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shirlee2024's review against another edition
2.0
Remind me not to see the movie if they make one. It would be way too bloody.
deotheophilus's review against another edition
5.0
This is an awesome tale told in the best way possible and without too many plot holes or cliff hangers, I really liked the tale.
msavich's review against another edition
1.0
Exactly like Jurassic Park, only with dragons. A lot of times I thought to my self, really? Of course that worked! NOT. Although fiction, it was really over the top on how characters managed to get out of last minute situations...every time. Not very imaginative and easy to figure out the ending.
malreynolds111's review against another edition
3.0
I love Matthew Reilly books, but I have to say this one fell just a little short for me. I really hated the illustrations/diagrams throughout the book. I didn't need to have a picture to figure out what you were writing about the first time let alone twice. I felt like it completely ruined the flow of the book, and that was a real shame as it prevented me from giving this book the 4 stars that it deserved. I liked CJ a lot more than I thought I would.
livvyspraggs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
ineffablebooks's review against another edition
5.0
There is WAY too much to say about this book!! But I'll try to make it brief.
This book reads superbly - one minute you'll be a quarter in and then BAM! you're falling and running and avoiding crazy demented dragons before you realise you're two thirds of the way through. Also, do not try to read the last quarter of the book at night time, because you will be up until 3am trying to finish it, and if you're like me, have some really bizarre dreams.
When 'The Great Zoo of China' came out, the major question everybody kept asking was "how is it different to Jurassic Park?" - and I admit, even I was thinking that, but then again, I also knew M.R's books and figured that 1: it was going to be a roller-coaster thriller, and 2: he was going to think of some ingenious way to throw this right out of the water and into another ball park from Jurassic Park. And he did.
I cant exactly explain how so without ruining too much, but the main thing you need to know is that it IS very different. Just read it and find out.
**(The following has subtle character/plot spoilers)**
I wasn't expecting to like 'CJ' Cameron as much as the likes of Scarecrow or Jack West Jr, but she ended up being just as kick-ass and awesome as the others. Her fight with the master dragon, the garbage truck scene and the revolving restaurant scenes (to name a few) were... just .. WOW. Purely epic.
I couldn't help but see Greg Johnson, as Jeremy Renner from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, mostly because he's described as being the Ambassador's "aid" (emphasis on the "") and turns out to be awesome and . He is the sort of character that you didn't expect to end up rooting for - and the epilogue!! GAH! it's perfect!
On a side note, while I don't really tend to get grossed out at things, out of everything that happens in this book, was absolutely revolting. Thank you for that charming image M.R....
Full on action and brilliant themes/ideas - I can not recommend this book highly enough. I think one of my update status comments pretty much sums up this review:
Matt Reilly sure does live up to the title of 'non-stop action ride' - once you start, it just does. not. stop, and its marvelous.
This book reads superbly - one minute you'll be a quarter in and then BAM! you're falling and running and avoiding crazy demented dragons before you realise you're two thirds of the way through. Also, do not try to read the last quarter of the book at night time, because you will be up until 3am trying to finish it, and if you're like me, have some really bizarre dreams.
When 'The Great Zoo of China' came out, the major question everybody kept asking was "how is it different to Jurassic Park?" - and I admit, even I was thinking that, but then again, I also knew M.R's books and figured that 1: it was going to be a roller-coaster thriller, and 2: he was going to think of some ingenious way to throw this right out of the water and into another ball park from Jurassic Park. And he did.
I cant exactly explain how so without ruining too much, but the main thing you need to know is that it IS very different. Just read it and find out.
**(The following has subtle character/plot spoilers)**
I wasn't expecting to like 'CJ' Cameron as much as the likes of Scarecrow or Jack West Jr, but she ended up being just as kick-ass and awesome as the others. Her fight with the master dragon, the garbage truck scene and the revolving restaurant scenes (to name a few) were... just .. WOW. Purely epic.
I couldn't help but see Greg Johnson, as Jeremy Renner from Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, mostly because he's described as being the Ambassador's "aid" (emphasis on the "") and turns out to be awesome and
Spoiler
HUZZAH! doesn't die!!On a side note, while I don't really tend to get grossed out at things, out of everything that happens in this book,
Spoiler
Ben Patrick's deathFull on action and brilliant themes/ideas
Spoiler
(I mean, the whole idea behind the ear device and being able to communicate with Lucky??! While I saw it coming, it was great and just like 'How to Train Your Dragon'!! :D )Matt Reilly sure does live up to the title of 'non-stop action ride' - once you start, it just does. not. stop, and its marvelous.
growlcat's review against another edition
3.0
I must never read another Matthew Reilly book again. So far fetched, such a copy of Jurassic Park, and what was his editor thinking allowing all those italics and exclamation marks?
albionscastle's review against another edition
5.0
I received this books as an ARC from Gallery books.
I own several books by Matthew Reilly but they are still on my "to-read" list so this book was actually the first one for me. Being a fan of Steve Alten and Michael Crichton I was drawn to the synopsis of fantastic, extinct creatures brought back to life. Naturally you knew something was going to go wrong.
The parallels to Jurassic Park were obvious and in fact the writer makes mention of that in the book when one of the characters mentions how well this sort of thing worked out for Jurassic Park. Turns out he was right on the nose.
This book is incredibly fast-paced with a barely a moment to take a breath before the next disaster or epic battle takes place. It was in no way a relaxing read as I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I almost literally could not put it down, to the point that I considered calling into work just to stay home and read it.
The humans are treated with barely restrained contempt in this novel and I like that. These humans are acting without any humanity, breeding, caging, training with pain, messing with forces beyond their comprehension and simply murdering anyone or anything who gets in the way. The whole idea of the zoo, minus the awe-inspiring nature of the inhabitants, is one that is portrayed as over commercialized, tawdry, dirty and just downright unethical. The idea that humans could "train" these kinds of ancient mythical creatures is absurd and every description of this high tech uber-secret facility is described with this undertone. You get the sense that no one who really knows their stuff is fooled by the shiny exterior of the zoo's operations.
This book isn't light-hearted nor is it for the faint of heart. There is plenty of gore, violence and outrage to be had, served on a buffet of vivid descriptions and action-packed sequences that really test the limits of your imagination.
All in all I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this read and I absolutely loved the book. Matthew Reilly just moved to the top of my "to read" pile.
I own several books by Matthew Reilly but they are still on my "to-read" list so this book was actually the first one for me. Being a fan of Steve Alten and Michael Crichton I was drawn to the synopsis of fantastic, extinct creatures brought back to life. Naturally you knew something was going to go wrong.
The parallels to Jurassic Park were obvious and in fact the writer makes mention of that in the book when one of the characters mentions how well this sort of thing worked out for Jurassic Park. Turns out he was right on the nose.
This book is incredibly fast-paced with a barely a moment to take a breath before the next disaster or epic battle takes place. It was in no way a relaxing read as I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I almost literally could not put it down, to the point that I considered calling into work just to stay home and read it.
The humans are treated with barely restrained contempt in this novel and I like that. These humans are acting without any humanity, breeding, caging, training with pain, messing with forces beyond their comprehension and simply murdering anyone or anything who gets in the way. The whole idea of the zoo, minus the awe-inspiring nature of the inhabitants, is one that is portrayed as over commercialized, tawdry, dirty and just downright unethical. The idea that humans could "train" these kinds of ancient mythical creatures is absurd and every description of this high tech uber-secret facility is described with this undertone. You get the sense that no one who really knows their stuff is fooled by the shiny exterior of the zoo's operations.
This book isn't light-hearted nor is it for the faint of heart. There is plenty of gore, violence and outrage to be had, served on a buffet of vivid descriptions and action-packed sequences that really test the limits of your imagination.
All in all I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this read and I absolutely loved the book. Matthew Reilly just moved to the top of my "to read" pile.