A review by wynnz
The Dorado Deception by Matthew James

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

 Unfortunately, to me, it read like a David Attenborough documentary. There's the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and the giant extinct anaconda (Titanoboa cerrejonensis), and then we have the good old Hippopotamus amphibius - a short lesson on the native and not so native fauna of South America. The narrative concentrated more on the journey than the destination, which was El Dorado. When we did eventually reach the city, it was very anticlimactic and lackluster in its delivery. However, the author did have a new and mildly interesting angle on the myth, but by then, I had lost interest just like the city.

I had difficulty getting drawn into the story. I didn't find it engaging enough to capture my imagination. After all, this genre has been written about to within an inch of its life.

Overall, I was disappointed. I was hoping for more, but sadly, I didn't get it - just the usual bumbling through the jungle, with men getting picked off one at a time.