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Those Who Return #1
Inkarna
Ashton Kennedy wasn't a nice guy. He cheated on his girlfriend, knocked up a powerful drug lord's sister, and abused vast quantities of illegal narcotic substances. Whoever ran him over with a big shiny SUV was doing the world a favour. His very male, tattooed body is the last place Elizabeth Rae Perry--a member of an ancient Egyptian cult--expected to reincarnate in, instead of the three-year-old girl she'd been promised.
Not only must she now come to terms with her new existence in the body of a disagreeable man, and clean up the mess he made of his life, she also has to unravel the mystery of why House Adamastor's chapter house is standing empty and find a way to protect a dangerous secret she had no idea she was supposed to keep. As if fate couldn’t deal her another blow, she has also attracted the attention of a malicious and potentially dangerous ghost. And to top it all off, she must deal with the consequences of finding love in a most unexpected place.
Not only must she now come to terms with her new existence in the body of a disagreeable man, and clean up the mess he made of his life, she also has to unravel the mystery of why House Adamastor's chapter house is standing empty and find a way to protect a dangerous secret she had no idea she was supposed to keep. As if fate couldn’t deal her another blow, she has also attracted the attention of a malicious and potentially dangerous ghost. And to top it all off, she must deal with the consequences of finding love in a most unexpected place.
297 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2012
4 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Nerine Dorman
70 books238 followersNerine Dorman is a South African author and editor of science fiction and fantasy currently living in Cape Town, with short fiction published in numerous anthologies. She is a contributor to the Locus Award-winning Afro-Centered Futurism in Our Speculative Fiction edited by Eugen Bacon (Bloomsbury, 2024). Her novel Sing down the Stars won Gold for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2019 and The Percy Fitzpatrick Award for Children's and Youth Literature in 2021. Her YA fantasy novella, Dragon Forged, was a finalist in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature in 2017, and she is the curator of the South African Horrorfest Bloody Parchment event and short story competition. Her short story “On the Other Side of the Sea” (Omenana, 2017) was shortlisted for a 2018 Nommo award. Her novella The Firebird won a Nommo for “Best Novella” in 2019. In addition, she is a founding member of the SFF authors’ co-operative Skolion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 14, 2012
Review at http://paperbackdolls.com/?p=11586
This one is kind of hard to label. There aren’t any of the current tropes of the urban fantasy genre in here, that’s for sure. There are no werewolves or vampires or demons or angels. Steeped in ancient Egyptian lore that is brought to a contemporary South African urban setting, the story was original and engaging, providing just enough “realism” to leave me thinking “can you imagine if that really happened?” Seriously, imagine dying as one gender expecting to eventually be reincarnated as an infant of the same gender only to wake up as an adult of the opposite gender. In fact an adult jackass with lots of enemies, no resources, and no friends – and all that’s on top of your own situation being completely hosed, too.
Perhaps what was most interesting about the story was the lore itself. Nerine Dorman creates a very believable and seamless melding of the living world with the ancient Egyptian afterworld (one that’s nearly pronounceable to the average Western reader), making it very easy to believe that the notion of “as above, so below” applies in more ways than one.
The characters were all pretty broken, even the heroes. So I found myself both rooting for and disappointed in them in equal measure. Just about the time I thought I’d developed a nice comfortable box to put one of the characters in Dorman would prove they are human and mix it all up again in a frustratingly human way. Ash is a bit of an anti-hero, but we’re never sure if we’re rooting for the Ash who is the previous resident of the body who was the jackass who happened to be a rock and roll god wanna-be, or the new resident of the body who is a bit of a supernatural bad ass but perhaps a bit more narcissistic than she’s willing to own up to while she fools herself with her delusions of altruistic grandeur. Or are we rooting for them both?
It’s a stand alone book and I don’t know if there are any plans to make a series of it, but after I’d finished the book I found my mind wandering back to the characters and wondering about their continued stories and what might have happened to them, so I guess that speaks to my investment in the story and the believability of the characters.
I don’t have a lot of experience with writers who are based in South Africa but there were regional nuances in the dialog and location descriptions that made the location sing to me, and had me at Google and Youtube in curiosity.
If I had any negative feedback it would be that the book needed a bit more copy-editing but I was reading an ARC so it’s possible that the version I was reading was not the version that went to final publication. Even with that there was nothing so jarring that made it a significantly less pleasurable read.
If you’re looking for something that’s still “supernatural” but somehow different this might be just the ticket. I gave it four of five stars and would enjoy reading a second installment to the storyline if she decided to continue the story, but don’t feel at all cheated if she doesn’t, and that’s really a wonderful and talented way to end a book.
This one is kind of hard to label. There aren’t any of the current tropes of the urban fantasy genre in here, that’s for sure. There are no werewolves or vampires or demons or angels. Steeped in ancient Egyptian lore that is brought to a contemporary South African urban setting, the story was original and engaging, providing just enough “realism” to leave me thinking “can you imagine if that really happened?” Seriously, imagine dying as one gender expecting to eventually be reincarnated as an infant of the same gender only to wake up as an adult of the opposite gender. In fact an adult jackass with lots of enemies, no resources, and no friends – and all that’s on top of your own situation being completely hosed, too.
Perhaps what was most interesting about the story was the lore itself. Nerine Dorman creates a very believable and seamless melding of the living world with the ancient Egyptian afterworld (one that’s nearly pronounceable to the average Western reader), making it very easy to believe that the notion of “as above, so below” applies in more ways than one.
The characters were all pretty broken, even the heroes. So I found myself both rooting for and disappointed in them in equal measure. Just about the time I thought I’d developed a nice comfortable box to put one of the characters in Dorman would prove they are human and mix it all up again in a frustratingly human way. Ash is a bit of an anti-hero, but we’re never sure if we’re rooting for the Ash who is the previous resident of the body who was the jackass who happened to be a rock and roll god wanna-be, or the new resident of the body who is a bit of a supernatural bad ass but perhaps a bit more narcissistic than she’s willing to own up to while she fools herself with her delusions of altruistic grandeur. Or are we rooting for them both?
It’s a stand alone book and I don’t know if there are any plans to make a series of it, but after I’d finished the book I found my mind wandering back to the characters and wondering about their continued stories and what might have happened to them, so I guess that speaks to my investment in the story and the believability of the characters.
I don’t have a lot of experience with writers who are based in South Africa but there were regional nuances in the dialog and location descriptions that made the location sing to me, and had me at Google and Youtube in curiosity.
If I had any negative feedback it would be that the book needed a bit more copy-editing but I was reading an ARC so it’s possible that the version I was reading was not the version that went to final publication. Even with that there was nothing so jarring that made it a significantly less pleasurable read.
If you’re looking for something that’s still “supernatural” but somehow different this might be just the ticket. I gave it four of five stars and would enjoy reading a second installment to the storyline if she decided to continue the story, but don’t feel at all cheated if she doesn’t, and that’s really a wonderful and talented way to end a book.
May 19, 2021
Nefretkheperi is Inkarna, a servant of the goddess Ma'at and working toward reincarnation. But her first return goes horribly wrong, and she spends the novel trying to uncover how and why, and ultimately who is behind everything... all while trying to navigate a new body, gender, and life that carries a lot of its own baggage.
When Nefretkheperi is reincarnated as Ashton Kennedy, he needs to put together the pieces of not just his own broken life, but the lives of others he broke. I really enjoyed how Dorman leaned into characterization, showing us a lot about the old Ashton in how others reacted to him when he miraculously woke from a 4-month coma. Righting Ash's old wrongs becomes a mission, alongside trying to uncover what went awry in her own return. Complicating matters is the 'real' Ash's angry ghost, and the uneasy peace they have to strike to protect Ashton's physical body as well as his girlfriend, the sweet and kind Marlise.
Marlise is the cornerstone of this story. Her character arc keeps the story moving, even more than Nefretkheperi's investigations. The reader wonders why Marlise stayed with 'old Ash', but seeing her responsiveness with 'new Ash', and how she moves from fear to caution to an actual partner was probably my favorite part of the story.
The story overall kept my interest, but I felt the pacing was a bit off. It meandered early on as Nefretkheperi-Ash navigated dangers that tested his powers. The overarching danger, and the thing that everyone seemed to be after, felt at times very dangerous, and at others, sort of like theoretical danger. There were lots of mentions of the Inkarna Houses, and I would have really liked to see more of what went on with them, and some more depth of the relationships Nefretkheperi shared with other Inkarna, as it may have provided more context for the twist at the end. The ending itself ramped up quickly, which felt at odds with the way the first 3/4 of the book had gone.
Dorman has done her homework when it comes to the Egyptian mythology and beliefs that form the foundation of the book, and while it's a bit heavy on terminology, there's enough context that can help the reader through. It's nice to see living Egyptian myth in the modern setting. The areas in and around Capetown are lushly described, and the setting is as alive and vivid as the people who inhabit it.
I wish Amazon allowed half star ratings as well, because this is more of a 4.5; I really enjoyed it, had some laugh out loud moments, and really enjoyed the characterization and development. I'd recommend it to those who have an interest in mythology and urban fantasy, and those who may be looking for something a little different. Given how Inkarna ended, I'm looking forward to the sequel, Thanatos!
When Nefretkheperi is reincarnated as Ashton Kennedy, he needs to put together the pieces of not just his own broken life, but the lives of others he broke. I really enjoyed how Dorman leaned into characterization, showing us a lot about the old Ashton in how others reacted to him when he miraculously woke from a 4-month coma. Righting Ash's old wrongs becomes a mission, alongside trying to uncover what went awry in her own return. Complicating matters is the 'real' Ash's angry ghost, and the uneasy peace they have to strike to protect Ashton's physical body as well as his girlfriend, the sweet and kind Marlise.
Marlise is the cornerstone of this story. Her character arc keeps the story moving, even more than Nefretkheperi's investigations. The reader wonders why Marlise stayed with 'old Ash', but seeing her responsiveness with 'new Ash', and how she moves from fear to caution to an actual partner was probably my favorite part of the story.
The story overall kept my interest, but I felt the pacing was a bit off. It meandered early on as Nefretkheperi-Ash navigated dangers that tested his powers. The overarching danger, and the thing that everyone seemed to be after, felt at times very dangerous, and at others, sort of like theoretical danger. There were lots of mentions of the Inkarna Houses, and I would have really liked to see more of what went on with them, and some more depth of the relationships Nefretkheperi shared with other Inkarna, as it may have provided more context for the twist at the end. The ending itself ramped up quickly, which felt at odds with the way the first 3/4 of the book had gone.
Dorman has done her homework when it comes to the Egyptian mythology and beliefs that form the foundation of the book, and while it's a bit heavy on terminology, there's enough context that can help the reader through. It's nice to see living Egyptian myth in the modern setting. The areas in and around Capetown are lushly described, and the setting is as alive and vivid as the people who inhabit it.
I wish Amazon allowed half star ratings as well, because this is more of a 4.5; I really enjoyed it, had some laugh out loud moments, and really enjoyed the characterization and development. I'd recommend it to those who have an interest in mythology and urban fantasy, and those who may be looking for something a little different. Given how Inkarna ended, I'm looking forward to the sequel, Thanatos!
Read
May 20, 2020So excited to be rebooting and re-releasing Inkarna. Ash's story is very near and dear to my heart.
December 5, 2012
I read a lot of books, so when one stands out for me, you can be sure that it has something special. This is such a book. It’s different, totally original and conceptually fascinating. I really enjoyed it. Although, Netgally had it down as horror, I wouldn’t call it that. It’s dark, yes, but not black—possibly saved from that fate by the angry ghost.
I’ll admit that the what-if scenario had me hooked from the start. A woman, a practitioner of an ancient Egyptian cult that allows souls to return with their memories intact, is reborn as a man, and into the body of a young man, not a baby girl. If that isn’t disorientating enough, the soul of the young man, who was in a comma, has been displaced, and he isn’t pleased. Though Lizzie, our incarnate soul, has none of the memories of Ash, the young man, she soon finds out that he was a bit of a bastard and has to deal with the repercussions.
Lizzie, as Ash, inherits a girlfriend, and the transition from feeling like a woman in a man’s body to becoming at home in that body to the degree of resuming sexual relationships is extremely well done. The girlfriend soon discovers that the new Ash is much better than the old one, but he brings with him a different kind of danger.
There’s been a stuff up, and the reason has to do with the politics of the cult. Lizzie/Ash finds her/himself in possession of a dangerous article and the knowledge it holds, something that must be kept from what is essentially a mystical cult version of the mob. They, of course, are looking for it, and they’re a mean bunch.
Then, there’s the matter of the pissed of soul/angry ghost who haunts the couple violently. Rather than make an enemy for eternity, Lizzie decides to give the old Ash a bit of what he wants ie his body back. After a bit of a battle, she/he absorbs the ghost into the body, with the idea of sharing it. Then things become even more interesting. New Ash holds a tight rein on the old Ash, keeping him unable to manipulate the body, but still aware of everything and able to access Lizzie’s memories. Eventually they begin to get along and help each other out to keep the body alive. This dual possession of one body, with the ghost being able to pop out and reconnoitre at will, adds an interesting and sometimes humorous dimension to what ends up being a fantasy version of a gangster story.
The awesome Inkarna powers—the manipulation of energy honed through meditation—give the fights a superhero quality, and the author’s treatment of the metaphysical aspects of the story is highly evocative.
The structure, characterisation, and world building are flawless, and the prose is excellent for the most part. There were some copy errors, but since this was an ARC, they should be fixed before publication.
I can’t fault this and I really enjoyed it, so I give it 5 stars. I recommend it for all urban fantasy lovers.
I’ll admit that the what-if scenario had me hooked from the start. A woman, a practitioner of an ancient Egyptian cult that allows souls to return with their memories intact, is reborn as a man, and into the body of a young man, not a baby girl. If that isn’t disorientating enough, the soul of the young man, who was in a comma, has been displaced, and he isn’t pleased. Though Lizzie, our incarnate soul, has none of the memories of Ash, the young man, she soon finds out that he was a bit of a bastard and has to deal with the repercussions.
Lizzie, as Ash, inherits a girlfriend, and the transition from feeling like a woman in a man’s body to becoming at home in that body to the degree of resuming sexual relationships is extremely well done. The girlfriend soon discovers that the new Ash is much better than the old one, but he brings with him a different kind of danger.
There’s been a stuff up, and the reason has to do with the politics of the cult. Lizzie/Ash finds her/himself in possession of a dangerous article and the knowledge it holds, something that must be kept from what is essentially a mystical cult version of the mob. They, of course, are looking for it, and they’re a mean bunch.
Then, there’s the matter of the pissed of soul/angry ghost who haunts the couple violently. Rather than make an enemy for eternity, Lizzie decides to give the old Ash a bit of what he wants ie his body back. After a bit of a battle, she/he absorbs the ghost into the body, with the idea of sharing it. Then things become even more interesting. New Ash holds a tight rein on the old Ash, keeping him unable to manipulate the body, but still aware of everything and able to access Lizzie’s memories. Eventually they begin to get along and help each other out to keep the body alive. This dual possession of one body, with the ghost being able to pop out and reconnoitre at will, adds an interesting and sometimes humorous dimension to what ends up being a fantasy version of a gangster story.
The awesome Inkarna powers—the manipulation of energy honed through meditation—give the fights a superhero quality, and the author’s treatment of the metaphysical aspects of the story is highly evocative.
The structure, characterisation, and world building are flawless, and the prose is excellent for the most part. There were some copy errors, but since this was an ARC, they should be fixed before publication.
I can’t fault this and I really enjoyed it, so I give it 5 stars. I recommend it for all urban fantasy lovers.
July 22, 2013
The dead have never been so animate or immediate. All manner of weird and supernatural entities can be found lurking just about anywhere: books, cinemas, graphic novels, ice lollies, i-Phone apps. At this precise moment in time vampires are floundering and flapping as they try to take a bite out the new zombie zeitgeist. Yet just as a body begins to get a little jaded with the undead along comes a story that re-ignites the joy and shiver for all things weird and macabre.
INKARNA by Cape Town author Nerine Dorman is a story that merrily defies description, blithely subverts a heap of genres and keeps the reader turning the pages long into the night. In summary; clingy but pretty girl Marlise dates handsome but violent wastrel boyfriend Ash. Ash gets in a crash and should wind up dead. However, instead of dying Ash, or rather Ash’s body, becomes host to the lost spirit of Lizzie, one of the immortal INKARNA.
Clingy Marlise is delighted to have her boyfriend back. However Lizzie, the new owner occupier of Ash’s body, is focused on trying to figure out how she ended up reincarnated in the wrong body. As the story unfolds Lizzie fights mortal thugs, stumbles on an evil conspiracy among other Inkarna, and suffers savage psychic attacks from the ghost of Ash. Initially, Marlise the clingy girlfriend has a little difficulty in appreciating just exactly what is going on. She’s just happy, as all nice girls should be, to have her boyfriend back. “It’s kinda cool, don’t you think? Getting to start over again.”
For all that the story moves at a great pace, there are beautiful hushed moments when Lizzie is almost overwhelmed by grief and confusion. This emotional pulse of the book is complemented by both the fully formed mythos of the INKARNA and descriptions of modern South Africa. Here’s hoping Nerine Dorman will write another INKARNA novel. And do not be surprised if the book (or books) is turned into a T.V. series for HBO or AMC (once all the zombies are tucked back in bed… )
INKARNA by Cape Town author Nerine Dorman is a story that merrily defies description, blithely subverts a heap of genres and keeps the reader turning the pages long into the night. In summary; clingy but pretty girl Marlise dates handsome but violent wastrel boyfriend Ash. Ash gets in a crash and should wind up dead. However, instead of dying Ash, or rather Ash’s body, becomes host to the lost spirit of Lizzie, one of the immortal INKARNA.
Clingy Marlise is delighted to have her boyfriend back. However Lizzie, the new owner occupier of Ash’s body, is focused on trying to figure out how she ended up reincarnated in the wrong body. As the story unfolds Lizzie fights mortal thugs, stumbles on an evil conspiracy among other Inkarna, and suffers savage psychic attacks from the ghost of Ash. Initially, Marlise the clingy girlfriend has a little difficulty in appreciating just exactly what is going on. She’s just happy, as all nice girls should be, to have her boyfriend back. “It’s kinda cool, don’t you think? Getting to start over again.”
For all that the story moves at a great pace, there are beautiful hushed moments when Lizzie is almost overwhelmed by grief and confusion. This emotional pulse of the book is complemented by both the fully formed mythos of the INKARNA and descriptions of modern South Africa. Here’s hoping Nerine Dorman will write another INKARNA novel. And do not be surprised if the book (or books) is turned into a T.V. series for HBO or AMC (once all the zombies are tucked back in bed… )
June 14, 2012
In a world where 'paranormal' books seem to be preoccupied with vampires or werewolves, Nerine Dorman gives us reincarnation, ancient Egyptian mysteries and even daimonic powers. What's not to love?
The story is told by Ashton Kennedy - or rather, by Lizzie, a woman reincarnated into the body of this fairly obnoxious young man. As one of a race of beings known as Inkarna, Lizzie belongs to House Adamastor, a group of people dedicated to knowledge and secrets. Sadly the afterlife is just as riddled with politics and intrigue as the mortal coil, and Lizzie, as Ashton, finds herself caught up in a deadly tug of war with House Montu, a warrior cult - as if it's not hard enough just to deal with the enemies Ashton made during his lifetime! This is some serious stuff, people - no twinkly vampires or cuddly werewolves here. The Inkarna have daimonic powers that put the Jedi and Sith to shame, and when it all kicks off, it REALLY kicks off.
There are many things I loved about Inkarna, and clearly its basis within ancient Egyptian mythology was one of them. Dorman knows her stuff and her passion for the subject bleeds through every word. The concept of a woman finding herself trapped inside a man's body was equally fascinating, and Lizzie's slow transition as she 'grows into' Ashton was impressive and well-handled. The setting of South Africa was also a point of interest - I've never been, but I feel like I've explored Cape Town along with Ashton and Marlise, his partner-in-crime.
There were several occasions when reading that I got so wrapped up in the book that I almost missed train stops, and I'd get "itchy fingers" until I could get back to turning the pages. For anyone who loves paranormal or mystical fiction, or for anyone who likes stories that are a bit out of the ordinary, or for anyone who just enjoys a well-written book, I'd highly recommend Inkarna.
The story is told by Ashton Kennedy - or rather, by Lizzie, a woman reincarnated into the body of this fairly obnoxious young man. As one of a race of beings known as Inkarna, Lizzie belongs to House Adamastor, a group of people dedicated to knowledge and secrets. Sadly the afterlife is just as riddled with politics and intrigue as the mortal coil, and Lizzie, as Ashton, finds herself caught up in a deadly tug of war with House Montu, a warrior cult - as if it's not hard enough just to deal with the enemies Ashton made during his lifetime! This is some serious stuff, people - no twinkly vampires or cuddly werewolves here. The Inkarna have daimonic powers that put the Jedi and Sith to shame, and when it all kicks off, it REALLY kicks off.
There are many things I loved about Inkarna, and clearly its basis within ancient Egyptian mythology was one of them. Dorman knows her stuff and her passion for the subject bleeds through every word. The concept of a woman finding herself trapped inside a man's body was equally fascinating, and Lizzie's slow transition as she 'grows into' Ashton was impressive and well-handled. The setting of South Africa was also a point of interest - I've never been, but I feel like I've explored Cape Town along with Ashton and Marlise, his partner-in-crime.
There were several occasions when reading that I got so wrapped up in the book that I almost missed train stops, and I'd get "itchy fingers" until I could get back to turning the pages. For anyone who loves paranormal or mystical fiction, or for anyone who likes stories that are a bit out of the ordinary, or for anyone who just enjoys a well-written book, I'd highly recommend Inkarna.
September 30, 2014
***Light spoilers:***
Our world is not as it seems, there are forces at play that we don’t see. Egyptian forces. Reincarnation is real, and when Elizabeth gets reincarnated 5 years too late and into a body that she did not expect, things go from weird to action packed! Set in Cape Town, this novel felt more real to me than a novel set in a country I have never visited, and the Egyptian lore was both fantastical and spot on.
Ash’s ‘body’ makes for a great lead, he is strong, tall and tattooed. However, long hair on men doesn’t really do it for me. But now imagine a old lady in this ‘rebel’ body. It was quite fun! However, I at times thought the switch from old lady to Ashton felt real, but then other times it felt unnatural, but I guess it was a very unnatural thing to happen!
There is another character that deserves mention, Marlise, she is the ex-girlfriend of Ash, and to see Elizabeth (in Ash’s body) interact with Marlise was pretty great, if not a little disturbing at times. But, I couldn’t help being glad Elizabeth was in Ash’s body, unfortunately, I have known many girls fall for the dark, handsome and ‘hard-core’ guy that treats them like shit, and to see things being switched around for the better was great.
This novel has an amazing host of characters, great world building mixed with supernatural occurrences and a weird factor that you just need to check out for yourself!
There are a few things I would have liked to know by the end of the book, and some characters I wanted to know what happened to. Hopefully there is a sequel? The book left me with a lot of emotions: adrenaline, creeped out and wondering: what’s next?
Our world is not as it seems, there are forces at play that we don’t see. Egyptian forces. Reincarnation is real, and when Elizabeth gets reincarnated 5 years too late and into a body that she did not expect, things go from weird to action packed! Set in Cape Town, this novel felt more real to me than a novel set in a country I have never visited, and the Egyptian lore was both fantastical and spot on.
Ash’s ‘body’ makes for a great lead, he is strong, tall and tattooed. However, long hair on men doesn’t really do it for me. But now imagine a old lady in this ‘rebel’ body. It was quite fun! However, I at times thought the switch from old lady to Ashton felt real, but then other times it felt unnatural, but I guess it was a very unnatural thing to happen!
There is another character that deserves mention, Marlise, she is the ex-girlfriend of Ash, and to see Elizabeth (in Ash’s body) interact with Marlise was pretty great, if not a little disturbing at times. But, I couldn’t help being glad Elizabeth was in Ash’s body, unfortunately, I have known many girls fall for the dark, handsome and ‘hard-core’ guy that treats them like shit, and to see things being switched around for the better was great.
This novel has an amazing host of characters, great world building mixed with supernatural occurrences and a weird factor that you just need to check out for yourself!
There are a few things I would have liked to know by the end of the book, and some characters I wanted to know what happened to. Hopefully there is a sequel? The book left me with a lot of emotions: adrenaline, creeped out and wondering: what’s next?
October 7, 2021
Inkarna was another book that was never really on my radar until a certain challenge. After reading the synopsis, I was pretty intrigued to see what this book was going to be all about. I honestly couldn't remember the last book I read that involved a reincarnation. So, yeah, I was pretty excited for this one.
In this, you will meet Nefretkheperi. He definitely has a hard name to pronounce and I most definitely butchered it in my head after reading it. But long story short, he was reincarnated as Ashton Kennedy. While in this new body, he tries to put together what happened in the past. Which wasn't an easy thing to do in the first place and I wanted to see how it was all going to play out.
Eh, it was an okay book with okay characters. I didn't really connect with anyone and I just kept thinking back to the movie, The Mummy. It also didn't help that the pace just about killed my interest as well. At time, I wanted to skim through the pages and chapters that bored me. I didn't.. but I did think about it all the time.
In the end, the twists and turns were okay but didn't hold my interest. It was an okay book that I guess I'm sort of happy that I dove into. Sort of. Maybe. Not sure.
In this, you will meet Nefretkheperi. He definitely has a hard name to pronounce and I most definitely butchered it in my head after reading it. But long story short, he was reincarnated as Ashton Kennedy. While in this new body, he tries to put together what happened in the past. Which wasn't an easy thing to do in the first place and I wanted to see how it was all going to play out.
Eh, it was an okay book with okay characters. I didn't really connect with anyone and I just kept thinking back to the movie, The Mummy. It also didn't help that the pace just about killed my interest as well. At time, I wanted to skim through the pages and chapters that bored me. I didn't.. but I did think about it all the time.
In the end, the twists and turns were okay but didn't hold my interest. It was an okay book that I guess I'm sort of happy that I dove into. Sort of. Maybe. Not sure.
May 6, 2012
"Tomorrow will be the first time I die." From the first line, this upcoming release from South African author Nerine Dorman rings like a dinner bell, promising exotic flavors of intrigue and mystique. And such is our introduction to old Mrs. Lizzie Perry, our narrator, and Leonora, her young companion: our first glimpses into the lineage of House Adamastor and the Inkarna, the People Who Return.
We meet Lizzie as, in preparation for her passing, she hands down her responsibilities as Mistress of the House to her loyal Leonora. Mrs. Perry's husband, Richard, left her in 1902, and she has only his promises of eternal life to reassure her as she faces her last night in the flesh - this flesh, anyway.
But things don't go as planned, and Lizzie wakes up in a different time and place... in the wrong body. Awash in half-memories and associations, she knows only that her Richard wasn't there to meet her on the other side, and she's now wearing the tattooed body of a strange young man named Ashton Kennedy who has just awakened from a months-long coma. Now, stripped of the daimonic powers she so painstakingly practiced in her last stint on earth, Lizzie has to figure out what to do with Ashton's modern girlfriend and dysfunctional family situation whilst coping with a Cape Town almost five decades advanced and trying to learn what went wrong in the afterlife while she's at it.
Within a matter of a few pages, fraught with sorrow and portent, one is solidly captured in Dorman's keen web of colliding human conscience and internal discord. Lizzie's confusion and disorientation over the predicament of her very being, aggravated by her detachment from Ashton's body, spark resentment against the intrusion of influences from his foreign life. Together, these volatile pressures weave into a magnificently overwhelming tapestry depicting pity for Ashton's poor, heartbroken parents, disdain for his spineless, codependent girlfriend Marlise, and despair over the visible emotional wreckage wrought among these people by the apparent waste of space Lizzie now inhabits.
Dorman's characters are palpable mixtures of conflicting cares and motives, drawing deep from the well of self-centered fears and burdened with mismanaged relations. Her rich prose calls up a dreary, lonely, dreadful existence that is at once terrible and beautiful, and one finds oneself yearning for contact right along with these used and abused souls so dependent upon others they cannot reach.
Matters don't improve when Lizzie goes searching for Leonora and finds her old home long abandoned, nor when some of her old daimonic powers suddenly begin to emerge violently and unpredictably. Searching the streets of Cape Town for any leftover vestige of House Adamastor, she finds instead a city altered by decades of cultural immersion and moral decay. Stranded by Ashton's lack of resources, she comes to the unhappy realization that in order to get in touch with her past life, she'll have to repair the mess Ashton has made of his. And that means making amends for the awful truths of the man whose destiny is now fused with hers.
Oh, and never mind the ghosts and unidentifiable forces now lashing out at Lizzie from unseen passages between realities.
At first repulsed and then reluctantly needy, Lizzie turns to Marlise as her anchor in this strange new world - a replacement of sorts for her lost Leonora. There follows the hesitant development of a new, awkward relationship between Lizzie/Ashton and Marlise in the wake of Ashton's savage mistreatment of the girl. Can Marlise possibly understand that Ashton really isn't the same person? Is Lizzie's burgeoning attraction for Marlise a simple product of the male body she possesses? Dorman's masterful dynamics surrounding two people who need each other more than they know are at once tender and heart-wrenching, blurring the lines between dependency and intimacy and love.
Then along comes the real Ashton, and he wants his body back. And what's become of Lizzie's dear, departed Richard, anyway?
More is revealed as Lizzie delves into the demise of House Adamastor and discovers a terrible, ancient knowledge anathema to the Inkarna, along with a bitter betrayal and a massive, dimension-spanning conspiracy orchestrated by the fury of a woman scorned in another life. With masterful timing, Dorman draws out the tension until it might snap, then races to the conclusion, leaving hardly any time for the reader to take a breath before ending on a final note of irony so suddenly self-evident, it made me laugh and swear simultaneously. Nicely done.
This is one of those rare cases in which I've sat down to sample a new work and ended up finishing the novel in a single setting. Dorman's writing voice is so self-assured, it's as though she's speaking directly to the primal levels of a reader she already knows in and out. Dorman weaves a captivating paranormal tale using tragically, endearingly imperfect players drawn straight from the human morass, and if you haven't been there yourself, you'll feel right at home by the time she's done.
We meet Lizzie as, in preparation for her passing, she hands down her responsibilities as Mistress of the House to her loyal Leonora. Mrs. Perry's husband, Richard, left her in 1902, and she has only his promises of eternal life to reassure her as she faces her last night in the flesh - this flesh, anyway.
But things don't go as planned, and Lizzie wakes up in a different time and place... in the wrong body. Awash in half-memories and associations, she knows only that her Richard wasn't there to meet her on the other side, and she's now wearing the tattooed body of a strange young man named Ashton Kennedy who has just awakened from a months-long coma. Now, stripped of the daimonic powers she so painstakingly practiced in her last stint on earth, Lizzie has to figure out what to do with Ashton's modern girlfriend and dysfunctional family situation whilst coping with a Cape Town almost five decades advanced and trying to learn what went wrong in the afterlife while she's at it.
Within a matter of a few pages, fraught with sorrow and portent, one is solidly captured in Dorman's keen web of colliding human conscience and internal discord. Lizzie's confusion and disorientation over the predicament of her very being, aggravated by her detachment from Ashton's body, spark resentment against the intrusion of influences from his foreign life. Together, these volatile pressures weave into a magnificently overwhelming tapestry depicting pity for Ashton's poor, heartbroken parents, disdain for his spineless, codependent girlfriend Marlise, and despair over the visible emotional wreckage wrought among these people by the apparent waste of space Lizzie now inhabits.
Dorman's characters are palpable mixtures of conflicting cares and motives, drawing deep from the well of self-centered fears and burdened with mismanaged relations. Her rich prose calls up a dreary, lonely, dreadful existence that is at once terrible and beautiful, and one finds oneself yearning for contact right along with these used and abused souls so dependent upon others they cannot reach.
Matters don't improve when Lizzie goes searching for Leonora and finds her old home long abandoned, nor when some of her old daimonic powers suddenly begin to emerge violently and unpredictably. Searching the streets of Cape Town for any leftover vestige of House Adamastor, she finds instead a city altered by decades of cultural immersion and moral decay. Stranded by Ashton's lack of resources, she comes to the unhappy realization that in order to get in touch with her past life, she'll have to repair the mess Ashton has made of his. And that means making amends for the awful truths of the man whose destiny is now fused with hers.
Oh, and never mind the ghosts and unidentifiable forces now lashing out at Lizzie from unseen passages between realities.
At first repulsed and then reluctantly needy, Lizzie turns to Marlise as her anchor in this strange new world - a replacement of sorts for her lost Leonora. There follows the hesitant development of a new, awkward relationship between Lizzie/Ashton and Marlise in the wake of Ashton's savage mistreatment of the girl. Can Marlise possibly understand that Ashton really isn't the same person? Is Lizzie's burgeoning attraction for Marlise a simple product of the male body she possesses? Dorman's masterful dynamics surrounding two people who need each other more than they know are at once tender and heart-wrenching, blurring the lines between dependency and intimacy and love.
Then along comes the real Ashton, and he wants his body back. And what's become of Lizzie's dear, departed Richard, anyway?
More is revealed as Lizzie delves into the demise of House Adamastor and discovers a terrible, ancient knowledge anathema to the Inkarna, along with a bitter betrayal and a massive, dimension-spanning conspiracy orchestrated by the fury of a woman scorned in another life. With masterful timing, Dorman draws out the tension until it might snap, then races to the conclusion, leaving hardly any time for the reader to take a breath before ending on a final note of irony so suddenly self-evident, it made me laugh and swear simultaneously. Nicely done.
This is one of those rare cases in which I've sat down to sample a new work and ended up finishing the novel in a single setting. Dorman's writing voice is so self-assured, it's as though she's speaking directly to the primal levels of a reader she already knows in and out. Dorman weaves a captivating paranormal tale using tragically, endearingly imperfect players drawn straight from the human morass, and if you haven't been there yourself, you'll feel right at home by the time she's done.
July 17, 2012
Inkarna is a modern horror that tackles Egyptian mythology and what happens when reincarnation goes wrong.
Elizabeth Rae Perry is a member of an ancient Egyptian cult who is about to die. She expects to reincarnate into the body of a three-year-old girl, but instead wakes up to a world she doesn’t recognise in the body of unscrupulous goth boy Ashton Kennedy who has more enemies than friends.
What I really liked about this book was the concept of a prim and proper elderly woman reincarnated into the body of a very, very bad man. Lizzy Perry’s attempts to come across as a confident young man are hilarious, especially when it comes to her interactions with Ash’s devoted girlfriend, but it was also extremely frightening because as a reader I couldn’t help but see myself in that situation, and to be honest, I have no idea what I would do. It was masterfully done.
Nerine’s knowledge of ancient Egyptian mythology was evident, and it worked well against the modern South African setting. Lizzy’s misadventures in a Cape Town she doesn’t recognise or understand is something many of us can identify with.
Poor Lizzy has to deal with a rival cult out to destroy her, a vengeful ghost, and a string of damaged people left in Ash’s wake. It’s an exciting ride that will leave you feeling the effects for days after.
Elizabeth Rae Perry is a member of an ancient Egyptian cult who is about to die. She expects to reincarnate into the body of a three-year-old girl, but instead wakes up to a world she doesn’t recognise in the body of unscrupulous goth boy Ashton Kennedy who has more enemies than friends.
What I really liked about this book was the concept of a prim and proper elderly woman reincarnated into the body of a very, very bad man. Lizzy Perry’s attempts to come across as a confident young man are hilarious, especially when it comes to her interactions with Ash’s devoted girlfriend, but it was also extremely frightening because as a reader I couldn’t help but see myself in that situation, and to be honest, I have no idea what I would do. It was masterfully done.
Nerine’s knowledge of ancient Egyptian mythology was evident, and it worked well against the modern South African setting. Lizzy’s misadventures in a Cape Town she doesn’t recognise or understand is something many of us can identify with.
Poor Lizzy has to deal with a rival cult out to destroy her, a vengeful ghost, and a string of damaged people left in Ash’s wake. It’s an exciting ride that will leave you feeling the effects for days after.
April 9, 2012
The world building of Inkarna is phenomenal, some of the most unique I've encountered in any urban fantasy. The slightly different take on reincarnation makes for a great set-up as the character who is introduced to us as a prim elderly woman returns to the mortal plane as a young goth male with a penchant for nasty trouble. Lizzie settling into life as Ash brings a lot of humor and heart to the story that dovetails wonderfully with the menace and darkness of the rest of the plot. Richly descriptive and always engrossing, Inkarna is a terrific change of pace from the usual paranormal with it's Egyptian-inspired mythology and challenging main character. I don't know what Nerine has planned but I would love to read more set in this fascinating world of mystery cults, magic, and reincarnation.
July 26, 2012
When Lizzie wakes up in the body of a 21 year old man instead of a three year old girl as planned, she is immediately immersed into the screwed up life the body's former inhabitant created. She's in a race against time to adjust to being "Ash" and getting to know his family and girlfriend while also trying to solve the mystery of why she ended up in his body which he wants back, by the way. This story has endearing moments of self discovery and fantastic and frightening paranormal elements. Dorman writes beautifully and effortlessly incorporates magic, Egyptian mysticism and an airtight plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Inkarna is easily the best book I've read this year. Nerine Dorman is now at the top of my must buy list.
June 26, 2013
Very deep, it took a bit for me to fully get into this, but once I did, I enjoyed it rather much.
To be honest, I began reading this so that I could perhaps have some sense of Ash before reading Blood and Fire because I didn't want to judge him unfairly in his dealings with Xan, whom I ADORE.
I will be looking for more from this author I think, especially if it involves Xan (Crooked Fang) or if the two of them cross paths again.
To be honest, I began reading this so that I could perhaps have some sense of Ash before reading Blood and Fire because I didn't want to judge him unfairly in his dealings with Xan, whom I ADORE.
I will be looking for more from this author I think, especially if it involves Xan (Crooked Fang) or if the two of them cross paths again.
July 4, 2012
Riveting storyline, great contrast between new and old, young and old, male and female, mundane and magical. I loved being thrown into this world and I can't wait to go there again.
April 23, 2012
The world building in this book is fantastic. A new and original idea, Dorman mixes occult principles with a heart wrenching story. This is a must read people!
May 12, 2012
What if you belonged to a secret cult that knew how to transfer the soul from one body to another?
This is the fascinating premise upon which Nerine Dorman’s Inkarna is based. Who hasn’t wondered what happens after death and if it’s possible to come back?
For Lizzie Perry, a member of House Adamastor of the Inkarna, eternal life in a succession of different bodies is all but assured. If her heart is pure enough and if she has attained the necessary power while an initiate on earth, she will cross over to Per Ankh where she shall await her time on earth again. She will be reunited with her husband, also a member of Inkarna, and others of her particular house.
The problem is – one day she opens her eyes and finds herself in the body of Ashton Kennedy, a young man who has been in a coma. This is wrong on many levels. For one thing, Inkarna come back in the bodies of children so as to grow into their powers and because it is easier to integrate. For another, Ash is very definitely a man and Lizzie has always envisioned herself as being eternally female.
The biggest problem is that she cannot remember why she was sent into Ash’s body and it becomes very clear in no time that there was a reason. Places and people she needs are no longer there. She can’t seem to control the powers she’d developed as Lizzie – they are erratic and scary in the Ash body. And why is there a plot to destroy her? Is it Inkarna-related or is it the fact that before the coma Ash Kennedy was a real jerk?
As if Lizzie hasn’t got enough to do to figure out why she’s been abruptly stuffed into Ash’s body, she has to relearn the geography and culture of Cape Town – it’s changed quite a bit in the fifty years she’s spent in Per Ankh. There’s also Ash’s clingy girlfriend, Marlise. And Ash’s ghost – who very much wants his body back. Yesterday.
I loved this story for many reasons. First and foremost, Ms. Dorman has written a novel based on Egyptian magic that is both credible and impeccably researched. Her love for the Red Land is very apparent. I have a passion for Egyptology too and found myself in awe of her grasp of both the metaphysical and mythological aspects.
The juxtaposition of a female soul in a male body was another of my favorite things. Lizzie as Ash is both humorous and moving. As she navigates deeper into the psyche of Ash and becomes more at ease, the reader is taken on a fascinating psychological ride.
For most of the book I thought of Lizzie trapped in Ash’s body, but slowly, believably, I began to think of her as Ash. Lizzie become more male, but never lost her essential self.
The more Lizzie discovers about Ash Kennedy and his life before the accident that put him a coma, the more she despises him. The bar scene when Ash is confronted by an ex-lover is especially well done and memorable. I found myself sympathizing with Lizzie as more and more of Ash’s despicable character was revealed. Could she take over and change the world’s perceptions of this flawed man? Well, possibly, if she didn’t get killed by the rival House Montu of the Inkarna or Ash’s own enemies first.
Ms. Dorman has a wonderful hand with description. I felt as if I were familiar with Cape Town when, in actuality, I’ve never set foot there. Ms. Dorman’s love of South Africa is evident on each page.
At just under 300 pages, this novel is rich and complex, dark and intriguing and well worth the time it takes to read it. It is not a fast read because attention must be paid to the details, the Egyptian terms and concepts and all the twists and turns of the never predictable plot.
I eagerly look forward to devouring each of Ms. Dorman’s novels as they are bound to appear.
This is the fascinating premise upon which Nerine Dorman’s Inkarna is based. Who hasn’t wondered what happens after death and if it’s possible to come back?
For Lizzie Perry, a member of House Adamastor of the Inkarna, eternal life in a succession of different bodies is all but assured. If her heart is pure enough and if she has attained the necessary power while an initiate on earth, she will cross over to Per Ankh where she shall await her time on earth again. She will be reunited with her husband, also a member of Inkarna, and others of her particular house.
The problem is – one day she opens her eyes and finds herself in the body of Ashton Kennedy, a young man who has been in a coma. This is wrong on many levels. For one thing, Inkarna come back in the bodies of children so as to grow into their powers and because it is easier to integrate. For another, Ash is very definitely a man and Lizzie has always envisioned herself as being eternally female.
The biggest problem is that she cannot remember why she was sent into Ash’s body and it becomes very clear in no time that there was a reason. Places and people she needs are no longer there. She can’t seem to control the powers she’d developed as Lizzie – they are erratic and scary in the Ash body. And why is there a plot to destroy her? Is it Inkarna-related or is it the fact that before the coma Ash Kennedy was a real jerk?
As if Lizzie hasn’t got enough to do to figure out why she’s been abruptly stuffed into Ash’s body, she has to relearn the geography and culture of Cape Town – it’s changed quite a bit in the fifty years she’s spent in Per Ankh. There’s also Ash’s clingy girlfriend, Marlise. And Ash’s ghost – who very much wants his body back. Yesterday.
I loved this story for many reasons. First and foremost, Ms. Dorman has written a novel based on Egyptian magic that is both credible and impeccably researched. Her love for the Red Land is very apparent. I have a passion for Egyptology too and found myself in awe of her grasp of both the metaphysical and mythological aspects.
The juxtaposition of a female soul in a male body was another of my favorite things. Lizzie as Ash is both humorous and moving. As she navigates deeper into the psyche of Ash and becomes more at ease, the reader is taken on a fascinating psychological ride.
For most of the book I thought of Lizzie trapped in Ash’s body, but slowly, believably, I began to think of her as Ash. Lizzie become more male, but never lost her essential self.
The more Lizzie discovers about Ash Kennedy and his life before the accident that put him a coma, the more she despises him. The bar scene when Ash is confronted by an ex-lover is especially well done and memorable. I found myself sympathizing with Lizzie as more and more of Ash’s despicable character was revealed. Could she take over and change the world’s perceptions of this flawed man? Well, possibly, if she didn’t get killed by the rival House Montu of the Inkarna or Ash’s own enemies first.
Ms. Dorman has a wonderful hand with description. I felt as if I were familiar with Cape Town when, in actuality, I’ve never set foot there. Ms. Dorman’s love of South Africa is evident on each page.
At just under 300 pages, this novel is rich and complex, dark and intriguing and well worth the time it takes to read it. It is not a fast read because attention must be paid to the details, the Egyptian terms and concepts and all the twists and turns of the never predictable plot.
I eagerly look forward to devouring each of Ms. Dorman’s novels as they are bound to appear.
September 14, 2012
Wow.
This was a total shot in the dark; take a risk read. I have just joined NetGalley and was looking through the catalogue. Inkarna had an interesting looking cover and said “read now” ... So I did!
The opening line reads:
“ Tomorrow will be the first time that I die...“
Result? Hooked.
I started reading this with no background knowledge of book or author. I didn’t read the blurb and I didn’t allow myself to read any other reviews. This was just me and how the book made me feel whilst reading it.
There are many strands to the story. The obvious journey to discover why Lizzie hasn’t woken up in the body of the girl that was originally planned, the angry ghost of Ash (wouldn’t you be slightly ticked if someone was in your body?) The romance between Ash (Lizzy) and Marlise and add to that the background of Egyptian mythology and an inscription that could see souls severed and lost forever, well, then you have a wonderful concoction for a story that sits with you long after you have finished the last page!
Initially, it took me a little while to find my footing within the story. The language and style of voice made me feel that I might not be able to find my pace etc, but as I slowly started to understand what was going on the voice became easier to accept. Thanks to Nerine Dorman’s clear and informative writing, this only took a couple of pages and it turns out that the voice was very well suited to the character.
The ideas/concepts behind the story were very intriguing, and not something that I have come across. I am very interested in the idea of reincarnation but this story takes this concept a stage further with an 80 year old woman (Lizzy) being reincarnated in the body of a 21 year old man (Ash) ...By accident.
It turns out that Ash (who had inhabited the body before) was a bit of an unpleasant character to say the least and Lizzy has to face all that comes with her new body, including those who are not so happy to see the bloke walking around again. (Yikes)
The story was set in Africa, and I was unsure as how I was going to take this in as someone who has never been, but the author was excellent at setting up a scene, so I could visualise places; or at least have a sense of the terrain the characters were travelling in.
I very much enjoyed how Dorman develops Lizzy and her voice within Ash. She combines these characters slowly, and as a reader we observe how Lizzy takes on more of Ash’s behaviours and lingo.
I also found the relationship between Ash (Lizzy) and his girlfriend fascinating. Obviously, being a woman before and remembering this, Lizzy has to disentangle thought and emotion and follow her heart.
I thought the author moved very well between characters – with a balanced use of speech and description. If I was to be at all critical of this, it would be to say there were a few moments where I was wishing the story along a little quicker, but I genuinely feel this was probably more down to my impatience and the need to find out what happened next.
And I can honestly say that the ending felt very satisfying; it left me wondering if the author will consider a sequel to the story.
If you like mythology, the supernatural and something that offers something different, then Inkarna will blow you away with its cast of fleshed out characters and a rollercoaster of story.
This was a total shot in the dark; take a risk read. I have just joined NetGalley and was looking through the catalogue. Inkarna had an interesting looking cover and said “read now” ... So I did!
The opening line reads:
“ Tomorrow will be the first time that I die...“
Result? Hooked.
I started reading this with no background knowledge of book or author. I didn’t read the blurb and I didn’t allow myself to read any other reviews. This was just me and how the book made me feel whilst reading it.
There are many strands to the story. The obvious journey to discover why Lizzie hasn’t woken up in the body of the girl that was originally planned, the angry ghost of Ash (wouldn’t you be slightly ticked if someone was in your body?) The romance between Ash (Lizzy) and Marlise and add to that the background of Egyptian mythology and an inscription that could see souls severed and lost forever, well, then you have a wonderful concoction for a story that sits with you long after you have finished the last page!
Initially, it took me a little while to find my footing within the story. The language and style of voice made me feel that I might not be able to find my pace etc, but as I slowly started to understand what was going on the voice became easier to accept. Thanks to Nerine Dorman’s clear and informative writing, this only took a couple of pages and it turns out that the voice was very well suited to the character.
The ideas/concepts behind the story were very intriguing, and not something that I have come across. I am very interested in the idea of reincarnation but this story takes this concept a stage further with an 80 year old woman (Lizzy) being reincarnated in the body of a 21 year old man (Ash) ...By accident.
It turns out that Ash (who had inhabited the body before) was a bit of an unpleasant character to say the least and Lizzy has to face all that comes with her new body, including those who are not so happy to see the bloke walking around again. (Yikes)
The story was set in Africa, and I was unsure as how I was going to take this in as someone who has never been, but the author was excellent at setting up a scene, so I could visualise places; or at least have a sense of the terrain the characters were travelling in.
I very much enjoyed how Dorman develops Lizzy and her voice within Ash. She combines these characters slowly, and as a reader we observe how Lizzy takes on more of Ash’s behaviours and lingo.
I also found the relationship between Ash (Lizzy) and his girlfriend fascinating. Obviously, being a woman before and remembering this, Lizzy has to disentangle thought and emotion and follow her heart.
I thought the author moved very well between characters – with a balanced use of speech and description. If I was to be at all critical of this, it would be to say there were a few moments where I was wishing the story along a little quicker, but I genuinely feel this was probably more down to my impatience and the need to find out what happened next.
And I can honestly say that the ending felt very satisfying; it left me wondering if the author will consider a sequel to the story.
If you like mythology, the supernatural and something that offers something different, then Inkarna will blow you away with its cast of fleshed out characters and a rollercoaster of story.
July 10, 2012
A story of Egyptian myth and mythology without a mouldy old bandage or sandy tomb in sight, Inkarna asks some very interesting spiritual questions while maintaining a contemporary and fast moving plot. How would a ninety year old woman who died decades ago fare in the body of a young, arrogant metal head? That’s a tough enough question before you add in an angry Russian mobster and a co-dependant girl friend. Oh and those are just the mundane obstacles our hero… heroine? Must face. Try an angry ghost and a conspiracy from a competing house of body-stealing immortals. Nerine has drawn on her intimate knowledge of Cape Town and her expansive knowledge of Egyptian myth to weave together the threads of a story that is captivating in itself but also potentially far larger than the events in this single book (I say that with the knowledge that book number two is already being written, so you probably have some catching up to do.). A must for anyone who knows their ka from their ib and anyone who likes to wonder what might lie beyond life we know and what it might be like to lead a new one.
April 7, 2012
(ARC review)
Where do I start? The very concept of this book (woman reincarnating into a man) grabbed my attention right off. I'm sure as females we've all pondered what a day off might feel like. Nerine takes this little notion and builds a massive new universe, set in South Africa, for her readers to discover.
Ashton Kennedy was an asshole. In every sense of the word. Throughout the story, I feel that the eventual resolution is very realistically reached. The story offers a great deal of conflict and terror with crisp, vivid depictions of Ash's surroundings and often-heartbreaking rounds of emotion.
I FELT for this man. Beyond the sex-appeal of his external appearance, I became invested in his world and thoughts, feeling much like I'd emerged from underwater after a lovely and energetic swim when I finished the story.
INKARNA is truly a one-of-a-kind story and dismisses the now rather common concepts of vampires, werewolves, and even demons. It is indeed the "different" novel you've been looking for.
Where do I start? The very concept of this book (woman reincarnating into a man) grabbed my attention right off. I'm sure as females we've all pondered what a day off might feel like. Nerine takes this little notion and builds a massive new universe, set in South Africa, for her readers to discover.
Ashton Kennedy was an asshole. In every sense of the word. Throughout the story, I feel that the eventual resolution is very realistically reached. The story offers a great deal of conflict and terror with crisp, vivid depictions of Ash's surroundings and often-heartbreaking rounds of emotion.
I FELT for this man. Beyond the sex-appeal of his external appearance, I became invested in his world and thoughts, feeling much like I'd emerged from underwater after a lovely and energetic swim when I finished the story.
INKARNA is truly a one-of-a-kind story and dismisses the now rather common concepts of vampires, werewolves, and even demons. It is indeed the "different" novel you've been looking for.
July 17, 2012
I've read several of Dorman's works, and this one has definitely become my favorite. This completely addictive story is engaging from the get-go and rife with ancient Egyptian magic, stunning description, and her trademark alternative characters (complete with some familiar faces and haunts from her previous works). In "Inkarna," Dorman tackles life, death, and rebirth with subtle profundity and a fascinating story concept that had me hanging on until the very last word.
December 16, 2013
Well written and a fascinating story. Loved the ideas. the characters were great and the way it was woven was gripping. A must read for people who like something a bit different and other worldly mixed in with today.
Read
July 22, 2013For those of you who wish to see me in action, I do a reading on YouTube and even offer you a little taste of me talking Afrikaans. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVBnHO...
August 9, 2012
I'm hooked!
December 22, 2021
Inkarna follows a woman from ancient Egypt who learned to reincarnate, except her reincarnation goes wrong. I found the book fascinating.
I don't know a lot about Egyptian mythology besides what I learned in primary school, so I had no idea what all the magical terms were. They could have been entirely invented, in which case the world-building sounded convincingly it came from Egypt. The world-building was by far the most intriguing part of the plot for me, which is a rare feat because usually world-building doesn't phase me.
The plot and main male character (Ashton) reminded me a lot of Johnny Silverhand from the game Cyberpunk 2077. Yes, this book came out first though it is just an amusing paralell to me. It doesn't bother me since I loved Cyberpunk 2077. The main character took a chapter or so to grow on me, though I liked her in the end. I felt sympathetic for Marlise, even though she had been in some rough situations.
The descriptions, dialogue and antagonist were excellent. The descriptions of Cape Town made me feel like I was there, and the steady rise of tension makes for an addictive read. The fight scenes were well done as well. I loved how real fighting and the magic was combined, and the descriptions gave the magic powers 'weight' and shape.
The only downside would be the obtuse info dump in chapter 1. I had to read chapter 1 three times because I became so overwhelmed with all the terminology and trying to understand it. Maybe I'm just stupid, though I found it difficult to follow, like reading another language. Chapter 2 onward was much easier to follow, with terms thrown here and there, so I'm not even sure if chapter 1 was supposed to make complete sense now. So if you want to read Inkarna, keep in mind the whole book is not like chapter 1.
I will definitely be picking up book two in the series at some point. 4/5
I don't know a lot about Egyptian mythology besides what I learned in primary school, so I had no idea what all the magical terms were. They could have been entirely invented, in which case the world-building sounded convincingly it came from Egypt. The world-building was by far the most intriguing part of the plot for me, which is a rare feat because usually world-building doesn't phase me.
The plot and main male character (Ashton) reminded me a lot of Johnny Silverhand from the game Cyberpunk 2077. Yes, this book came out first though it is just an amusing paralell to me. It doesn't bother me since I loved Cyberpunk 2077. The main character took a chapter or so to grow on me, though I liked her in the end. I felt sympathetic for Marlise, even though she had been in some rough situations.
The descriptions, dialogue and antagonist were excellent. The descriptions of Cape Town made me feel like I was there, and the steady rise of tension makes for an addictive read. The fight scenes were well done as well. I loved how real fighting and the magic was combined, and the descriptions gave the magic powers 'weight' and shape.
The only downside would be the obtuse info dump in chapter 1. I had to read chapter 1 three times because I became so overwhelmed with all the terminology and trying to understand it. Maybe I'm just stupid, though I found it difficult to follow, like reading another language. Chapter 2 onward was much easier to follow, with terms thrown here and there, so I'm not even sure if chapter 1 was supposed to make complete sense now. So if you want to read Inkarna, keep in mind the whole book is not like chapter 1.
I will definitely be picking up book two in the series at some point. 4/5
December 11, 2020
*Audiobook Review*
Saying that this is a book about the concept of reincarnation from the perspective of Egyptian history and mythology is both an accurate and rather inadequate; this story is about so much more. Without wishing to give away any spoilers, it's safe to say that the concept of a spirit's transition from one human host to another is not a simple or effortless exercise. Nerine Dorman illustrates this point with aplomb through her deliciously complex main character. Rough around the edges, with the perfectly fitting vocals provided by narrator Kevin E Green, Ashton is also sensitive and shows depths of character in (almost) every conscious thought, action and word. The setting of the novel - Cape Town - is likewise beautifully transcribed with attention to detail and nuance that brings the city, and its people, alive to strangers and passers by alike. This is a story of struggle, redemption, renewal, grief and love. It's all there alongside action which holds the reader in its grips. My only bugbear is a slight one, which don't affect the enjoyment of non-South African listeners. At times, the narrator accidentally mispronounces South African words and the accent/dialect of one minor character did not seem to fit well, considering her racial and cultural background. However, for a non-South African narrator (I'm guessing) and English speaker, Kevin did a commendable job with some challenging material, and I commend him for that. At the end of the day, this is a great audiobook, near perfect, and I'm very glad I listened to it.
Saying that this is a book about the concept of reincarnation from the perspective of Egyptian history and mythology is both an accurate and rather inadequate; this story is about so much more. Without wishing to give away any spoilers, it's safe to say that the concept of a spirit's transition from one human host to another is not a simple or effortless exercise. Nerine Dorman illustrates this point with aplomb through her deliciously complex main character. Rough around the edges, with the perfectly fitting vocals provided by narrator Kevin E Green, Ashton is also sensitive and shows depths of character in (almost) every conscious thought, action and word. The setting of the novel - Cape Town - is likewise beautifully transcribed with attention to detail and nuance that brings the city, and its people, alive to strangers and passers by alike. This is a story of struggle, redemption, renewal, grief and love. It's all there alongside action which holds the reader in its grips. My only bugbear is a slight one, which don't affect the enjoyment of non-South African listeners. At times, the narrator accidentally mispronounces South African words and the accent/dialect of one minor character did not seem to fit well, considering her racial and cultural background. However, for a non-South African narrator (I'm guessing) and English speaker, Kevin did a commendable job with some challenging material, and I commend him for that. At the end of the day, this is a great audiobook, near perfect, and I'm very glad I listened to it.
April 14, 2023
Very cool premise. I love mythology and the concept of reincarnation, and this book has tons of both. I learned a lot about Egyptian mythology.
I started out disliking Ashton intensely (as was the author's intention) and ended up liking him when he starts to collaborate with Lizzie (who's no longer Lizzie), and the cheeky bastard ensures his own survival at the end in a neat little twist. Marlise was a tougher sell for me. Her devotion to Ashton despite his downright awful treatment of her (and those around him) made me feel like she needed a little more self-esteem.
I've just now watched, for the fiftieth time, the video for Extreme's Rise and I'm getting very Nuno-esque vibes from the cover model. All that's missing is a Washburn 4N guitar.
I started out disliking Ashton intensely (as was the author's intention) and ended up liking him when he starts to collaborate with Lizzie (who's no longer Lizzie), and the cheeky bastard ensures his own survival at the end in a neat little twist. Marlise was a tougher sell for me. Her devotion to Ashton despite his downright awful treatment of her (and those around him) made me feel like she needed a little more self-esteem.
I've just now watched, for the fiftieth time, the video for Extreme's Rise and I'm getting very Nuno-esque vibes from the cover model. All that's missing is a Washburn 4N guitar.
October 31, 2024
Inkarna is a shockfest in the best way. Various Ancient Egyptians continue to reincarnate on earth, all with their own agendas. Enter Lizzie, who was supposed to reincarnate as a young girl who recently met her death... but instead finds herself trapped in the body of a male rockstar who recently met his death. A sexy, gender fluid tale in which the dead never quite remain dead, and the living are not to be trusted either. Combines Egyptology, horror, grunge, and gore. Recommended for any fans of paranormal fiction or fantasy.
July 6, 2020
A good read, but not quite for me.
October 27, 2022
Well now. Reincarnation is not going the way everyone, including me, expected. Very good story, I was hooked. although that very last thing, oh boy.
July 10, 2012
I'm going to start out with what I really liked. The way the writer incorporated past and present was very well thought out and written. I really enjoyed the relationship between Ashton & "Ashton". It was quite funny and entertaining. It was nice to see Marlise fall in love with the new and improved Ashton. The idea of a woman being reincarnated into a mans body, learning to adapt and act and feel as a man, was quite frankly wonderful. Now my issues. The story dragged on too long. The use of the two & three letter words, "the Akh, Ib, Ba & Ka", what in the world. A glossary would've been great in order to know what these things met. About chapter 7 or so you start figuring it out, but it really turned me off. The writer spent too much time on Lizzie's past and thoughts, not enough time on Ashton in the now and what could've been a great relationship with Marlise. There were many action scenes, Ashton really could attract attention, and that was never good. Overall, some pretty entertaining scenes and I would recommend with caution. Needed to add that I kept thinking about Ash & Marlise all day. I would definitely read the next installment, I think there's a lot more to be told, a lot more to the story. In the end the writer succeed, I got totally involved with the characters & need more.
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