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bookish_withsky's review
4.0
Don’t we all love a big dumb idiot who doesn’t listen to locals when they warn him about exploring an old tomb because bad things will happen? It’s so fun yet irritating. I felt the same way when I watch “The Mummy” for the first time. The two have a different tones and relatively different plot as well, but still similar vibes. I’m not saying if you like one, you’ll like the other because they are different.
This was an incredibly quick read. It delivers everything it has promised in just 150 pages. I usually struggle with short stories because it’s hard to connect with the characters. however, I didn’t necessarily feel that way with this one. I didn’t absolutely care about the people we were reading about, I never connected to them the way I feel I usually do or can with a longer novel. This was so fun and interesting that I didn’t really care, though. I got what I came for : a spooky story about people digging around where they shouldn’t.
This was an incredibly quick read. It delivers everything it has promised in just 150 pages. I usually struggle with short stories because it’s hard to connect with the characters. however, I didn’t necessarily feel that way with this one. I didn’t absolutely care about the people we were reading about, I never connected to them the way I feel I usually do or can with a longer novel. This was so fun and interesting that I didn’t really care, though. I got what I came for : a spooky story about people digging around where they shouldn’t.
dipt_in_folly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mom_educator_reader's review
4.0
Finding the final resting place of Kiya, the lost queen of Akhenaten, was the lifelong work of Norman Haas’ wife. When she died and never saw her dream come to fruition, Norman was left with a hole in his heart. So the opportunity to explore the discovery was not something he could pass up. However, as soon as he arrives in the dying village of Al Tarfuk, it is clear that this tomb has remained a secret for a reason. While he battles the emotions of exploring a place so dear to his departed wife, he must also battle for his life.
This quick supernatural thriller was a great weekend read. The author did a great job painting a picture with his words, making me feel like I was in Egypt with the characters. I kept turning the pages, wanting to find out more about the mysteries behind the history. I loved the supernatural aspect to it. I would have loved a little more history woven into the story, perhaps through the development of the characters. It felt like we only got small glimpses of the two assistants and even the bodyguard, and they could have all played a bigger role. However, I thought the story was easy to follow and even left me surprised a few times.
This quick supernatural thriller was a great weekend read. The author did a great job painting a picture with his words, making me feel like I was in Egypt with the characters. I kept turning the pages, wanting to find out more about the mysteries behind the history. I loved the supernatural aspect to it. I would have loved a little more history woven into the story, perhaps through the development of the characters. It felt like we only got small glimpses of the two assistants and even the bodyguard, and they could have all played a bigger role. However, I thought the story was easy to follow and even left me surprised a few times.
bookfever's review
4.0
I think most of us had to have at least once had the thought of how cool it would be to be an archaeologist digging up Roman artifacts, finding Egyptian treasures or discovering lost Mayan cities. I'll admit I've had that thought once or twice in my life. At least until this book scared the shit out of me. But to be fair, I loved every page of it. My only "complaint" is that the story wasn't longer so I could've kept on reading. Because I would've done that with pleasure.
When Norman Haas' wife dies from cancer her last wish is to find the last resting place of Kiya, one of the wives of the infamous heretic pharaoh Akhenaten. Still grieving for his wives when he finally does find the tomb and planning on exploring it, something locals had warned him to not do, with his team of brilliant explorers he didn't expect to find himself trapped inside along it with his colleagues with no apparant way out. When the omnious whispers surround them and people start to die, they begin to realize that something dark and ancient is stalking them.
I was impressed with how such a short book (around 150 pages) could leave such an impact. I'm by no means an expert in the genre but it definitely didn't feel like a typical supernatural thriller. There was a lot of relevant themes involved like grief, loss, death. And that gave the book an edge that some other books might not have per se, in my opinion.
Of course there were also a lot of scary and macabre moments that made me think archaeologists should just leave tombs alone. There was also this intense claustrophobic feeling the moment Norman and the other characters started entering the tomb that almost had me gasping for breath myself. Which only gives more credit to the author for being able to write such a dark atmosphere. I would highly recommend this book!
When Norman Haas' wife dies from cancer her last wish is to find the last resting place of Kiya, one of the wives of the infamous heretic pharaoh Akhenaten. Still grieving for his wives when he finally does find the tomb and planning on exploring it, something locals had warned him to not do, with his team of brilliant explorers he didn't expect to find himself trapped inside along it with his colleagues with no apparant way out. When the omnious whispers surround them and people start to die, they begin to realize that something dark and ancient is stalking them.
I was impressed with how such a short book (around 150 pages) could leave such an impact. I'm by no means an expert in the genre but it definitely didn't feel like a typical supernatural thriller. There was a lot of relevant themes involved like grief, loss, death. And that gave the book an edge that some other books might not have per se, in my opinion.
Of course there were also a lot of scary and macabre moments that made me think archaeologists should just leave tombs alone. There was also this intense claustrophobic feeling the moment Norman and the other characters started entering the tomb that almost had me gasping for breath myself. Which only gives more credit to the author for being able to write such a dark atmosphere. I would highly recommend this book!