The Event Group is comprised of the nation's most brilliant men and women in the fields of science, philosophy, and the military. Led by Major Jack Collins, their job is to find the truth behind the world's greatest unsolved myths. And this time, Collins and his crew will dare to uncover a terrifying secret―about the long-vanished tribe of the Incas―that's buried deep within the Amazon Basin.
The last expedition into the depths and darkness of the Amazon claimed the lives of a female professor and her team. Now the Event Group, using cutting-edge technology exclusively designed by the U.S. military, will travel to the ends of the earth―from Brazil to the Little Bighorn to the Arlington National Cemetery―to bring new meaning to an ancient disaster…or bury the legend forever…or die trying.
David L. Golemon (a.k.a. David Lynn Golemon ) is the author of the Event Group Thrillers, including Event, Ancients, Leviathan and Primeval. Legend, the second book in the series, was nominated for a RITA award for paranormal fiction.
Golemon learned an early love of reading from his father, who told him that the written word, unlike other forms, allows readers to use their own minds, the greatest special effects machines of all—an idea Golemon still believes. The only thing he loves more than writing is research, especially historical research, and he sees the subtext of his Event novels as being that understanding history allows us to create a better future. Golemon grew up in Chino, California, and now makes his home in New York.
After being filled with excitement after the stellar book that was #1 in the Event series, I was left a bit disappointed with the follow up effort. Unfortunately, the issue I had with story structure were worse in the second book and showed little growth in writing. It is my expectation that an author will improve on a debut novel. In reality, this is a story of two novels. The first 50% was a generous 2 stars while the final 50% was easily a 4 star book. Hence, a 3 star read. The story had good and bad but overall there is promise in series and I will undoubtedly read the third novel.
Plot summary
The main plot is the search for the mythical El Dorado. As you can probably guess, since the event team is involved, the fabled Incan gold mine hold more secrets than traditional treasure. Four different groups of people converge on the site searched for one of the hidden treasure and mayhem, explosions and political intrigue ensues.
The Good
The last half of the book had some excellent and fast moving action scenes. There were also a significant number of creatures that have fallen off the evolutionary ladder so to speak. This is always a plus for me and reminds me of the early (and still my favorite) James Rollins novel. If you chose to start this book, it may be best to skip first half of the story.
There is also significant use of novel technology. Massive lasers from the sky, high tech boats, etc. The book is not so old that these items seem dated.
The Bad
The story doesn't focus on person in particular. It took half of the book for me to figure out who it was that was in charge of the Event Group. There are a load of characters and there is very little character development. It is hard to keep track of who is who, who loves who and who does what. A real short coming in book. Halfway through it doesn't matter as the story and action lead the charge. On top of this, the story does not feel like it get into a rhythm. You are bounced around so much you feel disoriented when the ride is over.
While overall, the story is a plus, the storytelling flaws bog it down. As I see it, there are at least two ways to write a great AA story. If you wish to forgo character development, don't let off on the throttle when it comes to action (see Matthew Reilly). If you want to pace your action, focus on a develop several memorable characters (see James Rollins). Unfortunately, Golemon skips a few steps and it is his story that suffers. I hope this improves as the series progresses.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1
There was no sex to speak of. A hand on a leg here, a longing look there and maybe one church worthy kiss. Nothing your grandmother can't read.
Language - 2.5
Occasional adult language with a handful of f-words and smattering of religious exclamations and lesser adult language. Low to Moderate.
Violence - 3.5
In total about 33 good guys die and a similar number of bad guys and innocents. While the deaths are not graphic, people are shot, impaled, cut in half and drowned to name a few. The death tally steadly increases page by page. While not graphic, the violence is fairly constant and focus of the story. Some of the violence is sci-fi "animal/monster" in nature. I consider it moderate and relatively normal in this genre.
Sometimes I really wish the author would hire someone to draw his vision as he writes his tales of species more than a thousand years old. This series reminds me of the weirdness of Stephen King books and I don't read them because I just can't seem to visualize some of his works. My imagination is quite different. Or it could be that I just love picture books more? (chuckling).
Well this novel was an adventure, deep into the Brazilian amazons with waterfalls, caves, lagoons, and volcanos. Thousand year old species and a deadly material just ripe for the pickings of a madman ready for a dirty bomb. It was warm and fuzzy in some places and weird, crazy and bloody in others. Would have loved to see a photo of the USS Teacher, it sounded like such a cool boat.
Second book of this fantastic series, again from the start, it is all non stop action, the Event group, and a fitting name to this assemblage of the best and brightest soldiers, scientists and etc..........
As usual the tale, starts long, long time ago, to be exact during the Spanish expansion into the new world.......the Spaniards have enslaved another Incan civilization and were led into another quest for hidden treasures(I am quite unsure if El Dorado was the first or this one the so called "Padilla Expedition", people there is a real Padilla Expedition, this fiction just shows you how potent Mr. Golemon's imagination is!!).....suffice to say what happened to that fateful journey is one of the reason why we have this Event............
Aside from the main story of the Padilla Expedition, we also have the side story of the powerful figures in the American government and to what extent they can do to hide the truth.......
These books remind me of the show on SyFY called Warehouse 13. The Event group are a government supported group that is hidden under the desert near Nellis Air Force Base. THey deal with things that are threatening the World, like Aliens, Russians, Time travelers. The Legend deals with a legendary beast that is found in the Amazon. The legend dates back to 1533 discovered by Spanish explorers.
Mira por donde este segundo libro se me ha hecho más lento que el primero, recuerdo que el primero me lo leí en un plis pero este... me ha costado más días de lectura. Aparte de eso la historia sigue interesante esperando a ver qué más pasa. Tiene acción y aventura, buenos y malos, a ver en el siguiente libro a dónde tienen que ir nuestro grupo de científicos y amigos a rescatar alguna arma peligrosa o rescatar a alguien... Son libros interesantes, al menos ara mí, porque además puedes aprender cosas y por ese motivo recomiendo esta saga, así que a leer se ha dicho y que no decaiga...
Original read 31 August 2011; listened to via Audible 11 February 2015; listened to via Audible 2 September 2017
The Event Group are back to save the world! This time, its from people trying to find the treasure of El Dorado!
I really can't rate these books highly enough! I absolutely love them! There is non-stop action, great storylines, indepth and well researched history, and fantastic very likeable characters. As a woman, I love the slight thread of romance running through the book between Jack and Sarah. I think sometimes male authors underestimate the fact that women like to read these books too and probably 3/4 of us like a bit of romance. Mr Golemon knows how to write a great romance subtly into the story and I love it! I'm just terrified that he's going to do a Matthew Reilly on us. Please don't, Mr Golemon!!!!
I really tired to enjoy this book. The first book in the series was really good and I was hoping for a repeat of greatness. Instead this book ignored the group of missing people who were experiencing something I would have enjoyed reading about and focused on a deluge of military equipment discriptions that went on for days. I'm going to give the next book in the series a chance just because the first was so good. I would call this read a forced march...
I read book 1 in this series and found it to be an enjoyable and entertaining read. It was kind of X-File-ish, kind of James Rollins-ish and part Tom Clancy-ish. It made me want to pick up book 2 and find out where the Event Group was going next. So I did...
Book 2 (Legend) can be divided into two parts for me. A book written by one author or edited by one editor and another written by a completely different author or edited by someone other than the first editor. The first part lays the foundation and the historical context for the second part where the Event Group gets involved and is led down a winding and twisty path towards death, dismemberment, or excessive radiation poisoning.
I nearly quit reading the first part. It was slow. It was rambling. I had trouble connecting the dots and in determining what the author was trying to communicate. It was boring... I considered just quitting and giving it star for at least trying and then moving on. It would have been the last Event Group book I would have read.
But, I didn't quit.
I am so happy that I didn't.
The second part of this book is exactly what I found so entertaining about Book 1. And more. The plot thickened. The characters were exposed a bit more. The antagonists were revealed some some surprising but short lived humanity. Best of all, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The second part of the book performed a complete 180 on my mindset and thoughts about the book and a little bit about the author. If I'd only read this part, it would get 5 stars. Absolutely riveting, engaging, and including all the things I loved from the X-Files, Rollins, and Clancy.
Because it split into two for me: one star and 5 stars. I can't give it a 5, but I sure as hell am not giving it a 1. This was a test of endurance and I think I passed the test and the book definitely did.
4 Stars!
I am off to get the third book and find out what happens next. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book has a good concept, good story line, and good locations. The problem is that a base of science was used to make the story, but the author bastardized basic science whenever it fit his writing. Although the author gives special acknowledgement to his editor, it seems that the editor was out of the office the day this manuscript came through for review. There are numerous basic editing errors, and there are many obvious basic errors in science: physics, chemistry, geology, etc. Even multiple errors with lie/lay, calling the National Park Service the U.S. Parks Service, no table of contents, apostrophes for plurals, etc. all made it past everyone involved. The book sadly needed a science editor. The cryptozoology is fine and can work very well, but changing the ways of physics, computer science, etc. quickly brings a good fictional narrative crashing down for anyone with an education. Almost everything the author describes related to radioactivity, geology, computer science etc. is simply from his imagination, rather than based upon real life. Super computers are not found in "clean rooms" as he describes, but in "raised floor" computer rooms. The people who access these computers are not in "clean suits" in the room with the computers, they are anywhere in the world, maybe in their underwear at home (yes, this was also true in 2007 when the book was released.) Tritium is not found in quantities on cave walls, ore is not heated to extreme temperature by seismic activity, etc. There were so many ridiculous and absurd such references near the end of this book that I could not take it anymore and stopped reading. It had become a science fiction book describing another planet on which our scientific laws do not apply, so the logical, rational fabric of the Amazonian environment no longer applied.
Thoroughly enjoyed this second in the Event group series, dealing with the search for a missing expedition into the heart of the Amazon. Also missing is the President's daughter, who ditched her protection and joined the ill-fated exploration team. Toss in a group of bad guys who want the legendary lost El Dorado gold mine and terrifying monsters in the river and you have the recipe for a great adventure.
The book reads as a Cussler novel with more science fiction elements, and that is high praise coming from a Cussler fan such as myself. The large cast of heroes is one you can root for, and the villains deserve what is coming to them. I'm actually surprised that this group of novels hasn't been optioned for a tv series yet, I would love to see it make it to the screen.
Legend: Event Group book 2 (as always no spoilers)
The search for El Dorado has begun.
The Event Group led by major Jack Collins set out in search of El Dorado and an ill fated group of professors and students lost in the jungles of Brazil.
With danger, excitement monsters (both prehistoric and mythological) and tragedy along the way this book makes for a VERY good read although it was quite a slow read for a while but well worth sticking with it.
This is the second novel in the Event Group thrillers, the first being Event, I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series, Ancients, about the search for Atlantis.
Highly recommended book for anyone who likes taught thrillers that make you want to turn the page to see what happens next.
Quite enjoyable with amazing action sequences and interesting premises, but not yet James Rollins quality level. ***Spoilers*** Reading the final pages im still questioning how everyone survived after a 5 megaton nuclear warhead was detonated half a mile (more or less) away, this bugs me to no end, i would understand they "could" survive a 5kiloton tactical nuke being shielded by the piramid and mountain, but a 5 megaton?... We are talking thermonuclear grade here, and this above all should have been looked at and revised. With a 5megaton nuke the whole mountain, surrounding jungle, lake, river, etc, would be gone in a cloud of atomized ash.
Книга, що залишила дуже неоднозначні враження після прочитання. ⠀ В серце Амазонки вирушила наукова експедиція, до якої таємно приєдналася донька президента, і зникла. Тим часом група поганих хлопців докладає чималих зусиль, щоб відшукати легендарну золоту копальню Ельдорадо. А в річці на людей полюють жахливі монстри. ⠀ Здавалося б, перед нами просто ідеальна пригода. Але не все так просто. Замість динамічного розвитку і карколомних поворотів сюжету книга переповнена нудними описами, а розвиток подій припадає на останні 50 сторінок. ⠀ Дещо намучилася я з цією книгою, продовження циклу точно не читатиму.
When the legendary route to the mine of El Dorado is discovered and leads to a college expedition led by a former member of the secret US agency nicknamed the "Event Group" goes missing, the Event Group and certain suspicious individuals must team up to track down the expedition. The issue is that the dangers of the mysterious mine are not the only issue. Throw in government conspiracies, mercenaries and greedy bankers and you have an adventure that will be as hot as plutonium.
I look forward to the next installment of the Event Group series.
Una lectura didáctica, al inicio me llamó mucho la atención, tiene un par de capítulos que considero que no suma a la trama pues hablan de otras aventuras que no tienen relaciona con la aventura principal y genera una expectativa que nunca se llega a concretar. Los personajes están desarrollados con poca profundidad, sin embargo esto no incomoda ya que el objetivo del libro es contar las aventuras. Los últimos capítulos fueron muy buenos y al mismo tiempo algo largo. Le doy 3 estrellas pues pudo tener menos de 400 paginas.
2nd in the series but really a stand alone book. I am just as enthusiastic about this one as the first and have started #3. Can't wait to loose myself in another great book. This author is just as adept at grabbing your attention as another set of authors I love, Preston and Child. Great depth of characters and a plausible story line.
A significant improvement over book 1...looks like some of the major feedback on book 1 has been well incorporated by the author...Though I still feel that character development needs a bit of work.
The plot lines and story premise is strong however high action sequences can be tighter and more edge of the seat...
Para ser un thriller falla bastante. Demasiados personajes irrelevantes lo cual lo hace confuso. Ya se espera en estos casos que pasemos por alto el silogismo de buenos y malos. Se mata, siempre con un pequeño arrepentimiento, para eso son los buenos, los malos no tienen esos escrúpulos.
I really enjoyed this book because it had a little of everything that I enjoy; history, artifacts, a little supernatural mystery, military action and adventure! I'll definitely look for more from this author.
A worth while addition to a brilliant archaeological action series!
Exciting, fast paced, and believably grounded in scientific as well as historical fact. Technological details interspersed with military make for an enjoyable, fast paced read!
Another good read I love this series so far hope all of are good love the history woven throughout storyline of these books makes it interesting to read a story with stories you have herd about before is interesting to say th e least.
Decent. If I run across any of the others in the series, I'll pick them up. Hopefully, David grows as a writer, because I can see a lot of promise in him, just unrealized in this one.