cass_booklover's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
tklassy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
thereadingwren's review against another edition
2.0
2/5
If you like dragons, don't read this!
Ugh, it was such a struggle to get through this book. For an action/adventure novel it was so boring. Sure, there was lots of blood and guts, fight scenes and death, but still I kept yawning through the whole thing. This whole book is so tedious and it's about a Dragon Zoo where the dragons take over. It shouldn't be boring but it is. I think that has something to do with Matthew Reilly's writing. He uses a lot of basic writing tactics to induce suspense without actually making things feel suspenseful. He also explains the hell out of every situation, he's a teller not a shower and it's the most boring thing to read in a book.
Another issue with Matthew Reilly's writing (that I was somehow able to ignore with the Shane Schofield series) is how confusing everything is. I have no idea what the scenery of a scene actually looks like or where the characters spatially are in that scene. Sometimes you don't even know someone was in the same area as the other character until they die, like they popped out of nowhere just to be eaten. Nothing really made sense with this book.
The idea was interesting, as was the way Reilly explained dragons in a way that made it seem very plausible. However, the fact that he took the first 130 pages to dump this information on us in huge paragraphs with nothing else happening made the whole thing boring. I'm honestly surprised I didn't DNF it in those first hundred pages.
The characterisation of Go-Go has me incredibly offended and disliking Matthew Reilly. Go-Go is actually described as 'supergay' ... WTF is that supposed to mean?! Then he goes on to be the most stereotypical gay man I've ever read about. I'm so disappointed in Matthew Reilly.
This just wasn't written well and as a lover of dragons I didn't enjoy 515 pages of dragon slaughter - either by humans or other dragons.
If you like dragons, don't read this!
Ugh, it was such a struggle to get through this book. For an action/adventure novel it was so boring. Sure, there was lots of blood and guts, fight scenes and death, but still I kept yawning through the whole thing. This whole book is so tedious and it's about a Dragon Zoo where the dragons take over. It shouldn't be boring but it is. I think that has something to do with Matthew Reilly's writing. He uses a lot of basic writing tactics to induce suspense without actually making things feel suspenseful. He also explains the hell out of every situation, he's a teller not a shower and it's the most boring thing to read in a book.
Another issue with Matthew Reilly's writing (that I was somehow able to ignore with the Shane Schofield series) is how confusing everything is. I have no idea what the scenery of a scene actually looks like or where the characters spatially are in that scene. Sometimes you don't even know someone was in the same area as the other character until they die, like they popped out of nowhere just to be eaten. Nothing really made sense with this book.
The idea was interesting, as was the way Reilly explained dragons in a way that made it seem very plausible. However, the fact that he took the first 130 pages to dump this information on us in huge paragraphs with nothing else happening made the whole thing boring. I'm honestly surprised I didn't DNF it in those first hundred pages.
The characterisation of Go-Go has me incredibly offended and disliking Matthew Reilly. Go-Go is actually described as 'supergay' ... WTF is that supposed to mean?! Then he goes on to be the most stereotypical gay man I've ever read about. I'm so disappointed in Matthew Reilly.
This just wasn't written well and as a lover of dragons I didn't enjoy 515 pages of dragon slaughter - either by humans or other dragons.
rachelhaylee's review against another edition
3.0
The start of this book was very slow and full of detail. It then took a sharp turn into action filled content. Sadly, the plot became repetitive and I felt as though the book is 100 pages too long. Overall, I didn't hate, yet didn't love, this book
ninjabunneh's review against another edition
2.0
Cue in my super sonic love for all which is cheese.
Hell, yes. That super cheesy goopy Saturday syfy channel cheese. Top it off with aclonebutwithdragonsnotdinos lovely story about dragons wreaking havoc in a Chinese park and there ya go.
Is this extremely similar to JP? Fuck, yes. However, I'm always a softie for blood, heads getting ripped off, and all sorts of other types of dismemberments. The bunnies love it too.
As for me, this bitch is getting psyched up for Sharknado 3. Bring it!!
Until that day comes, this book makes a good appetizer.
2 Ninja bunnehs riding dragons
Hell, yes. That super cheesy goopy Saturday syfy channel cheese. Top it off with a
Is this extremely similar to JP? Fuck, yes. However, I'm always a softie for blood, heads getting ripped off, and all sorts of other types of dismemberments. The bunnies love it too.
As for me, this bitch is getting psyched up for Sharknado 3. Bring it!!
Until that day comes, this book makes a good appetizer.
2 Ninja bunnehs riding dragons
niamh163's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
biasedguy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
harry_gl's review
3.0
Reasonably dramatic and enjoyable action, just like all Reilly books. I liked the main character, but I wasn't a fan of all the animal related violence and death.
Spoiler
I know that the crocodiles and dragons are the "bad guys", but that still didn't make their deaths any less sad.mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
Dr. Cassandra Jane "CJ" Cameron and his brother Hamish had to write a very special article for the National Geographic: what is the Great Zoo of China.
She's not very interested with the idea in the beginning, but you know that the curiosity killed the cat... so she took a flight to China and prepare herself to enjoy a peaceful tourist trip. But what kind of animals could be exposed in this secret Zoo that they need weapons to protect the humans that visited it?
CJ never guessed that the trip to China would change all her perception of humanity and animals, but not for good...
It would be difficult to make a review without making a lot of spoilers, because this "Greatest Zoo of China" contain 232 dragons! Yes, the amazing dragons we all have fantasised in our dreams.
Of course the Chinese government had kept it in secret for a long time and now they think it's the moment to share it with the world... they just have a few unexpected situations....
I have never been happy with the idea behind a zoo, having animals living confined only for our pleasure is sick and wrong. They have to be free and in their habitat, not exposed and suffering for our recreation. In Barcelona's Zoo, a couple of wolfs died from depression a long time ago...
Would you like to be in a cave and exposed all of your life?
I will not discuss the Chinese government's acts, because in all the cases all governments would act exactly as the writer describes, sad but true.
I haven't read anything before of Matthew Reilly, but I liked this book, it has adrenaline, bombs and a lot of fire. It's a fast book, always running and afraid of what will happen next. But it's original and full of action, perfect to enjoy on a winter day...
Ready to enter in the fiction world?
She's not very interested with the idea in the beginning, but you know that the curiosity killed the cat... so she took a flight to China and prepare herself to enjoy a peaceful tourist trip. But what kind of animals could be exposed in this secret Zoo that they need weapons to protect the humans that visited it?
CJ never guessed that the trip to China would change all her perception of humanity and animals, but not for good...
It would be difficult to make a review without making a lot of spoilers, because this "Greatest Zoo of China" contain 232 dragons! Yes, the amazing dragons we all have fantasised in our dreams.
Of course the Chinese government had kept it in secret for a long time and now they think it's the moment to share it with the world... they just have a few unexpected situations....
I have never been happy with the idea behind a zoo, having animals living confined only for our pleasure is sick and wrong. They have to be free and in their habitat, not exposed and suffering for our recreation. In Barcelona's Zoo, a couple of wolfs died from depression a long time ago...
Would you like to be in a cave and exposed all of your life?
I will not discuss the Chinese government's acts, because in all the cases all governments would act exactly as the writer describes, sad but true.
I haven't read anything before of Matthew Reilly, but I liked this book, it has adrenaline, bombs and a lot of fire. It's a fast book, always running and afraid of what will happen next. But it's original and full of action, perfect to enjoy on a winter day...
Ready to enter in the fiction world?