Fast paced and action packed, the latest Jack West Jr instalment does not disappoint.

**minor spoilers ahead**

Once again, Matthew Reilly masterfully puts reimagines ancient myth, legend and history, and crafts it into an action thriller that barely gives you time to take a breath. There really are some incredible highs and lows, both literally and figuratively, and although there are a few reflective breaks in the middle, mostly in the form of flashbacks or catch-ups, the duration of the plot can be measured in hours, if not minutes. It’s almost ironic that the one of the villains’ masterful schemes involves putting entire cities to sleep, because it seems like Jack West and his team just never get, nor indeed need, any!

I think it became obvious to me quite early on that though the Supreme Labyrinth was the objective everyone was gunning for, it wasn’t going to be the focal point of this book, so in many ways this was just ‘how everyone got to the Labyrinth’. Which is fine - to quote another series I’m currently reading, Journey before Destination - but it does make it the second book in a row where there’s not a real conclusion. I’m glad Matthew Reilly addresses this in his interview and calls it essentially a three-part story leading to the Omega Event, and it gives him more of an opportunity to do it justice.

All in all, the The Two Lost Mountains manages to lay the groundwork for the grand finale of the series by really bringing out the desperation but also the determination of Jack and his team. With so many players in the game and literally the entire universe at stake, I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up. ( )

While this series is super cool, it got somewhat redundant quickly. But you cannot deny Reilly's imagination and of course penchant for fast-paced, thrill-a-minute writing. ( )

I just finished this book and when I logged back into Goodreads to update my status, I noticed one reviewer describing it as "batsh*t crazy". With all respect to that reviewer, I can't do any better than that.

Like all of Reilly's books, this one is non-stop, edge-of-your-seat exciting, but it all starts to get pretty tedious after a while. I mean how many life-and-death experiences can such a large group of characters have. (and, I mean a LARGE group of characters) The other thing that really bothered me is the preternatural omniscience of, not one, but all of the bad guys in this book. Come on, Matthew, give the good guys a break now and then.

I think I've read everything that Reilly has written and this book is, by far, the most over-the-top effort yet. Will I read the last book, "One Something Something" in the seven-book series? Oh, I'm sure I will but I can't say that I will be sad to see the series go bye-bye. ( )

Ok, let me just catch my breath. This book was non-stop action. And I mean non-stop. Matthew Reilly has done it again -- written a slam-bang, wild, exciting, fun, rip-roaring adventure novel, a worthy successor to "The Three Secret Cities," book #5 in the Jack West, Jr. series.

In "The Two Lost Mountains," Jack and his motley crew of loyal family and friends have to get to one of the five iron mountains to perform a feat called The Fall, in order to save the world.

Yes, this series absolutely must be read in order, of you'll be very confused. So if you're attempting to read this book without reading the others in the series first, stop. Go pick up "Seven Ancient Wonders" and start from the beginning.

I must say, I was shocked at the characters that were killed off in this book. Reilly definitely went all-out with this one; I admire his chutzpah. And ending with a bit of a cliffhanger was not really a surprise, as the next book will be the final one in the series, and supposedly everything will be resolved then. Can I just say that I CANNOT WAIT for the last book? And then I can't wait to see what new series Reilly will dream up next. ( )

For some reason I struggled with this novel. In fact I only became fully invested in the last third when Jack and his team reached Egypt and was enjoying their race to the Supreme Labyrinth when the book ended! As usual, like all of Reilly's books, "The Two Lost Mountains" was action packed and stretched all credibility but it just seemed the same old, same old. It also annoyed me that Jack was always behind his enemies and trying, unsuccessfully, to catch up. However, I was thrilled that the maghook made a quick appearance in this instalment.

Having followed Jack West Junior's journey over the past fifteen years, I am very interested to see how Matthew Reilly will end Jack's story. I just hope Reilly doesn't kill him off - my heart will be broken! ( )