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Jack West Jr #7
The One Impossible Labyrinth
THE END IS HERE
Jack West Jr has made it to the Supreme Labyrinth.
Now he faces one last race-against multiple rivals, against time, against the collapse of the universe itself-a headlong race that will end at a throne inside the fabled labyrinth.
AN IMPOSSIBLE MAZE
But the road will be hard.
For this is a maze like no other: a maze of mazes. Uncompromising and complex. Demanding and deadly.
A CATACLYSMIC CONCLUSION
It all comes down to this.
For it ends here-now-in the most lethal and dangerous place Jack has encountered in all of his many adventures. And in the face of this indescribable peril, with everything on the line, there is only one thing he can do.
Attempt the impossible.
Jack West Jr has made it to the Supreme Labyrinth.
Now he faces one last race-against multiple rivals, against time, against the collapse of the universe itself-a headlong race that will end at a throne inside the fabled labyrinth.
AN IMPOSSIBLE MAZE
But the road will be hard.
For this is a maze like no other: a maze of mazes. Uncompromising and complex. Demanding and deadly.
A CATACLYSMIC CONCLUSION
It all comes down to this.
For it ends here-now-in the most lethal and dangerous place Jack has encountered in all of his many adventures. And in the face of this indescribable peril, with everything on the line, there is only one thing he can do.
Attempt the impossible.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
501 people are currently reading
2173 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Reilly
68 books6,254 followersBorn in Sydney in 1974, Matthew Reilly was not always a big fan of reading. It was only after he read To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies in Year 10 that he realised reading could transport you to another world. Following this revelation, Matthew soon began creating stories of his own and set about writing his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while still at university studying law.
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 574 reviews
November 1, 2021
Oh man. It's really over.
What a fkn EPIC finale!
Loved every second.
Honestly, this is exactly the book I wanted and then MORE. I don't think any fan that has come this far could possibly be disappointed.
Heart-stopping moments. Tense battles. Epic puzzles. Dramatic deaths. All brought together by that insane, way-over-the-top action that we know and love as the signature of Matthew Reilly.
All of our favourites are here, battling it out once again to save humanity.
But even with the fast pace of the story, the themes of the entire series still make themselves known, and through Jack and his team we once again pause to appreciate the importance of family, friends, and loved ones in all forms. Love, loyalty, honour ... it's all here, and that's the heart of this series. That's certainly the hook I was reeled in on.
That being said, don't think the action stops for even a second!
I felt this to be an incredibly satisfying conclusion to a series I've loved from start to finish. It delivered exactly the kick I hoped for, and it tied everything up so neatly which I feel was the ending the series deserved.
Many thanks to Macmillan for an early copy
What a fkn EPIC finale!
Loved every second.
Honestly, this is exactly the book I wanted and then MORE. I don't think any fan that has come this far could possibly be disappointed.
Heart-stopping moments. Tense battles. Epic puzzles. Dramatic deaths. All brought together by that insane, way-over-the-top action that we know and love as the signature of Matthew Reilly.
All of our favourites are here, battling it out once again to save humanity.
But even with the fast pace of the story, the themes of the entire series still make themselves known, and through Jack and his team we once again pause to appreciate the importance of family, friends, and loved ones in all forms. Love, loyalty, honour ... it's all here, and that's the heart of this series. That's certainly the hook I was reeled in on.
That being said, don't think the action stops for even a second!
I felt this to be an incredibly satisfying conclusion to a series I've loved from start to finish. It delivered exactly the kick I hoped for, and it tied everything up so neatly which I feel was the ending the series deserved.
Many thanks to Macmillan for an early copy
October 16, 2021
There is no question, I was always going to give this 5 stars. This is the culmination of 16 years and 7 books making an epic yarn of gargantuan proportions. Also do NOT read this unless you have read the preceding books. This one picks up right where the The Two Lost Mountains left off so it’s basically the same story. And what a story it is!
Also I’m not going to say much about the plot. Captain Jack West Jnr. must stop the omega event in a few days to save the world. He only needs to navigate the impossible labyrinth. And he only needs to beat the three others teams that have arrived before him. No pressure really!
The books are all high adventure with some mythology thrown in. The mythology is real mythology sometimes looked at from a different perspective. I’ve long been impressed by the author’s ability to blend fiction and reality and he does it so well. Again I looked up some of the historical places mentioned and they do exist, and they are as stunning and interesting as Reilly makes them out to be in the books.
Despite the drama, the forces arrayed against them and the pressure the characters of Jack’s entourage hang tough and guts it out. There is a childish glee to some of the writing. Not surprising when you think of the mind that dreams these plots up. The imagination it takes is quite breathtaking.
The author has never claimed to be a literary genius. He writes books that are first and foremost - fun. With characters you can root for. Characters that push all your buttons for niceness and all the good qualities you’d want to see in your children, any maybe politicians. I’m sad that that’s the end of such an awesome series but I’ll be keen to see what the author comes up with next. Many thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Also I’m not going to say much about the plot. Captain Jack West Jnr. must stop the omega event in a few days to save the world. He only needs to navigate the impossible labyrinth. And he only needs to beat the three others teams that have arrived before him. No pressure really!
The books are all high adventure with some mythology thrown in. The mythology is real mythology sometimes looked at from a different perspective. I’ve long been impressed by the author’s ability to blend fiction and reality and he does it so well. Again I looked up some of the historical places mentioned and they do exist, and they are as stunning and interesting as Reilly makes them out to be in the books.
Despite the drama, the forces arrayed against them and the pressure the characters of Jack’s entourage hang tough and guts it out. There is a childish glee to some of the writing. Not surprising when you think of the mind that dreams these plots up. The imagination it takes is quite breathtaking.
The author has never claimed to be a literary genius. He writes books that are first and foremost - fun. With characters you can root for. Characters that push all your buttons for niceness and all the good qualities you’d want to see in your children, any maybe politicians. I’m sad that that’s the end of such an awesome series but I’ll be keen to see what the author comes up with next. Many thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
February 14, 2022
The highly anticipated conclusion to one of the most jaw-dropping epic series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
Considering this is the end of the series, my expectations were really high and I unfortunately can’t help but feel like it isn’t the best book in the series. It isn’t on a more epic scale than Seven Deadly Wonders. It isn’t as competitive as The Four Legendary Kingdoms. Nor is it as brutal, intense and shocking as The Three Secret Cities. This book does have all those elements present though, making it feel more like a celebration of everything this series stands for, rather than the finale of epic proportions I was expecting. It’s more like a genuine gift to the fans of the series. Everything there is to love about previous adventures is represented here and then some, while also properly wrapping everything up. And it’s honestly what makes this book so good. All the characters we love get their moments to shine and even those we’ve lost along the way are clearly not forgotten. It’s full of brilliantly crafted ancient puzzles and treasure hunts on a global scale, with fascinating myths and history coming to life. It’s full of twist and turns, with brutal and shocking deaths aplenty. And fitting to the series, it’s pure adrenaline and total nonstop action from start to finish. It’s honestly an incredible and impressive feat that this adventure started off at such a break-neck speed seven books ago and didn’t slow down one bit during the course of the entire series.
This book is without a doubt a satisfying conclusion to an epic series which had me gasping for breath from the first page of the very first book, with a warm walk through memory lane as an added bonus. This was undeniably an absolute pleasure to read, with the core theme of friendship beautifully highlighted in the end. It does feel like the end of an era though, which makes me a bit sad.
Considering this is the end of the series, my expectations were really high and I unfortunately can’t help but feel like it isn’t the best book in the series. It isn’t on a more epic scale than Seven Deadly Wonders. It isn’t as competitive as The Four Legendary Kingdoms. Nor is it as brutal, intense and shocking as The Three Secret Cities. This book does have all those elements present though, making it feel more like a celebration of everything this series stands for, rather than the finale of epic proportions I was expecting. It’s more like a genuine gift to the fans of the series. Everything there is to love about previous adventures is represented here and then some, while also properly wrapping everything up. And it’s honestly what makes this book so good. All the characters we love get their moments to shine and even those we’ve lost along the way are clearly not forgotten. It’s full of brilliantly crafted ancient puzzles and treasure hunts on a global scale, with fascinating myths and history coming to life. It’s full of twist and turns, with brutal and shocking deaths aplenty. And fitting to the series, it’s pure adrenaline and total nonstop action from start to finish. It’s honestly an incredible and impressive feat that this adventure started off at such a break-neck speed seven books ago and didn’t slow down one bit during the course of the entire series.
This book is without a doubt a satisfying conclusion to an epic series which had me gasping for breath from the first page of the very first book, with a warm walk through memory lane as an added bonus. This was undeniably an absolute pleasure to read, with the core theme of friendship beautifully highlighted in the end. It does feel like the end of an era though, which makes me a bit sad.
April 18, 2024
The One Impossible Labyrinth is the culmination of 7 of the most intense action-packed thrillers ever conceived starring Jack West Jr, a hero who is so selfless it hurts. The fate of the entire universe rests on Jack’s shoulders and his ability to defeat numerous evil enemies while also solving the most cunning riddles, traps and conundrums. It’s here that we find out once and for all what it’s all about.
It wouldn’t be a Jack West Jr thriller without a ridiculously tight deadline, racing against the most evil of opponents with only the slimmest of slim chances of succeeding. And as the grand finale of the series, all of those things are dialed up to 11 (to steal from Nigel Tufnel).
As Jack and his crew enter the labyrinth they only have 3 days before the omega event and the ensuing Singularity takes place. That’s 3 days to save the world!
As has become customary, right from the off the threats to Jack, Zoe, Lily, Eastern come thick and fast. He’s up against 4 other teams racing through the labyrinth and they play dirty. As usual they’re starting well behind the other teams and they’ve rushed to get to the labyrinth so they’re woefully short of important information about how to beat the traps and pitfalls within the maze.
Being the final book of the series, Reilly has thrown all of the obstacles, life-threatening tricks, and well-imagined technology at Jack and the gang in a bid to outdo all of the high-octane moments that preceded The One. Although it was endlessly entertaining and filled with last-gasp moments, I was aware of all of the tricks of the past, so very little felt new or improved and most surprises were kind of expected.
A concerted effort to tie the entire series together is made with references to events that took place in The Seven, The Four and The Three at times when one or another of the main characters were experiencing great emotional stress. And that’s one of the differences in The One compared to the rest of the series, there are far more moments of reflection, regret and remorse in this one than in all the others combined. Stands to reason I suppose.
We also get to learn more about Jack and his team of heroes, which was a nice touch after 6 books worth of backs to the wall action in which they somehow prevailed. Back stories fill in how some friendships were formed and are also used to explain why Jack is so motivated to always do the right thing.
Ultimately, as well as leading us through the mother of all labyrinths, including a devious final maze and race to the final throne, The One Impossible Labyrinth does a great job in both cleaning up some loose ends and tying the entire crazy, epic, action masterpiece together. I came this far, I allowed myself to be led to one cliffhanger after another and I was accepting of the fact that, no matter how impossible the odds of survival was, Jack is always going to find a way.
And, although the outcome was predictable, the twists and surprises have been done over and over in each book and the action was over the top crazy, I’ve got to say, I was well entertained.
It wouldn’t be a Jack West Jr thriller without a ridiculously tight deadline, racing against the most evil of opponents with only the slimmest of slim chances of succeeding. And as the grand finale of the series, all of those things are dialed up to 11 (to steal from Nigel Tufnel).
As Jack and his crew enter the labyrinth they only have 3 days before the omega event and the ensuing Singularity takes place. That’s 3 days to save the world!
As has become customary, right from the off the threats to Jack, Zoe, Lily, Eastern come thick and fast. He’s up against 4 other teams racing through the labyrinth and they play dirty. As usual they’re starting well behind the other teams and they’ve rushed to get to the labyrinth so they’re woefully short of important information about how to beat the traps and pitfalls within the maze.
Being the final book of the series, Reilly has thrown all of the obstacles, life-threatening tricks, and well-imagined technology at Jack and the gang in a bid to outdo all of the high-octane moments that preceded The One. Although it was endlessly entertaining and filled with last-gasp moments, I was aware of all of the tricks of the past, so very little felt new or improved and most surprises were kind of expected.
A concerted effort to tie the entire series together is made with references to events that took place in The Seven, The Four and The Three at times when one or another of the main characters were experiencing great emotional stress. And that’s one of the differences in The One compared to the rest of the series, there are far more moments of reflection, regret and remorse in this one than in all the others combined. Stands to reason I suppose.
We also get to learn more about Jack and his team of heroes, which was a nice touch after 6 books worth of backs to the wall action in which they somehow prevailed. Back stories fill in how some friendships were formed and are also used to explain why Jack is so motivated to always do the right thing.
Ultimately, as well as leading us through the mother of all labyrinths, including a devious final maze and race to the final throne, The One Impossible Labyrinth does a great job in both cleaning up some loose ends and tying the entire crazy, epic, action masterpiece together. I came this far, I allowed myself to be led to one cliffhanger after another and I was accepting of the fact that, no matter how impossible the odds of survival was, Jack is always going to find a way.
And, although the outcome was predictable, the twists and surprises have been done over and over in each book and the action was over the top crazy, I’ve got to say, I was well entertained.
October 29, 2021
My thoughts on the series - Spoilers below. I did mark this higher as to not spoil anything for friends, but honestly, I got frustrated waiting for them to finish.
.
.
.
.
I've finished the series. I've now read everything that Matthew has written. I've loved a lot of it.
But after this I am not sure I'll read anything else he writes. I'll say this as not having a go at anyone who enjoys his work. Normally if I post anything but a glowing review of MRs work I'll get blasted by fanboys thinking it's a personal attack. It's not.
I did not enjoy the last 3 books. The Labyrinth least of all.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I really wanted this to be a redeeming point on the series. A return to form from the first few novels. From Ice Station most of all, one of my favourite books of all or the Tournament which i feel was his best work, because it wasn't action porn. It wasn't trying to be the literary form of Michael Bay.
The first few books of the Seven were good. They balanced action with interesting pseudo-historical events that were well thought up and creatively done. Not just a stretch where you walk past history and destroy it because putting the hero in contrived peril every second chapter is a cool thing to do.
I feel like his writing has gotten worse as the series goes on. It feels like he's aiming for the lowest common denominator.
Oh look. Your favourite character is in danger. Oh look. They're dead. BUT NO. They're alive again thanks to some miraculous stroke of genius that this character concocts to foil the bad guys plot once again. It's lazy writing. He can do better. Most of all, he HAS done better. The last time that a characters death meant something to me was when Wizard died. The twins deaths went by without a blink because they didn't feel relevent enough to me to be kept alive for the future.
The main characters had indestructable plot armor. They were not going to die. I was waiting for Zoe to come back from the dead because we don't see her die. Sure enough? Alive. It becomes inconsequential when you see a character disappear but not die and you're expecting them to return. I didn't care about Zoe "dying" and expected her return to motivate Jack at his weakest moment.... and sure enough.
Jack under the greystone? Come on. He wasn't going to die or even be harmed.
He will never be the worlds greatest author. He won't have the prose of someone like Rothfuss or King, but when you're writing.....
....like this it really kills the flow of what I'm trying to enjoy and he keeps......
....doing it over and over again.
I wrote like that when I was 15. I am no better a writer now than I was when I was 15.
I wanted to love this book. I wanted this to be a turnaround to what he's capable of. But overall, I feel like he's lost a reader here and I'm disappointed that this book which I really wanted to enjoy, has made me feel like this.
.
.
.
.
I've finished the series. I've now read everything that Matthew has written. I've loved a lot of it.
But after this I am not sure I'll read anything else he writes. I'll say this as not having a go at anyone who enjoys his work. Normally if I post anything but a glowing review of MRs work I'll get blasted by fanboys thinking it's a personal attack. It's not.
I did not enjoy the last 3 books. The Labyrinth least of all.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I really wanted this to be a redeeming point on the series. A return to form from the first few novels. From Ice Station most of all, one of my favourite books of all or the Tournament which i feel was his best work, because it wasn't action porn. It wasn't trying to be the literary form of Michael Bay.
The first few books of the Seven were good. They balanced action with interesting pseudo-historical events that were well thought up and creatively done. Not just a stretch where you walk past history and destroy it because putting the hero in contrived peril every second chapter is a cool thing to do.
I feel like his writing has gotten worse as the series goes on. It feels like he's aiming for the lowest common denominator.
Oh look. Your favourite character is in danger. Oh look. They're dead. BUT NO. They're alive again thanks to some miraculous stroke of genius that this character concocts to foil the bad guys plot once again. It's lazy writing. He can do better. Most of all, he HAS done better. The last time that a characters death meant something to me was when Wizard died. The twins deaths went by without a blink because they didn't feel relevent enough to me to be kept alive for the future.
The main characters had indestructable plot armor. They were not going to die. I was waiting for Zoe to come back from the dead because we don't see her die. Sure enough? Alive. It becomes inconsequential when you see a character disappear but not die and you're expecting them to return. I didn't care about Zoe "dying" and expected her return to motivate Jack at his weakest moment.... and sure enough.
Jack under the greystone? Come on. He wasn't going to die or even be harmed.
He will never be the worlds greatest author. He won't have the prose of someone like Rothfuss or King, but when you're writing.....
....like this it really kills the flow of what I'm trying to enjoy and he keeps......
....doing it over and over again.
I wrote like that when I was 15. I am no better a writer now than I was when I was 15.
I wanted to love this book. I wanted this to be a turnaround to what he's capable of. But overall, I feel like he's lost a reader here and I'm disappointed that this book which I really wanted to enjoy, has made me feel like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2021
And the husband loved it!!
Well it is down to the last installment of the Jack West Jnr series ..... and it does not disappoint.
Picking up where The Two Lost Mountains left off...at speed, as you would expect. How do I review this without spoilers???
Jack West Jnr and his remaining team get to the final puzzle to prevent the collapse of the universe itself, and have to race multiple rivals in an uncompromising and eleborate maze.
Being Matthew Reilly, it is fast, people die and spoilers.....more spoilers.... it is breakneck reading as Jack and Co make their way through ancient labyrinths.
I have loved this series of books which started back in 2005, the year my now 16 year old daughter was born, and helped me get through sleepless nights. Now the final installment helped me with the lockdown in Sydney's South West. So thank you Jack West Jnr, it was a rollercoaster ride and I want a mag-hook.
Thank you to MacMillian Australia for making my husband so happy by sending me an advanced copy of this book. Out in Australia October 12th.
Well it is down to the last installment of the Jack West Jnr series ..... and it does not disappoint.
Picking up where The Two Lost Mountains left off...at speed, as you would expect. How do I review this without spoilers???
Jack West Jnr and his remaining team get to the final puzzle to prevent the collapse of the universe itself, and have to race multiple rivals in an uncompromising and eleborate maze.
Being Matthew Reilly, it is fast, people die and spoilers.....more spoilers.... it is breakneck reading as Jack and Co make their way through ancient labyrinths.
I have loved this series of books which started back in 2005, the year my now 16 year old daughter was born, and helped me get through sleepless nights. Now the final installment helped me with the lockdown in Sydney's South West. So thank you Jack West Jnr, it was a rollercoaster ride and I want a mag-hook.
Thank you to MacMillian Australia for making my husband so happy by sending me an advanced copy of this book. Out in Australia October 12th.
October 17, 2021
The One Impossible Labyrinth is the final part of the epic seven part Jack West Jr adventure series, which began in 2006 with the Seven Ancient Wonders. I used to buy these on publication day, in hardback, and read them within hours. For the last one, I was lucky enough to get an ARC really early, and was proud to get the first review up on GR, so this time it’s been torture waiting for it to appear on NetGalley. It finally did, a couple of weeks ago, and I waited anxiously, before conceding defeat the night before and hitting pre-order. Then, to my shock, the day after publication, I was approved! I’ve actually taken several days to read this as I wanted to savour this last instalment, and am happy to report that it does live up to expectations. One warning - you absolutely need to read the previous books in order for this to make any sense, as there is little recap and Jack’s adventure has been going on for twenty years!
This begins directly where The Two Lost Mountains ended, with Jack and his loyal team of adventurers about to enter the labyrinth, with the goal of being first to reach the magical throne, which will prevent the universe-ending Omega Event, and grant the winner power over all beings. Jack doesn’t care about ruling, but needs to stop evil overlord Sphinx from taking over the world, and nihilistic General Rastor, who wants to end all things, as well as various other nefarious competitors. The challenges are the toughest yet - can Jack prevail against the odds to save the world as we know it?
If you’ve read the previous books - and if you love breathless rocket-paced action, then you really should - you know full well how this will end, but not how we’ll get there. Jack and his team will endure pain, fatigue, humiliation and shocking losses, but keep going no matter what, one death-defying leap at a time. You’d think Reilly couldn’t possibly come up with new ways for Our Humble Australian Hero to cheat death, over and over, but each time he managed to surprise me with some new clever escape. Not everyone survives, so be ready for some sad parts, but this is made up for by a deeply satisfying ending and epilogue. I loved the way History and mythology are woven in with an original new slant, and traditional monsters get to become heroes. Also, how different members of the Jack-verse come together in some surprising new friendships/partnerships, and even a tiny bit of romance!
I was nervous that I might not feel able to give this 5 stars, but Matthew has not let us down and delivered another complete winner. He’s also been busy directing a movie and writing a stand-alone, which is all very exciting, but all I really want now is another Scarecrow book - is that too much to ask?
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan Australia for the ARC - I forgive you for making me wait - it was worth it. The One Impossible Labyrinth is available in the Antipodes now, and published elsewhere later this year.
This begins directly where The Two Lost Mountains ended, with Jack and his loyal team of adventurers about to enter the labyrinth, with the goal of being first to reach the magical throne, which will prevent the universe-ending Omega Event, and grant the winner power over all beings. Jack doesn’t care about ruling, but needs to stop evil overlord Sphinx from taking over the world, and nihilistic General Rastor, who wants to end all things, as well as various other nefarious competitors. The challenges are the toughest yet - can Jack prevail against the odds to save the world as we know it?
If you’ve read the previous books - and if you love breathless rocket-paced action, then you really should - you know full well how this will end, but not how we’ll get there. Jack and his team will endure pain, fatigue, humiliation and shocking losses, but keep going no matter what, one death-defying leap at a time. You’d think Reilly couldn’t possibly come up with new ways for Our Humble Australian Hero to cheat death, over and over, but each time he managed to surprise me with some new clever escape. Not everyone survives, so be ready for some sad parts, but this is made up for by a deeply satisfying ending and epilogue. I loved the way History and mythology are woven in with an original new slant, and traditional monsters get to become heroes. Also, how different members of the Jack-verse come together in some surprising new friendships/partnerships, and even a tiny bit of romance!
I was nervous that I might not feel able to give this 5 stars, but Matthew has not let us down and delivered another complete winner. He’s also been busy directing a movie and writing a stand-alone, which is all very exciting, but all I really want now is another Scarecrow book - is that too much to ask?
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan Australia for the ARC - I forgive you for making me wait - it was worth it. The One Impossible Labyrinth is available in the Antipodes now, and published elsewhere later this year.
March 3, 2022
And that’s the finale. I read this book at a breakneck speed immediately after finishing The Two Lost Mountains because I couldn’t wait anymore and neither could I sleep without knowing the end. And what a way to end this decade and a half long series.
This has everything that I have come to expect from this series, especially what I absolutely adored in the first book. This really felt like a full circle. Navigating the labyrinth which is full of traps and being “literally” helped by Imhotep’s head was awesome and felt very reminiscent of Jack navigating traps in Seven Ancient Wonders right at the beginning. There were also the amazing thrilling action sequences and I was glad to see every single character get their moment to shine, particularly Lily who has grown up to be such a formidable young woman. The nods to Wizard made me teary eyed because even though I read about his death more than a decade ago now, I still remember how much of a wonderful character he was and it felt appropriate to remember him when everything was ending.
And then we have Jack. I have always loved the way Jack is this amazingly good guy who will do anything to protect his loved ones as well as the world and I never once suspected that he might not succeed. But this book was one of the few times the author portrayed how tiring his duty was, and how much more weary he felt when he thought that even protecting the world wouldn’t be enough to save all of his family. This is one of those old school good vs evil kinda series without a lot of nuance, but I love it for what it is. And I’m so glad the author gives very satisfactory endings to all the good guys. But I have to say, the way things end for Jack was just amazing because he totally deserves all of it. And after all the tremendously anxious moments we’ve had throughout the series, I was glad to see things tied up neatly in a bow.
This series has been with me since the first time I started living alone and has been a great companion. Whenever I write about my favorite tropes in fiction, found family is always at the top of my head and this series embodies the trope. It’s all about found family and friendship and the love they all share… and the love I have for them. I’m very very satisfied with the way this ended. Maybe one day I will reread because it’s been too long since I read the first three and they’ll be fun to try again.
This has everything that I have come to expect from this series, especially what I absolutely adored in the first book. This really felt like a full circle. Navigating the labyrinth which is full of traps and being “literally” helped by Imhotep’s head was awesome and felt very reminiscent of Jack navigating traps in Seven Ancient Wonders right at the beginning. There were also the amazing thrilling action sequences and I was glad to see every single character get their moment to shine, particularly Lily who has grown up to be such a formidable young woman. The nods to Wizard made me teary eyed because even though I read about his death more than a decade ago now, I still remember how much of a wonderful character he was and it felt appropriate to remember him when everything was ending.
And then we have Jack. I have always loved the way Jack is this amazingly good guy who will do anything to protect his loved ones as well as the world and I never once suspected that he might not succeed. But this book was one of the few times the author portrayed how tiring his duty was, and how much more weary he felt when he thought that even protecting the world wouldn’t be enough to save all of his family. This is one of those old school good vs evil kinda series without a lot of nuance, but I love it for what it is. And I’m so glad the author gives very satisfactory endings to all the good guys. But I have to say, the way things end for Jack was just amazing because he totally deserves all of it. And after all the tremendously anxious moments we’ve had throughout the series, I was glad to see things tied up neatly in a bow.
This series has been with me since the first time I started living alone and has been a great companion. Whenever I write about my favorite tropes in fiction, found family is always at the top of my head and this series embodies the trope. It’s all about found family and friendship and the love they all share… and the love I have for them. I’m very very satisfied with the way this ended. Maybe one day I will reread because it’s been too long since I read the first three and they’ll be fun to try again.
October 12, 2021
lacklustre finale
Despite being a fan of the series, disappointed by this book. It’s just meh. Pacing is off, characters seem different, reacting differently than expected, story… too many ‘unbelievable’ moments…Miss the high stakes and ‘wow’ moments of earlier books
Despite being a fan of the series, disappointed by this book. It’s just meh. Pacing is off, characters seem different, reacting differently than expected, story… too many ‘unbelievable’ moments…Miss the high stakes and ‘wow’ moments of earlier books
August 3, 2022
I'm a big Matthew Reilly fan and I own and have read every novel and most of the novellas he's released. While he's no literary master, he's my favourite 7/10 action thriller author, and is surprisingly progressive to boot (surprising for a middle-aged white man who went to a wealthy private school). That said, this is the worst written Matthew Reilly book by far. Hugely disappointed by it. The number of times he uses . . .
. . . and a thing happened!
was beyond what I would expect from a parody of one of his books, even more so than what was a comical overuse in The Great Zoo of China. You'd probably also lose a pretty large chunk of this book just from cutting out all the death fakeouts, which is extra annoying since he's been doing it so much recently that I didn't believe any of them for a moment. It's gotten to the point where even when somebody does die I'm wondering if they're going to come back anyway. It's a shame because the book would've really benefited from delving into these characters we've grown to love over nearly 20 years instead of fluffing the page count with meaningless action sequences that just take away from what should've been a tense and gruelling central event following the labyrinth team.
I introduced a friend of mine to Matthew Reilly recently and they've been excited to finish the series alongside me. I was red in the face embarrassed about it while reading this. I'm not sure if he ran out of time or ideas or is struggling personally but it's a severe step down in quality for him. What is normally an exciting one day read turned into a month long challenge.
Also, pretending to kill Zoe for most of the book still counts as fridging and left a really bad taste in my mouth. I was certain she was coming back, but the fact he removed her character from the main events of the book (again!) left me angry. I can't believe how badly done by Zoe is in these books considering how progressive he usually is about these sorts of things. The characters that do get the spotlight don't come across as the characters I've grown to know throughout the series, instead just human shaped bits of plot information sprinting around. Outside a few infrequent moments you could have changed the names of the characters around at random and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Hopefully the break he talks about in the interview section helps and he's refreshed and energised for his next project. I don't think I could get through another book of this quality from him and it breaks my heart.
. . . and a thing happened!
was beyond what I would expect from a parody of one of his books, even more so than what was a comical overuse in The Great Zoo of China. You'd probably also lose a pretty large chunk of this book just from cutting out all the death fakeouts, which is extra annoying since he's been doing it so much recently that I didn't believe any of them for a moment. It's gotten to the point where even when somebody does die I'm wondering if they're going to come back anyway. It's a shame because the book would've really benefited from delving into these characters we've grown to love over nearly 20 years instead of fluffing the page count with meaningless action sequences that just take away from what should've been a tense and gruelling central event following the labyrinth team.
I introduced a friend of mine to Matthew Reilly recently and they've been excited to finish the series alongside me. I was red in the face embarrassed about it while reading this. I'm not sure if he ran out of time or ideas or is struggling personally but it's a severe step down in quality for him. What is normally an exciting one day read turned into a month long challenge.
Also, pretending to kill Zoe for most of the book still counts as fridging and left a really bad taste in my mouth. I was certain she was coming back, but the fact he removed her character from the main events of the book (again!) left me angry. I can't believe how badly done by Zoe is in these books considering how progressive he usually is about these sorts of things. The characters that do get the spotlight don't come across as the characters I've grown to know throughout the series, instead just human shaped bits of plot information sprinting around. Outside a few infrequent moments you could have changed the names of the characters around at random and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Hopefully the break he talks about in the interview section helps and he's refreshed and energised for his next project. I don't think I could get through another book of this quality from him and it breaks my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2021
What a fitting finale to the saga of Jack West Jr.
Loved the book for all the fun and good times that carried over from the previous six books.
Loved the book for all the fun and good times that carried over from the previous six books.
December 10, 2021
Trigger warnings: violence, death, explosions, mentions of rape, death of a friend (in the past), death of a sibling (in the past)
3.5 stars.
I've been reading this series since the very beginning and while I adore the first book, the subsequent books have been a little hit or miss for me. This one was no different. The female characters have definitely gotten better in the last few books (Book 4 was DEFINITELY a low point), but I still would have liked to see more from them. There were plenty of nods to characters from previous books, and I enjoyed the prolonged epilogue where all the characters are given their own endings.
There's plenty of action and plenty of mayhem, exactly as you'd expect from a Matthew Reilly book. And it was, as is always the case, a very fast paced read. And yet somehow this one felt more rushed than I would have liked. But that might just be because I remembered very little from The Two Lost Mountains going into this one...
3.5 stars.
I've been reading this series since the very beginning and while I adore the first book, the subsequent books have been a little hit or miss for me. This one was no different. The female characters have definitely gotten better in the last few books (Book 4 was DEFINITELY a low point), but I still would have liked to see more from them. There were plenty of nods to characters from previous books, and I enjoyed the prolonged epilogue where all the characters are given their own endings.
There's plenty of action and plenty of mayhem, exactly as you'd expect from a Matthew Reilly book. And it was, as is always the case, a very fast paced read. And yet somehow this one felt more rushed than I would have liked. But that might just be because I remembered very little from The Two Lost Mountains going into this one...
October 19, 2021
I dare anyone that starts and finishes a Matthew Reilly book to read it slowly. IMPOSSIBLE. Matthew’s writing and plot is extremely fast paced with non stop over the top action and is not the sort of book you meander over!
I knew going in what this book would be like as I have grown up reading the series over the years, so reading the last book was a forgone conclusion. These days I perhaps read a little bit too much literary fiction so I did find this book a little more over the top with a lot of the same themes and narratives having been done before in his previous books. Devoted Matthew Reilly fans will have no complaints with that.
A fun, entertaining, quick read which is a 💯 percent pure escapism.
I knew going in what this book would be like as I have grown up reading the series over the years, so reading the last book was a forgone conclusion. These days I perhaps read a little bit too much literary fiction so I did find this book a little more over the top with a lot of the same themes and narratives having been done before in his previous books. Devoted Matthew Reilly fans will have no complaints with that.
A fun, entertaining, quick read which is a 💯 percent pure escapism.
November 5, 2021
All the stars
Just all of them
And so it ends
I wish it wasn't so but it has
But what an ending
Matthew Reilly delivers an outstanding series finale
It's just perfect
Amazing World building - Check
The most vivid action scenes imaginable - Check
Amazing amazing amazing characters - Check
Insane but incredible puzzles - Check
Heart in mouth moments aplenty - Check
I won't say much more as I don't want to give anything away but I could not put it down.
A perfect end to a thrill a minute edge of your seat series that never disappoints in being entertaining and uplifting.
Even with all that action the series has always has always been about love and never giving up.
If you love action action action with a heart of gold this series is a must read.
Just all of them
And so it ends
I wish it wasn't so but it has
But what an ending
Matthew Reilly delivers an outstanding series finale
It's just perfect
Amazing World building - Check
The most vivid action scenes imaginable - Check
Amazing amazing amazing characters - Check
Insane but incredible puzzles - Check
Heart in mouth moments aplenty - Check
I won't say much more as I don't want to give anything away but I could not put it down.
A perfect end to a thrill a minute edge of your seat series that never disappoints in being entertaining and uplifting.
Even with all that action the series has always has always been about love and never giving up.
If you love action action action with a heart of gold this series is a must read.
December 6, 2021
Случвало ли ви се е да вземете книга, за която сте копнели от месеци, дори години в ръце и да я разтворите със страх? Със страх, че пораженията ще са големи, а емоцията опустошителна, защото този автор ви е поднесъл толкова изненади, приятни и неприятни, че вече сте им изгубили бройката? Това беше моето усещане, когато „Един невъзможен лабиринт“ попадна в ръцете ми.
Поредицата приключения на Джак Уест Младши е любимата ми. Истината е, че има две поредици, които владеят сърцето ми изцяло. Толкова различни една от друга и очарователни, и тази за Джак е едната.
Винаги, когато съм пишела за Матю Райли и произведенията му, съм го описвала като динамичен автор, един от тези автори, които те карат да ускориш пулса си, докато четеш и да минаваш през изпитанията наравно с героите му. През всички тези години имам усещането, че съм се надпреварвала с бойци в отлична форма, била съм се с тях, висяла съм от ръба на скала, пропадала съм в шахти и съм откривала древни съкровища и всичко с една цел… Да спася света, но не защото искам титлата, а защото някъде там има нищо неподозиращи хора, които няма как да се защитят и не знаят изобщо, че животът им, както и съществуването на света, са в опасност.
От дълго време Матю Райли ни подготвя за този финал. Всяка книга от поредицата оставя читателя на нокти, всяка книга от поредицата отнема някой любимец на публиката. Всяка книга стяга в даден момент гърлото една идея повече от предишната. И това е което прави „Един невъзможен лабиринт“ толкова страшна и трудна за започване и отгръщането на всяка следваща страница се случва със страх. Очакваш във всеки един момент да кажеш сбогом на обичани герои, които няма как в бъдеще да получат изненадващо завръщане, защото това е краят. Реален, плътен и под формата на 394 страници, като всяка от тях може да е краят за някой, а защо не и за самия Джак?
Сега разбирате предполагам, защо започнах книгата с такъв страх. Но тя, като всяка книга написана от Матю Райли, ме хвърли в недрата на този сложен лабиринт. Залутах се с ��жак, Зоуи, Лили, Истън и Усмивката из мрачните коридори, опитвайки се да намерят правилния път, съревновавайки се с още няколко екипа, кой от кой по-опасен.
На плещите на Джак лежи цялото човечество, ако той се провали част от хората ще останат заспали завинаги или ще се събудят роби на Сфинска, един от противниците в това състезание. А ако Растор се добере до финала, това значи край на всичко. Събитието Омега няма да настъпи и това означава край на човечеството, край на света, край на всичко живо. Ако църквата се добере първа до финала? Мъжко господство. И някак всички имат древни познания, които ги превеждат през лабиринта, познания и ресурси, а Джак? Той има само познания и собствените си сили.
И финалът, като при всяка една от предходните книги, е спиращ дъха и четящ се като маратон. Да ви разкажа повече за приключението и как стигна до тук, значи да ви залея със спойлери от предходните книги.
Ще кажа само едно, поклон пред Джак Уест Младши и му свалям шапка. А на Матю Райли мога само да благодаря. Да благодаря за онова различното, което не съм срещала при други автори, за високата скорост, спираща дъха ми, за добре изпипаните детайли, за проучванията, които самият той направи с цел нещата му да звучат максимално достоверни в частите, които не са измислица на авторското му съзнание. А вие, ако сте се изморили от масовите вълни от Young Adult, свръхестествени истории, трилъри, които отдавна не причиняват дори трепет и са предвидими, то е време да отворите „Седемте смъртоносни чудеса“ и да започнете пътешествието си под ръководството на Джак Уест Младши и Матю Райли.
Поредицата приключения на Джак Уест Младши е любимата ми. Истината е, че има две поредици, които владеят сърцето ми изцяло. Толкова различни една от друга и очарователни, и тази за Джак е едната.
Винаги, когато съм пишела за Матю Райли и произведенията му, съм го описвала като динамичен автор, един от тези автори, които те карат да ускориш пулса си, докато четеш и да минаваш през изпитанията наравно с героите му. През всички тези години имам усещането, че съм се надпреварвала с бойци в отлична форма, била съм се с тях, висяла съм от ръба на скала, пропадала съм в шахти и съм откривала древни съкровища и всичко с една цел… Да спася света, но не защото искам титлата, а защото някъде там има нищо неподозиращи хора, които няма как да се защитят и не знаят изобщо, че животът им, както и съществуването на света, са в опасност.
От дълго време Матю Райли ни подготвя за този финал. Всяка книга от поредицата оставя читателя на нокти, всяка книга от поредицата отнема някой любимец на публиката. Всяка книга стяга в даден момент гърлото една идея повече от предишната. И това е което прави „Един невъзможен лабиринт“ толкова страшна и трудна за започване и отгръщането на всяка следваща страница се случва със страх. Очакваш във всеки един момент да кажеш сбогом на обичани герои, които няма как в бъдеще да получат изненадващо завръщане, защото това е краят. Реален, плътен и под формата на 394 страници, като всяка от тях може да е краят за някой, а защо не и за самия Джак?
Сега разбирате предполагам, защо започнах книгата с такъв страх. Но тя, като всяка книга написана от Матю Райли, ме хвърли в недрата на този сложен лабиринт. Залутах се с ��жак, Зоуи, Лили, Истън и Усмивката из мрачните коридори, опитвайки се да намерят правилния път, съревновавайки се с още няколко екипа, кой от кой по-опасен.
На плещите на Джак лежи цялото човечество, ако той се провали част от хората ще останат заспали завинаги или ще се събудят роби на Сфинска, един от противниците в това състезание. А ако Растор се добере до финала, това значи край на всичко. Събитието Омега няма да настъпи и това означава край на човечеството, край на света, край на всичко живо. Ако църквата се добере първа до финала? Мъжко господство. И някак всички имат древни познания, които ги превеждат през лабиринта, познания и ресурси, а Джак? Той има само познания и собствените си сили.
И финалът, като при всяка една от предходните книги, е спиращ дъха и четящ се като маратон. Да ви разкажа повече за приключението и как стигна до тук, значи да ви залея със спойлери от предходните книги.
Ще кажа само едно, поклон пред Джак Уест Младши и му свалям шапка. А на Матю Райли мога само да благодаря. Да благодаря за онова различното, което не съм срещала при други автори, за високата скорост, спираща дъха ми, за добре изпипаните детайли, за проучванията, които самият той направи с цел нещата му да звучат максимално достоверни в частите, които не са измислица на авторското му съзнание. А вие, ако сте се изморили от масовите вълни от Young Adult, свръхестествени истории, трилъри, които отдавна не причиняват дори трепет и са предвидими, то е време да отворите „Седемте смъртоносни чудеса“ и да започнете пътешествието си под ръководството на Джак Уест Младши и Матю Райли.
October 11, 2021
It's finally here!! The finale! Jack West Jr. is finally going to tackle the final challenge and of course, be the ultimate victor in this race. No spoilers but I think we all know who's going to win in this novel, right? The good guy! Yep, this one is completely a roller coaster feel good sort of read. And coming right at the end of Sydney lockdown, #winning !!
As followers of series would expect, this last book in the series is chock-a-block full of action. If things aren't exploding, it's raining bullets. If you're not being shot at, you're running through a maze full of life threatening traps. I seriously feel like I couldn't read fast enough; my eyes couldn't keep up with how fast the action is taking place in my brain. The team is split into several groups and while, Jack's team is the primary focus, there were switches in views. I do feel like it's an action blockbuster movie that I'm "seeing" only in my head.
While I loved following their adventures; the twists on mythologies and each book always action-packed, I also find it to be a bit predictable in one particular way. That is, never believe that someone died unless their corpses are actually presented to you on the page lol. And in this way, I didn't waste a tear at all.
"All my life I've watched you and wondered what it is that makes you a hero. And I figured it out: it's trying when nobody else thinks it's even worth trying, when the odds really are stacked against you or when your friends and family are taken away from you."
That is why fans love Jack West Jr. and always, without fail, cheer for him and his team. And in centre of things, he fought for humanity so in the end, we all win. The One Impossible Labyrinth is an unmissable finale. Read It!
My thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for this copy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts
As followers of series would expect, this last book in the series is chock-a-block full of action. If things aren't exploding, it's raining bullets. If you're not being shot at, you're running through a maze full of life threatening traps. I seriously feel like I couldn't read fast enough; my eyes couldn't keep up with how fast the action is taking place in my brain. The team is split into several groups and while, Jack's team is the primary focus, there were switches in views. I do feel like it's an action blockbuster movie that I'm "seeing" only in my head.
While I loved following their adventures; the twists on mythologies and each book always action-packed, I also find it to be a bit predictable in one particular way. That is, never believe that someone died unless their corpses are actually presented to you on the page lol. And in this way, I didn't waste a tear at all.
"All my life I've watched you and wondered what it is that makes you a hero. And I figured it out: it's trying when nobody else thinks it's even worth trying, when the odds really are stacked against you or when your friends and family are taken away from you."
That is why fans love Jack West Jr. and always, without fail, cheer for him and his team. And in centre of things, he fought for humanity so in the end, we all win. The One Impossible Labyrinth is an unmissable finale. Read It!
My thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for this copy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts
December 2, 2021
‘The Omega Event — the collapse of the universe— is only three days away!’
This, the final instalment in the Jack West Jr series, picks up where ‘The Two Lost Mountains’ ends. Jack and his remaining team have made it to the Supreme Labyrinth. But so have four teams of his rivals. The race is on: someone needs to reach a throne within the labyrinth to stop the universe collapsing. And, whoever gets there first and sits on the throne will be very powerful!
‘There are no shortcuts when the fate of the universe is at stake.’
Okay. What can I say without spoilers? Well, there is non-stop action in a very tight timeframe. The maze to be negotiated is very complex and not everyone will survive. There are plenty of twists as Jack and his team try to prevail against seemingly impossible odds. Great page-turning action, with terrific diagrams by Gavin Tyrrell. If you have enjoyed the first six books in the series, then I think you’ll enjoy this one as well. A fitting ending to the series.
‘We can sleep after we’ve saved the universe.’
Oh, and I want a Warbler!
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This, the final instalment in the Jack West Jr series, picks up where ‘The Two Lost Mountains’ ends. Jack and his remaining team have made it to the Supreme Labyrinth. But so have four teams of his rivals. The race is on: someone needs to reach a throne within the labyrinth to stop the universe collapsing. And, whoever gets there first and sits on the throne will be very powerful!
‘There are no shortcuts when the fate of the universe is at stake.’
Okay. What can I say without spoilers? Well, there is non-stop action in a very tight timeframe. The maze to be negotiated is very complex and not everyone will survive. There are plenty of twists as Jack and his team try to prevail against seemingly impossible odds. Great page-turning action, with terrific diagrams by Gavin Tyrrell. If you have enjoyed the first six books in the series, then I think you’ll enjoy this one as well. A fitting ending to the series.
‘We can sleep after we’ve saved the universe.’
Oh, and I want a Warbler!
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 13, 2021
And that’s it. The end of one of the best straight-up action series I’ve read. This was a very quick, relatively short read but it ties everything up and, as usual, the historical references and mythology that are incorporated is wonderful.
I thought there were a few too many of Jack’s ‘miraculous escapes’ (and one that I really couldn’t suspend disbelief over) but it was so nice to see the team working together. And the four different perspectives of the teams was great.
As with most of this series, there isn’t a whole lot of depth or breadth and I felt it more in this book just because we were switching back and forth so often and it was a bit choppier than usual.
Overall, I’m so pleased with this book and how it ended. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and sad now so it might be time to reread SAW and SSS!
🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 5 and a solid salute to Matthew Reilly for a wonderful series
I thought there were a few too many of Jack’s ‘miraculous escapes’ (and one that I really couldn’t suspend disbelief over) but it was so nice to see the team working together. And the four different perspectives of the teams was great.
As with most of this series, there isn’t a whole lot of depth or breadth and I felt it more in this book just because we were switching back and forth so often and it was a bit choppier than usual.
Overall, I’m so pleased with this book and how it ended. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and sad now so it might be time to reread SAW and SSS!
🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 5 and a solid salute to Matthew Reilly for a wonderful series
October 10, 2021
16 years and 7 books - One impossible labyrinth marks the conclusion of Jack West Jr's Adventure. Racing against the clock to save the world, hours behind multiple groups of rivals, Jack and his team are fighting desperately to keep the ones they love safe.
Matthew Reilly's latest novel is a short, fast paced action explosion. It has all the speed, detail and tension that we have come to love from him. This is the story that ties together and resolves the mysteries of the series. If you have read the preceding novels, you have to read how it all ends.
Although you could read this story without reading the prior books, as there is a brief recap to start things off, I could not recommended that. The novel relies quite heavily on the relationships, worldbuilding, and emotional connections developed in the earlier installments. This piece serves as closure, not introduction.
After so much investment, I enjoyed racing through the final chapter of this series.
Matthew Reilly's latest novel is a short, fast paced action explosion. It has all the speed, detail and tension that we have come to love from him. This is the story that ties together and resolves the mysteries of the series. If you have read the preceding novels, you have to read how it all ends.
Although you could read this story without reading the prior books, as there is a brief recap to start things off, I could not recommended that. The novel relies quite heavily on the relationships, worldbuilding, and emotional connections developed in the earlier installments. This piece serves as closure, not introduction.
After so much investment, I enjoyed racing through the final chapter of this series.
June 16, 2024
A truly epic conclusion to a remarkable series! So much more action and adventure- just read it- it’s brilliant
November 4, 2022
The series is over and I will miss it. True to its nature, the book started off with a bang and I had to stop a few times just to breathe. Everything is neatly concluded in the end.
September 16, 2022
This is the last of the Jack West books, and it wraps up everything well, overall, the series was great, lots of action, and adventure. I ended up reading the last 4 books in quick succession, which made it feel long and a bit repetitive.
If you have read any Matthey Reilly books before you will know what you are in for, if not, it’s like Indiana Jones but on a much bigger scale.
If you have read any Matthey Reilly books before you will know what you are in for, if not, it’s like Indiana Jones but on a much bigger scale.
December 18, 2021
A fitting end to a very entertaining series. The One Impossible Labyrinth does a great job at bringing the series together, from The Seven Ancient Wonders all the way through to this final stanza, there’s Easter eggs aplenty and story loops closed to give the reader a sense of satisfaction. This is one series I’m very happy I stuck with over the journey despite the steady creep from the plausible to the impossible.
October 18, 2021
Supremely disappointing end to what has been a steadily declining series. Reilly used to write high octane sequences which were in the realm of the possible. Now it's just some Fast and Furious type nonsense thrill a minute sequences. Hope he finds his Scarecrow groove again.
May 22, 2023
The last Jack West Jr novel doesn't disappoint. An absolutely brilliant end to this series.
A wonderful mix of action, adventure and fantasy, and the best part is that the hero is Australian.
Matthew Reilly could publish his shopping list and it would be a bestseller!
A wonderful mix of action, adventure and fantasy, and the best part is that the hero is Australian.
Matthew Reilly could publish his shopping list and it would be a bestseller!
November 20, 2021
I would give it negative 5 stars if i could.
March 24, 2023
The series is over. What a crazy ride, and what a disappointment. I say “disappointment” partly because I felt like the book could easily have been one hundred pages shorter and probably would have been better for it. Too, the author’s continual usage of F-bombs when describing something took me out of the story. I get it – people use F-bombs as a normal part of their conversation, and that is ‘one thing’, but to use them when typing a paragraph to describe some thing or some event is totally unnecessary and ruined those moments for me.
I am not sure how to express "the other reason" why it was a disappointment. Maybe because of how the series had been built up with each successive novel that this one was bound to fail? I felt the series hit its apex with book four (maybe because it had Scarecrow and his team of Marines in it; that book was a lot of fun to read) and it was all downhill from there. Maybe if other "important" members of the team had actually died and stayed dead? Something to raise the stakes that much more? I think the increasing craziness throughout the book actually ruined it for me, too, because no moment, no triumph, no success, really felt like it truly mattered in the end because of the next obstacle that had to be faced. I could not suspend my sense of disbelief enough to enjoy the book, and the ending was so anticlimactic that I cannot adequately express how I felt.
Some other things that "bugged me" (and in no particular order):
There were some things that I did like or thought was well done(which might sound pretty surprising, hahahah):
The series is done. Thank God. If he writes a "final" final book ("The Zeroth Whatever"), I think I can probably break my "completist issue" and not actually read that one because of how bad the last two books in the series were (this one and the prior book). This was a real downer on the series; I don't know if the stakes were "too high" or if it was just that poorly written, but part of me wishes I had stopped with the fourth book and left the series alone. I liked it more than 1 star but not enough to rate it 2 stars. Ah, well. Reality is I probably would have finished the series at some point. At least I finished the series. There is that.
I am not sure how to express "the other reason" why it was a disappointment. Maybe because of how the series had been built up with each successive novel that this one was bound to fail? I felt the series hit its apex with book four (maybe because it had Scarecrow and his team of Marines in it; that book was a lot of fun to read) and it was all downhill from there. Maybe if other "important" members of the team had actually died and stayed dead? Something to raise the stakes that much more? I think the increasing craziness throughout the book actually ruined it for me, too, because no moment, no triumph, no success, really felt like it truly mattered in the end because of the next obstacle that had to be faced. I could not suspend my sense of disbelief enough to enjoy the book, and the ending was so anticlimactic that I cannot adequately express how I felt.
Some other things that "bugged me" (and in no particular order):
There were some things that I did like or thought was well done(which might sound pretty surprising, hahahah):
The series is done. Thank God. If he writes a "final" final book ("The Zeroth Whatever"), I think I can probably break my "completist issue" and not actually read that one because of how bad the last two books in the series were (this one and the prior book). This was a real downer on the series; I don't know if the stakes were "too high" or if it was just that poorly written, but part of me wishes I had stopped with the fourth book and left the series alone. I liked it more than 1 star but not enough to rate it 2 stars. Ah, well. Reality is I probably would have finished the series at some point. At least I finished the series. There is that.
October 13, 2021
I've been following this series for more than a decade now, and so I've known this world longer than I've been an adult. Looking back with kindly eyes, what's striking about the Jack West Jr series is that while the plot is ostensibly about ridiculous action-packed adventures in conspiracy-theorist land, it's all underpinned by a vision of masculinuty that strikes me as deeply healthy. Working out its ideology through who/what is glorified and villainized - in the literal sense of what do the heroes stand for and what are the motivations of the villains - it's a masculinity that is:
-Australian, self-consciously and explicitly setting itself up as opposed to bigger, bullying powers like America
-defending ordinary lives against nihilism, elitism, and megalomania (all manifesting in cartoonish villains). This reflection by Jack sums up this entire ethos:
-Open to emotions, while insisting that it sometimes (like in the middle of a mission) be kept aside until the task is finished. It's a nice balance between emotional openness and debilitating mawkishness.
-Recognizes women as symmetrical partners, worthy of trust in battle. Eg: When his wife Zoe tells him to go on because she'll finish the battle there, Jack just trust her judgement and abilities and leaves. There's no silly games about how women are trusted and valued...but only in a stunted and small arena. Here they're equal partners who poetically kill off the cartoonish "order of women-hating monks".
-Values nurturing, since we see him save and raise Lily. In this book, she's all grown up and really grows into the role of fully competent female fighter.
-Centres nerds obsessing about "lore". It's a very silly view of how historical facts and expertise actually work in the real world (with all their ambiguity vanished to produce a giant puzzle game) but it's still salutary to see how nerdy historical knowledge is just assumed to be a prerequistite for making progress, for both protagonists and villains.
-Distances itself from the claim of birth family (his Mom is alright, but his father is a psycho and daughter adopted) in favour of chosen family of friends and mentors of different generations. An underlying current is that it is choices that matter, not the family or privileges you're born into.
There obviously is a valuing of toughness, but this is explicitly one that's defensive, about the ability to keep taking blows in the place of those weaker. As a composite, its a picture of masculinity that has much to recommend.
-Australian, self-consciously and explicitly setting itself up as opposed to bigger, bullying powers like America
-defending ordinary lives against nihilism, elitism, and megalomania (all manifesting in cartoonish villains). This reflection by Jack sums up this entire ethos:
I just want to see the regular people of the world—mums and dads, kids and grandparents—be able to live their lives, love their families and chase their dreams without some entitled king or emperor or whatever ruling over them. (p. 278)
-Open to emotions, while insisting that it sometimes (like in the middle of a mission) be kept aside until the task is finished. It's a nice balance between emotional openness and debilitating mawkishness.
-Recognizes women as symmetrical partners, worthy of trust in battle. Eg: When his wife Zoe tells him to go on because she'll finish the battle there, Jack just trust her judgement and abilities and leaves. There's no silly games about how women are trusted and valued...but only in a stunted and small arena. Here they're equal partners who poetically kill off the cartoonish "order of women-hating monks".
-Values nurturing, since we see him save and raise Lily. In this book, she's all grown up and really grows into the role of fully competent female fighter.
-Centres nerds obsessing about "lore". It's a very silly view of how historical facts and expertise actually work in the real world (with all their ambiguity vanished to produce a giant puzzle game) but it's still salutary to see how nerdy historical knowledge is just assumed to be a prerequistite for making progress, for both protagonists and villains.
-Distances itself from the claim of birth family (his Mom is alright, but his father is a psycho and daughter adopted) in favour of chosen family of friends and mentors of different generations. An underlying current is that it is choices that matter, not the family or privileges you're born into.
There obviously is a valuing of toughness, but this is explicitly one that's defensive, about the ability to keep taking blows in the place of those weaker. As a composite, its a picture of masculinity that has much to recommend.
November 26, 2021
After some time off from reading, I am back with a bang with the grand finale to the Jack West Jr. series. After a 17-year long journey, this final book offers a satisfying conclusion to the series and will please fans like me who have been following along with each novel.
The books feature an un-killable Aussie commando who sports a battered fireman’s helmet and a non destructible robotic arm. Together with his family and an international team of assassins, geniuses and fighter pilots, Jack goes guns blazing across the globe unlocking ancient secrets and protecting the world from cosmic annihilation.
The One Impossible Labyrinth is super Fun. It picks up where the last book — The Two Lost Mountains — left off, with Jack and his team arriving at the last puzzle in an attempt to stop the collapse of the universe. We’re immediately thrust back into the action of the story. It opens with Jack and his crew racing down a heavily booby-trapped tunnel. Jack is running last in a race into the unknown, the victor of which will either rule humanity or destroy the UNIVERSE.
Heart-stopping moments. Tense battles. Brazen red herrings. Epic puzzles. Dramatic deaths. All brought together by that insane, way-over-the-top action that we know and love as the signature of Matthew Reilly. An incredibly satisfying conclusion to a series I've loved from start to finish. It delivered exactly the kick I hoped for, and it tied everything up so neatly which I feel was the ending the series deserved.
The books feature an un-killable Aussie commando who sports a battered fireman’s helmet and a non destructible robotic arm. Together with his family and an international team of assassins, geniuses and fighter pilots, Jack goes guns blazing across the globe unlocking ancient secrets and protecting the world from cosmic annihilation.
The One Impossible Labyrinth is super Fun. It picks up where the last book — The Two Lost Mountains — left off, with Jack and his team arriving at the last puzzle in an attempt to stop the collapse of the universe. We’re immediately thrust back into the action of the story. It opens with Jack and his crew racing down a heavily booby-trapped tunnel. Jack is running last in a race into the unknown, the victor of which will either rule humanity or destroy the UNIVERSE.
Heart-stopping moments. Tense battles. Brazen red herrings. Epic puzzles. Dramatic deaths. All brought together by that insane, way-over-the-top action that we know and love as the signature of Matthew Reilly. An incredibly satisfying conclusion to a series I've loved from start to finish. It delivered exactly the kick I hoped for, and it tied everything up so neatly which I feel was the ending the series deserved.
October 12, 2021
After seventeen years, it all ends today. The final and epic conclusion to the Jack West Jr series is out now. All the research, thrilling writing and storytelling leading to one amazing conclusion within The One Impossible Labyrinth. Jack, Zoe, Lily and their friends pick up at once after the Two lost Mountains into a countdown to the Omega event. Three days to save the world, all existence and everyone Jack and his friends care for.
Matthew Reilly's books have always been my go-to for action, adventure, and thrills. I cannot pick any books over his for compelling reads I know will capture my attention through the entirety of the storyline and effectively keep me running alongside them during the fast-paced motions. The final book in the Jack West Jr series, one of my top three favorite series in my collection, did not disappoint. He had an enormous pressure of not only writing a book that wrapped up this long awaiting ending but also topping up everything his characters had faced before and describing impossible, incredible things to his reader. As always, the images within the books help so much to show you what he is describing, and I love coming up to each new image in the book but even without them Matthew Reilly still achieves a great descriptive language at this quick pace that is never boring.
Readers will be happy to see many characters throughout the series are here for the final adventure and past foes too to settle a final score. This was the most emotional book yet too with so many raw conversations and heartbreaking moments for our beloved characters. I loved the snippets of information we learned throughout this one and my love from them grew even more! I am so looking forward to going back and reading these books again soon from start to finish experiencing each high and low again. I loved how the end of this book explored many external themes and kept you guessing until the very end how it would finish. Overall, there’s nothing else I need from these characters. They fulfilled their story-line perfectly. You would think getting to know more about them would make it hard to say goodbye, but the ending of this book felt right, there was nothing else to say but The End.
Matthew Reilly's books have always been my go-to for action, adventure, and thrills. I cannot pick any books over his for compelling reads I know will capture my attention through the entirety of the storyline and effectively keep me running alongside them during the fast-paced motions. The final book in the Jack West Jr series, one of my top three favorite series in my collection, did not disappoint. He had an enormous pressure of not only writing a book that wrapped up this long awaiting ending but also topping up everything his characters had faced before and describing impossible, incredible things to his reader. As always, the images within the books help so much to show you what he is describing, and I love coming up to each new image in the book but even without them Matthew Reilly still achieves a great descriptive language at this quick pace that is never boring.
Readers will be happy to see many characters throughout the series are here for the final adventure and past foes too to settle a final score. This was the most emotional book yet too with so many raw conversations and heartbreaking moments for our beloved characters. I loved the snippets of information we learned throughout this one and my love from them grew even more! I am so looking forward to going back and reading these books again soon from start to finish experiencing each high and low again. I loved how the end of this book explored many external themes and kept you guessing until the very end how it would finish. Overall, there’s nothing else I need from these characters. They fulfilled their story-line perfectly. You would think getting to know more about them would make it hard to say goodbye, but the ending of this book felt right, there was nothing else to say but The End.
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