Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Iszi Lawrence - The Cursed Tomb - Book Review

If you’re ready to dive into a whirlwind of curses, myths, and the magnificent mysteries of ancient Egypt, then buckle up! Iszi Lawrence’s -The Cursed Tomb, takes readers on an exhilarating ride through 1249 BCE, where the only thing more curious than the pharaohs is the eleven-year-old heroine, Henut. 

Skeptical of everything, even the gods—talk about a mood! Henut's world is shattered when a mysterious break-in at her home ignites a series of events that feels like something straight out of a treasure-hunting adventure film. Cue unsettling dreams and a shadowy figure that seems to be on a mission of its own. Will she really venture into the legendary tombs of the Valley of Kings? Well, she might not have a choice, and that’s where the fun begins!

Lawrence crafts a narrative that's not just a thrilling dangerous quest but also rich with authentic historical details. From the rule of the mighty Pharaoh Rameses II to the enchanting practices of mummification, readers will find themselves immersed in the sights and sounds of ancient Egypt. It’s like stepping into a time machine, but with less risk of getting mummified!

Fans of Emma Carroll and *Horrible Histories* will absolutely adore this gem. The humour, the heroism, and the highs and lows of Henut’s adventure combine to create a story that's both educational and  entertaining. So, whether you’re a young reader or just a young-at-heart history buff, grab your copies of *The Cursed Tomb*. It’s a page-turner that will have you racing through the sands of time, dodging curses, and cheering for Henut all the way to the final page. 

Overall, *The Cursed Tomb* is a delightful thriller that embraces the spirit of adventure and the power of belief, reminding us that sometimes, facing the unknown can lead to the most magical experiences. Don’t miss it! 

Published by Bloomsbury Education (30 Jan. 2025)

Gill Harvey - Egyptian Chronicles:The Horned Viper Book Review

Book synopsis:
The Horned Viper is the second in a new series of four books set in Ancient Egypt. The Spitting Cobra, the first in the series, was published in August 2009. Two further instalments will be released in 2010. Each book is a well researched and atmospheric evocation of Egyptian life encased in an exciting adventure story. The boy and girl characters, Hopi and Isis, feature in each book and readers will be intrigued to follow their struggles for existence and adventure in Egypt circa 1150 BC. In this story, The Horned Viper, Isis and Hopi find themselves on the banks of the River Nile, pitting their wits against dangerous servants. 


Mr Ripley's Book Review
The authors love for Egypt is evident and allows the reader to feel and sense the events clearly, even without any prior knowledge of ancient Egypt. The book is written in the same vein as the debut book "Orphan of the Sun" which sets the characters headlong in to the world of Egypt, circa 1150 BC. The book develops around an adventure, following the characters of Hopi and Isis, overcoming dangerous enemies and their fears. The story flows like the River Nile; the historic culture of this book makes it an enjoyable read, with much more to be developed within the next few books. 
The other great feature of this book involves the factual and detailed notes which are included, these will help younger readers to enhance their understanding and interest of ancient Egypt. 
I give this book three out of five - only due to the short nature of the story, I wonder if some of the stories could have been compiled into two books rather than four?


Another recommended read is Marissa Moss - The Pharaoh's Secret - See book review. 


Egyptian Chronicle Series:
Book One     The Spitting Cobra  Published by Bloomsbury 3 August 2009
Book Two     The Horned Viper    Published by Bloomsbury 5 October 2009
Book Three   The Sacred Scarab  Published by Bloomsbury 1 February 2010
Book Four     The Deathstalker    Published by Bloomsbury 5 April 2010


About the Author
Gill Harvey studied French and Philosophy at Oxford. After experimenting with a number of careers, she eventually got a job as a writer/editor at Usborne Publishing in 1994. Five years later, and having reached the position of Senior Editor and completed an MA in Modern Literature, Gill decided to go freelance. Since then, writing has become a way of life. Her love of horses has resulted in eight of the Heartland titles for Scholastic Inc under the name of Lauren Brooke; she has also written a couple of Hodder Children's Books Animal Ark series as Lucy Daniels. A year spent commuting to Egypt led to the writing of Orphan of the Sun, Gill's first book for Bloomsbury.

Marissa Moss - The Pharaoh's Secret - Book Review

Mr Ripley's Review

I liked the look of this book just from its cover appeal and so read it with great interest. I really love the Egyptian theme in books, the strong history and heritage that the Egyptians had. This book uses factual information as its main basis and then adds a little bit of fiction to enhance. This well thought-out story transports the reader back in time to the Land of the Pharaoh's, the great rulers of their time. The story is about finding one's true-self, through a child's eye, whilst living with the difficulties of loosing a parent (at an early age) and discovering the history of the family.
Talibah and Adom go on an ordinary holiday vacation to Egypt, when things start to go strange. Talibah starts to hear cryptic voices that whisper strange things.The brown swirls of life are depicted in every single page read. The pages flow like the River Nile and before you know it the story has ended.
The adventure takes on many twists and turns, with many aspects to keep you thinking. The nicely captured, inter-spaced drawings help with the on-going depiction of the story.
The books inspiration has been drawn from two significant aspects in Marisa Marr's life. A family trip to Egypt with her three children and the very tragic personal issue of her family dealing with the loss of a loved one. This gives the story a personal emotional focus which subtly deals with bereavement. It is heart-warming to see the story being tied up as a happy ending.
I will give this gem of a read four out of five, as I would have liked greater battle scenes with more blood and gore. Only kidding!!!!
I will be very interested to see what Marissa writes next, as she seems to have a diverse approach to writing.


Published by Amulet Books 1 October 2009 (Ages 9-12)

Synopsis

Filled with intrigue and surprises, The Pharaoh’s Secret includes Marissa Moss’s original illustrations throughout. The novel skillfully weaves history with a personal story full of heartache and family tensions that will entice and enthrall readers.

When Talibah and her younger brother, Adom, accompany their father, an academic, to his homeland of modern Egypt on his research assignment, they become involved in a mystery surrounding an ancient, lost pharaoh—a rare queen ruler. Someone has tried to wipe her from the record, to make it appear as if she never existed! She needs Talibah to help her and her high priest, Senenmut, reclaim their rightful place in history. Exotic locales, mysterious strangers, and a sinister archaeologist round out an adventure that is full of riddles, old tales, and, most surprisingly of all, a link to Talibah’s and Adom’s mother, who died mysteriously.

About the author

Marissa Moss is the author and illustrator of over 20 books for children, including the popular Amelia's Notebook series. She lives in Berkeley, California with her three children. For Marissa's latest title, Max's Logbook, she took inspiration from her son Elias. Elias had been urging his mother to write a book of experiments and inventions. He even helped his mother with the different experiments and inventions in the book by sharing his scientific logbooks from the many classes he took at the local science museum. Marissa also wanted to create a toy-like invention she could use in the comic strips she created for the book. Once again she turned to Elias for inspiration. Marissa had noticed Elias playing with a coffee can full of army and alien erasers. And thus, the Alien Eraser was born, the ultimate Max invention.

Book Review: Natasha Narayan - The Mummy Snatcher Of Memphis

I got this book in London this weekend,with many other books I wanted to read. This is the first book in a brand new adventure mystery series entitled "A Kit Slater Adventure."
Kit Slater,a girl with a taste for adventure gets herslf involved in one.

                               

On reading this book, it has all the qualities of Julia Golding's novels featuring the Cat Royale.
The book starts with a great theme, Victorian London's EastEnd. The story takes shape building up within the first few chapters. This fast paced and humorous romp lifts the story in search of the missing mummy and the secret scarab.The mystery then takes the reader to Egypt giving a great chance for good ending.

I loved reading this book as it has lots of quirky characters and a great Victorian flavour. Making this book stand out more then most. The only problem was the ending, as I felt the writer was unsure how to end it. I give this book Four out of Five a great read and a must for anyone who loves reading books by Julia Golding or those encompassing a Victorian theme. I'm looking forward to the next book especially to see how the end transpires.

Synopsis

When Kit Salter and her friends peek at a famed mummy in a museum chamber, they are shocked to discover rattles and moans coming from the box ...Inside is an Egyptian stowaway, determined to return a looted scarab and save his village. When the mummy is stolen too, the ensuing adventures puts the children fast on the heels of a villainous East End mob, and right into the heart of the Western Desert. But as the story climaxes in a temple, the villains and Kit find they have underestimated a stronger force - the terrible power of ancient Egypt.With a wonderfully spirited heroine and a cast of batty aunts, French adventurers and music hall villains, this is a fabulous first book in an exciting series set during the Age of Empire. Over the course of the next three books, Kit and her friends will hunt for soma, the elusive elixir of immortality, on the slopes of the Himalayas; solve the mystery of the Marie Celeste among pirates on the high seas, and track Inuit warriors through the Arctic wastes. They will battle to outwit their arch rivals: the ghastly Baker Brothers, collectors linked with slavery and opium running.

About the Author
Natasha Narayan was born in India but emigrated to England at the age of five. She has had many jobs in journalism including working as a war correspondent in Bosnia. Like Kit Salter, Natasha loves travelling and exploring new places. She hopes to get to see some of the far flung deserts and mountains of her heroine - even if it's by bus rather than camel and yak. She lives in Oxford.

Published by Quercus 5 March 2009