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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
The new school year doesn't seem promising. Terry's still dealing with the grief of losing her mother, struggling to get used to her crippled leg, plus trying to deal with fitting in at a new school in a new continent. It only gets worse when her father falls into a coma and his creepy colleague insists that she's the only one who can break the curse... by solving the mystery of the ancient Egyptian asp that went missing from the museum 50 years ago.
On the surface, ASP of Ascension is typical teenage girl fodder. There's the outcast girl--well, girls--who are awesomely kickass, the handsome basketball star who is paying attention to them, the jealous girlfriend who'll stop at nothing, and a real honest-to-goodness Prince (even if he's Egyptian). There's flirting and awkwardness and new love and...
...there's the mystery. The new Egyptian display includes what's rumoured to be Cleopatra's sarcophagus--the very same one Terry's mother died trying to find. Here's where Myers shows her twisty depths. Nothing is what it seems, and not everyone is who they're supposed to be. Everyone has secrets--but which ones are dangerous?
Overall, the novel is a fun read--light enough to keep you entertained, mysterious enough to keep you hooked, and with just the amount of teenage silliness to keep you charmed.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
On the surface, ASP of Ascension is typical teenage girl fodder. There's the outcast girl--well, girls--who are awesomely kickass, the handsome basketball star who is paying attention to them, the jealous girlfriend who'll stop at nothing, and a real honest-to-goodness Prince (even if he's Egyptian). There's flirting and awkwardness and new love and...
...there's the mystery. The new Egyptian display includes what's rumoured to be Cleopatra's sarcophagus--the very same one Terry's mother died trying to find. Here's where Myers shows her twisty depths. Nothing is what it seems, and not everyone is who they're supposed to be. Everyone has secrets--but which ones are dangerous?
Overall, the novel is a fun read--light enough to keep you entertained, mysterious enough to keep you hooked, and with just the amount of teenage silliness to keep you charmed.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
I am an adult who happens to enjoy the Young Adult genre. It's refreshing to read a book that isn't overloaded with sex so instead it has to rely on a good plot.
The ASP OF ASCENSION reminds me in a way of my time in high school. I wasn't dealing with disappearances and all that but I did change schools often and my rules were quite similar to Terry's. I enjoyed watching as Terry starts to work her way through the grief at the loss of her mother and begins to make friends.
The secondary characters are well portrayed and add much to the story from Maude's optimism to Fraser's cluelessness. Some of their circumstances were worth a chuckle, other's made me rather annoyed at the cruelty of people.
I would recommend ASP OF ASCENSION to any reader who enjoys young adult and mysteries. And it is rated T for a reason. There are violent scenes along with some risque dialogue.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
It's a very interesting story about ancient curses and modern teenagers. It's well-written and all the characters are well-developed. I loved both Terry and Maude, they're two unlikeliest of friends but willing to do anything for each other. Story is full of intrigue, mystery, teenage drama, and some action. It's a thrilling adventurous books which all YA readers will enjoy.
Terry is going to school for the first time. After being with her parents and every dig site, it seem strange to b back in America and attending school as if everything is normal in her life. But she is willing to make the best of it. Now all she needs is to stay invisible. Unfortunately for her, she stands out. Soon school's mean girl is after her blood, her father is in the hospital and Prince of Egypt wants to go out with her. In short her life is quite interesting. In all this mess she has Maude on her side. A friend who will stick with her no matter what. It's not all bad, she just needs to find the asp of Cleopatra and everything will go back to normal..... or so she thought....
I loved reading it, It was very balanced book which will keep readers engrossed from very beginning until the end.
Terry is going to school for the first time. After being with her parents and every dig site, it seem strange to b back in America and attending school as if everything is normal in her life. But she is willing to make the best of it. Now all she needs is to stay invisible. Unfortunately for her, she stands out. Soon school's mean girl is after her blood, her father is in the hospital and Prince of Egypt wants to go out with her. In short her life is quite interesting. In all this mess she has Maude on her side. A friend who will stick with her no matter what. It's not all bad, she just needs to find the asp of Cleopatra and everything will go back to normal..... or so she thought....
I loved reading it, It was very balanced book which will keep readers engrossed from very beginning until the end.
If you enjoy present day mysteries that tangle with ancient artifacts, then you should try the Nefertari Hughes books. "Terry" as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of archaeologists. When her mother dies in an accident on a dig and Terry is severely injured, her father decides to move somewhere safer to start over. That is how they end up in the cold of New England, with her father working at a museum that is run by an old school friend. Nothing feels right to Terry. She misses the warmth of Egypt, the food, her friend Awad, her mother... High school is a nightmare. The limp from her injury makes her feel awkward, she has managed to incur the wrath of the reigning cheer leading captain, and their history assignment on Cleopatra brings up too many painful memories. How will she navigate the world of ball games, dates, and school projects without her mother's guidance? And when it seems things can't get any worse, they do.
Join Terry and her friends (Maude, Fraser, and Zach), as they try to survive high school, solve a 50-year-old mystery, save Terry's dad from a deadly threat, and maybe even manage to complete their class project and find time for a date. Plenty of suspense, murky motives, personal and ancient history, drama, romantic tension, and bad guys/gals. Recommended for ages 12+ who enjoy mystery, a smidgen of romance, and stories where the protagonist rises above challenges.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Join Terry and her friends (Maude, Fraser, and Zach), as they try to survive high school, solve a 50-year-old mystery, save Terry's dad from a deadly threat, and maybe even manage to complete their class project and find time for a date. Plenty of suspense, murky motives, personal and ancient history, drama, romantic tension, and bad guys/gals. Recommended for ages 12+ who enjoy mystery, a smidgen of romance, and stories where the protagonist rises above challenges.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Asp of Ascension is like Night at the Museum mixed with the humour of Mean Girls with a dollop of darkness from Should I Stay.
B.R. Myers introduces us to Nefartari Hughes (or Terry as she understandably prefers to be called). She’s every girl who went to high school and tried their best to ride through the middle of the crowd with their elbows in (so me for sure) with the added baggage of the traumatic loss of her mother.
What sets Terry apart (much to her dismay at times) is her archaeologist parents who have passed on to her their love and understanding of ancient Egypt. What makes Terry special however is that she is starving for real relationships and has no idea how to be in one. Whether it is with she and Maud (a fantastic character who I wish I’d had the balls to be in high school) or with Zach, the prototype jock who turns out to be so much more than that.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I laughed reading this book, remembering parallel moments in my own life. I know that Terry is the hero of this story, but I have to say, I fell in love with Maud and her little family. Myers does a great job of bringing the corridors of high school to life and the dialogue rings true of the age group too. I happen to LOVE all things having to do with pharaohs so reading about Egypt and Cleopatra is just icing on the cake of a great read.
B.R. Myers introduces us to Nefartari Hughes (or Terry as she understandably prefers to be called). She’s every girl who went to high school and tried their best to ride through the middle of the crowd with their elbows in (so me for sure) with the added baggage of the traumatic loss of her mother.
What sets Terry apart (much to her dismay at times) is her archaeologist parents who have passed on to her their love and understanding of ancient Egypt. What makes Terry special however is that she is starving for real relationships and has no idea how to be in one. Whether it is with she and Maud (a fantastic character who I wish I’d had the balls to be in high school) or with Zach, the prototype jock who turns out to be so much more than that.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I laughed reading this book, remembering parallel moments in my own life. I know that Terry is the hero of this story, but I have to say, I fell in love with Maud and her little family. Myers does a great job of bringing the corridors of high school to life and the dialogue rings true of the age group too. I happen to LOVE all things having to do with pharaohs so reading about Egypt and Cleopatra is just icing on the cake of a great read.
Truly enjoyed this book which was a combination of mystery, fantasy and contemporary.
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**ASP of Ascension is the first in the young adult Nefertari Hughes Mystery series by B.R. Myers. I really enjoyed ASP of Ascension and I am really digging the cover of the book. It reminds me so much of an Egyptian version of the old school Nancy Drew book covers. Which I completely love. I also love all things Egypt so I found this book particularly interesting. It centers around a very important and secret exhibit coming to a small town, and a curse surrounding it- Cleopatra sarcophagus!
Terry, short for Nefertari, starts at a new school because her dad, who is a famous archeologist, is bringing a secret exhibit to town. I really liked Terry. I found her trips with her parents to be fascinating, and as painful as it was for her, I really enjoyed the glimpses into her past that we got. Espically that fateful trip into the fourth chamber where she was injured, and she lost her mom. Not to mention all of the curse business. I loved that I think the most.
The only thing that I found a bit hard to believe was how famous her dad seemed to be. The kids at the school all seemed to be very up on him and his discoveries, which I found a bit odd. I certainly didn't know about different archeologists and their discoveries when I was in high school, but then again it was a small town, so who knows. Other than how star struck people seemed to be by Terry's dad ASP of Ascension. It is a really fun story. Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, The Mummy and Egyptian mythology. I can't wait to read the next Nefertari Hughes Mystery!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Terry, short for Nefertari, starts at a new school because her dad, who is a famous archeologist, is bringing a secret exhibit to town. I really liked Terry. I found her trips with her parents to be fascinating, and as painful as it was for her, I really enjoyed the glimpses into her past that we got. Espically that fateful trip into the fourth chamber where she was injured, and she lost her mom. Not to mention all of the curse business. I loved that I think the most.
The only thing that I found a bit hard to believe was how famous her dad seemed to be. The kids at the school all seemed to be very up on him and his discoveries, which I found a bit odd. I certainly didn't know about different archeologists and their discoveries when I was in high school, but then again it was a small town, so who knows. Other than how star struck people seemed to be by Terry's dad ASP of Ascension. It is a really fun story. Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, The Mummy and Egyptian mythology. I can't wait to read the next Nefertari Hughes Mystery!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Terry Hughes has had a rough year. While on an archaeological dig with her parents, a cave-in permanently damages her leg and kills her mom. Now, months later, it’s time to reveal the artifacts from that dig -- the final treasures of Mrs. Hughes’s life’s work -- to the world. Terry thought it was just a bunch of coins. She didn’t know they found a sarcophagus after the accident, much less the sarcophagus of Cleopatra! The only way to open it safely is using Cleopatra’s asp, though, and that was stolen 50 years ago from the very museum in which they are setting up the exhibit. Crazy Dr. Mullaca thinks Terry is the key to finding the asp. How do you find a relic that’s been missing for 50 years though?
Asp of Ascension had a bit of a retro feel to it. Aside from the occasional use of cell phones (usually by people other than Terry) and some discussion about the unrest in Egypt this could have been set in the 1990s. Which was kind of nice. Nostalgic. Terry clearly has no use for social media and may not even know it exists. She turns her cell phone off at bedtime and runs the battery down repeatedly. She also climbs a fire escape to her boyfriend Zach’s apartment because she forgot phones were useful (“She rolled her eyes to the sky. She was so stupid. Why hadn’t she called him from downstairs?”). In short, she’s hard to reach. Even when she does get Zach’s texts, she often leaves him hanging. It`s refreshing to see technology left in the background. It`s still essential to the story – a weird text from her dad keeps Terry wondering, best friend Maude googles the gorgeous Prince Kamal, and another friend uses his special access to the local paper’s database to discover important information for her. The tech just isn’t the focal point.
The powerful asp IS. They think about it and search for it. When Terry finally does find it, she also finds it is not just a relic. It makes her stronger than she ever was before, though the strength does come at a price. Actually, the asp it comes with different prices, depending on how she chooses to use it…
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
Asp of Ascension had a bit of a retro feel to it. Aside from the occasional use of cell phones (usually by people other than Terry) and some discussion about the unrest in Egypt this could have been set in the 1990s. Which was kind of nice. Nostalgic. Terry clearly has no use for social media and may not even know it exists. She turns her cell phone off at bedtime and runs the battery down repeatedly. She also climbs a fire escape to her boyfriend Zach’s apartment because she forgot phones were useful (“She rolled her eyes to the sky. She was so stupid. Why hadn’t she called him from downstairs?”). In short, she’s hard to reach. Even when she does get Zach’s texts, she often leaves him hanging. It`s refreshing to see technology left in the background. It`s still essential to the story – a weird text from her dad keeps Terry wondering, best friend Maude googles the gorgeous Prince Kamal, and another friend uses his special access to the local paper’s database to discover important information for her. The tech just isn’t the focal point.
The powerful asp IS. They think about it and search for it. When Terry finally does find it, she also finds it is not just a relic. It makes her stronger than she ever was before, though the strength does come at a price. Actually, the asp it comes with different prices, depending on how she chooses to use it…
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.