Review: Secrets and Scullduggery Among the Egyptian Ruins
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2013
In an Egyptian tomb, Anthony Whitaker finds a child possessed of magical powers and a dragonfly birthmark. The girl, Kailin, becomes an archeologist in her own right, studying stone circles of Scotland, but is drawn back to Egypt when her adopted father is kidnapped. She meets Jackson Black, treasure hunter; their fates seemingly intertwined with a mysterious orb and thirteen bound demons.The story is an enjoyable mixture of Egyptian lore with demonology. Kailin’s claustrophobia and struggle to control her mysterious gift sets her apart from people and adds interest to the character. Jackson’s affect on her power is a nice touch. I also rather liked Drakkina, a witch-spirit who instructs Kailin in magic. She comes across as kind of a pushy mystical yenta.  The book also contains several good creepy descriptions of tombs. I hadn’t read the earlier novels and had concerns leaping into Book IV, but the plot is complete, easy to follow, and works as a stand alone story.  At the end, a few plot points tied up too neatly. One character’s secret was obvious from the start and would surely have been discovered much sooner. Several new entanglements were added in the epilog and then left hanging, but I assume they will be addressed in a subsequent book.