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Mysterious Island #1
Lemuria
On a desolate beach in far northern Scotland, the winter storms have been washing up all manner of things since time began. But buried in the centre of one smaller iceberg is a shard of ancient Viking pottery telling a partial tale of a hidden mysterious island beyond the ice and mist, that was home to a great treasure and even greater horrors.
Thawing in the same block of ice was a rotting flap of skin that refused to be identified but had similar skin patterns to a creature not seen for 100 million years.
Now, Troy Strom and the enigmatic Elle Burgan race to find the mysterious island of legend, while staying ahead of a group of brutal killers who claim to be the rightful owners of the greatest prize of all—Odin’s heart.
Thawing in the same block of ice was a rotting flap of skin that refused to be identified but had similar skin patterns to a creature not seen for 100 million years.
Now, Troy Strom and the enigmatic Elle Burgan race to find the mysterious island of legend, while staying ahead of a group of brutal killers who claim to be the rightful owners of the greatest prize of all—Odin’s heart.
Audible Audio
Published September 1, 2022
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About the author
Greig Beck
47 books1,160 followersHi GoodReaders, I’m an Australian author residing in Sydney with my wife, son and a mad Golden Retriever named Jessie. My novels are now available globally, also in Large Print and now in full AUDIO format.
I grew up spending my days surfing at Bondi Beach before entering a career in Information technology which took me around the world. After completing an MBA, i was appointed both an Australasian director of a multinational software company, and tasked with setting up the USA arm of the organisation.
Today, I spend most of my time writing... with plenty left over for surfing.
More information about me and my works can be found at either www.greigbeck.com, or join me on FaceBook (Greig Beck Author).
I grew up spending my days surfing at Bondi Beach before entering a career in Information technology which took me around the world. After completing an MBA, i was appointed both an Australasian director of a multinational software company, and tasked with setting up the USA arm of the organisation.
Today, I spend most of my time writing... with plenty left over for surfing.
More information about me and my works can be found at either www.greigbeck.com, or join me on FaceBook (Greig Beck Author).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
September 17, 2023
If you're a fan of Indiana Jones you should definitely risk a glance here. Troy Strom, Ellen and Anna try to find the mysterious island of Lemura. An evil villain is trying the same and following our heroes. Will they find the island? What is so special about this place the world forgot? Are there any dangers (think about Jurassic Park)? The characters are a bit wooden, the plot is predictable, the dialogues are flat but it is the incredibly interesting backstory about Odin's Gate and the Norsemen who went there a thousand years before that gets you going. This exciting tale keeps you pushing forward and right into the next volume. Highly recommended page turning adventure meets horror meets myths and legends.
September 18, 2023
This is a very good read. At times there is a parallel between this book and the Jules Verne version but it kept its originality. You can tell the author spent much time in research not only about the Vikings, but the dinosaur era also. It was very enjoyable that legends were revealed and mysteries were solved. It was very hard to put the book down. I am looking forward to reading the sequels.
January 6, 2023
I knew from the outset that this would be a leave-your-brain-at-the-door uber-masculine action romp. I wasn't expecting a literary masterpiece, and had my expectations adjusted accordingly.
The kindest thing I can say is that this would make a great movie. The potential for spectacular visuals are all there. And there is plenty of excitement, some nice twists and turns. Very little here is original, and most scenes felt familiar from movies like The Mummy, Jurassic Park...heck, the prologue even reminded me of Pixar's "Up"!
Even my adjusted expecations found disappointments, mostly in the dialogue of the characters which was pretty unnatural. Especially when a character (usually Anne) needed to explain something, and did so in such a detailed, specific way that it sounded like the author had copies and pasted the speech from an encyclopedia page. Eg:
I didn't much care for Troy, who just felt like a manly-man's self-insert, being an ex-CIA agent living a new life in Scotland and bringing along not one but two love interests for the ride.
There were also a bunch of lazy mistakes. Like the Norwegian characters speaking Dutch, Troy paying a Scottish receptionist in euros rather than pounds in chapter 4, one case of someone "extracting revenge", and Troy's amazement that the Scandinavian spirit aquavit is "42% proof". ("Proof" is not the same as "ABV": 42% proof is only 21% ABV. But even 42% ABV isn't particularly strong for a spirit...Troy's been living in Scotland, has he never tried a 50-55% cask strength whisky?)
Worst of all, the story isn't even complete. It's got a cliffhanger ending that invites you to continue the story in the next book. Which I don't think I'll be doing.
Essentially, what you have here is a turn-the-handle-and-pop-out-another-one adventure story which will make for some fun, easy reading, but it won't rock your world or blow your mind. For me, Greig Beck was slightly more palatable that Scott Sigler, but still joins him as an author I won't be rushing to read again.
The kindest thing I can say is that this would make a great movie. The potential for spectacular visuals are all there. And there is plenty of excitement, some nice twists and turns. Very little here is original, and most scenes felt familiar from movies like The Mummy, Jurassic Park...heck, the prologue even reminded me of Pixar's "Up"!
Even my adjusted expecations found disappointments, mostly in the dialogue of the characters which was pretty unnatural. Especially when a character (usually Anne) needed to explain something, and did so in such a detailed, specific way that it sounded like the author had copies and pasted the speech from an encyclopedia page. Eg:
"There's a bug called a bombardier beetle that has the ability to shoot heated chemicals from their abdomen. In fact, it's a mix of chemical and boiling water...There are two glands at the tip of the abdomen. Each gland has hydrogen peroxide and an acid reservoir. When threatened, it squeezes the conents of the reservoir into a special internal mixing chamber filled with water and anzymes. A chemical reaction results, heating the water to 212 degrees Farenheit" (Also, Anne is Scottish, and so would not speak of temperatures in Farenheit.)
I didn't much care for Troy, who just felt like a manly-man's self-insert, being an ex-CIA agent living a new life in Scotland and bringing along not one but two love interests for the ride.
There were also a bunch of lazy mistakes. Like the Norwegian characters speaking Dutch, Troy paying a Scottish receptionist in euros rather than pounds in chapter 4, one case of someone "extracting revenge", and Troy's amazement that the Scandinavian spirit aquavit is "42% proof". ("Proof" is not the same as "ABV": 42% proof is only 21% ABV. But even 42% ABV isn't particularly strong for a spirit...Troy's been living in Scotland, has he never tried a 50-55% cask strength whisky?)
Worst of all, the story isn't even complete. It's got a cliffhanger ending that invites you to continue the story in the next book. Which I don't think I'll be doing.
Essentially, what you have here is a turn-the-handle-and-pop-out-another-one adventure story which will make for some fun, easy reading, but it won't rock your world or blow your mind. For me, Greig Beck was slightly more palatable that Scott Sigler, but still joins him as an author I won't be rushing to read again.
December 31, 2022
Beck puts a lot of ideas together in this novel. First, he’s obviously building off Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues under the Sea sequel, The Mysterious Island. Verne even appears briefly in the story. Second, he’s playing with Viking myth—especially the dragon. Third, he is seeking (as he does in many of his books) to create another ‘lost world” scenario—this time in the artic north.
About half of the novel is built around the quest to discover the mysterious island of Lemuria. There are hints on an ancient Viking urn which has been damaged and three separate groups are trying to locate the fragments so that they can find the island. The prize is not a lost world in these peoples’ minds but a mysterious artifact called Odin’s Heart which is said to be a football sized ruby worth roughly a hundred million dollars. Two of the seekers are basically law-abiding and ethical in their efforts. The third is killing people to obtain the clues and has no problem wiping out the competition.
When they finally reach the island (which is hidden under a glacier creating a sort of greenhouse effect that permits Beck to have a lost world where dinosaurs still roam in the otherwise frozen north) things heat up considerably. Beck is very good at making monstrous threats out of the prehistoric world and the danger the explorers face is palpable. As usual, the greatest threat is not actually the monsters but the other human seekers. There is plenty of tension and one really big surprise. There is also something of a cliffhanger ending—more so than in other books by Beck that I have read.
About half of the novel is built around the quest to discover the mysterious island of Lemuria. There are hints on an ancient Viking urn which has been damaged and three separate groups are trying to locate the fragments so that they can find the island. The prize is not a lost world in these peoples’ minds but a mysterious artifact called Odin’s Heart which is said to be a football sized ruby worth roughly a hundred million dollars. Two of the seekers are basically law-abiding and ethical in their efforts. The third is killing people to obtain the clues and has no problem wiping out the competition.
When they finally reach the island (which is hidden under a glacier creating a sort of greenhouse effect that permits Beck to have a lost world where dinosaurs still roam in the otherwise frozen north) things heat up considerably. Beck is very good at making monstrous threats out of the prehistoric world and the danger the explorers face is palpable. As usual, the greatest threat is not actually the monsters but the other human seekers. There is plenty of tension and one really big surprise. There is also something of a cliffhanger ending—more so than in other books by Beck that I have read.
August 27, 2022
Awesome read.
Very entertaining and addictive characters. I can hardly wait for book 2.
I loved the adventure Troy and Anna had and the suspense at the end has me reeling for more. Their world is full of danger and discovery and reunited love. LOL. Actually I’m looking forward to the sweet revenge in the next book. LOL
GREAT READ!
Very entertaining and addictive characters. I can hardly wait for book 2.
I loved the adventure Troy and Anna had and the suspense at the end has me reeling for more. Their world is full of danger and discovery and reunited love. LOL. Actually I’m looking forward to the sweet revenge in the next book. LOL
GREAT READ!
September 8, 2024
Ich bin ein großer Fan von Jule Verne und war am Anfang total verwirrt, da sich das erste Kapitel wie ein Kapitel aus "Die geheimnisvolle Insel" von Jules Verne liest. Ich habe dann aber schnell die Unterschiede bemerkt, aber der beginn an Jules Verne orientiert hat mich sofort gekriegt.
Wir begleiten unser Heldentrio, den Ex-CIA-Agenten Troy, die Paläontologin Anne und die undurchsichtige Elle auf der suche nach Lemuria. Einer geheimnissvollen Insel unterhalb Grönlands wie Sagen zufolge Heimat von Odins Herz sein soll. Einem Rubin von makelloser Reinheit in der größe eines Fußballs. Als Hilfsmittel dienen ihnen nicht nur die überlieferte Wikingersage, sondern auch Bruchstücke einer Urne und ein Kompass aus einem Wikingerschiff. Auf Lemuria erwartet sie aber nicht nur der Schatz sondern auch zahlreiche Gefahren, denn nicht nur die drei haben sich auf die Suche nach Odins Herz gemacht und der Rubin wird streng bewacht.
Die Geschichte spielt in zwei Zeitebenen, einmal im Jetzt und einmal zu Zeiten Ulfs auf dessen Überlieferungen die Basis unserer Expedition stattfindet. Sie ist sehr einfach geschrieben, die Personen sind sehr zweidimensional, die Dialoge eher flach und selten interessant, auch den Plottwist am Ende fand ich jetzt sehr vorhersehbar und auch zu plötzlich. Es hat einfach nicht zusammemgepasst. Trotzdem, ich hab das Buch sehr spannend gefunden und sehr viel spaß beim Lesen gehabt. Ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiterlesen.
Wir begleiten unser Heldentrio, den Ex-CIA-Agenten Troy, die Paläontologin Anne und die undurchsichtige Elle auf der suche nach Lemuria. Einer geheimnissvollen Insel unterhalb Grönlands wie Sagen zufolge Heimat von Odins Herz sein soll. Einem Rubin von makelloser Reinheit in der größe eines Fußballs. Als Hilfsmittel dienen ihnen nicht nur die überlieferte Wikingersage, sondern auch Bruchstücke einer Urne und ein Kompass aus einem Wikingerschiff. Auf Lemuria erwartet sie aber nicht nur der Schatz sondern auch zahlreiche Gefahren, denn nicht nur die drei haben sich auf die Suche nach Odins Herz gemacht und der Rubin wird streng bewacht.
Die Geschichte spielt in zwei Zeitebenen, einmal im Jetzt und einmal zu Zeiten Ulfs auf dessen Überlieferungen die Basis unserer Expedition stattfindet. Sie ist sehr einfach geschrieben, die Personen sind sehr zweidimensional, die Dialoge eher flach und selten interessant, auch den Plottwist am Ende fand ich jetzt sehr vorhersehbar und auch zu plötzlich. Es hat einfach nicht zusammemgepasst. Trotzdem, ich hab das Buch sehr spannend gefunden und sehr viel spaß beim Lesen gehabt. Ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiterlesen.
November 24, 2023
I hoarded this book for just over a year and started it when I got to know that the final book of the trilogy releases in December. Just started on the sequel.
I have loved Greig's books since short book
and
. I became a fan when I read the Primordia and Centre of the Earth trilogies. He set the mark quite high when it came to revisiting and revitalizing classic novels and stories. His original series with Alex Hunter is another great reading.
Greig writes some mean monsters and his words stoke and fire the imagination with creatures that give goosebumps. I expected this and much more in this series.
It has got the creatures, It has got the storyline, It has got the frantic pace but there is still a feeling of expectation that this volume did not give us the high that was expected and which will probably be satiated only with the sequel. The only thing which rankled was the deja-vu - reincarnation theme which remains mostly in the dark till the end of this part.
The story starts with a ship pulling up a message in a bottle in the 19th century and the parchment is picked up by a certain Jules Verne.
The story which is inspired by Verne's novel The Mysterious Island - Jules Verne and jumps off from the start of that novel. We have the protagonist and one of the central characters Troyson Strom as a Norwegian kid fascinated with Viking history and mythology, particularly with ancient Viking ships and his first contact with Elleanor Burgan, another central character who has a passionate interest in the same history. The chance meeting is central to the novel.
Decades later Troyson is still focused on tracing the ship and a second "chance" meeting with Elleanor takes him on an adventure of his lifetime.
The story picks up from a basic storyline into an adventure thriller with a search for a map for the location of the mysterious island - Lemuria and there are antagonists who are also on the quest. The clues are on the table as the team goes in search of the myth.
The dangers are well imagined and the story moves fast in the frigid climate of Iceland from where the team searches for the hidden path into hell.
The story moves back and forth between the current and the Viking expedition on the 11th century which has provided the clues for the current expedition. The story of Odin's Heart a huge ruby crystal the size of a mans head and Viking treasure seems to drive the protagonists.
Grieg keeps pushing the fine line between myth, legend and history. Here we have the team chasing the dream of the Odin's Heart and in the process coming face to face with a hulk herewith hidden for eons. The monsters here are lyrical and the story finishes with a flourish and I have just started reading the sequel.
I have loved Greig's books since short book
and
. I became a fan when I read the Primordia and Centre of the Earth trilogies. He set the mark quite high when it came to revisiting and revitalizing classic novels and stories. His original series with Alex Hunter is another great reading. Greig writes some mean monsters and his words stoke and fire the imagination with creatures that give goosebumps. I expected this and much more in this series.
It has got the creatures, It has got the storyline, It has got the frantic pace but there is still a feeling of expectation that this volume did not give us the high that was expected and which will probably be satiated only with the sequel. The only thing which rankled was the deja-vu - reincarnation theme which remains mostly in the dark till the end of this part.
The story starts with a ship pulling up a message in a bottle in the 19th century and the parchment is picked up by a certain Jules Verne.
The story which is inspired by Verne's novel The Mysterious Island - Jules Verne and jumps off from the start of that novel. We have the protagonist and one of the central characters Troyson Strom as a Norwegian kid fascinated with Viking history and mythology, particularly with ancient Viking ships and his first contact with Elleanor Burgan, another central character who has a passionate interest in the same history. The chance meeting is central to the novel.
Decades later Troyson is still focused on tracing the ship and a second "chance" meeting with Elleanor takes him on an adventure of his lifetime.
The story picks up from a basic storyline into an adventure thriller with a search for a map for the location of the mysterious island - Lemuria and there are antagonists who are also on the quest. The clues are on the table as the team goes in search of the myth.
The dangers are well imagined and the story moves fast in the frigid climate of Iceland from where the team searches for the hidden path into hell.
The story moves back and forth between the current and the Viking expedition on the 11th century which has provided the clues for the current expedition. The story of Odin's Heart a huge ruby crystal the size of a mans head and Viking treasure seems to drive the protagonists.
Grieg keeps pushing the fine line between myth, legend and history. Here we have the team chasing the dream of the Odin's Heart and in the process coming face to face with a hulk herewith hidden for eons. The monsters here are lyrical and the story finishes with a flourish and I have just started reading the sequel.
November 1, 2022
Two stars and I'm being very generous as it's actually more like 1.5. The story started out well enough but it took almost half the book before we got to the island. Once there I was ready for an exciting time and there were monsters galore but by then I really didn't care who lived and who died. The characters were two dimensional and standard: a former CIA operative, a know-it-all scientist, the beautiful mystery woman and plenty of cannon fodder. This book was such a huge disappointment that I won't be picking up the sequel even though there was a cliffhanger. Oh, and what was that chapter that took place in Australia all about? It was a one and done. Sheesh.
January 1, 2024
This is a re read. Even better than first time.
June 25, 2025
Adventure, beasts, Vikings, babes, more or less what I expected but fully enjoyed this book! Thought it was pretty funny that the most descriptive passage was the main character mentally going through the tasting notes of Icelandic moonshine.
November 8, 2023
Dinos on ice (the frozen water, not the drug).
This is yet another of Mr Beck's modernisations of an old classic; in this case, Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island. As usual, Greig does a splendid job of updating the story with the latest creatures discovered by those wacky Palaeontologists, plus adding plenty of action and intrigue to keep us reading. He really does his research well.
While reading this, I noticed how similar the story is to Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World. I wonder if ACD copied Jules Verne’s idea with slight changes. Probably the Brits trying to outdo the Frenchies … again. Greig Beck's update of that book was pretty good too. In Search of the Lost World in case you're interested.
My only disappointment was the ending. It had a nice twist to it, but it didn't tie up any loose ends. It leads you to the next book in the series, and I'd rather it had been a stand-alone story.
This is yet another of Mr Beck's modernisations of an old classic; in this case, Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island. As usual, Greig does a splendid job of updating the story with the latest creatures discovered by those wacky Palaeontologists, plus adding plenty of action and intrigue to keep us reading. He really does his research well.
While reading this, I noticed how similar the story is to Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World. I wonder if ACD copied Jules Verne’s idea with slight changes. Probably the Brits trying to outdo the Frenchies … again. Greig Beck's update of that book was pretty good too. In Search of the Lost World in case you're interested.
My only disappointment was the ending. It had a nice twist to it, but it didn't tie up any loose ends. It leads you to the next book in the series, and I'd rather it had been a stand-alone story.
September 8, 2022
A group is on the journey and traveling the same path as Viking in the search for od is heart. Book is full of action and adventure of a place that has been rediscovered.
July 25, 2022
What is hidden in the ice?
Vikings have traveled far and wide but what they found in the ice above Greenland should have stayed a mystery.
Join Troy who loves all things Vikings as he follows the last voyage of Ulf to find Odin's Heart. The mysterious island will surpass all he and his "friends" dreamed of. I cannot wait for the next part of this story.
Vikings have traveled far and wide but what they found in the ice above Greenland should have stayed a mystery.
Join Troy who loves all things Vikings as he follows the last voyage of Ulf to find Odin's Heart. The mysterious island will surpass all he and his "friends" dreamed of. I cannot wait for the next part of this story.
April 16, 2023
This is just bad. Of course the MC is ex-CIA, just so he can later have some skills. The ex-girlfriend that does not need to be an ex - adds nothing to the story except to show the MC as a d-bag, the quickly falling into bed with the other woman, which adds nothing to the story. The bad guy who is evil bad, nothing redeeming, as an easy foil, oh and he also moves so unnaturally quickly that the MC who is supposed to be CIA trained can't stop him. So much bad with this book. Girlfriend with a glass eye as weird plot device later. Just so bad. It would probably make a fine series on Netflix though. It borrows from Jurassic Park and Jules Verne and probably more references I didn't get. I was determined to at least finish the book but I couldn't. I got to 80% and didn't care enough to take it across the finish line.
October 12, 2022
This book is for "entertainment". Adventure...
BUT, placing "Lemuria" on the Atlantic North and as a "viking legend", my god, what a mistake...
I read the book wondering how many "errors" the author did, when quoting about "dinossaurs".
(Lemuria was a imaginary land that once existed on the Indic Ocean, linking Madagascar with the Indian sub-continent. The name and the idea comes from the Lemure, a small mammal that exists in India and Madagascar only, hinting that, once, this places where connected!)
BUT, placing "Lemuria" on the Atlantic North and as a "viking legend", my god, what a mistake...
I read the book wondering how many "errors" the author did, when quoting about "dinossaurs".
(Lemuria was a imaginary land that once existed on the Indic Ocean, linking Madagascar with the Indian sub-continent. The name and the idea comes from the Lemure, a small mammal that exists in India and Madagascar only, hinting that, once, this places where connected!)
March 24, 2025
4 stars.. or in reality 3.7 stars. The story is good, the characters are good, it's a yarn like Jules Verne with sketched out baddies and goodies, (mentally think the artwork of Borderlands video game).
Interesting concept. The MC is a bit OP, but I'm going to put that down as an homage to the old school heroes like Flash Gordon etc. Although in the 20,000 under the sea, the protagonist was not so strong.
FWIW, I read all 4 books back to back.
Interesting concept. The MC is a bit OP, but I'm going to put that down as an homage to the old school heroes like Flash Gordon etc. Although in the 20,000 under the sea, the protagonist was not so strong.
FWIW, I read all 4 books back to back.
December 17, 2024
Started out so strong. Kind of fizzled out at the end. Still finished it.
January 9, 2025
I was listening to the audio book. I just couldn't finish it, the reader's voice just got on my nerves. I may try a paperback version and read it myself.
March 16, 2025
3.5*s
August 5, 2022
Yet another phenomenal book and also the start of a new series from this author. I was absolutely hooked from the start and the action was non stop... I cannot express how much I loved the Primordia series from the same author and how much I missed the story and characters, especially the world that they were a part of, but this in my opinion is a very good contender to that series... with the creatures and characters in this book you will be absolutely glued, I had to read this without pause and I'm now eagerly awaiting the next installment, I look forward to seeing the direction this series takes. I did not expect those twists and the ever evolving storyline was written so fluently, never predictable or leaving you wanting. There was history; lore, creatures, plans, secrets, heart ache/break, treachery, comradery, world building and suspense all mixed in together. This is storytelling at its finest with mythology, information and fiction on top form, also with a slight reference to past tales which I loved, a fantastic touch.
August 12, 2022
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as other books I have read of this authors.
The proof reading was a bit hit and miss and some of the sentence construction was really clunky.
I also found the characters a bit two dimensional, with the main hero nowhere near as compelling as Matt Kearns or Alex Hunter.
The proof reading was a bit hit and miss and some of the sentence construction was really clunky.
I also found the characters a bit two dimensional, with the main hero nowhere near as compelling as Matt Kearns or Alex Hunter.
July 20, 2022
Clap...clap....clap.!! Action, adventure, fantasy, horror, monsters, betrayal, romance...that right there is all in one delicious book. A fast and fun read from start to finish. Greig Beck has built a new world for us to explore. I am waiting for him (fortunately not surrounded by giant beasts), to come back and drop off a second book in this series.
July 20, 2022
Great story
Greg comes through again, another great adventure with such imagination. This book has it all, adventure, suspense, action with a love story to go along with it. I recommend reading this to all that love fiction and adventures.
Greg comes through again, another great adventure with such imagination. This book has it all, adventure, suspense, action with a love story to go along with it. I recommend reading this to all that love fiction and adventures.
December 5, 2022
Another good book. I need book 2
June 3, 2023
Is this book particularly well written? No
But is it well researched and thorough? Also, no
Was I entertained? Yes
Do I want to read the sequel? Somehow, yes
The author makes so many dumb mistakes, confusing ales and lagers, losing count of how many characters are in a scene, forgetting his female heroine has one eye, etc. Generally poor low brow and low effort writing plague this book.
But it is enjoyable still, sort of like The Expendables movies, or pop tarts. You don’t feel good, but you won’t make it stop either.
But is it well researched and thorough? Also, no
Was I entertained? Yes
Do I want to read the sequel? Somehow, yes
The author makes so many dumb mistakes, confusing ales and lagers, losing count of how many characters are in a scene, forgetting his female heroine has one eye, etc. Generally poor low brow and low effort writing plague this book.
But it is enjoyable still, sort of like The Expendables movies, or pop tarts. You don’t feel good, but you won’t make it stop either.
October 7, 2022
I was somewhat disappointed with this one, after loving the Primordia series, Abyss, and Center Of the Earth series. It felt too formula-the bad guys were kind of cliché. There wasn’t as much description of creatures and the island itself as I would have liked either and no real science to make it interesting. I’ll probably read it again to give it another chance but I hope the next book goes n the series will be better.
May 24, 2023
This one was a too much manly wish fulfillment and clunky writing for me.
There is some promise of a fantastic Indiana Jones type adventure at the start, but I found the plot very straight forward and even the more fantastical elements failed to generate any excitement for me.
On the plus side it did feel like it could be the basis for a decent action movie.
There is some promise of a fantastic Indiana Jones type adventure at the start, but I found the plot very straight forward and even the more fantastical elements failed to generate any excitement for me.
On the plus side it did feel like it could be the basis for a decent action movie.
May 28, 2023
The other night--despite the many new books pressing to be read--I just had a hankering for an old-fashioned adventure novel. This scratched the itch perfectly! (Vikings AND dinosaurs? Yes, please!). Now, of course, I'm hankering for the sequel. 🤦🏼♀️
October 14, 2022
Troy Strom met Elle Burgan when they were children, and both drawn to the larger than life displays of Viking history in the museum. As adults they reconnected again on the path to finding the mysterious hidden island of Lemuria – an ancient take they both believed truly existed. They quickly discover they’re not the only people on this trail, and the dangers lurking everywhere aren’t just from the adventure and hidden monsters – but from the other seekers as well.
I really enjoyed this full-length novel. While it’s only the first in a trilogy it has all the hallmarks of an exceptional adventure tale – a hidden location, dangerous monsters, secret treasure and riches and of course a huge cast of merciless killers determined to take it all for themselves. A fair bit of this story is “setting up” for the next two installments, but I was pleased the author still kept the tension high and the pace moving forward at a good clip.
There is a wide cast of characters, some just cameos with a defined purpose and others part of the various larger teams that will clearly be part of the reader’s journey through all three books. I feel some more action-orientated readers might feel the pace of this book, particularly in the beginning, is a little slow. There is quite a bit of foundation to lay – a lot of the history and Viking lore, a strong and realistic explanation of how the various puzzle pieces were discovered and helped lead our teams to finding the location of the mysterious island and also just the logistics of setting up such an expedition. Personally, I feel this was all done really well, and with enough movement, murder and mayhem to keep the pace moving right along and not lagging in the slightest. I also felt a lot of this history, background and knowledge was vital to help explain why the search for this island was so important and how it could have stayed hidden for so many centuries.
Even though this is the first book in a trilogy I feel the story is quite well contained within just this book and absolutely I feel it can be read by itself. There isn’t really a cliff-hanger style of ending which I was very grateful for, but equally it’s quite clear there is another book that will carry the story on as there are plot points left unfinished. This is an excellent first installment though and while I hope the remaining two books come soon – there is not that feeling of being left hanging to make me irritated and impatient with the wait.
Beck is a brilliant author when it comes to adventure, monsters and a rollicking good tale. He excels at blending history and monsters; danger and adventure and I feel this is a book where all those exceptional talents of his really shine. I feel many readers will love this book as much as I did, and I can’t wait for the next two in the series to be released.
I really enjoyed this full-length novel. While it’s only the first in a trilogy it has all the hallmarks of an exceptional adventure tale – a hidden location, dangerous monsters, secret treasure and riches and of course a huge cast of merciless killers determined to take it all for themselves. A fair bit of this story is “setting up” for the next two installments, but I was pleased the author still kept the tension high and the pace moving forward at a good clip.
There is a wide cast of characters, some just cameos with a defined purpose and others part of the various larger teams that will clearly be part of the reader’s journey through all three books. I feel some more action-orientated readers might feel the pace of this book, particularly in the beginning, is a little slow. There is quite a bit of foundation to lay – a lot of the history and Viking lore, a strong and realistic explanation of how the various puzzle pieces were discovered and helped lead our teams to finding the location of the mysterious island and also just the logistics of setting up such an expedition. Personally, I feel this was all done really well, and with enough movement, murder and mayhem to keep the pace moving right along and not lagging in the slightest. I also felt a lot of this history, background and knowledge was vital to help explain why the search for this island was so important and how it could have stayed hidden for so many centuries.
Even though this is the first book in a trilogy I feel the story is quite well contained within just this book and absolutely I feel it can be read by itself. There isn’t really a cliff-hanger style of ending which I was very grateful for, but equally it’s quite clear there is another book that will carry the story on as there are plot points left unfinished. This is an excellent first installment though and while I hope the remaining two books come soon – there is not that feeling of being left hanging to make me irritated and impatient with the wait.
Beck is a brilliant author when it comes to adventure, monsters and a rollicking good tale. He excels at blending history and monsters; danger and adventure and I feel this is a book where all those exceptional talents of his really shine. I feel many readers will love this book as much as I did, and I can’t wait for the next two in the series to be released.
October 31, 2022
***This is a review of the audiobook***
I love Beck's stories, and this is a fun installment in his creature books. It reminds me a bit of his "Center Of The Earth" series, and there is definitely crossover in the themes. There is some crossover in the capabilities of the monsters too, but I can't say much more about that without venturing into spoiler territory. I agree with some of the reviews that Troy is pretty feeble as a spy character-- that whole angle feels like a missed opportunity. The villains in this one are frightening and manipulative, but mostly two-dimensional though. Still, their motivation drives the story into very uncomfortable places and keeps the stakes extra-high. There is also a massive and surprising twist at the very end I didn't see coming. The narrator, Sean Mangan, is excellent as always, though I sometimes find his pronunciation of words and his diction a bit strange. Example: Instead of "skel-e-tal," he says "skel-EEE-tal," which is odd, but that's how he rolls! Still, he's perfect for this story, and I've come to associate his soothing voice with Beck's writing. If Beck were ever to choose another narrator, it would just be weird at this point.
In general, the characters aren't the most developed, yet despite that, this book is a fun adventure of exposition and history. In other words, it's an entertaining listen that lacks meaningful substance. Lest this sound like a back-handed compliment, let me reiterate I did enjoy this book very much. Compared to other books from this author though, I don't see myself going back for seconds. "Fathomless," and its sequel, "Abyss," are so powerful that I've listened to each at least six times, and will probably do so again. Those books are fantastic, rich with intrigue, and outstanding character development. This one doesn't have that same attention to character at all. Still, it's a wild enough adventure to which I couldn't stop listening, if only to find out what happened next. The monsters are terrifying, the premise is outstanding, and I love historically-based adventures. I love creature features even more.
One thing that keeps the story moving (and this doesn't always work in books) is a past-present device where the story goes back in time a thousand years, foreshadowing events to come, then returns to present-day. Beck does this sometimes in his other stories too. There is also the noted influence of Jules Verne, as in the "Center Of The Earth" series, which is a fun callback to those books. "Lemuria" also leaves us with an unexpected cliffhanger, so I am now excited for the sequel to come out!
I love Beck's stories, and this is a fun installment in his creature books. It reminds me a bit of his "Center Of The Earth" series, and there is definitely crossover in the themes. There is some crossover in the capabilities of the monsters too, but I can't say much more about that without venturing into spoiler territory. I agree with some of the reviews that Troy is pretty feeble as a spy character-- that whole angle feels like a missed opportunity. The villains in this one are frightening and manipulative, but mostly two-dimensional though. Still, their motivation drives the story into very uncomfortable places and keeps the stakes extra-high. There is also a massive and surprising twist at the very end I didn't see coming. The narrator, Sean Mangan, is excellent as always, though I sometimes find his pronunciation of words and his diction a bit strange. Example: Instead of "skel-e-tal," he says "skel-EEE-tal," which is odd, but that's how he rolls! Still, he's perfect for this story, and I've come to associate his soothing voice with Beck's writing. If Beck were ever to choose another narrator, it would just be weird at this point.
In general, the characters aren't the most developed, yet despite that, this book is a fun adventure of exposition and history. In other words, it's an entertaining listen that lacks meaningful substance. Lest this sound like a back-handed compliment, let me reiterate I did enjoy this book very much. Compared to other books from this author though, I don't see myself going back for seconds. "Fathomless," and its sequel, "Abyss," are so powerful that I've listened to each at least six times, and will probably do so again. Those books are fantastic, rich with intrigue, and outstanding character development. This one doesn't have that same attention to character at all. Still, it's a wild enough adventure to which I couldn't stop listening, if only to find out what happened next. The monsters are terrifying, the premise is outstanding, and I love historically-based adventures. I love creature features even more.
One thing that keeps the story moving (and this doesn't always work in books) is a past-present device where the story goes back in time a thousand years, foreshadowing events to come, then returns to present-day. Beck does this sometimes in his other stories too. There is also the noted influence of Jules Verne, as in the "Center Of The Earth" series, which is a fun callback to those books. "Lemuria" also leaves us with an unexpected cliffhanger, so I am now excited for the sequel to come out!
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