Book Review: Lost in Babylon (Seven Wonders #2)

The adventure continues as Jack and his friends travel to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in the pulse-pounding second title in the Seven Wonders series

With Marco gone and the first Loculus lost, Jack, Cass, and Ally are no closer to saving themselves (or the world) than when they first arrived at the Karai Institute. But when Bhegad tracks down Marco deep in the desert, the kids are off on the next leg of their quest-to the ancient city of Babylon. There the kids find themselves faced with a daunting choice that makes them question everything they’ve learned so far. It’s a gut wrenching decision, but what the kids don’t realize is that it’s also a trap. Surprises pile on surprises until a long-lost figure from Jack’s past returns, and the kids find themselves forced to engineer an escape that might just turn out to be a different kind of trap altogether.

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Where would I start this? Well, the first couple of pages is like a sum up of the first book so it’s pretty much good. Like reliving the somewhat thrilling adventure. After that, it lost me. I’m really looking for justifications that I’ve not wasted time. Yes, there were chapters that thrilled me, but the rest of it spelled confusion. I truly tried to be fond of it and failed. Big time. Like the first book (The Colossus Rises (Seven Wonders #1)), there’s this feeling that you’re reading it and you were lost somewhere there. I don’t even have an idea where have I gone astray.

Currently Reading #2

Lost in Babylon (Seven Wonders #2)

The adventure continues as Jack and his friends travel to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in the pulse-pounding second title in the Seven Wonders series

With Marco gone and the first Loculus lost, Jack, Cass, and Ally are no closer to saving themselves (or the world) than when they first arrived at the Karai Institute. But when Bhegad tracks down Marco deep in the desert, the kids are off on the next leg of their quest-to the ancient city of Babylon. There the kids find themselves faced with a daunting choice that makes them question everything they’ve learned so far. It’s a gut wrenching decision, but what the kids don’t realize is that it’s also a trap. Surprises pile on surprises until a long-lost figure from Jack’s past returns, and the kids find themselves forced to engineer an escape that might just turn out to be a different kind of trap altogether.

+++

I have set this aside for so long, this was published the 29th of October, 2013, just because I didn’t enjoy the first book (The Colossus Rises (Seven Wonders #1)) that much. I’ve read reviews about Lost in Babylon so I got curious. A lot of reviews confirmed that this is way better that the first so I thought I’ll give it a shot. Some even shared my sentiments about the first book so I think my review was quite accurate.These are some of the reviews I’ve read:

Book Review: The Colossus Rises (Seven Wonders #1)

One Boy

Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die.

One Mission

Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.

One Problem

The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven’t been seen in thousands of years.

Seven Wonders

Because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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At first I’m torn between reading it and looking for something else to read. The plot of the story is somehow boring and predictable. The title itself, one way or another, gives everything out. It’s like you just need to figure out where the snags are injected. The book cover is interesting though. It takes an eye catching cover, enthralling plot and noteworthy title for a book to be worth reading. Well, not for all but this time.. for me. Some would rather say “Don’t judge the book by it’s cover”. I just saw this book on a giveaway promo from Saab Magalona’s blog to her avid readers. Since I don’t have anything interesting to read for the longest time since I’ve finished reading the Percy Jackson’s books, I gave it a shot.