Reviews

Amazzonia by James Rollins

fatjakeypoo's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A couple years ago, I read James Rollins's Subterranean when I was in the mood for something that required zero brain cells. At the time, I rated it 2.5 stars and said it was nothing remarkable, just a perfectly average adventure novel. And while I stand by the comment, in retrospect, I'd probably rate it 4 stars because over the past 2 years I've continued to think about how fun it was and how much I wanted to read more of his stuff. Enter Amazonia which is another perfectly competent but unexceptional adventure novel. Yet it was a blast. Giant Amazonian animals, a dashing lead with a chip on his shoulder, a comically evil villain, and a lost tribe deep in the heart of the rainforest. This book did 100% of what I wanted it to do. 

kimal25's review against another edition

5.0

One of the best books I have read by Rollins to date. It takes place in the heart of the Amazon with the ultra secretive Ban-ali and their incredible story. Nathan Rand is one of my favorite characters by Rollins so far. I loved every second of it.

ekeyreads's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this one! It keep my interest right from the beginning. While much of the book is downright fantastical, the author writes in such a way that I was not put off by the impossibility of it. I bought it, hook, line, and sinker. I haven't had as much success with the SIGMA Force novels (still enjoyed them just not as voraciously), but if this stand alone is any indication, I will enjoy his others.

auntblh's review against another edition

3.0

This book was okay but it was not my favorite book by James Rollins. I have enjoyed his others more.

august30th's review against another edition

3.0

This book was a cheesy action movie in every way possible. It was predictable, deaths happened for the sake of proving a point, and characters had no depth, including the mustache twirling villain and his perfectly evil mistress. I don’t know much about medicine, and even I was able to call that it was a prion disease infecting everyone. I can say for sure, though, that I didn’t predict who the traitor was, because it was the most obvious person possible and I didn’t believe he would do that.

Even so, the book was entertaining and I finished it in around five hours. It was a decent adventure novel that let me envision myself in the Amazon. I appreciated how the book tried to use science to explain things, instead of just chalking it up to magic and mystery.

mamatkperk's review against another edition

3.0

I really liked this book. I gave it three stars because although I liked it and found it entertaining I felt it was a little predictable. Having said that I do recommend it to anyone who likes to read scientific based adventure novels.

heybridgetmae's review against another edition

5.0

This book is unbelievably entertaining. It’s one that everyone in my family has read and enjoyed!

afterhours's review against another edition

4.0

Enjoyable and exciting science-themed read with lots of survival and adventure and an Amazonian tree myth at its core.

bookishrabbit's review against another edition

2.0

Probably more like 2 1/2 stars. A man who had gone into the Amazon with only one arm four years earlier and disappears, suddenly shows up with a new arm and a bunch of cancerous growths elsewhere on/in his body. A new group is sent on a mission to find out what happened.

The characterization is extremely bland, the dialogue had me rolling my eyes for most of the book. Everything is wrapped up with a nice, pretty bow at the end. I would give it an extra half star for the creatures in the book, especially the caiman (giant crocodiles) and weird frog piranha.

I got this book for free a couple months ago along with a couple other James Rollins books, and I may give another one a shot. It seems like he has very intriguing ideas, but I hope they're more well executed than this one.

sam1090's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent. It's a book I'll definitely want to read again.