Guardian of the Horizon
1 journaler for this copy...
Rec'd via Bookmooch.com
--
From Publishers Weekly
Intrepid archeologists Amelia Peabody, husband Emerson and son Ramses have shared numerous exciting adventures, but the 16th volume in MWA Grand Master Peters's bestselling series will have particular appeal for fans. The author fills in a gap in the chronological record (1907–1908) and revisits the hidden city of the Lost Oasis, whose discovery was recounted in The Last Camel Died at Noon (1991). The doughty explorers, including foster daughter Nefret, who is from the Lost Oasis, heed the call of a messenger purportedly from that realm's ruler, Tarek. Peters, as her many accolades would suggest, knows precisely what she is doing as she spins a tale of romance, derring-do, bravery and, of course, deceptions, betrayals and disguises in the classic tradition of H. Rider Haggard, if with tongue often in cheek. Familiar enemies surface (bureaucrats, soldiers of fortunes, despoilers of antiquities, etc.) and dog the group as they travel by ship, boat and camel from their English home to the remote desert location that will test their mettle once again. Peters's knowledge of ancient Egypt and the excavations and desecrations that accompanied early archeological attempts in the region allow her to dress her melodrama with authentic trappings that add greatly to the enjoyment.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--
From Publishers Weekly
Intrepid archeologists Amelia Peabody, husband Emerson and son Ramses have shared numerous exciting adventures, but the 16th volume in MWA Grand Master Peters's bestselling series will have particular appeal for fans. The author fills in a gap in the chronological record (1907–1908) and revisits the hidden city of the Lost Oasis, whose discovery was recounted in The Last Camel Died at Noon (1991). The doughty explorers, including foster daughter Nefret, who is from the Lost Oasis, heed the call of a messenger purportedly from that realm's ruler, Tarek. Peters, as her many accolades would suggest, knows precisely what she is doing as she spins a tale of romance, derring-do, bravery and, of course, deceptions, betrayals and disguises in the classic tradition of H. Rider Haggard, if with tongue often in cheek. Familiar enemies surface (bureaucrats, soldiers of fortunes, despoilers of antiquities, etc.) and dog the group as they travel by ship, boat and camel from their English home to the remote desert location that will test their mettle once again. Peters's knowledge of ancient Egypt and the excavations and desecrations that accompanied early archeological attempts in the region allow her to dress her melodrama with authentic trappings that add greatly to the enjoyment.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Started reading day before yesterday.
Finished this morning.
Started to listen to an audio version of the book yesterday evening.
Finished yesterday afternoon.
I do so enjoy the Amelia Peabody mysteries.
That said, this one isn't so much of a mystery as another grand adventure in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard. It's a sequel to The Last Camel Died at Noon, and brings our favorite Egyptologist family back to the Lost Oasis. Ten years have passed, and their friend Tarek is in danger - but when the Emersons arrive they learn they have been tricked. Tarek has been dethroned and his successor wants their adopted daughter Nefret back to resume her role as the priestess of Isis. Amelia, Emerson, and Ramses must figure out how to restore Tarek to the throne, rescue Nefret, and return to the civilized world before the clever Merasen, who lured them to return, can steal the throne and Nefret's hand in marriage. Totally madcap adventures abound.
It's really fun to see the family return to familiar surroundings, especially Ramses and Nefret. Since those two were children when they last visited the Lost Oasis, their reactions are quite different now. It's also interesting to see how they are treated differently - or not - by others now that they're adults.
The story does get a bit goofy at times. Ramses' pining for Nefret does get a bit old, though it's hardly better when he's convinced himself that he's the romantic hero destined to save another woman from prostitution by marrying her. That's...weird, although the strangeness probably stems largely from the fact that we've watched Ramses grow up in these novels and it's sometimes hard to remember that he's an adult now, especially with half the tale still told from the view of his mother.
Actually, that's something I should note. The point of view has expanded to three different storytellers: Peabody's memoirs, which are in the first person; letters written by Nefret to her cousin, and "Manuscript H", a Haggard-esque third person adventure story that centers on the actions of Ramses. It's definitely interesting to see everything from multiple points of view, though Amelia's voice is still my favorite.
This book marks yet another appearance by Sethos. I'm not sure if I'm happy or annoyed to see him. He's become something of a deus ex machina, showing up whenever the story lacks a villain, but at the same time I feel like every detective needs an arch-nemesis, and we need Sethos to be the ultimate foil for Amelia. I'm not sure if the balance will continue to work if Ramses' narrative grows in prominence, but we'll see.
I do so enjoy the Amelia Peabody mysteries.
That said, this one isn't so much of a mystery as another grand adventure in the tradition of H. Rider Haggard. It's a sequel to The Last Camel Died at Noon, and brings our favorite Egyptologist family back to the Lost Oasis. Ten years have passed, and their friend Tarek is in danger - but when the Emersons arrive they learn they have been tricked. Tarek has been dethroned and his successor wants their adopted daughter Nefret back to resume her role as the priestess of Isis. Amelia, Emerson, and Ramses must figure out how to restore Tarek to the throne, rescue Nefret, and return to the civilized world before the clever Merasen, who lured them to return, can steal the throne and Nefret's hand in marriage. Totally madcap adventures abound.
It's really fun to see the family return to familiar surroundings, especially Ramses and Nefret. Since those two were children when they last visited the Lost Oasis, their reactions are quite different now. It's also interesting to see how they are treated differently - or not - by others now that they're adults.
The story does get a bit goofy at times. Ramses' pining for Nefret does get a bit old, though it's hardly better when he's convinced himself that he's the romantic hero destined to save another woman from prostitution by marrying her. That's...weird, although the strangeness probably stems largely from the fact that we've watched Ramses grow up in these novels and it's sometimes hard to remember that he's an adult now, especially with half the tale still told from the view of his mother.
Actually, that's something I should note. The point of view has expanded to three different storytellers: Peabody's memoirs, which are in the first person; letters written by Nefret to her cousin, and "Manuscript H", a Haggard-esque third person adventure story that centers on the actions of Ramses. It's definitely interesting to see everything from multiple points of view, though Amelia's voice is still my favorite.
This book marks yet another appearance by Sethos. I'm not sure if I'm happy or annoyed to see him. He's become something of a deus ex machina, showing up whenever the story lacks a villain, but at the same time I feel like every detective needs an arch-nemesis, and we need Sethos to be the ultimate foil for Amelia. I'm not sure if the balance will continue to work if Ramses' narrative grows in prominence, but we'll see.
