Take a photo of a barcode or cover
brennanlafaro 's review for:
Tomb of Gods
by Brian Moreland
I’m going to preface this by saying that I love when mythology twines together with my horror. Whether it be aspects of Greek, Norse, Celtic, Japanese, or in this case Egyptian, I love diving into the complex explanations and stories created by ancient cultures. When these stories break into the modern, or semi-modern day, driving into the lives of real people, I’m there for the ride. That said, this book had an A from the get-go, but it had to work to keep that A.
Tomb of Gods is precisely the type of novel I can never imagine myself writing. I mean, I would absolutely love to sign my name to something like this, but there’s an unparalleled depth of imagination on display here. It feels like everything, including the kitchen sink, is thrown at us, but it never feels like too much. The foundation is based heavily in Egyptian mythology, but Moreland is still able to put his own unique stamp on the world building that takes place here.
The story follows Imogen Riley, an Egyptologist whose Grandfather’s team disappears during an expedition. He reappears a year later covered head to toe in markings and symbols, and no longer in his right mind. Imogen leaps at an opportunity to retrace the steps of the expedition in question and try to unravel the mystery of what happened. What follows is a journey into the heart of Egyptian gods and lore, the underworld and afterlife associated with the mythology, and all the creatures that come along with it, some natural, some decidedly not. There is a kind of labyrinthian element to the way the dark realm leads our cast of characters through puzzles and challenges, ramping things up toward the conclusion.
The pacing here is top notch, using short chapters and consistent action to keep the reader perpetually engaged. I saw this book described somewhere as an R-rated version of Indiana Jones, and this comparison definitely works. There’s almost a moment where we go full Crystal Skull, but thankfully Moreland spares us and we end up with a satisfying conclusion that explores the origins of the main set of Egyptian gods.
Tomb of Gods freaked me out at some times, and entertained me at all others. People who enjoy horror interlaced with action and adventure will enjoy this. Anyone like me who likes mythology-based horror will love this.
I was given a copy by the publisher for review consideration.
Tomb of Gods is precisely the type of novel I can never imagine myself writing. I mean, I would absolutely love to sign my name to something like this, but there’s an unparalleled depth of imagination on display here. It feels like everything, including the kitchen sink, is thrown at us, but it never feels like too much. The foundation is based heavily in Egyptian mythology, but Moreland is still able to put his own unique stamp on the world building that takes place here.
The story follows Imogen Riley, an Egyptologist whose Grandfather’s team disappears during an expedition. He reappears a year later covered head to toe in markings and symbols, and no longer in his right mind. Imogen leaps at an opportunity to retrace the steps of the expedition in question and try to unravel the mystery of what happened. What follows is a journey into the heart of Egyptian gods and lore, the underworld and afterlife associated with the mythology, and all the creatures that come along with it, some natural, some decidedly not. There is a kind of labyrinthian element to the way the dark realm leads our cast of characters through puzzles and challenges, ramping things up toward the conclusion.
The pacing here is top notch, using short chapters and consistent action to keep the reader perpetually engaged. I saw this book described somewhere as an R-rated version of Indiana Jones, and this comparison definitely works. There’s almost a moment where we go full Crystal Skull, but thankfully Moreland spares us and we end up with a satisfying conclusion that explores the origins of the main set of Egyptian gods.
Tomb of Gods freaked me out at some times, and entertained me at all others. People who enjoy horror interlaced with action and adventure will enjoy this. Anyone like me who likes mythology-based horror will love this.
I was given a copy by the publisher for review consideration.