All you need is a different set of eyes
March 8 is a sad day for the fans of the "Seven Wonders". The final book about Atlantis and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was out during that day.
When "The Colossus Rises" was published two years ago, not a few thought that Peter Lerangis would pen six more books. It turned out that there won't be a sequel to "The Legend of the Rift". And the fifth book (in the series) was like a roller-coaster ride. It was far from information overload. For instance, those who followed the series would figure out in "The Curse of the King" that Aliyah, the head of the Massa, was the young girl (and narrator) in "The Key". ("The Key" was one of the three novellas released between novels.) Her father, who made a living by stealing priceless artifact, stumbled upon a mysterious sphere. They didn't know that it was a Loculus, which contained the power of healing, and Artemisia claimed her younger brother (in exchange for the Loculus). It was a life-changing moment for her.
As Young-adult (YA) fiction readers would attest, this series concluded on a happy note. But what thrilled the fans was how Jack, Marco, Cass, and Eloise discovered the last two Loculi. The Loculus that contained the power of teleportation was hidden beneath the remains of the Temple of Artemis in Selçuk, while the other Loculus, which would allow the owner to do a time travel, was located in the lighthouse of Alexandria. This book emphasized the importance of sight, as no one could find a black cat with the Lambda symbol in his eyes. (But Jack did.) The details made a difference in this book, which would keep the readers from getting disinterested. And there may be a historical truth to it. Let's take a closer look:
The desert will solve the mystery in Africa, but digging can be a hindrance. Jack, Marco, and Cass was unable to find the Loculus in the Great Pyramid of Giza, as the Massa turned it into their headquarters. They discovered a buried pyramid, far from the Giza pyramid complex, as they wanted to get their hands on the Loculus that contained the power to understand any foreign dialect. It turned out that Karai, the wise prince of Atlantis, decided to hide it in a tomb somewhere in the Eastern Desert. And the Sphinx would come to life whenever the Loculus was taken away. Lerangis didn't write a yarn, as there's much to explore in this scorching terrain. Don't be surprised if the network of sarcophagi would extend to the Libyan Desert. Archaeologists won't confirm it, as they wanted to be the first to uncover it. Fair enough.
Even a goddess like Artemis could be cursed for eternity. Massarym was jealous of Karai, his older brother. (Karai and Massarym are twins.) He wanted to rule Atlantis, but Karai beat him by ten minutes. (This was the time interval between the birth of Karai and then the birth of Massarym.) He brought the Loculi to the Mediterranean region and pretended to be a god to the awestruck inhabitants. Even Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and moon, proved to be gullible. Only a descendant of Karai or Massarym could find it, but it was an eternity for Artemis and the Amazons. The chapters describing the descent of Jack, Marco, and Cass into the depths of the ruins could be the highlight of the book. (Imagine a decrepit kitchen transformed into a marble temple. Jack's discovery of the lambda sign wasn't a matter of chance.) As for Artemis wanting to be called Cynthia, then go figure. Some would insist that this was a sign that there could be another sequel. Time will tell.
Nessie was protecting the lighthouse all along. One monster was guarding the Loculus. (Readers should have figured it out in "Lost in Babylon".) The fiercest was protecting the Loculus that contains the power for time travel. And she was no other than the Loch Ness monster. Some would be reminded of the Biblical tale of Jonas, which doesn't make "The Legend of the Rift" less appealing. But the reference would pique their curiosity.
How about time travel? Better open the book and read it. As for the possibility of another series (as sequel), then pay attention to the lines. And better have a different set of eyes.
