Six Sacred Stones (Matthew Reilly)

1. It's okay, kid. This sort of thing happens to us all the time. 
2. Chinese are attacking
3. Interesting concept of the dark sun and the top Pyramid of the capstone only being a small part of a bigger puzzle
4. Dark sun sucking all energy - net negative void
5. Hidden energy
6. Great incorporation of diagrams by Reilly
7. Earth as a machine designed to ward off an evil - truly entering the realm of scifi
8. Asteroid belt used to be a planet that was destroyed by the negative energy
9. This book is already better because it doesn't pretend its ideas aren't crazy, and the theories fit the context better
10. It was also a bit crazy to think that the seven ancient wonders could be the subject of so many traps hidden away and lasting forever (humans can't be that good..) whereas alien involvement and Sci Fi aspects are more "believable" if that makes sense
11. Mr Robertson it's time to pay your entry fee. 
12. The past civilisation theory
13. I would ask then that you honour my friend. 
14. Interesting concept of Laozi's dual trap system - teacher and student each having a pathway in Laozi's plan - witch mountain in Sichuan province
15. They spend a long time in China - 20-30% of the book??
16. A great Pyramid under Easter Island - crazy
17. Interesting journey through Africa 
18. Zoe v Warano
19. Congo, Rwanda
20. Alby's split second decision
21. Lalibela, Ethiopia 
22. Repetitive caverns and replicas of existing sites eg Ur
23. Considerably better than the first book but the same idea over and over becomes a bit boring
24. 3.7/5 say

Seven Ancient Wonders (Matthew Reilly)

1.  I know everything is exaggerated - with historical half truths - and subject to literary artistic  licence but I like the premise of this book 
2. Lots of diagrams makes it interesting too
3. It just reads like a movie - you can skip some of the action and not miss much
4. Oracle and volcano, and traps in the Sudan is a bit like Indiana Jones
5. 8 nations not allied to Old Europe or America and who don't want the powers to get powerful
6. The relationship between Lily and Jack West Jr / Huntsman
7. Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the 7 ancient wonders, was 40 storeys tall and shorter than the Great Pyramid by 29m
8. The state of Carthage approximated modern day Tunisia ..phoenicians
9. Good imagination.. first Rhodes in Sudan and then a hidden inlet in Tunisia's coastline for the lighthouse 
10. Bit unrealistic to assume imhotep vi was so good at traps that they lasted for 2000 years including retaining volcanic lava
11. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - octagonal pilars
12. Invading Guantanamo Bay - so random
13. Matthew Reilly says cuba leases a small chunk of the south eastern coast to the us for the obscenely low rent if $2000 in gold per year - and it's true. There is a feud over it in which Cuba refuses to cash in the cheques
14. SAS folklore
15. Lost me when they went on about obelisks 
16. Analysis of ancient geography, even if there are fictional elements, is pretty cool eg Iraq
17. Interesting take on the hanging gardens of Babylon being on a stalactite
18. Hatshepsut's Mortuary temple in Luxor
19. Revenge against Judah for Doris
20. I would be honoured to call you friend
21. Daddy
22. Australians not aggressors or warmongers..
23. The world map isn't really used.. only the left side is
24. Great Sandy Desert, Death Valley
25. Better than the Tournament but chaotic. You don't really need to pay much attention and can even skip the action parts. Satisfying in its own way if you like action but there's not much substance to it. 
26. 3.3/5

The Tournament (Matthew Reilly)

1.  I like how there is are references to history plus a bit of creative licence
2. "..however lamentable his English may be, he still speaks your language while you cannot speak his. To me, this gives him a considerable advantage over to you. Always pause before you criticise, and never unduly criticise one who has made an effort at something you yourself have not even attempted"
3. London a dangerous place for a rival heir
4. The knight is the Queen's greatest enemy, for while the Queen can replicate every other piece's moves, she cannot mimic the knight's leaps 
5. The knight's fork
6. Queen bishop trap
7. A bit of unnecessary sexual text
8. "Forgotten, mistreated and regularly sacrificed...pawns somehow always manage to be there at the end"
9. Austrian delegation sends a 17 year old girl as a gift despite being on bad terms
10. Michelangelo's interaction with social inferiors
11. Roger Ascham like Sherlock
12. Love the ancient household names of the 1500s - Michelangelo, Ivan the terrible, Suleiman the magnificent, Elizabeth I..
13. Dislike the sexual scenes 
14. Elizabeth concludes best not to marry and give into carnal desires
15. Themes of catholic cardinal abuse of kids - disturbing
16. Elizabeth concludes Mr Ponsonby is a servant, not on even footing
17. Sultan grins at draw rigging
18. Chess tournament is simulated warfare
19. I like the cultural references famous figures but I disliked the sex scenes (I understand why it was done though - to explain Elizabeth not marrying)
20. Ending wasn't really that satisfying
21. Good idea but execution is so so: 3?/5