Hello! My name is Chie. I am likely to be the girl you'll see whose eyes would bulge out of their sockets at the sight of a book store and be seized by waves of epileptic shock whenever there is a book bargain. I'll probably be the one pushing you out of my way to get through the book bargain bins and tediously combing through the pile. (I forget my manners when it comes to books). I am tone deaf and have two left feet. But I would endure the embarrassment of a performance in exchange for books (terms and conditions apply). I have created this blog in order to find kindred souls. Those who would gladly share the same passion for books and reading because although reading is solitary task most of the time, it's no fun having no one to ramble to after..
Synopsis: Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In six months, Jack is going to die.
After Jack collapses in the middle of a busy street, he's whisked off to a strange hospital in a strange place. There are armed guards and weird kids and fantastic creatures, not to mention no parents, no phones, and no possibility of escape. The place is run by an odd professor named Bhegad, who tells Jack that what's killing him is a genetic trait from the long lost civilisation, it's destroying Jack by making him too strong, too fast. He'll need to stay strong though - because it's up to him to save the world.
Review: I chose the The Colossus Rises because the cover intrigues me plus it was praised by Rick Riordan, whom I love. I initially didn't want to read it, thinking it's just another typical YA kids-turned-hero book, but thankfully the book proved to be much more than that.
The idea that Jack, and the other kid heroes, Marco, Cass, and Aly will die sets the premise for the urgency of their task. Peter Lerangis brings back the Atlantis myth, and the idea that it could rise again. The task of the four heroes is to find the Loculi, seven orbs that compartmentalized the power of Atlantis and each one has a different power like flying (I'd like to get the orb for real!)
Jack doesn't seem like the hero type. He has no seeming unique capability, unlike Marco who is so physically strong and capable; Cass, a walking gyroscope and can speak backwards; and Aly, the one who understands how things work and is really good with electronics. But I think Jack has the brains, which is evident throughout the book since he was the one who deciphered the codes that led to the discovery of the mouth of Atlantis where the seven loculi were once placed. I really think that Jack is the descendant of Karai himself. If you read it, you'll see what I mean.I think Professor Bhegad, the chief of Karai Institute, suspects that as well. The four have good camaraderie and get along pretty well. They also consider themselves family since they all feel like prisoners of the institute.
To be honest, I am not yet sure if Karai Institute is really the "good" side because what do they really want to do with the loculi? Also, there's some confusion with the two princes' of Atlantis, and whether or not Massarym really regretted his decision to steal the loculi. Professor Bhegad also doesn't strike me as the benevolent father type who just wants good for all of them. I feel like they're all just using the four kids.
The Colossus Rises feels too short, and I don't feel like I know the four characters all that well enough. I feel like the first book just sets the tone and what you can expect further in the series. Hopefully, we will get to know the four heroes better as we progress. I know the idea is that the four kids might die soon, but I hope not one of them does because even though I don't them very well, they all seem like good kids and any one of them dying would just feel too tragic.
The plot is different, and fast-paced, although at the start I was really bored. I felt like Peter was describing Jack did in minute detail that was unnecessary. But after the first few chapters, the story picks up speed and I was caught along the ride. In the end, I did enjoy the book. I hope there are seven books in the series because the loculi seems be placed in the Seven Wonders of the World... the Ancient Wonders that is. I haven't really read up on the ancient wonders, and I like learning new things from books so I think I am going to enjoy this series.
Synopsis: Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In six months, Jack is going to die.
After Jack collapses in the middle of a busy street, he's whisked off to a strange hospital in a strange place. There are armed guards and weird kids and fantastic creatures, not to mention no parents, no phones, and no possibility of escape. The place is run by an odd professor named Bhegad, who tells Jack that what's killing him is a genetic trait from the long lost civilisation, it's destroying Jack by making him too strong, too fast. He'll need to stay strong though - because it's up to him to save the world.
Review: I chose the The Colossus Rises because the cover intrigues me plus it was praised by Rick Riordan, whom I love. I initially didn't want to read it, thinking it's just another typical YA kids-turned-hero book, but thankfully the book proved to be much more than that.
The idea that Jack, and the other kid heroes, Marco, Cass, and Aly will die sets the premise for the urgency of their task. Peter Lerangis brings back the Atlantis myth, and the idea that it could rise again. The task of the four heroes is to find the Loculi, seven orbs that compartmentalized the power of Atlantis and each one has a different power like flying (I'd like to get the orb for real!)
Jack doesn't seem like the hero type. He has no seeming unique capability, unlike Marco who is so physically strong and capable; Cass, a walking gyroscope and can speak backwards; and Aly, the one who understands how things work and is really good with electronics. But I think Jack has the brains, which is evident throughout the book since he was the one who deciphered the codes that led to the discovery of the mouth of Atlantis where the seven loculi were once placed. I really think that Jack is the descendant of Karai himself. If you read it, you'll see what I mean.I think Professor Bhegad, the chief of Karai Institute, suspects that as well. The four have good camaraderie and get along pretty well. They also consider themselves family since they all feel like prisoners of the institute.
To be honest, I am not yet sure if Karai Institute is really the "good" side because what do they really want to do with the loculi? Also, there's some confusion with the two princes' of Atlantis, and whether or not Massarym really regretted his decision to steal the loculi. Professor Bhegad also doesn't strike me as the benevolent father type who just wants good for all of them. I feel like they're all just using the four kids.
The Colossus Rises feels too short, and I don't feel like I know the four characters all that well enough. I feel like the first book just sets the tone and what you can expect further in the series. Hopefully, we will get to know the four heroes better as we progress. I know the idea is that the four kids might die soon, but I hope not one of them does because even though I don't them very well, they all seem like good kids and any one of them dying would just feel too tragic.
The plot is different, and fast-paced, although at the start I was really bored. I felt like Peter was describing Jack did in minute detail that was unnecessary. But after the first few chapters, the story picks up speed and I was caught along the ride. In the end, I did enjoy the book. I hope there are seven books in the series because the loculi seems be placed in the Seven Wonders of the World... the Ancient Wonders that is. I haven't really read up on the ancient wonders, and I like learning new things from books so I think I am going to enjoy this series.
