Traci Harding - 'Being of the Field'

I read Traci Harding's first book 'The Ancient Future' when I was 17. It was my introduction to historical fantasy and it immediately became one of my favourite books. Since then I have read all of her others (except two) and some I love, some I haven't thought were as good.

'Being of the Field' is the first book in her most recent triad* and it was published in 2009. I have only just got around to reading it despite the fact it was originally lent to me a couple of years ago. Not that I have had it since then! It sat at my place for a while, then I gave it back and ended up buying my own copy a few weeks ago. The reason for this lack of motivation to read it was that this book, like some of Traci Harding's other books is most firmly in the science fiction genre. Science fiction is just not my favourite genre. In fact, I think they only ones I own are other books of Traci Harding's which finish off trilogies.

I shouldn't have waited! Once I finally picked up the book and began reading it,  I was unable to put it down. The thing about waiting is I know where I can borrow the second book and the third one is due for release any day now. Sometimes waiting is a good thing.

Dr Taren Lennox is a comparative youngster at 50 years of age and yet her research into is being carefully followed by a number of people from a number of organisations for reasons Taren has no idea about. Her personal life is a mystery and she is careful to keep most people at a distance in order to protect herself and her "Powers". However, Taren is overjoyed when she is invited to join a prestigious space project thinking it is an opportunity for her to extend her work. Instead she discovers colleagues who quickly become friends, danger and a whole new world.

Definitely recommended for any Traci Harding fan and for anyone who likes science fiction. This book is "very Traci Harding" with all the characteristics that this entails.

*If anyone knows the difference between a triad and a trilogy please feel free to enlighten me!

Matthew Reilly - 'Temple'

As you can see I am still in the process of reading all the Matthew Reilly books I have inherited!

'Temple' has the interesting twist of being two adventure stories in one. William Race is a linguist professor who finds himself called upon to help the US Army translate an 1500's Spanish text. In doing so he finds himself following the story of a Spanish monk and his adventures with the Incan people. He also finds himself embroiled all to closely with the modern day Nazi movement. Both stories connect in some totally unexpected ways.

Fast paced and action filled. The story includes the most up-to-date modern warfare technology and ancient mysteries and supposedly mythical beasts. Throw in a couple of gorgeous girls, spies and some unexpected twists and this story is everything I have quickly come to love from a Matthew Reilly book.

Matthew Reilly - 'Contest'

This is the first book Matthew Reilly wrote and it was the one he initially self-published. According to what I read on the Internet today, it is also the only one he has written with a science fiction element to it (and this may very possibly be inaccurate now).

Dr Stephen Swain finds himself involuntarily a contestant in an alien competition set in a labyrinth inside the New York State Library. Seven contestants from around the universe enter the library and the competition and only one will come out alive. To make matters even worse, his daughter Holly is also drawn into the competition with him. It is a competition where you must kill or be killed, the fight is to the finish and the alien knowledge of the event and of combat surpasses anything Swain has contemplated.

Science fiction is not normally a genre I would pick to read. However, this book is also most definitely an adventure book and contains all the face-paced action you would expect from Matthew Reilly. I think it will turn into one of my favourite from this author!

Matthew Reilly - 'Ice Station'

Once again, it took me a little while to get into this book, this might just be a genre thing for me, but after a few chapters I spent the rest of the book dying to find out what happened next.

Set in Antarctica, a team of US scientists have discovered something buried in ice that is millions of years old. The US clearly wants to keep this discovery quiet, but unfortunately they are not the only ones in Antarctica.

Danger, high speeds, quick thinking and lots of explosions characterise this novel. In a wilderness that looks quiet and serene, but is covering up a hazards at every turn - some existing naturally in Antarctica, but for Lieutenant Shane Schofield many of them are not.

I really enjoyed this book. Recommended for anyone who likes adventure stories. Just pay close attention to the characters and remember they all seem to have more then one name!

Matthew Reilly 'Seven Ancient Wonders'

I haven't read anything by Matthew Reilly before. I inherited this book from my cousin and co-incidentally, it is also on the 100 book list that I am attempting to read in 1001 days (see tab above!).

It took me a few chapters to get into the story. However once I got through the first few chapters I was hooked. It was unputdownable.

Style wise it is short, snappy and includes lots of diagrams as you go along with the team on a daring adventure. Headed by Captain Jack West Jnr, an Australian ex-SAS officer, there is a team of nine members made up from eight different nations of the world. On a daring mission to find all of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and taking with them a 10 year old girl named Lily. The story is full of twists and turns and villains and bravery and the intrigue and mystery which can only come when you are talking about the ancient world. When you combine this with an action story of warring nations and a battle for ultimate supremacy it is a intriguing combination!

I am looking forward to reading more of Matthew Reilly's books and I am very sorry I have waited so long to do so. Highly recommended for those people who like adventure stories and conspiracy theories.