Review: The Last Odyssey (Sigma Force #15) by James Rollins

Rating: 9.5/10

Synopsis

To save the world and our future, Sigma Force must embark on a dangerous odyssey into an ancient past whose horrors are all too present in this page-turning thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins that combines cutting-edge science, historical mystery, mythology, and pulse-pounding action.

For eons, the city of Troy—whose legendary fall was detailed in Homer’s Iliad—was believed to be myth, until archaeologists in the nineteenth century uncovered its ancient walls buried beneath the sands. If Troy was real, how much of Homer’s twin tales of gods and monsters, curses and miracles—The Iliad and The Odyssey—could also be true and awaiting discovery?

In the frozen tundra of Greenland, a group of modern-day researchers stumble on a shocking find: a medieval ship buried a half-mile below the ice. The ship’s hold contains a collection of even older artifacts—tools of war—dating back to the Bronze Age. Inside the captain’s cabin is a magnificent treasure that is as priceless as it is miraculous: a clockwork gold map imbedded with an intricate silver astrolabe. The mechanism was crafted by a group of Muslim inventors—the Banū Mūsā brothers—considered by many to be the Da Vincis of the Arab world—brilliant scientists who inspired Leonardo’s own work.

Once activated, the moving map traces the path of Odysseus’s famous ship as it sailed away from Troy. But the route detours as the map opens to reveal a fiery river leading to a hidden realm underneath the Mediterranean Sea. It is the subterranean world of Tartarus, the Greek name for Hell. In mythology, Tartarus was where the wicked were punished and the monstrous Titans of old, imprisoned.

When word of Tartarus spreads—and of the cache of miraculous weapons said to be hidden there—tensions explode in this volatile region where Turks battle Kurds, terrorists wage war, and civilians suffer untold horrors. The phantasmagoric horrors found in Homer’s tales are all too real—and could be unleashed upon the world. Whoever possesses them can use their awesome power to control the future of humanity.

Now, Sigma Force must go where humans fear to tread. To prevent a tyrant from igniting a global war, they must cross the very gates of Hell.

Review

Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of The Last Odyssey (Sigma Force #15) for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.

The Last Odyssey is an absolute triumph of a novel. 0-60 in less time than a Porsche 918 Spyder, this novel never lets off the accelerator and shows off Rollins’ chops in a way everyone can appreciate. How in the world have I never given this series a shot until now?

From the brief blurb above, you can pretty much gauge that I loved the stew out of this book. It is a thrill-ride ratcheted up to 11, filled with history, mythology, monsters, and so much more. Twists and turns aplenty, plus characters you can really stand behind and fantastic work-building. I really never wanted it to end.

Considering this is Book #15 in the series, and Book #1 came out sixteen (16) years ago, have I been living under a friggin rock? How have I seriously not known about this series because I now want to read all of them. If TLO is any indication of what I have been missing out on, woohoo am I in for a treat.

Good news for all of you who are in the same boat as me: The Last Odyssey can be easily read, understood, and enjoyed as a stand-alone. I cannot say for sure if that holds true for the others in the series, but this adventure feels tight-knit enough to not have you scratching your head too much (though the storylines Rollins weaves could have you re-reading pages here and there).

If shootouts, hidden treasures, monsters, conspiracies, and historical/mythological elements in stories are in your wheelhouse, look no further. Oh, and if you want more, James will be a guest on my podcast tonight (3/17), so look for the episode to drop on 3/18!