The Emerald Tablet

Legends of Amun Ra #1

by Joshua Silverman

Leoros doesn't have many friends. The son of a scientist and archaeologist, he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros' world is turned upside down.

When an archaeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.

On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.

Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.

Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.

Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?

There is darkness in everyone.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Ebooks, Science Fiction

408 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Jesse Kimmel-Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking cool! That is how all books like this should start. I mean odd names, glowing pillars, emerald tablets, ancient mythology, cult-like cultures- what more could one ask for?

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written. The plot was unique and original. The characters were well developed. I loved the character arcs. I felt like Josh really spent time getting to know his characters before he put his pen to paper.

There were twists and turns and each step of the way you connected with the characters. Josh threw unexpected plot twists at you and made you want to keep reading. I love the beginning and by the end I wanted to get my hands on the next one and read until there was a complete end. Even my husband had to borrow this one... meaning he snuck off with it and hoarded it in the car until he had read it and got caught putting it back. He loved it too.

I highly recommend this book. It's a great read for anyone looking for a new take on myths, adventure, action, alter-realities, and SO MUCH MORE! Pick it up today!!

[Don Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Degrees of Greatness
Book Review: ‘Legends Of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet’ by Joshua Silverman
By Don Eugene Brown


In the first of a seven book series by Joshua Silverman, “Legends of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet,” an ancient prophecy begins to unfold. It foretells of a war between two brothers that will determine the fate of a planet. Of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, this book by Joshua Silverman, Editor Geoff Bain, Enchanted Press, 2012, draws its greatness from ancient Egyptian and Grecian archeology, mythology and the depths of the author’s well crafted imagination. Silverman struck gold with this great story.

Our young teenaged protagonist, Leoros, given to escapism into the world of comic books and superheroes, is pulled into the middle of an ancient struggle. His friend, Atlantia, is tormented by dreams that threaten to rob her of sanity. A host of other characters from Ankar, Pythos, Theron, Camilla, Alex, Kem, Kesi, Dio, Cadmus, as well as Shirin, Captain Axios and others, each work to help or hinder Leoros as he pursues his destiny.

Initially the book jarred my senses in two ways. First, the book is written in the present tense (most books are written in the simple past tense). Secondly the opening scene involves a father’s cruel treatment of his 6 year old daughter. “His eyes are filled with hate, rage, and anger as he chokes his daughter. Her throat closes, she can’t breathe. Oxygen is cut off from her brain…’I asked you, have you ever felt hate?’ her father commands. The lack of oxygen makes her dizzy, slow to respond. He squeezes her trachea…she vomits over his hands…But that doesn’t stop her father from trying to kill her. Her eyes tear. ‘I can’t hear you,’ he says.” As a father with a daughter, I felt like reaching through the book and snapping some of Daddy Ankar’s rigid digits…uh...yeah…well, you get the picture. Early on I was drawn into the book. The author’s skillful ability to “show” versus “tell” a story quickly works to ignite your mind’s eye to see panoramic views, three-dimensional images, complete with sounds, tastes, sensations, and aromas both pleasant and repugnant. Everything works to transport you right into the book. Strategically placed plot recaps and clever usage of foreshadowing and retrospectives keep this epic tale lifted high above any hint of obscurity, confusion or ambiguity. Silverman leaves no precious stone unturned in his quest to write this great tale of good versus evil. This book’s scene transitions are so sophisticated that they often go unnoticed. You may be tempted to stop and retrace your steps if you’re a control freak like me (wow, did I just say that?). My real point is this: I love it when scene changes are smooth. And I love this book!

Some authors believe that before you begin a novel, you must first fully develop your characters. The more developed the character, the more credible they become. Mr. Silverman gets an “A+” in this department. When you first meet Ankar, you are drawn towards the finger snapping opinion, but as the story continues you fight to maintain a certain perspective. Leoros’ parents, Alex and Camilla, come from two slightly different worlds; she from the world of archeology mingled with mythology & legend; he from the hard sciences. For example, Leoros and his mother, Camilla “…were having a picnic in Central Park when she explained alchemy and her research to him. It was mid-April when their trip was approved by the university. The weather in New York was starting to turn and people were coming out in droves from winter’s freeze. People were running in the park, children were flying kites, and his mother was giving him a history lesson.” This realistic tension is one of many in the book, and acts as literary life blood to the story. The four apprentices, Kem, Kesi, Dio, and Cadmus have transformative experiences that shape them in surprising ways. Even the planet’s districts have their own distinctive architecture, textures, colors, and smells. While in one district, the buildings “… are made of some sort of sandstone like material, with hieroglyphics and pictographs on the outside of their buildings and they have flat roofs, the buildings of Messenia [a city in the other main district] are made from a marble like substance, with sloping roofs, arched ceilings, and Doric style columns in a white-washed structure.”

Like most avid readers, whenever I come across unrealistic dialogue, I cringe or snort (I must be sleepy!). I was sans snorting during this entire book read. I found myself lost in the book. Hours seemed like minutes. I was taken aback at Ankar’s cruel commanding voice, full of good sounding intentions’; I was enamored with Leoros’ naïve voice that spoke of great promise from a weak vessel; I was comforted by Pythos’ voice of reason and insight; troubled and impressed by Atlantia’s voice which struggled for room to speak her mind. These principal voices flowed into a chorus that opened doors for change to come.

I give this book a five star rating because it has six layers of greatness. The Legends of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet is a great read for (1) its layers of history meshed with mythology & legends, (2) archeology, (3) extensive character development, (4) superb plot development, (5) fantastic scene depiction, and (6) credible dialogue exchanges. The main character, Leoros, is sent to save a planet where people have abandoned certain aspects of their heritage, leaving them vulnerable for history to repeat itself. This cleverly interwoven tale will have you laughing, in wonder, and on the edge of your seat. Hidden in the book is an inference to Oz. And I’ve always liked the color blue. Mysteries aside, one thing is certain: you will never look at an emerald, in any form, the same way after reading this book. I can’t wait for the next six novels and novellas to come down the plateau passage of Silverman’s creative mountain.

[Rhomy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars (XD)



“The one who bears the symbol of the Emerald Tablet will fight the one who bears the Heart of Gold to decide the fate of the world”.


I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

What can I say about “The Emerald Tablet”? Well, it was unique, no doubts about that.
At some moments it was a ‘meh’ read and at some others it was a fantastic read.
That’s why I’m not going to choose any number of stars and just explain what I liked and what I didn’t.

What you need to know:

The book is written in Present tense and in third person. None of those are my favorite but that’s personal taste.

Not only we have a main story but also we find super interesting subplots, several POV that converge in a bigger picture. That’s something I enjoyed a lot.

The beginning is violent. Be aware of this, but don’t worry because as the book continues, this is not a pattern.

The knowledge about Egyptian and Greek Mythology that the author shows is stunning and you can tell there’s been a lot of research behind this book.
The bad thing about this, is that in the first part of the book I kept trying to remember the names and the role each character had and especially the ones in the legends. It confused me. I mean, there were difficult names, not an easy task!

But as the story unfolds, you get use to them and everything flows in a smooth way.
Leoros is a great character, he made me smile with all the comparison to comics and sci fit v shows. He was naïve but brave and caring at the same time.
But, my super favorite was Atlantia, that little girl with visions. Strong, brave, daring and sweet. Loved her!

This is a nice book for Fantasy lovers, but don’t go looking for a light- easy read, this is complex but utterly enjoyable.
There is a sequel and I’ll keep an eye on that one .

This is a phrase that really caught my attention, it draw me into the story completely:


“Emotions are what make us human. The denial of hate, the suppression of it, only fuels its fire; it makes hate stronger. I believe in the truth. And the truth is – the world is not a nice place. I know you have the gift to harness energy. I saw it in your eyes. Together, with my instruction, you will feel hate. You will feel what it is to have revenge on someone you despise. One day, you will kill and you will enjoy it”

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was asked to read this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Emerald Tablet by Joshua Silverman is a broad fantasy (this is the first of 7 books!) about a young boy who discovers the tablet on an expedition and realizes that his destiny is more amazing than he had ever imagined. He gets thrown into another time/planet/space dimension where he meets a mentor who teaches him how to use and hone his new magical powers, and how to become the hero he always was meant to become.

There are a lot of other subplots, but to prevent any spoilers, I'll let the reader discover those for him/herself. Silverman has a great imagination and a ton of ideas. I really enjoyed the thought of training a group of young people to use their magical powers, and I liked the idea of combining old history (Egyptian among others) with new futuristic cultures. So why, might you ask, did this fall into the dreaded DNF (did not finish) pile?

I'll admit, I only got through 150 pages. Last night, as I was trying to get back into it, I got pretty frustrated with it, and skimmed to the end to see if there were any big reveals. What I found was predictable, and what I expected from reading what I did. There are several big issues with this book. First, there are a large amalgam of genres in this book, and it ends up in a confusing jumble of most. He wants history and an Indiana Jones feel but at the same time, a Star Wars/Star Trek science fiction kind of feel, but also a dystopian, but also... you catch my drift. I never got a sense of what he really wanted this book to be about. Secondly, it's unclear what audience he wants to appeal to. In the very opening pages, we get brutal child abuse and in the second chapter, an almost painful sex/rape scene. Then we get shunted into what seems like much more of a young adult fantasy. But because of those scenes, I would never recommend this to a young adult audience. Lastly, the prose itself is clumsy. I found myself getting very distracted with all of the tense jumps-- this is supposed to be in third person present, which already is an anomaly, but in odd places, it becomes past tense, when it shouldn't be. This made the text even more unwieldy and difficult to read.

Overall, highly imaginative, but loses itself in a jumble of different ideas and genres, with prose that could use a really good editor to smooth out the problems.

[Joy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Emerald Tablet is a unique blend of fantasy, science fiction, and ancient history.

It takes place partly on modern Earth at an archeological site in the ancient Egyptian city of Siwa and partly on a distant planet called Potara, a futuristic world where society has learned to harness the elemental energy of the universe through preists schooled in the wisdom of the ancient Greek and Egyptian gods. Throughout the book, Greek and Egyptian mythology come into play, and you can tell Silverman has a substantial amount of knowledge about the two cultures.

The plot mixes a lot action with romance, friendship, sibling rivalry, mysticism and metaphysics. It has heroes, lovers, and traitors. There is a large cast of characters of varying ages and personalities. Like The Game of Thrones series, it tells the story from different perspectives and takes the reader into the mind of many characters. The main character that ties the book together seems to be Leoros, a teenage boy raised by an archeologist and a scientist, whose lifelong fascination with science fiction and comic books has filled him with a strong need to be like the heroes he reads about. His destiny is tied to Altantia, a slave girl on Potara with the gift of prophecy. Then, there is Pythos, a priest with past that has caught up with him and mentor to four apprentices whose ambitions and secret agendas drive the story. Of course, no book is complete without villains and The Emerald Tablet has several, but there will be no spoilers in this review.

The book was an interesting read, but overall I give it a mixed review. As a first novel, it bears some of the trademarks of inexperienced writers: too much telling and not enough showing (Silverman spends too much time inside the characters' heads and it gets repetitive), some plot inconsistencies, and characters that could have been more developed. But the book has a lot of potential: an absorbing fantasy world, a plot with twists and turns, and the tie in to ancient mythology that lends it credibility. Silverman also does a good job with the action scenes, painting cinematic descriptions of fights and battles. The Emerald Tablet is the first in a series, and the characters are compelling enough that I want to know what happens to them next. I'll be reading book two.

[Elizabeth Towns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legends of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet put me in the mind of Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel mixed with Journey to the Center of the Earth, the movie. This is the 1st book in a series, so there’s a lot of background information built in, which makes for some slowing down of the story line, yet there is a great story that unfolds once the pace picks up.
Leoros is the son of an archaeologist and a scientist, which intrigued me immediately. I’ve always wanted to go on an archaeological dig, so I would’ve been his friend – and he didn’t have any – initially. When Leoros accompanies his mom on an Egyptian project, she uncovers an ancient book, the Emerald Tablet, beneath the Egyptian desert. Leroes, who’s been a fantasy world buff and knows his stuff, decodes the ancient transcript.
His translation is the catalyst that starts his journey into another, future world, where he meets a girl, Altantia, who has visions when she sleeps. The visions are prophetic, and it seems that Atlantia and Leoros destinies are tied to the Emerald Tablet, The Priests of Amun, and especially the Priest Pythos, who was the one who spoke to Leoros on Earth, and who apprentices the other Priests of Amun.
This story is sci-fi and fantasy mixed, and once you dive in, you have to stay in to keep everything in perspective. It takes place between earth and another world, where things and places have different names. I usually have to stay immersed in a book like this so I can follow, and this was the case here too. The beginning was a little slow, but that was the back-story information that will most likely follow through the series. The pace picked up and moved fluidly at about 1/3rd of the way through the book.
It’s also written in 1st person, which is a hard way to write, but the author does a great job. That takes skill and talent. Overall, this is a great read, especially if you love sci-fi and fantasy. I’m interested to see how the next book starts and if the background information is relegated to an area in the back of the book, or plodded through at the beginning.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legends of Amun Ra: The Emerald Tablet is a good, old-fashioned battle between good and evil fleshed out with great detail and vivid scenes! The reader is given fantasy, sci-fi, action, adventure, betrayal, Egyptian mythology, and even a little romance! All this from a DEBUT author, who obviously loves his craft, does his due diligence and is gifted with storytelling!

I was not eased into the story, the opening pages are brutal, grabs you by the throat and squeezes, so to speak. The ending? I almost cried, I said to myself, "No. Way. Not. Fair."

Between the beginning and the end we are introduced to a thirteen-year-old boy, who, thanks to his mother's anthropological work, is onsite at a dig where an ancient relic, reported to have mystical powers, is uncovered. The boy, Leoros, is catapulted into another world that is both ancient and futuristic. His life there collides and intersects with the lives of all he meets, some destined for greatness, some for infamy and treachery. Sometimes the lines are blurred between perceived good and evil. One thing for sure, the story Never. Lets. Up!

The reading is straightforward, no mental translations needed, letting me sink deep enough into the story to be like a ghost in the room! I swear, I was there! The characters are many and memorable, each with their own varied personalities, strengths and weaknesses! They were real, believable!

There isn't a wasted page from start to finish and the groundwork for future books in the series is well-laid! I want to know what happens to these characters and where their fates lead them, so I'm definitely looking forward to the next book...and trying to be patient about it!

[Hong Witkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok...this may sound odd but I never thought of myself as a big fan of fantasy/action/historical novels...until I read this book. The physical book itself was large, solid, and I was caught right away by the graphic on the cover. I seriously didn't think I would get so lost in it so quickly so I ventured to "skim" the first chapter. I must say that first chapter wowed me with excitement and I became so intrigued...I ended up with finishing it in less than three days. This book will hook you as it did me...from beginning to end. The author did a fine job setting up each character and describing the different "worlds". The story itself is impressively original and creative. I found myself continuously asking questions about the characters' abilities and powers. I enjoyed the different dichotomies of the novel...a relatable world-Earth and a more advanced and more imaginary world of Thoth, good and evil, black energy vs. blue/green energy, etc. The ending of the book was somewhat of a surprise but I appreciate the realistic aspect of it. Since it is the first of the series, I am already guessing what the next book would be like. Again, this book is a must-read. You will be secretly wishing that this book (and the whole series) be made into a movie.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the fact that The Emerald Tablet could have been polished a little more, the story itself is rather fun, if not a tad predictable to those who are frequent fantasy readers. It’s the basic good-vs-evil story with a few “chosen ones” and some evil guys who are so evil they are almost unbelievable. The final battle has a pretty obvious outcome. The ending is an obvious segue into book two. While I do get rather tired of good-vs-evil stories and chosen people and all that, Silverman’s unique setting and truly endearing characters, coupled with his absolute mastery of mythology, really jazzes up a fairly tired trope and makes it fresh and different. The overall problem I faced wasn’t with the writing or the story itself, but with the fact that Silverman was trying to be a bit more complex than the plot actually needed him to be. While he set a firm foundation for the rest of an enthralling series, The Emerald Tablet could have used a little more balance.


Read my full review here:

http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/02/...

[Lisa Markson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. The writer took a lot of time in building the worlds and settings in the story. As a reader I was able to visually see the scenery open up to me as if I was in the story. The development of the characters gave them a three dimensional feel. There were many different elements included in the story that would attract many different readers. Family, love, and loyalty was prominent throughout the entire book. Good and evil coexist on the same plane almost like Ying and Yang. If you enjoy a good book on fantasy I highly recommend this.

[Kelly | xoxo, Kelly Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This is a crazy world.
We don't know if what we do in this lifetime makes a difference.
But, we keep doing the things we do because we believe in them.
That's what turns the tides of wars,
people believing in what they're fighting for.
It's all willpower.
Your mind and your heart will always be the key to victory;
never doubt that."
--Joshua Silverman, The Emerald Tablet


I am on a fantasy roll ya'll. AND I got a chance to delve back into the adult world with the first of seven books in the Legends of Amun Ra series. This book completely took me by surprise. In such a good way. First of all, the novel starts off with a heart-wrenching and overt description of a father strangling his 6 year old daughter...uh, hello! Yes my attention has officially been grabbed. Holy crap. This scene was intense and it kept me reading immediately. After that we have a very mysterious scene of a woman dropping off her newborn to an equally mysterious man...hmmm...ok, I'll keep going. From there we meet Leoros, a young American boy living in Egypt with his parents on an archaeological dig when circumstances transport him to Potara, another world...one he is supposed to save...I should probably mention that.

First of all. Leoros is such an amazing character. He is 13 years old and such an old soul that he is wise beyond his years. He is smart, he has faith in his beliefs, he sticks to his guns and he stands up for other people. Best of all, he follows his heart. I just adored him. He is obsessed with comic books and heroes and wants nothing more than to have his own adventure. And boy does he get one. His monologues are so honest and real that my heart just bled for him. I was rooting for him the entire time and I cannot wait to see the rest of his journey through these books. Atlantia also kicks major butt. She is a slave by class and is way more than that. This girl is fierce and also quite opinionated and states her opinions on what she thinks is right. Love this.

Our other main characters are all apprentices of the Priests of Amun. Kem, Kesi, Cadmus, and Dio. What I loved about these characters were that they were definitely more human. They made mistakes, they were not perfect and I loved them for it. Dio is my favorite. She, like Atlantia, is so strong and badass, I would love to be her friend. Girlfriend is the daughter of a soldier and you can tell. I would want her on my side in any fight.

The entire world of Potara and the ability to manifest physical energy from the molecules around you is amazing! The idea of different colored energies and fighting with them is so cool. The history of their world with the Egyptians and the Greeks and exiling some to the moon made my inner historian just brimming with excitement. I loved the mythological element of the gods. I loved the futuristic world of Potara. I loved the training involved and the meditation needed to be able to wield the power of the energies. There is a lot going on in this story but it never overwhelmed me which is huge in any epic fantasy like this. The world building is crazy unique. There are at least 3 planets we are privy to learning about in this book with, I think, 3 other to be determined. We learn so much about the world where this story takes place but there is SO much more yet to be discovered.

The writing is great. The fight about good vs. evil and the hero we have inside us all is beautiful. I obviously must include some of my favorite quotes at the end :). There were so many sections where a character is exploring a struggle they are having internally that I was marking multiple pages to go back to. I just adored these elements. The idea that good and evil do not really exist and it is all perspective is genius. So well-stated. There is so much emphasis on family and love and loyalty that the themes within the novel have your heart breaking at points. I def teared up at a few points, not gonna lie.

There are so many more plot point and elements that I haven't talked about in order to not reveal any spoilers. It was just really, really good!! I found myself wanting to pick back the book up after putting it down. I wanted to see what happened next to our characters. The epic battle for fighting for what is right is the epitome of a great fantasy novel and this book has that and more. I am eagerly anticipating the next novel and I just want to know what our characters are going to do next!

Favorite Quotes

"Beliefs are not the truth, and the truth is a matter of perspective but beliefs are important and necessary. without beliefs, we would all just be lost souls in the universe. Belief systems allow us to create order out of chaos...People relieve that sense of panic and fear of the unknown with a belief system. Whether or not the system is right or wrong, it gives us a sense of order, a sense that everything means something. The universe may have a star explode, a destructive event. However, out of that destruction, plants and new astral bodies are formed; out of destruction comes life."

"It's okay to be afraid of failure. We're all afraid of failing. The key is to no let that feeling of fear overwhelm you. You need to learn how to control it so it doesn't control you. If you don't, the fear will paralyze you."

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. And it was true too, in her mind. The atrocities of the world could be summed up by the lack of willpower and motivation of good people to take a stand."

"Hope is a tenuous thing. It means having faith in yourself and in others who are not perfect. But, in the end, she supposes that is what faith is all about. To believe in something you want to be true, despite no proof or evidence that it is. The acceptance of your lack of control, even though you possess a sliver of faith; that by pure willpower alone, the intensity of your emotions, thoughts, and feelings, can affect the outcome of what is such a dire situation."

"Remember, Leoros...accept the darkness within you, but never let it win."

[Leana (Flickering Fandom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass

Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★
Readability: ★★★
Overall: ★★★
Source: Copy provided by the author in exchange for a review

The Emerald Tablet, to me, sounded a bit like Rick Riordan’s Kane Chronicles for adults – I sort of expected the same sort of plot, slightly more grown up writing and some adult characters. In reality, there’s a lot more to this! Violence, murder and a little bit of sex, this is much more than just a standard fantasy novel. Just don’t buy it expecting a light fantasy you could lend to your children - gritty and emotional, The Emerald Tablet is most definitely aimed at adults!

This book manages to combine elements of mythology, high fantasy, mystery, romance and even sci-fi. This could easily have gone wrong, and felt like a book was trying to “do” too much to get your attention, but the blending of genres and themes in The Emerald tablet is seamless. The mythology and fantasy elements are what drew me to the novel in the first place, but the mystery and romance is what reeled me in.

Like Game of Thrones, and many other fantasy novels, the plot follows several characters, and switches back and forward. Unusually it’s written in present-tense, which took a little getting used to but didn’t bother me at all.

The first scene, a shocking abuse scene of a child, immerses you completely, and sets you up for the vivid writing style you can expect throughout the whole book. The scene is pretty intense, but the book isn’t at all gruesome or gory, so don’t let that put you off. It also doesn’t continue throughout the whole book, and is perfectly plot relevant, so don’t assume the book isn’t for you if the sound of that scene makes you uncomfortable!

Anyways, this scene sets you up to hate the abuser, but Silverman’s characters are very definitely 4-dimensional. I guarantee that throughout this book you’ll be re-evaluating your snap-judgements of characters, because every single one has a well developed back story.

The book slows down a little after this scene, when the world building really picks up. The world building is very good, but the elements of high fantasy mean that you will be switching back and forward between a few different worlds. If you’re not used to/into fantasy, that might be something that puts you off. As a fantasy fan, I enjoyed the detail and the thought that Silverman had obviously put into creating his worlds.

The second half of this book is what really sold it for me. If I were to be brutally honest, for the first third or so of this book I was leaning towards a solid 2 stars (It was okay). However, once I’d settled into the worlds, the characters, and let go of my assumption this would be YA, I started to get really into it. About halfway through, the plot really starts to pick up, and the cinematic action scenes, the mysteries and the drama then had me hooked until the end.

My biggest issue with this book was the editing – there were just a few errors that had been missed and it started to bug me. However, firstly, I don’t know whether you’d even notice them reading it purely for pleasure, whereas obviously I was on the lookout from a reviewing point of view. Secondly, I contacted Joshua with my thoughts, and got very helpful, unfailingly polite responses from both himself and his editor, who assured me these will be fixed before the next printing. So don’t let it put you off! With those changes, I imagine my review would be bumped up to 4 stars for readability, and overall.

My only other teensy-nitpicking issue with the book was Leoros and Atlantia’s proposed ages of 12/13. I can understand making them younger than the other characters to fit in with the plot, but making them such young teenagers felt almost like a random number had been picked out of a hat. In my opinion, they came off as slightly older, which fitted perfectly well with the storyline. Their young ages was also the biggest reason I felt initially conflicted as to whether this was aimed at teenagers or adults. To be honest I basically just ignored any mention of their ages and called them more like 15 or 16 in my head!

All in all, although The Emerald Tablet was a little rough around the edges, I enjoyed it, and I think the series shows great potential. It was interesting and it was unusual, in both plotline and overall feel. The character switching, adult themes and fantasy elements give it an almost Game of Thrones feel, and yet the book wasn’t in anyway slow or taxing to read like some High Fantasy can be. I would say that this was a middle ground between Percy Jackson/Harry Potter etc and Game of Thrones. For adult fantasy fans who fancy a YA feel with adult content, this is perfect!

[Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://abooksofathomless.blogspot.com...

‘The Emerald Tablet’ is a mixture of the fantasy and sci-fi genre, but in all honesty it cannot be simply described by those two genres. It’s mixed in with mythology, history, archaeology and even a bit of romance. The entire novel itself is absolutely epic, and for a number of reasons.

The main character, Leoros, sort of reminded me of Harry Potter in the first couple of books- innocent, a chosen one, confused etc. this being said, I didn’t find him to be too similar to Harry. They definitely had their differences, which while I adore Harry, was a really good thing to see and made him a lot more interesting to me. There were also moments I felt like I could really connect to what Leoros was feeling and some of things that were happening to him (so, okay I’ve never been transported to a different world but you know what I mean...) Of course, the supporting characters were also really interesting to me. There are a lot of supporting characters in this book, that I will admit, and some of them definitely interested me more than others- my favourites were probably Atlantia, Kesi and Dio. All of those characters are girls, and while they are all different- it was their strengths, both physically and mentally that made me love them so much- even though there were moments when I absolutely hated them. Another thing I really enjoyed was the development of each character, and even more so- the development of the relationships between the characters.

The world was amazing, and I really enjoyed the actual world-building. I liked learning more things about the world and other characters at the same time that Leoros, and a few of the other characters, did. I also enjoyed seeing all the different characters from different parts of the world and how they all thought about certain things, how they reacted to those things and their history. I’m not really the biggest fan of battles/wars/lots of violence in books, or in general for that matter, but I still managed to find the battle scenes within the book interesting. For me, the way these scenes were described in a way that allowed me to visualise what was happening despite having very little knowledge about this sort of thing at all. This being said, there were moments that still slightly disturbed me and I found myself having to put the book down for a little while until I was able to pick it up again and move on (some of these pages my older brother read, he seemed to enjoy them a lot more than I did).

The entire novel was pretty action-packed, but in those last one hundred pages on so things really started up. The build-up to the end was crazy, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from my screen as I read the last few chapters in one sitting that lasted about an hour. There were also little twists and turns, not just in those last chapters but the whole way through, that were so carefully constructed and were revealed at just the right moment. Obviously, I wouldn’t have been able to keep myself focused on this unless I enjoyed the writing- trust me when I say this book seemed massive to me when I was first starting it, despite having read longer books- this 408 page e-book seemed like some big monster that I’d never be able to get my way through, and though it took me a little bit longer than I would have liked (due to school commitments), when I did find time to read it, I read in quite big chunks just because I found myself unable to turn off my screen and leave this world behind.

All this being said, there are moments in this book that made me feel a little bit squeamish or uncomfortable, so I wouldn’t suggest reading this book if you are under the age of about fifteen or so. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend ‘The Emerald Tablet’ to all of you, especially if you’re a fan of either the fantasy or sci-fi genre or if you’re just looking for something a little bit different.

Thank you to Joshua Silverman for supplying us with a copy of ‘The Emerald Tablet’, therefore giving us the chance to experience this amazing book for ourselves. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read full review: http://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.it...

The Emerald Tablet was a great fantasy book, full of action, well developed characters and interesting legends that will make you travel between several of the most amazing countries on Earth (and not only!) Starting from the very beginning, I can not avoid sharing with you my first impression: I immediately had a wrong sensation of this book, because as I started reading I really couldn't understand anything! There were way too many characters with strange names introduced from the beginning and I thought; this is going to be another book full of characters with unpronounceable names, that I should take notes of"; but as soon as the story got clearer I also realised that there were not as many characters as it seemed and I definitely became more relaxed but above all more passionated, in the story. Actually, I have to say that in the end maybe, the fact that there were several characters was probably one of the best aspects of the book, for at least three reasons:
- I think that one of Joshua Silverman's best qualities is his ability in describing and developing characters progressively, and above all through their actions and through the choices they decided to take during their path.
- The abundance of characters increased the tension and the suspence that revolved around the mystery of who the traitor was and the fact that there were so many suspects made the mystery even more intricate. The author, indeed, perfectly played with the relationships between them, creating an enjoyable web of intrigues and bonds that were really entertaining and interesting to discover.
- It was absolutely perfect the way the author decided to describe the events, constantly changing point of view; apparently, it may seems like something enervating, but the change of the speaker was so harmonius with the narration that it doesn't create repetitions (as it usually happens) and just contributes to give us an idea of how each character was living that particular situation.
It is evident that what I enjoyed most about this book is the attention the author paid to characters, and another aspect I really liked is how Joshua didn't hesitate in describing also harsh situations; speaking of which, a character that really surpised me in this sense, is Leoros' mother (the protagonist's mother) who really changes from night to day to save her son.. I guess when my mother told me "a mother would do anything for her children" she literally meant anything, didn't she?
Talking about the framework, I think that Joshua's world was quite original, even if sometimes I didn't quite understand everything about the rules of the Priests of Amun, even if I am sure all the doubts will be clarified next; Potara was actually a great fantasy world, a mix between an ancient Egypt and a modern city like New York. Infact there were still the traditions and the religion of the ancient, but the characters often used very technological tools, just like cars and armours.

Well, at least but not last, if there is something I should reproach to the author is, why such a rushed up ending? I expected the final battle between the antagonists and the protagonist to be a little more detailed and above all more tough to win, but on the contrary, there wasn't an actual battle and ... grrr I can't even express what I mean without giving out spoiler, and I really don't want to!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a unique blend of history, science fiction, mystery, and action/adventure. I am not a history reader, but this book was done in such a way that it didn't feel at all like I was reading history, more like was reading a backdrop of history. It had more elements of sci-fi and fantasy than history. I loved that it was so full of action and adventure too. It really kept my attention and kept making me want to read on to see what was going to be the end result of everything the characters were going through. The characters; I just loved them! They were so well thought out and so very well developed and easy to come to enjoy; whether you came to hate them or love them for their personalities and decisions they made. Leoros was by far my favorite character, being he was just an ordinary boy who was always dragged around by his parents on archaeological digs (more so his Mother) and then talked to in scientific terms (his Father). All he wants is to have friends, which he can't the way they travel, and to have a "normal" life, or a life like his favorite Sci-Fi characters in Star Wars or Star Trek. When he listens to an ancient tablet his Mother's crew digs up and crosses into another dimension of magic and power and a place to finally find a friend or two his is very excited and happy and wants nothing more than to help in any way he can. This means learning how to handle powers he somehow seems to have. Maybe this is where he always belonged and was meant to find. The other characters are great too; Atlantia, the equivalent of a slave to those with the ability to wield power; Kem, the boy who wants nothing more than to be the best and become the High Priest; and the rest of them...Dio, Kesi, Shirin, and Cadmus. They all have great development and background making them wonderful characters to the book. Silverman did a great job with the writing of this book too, it was very well written and had a good pace to it that kept me intrigued enough to keep reading on in the book. There were a few parts that seemed a bit drawn out, but as you read you see they needed to be that way so you as the reader would understand more of what was going on later in the book. I enjoyed this read and think it a good start to what will probably be a great series for this author. In some ways it reminded me a bit of Harry Potter as far as the how Leoros has no friends and finally seems to make some when he goes to this special land where he finds he can wield powers and is learning how to use them to help fight an impending war.

4/5 Stars!

Received free for honest review.

[Michael (The Bookshelf Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What intrigued me most about this book was the description. It sounds so mythical and amazing. I have to admit that the beginning of this story was a little confusing but once you get into it and learn who the people are and what the land is about you can dive right into the adventure of the story. I really liked the different characters and the main premise of the book. Leoros was an amazing main character he really stole the book from the other characters. I loved getting inside his head and learning about everything he was going through. The basic premise of the book is that Leoros is with his parents in Egypt and he goes through a pillar into another world, called Potara. On Potara, he learns that he is able to manipulate energy with his feelings. Who wouldn't want to be able to manipulate energy with your mind and be able to fight and do stuff with it. The thing about this book is that it also has an evil and adult side. I wouldn't say it is 100% young adult, but if you can take some sexual scenes and talk about it then it is still a really great book and perfectly fine to read for the older young adults, not so much for the really young. I really also like the evil and dark side to this book. The antagonists weren't really your average bad guys. You felt for the girls that had to do the bad things because that is how they were raised. The other thing I really loved it that this book doesn't just stay with the main character telling the story it jumps from character to character. I even loved that it tells the story of Leoros' parents when they find out he is missing. I really suggest reading this book if you love young adult but can stomach more of an adult theme for a younger genre novel. All of the characters really have depth and good backgrounds worked into their stories. I also really liked the young romance that happened and hopefully will blossom even more in the next book. I really can not wait to read the next installment of this series and to be able to delve back into the world. The one small complaint I have is that the story was a little bit long and could have ended earlier instead of having so much description and things going on in the beginning. I was very pleasantly surprised by all the twists and turns and I really suggest reading it to everyone that likes mythology, fantasy, sci-fi, and young adult. I really suggest picking up a copy, you really won't be disappointed.

[Rae Ryans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Emerald Tablet is a multi point-of-view, suspense driven mystery that delves into Greek and Egyptian mythology, with science fiction and fantasy twists. Phew. It’s not a fast paced read, but it’s not a slow read either. The pacing fits with most epic fantasy books, and like them, encompasses you into its world.

With all multi point of view novels, there isn’t necessarily a clear cut main character. You see the events of the present from different characters. I’ve always loved this point-of-view for this very reason. Instead of a one sided look at a situation or scene, you get two or more, but each voice moves the story forward. Well done, this is quite tricky to accomplish and why there aren’t many stories that tackle this style.

Each character is unique, and each has strengths and weaknesses that are fitting and believable. Leoros is a kid whose parents traipse him around the globe. He has no real friends, and spends his free time in fantasy play. If I had to choose a main character out of them all, Leoros would fit the bill. He’s the kid from Earth, the one who heard the voice of Pythos, and walked through the pillar.

While human, he’s still unique, a prophesied child bearing a sacred mark. When he arrives in this strange world, he finds himself imbued with magic, but unlike the others, he’s especially gifted. But there is so much more that I don’t want to give away, and of course that is the fear of a book reviewer. You see, we want you to read it too.

Anywho, this is a great story for anyone who enjoys fantasy, science fiction, action, magic, and ultimate good vs evil stories. There is some romance, but it is lightly woven into the story. While the character of Leoros is rather young (13), I wouldn’t recommend this for younger adults. There is quite a bit of violence and some other adult themes that would be suited for an older teen to adult.

I look forward to reading more!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Emerald Tablet is not the type of book I would typically read. Yet when the author contacted me about doing a review, I accepted after reading the synopsis. This book is part science fiction, part fantasy, and part adventure. I will admit, the first couple of chapters shocked me. The very first scene is one of horrific violence against a child, yet as the novel progresses you see that it is necessary to understand the development of some characters. It is essential to the novel. I decided to keep reading since I knew that others had given this novel 4 and 5 star reviews.


I am glad that I stuck with it. This novel keeps you engaged throughout with it's amazing characters, vivid settings, and lively action.


The main characters in The Emerald Tablet are quite well-developed. I love Atlantia. She has such strength and intense devotion. Her character is one I can't wait to learn more of in the following novels. I just wanted to mother Leoros. He is a typical teenage boy who loves soccer and comic books. Yet when he is transported to another land, he must show his true strength of character and make extreme sacrifices for those who live in a world where he had never been.


The different settings of the novel keep you immersed in the story. When you are on Earth, you can feel the hot desert sun on your back. When you are in Potara on Mount Parnassus, you can see the clouds surrounding you and feel the cold seeping into your skin. The way the novel jumps back and forth from one world to the other keeps you guessing. You are frustrated at having to wait to see what is happening in one land, yet excited to be back in the other land seeing what is going on there!


All in all, The Emerald Tablet is a solid first novel in what promises to be an epic adventure.

[Rabid Readers Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first scene of this novel involves a father brutally choking his 6 year old daughter and asking her if she felt hate. I read the scene and just sat there shocked for a few minutes and then realized what a brilliant scene it was. In those few pages, Silverman shows up what we’re up against in this very complex and involved story. This man is going to do anything he has to do in the name of developing the powers of this little girl. Conversely we have an image of what this girl is going to grow up to be and in that moment, those two characters are laid out like crystal. After this scene the next 10% or so dragged because what Silverman has given us is a very complex story and elaborate new world. Silverman lays out the rules and setting for us in graphic detail as succinctly as can be done.

There are a number of characters in this novel and, to Silverman’s credit, they’re all unique and distinct. Atlantia is a slave girl with special powers who is maybe too smart for her own good. Pythos is a mentor who maybe realizes that he’s a bit beyond. Legends of Amun Ra The Emerald Tablet is sci-fi, fantasy and history rolled into one. Silverman’s use of mythology is broad and (from what little I know of Egyptian and Greek mythology) seems to be proficient.

Legends of Amun Ra The Emerald Tablet is a good, old fashioned, battle between good and evil and especially once the action really got going toward the latter half of the book, I could not put this book down. Everytime I thought the plot would twist, it turned. I’m just going to admit it, I cried at the end. I won’t give it away but I did.

[Josie-LunarKitCatReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy for an honest review.

Thank you Joshua Silverman for a wonderful story. A story that is cleverly written using the present, history and the mythology from Greece and Egypt.

A quote from the summary, "Leoros' world is turned upside down".

Not only Leoros world, but many others as well. I like how the story tells of more characters lives being affected in many different ways. Everyone having to make important choices in their lives. Characters coming to terms of reality and learning it can be difficult to make decisions when the line between good and evil becomes blurred. Characters struggling with science, faith and emotions.

I highlighted a part of the book that stood out to me. A discussion between Alex and Camilla about love. Alex science tells him the emotions of love is similar to how large quantities of chocolate makes the brain react.
* Beware this part may contain a spoiler*

Quote:
"Tell me Alex, would you die for me? For Leoros?"
Alex looks bewildered at her question. "What kind of Question is that? Iv'e killed for both of you already and I'm certainly ready to die for you."
She smiles at his response. "I know you have. I just wonder if you'd do the same for large quantities of chocolate."

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to gravitate toward fantasy/action books, and I also have a deep love for history. After reading the synopsis of The Emerald Tablet, and seeing that it was Ancient History, I instantly knew I had to read it.

The book opens with a father choking his daughter and trying to get her to “feel the hate” within her. I was instantly sucked into the book and it never let go. I would find myself thinking about it throughout my day and couldn’t wait to get done work and read more.

As crazy as it sounds, I didn’t want to finish the book. I swear it took me a week to read the last 100 pages, because I just didn’t want it to end. I’m still fighting with myself on whether I want to read the excerpt from the next book or not. (I know I will) I’ll admit it, I definitely teared up reading this book. It’s great when you can get so attached to characters and actually care about what happens to them.

If this book is any indication on how the rest of the series will be, I will love all the books. I’m really excited to see where the series will go to next.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like history, sci fi and adventure, then this is a book for you!
Read how a boy Leoros is with his mother in Egypt, where she finds a tablet in a buried city. Leoros loves hero's super hero's and dreams to be one. when he decodes the ancient text he finds himself dragged into the a world far in a future.

He meets a old priest of Amun and later on Atlantia a girl who seen him in a vision (when she sleeps) and is seen as a slave in her world, but the priest and Leoros see more in her, she does have a gift like the others.

The gifted children are apprentices of the Priests of Amunapprentices of the Priests of Amun they are suppose to become priest and protect the people.
An Evil King is determine to fight the priests and take over. Will Leoros and his friends succeed in defending the city?

Overall a good book nice mix of Egyptian and Greek Mythology and a dose of science fiction, I enjoyed it and I can not wait to read the other 6 books when they come out.

I received a free copy of this book for a honest review

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a mix of sci-fi/fantasy/adventure with a touch of romance. It also has Ancient Egyptian and Greek Mythology thrown in. Being a fan of mythology I enjoyed that plot element. However, I found the story to be confusing at first with the switching back and forth from different planet and all the characters that were introduced. I also felt that the action lagged at first because the characters spent too much time thinking and not enough doing. There's also some minor inconsistencies but they're not too distracting. About halfway through the book though the action picked up and I found myself more engrossed in the story and rooting for Leoros and his allies. The second half of the book made up for the minor issues I had with the first half. Overall I found the book to be an entertaining read. I also really liked the cover art.



I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

YIKES! Page one- a father choking the life out of his 6 six old daughter, asking her if she knows hate and rage!! This book starts with a bang and never stops. It is a wonderful, gripping tale of good vs evil. The characters are charismatic and lifelike. (I think I felt hands on my neck while reading the opening lines!)

This book has it all, sci fi, fantasy, MYTHOLOGY (my favorite) and something to appeal to everyone.

The 'worlds' are somewhat difficult to follow, but once you get an understanding of the bigger picture, it becomes easier to follow.

This is the first of a series. Hurry up Joshua and write more!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua pens "The Emerald Tablet" in a plot filled with action, romance, mystical, spirituality, taking pieces from the fantasy, history and sci-fi genres. There are many characters involved that Joshua brings them to life and they are quite complex but I found it wasn't all that hard to decipher who is who. A nice old fashioned battle between good and evil where the real action actually starts somewhere towards the middle of the book and a must read for all.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Yes! This is the perfect combination of relationships and new,old, and another world. The characters are real and their emotions make this book fly by. I tried to put it down but was totally unsuccessful. Now I am left with that impatient for the next book in this series feeling and I was just finding my balance. Please get a move on Joshua.

[Lisa Rayns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read Legends of Amun Ra - The Emerald Tablet because I’m a fan of Egyptian mythology so I was a little surprised to find sci/fi stirred into the mix. This book delivered plenty of mythology and much more. It’s a very in-depth story with several interesting characters and pov’s to give the reader a full spectrum experience. I loved the quote at the beginning and it just kept getting better!

[Septima Snape · Rating 4 out of 5]

review follows

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is one enjoyable science fiction/ fantasy story.  I love how Mr. Silverman took gods and myths from ancient Egypt and Greece to develop a ‘what if some of it is real’ story set in modern times.  The reader spends time with characters both here on Earth as well as the main story location of the large city of Thoth where a mixture of ancient Egyptians and Greeks had been relocated by the gods.   

I have to admit that it took me a while to get hooked into the story.  I’m not sure if it was due to the genre and needing to spend more time laying a foundation or if it was the issues with formatting in the advanced reader copy that made it a challenge at times to follow things or realize when a switch of point of view or location was occurring.  By the middle of the book, the pace was picking up and I could feel my reading speeding up as I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I longed to have the characters poised for heroic acts succeed rather than be squashed down by the opposition.   There’s a fairly clear good versus evil theme happening in this title as some grab at ‘power’ with no regard for who they might hurt in the process.

For my Christian readers, I will share a few points that might be troublesome for you and why I’d recommend this title for adults rather than having my teens read it right now.  First off, I know that some Christians avoid titles that set the gods of Greek mythology in the place of being real.  This book definitely does that.  Personally, this does not bother me and my boys have enjoyed other fictional titles featuring different Greek gods. 

Secondly, there is at least one somewhat steamy sex scene where one of the young adults with talent who was training to be an Amun priest is (willingly) seduced by ‘the enemy’ as well as some violence that may be outside your parental comfort zone.  The protagonist, Leoros, is a mere 13 years old, suggesting this title is written for the young adult market.  However, the inclusion of that particular scene has me hesitating on turning the e-reader with this title over to even my 15-year-old right now.  (Although, I must admit he’s read a few more adult titles without issue and is really good about skipping scenes like that one in movies, too.)

As I enjoyed the title overall, I will be on the lookout for more titles in the Legends of Amun Ra series. 

Disclaimer: I was sent an advance reader copy to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own.

[Pat MacEwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, which has some very interesting ideas about ancient Egyptian culture and how those concepts wound up being syncretized with Greek beliefs of Ptolemy's time. The hero is a 13-year-old boy from Earth who discovers he can read the glyphs on the Pillar of Hermes his mother (an archaeologist) has discovered at a dig site in Egypt's Siwa Valley. He can also step through the pillar, which contains a portal, into another world where the Priests of Amun rule the City-State of Thoth. There he discovers he is the subject of a daunting prophecy, and his fate is tied to an ongoing war between the priest called Pythos and his exiled vengeful brother, Osiris. The story was undercut, however, by both the use of present tense throughout and by a slip-n-slide Point of View that changed from one paragraph to the next. An omniscient Point of View can be very effective, but in this case, it was simply annoying, and kept me at a distance from all of the characters. The author's passion is obvious, however, and I hope his craft will improve in short order.