BLURB:
Amara faces trouble and she uses a phone number given to her by a friend who has vanished. When she is offered the chance to be sent to an ancient Egypt, she accepts even though she must perform a task and risk losing her life. But here, she faces the same fate. She arrives and there is much she must learn before she can rescue a young man held by the priests of Aken Re.
Namose was taken prisoner by Hebu, beloved of Aken Re, and forced to translate ancient scrolls giving Hebu some of the powers given to the priests of Toth by the Three of the Two Lands, Toth, Bast and Horu. After his rescue, further troubles arise. He and Amara must join their powers to save their land and friends from the evil Hebu.
Namose wants to become a priest of the god Toth but is captured and forced to follow the dictates of an alien god and to translate scrolls of that god.
"Toth's Priest" tells of Amara's and Namose's adventures and growing love for each other. This book was obviously well-researched and is full of action. For those reasons, I gave it a 5 star rating. However, the sentences didn't show much variation and often read monotonously. I would have liked to see a bit more narrative interspersed with the dialogue.
Neverlheless, this is a great adventure and worthwhile read.
EXCERPT:
When the men entered the apartment, she raced lightly up the
rest of the stairs and opened the door to the roof. The heavy metal slab nearly
slipped from her hands. She paused for a moment to use a piece of wood to block
the handle. She ran across the roof. Once she reached the edge, she slipped
over the low wall and placed her feet on the fire escape. Step by step she made
her way down until she reached the fourth floor and the windows of her uncle’s
living room. Had she missed anything of importance? The unseasonable heat of
the autumn day meant open windows. She crouched where she could hear.
“Mr. Ramos, what do you want from me?” Her uncle’s voice
vibrated with fear.
“I have come to offer safety for you, your wife and children.
There will also be money allowing you to relocate.”
Ramos’ smooth voice sent chills darting over Amara’s skin. Her
hands clenched.
“What do you want me to do?” her uncle asked.
“You have a beautiful niece. I have a handsome nephew who is
my heir. Miguel wants the girl. Bring her to me and all will be as I promise.”
Would her uncle accept? Amara knew the answer. He had no love
for her other than for the money she brought into the house. Her body tensed.
The metal of the fire escape burned her hands.
“What if she won’t obey me? She holds herself apart from the
family.”
Ramos laughed. “You will make her obey. Aren’t you the man of
the house? Bring her to me. She was seen entering the building not long ago.”
When her uncle said nothing, Amara felt a moment of hope.
“I said now,” Ramos barked.
“But…” Her uncle rose. Would he tell the drug lord she hadn’t
come home?
To keep from crying out, Amara bit her finger. Time to move.
She had to escape but where could she go? When they didn’t find her in her room
would her uncle remember how she often went to the roof? She eased to her feet.
No time or way to reach her room and the stash of money she’d hidden. She
needed a place to hide. With care she climbed to the roof and rolled over the
wall.
After her breathing slowed, she searched her pockets. Phone.
Twelve dollars, mostly singles and some change. The paper Seth had given her
before he disappeared. If she ever needed an escape, today was the time. She
read the words.
Life got you down? Have unsolved problems?
Looking for an escape? The answer is in your stars.
A counselor is available night and day.
Dial 1-800-555 ASTR
Was it possible? Though this sounded like a joke, Seth had
said they would help. She trusted him. Did she have a choice other than to
explore this option? If she didn’t call her life would change in a manner she
feared most. She had to reach the street and make the call. Before making the
call, she wanted to be away from this building. Maybe she could make the call
now but the sound of banging on the door to the roof spooked her. She scurried
across the roof. The next building was close enough to jump.
She drew on the lesson of the day. She backed several yards,
ran and used the edge of the wall to propel herself across the three foot gap.
Curling into a ball, she twisted and landed lightly. A laugh burst free. Three
more times she leaped gaps between the buildings until she reached one where an
alley intervened. She walked to the edge looking for a way to the street. A
rusty fire escape gave her hope. She opened the phone and made the call.
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4 comments:
I assume this is the first book in the series you've been featuring?
Amara is a fantastic heroine - clearly exceptional both physically and intellectually.
Actually, it's the third. bast's Warrior is first, Horu's Chosen 2nd and Toth's Priest 3rd
I've always liked myth-based stories, and it's great to find a series of them.
Great scene, and I too enjoyed the heroine. I also loved this line: Her uncle’s voice vibrated with fear. What a powerful sentence. I loved how you ended it with a power word that really hits home.
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