The Horus Road (Hardcover)

The books were also too predictable. She often tells what's going to happen instead of building the story to surprise us or at least provide a better sense of eventfulness.

I liked the language. However, it was barely character-distinctive, if at all. There're unanswered questions. What was Tani's fate? She could've said it in the epilogue (although granted, I pretty much skimmed over it so maybe I missed something).

Considering the mundanity of this book, I was surprised when it was moving. A few times I was moved to laughter or sorrow, etc. I suspect that high sales were due to the theme or setting (ancient Egypt, which isn't common for a novel), as opposed to the writer's skill or talent.

I am usually totally lost when any author tries to describe multi-focal battle scenes, but I found her descriptions easy to envision. I thank Ms. Gedge for including a map, creating a cast of memorable characters, and illustrating many aspects of everyday life in "royal" Egypt. Her descriptive talents allow one to visualize meals, dress, the struggles of daily life, human frailties, and even complex religious customs and rituals.

It's ending was a little anticlimactic...perhaps a sequel? Ahmose's second son, Amunhotep, becomes the next pharaoh. It made me wonder what happened to his first stepson, or even if he was an historical figure.

I'm definitely adding Ahmose to my Historical Hunks and Heroes list. I am pleased to add this trilogy to my library.

They were, in general, very interesting, well paced books with enough reflection by and with each character that I could identify with them as sympathetic human beings, possessing all the emotional features that make us human. I thought from time to time some of the players stepped out of character, but that was excusable, and only slightly irksome.

The ending gave me the biggest fits. Where did it go? The epilogue was in reality not an epilogue at all, but the final chapter of the story. Epilogues give a brief synopsis of people and events subsequent to the action of the story. This was missing altogether. Something regarding the reign of Ahmose and a quick rundown on what became of the main characters would have been nice. I don't want to be too specific on this subject; I don't want to dissuade anyone who may be interested from reading these books, but if you have read them, you know what I'm talking about. This is more than a wish on my part for a continuation. There really were several dangling loose ends that needed tying up.

Would I recommend these books to a friend? If I knew their tastes ran to historical adventure fiction, yes. I just wish Ms. Gedge would consider adding a real epilogue to a future edition.