Creepy, atmospheric, enjoyable and set in Egypt during the 1930's, a period of exploration and adventure .This was the first novel I had read by this author and it certainly won't be the last. A gripping read I couldn't put down, highly recommended. Many thanks NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to try it.

5 Stars!

Egypt has always fascinated me. Outside of the ocean, it is probably my favorite setting for a novel. When I saw Tomb of Gods by Brian Moreland, I knew I had to read this book. The fact that it was from Flame Tree Press made me want to read it even more.

In 1935, a group of British archaeologists disappeared into an Egyptian tomb. Only one made it out alive again, covered in scars, a year later. Imogene Riley, the granddaughter of the man who led that expedition, is determined to get to the source of the mystery surrounding the tomb. Armed with her grandfather's journal, Imogene starts up a group set to explore the tomb to uncover the mysteries and treasures that might lie within as well as to solve the mystery of her grandfather's disappearance.

Imogene is quick to learn that there is more to the tomb than just an ancient ruin. As the group begins to descend into the tomb, it becomes clear that there is a strange force at ply. When the monsters start to emerge, there is no doubt that this is no ordinary tomb. The tomb is actually an intricate maze full of twists and turns with danger lurking round each corner. At the end of the maze lies the true treasure of the tomb. It is not a treasure that can be measured in jewels and gold. Instead, this tomb is the home for all of the secrets of ancient Egyptians and, quite possibly, the doorway to another world. All Imogen and the group have to do is survive long enough to uncover those secrets.

Tomb of Gods starts out a little slowly, honestly, and had me somewhat worried that this was going to be just another run of the mill mummy novel. It just had that feel at the beginning. Moreland, however, had something different in mind and kicked the novel into gear once the expedition enters the tomb. The introduction and the setup to the story are very formulaic and really offer very little more than window-dressing to set up the story. It takes a little bit of work to get to the action but once the novel revs up it never stops. This is more than just a haunted tomb and the characters find themselves up against one horror after another. This is very good stuff.

What makes Tomb of Gods stand out is the mixture of horror that Moreland puts in the novel. There is a lot going on in this book and it is not all the same buy rather a mixture of genres. There is a blend of monster horror, psychological terror, and even some science fiction thrown in this book. This not only brings the assault on the characters from multiple directions but also serves to keep the readers on the edge of their seat and unsure of what is coming next. From about a third of the way into the book until the end, this is nonstop action that I did not want to put down. There is also a very human story mixed in to the middle of the somewhat typecast characters that gives the novel a heart at the climax that I was not entirely expecting. Moreland gives us a unique vision of Egyptian deities in “Tomb of Gods” and the novel is a fun read with a strong plot yet easily accessible story. A definite recommendation for fans of horror in general but particularly for those who like stories about Egypt and its mythology.

I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Tomb of Gods is scheduled to be released on May 21, 2020.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb for this grabbed me right away. It has so many of the things I love: adventure, historical fiction, archeology, ancient Egypt, unsolved mysteries etc ... so I was excited to say the very least.

After her grandfather is found, a year after his disappearance, and with strange, unintelligible symbols carved upon every inch of his flesh, Imogen goes off in search of the mysteries surrounding his disappearance.

Tomb of Gods has a fairly wide array of characters who, for one reason or another have some darkness hidden within their pasts. For the most part, these characters, whether good or bad, are enjoyable as relates to the plot. One, however, the main antagonist, feels too much like a pantomime villain and I hated him. I hated parts where he was a focal point. Not in the way you should hate an antagonist, but because I just thought he was a poor, sloppy creation the author could have done better with.

The way the author delves into the Egyptian religion and how their whole pantheon of gods are addressed is interesting and, as a whole, I absolutely loved the concept. It's the kind of idea I'd love to see more of in such fiction in the future.

The story, from start to finish goes along at a fair pace and is broken up by a fair amount of flashbacks to each character's pasts and, at one point I felt it would get too tedious, but the author found a way of keeping it fresh and interesting rather than flat and monotonous.

All in all, Tomb of Gods was an enjoyable, fun read with the potential for an intriguing sequel.

“We are standing at the threshold of one of life’s great mysteries”

Dr Harlan Riley hadn’t been the same since he was found “wandering the desert southeast of Cairo”. Scars covered his body and he alternated between speaking an unknown language and uttering cryptic warnings. It is five months months after his death, in March 1937, when a team of British archaeologists find Nebenteru’s tomb, whose secrets Harlan took to the grave.

“I have witnessed miracles. Nightmares. Forgotten realms.”

Leading the team is Dr Nathan Trummel. His own personal team is made up of assistant, Piper, blind psychic, Dyfan, and bodyguard, Aiden Gosswick. They are joined by mercenaries, Sergeant Dan Vickers and Corporal Teddy Quig, and a guard, Corporal Rex Sykes.

An Egyptian guide, Bakari Neseem, an American photographer on assignment for ‘National Geographic’, Caleb Beckett, and a number of labourers, archaeologists and students round out the team. With this many volunteers signing up to enter the final resting place for an unknown number of explorers, it’s fairly certain the pharaoh’s tomb is likely to become many of theirs.

Late to the party is Imogen, an expert in Egyptian mythology and Harlan’s granddaughter. Raised by Harlan and his sidekick on expeditions when she was a child, she’s likely to be quite useful in navigating the potential pitfalls ahead.

“Damned are we who enter the abyss.”

Once the bloodbath got under way the story went in a direction I hadn’t expected. The world building was extensive and it often felt like I was walking alongside the team, or perhaps somewhere closer to the middle of the group so whatever was coming next would get them first.

Peoples’ true natures rose to the surface and tensions were high as the explorers faced their demons, and I’m sure the characters’ blood pressures increased each time they noticed sentences that commenced with:

“Twelve explorers”

“All nine explorers”

“The eight explorers”

I couldn’t help seeing parallels between Imogen searching her grandfather’s diary for clues and Indiana Jones using Henry’s diary to find the Holy Grail.

I grew up sharing my Nan’s love of Egyptology and know she would have loved this book. The way the mythology was injected into the storyline made me appreciate how much time the author must have spent researching it and had me Googling some unfamiliar names to figure out if they originated from history or the author’s imagination. When the lines between reality and fiction get blurry I know an author has well and truly sucked me in.

I had two main niggles:
* The way the explorers made their way through the various gates was repetitive at times.
* I felt the epilogue was unnecessary and its contents frustrated me. The chapter prior to this provided a natural end to the story for me and I wish it had concluded there.

“Something’s coming.”

Content warnings include death by suicide, murder, self harm, suicidal ideation, torture and war crimes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

Tomb of Gods by Brian Moreland is an engaging account of an epic quest for the secrets of the pharaohs.

Harlan Riley is the only archaeologist to survive the ill-fated expedition to an Egyptian cave in 1935. His appearance, a year later, gains widespread attention as he is covered from head to toe in mysterious scars and keeps talking in a strange language unknown to man. His granddaughter, Imogen Riley, an Egyptologist herself, is desperate to know what caused her only living relative to lose his sanity. She joins a team of archaeologists and soldiers to find the answers. The cave, which turns out to be a tomb, is a maze of tunnels that, according to the leader of the group, Nathan Trummel, holds the most prized secrets of the pharaohs. However, as the explorers venture deep into the ancient tomb, they discover a deadly fate awaits them.

Brian Moreland’s Tomb of Gods is equally thrilling and terrifying. He deserves credit for interweaving the mythology of Egyptian gods with the concept of subterranean life into a suspenseful, action-packed, horror tale. The internal fight in a man between right and wrong is the greatest arc of this story.

Moreland brilliantly executes the concept of an unknown-creature-lurking-in-the-shadows. His vivid description of the pitch-black, claustrophobic caves, the ancient tombs, their alien symbols, and the gory action within the caves provides an atmospheric feel to the book. Further, short chapters help sustain the momentum of the novel. Moreland spares us the gruesome gore; instead, he allowed me to imagine the macabre events by focusing on the aftermath of the grisly events. He heightens suspense by allowing only a glimpse of the horrendous creatures existing in the underground world of the caves.

However, as the story progresses, especially in the middle of the novel, the novelty wears off. It feels more like a videogame where the characters have to cross a series of levels, each level more difficult than the previous one. Moreland does not spare enough time to grieve for the casualties. Further, the characters came across as stereotypical to me. Even though the story delves on each character’s past mistakes, the good people stay good, and the villains continue to be villains.

The book redeems itself in the last few chapters. I couldn't wait to find out the fate of the explorers and leafed through the pages eagerly. The revelation at the end stunned me. It's clear Moreland conducted exhaustive research into Egyptian mythology. Brian Moreland’s Tomb of Gods will thrill history, horror and action lovers. However, if you can't handle gore, stay away from this book.

Tomb of Gods by Brian Moreland is part adventure, part horror, and part Egyptian mythology. Dr. Harlan Riley is a famed British archaeologist who is seeking the tomb of Nebenteru, where it is believed King Ramses II sealed his royal secrets. He and his team became lost while on an exhibition for the British Museum of London in 1935. One year later, Dr. Riley is found wandering the desert after being missing for a year; however, he comes back covered in scars and is placed in a mental hospital. His granddaughter, Imogen Riley, is determined to find out what happened to her grandfather in Egypt. She joins an expedition that is following the path of her grandfather to find out the mysteries of the Nebenteru. What follows is a good old fashioned Egyptian pyramid story complete with mysterious disappearances, accidents, booby traps, and rumored curses. This is a fast paced story and I quickly devoured it nearly in one sitting because it was fun!

I initially was attracted to the book because it is published by Flame Tree Press, which usually hit the mark for a fun filled horror novel. This was even better than I expected because it really delved into Egyptian mythology and the concept of a centralized creation myth between various early civilizations. This is my first novel by Moreland, but I will definitely be checking out his earlier works. If they are anything like Tomb of Gods.

Every week, one of the nicest people out there, Char from Char's Horror Review posts/tweets what she's reading and asks what are others reading. I actually look forward to these, because I love seeing what she's cruising through and typically there is some back and forth with each person about how they're enjoying their books.When I commented that I was reading 'Tomb of Gods' by Moreland, Tony Jones from GNOH replied that he'd loved this one and that 'the deeper they go, the darker it gets.'Just to be clear - if there was a night club for book reviewers, Tony and Char would be laughing and sipping an adult beverage in the club, while I'd be outside, hoping to be let in! It's these interactions that always make me smile.Just how accurate was Tony's comment? 100%
What I liked: 'Tomb of Gods' is actually my first Moreland read, but will not be my last. I have a bunch of his stuff on my Kindle already and feel a bit ashamed now that I've put off his works for so long. 'Tomb...' is a stunning action-adventure book in the same category as The Mummy and Indiana Jones. We get some initial back story first thing, but once we get to the archaeological dig site where things really dance. The story is set in 1936 and this absolutely played to the plot's advantage. Eliminating technology and having the group have to survive from wit and strength was a top notch decision.The main character, Imogen, is also one of the best female leads I've read in some time. Smart, strong and not willing to take any grief, she definitely made for a protagonist I rooted for.
What I didn't like: Minor things really. Some of the characters being killed off were very predictable, as though they were on Star Trek wearing a different color uniform. Not that this was bad, as the reader, we of course want people to die horrifically, but at times I wished the section had been devoted to the others. The only other thing that I wasn't overly fond of was the ridiculous levels of jealousy one character continued to express.
Why you should buy it: I couldn't stop reading this book. From page one to the very end, the story flew from the pages at 200 mph. Moreland created a very familiar, yet completely unique Egyptian adventure. Don't let this one pass you by, this is a must read and one of the best books I've read in the last few years. 

(This review will feature on Kendall Reviews!)

Tomb of Gods is my first novel by Brian Moreland, but I guarantee that it will not be my last. I was totally sold on the Egyptian mythology, mummies, archaeologists, and Egyptologist in a pre-WWII setting. Everything else was just the icing on the cake. I can officially say that I greatly appreciated Moreland's brand of horror. He definitely gets the job done of scaring the heck out of his readers with his incredibly atmospheric and claustrophobic writing style. I also enjoyed getting to know his characters, especially Imogen, an Egyptologist, who undergoes quite a journey over the course of her story. If you're a fan of The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001) which are a couple of my all time favorites, I have a feeling you'll get a kick out of this action-packed horror novel. I'm looking forward to trying more from Brian Moreland in the future after my first outing here.

I enjoyed this story. It picks up quickly and is very interesting from the start. It had more of the feel of an adventure, and doesn't quite go the way you think it's going to. It's a fun, quick read, and I will definitely be reading more Brian Moreland books in the future.

When I saw the slate of 2020 Flame Tree Press titles, 2 of them in particular drew my eye. The first by Glenn Rolfe, the second, the newest Brian Moreland. Ancient Egyptian horror set in the 30’s? Yep, sign me up for that.

When her grandfather disappears, only to re-emerge a broken man, Imogen Riley must know what happened. He claims to have found an ancient Egyptian tomb and the greatest archaeological discovery. In order to find out what has taken her grandfather from her, Imogen joins colleague Nathen Trummel on an adventure of wonder and horror.

Going to throw this one out there. This is my favorite book by Moreland. The writing, plotting, and characterization here are leaps and bounds beyond what I’ve read from the author previously. Despite not having read all of his books, I still feel comfortable making the claim that this may be his best overall book. It’s just difficult to feel otherwise after having read this. I love the mixture of history, adventure, and horror that Moreland has put in the pages.

Imogen is an excellent main character and I had a good time following the exploration of The Tomb of Gods. There is plenty of action here and the scary sequences are terrifying. This was one of those books that keeps you engaged the entire time, even when there are lulls in the scares and action, the sense of discovery and adventure keep you within the authors grasp.

Tomb Of Gods is an excellent novel by Brian Moreland, and another top notch horror from FlameTree Press. I hope the author and publisher work together again soon.

This was a truly terrific read till near the end, then it had a bit of a (for me, on an individual level) dip and then it found its footing again. In short: this was a near perfect horror novel for me: having become very blasé after years of submerging myself in the horror genre, very few things really register as scary in my mind, but Brian Moreland's Tomb of Gods did the trick, and on more than one occasion!

Since younger days I've been fascinated by the deities and the pharaohs of Egypt, and am very enthralled by the idea of curses protecting secrets, divine or otherwise, as well as exploring these secrets - and reading about it is the perfect way for me to do so and still keep safe.

For me the mark of an excellent genre novel is that I can't stop reading it, I have to finish it, I have see what happens next. Tomb of Gods is one such novel. It's set in 1930s Egypt on an archeological expedition. Sold!
Folks this novel has everything. To tell you more would ruin the horrific surprises in store for the reader. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book finding it reminiscent of Indiana Jones movies but really was not fond of the ending

Wow! This is one of my new favorite novels! The author has a voice similar to that of Jeremy Bates, who is absolutely brilliant at this style of of writing. The author truly knows how to keep the reader interested and invested in each character. The world-building was nothing short of marvelous! Stark, believable horror that pulls you right in. I will definitely recommend this book & purchase it for horror loving friends, as well!

I was invested from the premise of the book and was thoroughly invested in finishing this book. Overall the plot was great and the characters were interesting and felt real. It was exactly what I wanted in a horror novel.

Harken back to the pulp fiction days of Weird Tales as this cinematic roller-coaster ride delivers a breathtaking adventure suitable for a Hammer Horror film of the 50's. Notable archeologist Harlan Riley leads an expedition into the deserts of Egypt in search of a lost tomb, only hinted at in scraps of ancient scrolls. His entire party disappears , only to have him found wandering in the desert a year later ... raving mad with his entire body covered in indecipherable markings like some type of human codex. Imogene Riley, curator for the British Museum, and his granddaughter joins a return expedition hopefully to finish his work ... unfortunately headed by an egotistical and unscrupulous colleague. (you know this won't end well). With the help of scraps of a map left by her grandfather, they find the entrance of the tomb through the Caves of Kahf Alssulta in the eastern deserts of Egypt on a mountain riddled with caves. The search is to find the mummy's tomb of Nebenteru ... high priest and advisor for King Ramses II, which was entombed with relics and riches beyond belief. The quest is a harrowing and riveting ride through nightmares and miracles. Guides and workers mysteriously vanish ... while others are butchered by unseen creatures. The expedition inevitably diminishes in size as they push on into a veritable maze of tunnels and canals that are guarded by demons? or gods? ( Who's to argue that a three thousand year old curse is merely superstitious nonsense?)
Moreland successfully captures a foreboding feeling that permeates throughout his narrative. One cannot help but read faster as the excitement and tension mount with the thrilling denouement . Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for providing an electronic uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
( at readersremains.com )

I have missed reading Brian Moreland's novels and was so glad when I heard about his forthcoming release, "Tomb of Gods," in a few months. If you loved the first two "Mummy" films from the early 2000s, you will love this novel. It's a roller coaster ride of a page-turner that will leave you wanting more at the end of each chapter. It has Egyptian deities, forbidden passages, mythology, the Underworld, adventure, intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action. It is perfect reading material to lead into the summer season, and I enjoyed it so much. I don't want to spoil the story or the details, but I loved the experiences of the characters, seeing how everything unfolded, and can't wait to read more of the author's work.

3.5 Loved it but ending ruined it

I absolutely loved the book until the end. It is loaded with Egyptian gods and goddesses and their mythology, and has an interesting take on origins and the afterlife. It was hard to put the book down the farther I got into it. There are a few characters I didn't care for at all, but there usually are in books. What messed the whole book up for me was the ending. The last 2 pages of the book actually made me angry. I cannot go into it too much without giving away spoilers, but I was shocked to see one certain character end up the way they did. It was enough to even make me angry over motivations of the Egyptian gods and goddesses themselves, and I frankly finished it confused because of that. Things really got kind of weird the last several chapters. If there is a second book after this to continue on with the story, I'm not sure I could hack reading it because of this. I would not mind reading more books from the author though as his writing seemed really good until the end.

My thanks to Flame Tree Press, Brian Moreland and Netgalley.
I've had a soft spot for Moreland for years! I was first introduced to him by Samhain Publishing. Rest their lovely souls! I'm a fan!
I did however come to this book with some hesitation. Honestly? I'm complete freaked out by Egyptian stuff! Not Egyptians, just the whole digging up shit!
I just believe the dead should stay buried. "This is why I wish to be cremated." The thought of me ending up as a display in a museum freaks me out!
Also, their deities sort of resonate with me. Many God's over one? Yes. I worship nature. Not literally, but sure.😍
So, yes! This story messed me up. I read it a few weeks ago, and I'm still thinking about it!
Does this mean that Lisa is an odd duck and this review should be ignored? Yes, and no. Duh! If course I'm odd, but this story was effing good! Really good.
As always, I'm not saying anything about the storyline. Just read the synopsis and go headlong into it.
Excellent story, Mr. Moreland. Fucking Bravo!

A dark journey through the underworld in what turns out to be not just another mummy adventure.
Rich characters and good storytelling. I highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a good adventure with many twists.