For 35 years, America and Russia had their own superhero. This created a Cold War kind of peace between the two global superpowers, as they each had tFor 35 years, America and Russia had their own superhero. This created a Cold War kind of peace between the two global superpowers, as they each had their own superhero to keep the other in check. Then America’s superhero dies and the Russian superhero attacks America. The only one who has a chance of stopping him is the titular Cobalt Blue, the daughter of the deceased American superhero.
I am a big fan of Matthew Reilly. But I’ve been putting off reading this book for a reason. I’m just not even remotely a fan of superhero stories. And I pretty much got what I feared I would get. It’s well written and action-packed to say the least, with spectacular battle scenes that could do well on the big screen as it’s pretty much a superhero movie script turned into a novella. But it’s just too much of a superhero story for me. With so many of its stereotypes that I really don’t like. For example, it’s too simple and too black and white. The bad guy is completely evil, killing and raping is all he cares about. And the good girl superhero is purely good, she cares about people and wants to save the world. Even the despicable crooked politicians are way too bad and stereotypical for my taste. It’s just a concept that doesn’t work for me.
This is by far the weakest and least enjoyable Matthew Reilly book I’ve ever read, hence my rating. Just take this with a big grain of salt as I really don’t like superhero stories in general. So you’ll probably like this more if you’re actually into superheroes. But even so, this is not on the same level as any of his other books....more
The highly anticipated conclusion to one of the most jaw-dropping epic series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
Considering this is the end of theThe highly anticipated conclusion to one of the most jaw-dropping epic series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
Considering this is the end of the series, my expectations were really high and I unfortunately can’t help but feel like it isn’t the best book in the series. It isn’t on a more epic scale than Seven Deadly Wonders. It isn’t as competitive as The Four Legendary Kingdoms. Nor is it as brutal, intense and shocking as The Three Secret Cities. This book does have all those elements present though, making it feel more like a celebration of everything this series stands for, rather than the finale of epic proportions I was expecting. It’s more like a genuine gift to the fans of the series. Everything there is to love about previous adventures is represented here and then some, while also properly wrapping everything up. And it’s honestly what makes this book so good. All the characters we love get their moments to shine and even those we’ve lost along the way are clearly not forgotten. It’s full of brilliantly crafted ancient puzzles and treasure hunts on a global scale, with fascinating myths and history coming to life. It’s full of twist and turns, with brutal and shocking deaths aplenty. And fitting to the series, it’s pure adrenaline and total nonstop action from start to finish. It’s honestly an incredible and impressive feat that this adventure started off at such a break-neck speed seven books ago and didn’t slow down one bit during the course of the entire series.
This book is without a doubt a satisfying conclusion to an epic series which had me gasping for breath from the first page of the very first book, with a warm walk through memory lane as an added bonus. This was undeniably an absolute pleasure to read, with the core theme of friendship beautifully highlighted in the end. It does feel like the end of an era though, which makes me a bit sad....more
The sixth book in a seven book series and the pace still hasn’t slowed down one bit. Jack West Jr is total noMatthew Reilly is in a league of his own.
The sixth book in a seven book series and the pace still hasn’t slowed down one bit. Jack West Jr is total nonstop action personified. The plot moves so fast, you literally fly through the pages. This book starts where the previous one ended. It is once again action-packed from the get-go, adrenaline pumping from the first sentence to the last in a blistering explosive race to the finish.
The mind-blowing action is elevated by the historical settings. The way Matthew Reilly weaves together fascinating historical facts and fiction that you don’t even question what’s real and what’s not, proves his ability as a master storyteller and is a testament to the amount of research he does to elevate this series to the next level.
This does feel a bit like a transitional novel though. The Three Secret Cities was off the charts, so it was always going to be hard to follow that one. And this book is all about laying the groundwork for the next one, setting things up for the final challenge yet to come. But to Matthew Reilly’s credit, it barely feels like it, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Matthew Reilly is setting the bar incredibly high as we approach the epic conclusion of this amazing series and I have no doubt he’ll knock it out of the park....more
A small teaser prequel story to The Two Lost Mountains in Matthew Reilly’s Jack West Jr series. It’s a few flashes of previous adventures featuring JaA small teaser prequel story to The Two Lost Mountains in Matthew Reilly’s Jack West Jr series. It’s a few flashes of previous adventures featuring Jack’s old neighbor Wally. Then Wally gets in trouble and Jack comes to his rescue. Overall, nothing must read. Just a fun little bonus story to hype up The Two Lost Mountains....more
Altitude Rush is short, explosive and adrenaline-filled action, pure and simple. It’s like the climax of an action movie, neatly disguised as a short Altitude Rush is short, explosive and adrenaline-filled action, pure and simple. It’s like the climax of an action movie, neatly disguised as a short story....more
Elizabeth I has just ascended the throne of England. But someone’s planning to assassinate her. The killer’s already sent her his calling card in advaElizabeth I has just ascended the throne of England. But someone’s planning to assassinate her. The killer’s already sent her his calling card in advance. The queen only has a day left to live, unless someone can stop the killer. She doesn’t know who to trust, not even in her own palace. There’s only one person she can trust: her former teacher, Roger Ascham.
This is a very short and simple historical mystery story that is set after Matthew Reilly’s standalone novel, The Tournament. The plot is very straight forward and a bit predictable. The best thing about this story however is without a doubt the chance us readers get to reconnect with the loveable character of Roger Ascham....more
I get the criticism. It is a far cry from his usual work. But that’s kind of the point. I loved it.
Yes, it is a very simple writing style. Yes, it is aI get the criticism. It is a far cry from his usual work. But that’s kind of the point. I loved it.
Yes, it is a very simple writing style. Yes, it is a very straight-forward story. But, it is done well. The characters are crisp and to the point. The world building is sweet. And the action scenes are cool.
Matthew Reilly is a really good writer and even out of his comfort zone, he is able to create a marvelous world where trolls and goblins roam the world. This did what any good story should do: it sucked me in and never let go until the end....more
It’s a bit of a mix between Stranger Things and Mean Girls, strengthened by some Matthew Reilly awesomeness.
Skye and her brother move to Manhattan, NeIt’s a bit of a mix between Stranger Things and Mean Girls, strengthened by some Matthew Reilly awesomeness.
Skye and her brother move to Manhattan, New York. They go to a very elite high school. It’s also a school with another reputation. Three girls have recently gone missing there. The only thing they had in common was that they were the new girl in school. Now Skye’s the new girl and she hasn’t got a clue what kind of danger she’s walking into.
Plot-wise, this is a really interesting story. It’s a lot more gripping, suspenseful and action-packed than you’d suspect at first glance. But then again, this is still very much a Matthew Reilly story. The mean rich girls concept gives us an interesting way to look at the theme this book embodies of rich Vs poor. Combine this with an end of the world event and time travelling, and you’ve got a recipe for greatness.
Matthew Reilly knows how to create really strong and interesting larger than life characters. And I think the concept of the protagonist and the mean rich girls in general is great. But Matthew Reilly is just not an expert at writing a teenage rich girl and this can be noticeable.
In terms of world building, it’s obvious Matthew Reilly knows a lot about New York. And he does a wonderful job of trying to get across his fascination with this city to us readers. The whole reading experience is also easily elevated here for anyone who has ever been to New York. Unfortunately, I have not.
Matthew Reilly is without a shred of a doubt one of my favorite authors of all time. And the concept of this book is really fascinating. That being said, this is not his best work....more
A thriller writer who very much feels like Matthew Reilly himself and a rock princess are both separately touring the country to market themselves. HiA thriller writer who very much feels like Matthew Reilly himself and a rock princess are both separately touring the country to market themselves. His book tour is a moderate little success. Her music tour is an enormous success. One day, they bump into each other at a restaurant. They’re very different from one another in so many ways. They live completely different lives in completely different worlds. And yet …
A very sweet romantic short story that reads like an expanded meet-cute scene. Not what you’d expect from Matthew Reilly as it’s very different from the action-packed stories he usually writes. And it’s clearly a bit of shameless wish fulfillment from the author, but it’s definitely not bad....more
Mitch Raleigh, the protagonist of a bad day at Fort Bragg, is back. This time the unfortunate thriller writer takes a time tour. The customers are putMitch Raleigh, the protagonist of a bad day at Fort Bragg, is back. This time the unfortunate thriller writer takes a time tour. The customers are put in a coma and go to a virtual replica of the time period they want to visit. But one of the customers seems to have locked himself and the other customers into the system. That’s when things start to go very wrong as the time tours’ worst nightmare is about to become a reality. And the thriller writer is the only one who can stop it.
If you didn’t already know that thriller writer Mitch Raleigh is actually Matthew Reilly himself, this story makes it perfectly clear as they both wrote a book called Seven Deadly Wonders.
This short story is mostly a collection of really cool fast-paced and over the top action scenes in various historic and prehistoric settings, made possible by the fascinating science fiction concept. It’s a story that doesn’t try to pretend it has a strong plot or well fleshed out characters. It’s just an enjoyable short read that embraces its pulpy origins....more
The year is 1454. The crown prince’s body is found crucified on the great wooden cross above the altar in the monastery on the island of Mont Saint MiThe year is 1454. The crown prince’s body is found crucified on the great wooden cross above the altar in the monastery on the island of Mont Saint Michel.
Matthew Reilly just loves the setting of Mont Saint Michel. You can tell by all the little details he mentions in this story and the fact that he uses the same setting in a later Jack West Jr book.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable historical detective murder mystery story in a fascinating setting. The plot is just a bit too straight forward because it’s such a short story....more
Jessica Chase is an archaeologist. She’s working on some ruins that could be from a pre‐Aztec civilization as she gets whisked away by the government Jessica Chase is an archaeologist. She’s working on some ruins that could be from a pre‐Aztec civilization as she gets whisked away by the government to an ancient mine. She quickly realizes why they brought her there, the mine has some tablets that feature some ancient symbols. They could be the key to unlocking the mine’s mysteries.
The general who’s in charge of the mine already tried to investigate it by brute force, but the unfortunate soldiers who were sent in all got injured by ancient booby traps. What kind of mine would need traps? The general is convinced there’s something valuable in there. And he wants it, no matter the cost.
It’s a Lara Croft/Indiana Jones kind of adventure. A tomb-raiding treasure hunt, but with a cool little twist. The mystery here is actually quite straight forward. The heart of the story is the fascinating ancient setting and the brutal tomb-raiding action. It’s a bit too short to reach the next level, but it definitely serves as a great introduction to Matthew Reilly’s writing. It’s pretty much a perfect appetizer for all the awesomeness he has to offer as a writer....more
An Australian writer visits the American Fort Bragg, while on a book tour to promote his latest thriller.
This is all about a couple of young military An Australian writer visits the American Fort Bragg, while on a book tour to promote his latest thriller.
This is all about a couple of young military guys looking at someone who earns his money by writing about people like them, without having a clue what being a soldier is really like. They want to teach the writer a little lesson about the reality of being a soldier, by hunting him down with real deadly weapons and live ammunition. This is a lesson the writer will not soon forget.
This is just a fun, pulpy short story. It’s got a ton of action and excitement....more
A Soviet complex called Complex 13 was wiped from the history books. All that is known about it, is that it was a high-security facility. Also known aA Soviet complex called Complex 13 was wiped from the history books. All that is known about it, is that it was a high-security facility. Also known as the prison of no return. Rumor has it, human beings were fed to the alien prisoners they kept there. But that’s just hearsay, isn’t it?
A group of armed marines enters what used to be Complex 13. Their mission is simple: get in, grab something and get out. But nobody said it was going to be easy.
Great atmospheric start, a cool setting and simply a lot of action from start to finish. It’s a very short read, but definitely enjoyable....more
A prequel short story to the Jack West Jr series about how he got his fireman’s helmet. It’s a nice little addition to the series and I do love the adA prequel short story to the Jack West Jr series about how he got his fireman’s helmet. It’s a nice little addition to the series and I do love the added mystery that something could possibly be hidden inside a brick of an ancient Egyptian temple. But overall this story is just a bit too short....more
It’s a cool but very short little prequel that features the loveable character of Roger Ascham from Matthew Reilly’s standalone novel, The Tournament.It’s a cool but very short little prequel that features the loveable character of Roger Ascham from Matthew Reilly’s standalone novel, The Tournament. There’s not much plot to write home about but it’s interesting enough and Roger Ascham’s fascinating character easily manages to carry this story to make for an enjoyable read....more
The first book in the series was an explosion of action which left me begging for more. The second and third book were more of the same. Together theyThe first book in the series was an explosion of action which left me begging for more. The second and third book were more of the same. Together they form the second story, engineered to be bigger and better than the first one and let’s be honest, Matthew Reilly succeeded and then some. This one, the fourth book, however breaks the mold. This book is built to set things up for the final trilogy and it kind of feels like it. I thought that was a bad thing but re-reading the series from the start has changed my mind. It actually feels more like a breath of fresh air to revitalize the series. For the series not to get stale and for it to be able to reach new heights.
The scale of the setting is a lot smaller. In the previous books, the characters were jumping all over the world in flashes of explosive action. In this book, by keeping the characters locked in such a confined environment, it gives us readers some breathing room. Not much though. This is Matthew Reilly we’re talking about here. It’s full of action and awesomeness as always. It also fits perfectly in the Jack West series as jaw-dropping history, adrenaline-fueled action and high-stakes excitement dominate this book from start to finish. Not only did Matthew Reilly make sure the stakes were high enough to fit the series, he even did a Scarecrow crossover, which was the icing on the cake....more
The year is 1546. Suleiman the Magnificent is the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a country on the rise. And he wants to show off how much his empire haThe year is 1546. Suleiman the Magnificent is the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a country on the rise. And he wants to show off how much his empire has grown. He wants to establish the Ottoman Empire as a powerhouse in global politics. To do that, he organizes a chess tournament so epic, the world has never seen anything like it before.
Roger Asham thinks it would be a great idea for his pupil, the young girl who will become Queen Elizabeth the First, to accompany the British delegation to the Ottoman Empire for the tournament. Not only because he considers travel the finest form of education. But also to keep her safe. With the plague going strong and the king getting sicker, London is getting more dangerous by the second for every possible heir to the throne.
But as soon as the tournament starts, bodies start dropping like flies. And it’s up to Roger Asham to find the killer. Elizabeth’s friend Elsie couldn’t care less about the killings though. She would like nothing more than to become a princess herself. And she’s got her eyes set on a prince.
While Elizabeth is the protagonist, it’s her tutor Roger Asham who truly dominates the pages. He is a smart man who has a knack for seeing details others might easily miss. He does his best to pass down his knowledge and wisdom to the girl who could one day become a queen, so that she may become the best queen she can possibly be. A good example of what kind of character he is actually comes at the very beginning of the story, where the young Elizabeth mocks the sultan’s poor English skills. Asham however quickly points out that she doesn’t speak the sultan’s language. Yet he made the effort to learn hers. So who is she to criticize someone else for attempting something she herself has never even attempted.
This is a historical fiction story with characters who are based on real historical figures, in a fictional setting of the very first international chess tournament. The heart of this story is Elizabeth’s character arc. It’s a story that does something unique in trying to explain how Queen Elizabeth the First came to be who she was as a person. There are things her teacher tells her outright, like how very different men and women are judged as leaders. But there are other things he lets her learn for herself, so that she truly gets what he’s trying to teach her. It’s a bit out there though, because it’s a story that doesn’t let historical accuracy get in the way of a good story. You do need to keep that in mind to fully appreciate what this story has to offer.
This is actually quite a relaxed and soothing read by Matthew Reilly’s standards. It’s like he deliberately decks the table with a luxurious meal of a solid slow-paced murder mystery plot, a fascinating historical setting and interesting characters. To lull us into a false sense of security. And then he pulls our chair out from under us. While all his other stories are much more action-packed and full of absolutely brutal twists and turns, this one features by far the most shocking moment in any of his works. It’s honestly a scene that’s very hard to forget.
The only real negative for me personally is that there are quite a few sex scenes. There’s just too many of them for my taste. But, to be fair, they are essential to the protagonist’s character arc.
Since it’s a book about a chess tournament, it might seem like a daunting read for those of us who don’t know how to play chess. But I can’t play chess and this didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story whatsoever. This is much more a character-driven historical murder mystery story, rather than a story about chess. Though you do learn a few interesting things about the game of chess along the way....more
A secret experiment has gone wrong. Special forces units are sent to find out what happened. But nothing can prepare them for what they find there. AnA secret experiment has gone wrong. Special forces units are sent to find out what happened. But nothing can prepare them for what they find there. And they’re quickly having to fight for their lives.
In terms of characters and plot, there’s not much to discuss. There’s a short introduction for the main characters and we mostly get to know who they are by their actions. And the plot is kept very simple but solid, with a really cool twist at the end. And that’s not what this novella is about. This is pulp fiction at its best. It’s action scenes and just an adrenaline rush from start to finish. And it’s completely over the top, throwing realism out of the window right from the get go as we’re introduced to armored, blood-thirsty and highly aggressive gorillas with microchips in their brains. Yep, you read that right. It’s as awesome as it sounds.
Overall, a highly entertaining and action-packed read. Also a really good introduction to the Scarecrow series....more
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