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Oct 03, 2008

Celia rated it:

This was lent to me by a friend, so I did try my best to enjoy it. But this kind of action-adventure-movie transformed into a book just isn't really my thing. Not only the increasingly ridiculous situations the characters find themselves in - "Block of stone about to fall and crush me? I will block it with my titanium arm!"

Also, his use of italics and exclamations marks in the narrative made me want to kill myself, or at least write to his editor. Can someone tell him t More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Feb 05, 2008

andeeeeee rated it:

reilly once again proves that it is possible to have nothing but action and still have a book be a fun read. barely any characters, leaps right into insane impossible chases and mayhem and wanton destruction and supernatural weirdness. a past book had a 50 page boat chase, this one has a similarly long airplane being chased by many buses on a stretch of desert highway. over the top and goofy and ridiculous but fun as fuck. if this was a movie, it would be a bruckheimer blockbuster and we'd all s More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 08, 2011

Halanhoffman added it

I've read many of his other books that require a suspension of disbelief and this one requires even more.

Like 7 Deadly Wonders, there are some Indiana Jones-type caves with traps in this story. One cave that requires a system of two people is believable. Yet the author makes another one so difficult with obstacles to "prevent thieves" that it makes me wonder why an ancient civilization would go to such lengths to protect a sacred object. At some point, I don't think even their own More...

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Nov 06, 2011

Matt rated it:

Summary: Jack West, Lily, and Zoe are back with a new adventure as Jack's farm is attacked one summer afternoon by Chinese troops. Jack also recieves a message from Wizard telling them to get out and bring certain books with them to help with finding the 6 Sacred Stones. After their escape Jack finds out that not only has Wizard been inprisioned by the Chinese and tortured but the world may be facing a coming disaster the likes that have never been seen. With Lily and Alby's help Jack has to set More...

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Jul 01, 2011

Eddy rated it:

Jack west and his team go on another mission to save the world, but this time they have to find and build the machine.

Jack West Jr.(Huntsman) well built, australian, has a metallic arm, is very brave and courageous.

Lily 11 years of age is one of the two pepole alive who can read an ancient language the other being his twin brother.

Alby Deaf Lily's freind 12 years of age and very smart

Max Epper(Wizard) canadian has a long white beard, is the person More...

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Feb 16, 2011

Paul rated it:

When I reviewed Matthew Reilly's last book, "The Seven Deadly Wonders", little did I know that he would continue the story in his next book. I loved "The Seven Deadly Wonders" and drew the comparison to the adventures of Indiana Jones. It had the same action/adventure that put the heroes in impossible situations and got them out of these situations, only to find themselves in another impossible situation.

The action and impossible situations continue in "The More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 04, 2010

Cherry rated it:

My favourite "part" in the story is the depiction of Lao's "duality" theory and the notion of "balance". In everything good there is darkness. And in all evil, there is light. The duality of all things. Whether that is true or not, I would like to think that it is.

The story itself? 4.5 out of 5. It is obviously a fantasy by the mere fact that the story talks of a Tartarus power. Fantasy. But the way Reilly weaves fantasy with known archeological facts, m More...

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Jun 28, 2010

Jerome rated it:

I thought it was my lucky day: a friend of mine recently came back from Europe and gave me a book, which had been let behind on the seat of a plane. The Six Sacred Stones, by Australian author Matthew Reilly. I had never read any of Reilly’s books, in spite of his huge success, and I was kind of curious about them. I started reading…. and stopped. There was no way I would ever be able to read the book. I did insist though, and read a few more pages, but by then I was feeling sick and had to put More...

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Aug 10, 2011

Vivien rated it:

Matthew Reilly's writing is the written equivalent of someone showing you something, then bringing it so close to your face so as to almost hit you, repeatedly. I don't understand why he thinks his audience is so stupid. Literally every page has about 4 or 5 words that are italicised; he often re-describes something, by way of an obvious aside, that occurred just the page before. He'll have his characters awkwardly explain things in a manner even more artless than usual action books (case in po More...

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May 19, 2011

Linda rated it:

The plot is simple. A team of highly skilled people, who have given themselves names like Scimitar and Wizard, must garner all their high tech resources and mobilize to prevent the end of the world. Their quest is to locate the 6 sacred stones and place them on the 6 sacred pillars, which are located at various mystical places around the globe. Only then will the Dark Sun, the opposite of our star sun, be neutralized. That's it. The plot.

The Six Sacred Stones is more a series of sensat More...

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Apr 01, 2009

Kim rated it:

Just a disclaimer prior to my review, this book is a sequel to Matthew Reilly's Seven Deadly Wonders and it is important that you read that book first. Also, this book ends in a major cliffhanger because it is going to be followed by another book. So, if you don't want to have to wait to see how it ends, save the entire trilogy for when the final book is written.

Having said that, one of the advanced praise quotes on the cover of this book says, "Like reading a video game." More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 17, 2011

martin rated it:

OK, I think maybe I've grown out of the Boys' Own Adventure comic stuff. Matthew Reilly says this is modelled on Indiana Jones rather than the Da Vinci Code but sadly he can't copy too well. Yes, it was entertaining enough as long as you completely suspend all activity in your brain for a few hours! The thing is that Indiana Jones gets away with all the crazy stunts simply because it is all so tongue in cheek, but Mr Reilly seems to have gone for the deadly earnest story telling mode instead (d More...

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Jun 02, 2010

Danielle rated it:

I read this because I was fairly impressed by an interview with Reilly recently and I thought I'd see if, with his enormous "success" and possibly some real editing, Reilly had improved since I read Ice Station way-back-when (for work, not by choice). I wasn't expecting great writing, nor a particularly complex story, in fact I was looking forward to a rollicking good yarn that didn't tax me too much, but both story and writing were so simple as to be childish.

His constant More...

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Feb 15, 2012

Chris rated it:

A famous: 'couldn't put it down' one from the master of thrillers.

I love the continuation from the Seven Ancient Wonders. The use of the equinoxes are excellent and the idea for the Asteroid Belts existence is something that only Matthew Reilly could fit into his book of epic proportions.

The 50-50 of ancient history and imagination is perfect, the linkage of the Great Pyramid and Stonehenge is staggering.

I wanted to read it constantly as it is so engaging, but More...

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May 19, 2011

Tasneem rated it:

"The power of Tartarus has been nullified. Someone has the other capstone. The game is back on."

Ah, Matthew Reilly; good to have you back!

This is the perfect antidote to just having read the collected works of Kafka (or anything else requiring the slightest bit of thought).

Being a series, there is a lot of scope for character development here, and so it was nice to join the same band of heroes from 'Seven Ancient Wonders' and see how they had formed a de-f More...

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Jan 22, 2010

Eric rated it:

I'm torn on this book's merits - as the middle in a trilogy, it is the closest to a disappointment among Reilly's books for me, outside of "Scarecrow," for different reasons. The continuing adventures of Jack West Jr., hero of "7 Deadly Wonders," are exciting, but the grand scope of the adventure - to be continued in "The 5 Greatest Warriors" - gets away from the author somewhat. The result is a struggle to remember who is who among the many characters (particularly More...

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Jul 04, 2010

Trish rated it:

Nachdem ich von "Das Tartarus-Orakel" so gefesselt war und durch Zufall erfahren hatte, dass es noch mehr Bücher über Jack West jr. gibt, musste ich mir das natürlich mal genauer ansehen. Eigentlich mag ich viele Fortsetzungsromane nicht, weil die Autoren es nicht schaffen, die Folgebände genauso spannungsgeladen und mitreißend zu schreiben wie die Ausgangsbücher. Aber Matthew Reilly überzeugte mich von seinem Talent, denn "Die Macht der sechs Steine" knüpft nahtlos an das Vo More...

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Dec 22, 2011

Barbara rated it:

I think I'm in the minority of people who like Matthew Reilly's books simply because they defy imagination (and physics...and history...and theology). This sequel to "Seven Deadly Wonders" finds Jack and Lily living in Australia when they're abruptly attacked by Chinese and American forces bent on bringing the Apocalypse to Earth. A ritual to counteract the one performed at the climax of "Seven" has been performed, leaving Australia vulnerable.

The chases are pure More...

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Mar 19, 2010

Vic rated it:

Outlandish, maybe. Over the top, definitely. But you've got to love Capt. Jack West, Jr., the larger than life mega, super hero and what's left of his international team of elite soldiers assembled for the roller coaster ride in The Seven Deadly Wonders.

Lose one, gain a brother in law and a 12 year old friend of Lily's who just happens to a math whiz. See Zoe, who has bonded strongly with both Jack and Lily, elevate her game to superhero proportions. Enter a most unexpected villain More...

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Apr 12, 2010

Sean rated it:

Disclaimer: Matthew Reilly's books read just about as well as novelisations of screenplays. In fact, they read just like screenplays begging to be made into films. However, unlike similar authors like Dan Brown, I don't think Matthew Reilly believes his books are intelligent mysteries (as Dan Brown does). They're just melodramatic, over-the-top action thrillers that are meant to be enjoyed and give you a bit of a ride for a couple of hours.

But he really needs to stop using some of More...

3 comments like

Jul 19, 2009

Sophie rated it:

I had to wait for so long to read this book because it wasn't even out when I read Seven Ancient Wonders but I felt that the wait was worth it.

With all the old characters that lived through the last book and the addition of a new friend for Lily, I couldn't put the book down until I read the very last page. In parts it was so nail biting I had to hold onto my book hard so I didn't put it down! I was so engrosed that I read the book in about two days - that was with stopping to eat, b More...

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Jan 22, 2009

Trisha added it

My first read of Matthew Reilly's boks and have to read more.
This story follows on from Seven Ancient Wonders.
Full of adventure and you are on the edge of yourseat with every page.
Hope the follow on book comes out soon.
All of the Stones from history are mentioned:
The Seeing Stone of Delphi
The Philosophers Stone
The Killing Stone of the Maya
Stonehenge
The Basin of Ramese II
The Twin Tablets

and the here - Jack West Jnr and his b More...

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Mar 26, 2010

Eldon rated it:

If you felt you missed out on gratuitous foul language and yearned for more bloody violence than you found in The 7 Deadly Wonders then you will find it in The 6 Sacred Stones.

The ending also really stinks unless you have the third book of the series in hand as this book does NOT stand on its own.

I would not have read this book the first time if I had known how badly it ended and only reread it after a wait of two years because I finally had the next book. As a rule I do More...

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Feb 07, 2010

Christine rated it:

Mr. Reilly’s book are like sneaking a piece of chocolate when you are on a diet … definitely a guilty pleasure. The second in the series brings us back in touch with Jack and Lily about a year after the previous book. Once again earth is in peril and there is no shortage of action. I did find however, that this book had a little more character development. I enjoyed it more than the first one because of that (but Mr. Reilly still loves his rolling boulders). To coin a phrase … the ending is More...

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Dec 22, 2011

Matt rated it:

Wow! This is Matthew Reilly at his insanley fast paced nuclear best! Be warned Matthew Reilly unbelievers you will not like this. The pace is blistering the plot is crazy and the action is over the top.

I am the first to admit that with some shockingly cheesy dialogue, ridiculous "character explains the plot" internal monologues and infuriating hyperbole!!!!!!!!!!! (the italics and exclamation mark buttons on his computer must be worn down to nothing) and some grammatical sh More...

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Jan 23, 2009

Preetee rated it:

sequel to the seven ancient wonders. was a bit disappointed because the plot does not end and we have to wait for the sequel. although when you start reading you realise there is no way he could finish it in one fell swoop. anyway, this one was less of a spell binder maybe because i was reading it so soon after the first one? yet i definitely am waiting to get the sequel. it is a funny mix of ancient civilisations, monuments and modern day stuff (i loved the harry potter use). we have not built More...

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Nov 22, 2010

Chukkzy rated it:

A danger threatening the whole world, a team of the most dangerous and trained specialist on a trailhunt for the secret that will save us all... and the enemy is not far behind...

While I was not that fused about the first book of this trilogy (It was still good), this one really got my attention. Ancient temples with traps guarding a secret that is too important for the world to fall in the wrong hands, bad guys who just act BAD and as the climax for me personally, a chase with a frikk More...

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Jan 07, 2011

Amber rated it:

Enjoyed this immensely. Of course, it's over the top action, yet the story is a good one. I like the combination of real historical facts with the sci fi spin. Really very original story, and lots of interesting facts about other countries.

This story is a continuation of the one began in Seven Deadly Wonders. While it's not completely necessary to have read the other story, I would recommend doing so. Also, I think it worth noting that Six Sacred Stones ends in a cliff-hanger. More...

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Jan 17, 2010

Marti rated it:

this was incredibly fast moving, with many characters and settings. the idea was that the good guys were supposed to find locations, and artifacts and set them in place so the world would not be destroyed. the main hero is Jack West, who is the opposite of his father, a despicable villain who kills Jack, or does he. I wonder if anyone would consider making this into a movie--it would be a costly venture, i'm sure, and things like the make-up for the cannibalistic Neetha would take a lot of wo More...

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Sep 11, 2011

Amanda rated it:

I think that the theme of this book is that nothing is as it seems. This is made apparent at the very beginning of the book when a supposed military training turns out to be an attack. This theme continues throughout the story when freinds turn out to be enemies, when traps are more than they seem to be, and when secrets are revealed by an ancient power. The end is the biggest piece of evidence to support this theme. It ends with the protagonist falling to his death, but there is a sequel and so More...

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