I read this book to learn something about 18th dynasty Egypt prior to an Egyptian tour. Enjoyable story peppered with historical details about Egypt that time period. Fun intro to the era. Looking forward to volume 2 in the series

Good story of life in Ancient Egypt but left me hanging with no continuation of the story at the end. What happen to Scarab?

This story provides a spectator view of life in Ancient Egypt during the time of the Heretic, Pharaoh Akhenaten. Many unanswered questions from this time period are theorized in a logical manner based on known evidence. What happened to Queen Nefertiti? Were Nefertiti and Smenkhere the same person? What was life like in the capital city known as Akhenaten? How did the person who became Akhenaten establish the worship of one god over the many gods favored in Egypt? An exhilarating story of intrigue, innocence, corruption, love, and life in the greatest ancient civilization the world has ever known portrayed in a plausible and fascinating way.

I like Egyptian history and culture.

Great book! Really recommend this entire series, it's amazingly well researched and awesome for anyone into Egyptian history and mythology.

Quite enjoyable history. I found it informative as well as charming

Quite a gripping read! The Akhenaten story told in a different way, well researched and full of interesting daily-life details, and not only from the Palace! I can only recommand this book to others and myself buy the next in the series!!

Yes, it's a long series. Yes it's historical fiction. Yes, there is academic bits to anchor the place and the daily life. So what? It is more credible than Vampires or the inbreeding of European/Asia nobles. It does bring the ancient world into a more human perspective. It frighteningly shows how slowly change comes especially with a philosopher King. And what does a power have to do to maintain regional peace? all in all a book series which could be a young adult book or a more mature reader's entrance to an Egyptian trip if one didn't want to read current guide books.

Not just a great story ,the information detailing Egyptian life and rituals is vast. You get a great read and educational value as well. Can't wait to start book two. Gordon Craig

Providing clear details and imaginative characters, Scarab tells the story of the discovery of an Egyptian tomb in the present day, and then flashes back to the story of the tomb's owner. As a fan of fiction set in Ancient Egypt I found this easy to follow and did not find it bogged down by too many info-dumps.

Found it a very interesting read, lots of twist and turns, looking forward to the next book in the series.

I have been interested in the history of Akhenaten for some time, and was delighted to find this fictional account. A really good, believable take on this strange man. A great idea to follow the fortunes of one person (Scarab) as she interacts with all the famous and infamous characters of the time. I have also now bought the other five books in the series - have read the second, so far and have started the third.

I had not read anything about this period of Egyptian history until this book, and to read a story laid out from the viewpoint of a Pharaoh's youngest daughter was really interesting. Well written and entertaining.

It took a while to get into it but the historical research is second to none and am looking forward to reading the series

Max Overton has certainly done his research. He sweeps one back into time, making one feel that they are actually there. His knowledge of the warfare of that era is excellent. However, I have read that Nefertiti was the warrior queen and not Scarab but that could be poetic license. I particularly like the way he has developed the character Scarab from her childhood to maturity. Max is also gifted with insight in his weaving of the emotions of women and men. It was such a good read that I have purchased all of the Amarnan Kings' books. He cleverly made the endings a prerequisite for seeking the next book. Well done!

I had never read ancient Egypt stories before, but wanted to know more after reading Ms McCullochs Anthony and Cleopatra(Masters of Rome series, which along with O'Briens Master and Commander series, the best historical novels ever, I think so anyway!). I found all the Scarab books great,and they are longish, good for quick readers .The characters are fascinating, and since reading these books I have read other series with similar Egyptian themes.But to me ,these are my favourites, better by far than most.There is a lot of drama and revenge and bloodshed .Nice to have a female hero too.I cant comment on the historical accuracy but the author gives reasons for his take on it, and however true to the actual events ,it is a great story.well worth buying or get a sample and see.

I love Egyptian stuff and this one gave me new insight into their kings and their queens and the drama.

I love the eighteenth dynasty, and I can't wait to read all the books in this series. Scarab was so good I could not put it down. I just started book 2 and again I can hardly put it down.

I'm only two thirds of the way through this book. It's an entertaining story set in an interesting period of Egyptian history. Well written with plenty of detail to be absorbed. The characters and plot seem to be playing out well. Have already decided to buy the next installment.

Was a very slow start compared to the Mules series . Names hard to keep track of. But guess understandable given the biopic nature of the whole complete series to introduce all the characters. Looking forward to the next installment as the story has picked up pace....

I found the story almost like a documentary, gripping and real. I am now very interested in The period of Akhenaten and his efforts to install a one God regimen over Egypt fascinating.

Well I took a chance on this based on reviews. Thanks folks because I really enjoyed it. The day I finished I bought book 2. I won't read it next, but nice to have it in the hopper.

Love this book. The writing is so good, it's hard to put it down. Truly a page turner, after reading this one I intend to get the whole Amarnan collection on my Kindle fire. If you like all things Ancient Egypt, you'll love this book.

If you like fiction told by the main character, based in places and with people from history you will love this read.

SCARAB is a very enjoyable fictional novel with many accurate details about what life was like in Ancient Egypt. Everyday archeologists and anthropologists are finding new clues to old civilizations. I really enjoyed the picture Mr. Overton captured into the lives of the regular people as well as the royal families. I am keeping this novel forever and will read further Max Overton tales.

Max Overton - Master Wordsmith. Honestly..... buy it!! Buy it! Buy it! Buy it! Then Wishlist the next four books in the series, put the kettle on and get ready for a REAL story. It was captivating and thought provoking. This book is just one "chapter" of a long lifetime which is covered from start to finish through the five books in the series. My review today is not only about this book but the entire series. Mr Overton has taken a name that history has remembered only twice and blown the breath of life into a strong, vibrant young woman. Her entire life....with all the hardship, the betrayals, the scheming plotting relatives, the love, the loss, the fear, the joy, the....LIFE! Life in all it's ugly, painful, joyous, beautiful, messy glory. The style of writing is very clever and very insightful. Mr Overton has shared a lot of historical fact throughout the story adding authenticity to Scarab's life. At other times, he's drawn on Biblical inspiration and raised some interesting questions. The story is told not purely from Scarab's point of view, but occasionally switches to other significant characters too, giving us some insight into their motives and mannerisms. I didn't notice any typo's or grammatical errors. Great plot - heaps of twists along the way. Fascinating characters - whom I either loved and loathed depending on their role in the story. I don't think I've ever hated a "bad guy" more than Ay. Beautiful setting(s) - makes me want to buy a plane ticket and see it for myself but I was there... I saw Kemet! I saw the White Walls and the temples, I saw the hot desert and I sailed the river along with Scarab. It takes a true wordsmith to take you back to ancient Kemet. Some fascinating theories about the Exodus.... it's so plausible. It takes a great mind to piece all of that together and tell such a wonderful story in such a skilful manner. The start and close of each book is set in 1940's (...or was it the 30's....??) Syria and by the end of the series I was deeply invested in the archaeological team despite their "small" part in the story. That was clever Mr Overton....that was just pure unadulterated clever.

Looking for a book that details life in ancient egypt, not just the historical details, but bringing the story to life by involving the reader in the day to day lives of the ordinary citizens, but also the kings and queens of their time and the intrigues of daily life. The author has managed to amalgamate known facts with an amazing made up scenario that makes the reader totally believe what he is reading. I have become totally involved with the characters of this first instalment of these books,that I have puchased the further 4 other books in the series. Needless to say that I have not been disapointed in doing so. At the present moment up to half way through Book 3. Brilliant!!!!!!. Totally involved with the characters and can't wait for more.

What a joy to read (and own) Overton's "Scarab-Akhenaten" (book #1). Max did his homework and wrote a masterpiece...and what a ride it is! And best of all, it was offered in PAPERBACK (as well as kindle). I can't do kindle (eyestrain), and frankly, I love the independence of real books in paperback and hardcover. If the grid goes down, I can still happily read. Book #1 of his "Scarab' series is SO good that I desperately want to read books #2 - #5 ... but I can't, because they're only offered in kindle forrmat. That ain't right. Not all of us are fans of ebooks. I wrote to the publisher (writers exchange.com) and perhaps they will disregard my feedback as a memo from a dinosaur. But Overton's "Scarab-Akhenaten" is a real GIFT to my library, and to yours. How I wish that we could have the freedom to choose paperback (or kindle). This would increase book sales too.

Ok, I gave this book a try; I love historical fiction, the more ancient the better. No one knows for sure what happened that far back, tantalizing clues and some historical records are all we have and I've seen some pretty strange interpretations of the clues. This book not only delivers on a rational and reasonable explanation but does it in a manner that draws you in completely. It drew me in so far that, even though I knew I was getting close to the it, the end came as a complete surprise and threw me right out of the story. I bumped down and quickly proceeded to download the next book. I enjoy the world Overton has created and will most definitely visit more of it.

Wonderful story, well-written historical fiction. What a wonderful find. Thank you, Mr. Overton, for taking me on a trip to ancient Egypt. I cannot wait to read all the books of the series. Books 2 & 3 are already in my iPad library. Thank you especially for omitting the vulgarity and gratuitous sex that so many other authors feel compelled to weave into their books, which add nothing to the story line.

The authors meticulous research on Egyptian building evolution from wood to stone explained in an engaging story with many subplots of love and intrigue. Cant wait to keep reading!

Hi! I bought this book because the author is the president of our writers association, and because he is a former soldier and a career policeman. So I knew it would be good, and I was right! Vince Torelli, the hero, is a likeable protagonist because he is a good father, a loyal and friendly police partner, a loving husband, and a strong leader. His relationships are all solid, except, of course, for anyone who is trying to kill him. In those instances, he is courageous and intelligent. That’s the foundation of good suspense, as Schembra shows us. If we care about the character, then we, as readers, are quickly sucked up into the story. And that’s what happened to me. I particularly enjoyed how Schembra told parts of the story from the point of view of the killer but without revealing his identity. The writing is clever and well-plotted, with lush descriptions of nature and other sensory details. The twist at the end was well done and non-obvious clues were planted throughout. Five stars!

Firstly, this book is well worth the money for the length alone. It’s the size of two or three YA books, and well paced to boot. On top of that, the main character has a compelling journey and is a delight to read. People use “strong female character” as an insult a lot, but our MC Wren is a much more balanced take on the trope. Powerful and competent enough to solve most of her own problems while remaining real and multi-faceted enough to be vulnerable and ask for help when she’s at a breaking point. The rest of the cast is colorful and intriguing. You never quite know who to trust, which kept me on my toes a bit. The pacing is pretty good, especially as the story goes on. There’s a lot of action at the start before diving into magic and the political intrigue of one of the most powerful families within the Ring Realms (as far as I can tell). I especially recommend the book for those who wanted more action, less romance, and a fair bit more death in Throne of Glass

a good vegas local detective novel

I like all of her books. I have all of them so far.

I recently completed John Schembra's novel: Retribution. Generally, I am apt to lose interest in a book fairly quick, but not so with this one. I can unequivocally recommend it as a good read. Clues were subtly dropped, and at times were so ingenious the clue went unseen, cloaked only in shadows. The action scenes were fast, good and credible. The picture was painted with such a skillful hand I could 'see' the scenes unfold. Think I'll go shopping for another Schembra novel. Happy Reading,

1this holiday story from Christine DeSmet is a perfect winter read. The Door County setting is a delightful remembrance of this lovely area. As soon as I began reading, I felt at home with familiar characters, They all sparkle, just like Ava's fudge. I am looking forward to the next book. This is one of my favorite series.

What a delightful treat to discover Christine DeSmet's Holly Jolly Fudge Folly! Ava Oosterling is the memorable narrator of this great blend of a whodunnit and a lovely holiday story. The novel is set in Fishers' Harbor, in Door County, Wisconsin, and DeSmet packs her fast-paced story with the tantalizing aroma of fudge, wonderful descriptions of a snowy Main Street, and cultural details such as Belgian skritek, or gnomes, and Scandinavian elves known as nissen. This is a great read and I look forward to exploring more of DeSmet's work.

The 6th in the Door County Fudge Shop cozy mystery series! Ava Oosterling is back with fudge, fudge, and more fudge! And snow! And the death of a tax assessor whose latest assessments may mean the death of Fisher's Harbor as we know it. And of course, Ava's grandfather is in the thick of it all. A holiday adventure, complete with snow, gnomes, and elves from Belgian (and other Scandinavian) folklore. When Ava finds the dead tax assessor a week before her best friend's wedding, and learns her grandfather is a prime suspect, she digs into the case, much to the chagrin of the local sheriff (again 🙂 ). Not only that, but someone (or something) has been leaving little gifts for her. Are the elves teasing her? Are there gnomes looking out for her? This is another great adventure in Wisconsin's "Cape Cod" that doesn't disappoint. And it includes Ava's latest fudge recipe!

Christine DeSmet's Holly Jolly Fudge is set in Wisconsin's vacation wonderland Door County during the "off-season"--Christmastime. This makes for a wonderful blend of cozy mystery and a holiday story. The characters are from DeSmet's regular in-season series and wonderfully relatable. The mystery is fun and not so easy to guess who dunnit. And the holiday backdrop makes all that more fun. I enjoyed this book a lot!

Sometimes you feel like a full meal. Other times you want a tasty snack. A Moonstone Wedding is the delectable bite you sneak in before dinner. This novella is a quick read filled with giggles, farcical situations, and non-stop action. When Margie Mueller receives a fertility rug from her fiancé’s family before the wedding, the older bride worries her mother-in-law and husband might expect her to pull off a miracle. After the family descends on Moonstone from Italy, Margie receives a threatening note…and then the first body appears. The clash of cultures between Wisconsin and Italy makes for plenty of laughs. The mystery is light as is suitable for a novella. The killer’s motive addresses a surprisingly heavy subject for a humorous novella, but author Desmet keeps it light with twists and farce. This is a fun read to slip in between novels, such as Desmet’s Fudge Shop mysteries.

Although I don't usually read cozy mysteries, I was looking for a change of pace as the holidays approached. Good move! The characters touched my heart from the get-go. I cheered for them, cried for them, worried about them. I'm sending a copy to a friend for Christmas.

Datiles deglet son gustosos y suficientemente tiernos

The story unfolds in the picturesque village of Fishers’ Harbor where the scent of fudge wafts through the air, blending seamlessly with the rich history of Door County, Wisconsin. Ava Oosterling is preparing her Blue Heron Inn for Christmas guests and the upcoming wedding of her best friend. When a murder shakes the tranquil village to its core, eight residents, each with their own secrets and motives, become the focal point of the investigation. Among them is Ava’s grandfather, adding a personal touch to the suspense. DeSmet’s story is filled with intricate relationships, suspicions, and hidden agendas, leaving readers guessing until the very end. This latest addition to the Fudge Shop Cozy Mystery Series is a delightful blend of history, mystery, and mouthwatering fudge. With its well-drawn characters, intricate plot twists, and a setting that comes alive on the page, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. Be prepared for a journey through Door County that will have you craving fudge and another book from DeSmet’s captivating series. A great holiday gift for lovers of the genre and Door County.

I was an early ARC reader for Christine DeSmet’s newest book, "Holly Jolly Fudge Folly"—the sixth book in her Fudge Shop Cozy Mystery Series. Ava Oosterling is preparing her Blue Heron Inn for guests and stocking her shared-with-her-grandfather Oosterling’s Live Bait, Bobbers, Belgium Fudge, and Beer Shop for the upcoming Saint Nicholas Festival in Fishers’ Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin. The busy Christmas holidays are quickly approaching as Ava makes batches of holiday fudge for her shop and prepares to be the maid of honor for her best friend, Pauline—with her authentic Victorian wedding—as well as deepening her rekindled relationship with her ex-husband, Dillon, and their new engagement. But when the county’s tax assessor is found stabbed to death in his car, buried under a pile of fresh snow packed in from the plow driver—who happened to be her grandfather during an angry rage to get back at the real plow driver for smashing his mailbox—the festive holidays are tarnished with not only the sheriff’s investigation into the assessor's death but also Ava’s determination to find the killer and clear her grandfather of any wrong-doings despite the evidence stacked against him. DeSmet’s description of Door County is wonderful. She gives her readers a true sense of place in the story, with accurate historical details in the landscape, area harbor towns, and the settling families in the area of Scandinavian, Icelandic, and Belgian decent. Her cast of characters are deeply individual and believable. But what DeSmet does best is cast doubt on who committed the murder and why. Eight village people head up the list of possible suspects, including Ava’s grandfather, but when someone is considered the culprit, more motives are revealed, creating doubt with the previous suspects and implicating new ones. Readers will turn pages until almost the end before discovering “who done it.” Cozy mysteries are not a genre I normally read. However, I think DeSmet’s fans as well as new readers of the Fudge Shop Mystery Series will enjoy "Holly Jolly Fudge Folly." DeSmet even includes a recipe for Holly Jolly Folly Fudge at the back of the book for readers to make and enjoy. Overall, I thought it was an entertaining story—I found myself needing to read on to see who actually committed the murder. The novel would make a great holiday gift for those who love a good cozy mystery, especially one set in Door County, Wisconsin.

I read this book to learn something about 18th dynasty Egypt prior to an Egyptian tour. Enjoyable story peppered with historical details about Egypt that time period. Fun intro to the era. Looking forward to volume 2 in the series

The descriptive language of this book is such a treat it hooks you from the very first line. Language aside, the plot is gripping and character-driven. A saga you can grow with.

What it says above…. This volume was a little repetitive in places, i think we all know by now that Scarab was the last daughter of Nebmaatre Amenhotep III. But it was a satisfying read on the whole. A lot of subplots get resolved.

Part of a series individually ore read as the series progresses it is well done

Max Overton is an acclaimed historical fiction writer on ancient Egypt. He authored 23 books on this subject including this one and I read all of them. His first 20 books cover New Kingdom, then Second Intermediate Period and then he started this 10 book series on Old Kingdom and this book is the third one. His deep research on the subject always makes his book most readable. In this book though there is not much of pyramid building but I find it interesting to learn about the ancient Egyptian way of living, their medical and social practices, usual human vices and virtues. This is part of a series, if you don’t read the first two you will not enjoy or appreciate this one. I look forward eagerly to his next books of this series.

Great read cannot wait for next book

well i was surprised to see this type of foray for this author. when i saw that it took place in oregon i had to read it. as a resident of oregon i can say that even though the story unfolds in a fictional town and newspaper the landmarks and other cultural type of details are true to the state. In my minds eye i could follow geographic storyline allowing me to imagine the fictional town as it might be. The science of climate change is scary and this book prompted me to research a bit on carbon capture. Not only an entertaining novel but thought provoking.

I am on the fourth book of this series. If you’re like stories about ancient Egypt and intrigue this is the series for you. Max Overton really knows how to pull a story together with a lot of action. This volume is about the life and demise of Tutankhamen. You will enjoy.

I loved the book's imagery, and intricacy; Usually a fan of historical novels, I found the similarity of immersion into a true realm of fantasy. A beautiful work with complex character development, and a meaningful journey for the reader.

Greenspell offers five fantasy stories, including the tales of a sorceress and a dragon, a vampire and her mortal friend, a team of very special horses, and the appearance of the Sun God. Each has its charms and some element of surprise. I think fantasy readers of all stripes will find a little something from this collection.

Schembra introduces the lead character San Francisco Homicide Inspector Vince Torelli in this series of easy to read, but tough to put down, mystery novels. If you know the SF Bay Area or not, this is a great introduction to a captivating series of uniquely well written novels that never disappoint. I love Schembra’s work and am looking forward to reading the next book following the cases of Inspector Torelli.

Comme dans ses précédentes séries égyptiennes (Hyksos , Scarab ...), l'auteur nous emmène dans un récit palpitant consacré cette fois aux bâtisseurs de pyramides. M Overton s'est une nouvelle fois très bien documenté sur le sujet et nous permet de voir revivre le grand Djoser et le génial Imhotep). Personnellement , je lui sais ininiment gré de continuer à utiliser les noms propres égyptiens pour les villes , les dieux ... au lieu des noms "grécisés" habituellement employés. Très bon livre donc à mon goût; merci Monsieur Overton. J'attends le livre 2 avec impatience. Seul petit reproche, je n'ai trouvé indiqué nulle part de combien de tomes se constituera cette série .

I enjoyed this book because it showed me how real police might handle a mass murder investigation. Though fictional, I'm sure there are many truisms explained about what a homicide detective might really do to solve murders. An excellent read.

Great read from 1st to last page looking forward to next 2 in series

Quality writing and smooth reading from start to finish. No errors all characters have a reason for being and are well rounded plot and world are solidly build. Rank it up with the top 5% of books I’ve read on kindle so far.

Just the right amount of suspense and mystery to be fun but not too scary for young readers. My little Harry Potter fan enjoyed it.

I have known the author since he was 7, no wait 7 years or so. Pretty Good book, but im confused by the double headed robot that eats the hero.

Sylvia Kryz is speaking to Vlad Stavrou, a psychologist, explaining what she witnessed: A gleeful young man driving a red car purposefully running into her friend Naomi, a school crossing guard, and six children under the age of seven. All were killed. He only just missed Sylvia because, at age 84, she was a few steps behind them, using her wheelie for support. For the policewoman Jemina Johnson, Sylvia drew several very accurate pictures of the young man’s side features. She wanted to draw his face from the front. That night, she had a dream where she pictured him full-frontal in her room … and he appeared … foul-mouthed and aggressive. After her dream meeting, she drew his frontal face and gave it to Jemina. This strange meeting occurrence reoccurred many times after she initially drew the boy’s image. She learned his name was Chuck, because he made his mother chuck when she was pregnant with him, but Sylvia called him Charlie. She learned he was physically abused at home and didn’t care much about anything but his 6-year-old brother Tommy, who he wanted to protect. During their ‘meetings’ she gave Charlie advice to help him through some of his problems. The police caught Charlie and took Tommy into protective custody. By then, Sylvia’s opinion had changed. She believed Charlie could become a good person. At a memorial meeting for the dead children and Naomi, and after a priest makes statements about vengeance, Sylvia speaks, telling of the violence against Charlie and Tommy, and that violence always begets violence. She suggests a solution—as a community they can teach these boys a better way of life. After her speech, things change but it’s a slow, hard road to follow, and Charlie still faces murder charges and prison. It is surprising who decides to take part in this reclamation, but can they really make a difference in these boys’ lives? Hit and Run is an interesting and beguiling read.

Again, I think this book, like the first volume, ends at a reasonable stopping point, avoiding the dreaded cliffhanger. I enjoyed the dialogue and character relationship development. I love the relationship between Celee and Ember. It's hard to imagine how this trilogy could end happily. Well, I'll find out soon. I'm looking forward to finding out what finally happens to these people, especially the hero and heroine Liam and Adaryn.

I can't express just how highly impressed I am with Courtney's ability as a writer. Her very first page in this work resonated with me. She was able to capture that with which I'm personally familiar. And, now after being exposed to two of Courtney's novels, I'm amazed at how she keeps the reader enthralled and rewards them with amazing endings. I'm truly a fan, now. I've discovered a writer who isn't recognized nearly enough for her talent.

CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plot, and Relationships will soon be a writer's handbook that all of us will want on our shelves. If you like writing craft books that make you feel like the author is in the room with you and teaching you how to make your stories and characters better, then this book is perfect. While reading it, I felt as if Karen was in my living room, giving me advice with her helpful and easy to remember acronyms to keep me from boring my readers into falling asleep instead of turning the pages. Here's a great example: A L I V E, and those letters stand for: Animated (evidence of a spark of life in your characters), Living (not just existing, but living a life full of external and internal conflicts), Interacting (dynamic and believable relationships), Vitality and Voice (3-dimensional character attributes), and finally Engaged (characters with objectives and purpose in the story with defined goals and motivations). So think of some of your favorite characters in the books you read. Are they ALIVE? Now think of your main character--does he or she fit those five characteristics? This is what Karen's book will do for you. Give you helpful tips, like how to diagnose if your characters are ALIVE, and then help you write better characters and plots. The book is divided into seven chapters, plus an intro and conclusion, and then something very valuable--an appendix full of worksheets. I know this is every writer's dream--at least it is mine. Karen includes worksheets for both plot and character development help. Then there are also worksheets on relationship development between your characters. If you are writing a romance, you'll especially want to check out the "Links in the Chain of Romance Relationship Development Chart." If you don't have those links, then your romance readers will not be happy with you! (One picture with this review shows an example of the Appendix worksheets.) Back to the seven chapters--I think one of the most helpful chapters for any writer at any level is at the beginning of the book, chapter one, where Karen helps you with "ten ways to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships." And by dead characters--she's not talking about the dead body on page one of a murder mystery. She means your character is just there, existing on the page. With chapter one, you receive 10 points to look for in your manuscript to diagnose what may be wrong with it. Then she goes on to chapter two, where she introduces you to three-dimensional writing and scenes. Karen has a previous book where she talked about those concepts more (Cohesive Story Building). But in CPR, she reviews these strategies for writers, as she gets ready to really dig into your characters (chapter 3), plot (chapter 4), and relationships (chapter 5). I like this book so much because of the relationships' sections. A lot of writing craft books about plot and characters don't spend as much time on examining the relationships in the book. But think about it--when you watch a movie or get hooked on a book series, aren't you very interested in the characters and their relationships? I'll just answer for you--Yes! Han Solo and Princess Leia, Ron and Hermione, and Katniss and Peeta...insert any of your favorites in here, and you'll see what I mean. You want the relationships in your plots to stick in readers' minds like these previous ones did for me. This writer's craft book helps you diagnose what's wrong with your manuscript, and then fix it with tips and advice from Karen. If you're a fiction writer looking to improve your craft as one of your 2021 goals, then CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction is for you!

This novel by Ms. Andrews is the fourth book of her Sterling Lakes series. I have read all four books in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. The character portrayals were excellent. It is about CC, the heroine and Perrin, the hero. Their clean romance develops throughout the novel. I liked the setting that CC bought the house that Perrin grew up in. I felt one of the high points was Perrin and CC going to the attic and discovering the loose board under which Perrin's deceased father stored his journal that recorded his happenings during his service time in Italy. I won't detail the contents of that journal but that segment of the story really touched my heart. I loved it and Ms. Andrews done an outstanding job with that. Both CC and Perrin had unhappy times in their past and really cared for one another. Their mutual attraction sprang from that. They helped one another to move forward with their lives. I recommend reading the whole series, but Glory of the Heart does a good job of being a standalone story. This story deserves a five star rating and I will always remember the contents of the journal segment. Incidentally, the author is working on the fifth book in the series, Reflections of the Heart.

It’s a great read , it will really take you back to ancient Egypt.

Will Greenway got me started reading ebooks way too many years ago and I haven't stopped since. I have read all of them multiple times over the years and always find some new tidbit to appreciate and enjoy. It always takes me back to the days of my youth around a tabletop with my friends surrounded by dice giggling over frustrating the GM latest plots. I only wish I had lived near enough to sit in on one of his groups sessions... Buy it. You will enjoy reading it each year.

Karen was my sister in law, and I just was so thrilled seeing in words the stories she used to tell. She is so sadly missed. Looking forward to reading the Trilogy now 🙂

In some Places it was a hard read stick with it it is worth it

What more can I say. I purchased and have read every Ring Realms novel Mr Greenway has published. I've re-read every book at least a half dozen times and check often hoping he has released a new book in his realms.

This author writes the way I like to read, although I have to admit I've never read anything supernatural before. She doesn't go into lots of description but let's you use your own imagination to decide what things look like surrounding the characters. I hate reading books where they have to describe everything and she doesn't do that. Definitely good for those who like the supernatural!

Book was better than I thought it would be. I liked the world and the cast of characters. I really liked all the man things. And I hope the writer comes up with more stories, set in the world he crafted. I’d get it. It had a classic dungeon crawl feel to it. If that makes sense?

I will admit up front that I have not read much Christian fiction. I read the Left Behind series when it was new, but it does not have much re-readability. I tried a science-fiction book years ago, written from a Christian point of view, but it was really not well done. I would imagine that It is hard enough to write a compelling story of fiction that is in itself good enough to enjoy, but to add in Christian elements sometimes just makes the story awkward or preachy. Historical fiction from a Christian point of view may be doable, but it often is simply a romance novel with Biblical moral themes, and likely a read-once type of book. Speculative fiction, creating other worlds of fantasy or science, could be done with Christian beliefs intertwined, but how does one reconcile that with the real world in which the events in the Bible took place? And yet, with all of those arguments stacked against it, author Rick Sutcliffe has managed to create an epic spread out over ten books that involves alternative worlds, science fiction, and historical fiction, all with a decidedly Christian world view. He has created an alternative earth that has technology two centuries beyond our own, which has experienced the effects of a world-devastating biological and nuclear war. Because of this devastation, this world has decided to follow a “Covenant of the Living”, in which mechanized conflict has been outlawed for all reasons, even for wars between nations. Fighting is done only with weapons that can be wielded directly against an opponent (sword, knife, or stick), and those who would use projectile weapons of any kind are shunned and imprisoned. If you will fight, you must deal with your opponent face-to-face. If that’s not unusual enough, in this version of Earth, known as Hibernia, Ireland rules what are in this world the British Isles, and in fact has the international control and influence that exceeds that of the United States in our world. Just like our world, there are those who do not respect or believe in the authority of the Bible or the Church, and work to push forth their own agenda, to try to gain power, wealth and influence in the world. Sutcliffe’s story crosses at times over into some of the other Earths that exist in what is called the Timestream. Our own Earth is one of them, and that Earth is kept ignorant of the Timestream, lest we move over to some of the less-populated versions of Earth and overrun them. One Earth, Water World, consists only of islands and is mostly ocean; another, Desert, still is mostly waste from a more devastating nuclear war than what affected Hibernia. Winding through the volumes are the efforts of those who want to restore the kingship in Hibernia to the moral and just, fighting against those who just want power for themselves. In the first six books of the series, The Peace, The Friends, The Exile, The General, The Nexus, and The Builder, Sutcliffe introduces his characters and tells their stories over more than one time period, intertwining them from chapter to chapter. He starts with the forced exile of Ireland’s King James in 1941, switches to the aftermath of a civil war in Ireland 30 years later, and moves on to some people from Ireland on our Earth in 1941. He continues to weave these stories from different time periods over the subsequent books, gradually revealing more about how they all fit together, and in later books relating the history that brings the reader up to the restoration of the kingship in 2001. The final book of the series, The Throne, became actually four books - Culmanic Parts, Rae’s Blood, Tara’s Mother, and The Paladin. These fill in the rest of the story of the formation of the Ireland on Hibernia that eventually rules the world, and brings it up to the culmination of the revived kingship. I mentioned earlier that the Christian fiction that I have read in the past was not worth a re-read. Sutcliffe’s series has completely turned that around for me. In my opinion, these books are worth several reads, and they contain characters who are compelling, believable, and realistic, and ones that I as a reader really care about. Furthermore, Sutcliffe’s writing not only deals with these characters and how they react to the changes of history and the moral issues each has to face, but also addresses the origin of the world, God’s actions in it, and how those things affect me in this, the real world. Some of the conflicts described reflect some of the anger, hatred, and attitudes towards other ethnic groups that are exploding in 2020 in this real world. Sutcliffe’s Christian believers demonstrate behavior and attitude towards these peoples that are worthy of emulating in this non-fiction world in which we live. Some events in The Nexus describe those who use rioting to move forward their own agenda, another parallel with current events. I would highly recommend each of these books as individually fascinating and compelling stories, and the series as a whole is as fleshed out as the compendium of Tolkien’s stories of Middle Earth. If you as a reader enjoy science fiction, historical fiction, and alternate histories, these books are for you!

Good story of life in Ancient Egypt but left me hanging with no continuation of the story at the end. What happen to Scarab?

I have never read a book cover to cover in one sitting! This book is so well written, well researched and such a page turner! I litterally couldn't put it down. Ladybec

Ay manipulates Smenkhare’s apparent assassination and Tutankhaten’s coronation as Pharaoh. Everyone’s surprised to learn that Smenkhare was only wounded and after a lengthy recovery, decides to raise an army and take back his kingdoms.

This was a fabulous read. It is a complete story, but I hope it is a series. In any case, I hope there are more coming from this author.

Will was writing his novels before Kevin or Jim ever came out with their excellent works. He beats them both hands down. These are great story lines and well written.

I am on the fourth book of this series. If you’re like stories about ancient Egypt and intrigue this is the series for you. Max Overton really knows how to pull a story together with a lot of action. This volume is about the life and demise of Tutankhamen. You will enjoy.

This is a great series of books.

The third book in the series and has a lovely little 'twist' towards the end. I am loving this series and look forward to reading the remaining books in this series.

Well researched, great information. However, this series would have made one great book instead of many. Very drawn out and repetitive; we do not need to read a description of every arrow that was shot. And why do the lesser Egyptians all speak with a Cockney accent?

Very interesting read, the use of factual Egyptian history by the author in writing this series of books shows excellent knowledge in Egyptian history and ability to correlate historical events into this excellent series SCARAB.

A fun read filled in with some interesting historic issues

Surprisingly got pulled into this story of a young princess and her journey through life set in ancient Egypt. Very gripping and really makes you want to know the end!! Max Overton you really know your stuff!

Book 3 was by far my most favorite so far. The more I read, the more I want to know so I jumped right into Book 4! This series is very realistic. I read other books that portrayed the characters all to be kind, caring people, and although I am glad I read those books first, I am so thrilled that Max Overton took the time he did to write these books. Of course, there were power struggles and devious plans made to dethrone kings or heirs to the throne. These books delve into the lives of each of these characters and make it all so very real.

The entire series from 1 through 4 has been extremely well written, believable and fast-paced. I have had my nose in the kindle since getting these. Can't put down books

What it says above…. This volume was a little repetitive in places, i think we all know by now that Scarab was the last daughter of Nebmaatre Amenhotep III. But it was a satisfying read on the whole. A lot of subplots get resolved.

Up to now there have been some inaccuracies, Archeologically wise. Tut, Smen, are not the sons of Amenhotep 3, but sons of Akhenaten. Nefertiti, went to rule from Thebes rather than into exile. Akhenaten, was not sent out into the desert to die, nor was he poisoned. And I've held that belief for 58 years since I first read about him at the age of 8. You just "KNOW" these things. Neither does he turn into Moses as in vol5. Kv55, held the body of Akhenaten, DNA prove he is the father od King Tut. Also he was father of King Smenkare. I'm assuming, Overton was writing at a time these things hadn't been proven. All the same, this is a great adventure with Scarab.

A good novel

I am reading through the whole of this series. It's well written and very descriptive of people and places. The threads running through fact and fiction are very clever. Can recommend thoroughly to anyone interested in Egyptian history.

I loved the historical element in the novel. It does get a little slow when so many battles are going on it is hard to keep track of the names. This was not due to the author, Egyptian names change several times during a lifetime. I am on book 5 now having read the preceding 3 books. I have read several books on Egyptian history and find it fascinating.

Max Overton has obviously researched Ancient Egypt extensively. I highly recommend this entire series to all who love historical fiction.

Once again, this is one of a series of five books. They are a good read for fans of Egyptian history and a combination of fiction and true facts. I enjoyed the books and the author does a nice job with the flow of the story from book to book. He does give information ahead of the stories that aids in keeping names and such straight. Scarab, a princess of the royal family, is the main character throughout the stories and she has quite a life surviving the characters around her. One of the threats is Ay, who is right hand man to the King Akhenaten, Ay has a lust for more power and his position puts him in place to achieve his goal and he will do whatever is necessary to achieve his purpose. I enjoyed the books very much and if you have an interest in this subject, I recommend the series.

Fans of ancient Egyptian history just don't have many options when it comes to nonfiction or fiction. I'm now about to start book 5 in the Scarab series and I hate for it to end. Not only are these books interesting due to the subject matter, they are well written and researched, and the plot fills in the holes of this particular dynastic history in a convincing manner, especially in using Beketaten to tie all the Pharaohs from Akenaten to Horemheb together. I highly recommend this entire series.

Enjoyed book 5 very much. Can't wait to start reading the next and final one.

The first four books were much better. This book wasn't as much about Egypt as a retelling of the biblical story. The series was good overall, it just lost something when it started into the supernatural.

Love the story filled with mystery and intigue. Historical info was well researched.

good

My field is ancient history especially Israel and Egypt. I have all six of the books. I was always into the Amarna time period, When I started reading the first one and got into the story I could not put it down til I finished #6. It is a very interesting and partially true and partially fiction, story bringing in aspect of Egyptian and Israel religion. For those who are into history I would recommend it very much.

i found it interesting that the author put Akenaten and Moses as the same person. It was a real twist to the story.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Books 1-4 are up there as my favorite books in my collection. Book five though got a little long in the tooth and I didn't particularly enjoy the entry of the second 'prophet' that entered the story. Still a decent read overall though.

Another good book in the series. Now on to the final book. Will be quite lost when they are finished.

Having read all the previous books, this one is just as compulsive. Very well written, with ideas which will challenge your view of traditional stories of the era.

Excellent book and an excellent read. Met all my expectations. Amazon's expectations for an 18 word comment is too long.

I got hooked on this series because I love historical fiction and , let's face it , the price was quite reasonable. Max Overton has blown me away. Book 6 is supposed to be coming out sometime, and I will be one of the first to get it. Scarab is a most engaging character. You will find yourself absorbed in the whole series.

The series was very interesting but very repetitive in all of the novels following the first book. Interesting but fictional life of the pharaoh's of ancient Egypt

I've followed the series for years. Max Overton creates a skillful weave of factual history with a compelling fictional story. The books are long but keep the reader immersed in ancient Egypt.

I've read all the Amarna series up to 5. I'm particularly interested in the historical period and have, in fact, done some writing on the subject. The magnification of the otherwise obscure Princess Beketaten as the main character was a strange choice, and turning her into a super-hero warrior princess with a spiritual link to the female British archeologist who "accidently" uncovers and fluently reads aloud thousands of pages of hieroglyphs is a little too contrived for my taste. The translation from New Kingdom "text" to fluid, modern English (complete with contemporary metaphors) leaves a slightly bitter taste. In the early books the characters of King Amenhotep. Queen Tiye, Akhenaten and Nefertiti, (by far the most interesting characters), are flat and superficial. Historically they are the SuperStars yet in the books they simply go through the motions of pique and plot then dissapear or transform into sages or villians. But all the books sparkle into amazing vitality when the writer enters into the military genre. The soldiers and bandits are vivid and alive. Aziru is a living, breathing bad boy, (his struggle in the desert after the loss of his hand is AMAZING WRITING), Horemheb and Ramses have energy and guts and the Hittites kick ass. The battle scenes are exciting and wonderfully engaging. The research is awesome but there are some glaring errors. Pharonic Egypt was innocent of both chickens and camels. I know the difficulties of dealing with publishers and editors. The writer has my sympathy - but how low must you bend? The soap opera taste that keeps emerging.. the saccerine sweet sentimentaliry that interrupts the the narrative and inteferes with motivation cheapens the efforts. And that Welshman is going to die of lung cancer any minute! Give him other identity tags before he drops!

This whole series of books about the Amarnan Dynasties was absolutely wonderful. I had a hard time putting any of the books down. The attention to details made Kemet and all of the characters come to life. I hope the author continues to enthrall us with stories about Ramses the Great sometime soon.

Once again (as with previous books) Max let me know when this was up on Amazon. I can honestly say I couldn't wait for this to come out and enjoyed this as much as the other books in this series. I love the way Max has written this series of books, for me, he describes the people, areas and whats going on in such detail that I can imagine what the people look like, their feelings and how they are affected by the actions of others. I feel that I have almost watched "Scarab" grow from a young girl to a woman who faces sadness, hardship and joy along the way. The description of the areas that Scarab and her friends encounter is so good I could almost see the places for myself. I know the next book will be the last in this series, and once again can't wait, but Max if you read this, please please write another series along these lines. Thank you once again for a great book that I didn't want to put down!!