Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A prophecy brings together four teens in an Egyptian kingdom destined for upheaval. Haunted by desolate visions, 13-year-old Nefermaat travels from her humble village to train as a priestess in Thonis, the kingdom of Khetara's capital city. Elsewhere in Thonis, 17-year-old Princess Sitamun bemoans her father's declining health and uncovers secrets that imperil her own life. The pharaoh's oppressive taxes likewise drive a 19-year-old farm girl, Raetawy, to join insurrectionists in a distant locale. Meanwhile, tomb robber Karim, also 19, flees his desert home, pursued by an inhuman evil. Ancient prophets warned those in power that revolution would come to the kingdom. And while the oracle "only foretells the beginning of the story," it is Neff, Sita, Rae, and Karim's actions that will determine how it ends. Multiple plot lines converge in a magical world that blends Egyptian mythology with political intrigue and romance via cinematic storytelling. The first in a trilogy, this immersive must-read from Jabès Corpora (Holly Horror) closes with a cliffhanger that promises further skullduggery and turmoil. Character skin tones are varying shades of brown. Includes an author's note and a series guide that contextualizes key persons and locations. Ages 14--up. Agent: Allison Hellegers, Stimola Literary Studio. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--While rumors abound in the kingdom of Khetara--a mysteriously ailing king, a building rebellion in the south--four strangers are swept into fate's current. Khetaran Princess Sitamun, priestess-in-training Nefermaat, defiant farmer's daughter Raetawy, and bold tomb raider Karim are bound together by an ancient oracle; they just don't know it yet. As the group slowly comes together, converging in different parts of Khetara, only to separate again, tensions in the kingdom build. A breaking point is on the horizon, and the desert kingdom may not survive intact. This first in a sweeping, multi point-of-view series follows Sita, Neff, Rae, and Karim as the pieces of a forgotten oracle begin falling into place. As each of the four characters are from different parts of the kingdom, readers are provided with an extensive depiction of the work's setting, even as they are immersed in detailed daily routines. This mix of descriptions, though rich and varied, slows the pacing of the work, and can be jarring when the plot continues after what seems like a wrap-up three-fifths in. Though the storyline feels like it could have used an earlier ending, readers will nevertheless bond with the diverse, well-rounded characters and a surprise ending will keep them waiting for the next installment. VERDICT Betrayal, murder, magic, and a monster combine within a desert setting for an ancient Egyptian-inspired Game of Thrones feel.--Maggie Mason Smith
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Four lives converge in a kingdom reminiscent of ancient Egypt that's full of magic and political intrigue. The kingdom of Khetara stands on the brink of destruction, weakened by poverty and led by an ill, rapidly declining king. Seventeen-year-old Princess Sitamun, the only girl among triplets, dreams of love and luxury, until she discovers something treacherous at the heart of the kingdom. Nefermaat, who's an only child, is chosen by the goddess Bast to become a priestess; she must leave distraught parents and everything she's ever known behind to study under the tutelage of the high priest. Raetawy, enraged by the kingdom's profound injustices, joins a rebellion to fight back after a shocking act of violence. Meanwhile, Karim, a tomb robber from a desert tribe, unwittingly unleashes an ancient and malevolent force from the grave of a dead king. As each of them follows the path fate has set, their lives become inextricably bound together by a prophecy that will determine the ultimate destiny of Khetara. Told from the perspectives of all four main characters, the story unfolds at a measured pace before gaining momentum and racing forward with gripping intensity. Each protagonist is richly developed, and the high stakes of their journeys are unflinchingly depicted. Readers will be fully immersed in the novel's lush, vividly rendered world. An engrossing political fantasy with myriad twists and turns. (series guide)(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
