Matthew Reilly – The Six Sacred Stones: The Significant ‘But’

Let me speak honestly. Though I don’t really like his last book, Dan Brown really steals my heart. I speak highly of his works, yes, considering his deep, thrilling, amazing, shocking story plots. And well, I’ve never felt that way before.

So, after I found Brown’s novels, I would compare any similar novel genre to his. Obviously. And particularly because I am a reader. And book analyzer. I bought some similar novels afterwards, like The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra, or Map of Bones by James Rollins, or The Rule of Four by both Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason; but the most-read books in my bookshelf are Dan Brown’s. You know what I mean.

Around a year ago, I went to Page One bookstore in Taipei 101, and I found a book catching my eye so fast. The Six Sacred Stones, that’s the title. Written by Matthew Reilly, unfamiliar name for me. I bought it. Expect nothing, but hey, I kept an open mind.

First impression: ancient-related, okay. I like that. The book is about saving the world from the end-of-the-world. A super-soldier Jack West Jr. must race with his enemies to reach several relics, with unimaginable prize. Oh well, Jack West Jr. apparently was not pictured the first in this book, and since I don’t know the previous book, sure there is a missing piece of story I haven’t read.

Ah, before I forget, I won’t tell about the whole story, or I might say, this is not a summary. You can read it by yourself. I am just making opinion here, after reading the book.

Second impression: a bunch of characters. A bit different from Dan Brown’s, which are dominated by a main character (male or female) and his/her ‘companion’ (the opposite sex); Reilly brought many characters in protagonist and antagonist team, which is good. The book is a good example of team work and talents combinations. Distinguished language kid-interpreter, history expert, mathematical geniuses. Cool. I love this one.

Third impression: fast-paced. Changing places so fast, changing strategies so fast, introducing new characters so fast. And yeah, talking about the character, it is still in projection of the world’s mind-set, perfect people. For example, Iolanthe: beautiful, dominating, having a royal descent, powerful, brainy.

Fourth impression (wondering to what extent my impression will be? Just wait okay? *smile): many ‘ooohhh-s’. I mean, many things I didn’t know before. Like the ‘artificial’ Lake Nasser, the Stonehenge arrangements, and more. This book gave me lots of information.

Fifth impression: excited about the ending! I love the whole book a lot, the plot, the characters, and I couldn’t wait to know how the ending would be. Excited, excited!

Sixth impression (it is purely coincidence that I have SIX impressions related to The SIX Sacred Stones): the whole story is great, but the ending is….unknown. Gosh. I never expected that the book wouldn’t be finished like this. Yes, the story will be continued. So disappointing me, to be frankly. I praised the whole book, but yeah, finally I came to the significant ‘but’. But the story hasn’t finished yet. Arrrgghh. So annoying. I want to know the ending!

Anyway, just read it. I like it.