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glitterkitter's review against another edition
4.0
A reread so that I could read the next two with the story fresh in my mind.
Seven Ancient Wonders is essentially a massive action thriller. There's not a lot else happening in the book other than action right from the beginning. It could seem repetitive but Matthew Reilly manages to pull it off rather effectively.
There's a lot of things I love about this book, though because there's not a lot of depth to it I didn't give it higher than 3 stars (but it'd be a 3 1/2 if that was an option).
Things I love: all the lovely conspiracy theories tied into ancient Egypt and modern religions.
The main hero is Australian!
Making America the bad guys, without being offensive about it. It's just a realistic portrayal of what the global situation is, and can seem to people outside the US.
Another reread (Jan 2019): Matthew Reilly is great at writing action. I upped the star rating this time because I am that impressed with the action and how well it's paced even if action novels are not really my thing.
I am still frustrated with a lot of the lack of character depth, and to the politics of the book. Israel vs UAE and I'm not sure I'd entirely stand by my last comment in the previous review, but I was thinking this time, how rare it is to have a military hero without them being American and explicitly having the Americans being the bad guys. (but like, completely not tying in the military industrial side of the US????)
I don't know, there are so many points I wish had been delved into more, so I feel a bit unsatisfied looking back at it. But I guess I'm expecting more than I should from a writer who is so focused on the action, that the rest of it is just there to make the action happen and that's their niche and I knew that going in.
Seven Ancient Wonders is essentially a massive action thriller. There's not a lot else happening in the book other than action right from the beginning. It could seem repetitive but Matthew Reilly manages to pull it off rather effectively.
There's a lot of things I love about this book, though because there's not a lot of depth to it I didn't give it higher than 3 stars (but it'd be a 3 1/2 if that was an option).
Things I love: all the lovely conspiracy theories tied into ancient Egypt and modern religions.
The main hero is Australian!
Making America the bad guys, without being offensive about it. It's just a realistic portrayal of what the global situation is, and can seem to people outside the US.
Another reread (Jan 2019): Matthew Reilly is great at writing action. I upped the star rating this time because I am that impressed with the action and how well it's paced even if action novels are not really my thing.
I am still frustrated with a lot of the lack of character depth, and to the politics of the book. Israel vs UAE and I'm not sure I'd entirely stand by my last comment in the previous review, but I was thinking this time, how rare it is to have a military hero without them being American and explicitly having the Americans being the bad guys. (but like, completely not tying in the military industrial side of the US????)
I don't know, there are so many points I wish had been delved into more, so I feel a bit unsatisfied looking back at it. But I guess I'm expecting more than I should from a writer who is so focused on the action, that the rest of it is just there to make the action happen and that's their niche and I knew that going in.
thejestess's review against another edition
3.0
Reads very much like a lovechild of Indiana Jones and the DaVinci code, with some... interesting choices in the narrative voice punctuation. A decent enough fluff book as long as you can successfully suspend basically all of your disbelief, and can be read as a standalone
Three of the "family" characters die - Noddy, Doris, and Big Ears - and there are a LOT of side charcters or villains who die. This is not a book with a low body count
rallyk's review
5.0
This is one damn good book. It was adventure to read it and now I buy with pleasure The Six Sacred Stones but I'll read it when I finish with my Supernatural books. Which is one more motivation to read even faster.
colorfulleo92's review
2.0
I've really enjoyed other books by Matthew Reilly and the concept of the book is something I usually enjoy and wants to keep my eyes on. But eh.. No I did not enjoy this, feelt very underwhelmed and not drawn in the mystery or adventure. I don't know if I want to read more in the series, I'm not very compelled to but I know some series gets better with time
meowzik's review against another edition
5.0
Reread in advance of book four coming out - just as brilliant as when I first read it. Lots of action, adventure and a fascinating plot.
kstumpf's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderfully written novel by Mr. Reilly. I really enjoy the Shane Schofield series so thought I would give Jack West a read, and am glad I did. Being a fan of Egyptian and world history, I found this book fascinating and enlightening.
ebokhyllami's review
5.0
Denne gang har jeg startet på en mini-serie av Reilly som handler om Jack West Jr. Boka er den første av totalt 3 i serien, og minner noe om Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Koden".
Det er den største skattejakten i historien, og enhver større nasjon med respekt for seg selv er involvert i et kappløp for å lokalisere oldtidens syv underverk. For tusener av år siden satt det en fantastisk stein av gull på toppen av Kheopspyramiden i Giza. Den var kilden til ufattelig makt og kunne gi eieren absolutt globalt verdensherredømme i tusen år.
I 323 FK ble imidlertid toppsteinen delt i 7 biter og spredd rundt til alle verdens hjørner, skjult inni oldtidens syv underverk. Nå, i forbindelse med en sjelden solar begivenhet, har tiden kommet for å gjenfinne delene og sette disse sammen igjen.
Alle er på jakt etter bitene i puslespillet, fra de største og mektigste nasjonene på jorda til grupper med terrorister. Også en gjeng på 8 personer som representerer små land som ikke synes at en enkel nasjon skal få hånd om denne kraftfulle maktkilden blander seg inn i kampen. Denne gruppen ledes av Jack West Jr.
Fra Babylons Hengende Hager via Fyrtårnet i Alexandria til Kheopspyramiden - Michael Reilly tar deg her med på en opplevelse uten sidestykke. Spenn deg fast og heng med - dette er Dan Brown i hyperspace, og Reilly på sitt mest urealistiske. Tar man boka for det den er så vil jeg gi den 5 i Action og en god 4'er i innhold :-)
Det er den største skattejakten i historien, og enhver større nasjon med respekt for seg selv er involvert i et kappløp for å lokalisere oldtidens syv underverk. For tusener av år siden satt det en fantastisk stein av gull på toppen av Kheopspyramiden i Giza. Den var kilden til ufattelig makt og kunne gi eieren absolutt globalt verdensherredømme i tusen år.
I 323 FK ble imidlertid toppsteinen delt i 7 biter og spredd rundt til alle verdens hjørner, skjult inni oldtidens syv underverk. Nå, i forbindelse med en sjelden solar begivenhet, har tiden kommet for å gjenfinne delene og sette disse sammen igjen.
Alle er på jakt etter bitene i puslespillet, fra de største og mektigste nasjonene på jorda til grupper med terrorister. Også en gjeng på 8 personer som representerer små land som ikke synes at en enkel nasjon skal få hånd om denne kraftfulle maktkilden blander seg inn i kampen. Denne gruppen ledes av Jack West Jr.
Fra Babylons Hengende Hager via Fyrtårnet i Alexandria til Kheopspyramiden - Michael Reilly tar deg her med på en opplevelse uten sidestykke. Spenn deg fast og heng med - dette er Dan Brown i hyperspace, og Reilly på sitt mest urealistiske. Tar man boka for det den er så vil jeg gi den 5 i Action og en god 4'er i innhold :-)
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
Dnf.
I'm so disappointed. I loved Reilly's other books so much but we're just thrust into a plot full of technicalities and an 8 person cast whom we're already supposed to know and love? I really couldn't connect with anything in this books and got bored.
I'm so disappointed. I loved Reilly's other books so much but we're just thrust into a plot full of technicalities and an 8 person cast whom we're already supposed to know and love? I really couldn't connect with anything in this books and got bored.
smitchy's review against another edition
2.0
So imagine that Dan Brown got together with the writers of Indiana Jones and James Bond and collectively they all said: "You know what is wrong with our franchises? Not enough explosions!! Not enough destruction of historic monuments!!! And definitely need a MUCH bigger global conspiracy!!!!"
Having said that as long as you go in with low expectations in terms of plot, character development, or any logic whatsoever you will have an absolutely brilliant time!
I am told that if you continue with the series (there are 6 more) there is a touch more character development and several unlikely things get a bit more explained. This one could, honestly, be read as a stand alone -it doesn't leave you on a cliffhanger but I probably won't pick up the next one unless I really want something brainlessly distracting. This would make a great hospital or plane book when you are too stressed, distracted, or sleep deprived to follow a story (since the plot makes very little sense anyway it really doesn't matter if you miss a bit).
Read it for the fun of it - I would happily recommend to teenagers (especially boys) 13+ . Yes there is violence but it is so ridiculously cartoonish / video game that it really has no emotional impact (that and the characters are so shallowly drawn you don't really get attached to them). Very little swearing and no sex.
Having said that as long as you go in with low expectations in terms of plot, character development, or any logic whatsoever you will have an absolutely brilliant time!
I am told that if you continue with the series (there are 6 more) there is a touch more character development and several unlikely things get a bit more explained. This one could, honestly, be read as a stand alone -it doesn't leave you on a cliffhanger but I probably won't pick up the next one unless I really want something brainlessly distracting. This would make a great hospital or plane book when you are too stressed, distracted, or sleep deprived to follow a story (since the plot makes very little sense anyway it really doesn't matter if you miss a bit).
Read it for the fun of it - I would happily recommend to teenagers (especially boys) 13+ . Yes there is violence but it is so ridiculously cartoonish / video game that it really has no emotional impact (that and the characters are so shallowly drawn you don't really get attached to them). Very little swearing and no sex.