goofy and ridiculous but fun as fuck. if this was a movie, it would be a bruckheimer blockbuster and we'd all see it. total rip off cliffhanger, so you'll have to read the next one...
December 4, 2020
2.5 stars. Gave the series another try but I found the story to be just ok. I didn't feel like putting my adventure hat on, did t feel excited and didn't found the different facts about things rather exciting. I want an adventure like this to be filled with fun fiction filled facts about the world, like an alternative history and high level of excitement. I don't need the story to be an literature prize worthy and can be rather cheesy, I just want a lot of fun adventure
May 18, 2017
This is a re-read for me. Going through the set again so I can pick up the latest book in the series .
I remember enjoying this book the first time I read it. This time not so much although I did like it for the below reasons:
1. The places this books takes you- Jack and his people travel all around the world and there are a lot of new places being introduced as the book progresses. The author has done his research which comes through making it an enjoyable read.
2. The history mixed with fiction- I love how the book takes actual history and extrapolates. The concept of a highly advanced ancient civilization doesn't really seem far fetched.
3. The fast pace of the book- There's always something happening. From one adventure to the next there is no rest for this group.
But as you continue reading you realize there is something wrong. The characters seem emotionally stunted. Everyone from Lily to Jack just brushes tragedy away and moves on to the next big thing. Maybe this isn't the sort of book that focuses on things like that but it did not sit with me.
This book is a good read as long as you don't try to think too much and pick things apart.
I remember enjoying this book the first time I read it. This time not so much although I did like it for the below reasons:
1. The places this books takes you- Jack and his people travel all around the world and there are a lot of new places being introduced as the book progresses. The author has done his research which comes through making it an enjoyable read.
2. The history mixed with fiction- I love how the book takes actual history and extrapolates. The concept of a highly advanced ancient civilization doesn't really seem far fetched.
3. The fast pace of the book- There's always something happening. From one adventure to the next there is no rest for this group.
But as you continue reading you realize there is something wrong. The characters seem emotionally stunted. Everyone from Lily to Jack just brushes tragedy away and moves on to the next big thing. Maybe this isn't the sort of book that focuses on things like that but it did not sit with me.
This book is a good read as long as you don't try to think too much and pick things apart.
January 10, 2021
Trigger warnings: death, explosions, blood, gore, gun violence, racism, mentions of suicide, mentions of child brides, animal death.
10/1/2021
On reread, I'm bumping this up to 3.5 stars. First of all, I had no idea it had been SEVEN YEARS since I last read this series. And yet here we are... I stand by everything I said last time around. This jumps around all over the world and introduces some great new characters and all in all, it was a solid read that distracted me nicely from the state of the world.
23/3/2014
Reading a Matthew Reilly book is a lot like watching an Indiana Jones movie - it's fast-paced, has a plot that depends on ancient booby traps to still be in perfect working order, requires enormous suspension of disbelief, and features a hero who will miraculously get out of every ridiculous situation he's put into. Nailed to a crucifix and then crushed by a stone slab? Survives. Shoves arm into lava? Survives AND gets a shiny new mechanical arm that allows him to survive subsequent situations. Falls into an abyss that goes clear through the centre of the earth? Well, we'll have to wait and see, won't we? But I'm guessing he survives that one too.
ANYWAY.
This will require you to suspend all the disbelief you have in your entire body. And even then, you'll eyeroll at least half a dozen times over how ridiculous it is. But, you know, it's like an Indiana Jones movie in book form. Yes, it's ridiculous. But it's also a hell of a lot of fun. So...yeah. There's that.
10/1/2021
On reread, I'm bumping this up to 3.5 stars. First of all, I had no idea it had been SEVEN YEARS since I last read this series. And yet here we are... I stand by everything I said last time around. This jumps around all over the world and introduces some great new characters and all in all, it was a solid read that distracted me nicely from the state of the world.
23/3/2014
Reading a Matthew Reilly book is a lot like watching an Indiana Jones movie - it's fast-paced, has a plot that depends on ancient booby traps to still be in perfect working order, requires enormous suspension of disbelief, and features a hero who will miraculously get out of every ridiculous situation he's put into. Nailed to a crucifix and then crushed by a stone slab? Survives. Shoves arm into lava? Survives AND gets a shiny new mechanical arm that allows him to survive subsequent situations. Falls into an abyss that goes clear through the centre of the earth? Well, we'll have to wait and see, won't we? But I'm guessing he survives that one too.
ANYWAY.
This will require you to suspend all the disbelief you have in your entire body. And even then, you'll eyeroll at least half a dozen times over how ridiculous it is. But, you know, it's like an Indiana Jones movie in book form. Yes, it's ridiculous. But it's also a hell of a lot of fun. So...yeah. There's that.
October 21, 2014
I read these books just for the fun of them. Oh sure, Matt Reilly does tons of research to make the background (reasoning) believable but then he adds a ton of ridiculous unrealistic escapes and action sequences that are simply over the top. But fun as hell. This series would make a great run of movies. Something that keeps you on the edge of your seat (literally) for the entire two hours. This book is a thrill a minute with conspiracies, betrayal, alien artifacts, ancient architecture (Stonehenge, pyramids, easter island, etc). Heck it even has nasty cannibals and crocodiles. Think Indiana Jones with a little (well a lot really) of James Bond-type intrigue only better and more exciting.
January 6, 2023
Re-read and also listened to the audiobook of this brilliant Australian novel.
Action, adventure with a little fantasy. The Jack West Jr books don't disappoint, the pace is fast and furious and doesn't let up. Think Indiana Jones, James Bond and Mission Impossible pumped full of steroids and adrenaline.
Action, adventure with a little fantasy. The Jack West Jr books don't disappoint, the pace is fast and furious and doesn't let up. Think Indiana Jones, James Bond and Mission Impossible pumped full of steroids and adrenaline.
January 16, 2025
Second book of 7 down. Cliffhanger at the end is STILL annoying even on re reading. Much like the first, very fast paced, globe trotting roller coaster action but this time on an even bigger scale. The end of the world is nigh! The way these are written, with short paragraphs leading immediately into the next sections, just drags you in and doesn't let you stop reading. It's dangerous, really!
June 16, 2019
This was good! Action packed and archaeological puzzles too! Some stunts do seem a little OTT but hey it adds to the excitment
April 10, 2024
Amazing story, pretty out there, but such an incredible read. Can't wait to experience the next 5 JAck West books, onto The Five Greatest Warriors now.
Well done Matthew Reilly, you continue to surprise me.
Well done Matthew Reilly, you continue to surprise me.
February 17, 2011
When I reviewed Matthew Reilly's last book, "The Seven Deadly Wonders", little did I know that he would continue the story in his next book. I loved "The Seven Deadly Wonders" and drew the comparison to the adventures of Indiana Jones. It had the same action/adventure that put the heroes in impossible situations and got them out of these situations, only to find themselves in another impossible situation.
The action and impossible situations continue in "The 6 Sacred Stones'. The same heroes and villains are back. The good guys are trying to save the world from destruction, while the bad guys, believe it or not, are working to see that the world is destroyed, or trying to use the information gained to rule the world.
The book takes us to Stonehenge in England, to the deserts of Egypt, and to the Three Gorges in China. The secrets are based in ancient history and the riddles must be solved by March of 2008 to save the world.
"The 6 Sacred Stones" solves the secret of the first two stones and leaves the reader hanging, as our superhero is left falling into a bottomless cave, which could be the end of Jack West.
Reminiscent of the end of season TV series cliff hangers, we are treated to the same formula in this book. Matthew Reilly leaves you wondering how our hero will survive - and know he will - to again take on the bad guys.
Tongue in cheek, loads of action and fun best describe "The Seven Deadly Wonders" and "The 6 Sacred Stones". The author leaves us dangling and anxiously waiting for the next installment.
The action and impossible situations continue in "The 6 Sacred Stones'. The same heroes and villains are back. The good guys are trying to save the world from destruction, while the bad guys, believe it or not, are working to see that the world is destroyed, or trying to use the information gained to rule the world.
The book takes us to Stonehenge in England, to the deserts of Egypt, and to the Three Gorges in China. The secrets are based in ancient history and the riddles must be solved by March of 2008 to save the world.
"The 6 Sacred Stones" solves the secret of the first two stones and leaves the reader hanging, as our superhero is left falling into a bottomless cave, which could be the end of Jack West.
Reminiscent of the end of season TV series cliff hangers, we are treated to the same formula in this book. Matthew Reilly leaves you wondering how our hero will survive - and know he will - to again take on the bad guys.
Tongue in cheek, loads of action and fun best describe "The Seven Deadly Wonders" and "The 6 Sacred Stones". The author leaves us dangling and anxiously waiting for the next installment.
April 9, 2014
There isn't a lot to say here, really, that I didn't already say in my review for the first book in the series. All that pretty much still applies.
However—
—as I was speeding along with this book—
—I realised it didn't matter anymore!
I was used to it!
And I enjoyed it.
Even more than the first book! Because... wait for it... I knew what to expect!
It's just plain crazy fun. It really is. Not something I'd recommend for anyone who's in the mood for a more serious (or better written) book, but if you're in the mood for a ridiculous, all-out action-adventure film with crazy conspiracies, miracles of ancient architecture, possibly alien artefacts, secret sects all vying for the same prizes (except for some who are trying to stop the good guys and the less good guys from saving the world and ending it instead), completely unbelievable escapes and action sequences, or, in other words, an Indiana Jones type action-adventure (just even more crazy) in book form, well, it's not at all a bad choice.
I had great fun reading it.
The advice given in other reviews - make sure you have the next book on hand or that you can at least get to it easily, because this one is only the first half of one story and ends on a massive cliffhanger - is definitely sound, although I'll probably take a short break before moving on to the next one (which I do already have) anyway.
However—
—as I was speeding along with this book—
—I realised it didn't matter anymore!
I was used to it!
And I enjoyed it.
Even more than the first book! Because... wait for it... I knew what to expect!
It's just plain crazy fun. It really is. Not something I'd recommend for anyone who's in the mood for a more serious (or better written) book, but if you're in the mood for a ridiculous, all-out action-adventure film with crazy conspiracies, miracles of ancient architecture, possibly alien artefacts, secret sects all vying for the same prizes (except for some who are trying to stop the good guys and the less good guys from saving the world and ending it instead), completely unbelievable escapes and action sequences, or, in other words, an Indiana Jones type action-adventure (just even more crazy) in book form, well, it's not at all a bad choice.
I had great fun reading it.
The advice given in other reviews - make sure you have the next book on hand or that you can at least get to it easily, because this one is only the first half of one story and ends on a massive cliffhanger - is definitely sound, although I'll probably take a short break before moving on to the next one (which I do already have) anyway.
Read
August 9, 2011I've read many of his other books that require a suspension of disbelief and this one requires even more.
Like 7 Deadly Wonders, there are some Indiana Jones-type caves with traps in this story. One cave that requires a system of two people is believable. Yet the author makes another one so difficult with obstacles to "prevent thieves" that it makes me wonder why an ancient civilization would go to such lengths to protect a sacred object. At some point, I don't think even their own people would be able to retrieve it.
And these cultures knew the objects would one day be needed to save the world. Wouldn't they have made them a little easier to get by the right people?
Like in the first novel, he turns a lot of countries into villians in a way that I don't quite buy. Like a group a Japanese that actually want to end the world?
Also, he had one genius little kid in the first book. I liked her as I assume he, or his readers did - so now he arbitrarily adds a second one.
I like the prison rescue and his research, but I suggest "Temple" or maybe "Ice Station" or "Contest."
Like 7 Deadly Wonders, there are some Indiana Jones-type caves with traps in this story. One cave that requires a system of two people is believable. Yet the author makes another one so difficult with obstacles to "prevent thieves" that it makes me wonder why an ancient civilization would go to such lengths to protect a sacred object. At some point, I don't think even their own people would be able to retrieve it.
And these cultures knew the objects would one day be needed to save the world. Wouldn't they have made them a little easier to get by the right people?
Like in the first novel, he turns a lot of countries into villians in a way that I don't quite buy. Like a group a Japanese that actually want to end the world?
Also, he had one genius little kid in the first book. I liked her as I assume he, or his readers did - so now he arbitrarily adds a second one.
I like the prison rescue and his research, but I suggest "Temple" or maybe "Ice Station" or "Contest."
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