Treasures of Egypt
The Spear & the Scythe
by Amr Saleh
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Pub Date Oct 01 2024 | Archive Date Jun 17 2024
Collective Ink Limited | Our Street Books
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Description
Two unlikely heroes. One grand heist. In the shadows of ancient Egyptian gods and mortals, will they find common ground or risk losing everything?
What would one do for love? What would one do for Egypt?
Desperation drives Nefiri Minu, apprentice to the Grand Vizier, to save her little brother by seeking Khafset, a young thief from the persecuted people of Hyksos. But his price to help heal her sick brother is to steal a divine spear from Ra’s temple.
However, by touching the spear, Nefiri unwittingly unleashes Set, the shackled God of Destruction, and starts a chain of events that threatens to plunge Egypt into chaos. To avert disaster, they are forced to navigate the realm of the gods and the dead, and face off against mythological creatures in a dangerous adventure Khafset insists on calling “The Grand Heist.”
Can this unlikely pair learn to trust each other? Will that trust turn their forced partnership into something more?
On an adventure packed with secrets, hidden agendas, not to mention Gods and monsters, will Nefiri and Khafset succeed in their mission to save Egypt or will the very prejudices that have shaped their world threaten to tear them apart?
A Note From the Publisher
He truly believes in the power of stories as a unifying force. From the dawn of humanity, we've gathered around the hearth, sharing tales of heroes, villains, and fantastical beings. It's this yearning for a good story that transcends faith, ethnicity, and gender. And it's his dream to take part in this ancient tradition, to keep the flame of the hearth lit with his own tales.
Advance Praise
A unique mythic adventure full of thrilling twists and heart-warming romance!
Cassandra Rose Clarke, author of Magic of Blood and Sea
A unique mythic adventure full of thrilling twists and heart-warming romance!
Cassandra Rose Clarke, author of Magic of Blood and Sea
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9781803416007 |
PRICE | $21.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 400 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Treasures of Egypt by Amr Saleh is a brilliant step back in time steeped in ancient Egyptian mythology that I had a truly enjoyable time with. I tend to struggle with first person present tense writing styles but even that couldn't deter me. It's fast paced from page 1 and full of adventure that pulls you along into the mystery. Fans of The Mummy will enjoy this action style. I did get confused at some points since I'm not versed in the mythology and lore, but it didn't detract from my reading experience. There are some really great twists here that I didn't expect, and I think readers of all ages will enjoy the ride.
This was such an interesting read! I love the Olympus gods and goddesses so it was really interesting to learn more about the Egyptian gods and goddesses. The story with khaf and neferi was emotional and funny and just amazing in general! It had a mix of romance along with adventure and was in general a great story! I cannot wait for the second book to come out and read what happens next in the story it definitely had a HFN ending!
Ever since I was a kid I was intrigued by Egyptian culture and mythology, this was the main reason why I picked up this book.
It gave me so much more, I loved the characters, the main characters fully stole my heart (looking at you Khaf) but I also adored many more of the characters, they were simply just fun and complex most of the time and I loved following them through their journey.
I cried, laughed, wanted to yank my phone away and I got very annoyed too. A full rollercoaster of a book, but it was perfect as a cozy little book that hurts you just perfectly.
I really liked this book. Egyptian mythology is one of my favorites, and I love reading about it and seeing other people's takes on it. I think Nefiri was a strong character who carried the book along with the rest of the characters. I love the author's interpretations and characterizations of the Egyptian deities and mythology. It was really great and it was paced well. The writing kept me engaged the entire time and I enjoyed it.
Treasures of Egypt offers heart-pounding adventure and thought-provoking mystery that leaps off the pages and pulls YOU into Avaris along with it.
Amr Saleh captures an exciting combination of “The Mummy” meets “Moon Knight” to deliver a captivating story that’s filled with mythology and magic. If you enjoy ancient Egyptian mythology, you will love this story.
Though we enjoyed this book, the storyline was, at times, a bit confusing and difficult to follow. Overall, it’s a book that many will enjoy and we look forward to continuing to read Amr’s work.
I am a huge fan of anything Mythology; from a young age, I have always been fascinated by it and I was not disappointed by this. I was captured right from the start and stayed up late to finish it!
Treasures of Egypt, was a beautifully written young adult novel that contains mythology, magic, romance and adventure. I look forward to reading more from this author!
4.5/5
"Treasures of Egypt" by Amr Saleh is like stepping into a time machine set to ancient Egypt, filled with treasure hunts, mysterious tombs, and modern-day excitement. If you've ever dreamt of exploring the wonders of the pyramids or unearthing hidden secrets beneath the desert sands, this book is your golden ticket to adventure!
Picture yourself alongside the protagonist, racing through bustling markets in Cairo, deciphering ancient hieroglyphics in forgotten temples, and facing down cunning villains in a quest for untold riches. Saleh's vivid descriptions make every scene come alive, immersing you in the sights, sounds, and smells of this magical land.
But it's not just about the action – the characters in "Treasures of Egypt" feel like friends you'd want by your side on any adventure. From the fearless archaeologist to the clever villain, each one is as real and relatable as the people you know in your own life. Their journey is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.
So, if you're ready to embark on the ultimate treasure hunt and experience the thrill of uncovering ancient mysteries, "Treasures of Egypt" is the book for you. Get ready to lose yourself in a world where history meets adventure, and the only limit is your imagination!
4.5 ✯
This book is a beautiful combination of Magic and Mythology. Every chapter was enticing, each with new challenges and new characters.
As someone who loves learning about ancient Egypt and its mythology, I immediately had to read this. Saleh perfectly introduces the gods and high officials so that it’s not overwhelming for the reader to take in. Everything is very well explained, we are told who each god is, how they relate to each other and some of their actions that have gotten them to where they are. All the gods and goddesses were portrayed perfectly, I loved meeting each one throughout the journey of the book.
Neferi’s and Khafset’s friendship dynamic was very complicated. Khafset is Hyksos and Neferi is Egyptian, automatically making them enemies, however their love for each other grows throughout their journey challenging their feelings towards each other and their thoughts on both Egyptians and Hyksos. I loved that despite Neferi being the Grand Vizier’s apprentice, Khafset (who the Egyptians looked down on for being a Hyksos) had so much more knowledge of the gods, fighting and the Duat. Khafset was an amazing character, he was smart, brave, and resourceful.
I loved Neferi’s loyalty for those she loved and her fights using her newly attained magic, but I had hoped her character would have been mentally stronger by the end of her journey.
My favourite character was Hatshepsut, although I wish we had seen more of her. I hope we will get to see her again if there is a second book.
When Nefiri agrees to help a thief break into a temple to steal the sacred spear belonging to the God Set in exchange for medicin that should save her brother’s life, she sets off a prophecy that will release the God of Destruction and lead to the downfall of Egypt. Now Nefiri and Khafset must travel through the realms of the underworld, battling demons and gods, in a race to stop Set before everyone and everything they know is destroyed.
Nefiri was an amazing POV character. Unlike most “Chosen Ones” she denies her fate at every turn, yet continues on to save Khaf—arguably her enemy—and even accepts and acknowledges her mistakes, which helps her to realize that everything she has ever known about her history and her enmity with Khaf’s people are wrong. And then she not only accepts that her assumptions were wrong and rather racist, but she grows from these mistakes and becomes a better person (arguably a lot of the “hero protagonists” remain rather stagnant as characters and rarely have any growth or maturity unless through loss). Nefiri not only overcomes her loss and a surprising amount of betrayal, but refuses to give up when the odds and everyone else are against her.
Her romance with Khaf was the perfect amount of enemies to lovers, with the gradual acceptance of the other as a person with valid feelings, to friends, and eventually to lovers. Their banter was playful and their arguments fierce, but their shared experiences bound them together in life and death until they could forge their happy ending.
The notion that Nefiri was Chosen because she was Set’s daughter, a forbidden demigod, was the perfect red herring so that when the actual demigod was revealed I remained surprised—although looking back now the foreshadowing of Khaf’s mighty powers and healing abilities was rather obvious. The betrayal too was something I saw coming, although I figured he had to come around again in the end.
Mostly I was quite impressed with the introduction to Egyptian mythology. The way it was expressed was so organic, as we the readers encountered the gods as the plot progressed. Many times I find such information to just be dumped at the begining or explained to us early on by one of the characters—which when the pantheon is so complex and the myths so detailed it can become overwhelming very quickly. I loved how the gods hid themselves throughout the story, helping from behind the scenes and empowering Nefiri and Khaf to become the heroes they were meant to be.
Overall a wonderful adventure filled with magic and romance that will please not only YA readers but older ones as well, and a wonderful glimpse into a time period in history that we are all fascinated by even into adulthood.
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