An ancient organization more powerful than the federal government has targeted Washington. They'll stop at nothing to destroy the republic and raise an empire.
The adventure begins with a mysterious military burial at Arlington National Cemetery and a shocking legacy that has explosive implications for America's existence. Archaeologist Conrad Yeats discovers in his father's tombstone the key to a centuries-old warning built into the very design of Washington, D.C. Major monuments along the National Mall are astronomically aligned and are about to "lock" with the stars at a date foreseen by the Founding Fathers. Along with Serena Serghetti, a beautiful Vatican linguist with secrets of her own, Yeats explores the hidden world beneath the capital in a deadly race to save it. America has a date with destiny, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
No. 1 Amazon, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven international thrillers, including Raising Atlantis, The Atlantis Prophecy, The Atlantis Revelation, The Promised War, The 34th Degree, The War Cloud and The Chiron Confession.
This is one of many books that have sprung up since the success of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." I think in this case the author has also read "Angels and Demons" by the same author. He has then taken themes from both books to "create" his own. Thus we have good looking male scholar/adventurer, expert at cracking codes, running around a capital city (in this case Washington D.C rather than Paris or Rome) with an equally good looking and equally intelligent female helper, searching for an equally important bit of "treasure" which could be buried anywhere....but not to worry, there have been plenty of clues left to figure it out by a dying man who wants to keep the secret alive. Throw in a sprinkling of secret societies (Opus wotsit) higher authorities (The Vatican) secret passageways (but in this case they have their own police section patrolling them.....) and various references to Illuminati, The Knights Templar, etc, etc.
In other words, it's not overly original. It also doesn't seem to have very much to do with Atlantis, although I think it follows on from his first book which I perhaps now need to read, since there are a number of references to it (Raising Atlantis.)
I loved this book! It was so intricate and I became engulfed in the plot almost immediately. However, this is the second book in a series but I did not read the first book and I still completely understood the storyline. I loved the action and how conflicted I felt as the reader being scared of Conrad but also rooting for him at the same time. I loved how narrowly he escaped from the police but how he always seemed to get out of it and make a quick getaway. I found it so interesting how easy it came to Conrad to break into the Library of Congress and the US Capitol. I additionally loved the underlying ties to Atlantis and astrology because I love ancient myths like those; especially the story of the Atlanteans. This book was amazing!!!
This has adventure, intrigue, action, suspense, misdirection, information?, emotions and a few twists and turns. Great for the lazy-day read or just for passing time. Written well, time consuming and attention grabbing. It's like Tomb Raider meets National Treasure. (Maybe a little Indiana Jones thrown in too.) Enjoy!
Whereas I gave the previous book in this trilogy 4 stars with caveats, this one has fully earned all four stars. This book was far more entertaining than its predecessor by leaps and bounds. The writing was better, the pacing was WAY better and the overall story was even more so.
That being said, it is not perfect. As you read this book, each page is packed with information and intrigue but if you look back on it after you finish it, you realize just how over the top the whole plot is. The leaps in logic and guesswork based on stars and symbols forms a plot that would be impossible in real life. Anyone who set in motion a plot this convoluted couldn't possibly have expected for it to be followed correctly and solved...but I didn't really care. I recognize that fact and just as quickly discard it because the book was so much fun.
The author also scored points by taking the book in a different direction altogether from the first book. It was not simply a rehash of the first but an entirely new twist on Atlantis. Sort of, anyway. Atlantis has very little to do with this book in the way that I had hoped but I was still happy with the resolution.
This book also sets up a bigger world for the characters to play in as well as setting up a future novel(s). And yes, if you feel like you have already watched this book in movie form, then you are probably referring to Nicolas Cage's National Treasure...and I still don't care. It was just too darn fun.
Following on from Raising Atlantis, The Atlantis Prophecy sees Conrad Yeats racing around Washington DC following up leads from the past in an attempt to derail a conspiracy dating back to the formation of the United States and George Washington himself. In a way it reminds me of the Nicholas Cage movie National Treasure, it has a similar level of action and adventure with a similar romp through famous Washington monuments.
In terms of the book itself, the author has certainly refined his writing since the first installment with this entry in the trilogy being of a much better consistency and pace than Raising Atlantis. The ending whilst setting up for a third installment is also not so jagged that you couldn't merely read this book as a stand alone.
I personally wasn't impressed with the first book I've read by this author. Between Dan Brown and others writing on this type of topic, Mr. Greanias' work was windy with plot twists without preamble--they just all of a sudden happened without smooth transitions. The hero and heroine were stunning, of course, and they managed to just be beyond the bad guys' grasp several times. There was a secret treasure that several were looking for at the same time, which was basically the plot. Greanias IS prolific to say the least. Maybe he sharpened his writing up on subsequent books like Dan Brown did.
As usual, Thomas Greanias has succeeded in writing another page turning adventure thriller novel. This installment of the series keeps the reader on the edge of their seat the entire time they are reading. If you love a touch of sci-fi-based-history, barely there (almost non-existent) romance, and lots of action, then this book is for you! I would suggest this book to anyone above the age of 16.
When I chose this to read, I didn’t realize that it was the second in a series. It kept referring back to things that happened in the first book, but without enough explanation to understand it. The relationship between the main characters is frustrating and not very believable. The book ended with a “get ready for the next book” feeling. I didn’t like it enough to pick up the first one, let alone the last.
El libro continua la tónica ya vista con el primero; misterio, enigmas y sociedades secretas inundan las páginas y en momentos llega a convencer y lo disfrutas realmente, pero en otros momentos el libro se hace predecible y no sale de la zona de confort.
Another good read in the Conrad Yeats series. Picking up four years after the previous book, the writing style of this book is also reminiscent of early Dan Brown. A whirlwind of the book, it spans across a few days and comes to a pretty satisfying ending. Definitely eager to finish the series now.
Estuve enganchada hasta el final, muy buena idea y bien desarrollado.. pero un final a los apurones. Una de las reseñas decía que el autor" había llegado a hacerle sombra a Dan Brown". En mi opinión.. el estilo es similar.. pero sombra.. ni ahí..
It was ok. I think I expected more out of it. It is the second book in a series and it may have made more sense if I had read the first book. I don’t think I will read anymore of them though
Un libro que me mantuvo enganchada desde el primer momento, tiene una trama interesante, enigmas que atrapan al espectador, un libro bastante completo con un final que me dan ganas de seguir leyendo.
Let me first off begin by saying I'm not a huge fan of these types of books so keep that in mind when reading my review. I loved 'The DaVinci Code,' but I recently finished a book of the same genre by Steve Berry. I will say I enjoyed Thomas Greanias much more than Steve Berry. However, it just didn't do it for me.
POSITIVES:
1) This book was an easy read, very fast moving. 2) I did enjoy Mr. Greanias' writing style. 3) I did learn some interesting facts about Washington DC and gaining knowledge is always a good thing.
NEGATIVES:
1) I found the book got to a point where it was just too 'over-the top' and too hard to believe. The protagonist is on the run, he's cornered, he's trapped, he cant escape. Then, he always happens to have just what he needs to get away. The author never explained how a man like this ended up with an endless amount of high tech gadgetry.
2) I like to think I'm fairly intelligent. I read a lot, I love conspiracy novels and enjoy books with plenty of plot twists. However, upon finishing this novel, I closed the book and said to myself, "HUH?" The plot got so twisted, so convoluted, that it was hard to follow. The author threw in every possible shadowy group: Knights Templar, secret governments, terrorists, 'the Alignment', the Catholic church and Dominus Dei, a cousin to Opus Dei, bird flu, seedy politicians, Atlantis and just for the heck of it, let's throw in the grandson of a former Nazi scientist while we're at it.
3) The protagonist started out as a fairly likeable character (though no matter how many times he gets jumped, he always wins the fight) but in the last quarter of the book, he seems to change and become less likeable. He pulls a knife on some unsuspecting woman just so he can get away, he shoots and stuns an innocent security guard who he'd known for years. Throughout the book, we realize he is secretly in love (and has the hots for a stunning member of the Vatican). He hopes/thinks/dreams that one day they can somehow wind up together. Then, he sees her for the first time after a while and starts choking her. Apparently he thought she had double-crossed him...I think. By now, I was so confused I'm not sure why.
4) I know this will sound petty but in one of the scenes there's a flashback featuring George Washington as president. And in this scene, Washington gets in a fist fight! Now, I know I'm sounding petty, but really, can any of us imagine in our mind the father of our country in an actual fistfight?
Overall, I'm giving this book 2 stars. I enjoyed his style and learning some things. The story itself, in my opinion, left something to be desired. It's nothing personal against Mr. Greanias. But as I said earlier, this is not normally the type of book I enjoy reading and the author did nothing to bring me around.
A fascinating adventure to discover an ancient prophecy involving America's past...
I read & thoroughly enjoyed the prequel to this novel, Raising Atlantis. Thomas Greanias' story & characters had me hooked. I am a huge fan of ancient mysteries, so much so that I also write them. The Atlantis Prophecy delivers for anyone who enjoys stories where modern-day characters struggle against nearly insurmountable odds to uncover ancient secrets hidden in, and woven amongst, well-known places and monuments. I have read, and agree with, the comparisons with the first National Treasure movie & The Da Vinci code - I am a huge fan of both. As I mentioned in my review of Raising Atlantis, Thomas' writing & storytelling style is also reminiscent of James Rollins books in its non-stop action, high-tech elements and military ops.
Thomas has obviously put in an immense amount of research into this book, explaining and describing much of the history of American politics and the places they are rooted in. I found it very interesting and I learned a lot, the story keeps you thinking & on your toes. This type of novel has the highest of stakes in its story, and the main characters lead extraordinary lives and manage to do extraordinary things. It's not always grounded in reality, but that is not what I seek in these types of thrillers. There is also a supernatural element that pulls the story out of just a thriller category, which for readers like me, is like catnip. I am eager to read more, learn more, and see where this fascinating story will lead. I will definitely be buying the upcoming third installment to this series, The Atlantis Revelation.
While I didn't win this in a Goodreads giveaway, Greanias sent a signed ARC copy by mistake after I won another one of his novels. It sounded interesting, so I took the first out of the library and it was great.
This one was good but it wasn't as good. There was more confusion and it felt a lot more like I was reading a mimic of Dan Brown. It probably doesn't help I read one of Brown's books before this.
In this second Conrad Yeats novel, it's 4 years after the Atlantis discovery in Antarctica and Yeats & Sister Serghetti (who is never referred to as such) meet again, this time to determine a mystery of our founding Fathers.
Serena's behaviour is all out of whack here and I couldn't make heads or tails here. There were some instances where she felt OOC - like when she said she'd leave the sisterhood (again) to be with Yeats (even though she was okay up until now).
The events were crazy and a bit scary, focusing around the Beijing Olympics and a new, created strain of bird flu. Yipes!
Max Seavers is the big bad guy and he deserves that title. He's manipulative, creepy, arrogant and selfish. He's also brilliant which makes him even worse. He's a sick puppy and needs mental help. I'm glad his finger was removed.
One of my favourite characters was Sgt. Wanda Randolph, Queen R.A.T. She is tough and intelligent, strong in many ways. I hope to see her in the third novel - which I also have. Otherwise I think I'd stop at this book.
The Roman Catholic church, Freemasonry, the Founding Fathers and the ancient lost continent of Atlantis are settings and groups frequently used as key elements in modern thrillers. Apparently, author Thomas Greanias figured why not throw them all into the mix in his first novel, 2005's Raising Atlantis.
Archaeologist Conrad Yeats and Australian linguist (and nun) Serena Serghetti explored evidence of the lost continent found in the inhospitable Antarctic. The sequel, The Atlantis Prophecy, picks up in 2008 as Conrad must solve a puzzle given to him on his own father's tombstone while again joining Serena against the Alignment, a sinister cabal of military and financial leaders who operate behind the scenes to restore Atlantis' brutal dictatorship and extend it throughout the world.
Their clues take them through the major buildings and monuments of Washington, D.C., seeking out a document from George Washington that could spell the end of freedom and democracy in the United States and throughout the world. It's all very silly, and although Greanias writes far better than a lot of other people working in this field, his plot holes, weak characterizations and predictable storyline make Atlantis a mostly empty thrill ride that vanishes from memory not long after the back cover is closed and the book heads to the donation pile.
Starts with an interesting story about the death of George Washington.
Then there’s a lot of running around Washington DC as Yeats (or Stargazer) uses astronomical alignments, signs and coordinates left by his father along with clues left by the Masons to find Washington’s celestial globe that supposedly conceals dangerous information about America’s history. Meanwhile a secret centuries-old organization, the Alignment, is trying to stop him from completing their plan to quietly take over America.
In this story you never know who is good or bad. Which side anyone’s on? There’s so much switching around and confusing information that even the end is surprising. Only one we know for sure is Yeats and he’s a little too lucky to be real.
I like the way the painting “The Washington Family’ plays into the story. And I like that the ‘clues’ and some maps are actually printed in the text of the story. But SeaGen’s vaccine is too farfetched.
Footnote: 1) All these ‘pocket’ tools are a bit too convenient. 2) Wish we’d gotten more info about the Masonic stones in the Washington monument.
Fave scenes: the floorplans of the Capitol, the steam tunnels, hiding the globe letter and Yeats’s cave.
Raising Atlantis from the antarctic ice was just a warm-up. In The Atlantis Prophecy, Thomas Greanias delivers the end-all be-all of secret society conspiracy thrillers. What's the connection between the United States Capitol and ancient Atlantis? You'll have to read it to believe, but once you have...you probably will.
The Atlantis Prophecy (TAP) gives us plenty of historical Church v. Masons mystery, but doesn't give short shrift to the action. But where this story really succeeds is in its characters; the heroes are flawed, with divided sympathies and the villains are compelling in their certitude.
TAP can't quite standalone from Raising Atlantis--there are some things you'll need to know--but the "Atlantis" at the heart of this mystery has very little to do with the one in the first novel. Greanias seems to embrace the idea that Atlantis has become too big of a concept to shoehorn into one particular plot contrivance. I look forward to seeing where he will take Conrad and Serena in the upcoming Atlantis Revelation.
So far I am not thinking too much of this series. A bit of excitement with a lot of potential, however I am feeling let down. The author is all over the place with theories and whatever is convenient to pull the story along at the time. Conrad Yeats who is disgraced as a professional always manages to know someone or have a skill that will pull out every life threatening situation he's in, which is ever other chapter. Then there's Nun Serena who can fly a chopper, kick some butt, knows everything about history, science archeology, religion, politics etc she's out saving the world from evil "Alignment", saving Conrad and is amazingly beautiful and irresistible to men. Yeah that's believable. Not sure how many nun, cruise around with a bodyguard/chauffeur, wearing Armani suits and have private jets at their disposal.
Another disappointment, not expecting too much of the final book.