Each series instalment, including this penultimate The Two Lost Mountains, consists of West, retired SAS soldier/historian, and his multicultural team racing against the clock to solve ancient riddles/puzzles, and quite often, having to battle their way through booby-trapped mazes while dodging gunfire, in order to save the world.
The story picks up moments after the end of The Three Secret Cities, and events move quickly from the get-go. West and his crew hop around the globe, searching for the titular mountains and the mysterious “Fall” that must be performed and completed in order to take part in the final challenge to stop the Omega Event that heralds the end of life on planet Earth. All of the familiar faces return, contributing to West’s mission in their own, particular ways. There are some new, interesting allies though. And, of course, there are plenty of Reilly’s inventive twists on mythology and history, which are amazing.
There is, however, a new player on the board - one who very quickly sets his sights on ruining West’s mission and also his life. He is a general so feared by the four legendary kingdoms they had him locked away in their deepest dungeon.
As Reilly mentions in the author’s interview at the back of the book, he wrote/planned the final three novels as a distinct trilogy - this may account for the different feel to The Two Lost Mountains. It does set readers up for the final book - “The One Something Something” as the author currently refers to it which will be out late this year.