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sam_hartwig's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think this book was for me. I've read Matthew Reilly before and really enjoyed it, and I love adventure/puzzle type movies so I thought this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately I just didn't care about any of the characters and couldn't imagine all the different places. I think it would make an awesome movie though, and I would definitely watch it but I don't think I'll continue with the rest of the books in the series.
dogandear's review
2.0
An unhealthy dose of Australian propaganda with more exposition than an engineering textbook
adamdj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sah1's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
frollo13's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kapeters's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
fyreprincess's review against another edition
4.0
So in prep for the release of The Four Legendary Kingdoms by Matthew Reilly, I decided to re-read his Jack West novels (starting with Seven Ancient Wonders) and refresh my memory. Holy jesus was it refreshed. Back when I was in year 8 (about five years ago) I had my first taste of Matthew Reilly and Jack West – and fuck me I was hooked so bad. I practically inhaled those three books and as soon as I finished the last one, I would begin again. I’m pretty sure I ended up reading the series about 15 times in a row. I kid you not, my mum banning me from reading those books was the worst punishment and therefore ended my streak.
Reading them now reminded me why I was so obsessed with them in the first place. I absolutely love the way in which Reilly incorporated history and action together. I’ve read reviews in which people think that the action and adventure within Reilly’s books is too over the top and unrealistic, but I honestly just loved it. I loved not knowing what was going to happen and I loved the ways in which Jack West and his team got out of sticky situations.
Okay, so I just want to commend Reilly on the amount of time and effort he had to put in, in order to have enough research to complete this novel. I love history, and I love action, and I love this combination. In year 9 I actually did a presentation on the resting place of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and I pretty much used his book as my sole reference. (I got a C but never mind that). I think he did a pretty good job on his world-building, considering the amount of locations and aspects within this novel.
Never mind that Jack West is a thirty something year old man and I’m just eighteen, but 10/10 would bang. I literally was in love with him and I was obsessed with him for so long and yeah, jesus.
As for the story, I really enjoyed it. I loved the adventure and the history and how it all connects together, and the missions and I guess I just loved it all (can you tell? haha).
Reading them now reminded me why I was so obsessed with them in the first place. I absolutely love the way in which Reilly incorporated history and action together. I’ve read reviews in which people think that the action and adventure within Reilly’s books is too over the top and unrealistic, but I honestly just loved it. I loved not knowing what was going to happen and I loved the ways in which Jack West and his team got out of sticky situations.
Okay, so I just want to commend Reilly on the amount of time and effort he had to put in, in order to have enough research to complete this novel. I love history, and I love action, and I love this combination. In year 9 I actually did a presentation on the resting place of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and I pretty much used his book as my sole reference. (I got a C but never mind that). I think he did a pretty good job on his world-building, considering the amount of locations and aspects within this novel.
Never mind that Jack West is a thirty something year old man and I’m just eighteen, but 10/10 would bang. I literally was in love with him and I was obsessed with him for so long and yeah, jesus.
As for the story, I really enjoyed it. I loved the adventure and the history and how it all connects together, and the missions and I guess I just loved it all (can you tell? haha).
j3nnplam's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emmajanereads__'s review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
lee25's review
4.0
Probably about 3.5 starts
[b:Seven Deadly Wonders|144791|Seven Deadly Wonders (Jack West Jr, #1)|Matthew Reilly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388589227l/144791._SY75_.jpg|1271370] was recommended to me by a friend and, for the first two thirds of the book, I thought it wasn't really for me. However, in the last third of the book I became more invested in the characters, and the action, and really started to enjoy it.
I am moving straight on to [b:The Six Sacred Stones|617526|The Six Sacred Stones (Jack West Jr, #2)|Matthew Reilly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303511210l/617526._SY75_.jpg|1632141]
[b:Seven Deadly Wonders|144791|Seven Deadly Wonders (Jack West Jr, #1)|Matthew Reilly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388589227l/144791._SY75_.jpg|1271370] was recommended to me by a friend and, for the first two thirds of the book, I thought it wasn't really for me. However, in the last third of the book I became more invested in the characters, and the action, and really started to enjoy it.
I am moving straight on to [b:The Six Sacred Stones|617526|The Six Sacred Stones (Jack West Jr, #2)|Matthew Reilly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1303511210l/617526._SY75_.jpg|1632141]