From Publishers Weekly
Born with his eyes wide open--a sure sign of the gods' displeasure--Prahotepstet has been plagued with bad luck and has failed to find success in any trade. When the 17-year-old stumbles across Hathor, the last dragon in Egypt, he finds his metier and fulfills his destiny. When Hathor requests his assistance in her escape to Nubia in search of fellow dragons, the usually unlucky boy suddenly finds the gods and a little fortune on his side. Bradshaw maintains a breakneck pace throughout the eventful, dangerous journey, on which the pair are pursued by an evil magician. Battles between wit and magic, brain and brawn abound, yet for all the clever plot twists a certain depth is missing. Hathor lacks the majesty and mystery that the wealth of dragon lore suggests while Egypt, with all its colorful possibilities, remains an undefined, distant country. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-- Prahotep, the son of a poor fisherman, has been cursed with bad luck. Sent to Thebes by his dying father to find a new trade since "clearly the gods never meant for him to be a fisherman," the boy fails a series of apprenticeships and ends up in a gang of prisoners and laborers cutting stone. More trials follow, but through kindness and loyalty to others, Prahotep finally sees his luck change for the better. His story begins as a historical novel set in ancient Egypt, including authentic background about the setting and the culture. His many career failures strain credibility, but are followed by some exciting adventures. Willing suspension of disbelief is most easily reached when Prahotep finally meets a sophisticated and well-spoken dragon, and the story moves into complete fantasy. However, this shift could prove confusing to those unable to discern where reality ends and myth-making begins. The hero is a sympathetic character whose adventures become more compelling as they progress. With a totally fictional setting, this could be a good fantasy adventure. In this case, historical background adds interest but muddles the issues. --Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
