Review: Good book, well written.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 10, 2012
Despite varied genre descriptions that put this in the "Adventure/Romance" category, I would have to say that this is more of an Adventure/Historical Fiction. Yes there's a romantic undercurrent, but I have to say that it does not interfere with the storyline or the plot, which runs along at a good pace from start to finish.Not being a big romance fan, I was sort of quietly concerned that I might reach a point in the story where I may feel compelled to stop reading, but that was never the case, and all of the "insinuation" of the author between the two main romantically involved characters is superbly tongue-in-cheek (occasionally literally) throughout the book.Descriptively, and with regards to the historical information, this is excellent. The Egyptology elements of the book are well researched and although carefully explained, it is always done within the context of the story, and not turned into a monotonous diatribe by some all-knowing expert. Even the combat scenes are well drawn and paced with great attention to detail.From the opening page, the characters are well defined and clear, which is futher testament to some good writing. And later, when the additional characters are introduced and the secondary plot-lines are established, the author is both methodical and careful not to lose the focus of the underlying story.I have to say that my ONE niggle with this book, is the author's loss of originality when it comes to the speech of the late 1900's English gentry... where she has money referred to as "bills" instead of "notes" and uses terms such as "candy from a baby" and "sorry-assed", along with one or two lesser examples I don't readily recall... All of which are much later American terms and tended to knock me off my stride when reading. A little more care and forethought in these particular details would have made this a genuinely superlative work.A definite 4-star read, which perhaps is deserving of 4-and-a-bit.EDITED 12th Feb 2012 to add the following :-I am pleased to say that the author has updated and upgraded the book and I can't wait to read it again with the adjustments... Roll on the 2nd installment, I can't wait to see more from this author.