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Seven Wonders #3
The Tomb of Shadows
Percy Jackson meets Indiana Jones in the New York Times bestselling epic adventure Seven Wonders!
The Tomb of Shadows is the third book in a seven-book series by master storyteller Peter Lerangis. This sequel to the bestselling Lost in Babylon and The Colossus Rises chronicles the adventures of Jack McKinley and his friends in a life-or-death race to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. In the rubble of this Wonder of the Ancient World, they have to face down their own demons and engage in an epic battle with foes long gone. But when promises are broken, blood is spilled—and the Select are left with no choice but to destroy the one thing that might have saved them all.
Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, praised Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises as "a high-octane mix of modern adventure and ancient secrets. Young readers will love this story. I can't wait to see what's next in the Seven Wonders series!"
The Tomb of Shadows is the third book in a seven-book series by master storyteller Peter Lerangis. This sequel to the bestselling Lost in Babylon and The Colossus Rises chronicles the adventures of Jack McKinley and his friends in a life-or-death race to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. In the rubble of this Wonder of the Ancient World, they have to face down their own demons and engage in an epic battle with foes long gone. But when promises are broken, blood is spilled—and the Select are left with no choice but to destroy the one thing that might have saved them all.
Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, praised Seven Wonders Book 1: The Colossus Rises as "a high-octane mix of modern adventure and ancient secrets. Young readers will love this story. I can't wait to see what's next in the Seven Wonders series!"
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2014
258 people are currently reading
3437 people want to read
About the author
Peter Lerangis
151 books795 followersLerangis's work includes The Viper's Nest and The Sword Thief, two titles in the children's-book series The 39 Clues, the historical novel Smiler's Bones, the YA dark comedy-adventure novel wtf, the Drama Club series, the Spy X series, the Watchers series, the Abracadabra series, and the Antarctica two-book adventure, as well ghostwriting for series such as the Three Investigators, the Hardy Boys Casefiles, Sweet Valley Twins, and more than forty books in the series The Baby-sitters Club and its various spin-offs.[1] He has also written novels based on film screenplays, including The Sixth Sense, Sleepy Hollow, and Beauty and the Beast, and five video game novelizations in the Worlds of Power series created by Seth Godin.[2] As a ghostwriter he has been published under the name A. L. Singer.[3]
Lerangis is the son of a retired New York Telephone Company employee and a retired public-elementary-school secretary, who raised him in Freeport, New York on Long Island. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in biochemistry, while acting in musicals[4] and singing with and musically directing the a cappella group the Harvard Krokodiloes,[5][6] before moving to New York. He worked there as an actor[7] and freelance copy editor for eight years before becoming an author.[8]
In 2003, Lerangis was chosen by First Lady Laura Bush to accompany her to the first Russian Book Festival, hosted by Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina in Moscow.[9][10]Authors R. L. Stine (Goosebumps) and Marc Brown (the Arthur the Aardvark series) also made the trip with Bush.[9]
Also in 2003, Lerangis was commissioned by the United Kingdom branch of Scholastic to write X-Isle, one of four books that would relaunch the Point Horror series there.[11] A sequel, Return to X-Isle, was published in 2004.
In 2007, Scholastic announced the launch of a new historical mystery series called The 39 Clues, intended to become a franchise.[12] Lerangis wrote the third book in the series, The Sword Thief, published in March 2009.[13][14][15] On March 3, 2009, Scholastic announced that Lerangis would write the seventh book in the series, The Viper's Nest.[14][16]
Lerangis lives in New York City with his wife, musician Tina deVaron, and their sons Nick and Joe.[17]
Lerangis is the son of a retired New York Telephone Company employee and a retired public-elementary-school secretary, who raised him in Freeport, New York on Long Island. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in biochemistry, while acting in musicals[4] and singing with and musically directing the a cappella group the Harvard Krokodiloes,[5][6] before moving to New York. He worked there as an actor[7] and freelance copy editor for eight years before becoming an author.[8]
In 2003, Lerangis was chosen by First Lady Laura Bush to accompany her to the first Russian Book Festival, hosted by Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina in Moscow.[9][10]Authors R. L. Stine (Goosebumps) and Marc Brown (the Arthur the Aardvark series) also made the trip with Bush.[9]
Also in 2003, Lerangis was commissioned by the United Kingdom branch of Scholastic to write X-Isle, one of four books that would relaunch the Point Horror series there.[11] A sequel, Return to X-Isle, was published in 2004.
In 2007, Scholastic announced the launch of a new historical mystery series called The 39 Clues, intended to become a franchise.[12] Lerangis wrote the third book in the series, The Sword Thief, published in March 2009.[13][14][15] On March 3, 2009, Scholastic announced that Lerangis would write the seventh book in the series, The Viper's Nest.[14][16]
Lerangis lives in New York City with his wife, musician Tina deVaron, and their sons Nick and Joe.[17]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
May 19, 2014
This book is just insane from the first chapter until the end... And this is my favorite book in this series, yet. Full of action and a regnahffilc.
Full of unexpected turns, jaw-dropping twists and revelation of secrets
I can't wait for the fourth book, I wonder where would they go next and what type of Loculus they would find... And consequences it held.
Full of unexpected turns, jaw-dropping twists and revelation of secrets
I can't wait for the fourth book, I wonder where would they go next and what type of Loculus they would find... And consequences it held.
November 25, 2015
4.5*
*cheers for this awesome series*
*cheers for this awesome series*
January 6, 2015
WHAT IN THE WORLD? WHO ENDS A BOOK LIKE THAT? WHO DOES THAT?
February 4, 2015
This book is full of adventure and suspense. This book us part of a really good series called The Sven Wonders. This book is about a boy named Jack McKinley and his friends who are selects try and find loculies. They go to the underworld and many other interesting places to find them. Jack is helped by his friends, his dad, and many others who are on his side. When Jack and his friends go to the underworld to find a a loculi there is nothing and someone had to sacrifice their life up. Jack feels really bad the sacrifice because that person he was close to died for nothing. In the end Jack and his friends found the third loculi and Jack destroyed it in order to save someone he loved from shadows from the underworld. Jack also meets someone from his past whom he has not seen for six years.
December 7, 2018
My son read the entire series during his fifth grade and loved them. In fact he recently re-read it, so I thought we could give the audio books a try. I really enjoyed the first two, but I think after listening to these first three in very quick succession has left me needing a break. The story was good, it's the continuing saga of four 13 year olds as they go in search of ancient Atlantis artifacts. I felt like the trials and tribulations in this story were too close to that of the previous two. The mad dash through the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was confusing in places.
November 27, 2015
The Good: Right on par with the previous books in the series. Adventure, lots of action, lots of intrigue and never knowing who to trust. A good, fast paced read with great characters and a little education thrown in - this time with the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus. Excellently written and destined to wow middle grade readers.
The Bad: Kids aren't going to care (I'd imagine), but Jack's parents in these books are beyond unrealistic. Mom's been making choices that are suspect since he was a baby and Dad is irrationally helpful to his cause. All of this is supposedly due to his ticking time bomb of genes, but would parents really blindly flail all over the place in the hopes that someone else may have an answer? Especially if this bending over backwards to find a cure took them away from the child they were trying to save in the first place? Or worse, enabling his repeated attempts to risk his life for a chance you have no reason to believe in?
The Bad: Kids aren't going to care (I'd imagine), but Jack's parents in these books are beyond unrealistic. Mom's been making choices that are suspect since he was a baby and Dad is irrationally helpful to his cause. All of this is supposedly due to his ticking time bomb of genes, but would parents really blindly flail all over the place in the hopes that someone else may have an answer? Especially if this bending over backwards to find a cure took them away from the child they were trying to save in the first place? Or worse, enabling his repeated attempts to risk his life for a chance you have no reason to believe in?
May 27, 2014
I wasn't as involved in this one as I was with the first two and I hope the others will be more engaging.
February 20, 2015
All I can say is wow...what just happened?!
Marco makes me so angry...gahh!!! I need the next one...now! I've pre-ordered it...so please come soon!!! :D
Great adventures and fun fun fun times hehe
Marco makes me so angry...gahh!!! I need the next one...now! I've pre-ordered it...so please come soon!!! :D
Great adventures and fun fun fun times hehe
August 19, 2020
Fantastic, fans won't be disappointed.
July 25, 2021
The Tomb of Shadows is the third book in the Seven Wonders series written by Peter Lerangis and illustrated by Torstein Norstrand. The series continues as Jack McKinley and his friends try to save themselves and, while they're at it, the world.
Jack McKinley, Cass Williams, Marco Ramsay and Aly Black are Selects – born with genetic abnormalities that give them superpowers, but will kill them by age fourteen unless they can find seven magical Atlantean Loculi hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
In their possession are two Loculi from the Colossus of Rhodes and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which gives the power of flight and invisibility respectively. The Selects are on their way to Turkey in search of the Loculus of Healing in the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
The Tomb of Shadows is written rather well. The cinematic plotting, the mystery of Jack's mother's death or disappearance and the friendship among the Selects trying to grow into their powers without dying in the process is a rather satisfying narrative that is rather difficult to put down – it is an exciting excursion into an ancient world full of wonders.
All in all, The Tomb of Shadows is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
Jack McKinley, Cass Williams, Marco Ramsay and Aly Black are Selects – born with genetic abnormalities that give them superpowers, but will kill them by age fourteen unless they can find seven magical Atlantean Loculi hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
In their possession are two Loculi from the Colossus of Rhodes and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which gives the power of flight and invisibility respectively. The Selects are on their way to Turkey in search of the Loculus of Healing in the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
The Tomb of Shadows is written rather well. The cinematic plotting, the mystery of Jack's mother's death or disappearance and the friendship among the Selects trying to grow into their powers without dying in the process is a rather satisfying narrative that is rather difficult to put down – it is an exciting excursion into an ancient world full of wonders.
All in all, The Tomb of Shadows is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
September 13, 2019
It has been three years since I’ve read this series. I enjoyed the first two books but this one really shakes things up and has drawn me back. I love the Indiana Jones mashed up with the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World mashed up with Percy Jackson. The writing skews slightly more to the juvenile than young adult demographic. But it is still great fun and a real page turner or, in this case, and audiobook listener.
Johnathan McClain’s narration was wonderful. He has a wide range of character voices that was truly impressive. I am willing to wait the four weeks until the audiobook for Book 4 is available at my library just so I can hear more of his work.
Johnathan McClain’s narration was wonderful. He has a wide range of character voices that was truly impressive. I am willing to wait the four weeks until the audiobook for Book 4 is available at my library just so I can hear more of his work.
June 6, 2014
For the complete review, please refer here: Three Blank Pages ;D
The Characters. As a Select and a bearer of G7W,a gene which could give you exceptional talents and skills, you would expect them to be extraordinary in some ways right? It did hold true for Ally and Cass but as for Jack, lets just say up until this point, I couldn't see anything special about him. Charismatic and resourceful, yes. But the kind that Ally, Cass and Marco have? I dont think so.
Also, our main character faints a lot. It really is not such a big deal but considering that they were conditioned to protect themselves and to fight, well, you would expect some kind of a fight scene that doesn't involve running away or throwing something random at an enemy, now would you? It's like all their hard work were thrown out of the window. Its pretty much useless so why bother telling the readers that they were trained? On the bright side, you get to see them work things out through their wits. Some were actually pretty funny and decent. While others were kind of forced.
I also want you guys to meet Torquin:
He is really a great guy who is described as a red bearded,burly guy with huge hands and inhuman strength. What bothers me were the times when I felt like he is forced to sound like this sweet and sensitive guy too much that he goes out of character multiple times as the story progress. And the humors.. Again, some were indeed funny but there seems to be too much of it that it sounded like everything is a joke.
Lastly, I initially gave this book a fours stars mostly because its last couple of chapters were decent and pretty exciting! I had fun reading it that Ive forgotten most of my problems with it when I finished reading. Teehee.
What stopped me from giving it four stars was the fact that the author failed to make me feel connected to the characters. I don't seem to mind what will happen to them to the point when something extremely tragic happened to the characters, I barely even felt an ounce of remorse. For the sake of not giving away any spoiler, let's just say that this one particular moment was supposed to make me feel extremely sad for them. Sure I felt a little sorry for them, but you know, meh. And mind you, I am a very emotional person.
I think the only time I was moved was when Jack got together with his dad. I wouldn't even deny that I got teary-eyed on that part. The rest though, I could hardly care.
All in all, this was a quick, fun and an easy read kind of book. Full of adventures and settings which could delight any kids or kids at heart. You could definitely find yourself chuckling a couple of times throughout your reading experience. The author brings you to a lot of cool new places, unlike the second book which was mostly stuck on Babylon parallel world, so it doesn't sound repetitive. But if you are looking for something less than your formulaic usual read, then I dont think you would love it. Liking it though is very plausible ;)
PS= I personally think that this could be better off as a 5 book series, 7 books is too much considering that they could just fit it into 5 to make it more straightforward, gripping and exciting. What do you guys think? :D
Thank you Megan of HarperCollins for the review copy. Teehee.
The Characters. As a Select and a bearer of G7W,a gene which could give you exceptional talents and skills, you would expect them to be extraordinary in some ways right? It did hold true for Ally and Cass but as for Jack, lets just say up until this point, I couldn't see anything special about him. Charismatic and resourceful, yes. But the kind that Ally, Cass and Marco have? I dont think so.
Also, our main character faints a lot. It really is not such a big deal but considering that they were conditioned to protect themselves and to fight, well, you would expect some kind of a fight scene that doesn't involve running away or throwing something random at an enemy, now would you? It's like all their hard work were thrown out of the window. Its pretty much useless so why bother telling the readers that they were trained? On the bright side, you get to see them work things out through their wits. Some were actually pretty funny and decent. While others were kind of forced.
I also want you guys to meet Torquin:
He is really a great guy who is described as a red bearded,burly guy with huge hands and inhuman strength. What bothers me were the times when I felt like he is forced to sound like this sweet and sensitive guy too much that he goes out of character multiple times as the story progress. And the humors.. Again, some were indeed funny but there seems to be too much of it that it sounded like everything is a joke.
Lastly, I initially gave this book a fours stars mostly because its last couple of chapters were decent and pretty exciting! I had fun reading it that Ive forgotten most of my problems with it when I finished reading. Teehee.
What stopped me from giving it four stars was the fact that the author failed to make me feel connected to the characters. I don't seem to mind what will happen to them to the point when something extremely tragic happened to the characters, I barely even felt an ounce of remorse. For the sake of not giving away any spoiler, let's just say that this one particular moment was supposed to make me feel extremely sad for them. Sure I felt a little sorry for them, but you know, meh. And mind you, I am a very emotional person.
I think the only time I was moved was when Jack got together with his dad. I wouldn't even deny that I got teary-eyed on that part. The rest though, I could hardly care.
All in all, this was a quick, fun and an easy read kind of book. Full of adventures and settings which could delight any kids or kids at heart. You could definitely find yourself chuckling a couple of times throughout your reading experience. The author brings you to a lot of cool new places, unlike the second book which was mostly stuck on Babylon parallel world, so it doesn't sound repetitive. But if you are looking for something less than your formulaic usual read, then I dont think you would love it. Liking it though is very plausible ;)
PS= I personally think that this could be better off as a 5 book series, 7 books is too much considering that they could just fit it into 5 to make it more straightforward, gripping and exciting. What do you guys think? :D
Thank you Megan of HarperCollins for the review copy. Teehee.
July 14, 2014
Three books in, and I am still really enjoying this series. Every book so far I've been kept on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen next and The Tomb of Shadows was no different.
I am very interested to see what will happen in the next book since Jack destroyed one of the Loculi in order to send the dead back into Bo'gloo- especially since this book ended with the Massa sounding like they were saying they thought the wrong Select was the destroyer- and we are left with the impression it is Jack. This then brings up the question, is being the destroyer in this series actually a good thing? Maybe there was a mis-translation someplace? I also am looking forward to seeing how Jack continues to react to the fact his Mom is alive and working with the Massa.... or is she? There are so many questions still left with this book that I can't wait until the next one comes out.
Despite the cliffhanger ending, I feel very satisfied with the way the book ended. It was a cliffhanger that still wrapped up this section within the larger saga in a way that I don't feel like I am completely lost- or that maybe pages were missing from the end of my book.
I will continue to recommend this series to any kid or teen who enjoys the Rick Riordan books and look forward to the next installment. (Amazon says it will come out in March 2015)
I am very interested to see what will happen in the next book since Jack destroyed one of the Loculi in order to send the dead back into Bo'gloo- especially since this book ended with the Massa sounding like they were saying they thought the wrong Select was the destroyer- and we are left with the impression it is Jack. This then brings up the question, is being the destroyer in this series actually a good thing? Maybe there was a mis-translation someplace? I also am looking forward to seeing how Jack continues to react to the fact his Mom is alive and working with the Massa.... or is she? There are so many questions still left with this book that I can't wait until the next one comes out.
Despite the cliffhanger ending, I feel very satisfied with the way the book ended. It was a cliffhanger that still wrapped up this section within the larger saga in a way that I don't feel like I am completely lost- or that maybe pages were missing from the end of my book.
I will continue to recommend this series to any kid or teen who enjoys the Rick Riordan books and look forward to the next installment. (Amazon says it will come out in March 2015)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2017
I finally read it! And gods. Oh holy colossus. I don’t even care about the fact that I didn’t study for my exams anymore, because this book was seriously worth it. Seriously. It was action packed, fast paced, fun filled, and well, full of jaw dropping revelations. I don’t even know whether the author is just plain sadistic or he just really likes dropping bombs and throwing his readers off a cliff at all the endings in this series. I mean, if the last ending shocked you, well, this one just might make you want to fling yourself to the pacific.
I just loved every inch of this book—I literally couldn’t stop reading until I got to the very end. I probably set a new record for me—reading this book in just an hour. I liked the characters, especially Torquin. I liked the plot, the rivers, and just everything. Everything.
I seriously can’t wait to get a hold of the next book.
I just loved every inch of this book—I literally couldn’t stop reading until I got to the very end. I probably set a new record for me—reading this book in just an hour. I liked the characters, especially Torquin. I liked the plot, the rivers, and just everything. Everything.
I seriously can’t wait to get a hold of the next book.
January 29, 2016
Das Buch fängt spannend an, aber leider wird es zum Ende hin unübersichtlich und man muss manche Stellen zweimal lesen. Das Ende ist offen und man will wissen wie es weiter geht. Leider hat das Buch auch ein paar Stellen, an denen man sich fragt : Warum ? Wie ?
Ich würde das Buch jedem empfehlen, der auch schon die ersten beiden Bände gelesen hat. Neueinsteiger sage ich nur es gibt eine bessere Wahl. Trotzdem ist es kein totaler Reinfall es ist ein Buch für zwischen durch. Es kommt zwar nicht an die Bestseller wie Harry Potter ran, aber auch bei dieser Reihe will man wissen wie es weiter geht.
Ich würde das Buch jedem empfehlen, der auch schon die ersten beiden Bände gelesen hat. Neueinsteiger sage ich nur es gibt eine bessere Wahl. Trotzdem ist es kein totaler Reinfall es ist ein Buch für zwischen durch. Es kommt zwar nicht an die Bestseller wie Harry Potter ran, aber auch bei dieser Reihe will man wissen wie es weiter geht.
December 17, 2020
Okay, this one was filled with even MORE magic and less history than the other two, and....ugh, Marco. How can he be SO clueless and dumb?! Those are the reasons this gets 4 stars instead of 5.
Other than that, I enjoyed it. I liked learning about new places and legends I've never heard of. I love the friendship and chemistry between the other Select and the Professor was so misunderstood....
We get to meet Jack's parents and lets just say I'm team Dad not Mom lol
Jack gets a clue as to a prophecy and Massa's plans. Now that he's become even more important....I wonder what'll happen next😱
Other than that, I enjoyed it. I liked learning about new places and legends I've never heard of. I love the friendship and chemistry between the other Select and the Professor was so misunderstood....
We get to meet Jack's parents and lets just say I'm team Dad not Mom lol
Jack gets a clue as to a prophecy and Massa's plans. Now that he's become even more important....I wonder what'll happen next😱
August 10, 2016
Okay....lets get this started, first of all for me this was a pretty good book but it's just 3 stars for me, I loved the adventure, it was full of action, but the loss of one of the characters destroyed me,I loved the cliff hanger in the man, like dudeeee no don't do this, there are so many questions needed to get answered, and what's gonna happen next...if u didn't read this book next and debating reading it...just read it bruh
September 15, 2016
This book has a lot of different emotions and jumping through realms. It shocked me i different parts and in some parts was really sad. I didn't like the part where Aly and Cass lost their special memories. But I did like how Jack had a small reunion with his mom. Now we all know what Marco meant when he said he was going to be 'King'. But it ended up that Jack will be king. I am still in shock how Marco betrayed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2014
Omg!!! I love love LOVE this book! The ending is sad however but very important. Aly, Jack, and Cass are still on this amazing journey. Marco is still a freaking lost cause. (FYI: I want to shoot Marco!) I can't wait for the next book! I wonder where Jack, Aly, Cass, and Marco are going to go and do.
June 26, 2014
A zombie former Sibyl, a Queen of mean, a found person lost and a lost person found, a crazy night at the museum, and a third loculi found - and lost again, makes this one crazy adventure full of action and humor. This third installment leaves you wanting more, and the pages seem to turn themselves as you are lost in the adventure of the past and the present.
September 9, 2015
3,5 but...i give it 4 because it's better than the previous one.
it has some story development if you compare with the #2. new character (the old actually, who came back) a new twist between the character and the story.
exciting to read the next one. hopefully it have more action in it or at least thing who gave me thrill when i read it with big eyes and make me impatient to flip the pages. :)
it has some story development if you compare with the #2. new character (the old actually, who came back) a new twist between the character and the story.
exciting to read the next one. hopefully it have more action in it or at least thing who gave me thrill when i read it with big eyes and make me impatient to flip the pages. :)
June 4, 2016
Ao princípio achei-o um pouco forçado, mas pouco depois este livro conseguiu cativar-me muito rapidamente!
Eu sou uma grande fã do Harry Potter, e quando acabei toda a coleção apenas pensava que queria que houvesse mais umas histórias como aquela. E parece, que "As sete maravilhas" foi a minha resposta!
Eu sou uma grande fã do Harry Potter, e quando acabei toda a coleção apenas pensava que queria que houvesse mais umas histórias como aquela. E parece, que "As sete maravilhas" foi a minha resposta!
January 23, 2015
I liked this book much better that the 2nd installment. Jack was less annoying.
And I found it much exciting than the last book.
So I guess I will continue on the series then. Except that, I'll just wait for my sister to buy her own copy.
And I found it much exciting than the last book.
So I guess I will continue on the series then. Except that, I'll just wait for my sister to buy her own copy.
August 11, 2020
It was hard for me to finish the book because it had less impact on me compared to the previous 2 books. Nonetheless, it's still action-packed but with a lot of things going on. Kinda confusing but I was still able to finish it though.
May 23, 2016
3,5 Sterne
November 28, 2017
It was fast-paced, going to the mausoleum of halicarnassus to get the next Loculus, it was kindda hectic, made a pretty big pothole, and an ugly stereotype of dwarf people.
Plothole: this is going to be a spoiler:
Jack and friends had to cross the river of nostalgiclos (or lethe in greek but nostalgiclos was a made up name) in the realm of Bo'gloo in other to meet the ruler Queen Artemisia. It is said when one cross the river they must face their greatest fear and give in rather than fight and deny it. So the fears won't consume them whole and they could passed the last 'trial' of a pure heart to meet this Queeny. Aly, Cass, and the professor bhegad did it and they got through. Jack didn't and he still got through with the help of his friends and the chaotic memory of Cass's. Cass's greatest fear was griffin and it came alive again from the river. I was hoping their fear was more deeper than that, and since Cass had a pretty bad memories of abandonment, why not use that?? Jack's greatest fear was his mom's death, which is of course more make sense. And then by facing the fear, they had lost their abilities. Which is just not great. Accept Jack of course. At the forest(?) i forgot, near the palace of the Queeny, the fire started to burst and it spread fast. They had to run, and of course the fire happened because Jack didn't face his fear. After some running and found a new portal to London, the ex-sybil, their guide, prompted them to move on to meet the queen. And she helped them go through. I mean, she's the one who mentioned all those trials and acted as a i-dont-give-a-damn villain, which is quite good, but if she's going to help them anyway, why not do it in the first place?? Makes no sense.
One thing I see a difference here is the many involvement of adults. Where usually, a middle grade adventures book like this always disregarded adult's interference. So that's quite good I guess.
Oh, and what's up with Jack passing out and woke up with a one-liner remarks from his friends. It happened too often in every books so far. Lol.
Plothole: this is going to be a spoiler:
Jack and friends had to cross the river of nostalgiclos (or lethe in greek but nostalgiclos was a made up name) in the realm of Bo'gloo in other to meet the ruler Queen Artemisia. It is said when one cross the river they must face their greatest fear and give in rather than fight and deny it. So the fears won't consume them whole and they could passed the last 'trial' of a pure heart to meet this Queeny. Aly, Cass, and the professor bhegad did it and they got through. Jack didn't and he still got through with the help of his friends and the chaotic memory of Cass's. Cass's greatest fear was griffin and it came alive again from the river. I was hoping their fear was more deeper than that, and since Cass had a pretty bad memories of abandonment, why not use that?? Jack's greatest fear was his mom's death, which is of course more make sense. And then by facing the fear, they had lost their abilities. Which is just not great. Accept Jack of course. At the forest(?) i forgot, near the palace of the Queeny, the fire started to burst and it spread fast. They had to run, and of course the fire happened because Jack didn't face his fear. After some running and found a new portal to London, the ex-sybil, their guide, prompted them to move on to meet the queen. And she helped them go through. I mean, she's the one who mentioned all those trials and acted as a i-dont-give-a-damn villain, which is quite good, but if she's going to help them anyway, why not do it in the first place?? Makes no sense.
One thing I see a difference here is the many involvement of adults. Where usually, a middle grade adventures book like this always disregarded adult's interference. So that's quite good I guess.
Oh, and what's up with Jack passing out and woke up with a one-liner remarks from his friends. It happened too often in every books so far. Lol.
March 8, 2020
The 3rd book in the Seven Wonders series. In this book, Jack learns his mother he thought dead for 6 years is actually alive. She faked her own death to run off and join the Massa. As the team of Selects is returning to the KI institute at the Island of Atlantis, they discover the Island is under attack. They help rescue several KI staff, invade the control center to scramble data and tracking mechanisms, and escape with Professor Beghad in tow. Professor Beghad has been gravely injured and tells the children they must head for the next Loculus of Healing at the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. To get there they will need resources, so Jack calls his dad and they meet up with him in Mongolia to join forces to keep collecting loculi. They head to Turkey where they meet a strange man named Canavar who has been helping excavate the Mausoleum. Together they unlock a key that brings the Mausoleum to life. They enter it to get the Loculus, but they have to pay the price of one soul to do so. Professor Beghad agrees to be that soul. They enter, pass a river of memories that makes you face your worst fear, pass a ravaging fire to get to Queen Artemisia to get the Loculus. Once there, the Queen claims Beghad's soul, turning him into a zombie like the rest of her minions, and then betrays the selects by telling them the Loculus they seek was stolen years ago. They escape the Mausoleum without Professor Beghad and research who would have stolen the Loculus. They track it to a museum in NYC. They arrive, battle some Massa to obtain it and win. In the scuffle, Jack's dad is arrested. Activating the Loculus opens the door for the zombie shadows to enter the Earthly plane and they begin attacking the selects and the Massa perusing them, including Marco and Jack's mom. Jack decides to destroy the Loculus to close the portal and remove the shadows, even though that means they will die and never restore the power of Atlantis. In doing so, he fulfills a prophecy that the Destroyer will rule. What that means for Jack and the others, will be in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2017
I'm done with this series. This book wasn't good at all.
Overview: Low education, medium-high violence, very low romance, and no language.
Educational Value: Low. A Wonder of the Ancient World is explored.
Violence: Medium-high. Three bombings at different points in the book send the main characters flying, giving them minor injuries. They're also cut by sharp griffin talons, gassed, shot at, chased by a raging fire, concussed in a crashing plane, and attacked by zombies whose body parts go flying (with more typical zombie imagery of eyeballs coming out of sockets and skin flaking off to the bone, etc.) Each of the three suffers seizures and requires what's just called "treatments" to prolong their lives; with their special genetic mutation, no one lives past the age of 14. There's a sad death of a monkey who was protecting Jack and the loss of a mentor figure who sacrifices himself to the cause. There's talk of sad losses of parents and missing parents; Jack remembers the day he received the phone call about his mother's disappearance and presumed death. A whole base is attacked with people beaten and held prisoner. Some gunfights and fistfights.
Romance: Very low. Some hand-holding and blushing between two characters.
Language: Not applicable. "Flipping" said once, and a mention that a truck driver has a "potty mouth."
Overview: Low education, medium-high violence, very low romance, and no language.
Educational Value: Low. A Wonder of the Ancient World is explored.
Violence: Medium-high. Three bombings at different points in the book send the main characters flying, giving them minor injuries. They're also cut by sharp griffin talons, gassed, shot at, chased by a raging fire, concussed in a crashing plane, and attacked by zombies whose body parts go flying (with more typical zombie imagery of eyeballs coming out of sockets and skin flaking off to the bone, etc.) Each of the three suffers seizures and requires what's just called "treatments" to prolong their lives; with their special genetic mutation, no one lives past the age of 14. There's a sad death of a monkey who was protecting Jack and the loss of a mentor figure who sacrifices himself to the cause. There's talk of sad losses of parents and missing parents; Jack remembers the day he received the phone call about his mother's disappearance and presumed death. A whole base is attacked with people beaten and held prisoner. Some gunfights and fistfights.
Romance: Very low. Some hand-holding and blushing between two characters.
Language: Not applicable. "Flipping" said once, and a mention that a truck driver has a "potty mouth."
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