Review | "Cauldron of the Lost Ancestors" by Tom Bane

Cauldron of the Lost Ancsetors by Tom Bane
Action/Adventure published March 14, 2014
Tom Bane Publishing
Author's website  |  Goodreads  |  Buy the Book on Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Following the audacious theft of the world's most precious diamond, Suzy da Silva becomes entangled in an epic struggle against the forces of evil, as she attempts to unlock the code to a spellbinding mystery that connects the grail romances of Avalon, the enigmatic Shroud of Turin and the pagan beliefs of the ancient Celtic Druids. Suzy da Silva and her trusty sidekick, astrophysicist Tom Brooking are swept into a deadly game of cat and mouse, as they fight against the forces of military cyber warfare, martial assassins and a shadowy religious sect with access to immense power and untold resources.

My Thoughts...

It's been probably about a year and a half since I reviewed the first book in this series, Masks of the Lost Kings.  I really enjoyed that book primarily because Suzy is an archaeologist and that's always been a subject that fascinates me.  Even though the story in that book veered from archaeology I still enjoyed it because it wasn't so far off the mark.  I was expecting, by reading the title of this book, that this one would follow more along with Suzy's chosen profession....not so at all.  The only bit of archaeology we get in this book is in the first tiny bit where she is working in the field and gets a call to meet Professor Piper.

This book is certainly a whirlwind adventure for Suzy and Tom who is called in for some reason, but it's not at all what I expected.  At this point in time Suzy and Tom are no longer seeing each other due to the University telling them they can have no contact with each other.  This made no sense to me, but maybe it's something they can do at Oxford.  Essentially they have told Suzy that she won't be able to complete her doctoral program if they are even seen with each other.  Anyway, that's a non issue at this point, I guess.  So Piper pulls them both into this whole ordeal.  The only reason I could see for bringing Tom in was to get Suzy to do what they want her to.

Basically this whole story is fantastic.  Meaning, in this case, that it was very hard for me to swallow.  It's full of action and intrigue, but it's wholly unbelievable and gets even more so as it progresses. There are long action sequences and even longer scientific explanations for what's going on.  It's clear that some research has gone into the whole theory, but it's a little too fantastical for me I guess.  I had issues with the pacing and time lapse or what seemed like a lack of sufficient time for all these things to be happening. 

Overall, I liked the action and I think it had real potential, but there was just way too much going on.  So much of it didn't make enough sense for me to be fully engaged in the story.  Even now, I am finding it difficult to explain what the story was about because it's hard to pin point what exactly the plot was.  I found the idea of an archaeology doctoral candidate doing all of these things to be just a bit too much.  While I did enjoy Suzy's first adventure, this one just wasn't for me.

XOXO, Shelly

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for my honest review.*

{Review} "Masks of the Lost Kings" by Tom Bane

Title:  Masks of the Lost Kings
Author: Tom Bane
Publisher:  Telemachus
Publication Date:  March 3, 2012
Genre:  Mystery/Thriller
Format:  Kindle 952 KB  |  Paperback 382 pages

Buy this book on Amazon:  Kindle Edition  |  Paperback
Author's Website:  http://www.tombane.com/ 
Author's Goodreads Profile:  Tom Bane 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Following the sudden disappearance of treasure hunter Ben Sanders in Mexico, beautiful archaeologist Suzy da Silva is snatched from the cloistered environs of Oxford University and thrust into a deadly maelstrom of intrigue and discovery. 

Joining forces with astrophysicist Tom Brooking she crosses four continents, to unlock the dark secrets of Tutankhamun's tomb, the Holy Sepulchre and the mysterious Mayan Temple of Inscriptions to reveal a mysterious truth. 

Together they risk their lives, pursued by martial assassins and renegade special forces, fighting the forces of evil to discover hidden knowledge so precious that it has lain dormant for over a thousand years...

Diving In...

This book was very different from what I normally read, but I really did enjoy it.  It did take me a couple chapters to really get into it, but once the main action started I was carried right away in the story.  I have always had a fascination with the subject of archaeology so that's the main reason I agreed to read and review this book.  Once I read the synopsis I knew that it was something that I would probably enjoy.  

I am a sucker for movies like National Treasure, The Librarian series and Indiana Jones.  I even really liked the Tomb Raider movies!  If you like movies like those you will love this book.  I have even seen some reviewers liken it to The DaVinci Code and with the religious theme and conspiracy theories in the book, I can totally see that too.  I have to say that Mr. Bane has certainly done his research.  The whole book is full of carefully thought out plot and lots of scientific and historic information.

  

Suzy is a student just beginning the study for her thesis.  She is unknowingly thrust into this world of intrigue and mystery.  When she meets Tom initially, she is not impressed, but he ends up being the rock she clings to when she has no idea who she can and can't trust.  There are some crazy twists and turns in this book.  Most books I can kind of figure out by about halfway through, but this one had me guessing until the very end and I was totally impressed by that. Once the story really gets going it keeps you on your toes up to the very last page.  Just like Suzy and Tom, you don't know who the good guys are and you definitely don't know who to trust.  If you are looking for romance you aren't going to find it in this book.  There is a hint of it here and there, but nothing confirmed.  I do hope that it's something that is explored more in the series as it progresses.

Overall, the book is very well written and edited.  I was taken out of the story a little, initially, when it was flipping from the past to the present, but that only happens a little in the beginning.  This is also something that is completely necessary to the story for background on Suzy and one of the other characters.  It wasn't enough to greatly bother me, though.  I think if you like action and adventure you will enjoy this book.

*Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book, courtesy of the author, in exchange for my honest review.