Daughter of Isis

Descendants of Isis #1

by Kelsey Ketch

“You can’t keep resisting my irresistibleness, Natara Stone.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.

The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

Genres: Mythology, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural

Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2013

About the author

Kelsey Ketch is a young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist and Data Analyst. During her free time, she can often be found working on her latest work in progress. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and reading.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! When I choose to read this book, it sounded intriguing and I figured I would enjoy it. However, it turns out that this novel was better than I had anticipated!

It starts of with teenager Natara Stone (Natti) moves to America with her father. They leave their home in London after the tragic murder of her grandmother. The come to the small town of Setemple only to learn in it has very strong Egyptian theme (including a pyramid). This sets the pair off as it reminds them of Natti's mother who died. Upon arriving at their new home and unpacking, Natti comes across a box her grandmother had given her and in the box was a mysterious letter her grandmother had left for her to find. This is when my interest really picked up. I quickly wanted to unravel the hints of the letter.

The other character we meet is Seth. At first I could not stand him! He charms his way through school and sleeps his way through most of the female population there. Although I loved seeing how he keeps chasing after strong-willed Natti! While he is character is sleazy at first once I started reading more from his perspective I actually felt sorry for him. He is a tricky one to peg down. His best friends, Q and Ky, I hate. Nothing nice to say about them. I think I like his mother but it is hard to tell what is real with her. Natti, on the other hand, I LOVED. She is spirited, caring, witty and full of life! She is very easy to like and I enjoyed seeing her British backround show up now and then. Her comments and brush offs of Seth cracked me up every time.

Overall, Kelsey Ketch did a good good with blending in some Egyptian style and lore into this book. It is easy to follow and she explains things well. The book has a great pace to it. Brisk enough to keep things going but paced enough to draw the reader in.

This book has some very mature themes in it. Lots of sexual references, drugs, human sacrifice, mind control, etc. Nothing too strong of over the top, but dark enough that I encourage this more for older teens and adults only. It starts off light but as the story delves deeper it also gets darker. So readers be warned!

There is a romantic element here, but it is mixed with possession, fear, hate and confusion that it by no means is a main focus. It has just enough to have you wonder about the pair but nothing more. This was a nice change in a young adult novel that focuses on a male/female lead combo.

This is a great read for fantasy or mythology fans! The book draws you in and keeps you wondering the outcome every step of the way. I hope to know more about the next book in the series soon. it is definitely one I will be keeping an eye out for!

[Kelsey Ketch]

Though my first published novel, this is my third manuscript ever written. It start merely as a dream, literally. A male character appearing before in the halls of my old high school. He used a kiss to deceive me and stole my backpack without any explanation. Then a fire started, and the hallways quickly became a blaze, leaving me with little hope of finding my way out. And when I thought it was all over, the male character returned and carried me to safety.

Long after waking up, my thoughts continued process the dream and the myth of Isis and Osiris, which I learned from my college professor. Deciding to dig a bit more into a possible story formulating in my head, I started to research Ancient Egyptian mythologies, culture, and daily life through reference books, documentaries, and online news articles and sites. I then combined aspects of my research with some of my experiences during high school to come up with the backbone and first novel of the Descendants of Isis trilogy.

And I just have to say, this is my baby, so I LOVE it with all my heart!

[Jennifer Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Son of Set Is a Son of a B*tch

Kelsey Ketch is one of the sweetest authors around! When the opportunity to read and review her debut novel arose, I snatched it. I rarely stray from my preferred genre of contemporary romance, and the fact that I enjoyed this Egyptian YA paranormal romance so much speaks volumes for the entertainment value of this story.

Natara “Nattie” Stone has the unenviable task of starting twelfth grade not only in a new school but in a new country. Her mother died when she was five, and her father moves Nattie from London to the Californian desert following the murder of her beloved Egyptian grandmother.

“Brit-Chick” Nattie encounters some kind friends at her new high school:

”Well, how else do you explain Seth’s weirdness?” Jen snapped. “Every girl drools over that guy, and no mortal human can look that good.”
“I’m mortal,” Kevin pointed out.
Jen’s eyes wandered over him. “Case in point,” Jen concluded. “So, Seth has to be supernatural.”

But the classmate who really stands out in Natti’s mind is the one who has slept with about half the female class: Seth. The other half wishes they were so lucky. He’s definitely a charmer…except to Nattie. She gets an intense headache every time he’s around (LOL) which definitely intrigues stalker Seth.

Nattie is a likable character, earnest and intelligent. I would prefer Natara’s nickname to be Tara or Nata because Nattie seems more reminiscent of a southern maid than a British daughter of Isis. But my favorite character is Seth. His behavior is despicable at first, which is understandable given his slimeball father. Seth is a son of Set—a descendent of an Egyptian god who’s all about lust, destruction, and chaos. (I love the idea of one’s sole purpose in life being to create chaos.) From these evil beginnings, Seth really matures in this story. There’s a reason Nattie’s feelings evolve for him over time.

At first the plot seemed too similar to Twilight, but then it found its own rhythm. The pace continued building to the exciting conclusion, which leaves room for a sequel. One mystery yet to be revealed is why Nattie’s father moved them to this small town in California, with its Egyptian symbols. And what is up with the book her father is writing? How much does he know about her mother’s and grandmother’s death? I’m guessing we’ll learn more in the next book. *claps*

Wonderful job, Kelsey Ketch!

This review is posted on my blog (http://jenniferlanebooks.blogspot.com) for the Daughter of Isis Blog Tour.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daughter of Isis was an enjoyable read! I really liked Natara Stone, aka Natti, has a main character. After moving from London to America with her father, Natti goes to a school where she meets some interesting people. One of them is Seth, who I definitely kept flip-flopping with. I couldn't decide if I liked or dislike the mysterious bad boy player.

Natti and Seth definitely have a cute relationship that was developed throughout the book. However, these two had their fair share of secrets. Seth definitely had a shit ton more but again, he was the mysterious boy in her life. Natti and her dad had a cute family dynamic. Her dad definitely reminded me of mine which made me smile. Then the whole mystery about her grandmother's things and the necklace she had were intriguing enough.

Then there's Seth. Man, his dad was a DICK. I hated him so much. Then that ending definitely gave me mixed feelings. I feel like I'm still trying to get my brain to wrap around it. In the end, I still hate his dad and brother and all of the secrets that Seth kept from Natti. Mostly because he really did develop feelings for her and vice versa.

I couldn't let my ship burn! So, again, the ending has left me numb. I absolutely hate cliffhangers and I can't wait to dive into the next book. I seriously need it right now!

[Trisha Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such amazing talent and mythology, and swoon-worthy moments and boys...full review coming closer to release date! Just make sure to add it now and be ready for the awesome Egyptian ride!

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Note: I received review copy of this book from the author, via Lola’s Blog Tour, in exchange for an honest review. ***

Warning– There was misbehaving enslaving, taking advantage of girls with manipulation and deception which was very disturbing. It was not going all dirty but enough to take your imagination to those dirty part that may make you unnerving. So brace up. It’s for upper YA.

The book was about Daughter of Isis. Ugh! I know that was obvious. Apart from that about Sons of Set, mythology connecting the pieces of the story, and finding secret behind necklace and forbidden love with bone chilling nail-biting thrill. The book is narrated by two main characters- Natti and Seth. I liked to read this book through their POV.

Natti was having hard time in shifting to totally unknown city with Egyptian buildings and culture from which she was trying run away because it reminds her of her maternal heritage that had taken life of her mother and grandmother. Moreover it was the city of Sons of Set (God of Chaos), bunch of chaotic rich people and their brats and one of them was our second main character Seth. So you see where this is going? Let me tell you about characters in detail and what I thought about them.

Characters-
In this book there were more antagonists than good characters and so less to like about characters. Good characters were Natti’s father and her friends at Setemple High school. I liked Wanda. She didn’t have that big side character role but I think there was a hint she might have big role in next books of the series. Oh later I came to know she was blogger too. Nice, right?

Natti– She was good throughout the book. Smart and beautiful and walking lie detector. She even knew how to take care of herself in wild parties. At some point she started to show her typical heroine side which was annoying at some point but overall she was good. Her father was cool. I liked him right from the first chapter but he had very less role to play.

Seth– our second main character. Ahh! He was one complicated character of the book whom I couldn’t understand until certain point. I couldn’t decide whether to consider him protagonist and antagonist! Because most of the time I just wanted to punch him on the face. His friends were no better. His character development was good and I could understand him much better as I progressed in the book. At the end I don’t blame him as the antagonist was his own father and he was brought up as Son of Set.

Antagonists– They gave tough time to our poor Natti. Of course what they did was highly unacceptable but as antagonist they were brilliant and created real chaos in the book.

And final, my most favorite character of the book. Natti’s cat– Bestet. After reading Rick Riorden’s Kane Chronicle, I thought I will see this cat converting in this book too, but alas! Nothing like that happened. Anyway, that cat was smartest and coolest in the book. I so loved it.

What I Liked-
I liked first half of the book about all the college stuff Natti’s new-school-girl struggle with jerk on her tail all the time (Yeah, I’m looking at you Seth). Oh and there was mention of ‘The Great Gatsby’. I haven’t read that book but watched movie last month so I knew the story and I liked reading the facts about author in this book. Conversation between characters was logical, realistic and not typical YA type or just meh.

Two main things were best in the book and I will give all stars for. First and obvious, mythology. Second, tight tense grip of the book.

The concept and mythology was amazing. At around 40% of the book I got to read the famous story of Isis, Osiris and Set. I loved reading this story, the narration of it was very captivating. I remembered half of that story and rest I recalled after reading it. What I didn’t knew was the later part of this myth that came during climax. I got all answers I needed at that point and it was mesmerizing.

There was lot of tightness in the book right from the beginning. The death of grandmother, coming to unknown, meeting son of Set and falling in love with him was enough to keep me on the edge all the time. The gifts of the antagonist made them so powerful and the things they did with those powers, the rituals they performed in temple was creepy and then worshiping Set made the darkness within them even more horrible. I was constantly worried for Natti.

I knew from first few chapters where this story was going and I could guess what might happen. And I was right for most of the things. The only thing I didn’t know was ‘how’ and ‘when’ those thing will happen in the book. Discovering how author will write those turning points was fun and thrilling in the book.

I will separate ‘twist and turns’ phrase for this book. There was definitely turns but no okay, one twists. The story was pretty predictable till climax. The climax was the only thing that surprised me and events after that till the end. Even though, story was predictable I just enjoyed the book.

Why I didn't give full stars-
First thing that came in my mind was, why no hieroglyphic pictures and their meaning!! What fun is there when you’re reading Egyptian mythology and there is no hieroglyphs pictured in that!! I would have loved to see those graphics along with text.

Second – Characters specially Natti. I was literally yelling at her at few point when she started acting so typical naïve heroine. Even though she knew she should not fall for him, she did exactly the same thing. Isn’t this very common and so typical in this type of story!

And cover. It’s not that intimidating. The cover of the book Natti’s father was writing was more interesting than this.

I have this one question. It’s not really possible they just by chance came to city of Sons of Set. Somebody might have done this intentionally (yeah, my detective mind is working). So let’s see if that’s true or not in the next book of the series ‘Son of Set’. I’m going to read all the books of this series.

Overall, interesting mythical stories, thrilling forbidden romance and scary chaotic antagonists. Just perfect. Oh and super-fast rocket speed book. I surely recommend this book to those who would love read this type of story.

[Jenna D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review also at Jenna {does} Books!

I was excited to be invited to read DAUGHTER OF ISIS by Kesley Ketch, knowing that, as of now, there is a definite lack of Egyptian mythology in YA fiction (though this trend appears to be changing in recent months). Note to readers: This book is for the “Upper YA” crowd. It contains some crude language, portrayals of gender dominance and mild sexual innuendo.

I see DAUGHTER OF ISIS as a book that could get people talking. The subject matter is true to its source as well as the Egyptian gods that it refers to. If you know anything about Egyptian mythology, Set is often depicted as a fairly unforgiving god, not to mention a murderer… If you do any reading about the Temple of Set, you will find some fairly dark material, which appears to be the basis for this book. At its most basic level, DAUGHTER OF ISIS is a story about the war between good and evil.

Some readers may find similarities between DAUGHTER OF ISIS and previous YA books, such as September Girls (due to the themes of gender roles and the use of sex as power within the novel), and Twilight (sorry, but I had to throw that one in there, due to the new girl in a new town, new car and new friends, who meets a “bad guy” who is more than what he seems). Now, just wait… If you are someone who thinks those comparisons may not be a good thing, think again. Many times during the novel, the writer actually seems to be poking fun at the topics at hand. Natti, the main character, is no Bella Swan. She has a good head on her shoulders, she’s athletic, she has plenty of snark and a personality that is fitting for a girl her age and she is not a social pariah. But she does move to a new town, she does get a new car and she does meet this guy…

As for the September Girls comparison: This book may be controversial to some people. In my opinion controversy is good. It gets people talking. And isn’t that what books are supposed to do? Make people think and talk about things? Some of the events that take place within this book (ie. the act of controlling others and using sex as a source for power, women being placed into the roles of servant and harem member, the sacrificial ceremonies, etc.) are not easy to read about, but are, in fact, close to real-life cult practices – with the added presence of magic, of course.

To be honest, I despised most of the men in this book… Their roles are extremely exaggerated, which I think is intentional. The way I see it, you are supposed to hate the men in this book. But still, I struggled with the actions of the male characters, especially with the way that the community just accepts how Seth and his lackeys behave. Actually, that’s the most freaky part in the novel – the way the community just accepts this seemingly cult-like behavior, people going missing, etc… It’s like The Stepford Wives gone wild, with crazy, evil masochistic, sex-craving men in charge. Thank god, the author makes it clear from the very start that something just ain’t right. If she hadn’t, then the way that the characters acted would have been a huge (HUGE) turn off in my book. BONUS: Natti *also* does NOT buy the behavior of her peers. She lashes out, she questions everything, she rejects the boys’ advances… We learn as to why she is able to do this and why the rest of the community cannot.

Luckily, even though the main male lead, Seth, is one of those aforementioned despised men, he does manage to redeem himself by the end of the book. You can tell that he is trying to fight his very nature, it just very… sloooowww… coming. I think that Seth will have plenty of time to further redeem himself in book two, just as long as he does not regress… *Please, oh please, don’t let him regress!*

Oh, and can I just say that the real villain of the story is one of the creepiest bad guys ever? I would be getting the heck out of Dodge if he ever moved to my town, that’s for sure… I won’t spoil the extent of his villainous ways, but they are not good. No, not good at all.

The author has a way with words that draws the reader into her story. As disturbing as the story may be, it is a good one – and you’ll have a hard time putting it down once you’ve begun. Most of all, I love the way that the author used YA cliches and mocked those cliches to their very core. Was it intentional? I hope so. If not, well, kudos the the author for unintentional mockery. Also, what with the intensity of the action in this novel and the direction in which the story is heading (talk about the most cliff-hangy of cliff hangers!!!), I look forward to reading book two, Son of Set, when it’s released. With a title like that, it only promises to be even darker than DAUGHTER OF ISIS.

[Emily Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before: Wow, Kelsey Ketch has got Egyptian Mythology down! Full review to come on my tour date :)

Full Review: Daughter of Isis was an addicting and enthralling read brimming with Egyptian mythology. I was pulled into the story after simply reading a page. Also, I was surprised that Daughter of Isis turned out to be very dark and unique!

The premise surrounds Natti and Seth. Natti has just moved to a new town, and it seems like a group of powerful, mean boys have a lot of control over the people. Thankfully, Natti sees the actions of the group as wrong, unlike the rest of the town who seem (magically?) oblivious to all the chaos.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting this book to be so... dark. There is enslavement, sacrifice of the human variety, and other old traditions that sickened me. However, I am pretty sure the author meant for the reader to feel the ways I just stated. It was part of the main points/plots of the book.

Unfortunately, I did not like Seth, except for maybe at the end. In the beginning, he is a terrible person, although that can easily be blamed on his dad. Also, there is a magical force that is often described in Seth that hungers for power. I think that if he had different parents and culture, he would have been a good person to begin with. I hope that he turns out to be a very awesome person in the next book.

I loved all the Egyptian mythology incorporated into Natti's story. I have always been a fan of myths, although I normally read about the descendants of Greece, not Egypt, which is a good change of pace.

Now, I will mention the characters I hate and love. Well, who do I hate? Seth's dad wins the prize here. He is a cold, manipulative, and totally despicable. Ketch knows how to create a villain! And, actually, I disliked almost all of the Sons of Set. Although, you can expect to loathe them just from their title. Set is a big, bad, evil god after all! I will warn you that the author is very forward and blunt about all terrible customs of the bad guys. I loved the character of Wanda, Natti's sweet friend she meets at her new school. Wanda lightened the book up for me!

Overall, for me, the book wasn't about the "romance". Which, to me, felt more like a chase on Seth's part. It wasn't until the end that Seth even realized how he really felt for Natti! The aspects that enthralled me were the mystery, mythology, and egyptian customs. I am, however, looking forward to seeing Seth in the next book, and he better kick his dad's butt!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Natti is forced to move to a small American town by her father after the murder of her grandmother. The first day of school she runs in the local romeo of the school Seth. Seth soon sets his site on Natti but unlike the other girls at the school she fails to fall for his 'charm' which is like a drug which he use to great effect. His power stems from him being a member of the Sect of Set - the Egyptian God of Chaos.

Natti know something different with Seth but is unsure what it is, however the more time she spends with him the more he seems to get under her skin the old fashion way. Little does Natti and Seth know that something in Natti Egyptian heritage that could threaten both their lives.


This is one of those books you can't put down - well written with excellent character development . Can't wait for the next book in the Series "Son of Set"

[Sophi Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work wraps around an ancient secret that ensnares two people who under any other circumstance would not be together. It is a gripping novel. I am so happy to see this book has been released! I really enjoyed the Egyptian mythology which was obviously well researched. Kelsey obviously is dedicated to detail, describing the temple and the other rooms in the Setemple facility with great care, making the story so much richer. The character building is amazing, including the minor characters, Natti's friends, say a lot about Natti's personality, as do Seth's. This roller coaster novel is a must read - I loved it!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

My first introduction to Egyptian mythology came from Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles series. I was immediately pulled in and intrigued, as I had really only been familiar with Greek and Roman mythology before. When I saw Kelsey was writing a young adult book that incorporated Egyptian mythology, I was really excited. Finally another look into the lore surrounding Isis, Osiris, Horus, Set, etc! I feel like Kelsey did a great job of weaving Egyptian mythology into a contemporary setting.

Our main character Natti, has just moved from London to small town California with her father. She is definitely not happy with the move and even though she seemed a bit whiny at first, she sounded just like any other teenager who had been transplanted into a new life. Setemple, California is definitely on the stranger side. It clearly has a fascination with Egyptian culture, it has a fake pyramid structure and the high school is known as The Pharaohs. Natti is familiar with Egyptian culture thanks to her grandmother, but due to what happened to her mother, her father is not a fan. I felt for Natti- it's never easy being the new kid and to make matters worse, there is a senior boy by the name of Seth O'Keefe, that keeps trying to interact with her.

Oh, Seth. I really can't say I liked Seth very much. He did eventually grow on me, but for a good portion of the book, I wanted to throttle him for being such a jerk. He is a total player and Natti finds him in some rather compromising positions on several occasions. His treatment of females was abhorrent, and his two lackeys, Q and Ky, were no better than him. Seth, along with his friends, are part of an order called the Sons of Set, which are dedicated to worshipping the evil god Set. Set is all about chaos and destruction and does not believe in love- only lust. Seth has the ability to charm others and he often uses that to his sexual advantage- making girls unable to resist his charm and then letting the beast within feed off their energy. However, when it comes to Natti, he finds her immune to his charms- thus throwing him into a spiral of confusion. Why would his powers not work on her? Naturally, for someone like Seth who is used to getting what he wants, he is determined to pursue her and find out why she is able to resist him.

Natti is pretty strong-willed against Seth. Sure, she has moments where she wants to fall prey to his charms, yet she remains resilient. It also helps that every time Seth tries to use his mojo on her, she finds herself in the midst of a headache. Natti, like every other girl, can't help but find Seth attractive. This frustrates her to no end, because she also finds his behavior despicable. Yet, as Ketch takes us deeper into the world of the Sons of Set, we realize that things are not as black and white as one may think. Seth begins struggling with his feelings for Natti, as well as his obsession to make her his. He won't let his father take what belongs to him and he is determined to keep Natti far away from him. Seth's father is definitely no good and his treatment of his wife and others is horrendous. He made my skin crawl and I definitely wanted him to get his comeuppance before the novel was through.

One of my favorite characters was Wanda. She was that nerdy, sweet friend who really made life easier for Natti. She was not one of the beautiful, popular girls so she was never on Seth, Q, or Ky's radars luckily. She was shy and even described herself as Trekie, which I thought was great. Yet, Wanda also longs for Seth to look at her the way he does the other girls and I couldn't help but feel bad for her.

Seth's road to redemption is a long one. I like that Kelsey didn't just transform him from a bad boy to a good, sweet guy. I was questioning his motives and intentions up to the very end, even after he had shown glimpses of vulnerability and really seemed like he was starting to care for Natti. Seth makes his decision at the end of the book and I am quite curious to see how his decision will impact the next book, Son of Set. It really is the true battle of good versus evil and I have to say- I'm ready for Isis to step in and kick a little ass! There are several elements that have not been concluded in this first book, so I can't wait to see the role they are going to play in the next one.

This book is definitely meant for Upper YA. Like I said, Set is the god of chaos and destruction. He is pure evil and Ketch really doesn't hold back from showing us that side of Egyptian mythology. Sex, enslavement, and human sacrifice are very present in this book and while I found myself getting a bit upset at times, it is realistic of cult practices and I like that Kelsey doesn't hold back in her writing for fear of controversy.

Overall, if you can look past some of those controversial things I mentioned- sex being used for manipulation and power, enslavement of both mind and body, and human sacrifice- and remember those elements are for a purpose, you will find this to be an entertaining read. It is definitely darker subject matter than one is probably accustomed to while reading about high schoolers, but Kelsey manages to make it work and I love that she wasn't afraid to take that plunge.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good book about Mythology and Daughter of Isis brings a thrilling modern day spin to one of the tales. Being set in the Southern Californian town of Setemple, featuring a 17yo British girl named Natti, I was intrigued to see where this would go. She is thrown into a new school, where the other teens are a bit odd and she has a strange pull to one boy in particular.

I thought the first half of the book was a bit slower than the second half as we follow Natti as she begins at her new school. She is still traumatised about things that have occurred to her family and is discovering, albeit too late, what her bloodline entails. Seth has his own secrets and finds Natti intriguing as she is able to resist his advances. She is smart, beautiful and witty. He wants her more than anything but is not sure how to get her. The second half of the book had my heart going a hundred miles an hour and I found it very difficult to tear myself away from the book… it was stimulating, chilling and action packed.

The mythology aspect plays a big role in this book and affects both characters, but I will not tell you how. One is a believer, where the other is sceptical about the stories. But deep down they have a connection and are continually drawn to each other. As the mysteries are unravelled, the plot became very exciting and had some darker aspects to it too.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded, and how the characters were able to set their beliefs aside to try and make sense of things. The advice of a teacher and the persistence of a cat, help guide them in one way or another. The Villain in the book had the hairs on my neck standing on end, he is cold, determined and will let nothing stop him from reaching his ultimate goal. The way that Kelsey told this story from the 3rd person POV was very well done too. I enjoyed the way she wove the story and drew me right into it. At some stages I found part of the story a bit too predictable, but I’m sure I would’ve been like that at 17years of age too. And that ending… totally left me hanging for the next book in the series… I CANNOT WAIT!!


I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren Ngo · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT WAS AMAZING. O.M.G. I just couldn't put the book down. Honestly I haven't read many books that are based on Egyptian Mythology so I can't really reference the book to another but just from my reading history that was really good. Kelsey Ketch took this idea of Osiris, Set, and Isis and she made it her own. And I honestly find that amazing. It takes a lot of skills to make a new idea and even more skills to make a good new idea. I find very cool that she took this story of Set killing Osiris and Isis bring him back and manipulated it to fit the way she wanted it. I also find the characters very intriguing Katti is a just I don't know its just something about the sucks people in. She as this sad past but you don't really see that effect her personality. And her personality is just cool. She can be sarcastic and funny but at times Katti is caring and supportive. She is the kind of person you would want as a friend. Seth well I don't really know what to say about him. I mean I liked him but at the same time he bugged me. But if there is any character I truly hate with all my hate in this book is Sean, Seth's little Daddy, wow I can't stand. I have all this pent up energy right know. Maybe it's just be that really hates this guy but for me his opinion his actions his beliefs how he talks to people how he treats people I just can't stand hims everything about him gets under my skin. But honestly he made the book more interesting and I can't wait to see what happens to him in the future.

[Beth (YA Books Central) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guest Review from Tiffany:

WOW!...what a debut novel for Kelsey Ketch. This book had me hooked from the very beginning!

Natara "Natti" Stone is the main female character in this novel. The mystery surrounding Natti's life is riveting!! I could not turn the pages fast enough to find the answers! Natti has to move from London to the United States with her father after her Grandmother was murdered.

On the first day at her new school Natti meets Seth, the "charmer"! Seth has any girl he wants falling at his feet but not Natti. Seth is not going to give up until he has Natti. Natti finds herself falling for Seth even though she knows something is not right.

What happens between the two?! Believe me you will want to read this book to find out! What a wild and crazy story!!! I CAN NOT wait until the next book!

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to author Kelesy Ketch and YA Bound Book Tours for allowing me to read and review this in exhcange for an honest review!

Find my complete review on my blog here: http://rachybee-the-rest-is-still-unw...

Kelsey Ketch’s debut novel Daughter of Isis is a really beguiling read that mixes all the brilliance of ancient Egyption lore with modern day fanatics in an enjoyable read featuring plenty of mystery, romance and danger.

I have to say I really enjoyed reading this book. Admittedly I’m a little biased considering I have not only a fierce love for all things ancient Egypt, but also a bit of Egyptian in my bloodline too. I’ve always adored Egyptian lore and myth and in Daughter of Isis, author Kelsey Ketch blends together all the best myths to give us a really intriguing story.

I liked our main character—she was very sassy and her voice easy to follow. Natra "Natti" Stone was easy to relate to and enjoyable to read about. Basically I liked this girl and have nothing bad to say about her. The author wrote her well; giving her the tools to survive as much as possible in this unsuspecting world. I enjoyed seeing Natti stumble through discovering her heritage and fight thoughts forced upon her. I still feel she has a long way to go but I look forward to seeing this.

In all honesty it did take me a little while to become absorbed in the story. It starts out interesting, albeit a tad slow and the plot did get a bit lost amongst the typically teen drama one comes to expect, but it did pick up quite a bit the more as the story progressed and pieces began to fall into place.

I found I really did struggle with the attitudes of some of the characters, mostly the men, in the book and their attitudes towards women. Their blatant disregard for them in all manners didn’t sit well with me. The sexual aspect and the way in which they took control over them, with the women having no say whatsoever wasn’t something I enjoyed seeing. And this is including our male lead and his actions towards the female populace of this high school.

And being said, I did appreciate what the authors has done here on some level; exploring the way the ancient Egyptian society’s beliefs of women impacted and transferred over to the people that still worshiped them within Daughter of Isis. It made sense and I appreciated that.

So in saying this, our male lead Seth is a real confliction for me. In the beginning he really starts out as the epitome of a spoiled rich boy, used to getting everything he wants, when he wants it. He sleeps around like no ones business and while this wouldn’t usually be an issue for me, the fact that he uses his abilities to make women crave him; basically forcing them to want him and cave to him and his sexual desires seemed wrong and a little bit dirty. Then Natti comes along and denies him and suddenly Seth begins to change….I think it’s the immense growth Seth goes through in this book quite quickly that saves him in my eyes. It’s obviously he’s known no different so seeing him begin to question his actions and experience emotions like guilt and remorse when he normally wouldn’t have cared was a nice thing to see. There’s definitely hope for Seth if his later actions in the book are anything to go by.

Ketch writes the romance and relationship between Natti and Seth well. The attraction is there and the want; especially on Seth’s part, but it develops well as the novel progresses and they begin to get to know each other slowly. It’s slow building that deepens as the characters come to know about each other; once more, especially on Seth’s part as he starts to respect Natti and see her differently than his other conquests. The connection and tension is there and I’m eager to see what the author does with their relationship in the next book.

Daughter of Isis progresses though to a really startling and action packed ending. The direction of the story looks more and more promising with the turn of each page, however the abrupt and dissatisfying ending leaves lots to be desired and this reader hankering for the next installment, pronto!

[Zachary Flye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 stars

Review:

Protagonists: Nattie Stone has had her entire world upended, in addition to her grandmother being murdered in a very ritualistic fashion that was passed off as a robbery/homicide, her father has moved them across the pond, and the worst part is that the entire town has an ancient Egyptian theme, which only reminds her of both her recently murdered grandmother and her not-so-recently murdered mother. I really liked Nattie's character, she handles things practically most of the time I don't think she ever really irritated me once in this book. While she does possess some magical ability, most of her problems in this book seem like normal things. I wouldn't exactly know because I didn't have a girl (in Nattie's case a guy) constantly chase after me in high school, especially not one who gets as much game as Seth does. Seth on the other hand is a completely different beast, literally. Seth is in training to become a Son of Set, of which his father is the high priest. The objective of the Sons of Set is to create chaos and mayhem. Seth does this by sleeping (well not exactly sleeping) with every mildly attractive girl in school, that is until Nattie arrives. Nattie's ability to resist Seth's charms intrigues him, and slowly it begins to change him. I sure do love an evil guy turns good guy story, however it's debatable that Seth was ever truly evil to begin with. He's wicked sure, but I don't think I'd go with evil, unlike his horrid father.

Romance: The romance in this book was well done, while it does go a bit faster than I would have liked for them to believe that they're in love, for the most part it goes at a slow pace. Seth is merely intrigued with Nattie at first and doesn't even begin to think about love til near the end and Nattie practically detests Seth for most of the book, which makes for some great chemistry. While I have yet to see the long term effects of a relationship between the two, I do hope they don't lose their fire, I especially don't want Seth to get too lovey-dovey which seriously bothers me when cocky guys in books act as if they've been castrated after entering a relationship, it's insulting to men everywhere (Okay, maybe not EVERYWHERE but it's at least insulting to me.)

World-Building: Egyptian Mythology! Need I say more? I do? Okay then, this twist on Egyptian myths was perfect, it blends together great and creates some interesting mysteries that I'm hoping a little research may help me decode. I love getting into a mood like that, where all I want to do after I read it is research the intriguing world this book has brought me either into or back to. While some may say there's a bit too much world-building and the information was released a little too late sometimes, I actually really liked it. It was a great change up and reformulation of the classic YA Fantasy/Mythology formula. As for the characters that brought this book to life, well for the most part they were great, why I say that is that one character specifically, Wanda, slips out of character a few times, which seemed more like to further the plot than a casual slip up.

Predictability: I have to say I was really impressed with this book. While for the most part is seemed to more coast along than build suspense and raise questions, it in no way was predictable, except obviously the outcome was fairly obvious given the genre of novel and there were a few things that the description and title already suggested, don't worry though nothing was really spoilery. But there were some great moments when I wasn't, I guess blown away, but really surprised by how things turned out.

Ending: The ending was one of those things that really surprised me. At first I thought that there wouldn't be much of a climax, other than a bit of suspense toward the end. However there was an amazing climax action scene that really moved fast and really drove home the cliffhanger ending.

Rating:

So I had a really hard time rating this book as the more emotional part of me was like "Yes! This needs 5 stars, it's brilliant." but then there's the logical part of me that's saying, "No, it's really good but it's more of a 4 star book." So in the end instead of choosing I just split it up, but It really is an AMAZING adventure.

[Godiva · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading Daughter of Isis out of curiosity. As both a writer and an Egyptologist, I wanted to see what other Young Adult novels did with the subject matter of ancient Egypt - a combination I haven't seen a lot of in the mainstream just yet.

Curiosity quickly turned to frustration, and halfway through this book I gave up. The characters, both one-dimensional and often contradicting themselves within a single sentence, were none of them even close to relatable. Natara's "Britishness" is forced upon the reader through painful stereotyping of the British accent and references to the supposedly bad oral hygiene of the entire British population. She is both pretty and smart and good at sports, unlike her friend Wanda: the stereotypical nerdy, ugly and insecure girl who is horrible at any and all sports, and only becomes better at tennis thanks to Natara's awesome influence.

Every single cliche high school flick character gives acte de présence in this book, and I say this without exaggerating. The laid-back American Lit teacher impressed with the new girl; the hag of a female PE teacher; the goth girl, the smart (drug-dealing) Asian kid, the bad boy love interest, the cheerleader who's the love interest's "no. 1 girl", the muscle-for-brains toady, the absent-minded father who doesn't really have any sort of clue what's going on in the storyline - I can go on.

Daughter of Isis continuously condones and romanticises sexist, abusive and stalker-like behaviour through its main love interest Seth, his toadies, and his father. Seth is a nymphomaniac who hunts after the school's (pretty) girls and uses his "charm magic", gifted to him by the Egyptian god Set, to literally make these girls addicted to him. No one in the not-so-subtly named town of Setemple seems to care that their high school is/(underage) pupils are subjected to sex, threesomes and orgies at an alarming rate. Yet even Seth's rapist behaviour pales in comparison to that of his father, who charms an innocent high school girl into committing suicide for no reason, which is written with as much subtlety as a rusty chainsaw.

The plot of Daughter of Isis hinges on the complete absence of agency on the adult figures' part. Though it's alluded that Seth's influence stretches beyond his peers, not even that "charm magic" can account for every single instance in which the whole situation could have been defused before anyone lost their virginity had any of the adults behaved as actual adults.

To add insult to injury, the "Egyptian mythology" used in this book is a misrepresentation of historical tradition at best, and flies in the face of everything Dynastic Egyptian religion ever stood for at worst. Don't get me wrong: I can absolutely see how someone, if they wish to give a retelling of the different cosmogonological traditions of Dynastic Egypt, would seek to condense that immensely complicated subject matter into a cohesive whole for the sake of both the audience and their story. I don’t think creative freedom should be curbed, or art constricted. Writers of historical fiction constrict themselves by the very nature of their subject matter, but even then creative liberties can and should be taken if it makes for a more compelling, higher quality read.

However, as a historian, I do believe that if you’re going to sell your book on its historical and mythological inspiration, you are by your own words if not obliged, at least expected to do more than the bare minimum of research. That is ultimately what bothers me about Daughter of Isis' purported historical inspiration: the author did some research, but she then applies it so poorly, so incompletely, that the whole falls apart at the seams the second you take a closer look.

The complete insensitivity with which the author makes a mockery of the Egyptian religious cults - even those of a god like Set (who wasn't villified nor slated as a purely "evil" character until late in Eyptian Dynastic history) - is off-putting. Combined with a plot rife with holes, the cardboard cut-out characters, a main character who's so fickle it puts April's weather in a sea climate area to shame, and the romantisation of rape and abuse, it made for a thoroughly unpleasant read.

[Leeanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.

==

DAUGHTER OF ISIS is a book I have been looking forward to ever since I stumbled over the author’s book blog and saw a blurb about her debut novel. As someone with an interest in Ancient Egyptian culture and mythology, I’ve always wanted to see it used more in books. There’s a ton of material there, and Kelsey Ketch definitely uses it to her advantage.

Thus it should come as no surprise that all the Egyptian mythology and connections were my favorite thing about DAUGHTER OF ISIS. The book is delightfully dark, with some mature themes including sex for power, manipulation, kidnapping, and torture. Now this might say something bad about me, but I like to read that sort of stuff. Especially when those themes are woven into an interesting mystery.

DAUGHTER OF ISIS starts off when Natara “Natti” Stone moves from England to California after the murder of her grandmother. The instant she starts at her new school and meets Seth O’Keefe, she knows something is up. Seth has a different girl every class period, and Natti can’t believe that everyone just stands by while he uses girls. In fact, in their first meeting, he invites her to join in -- have a threesome -- and the girl he’s with doesn’t even bat an eye. It's as if she’s high or drunk.

For most of the book, I detested Seth. I couldn’t stand his behavior, because there wasn’t anything redeeming in him. He’s a Son of Set, an Egyptian order that controls the town of Setemple. Some of the chapters are from his perspective, which I appreciated, because they give insight into his character and the Sons of Set. Their basic mandate is to sow chaos, and Seth’s pretty good at it. His father is the high priest of the Sons of Set, and I could see where Seth’s attitude towards women comes from.

Intuitively knowing something is up with Seth, Natti wants nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, Seth is blessed by his god with the ability to manipulate, charm, and control. Despite her best efforts, Natti can’t help but be attracted to Seth. She does fight it, but eventually develops feelings for him. There were a couple of times that attraction made me want to set the book aside, because it’s something I have a hard time believing and usually criticize in young adult books.

BUT I always kept reading, mainly because I wanted to know what was up with the Sons of Set and the mysterious necklace Natti’s grandmother left her. I was happy I did, because I want to read the next book in the series, like NOW. DAUGHTER OF ISIS ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, after some chapters that had my heart pounding. I figured a magical escape would happen before anything bad happened to Natti, but no! And by the gods, I’m super happy the author didn’t take the easy out.

Overall, I enjoyed reading DAUGHTER OF ISIS. The beginning was a tad slow, but the last third or so of the book flew by for me. And while the whole attraction thing between Natti and Seth bugged me, as the explanation for it came out, and Seth became a better person, I didn’t mind it as much. And with the way the book ended, I cannot wait to see what the author has in mind next for her characters and the Egyptian-influenced world she’s created.

==

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was also on the blog tour for this book hosted by YA Bound.

See more of my reviews:

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Natarra Stone or Natti as she prefers to be called lived in London and she loved living there. But her family ran into a little trouble so her Dad and some other people thought it would be a good idea if they moved. So Natti and her Dad move to America. On her first day at her new school in America there was some strange things going on that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She didn't know what was going on if anything but she was having some weird feelings or some strange things that she couldn't place.

Seth had any girl he wanted in school. All of the girls would just swoon whenever he was around. All of them wanted to be with him. Every one of the girls knew about the other and had no problem with him being with all the others. When Natti showed up on the scene Seth wanted her as well. But Natti was immune to his power and could not be charmed by him. She knew BS when she heard it. She knew he was shooting her a line of crap and didn't fall for it although her body was telling her a different story. But even though her body wanted him it did confuse her because she didn't know if she really wanted him or if he was just putting some kind of spell on her like he did all the other girls.

Seth couldn't figure out what was happening to him. Why could or was Natti resisting him when all the other girls just fell at his feet and was always doing his bidding? How could Natti just refuse him like that? Seth couldn't understand it but all he could think about was Natti. He was beginning to have a heart. He didn't want to hurt all of the girls anymore. I think he was good along he was just raised to take any girl he wanted just because he could and that was the thing to do. It was all he knew. It was what his father had taught him. Girls/women's feelings didn't matter. All that matter was if they followed their god Set and did as they were told. The god Set is all that matters.

Natti has a secret that she knows nothing about. A secret someone else wants and will kill her for. Natti's "boyfriend" Seth knows she is in danger even if she does not. Once he realizes that he has fallen in love with her then he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her alive even if it means that he will have to die. Seth has been taught all his life that falling in love with a woman makes a man weak and it must never happen. A man can take any and as many women as he wants as long as he does not fall in love. That is the ultimate sin in his religion. But once the old love bug bites him he will fight until the death to save the woman he loves.

Daughter of Isis is filled with so many twist and turns that you don't know which way is up and which way is down. I loved all the mystery that is contains. I would be reading along and fall right into Natti and Seth's world no longer knowing that mine existed. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. The ending will blow you away and have you turning around in circles like a dog chasing its tail. At first I was like what? No way man. I need the next book now, please. There will be a next book right? At least I hope so. The ending may blow you away but it will definitely keep you hanging on for the next book in the series.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Egyptian Mythological Stars!

As soon as I heard that this book was about Egyptian mythology, I knew I had to have it. I've been wanting to read more books like this, and I'm glad to say that Daughter of Isis was an enjoyable read, suspenseful and enchanting until the very end.

In the beginning, we meet Natara "Natti" Stone, a British girl with Egyptian ancestry. After her grandmother died, her father relocated them to Setemple, California. Ever since her mother died, Natti has grown tired of anything to do with Egypt, and so has her father. So imagine her surprise when they arrive in town and see a pyramid statue outside the town hall. The school's mascot is a Pharaoh. The town even has a Pharaoh's Festival. She's surrounded by her ancestry, even more so when she finds a letter by her grandmother and a box containing an Eye of Horus necklace. And a secret that's been passed down from mother to daughter over the centuries.

As to the secret, the author keeps us in suspense throughout the book. Much of what is happening revolves around Natti trying to stop the advances of Seth. Now, I'm leery of Seth. Honestly, what he and his friends do is disgusting. Though when you learn why, when you learn that Seth is a Son of Set, much of his attitude makes absolute sense. For Set is the God of chaos and destruction. And Seth and his friends worship this God. I got more of the Egyptian mythology when it came to Seth's POV than in Natti's. It's ingrained in him; it's his way of life and how he's been taught. But Seth is more than a Son of Set; out of all of them, he has a conscience. And a heart.

I enjoyed the interactions between Natti and Seth, although sometimes it became too repetitive and too high school. I also thought Natti would be better able to resist Seth's charm. As a Daughter of Isis, I was hoping to see that she had more power than truth. That she could stop his advances much easier. But I also loved seeing her resistance, her strength. I thought Natti was a strong character, although I wanted to shake her sometimes and make her see the truth that she'd been ignoring. It takes her a long time to realize something isn't right with Seth. But there's more to this guy than wanting to please his father and keep wreaking havoc and chaos for his God. Seth starts questioning everything about his life when he meets Natti. The character development he goes through was interesting to watch unfold.

I would have loved more of the Egyptian mythology. Much of what it's about is unveiled in random places throughout the story. Not random so much as it just made me want to know everything, so I became impatient to find out why Natti is so different. But the dangerous and intense sacrificial ceremony for Set by his followers near the end made up for that. This book had me hooked from the beginning with its underlying mystery, and it didn't disappoint. And that cliffhanger ending left me wanting more of the story and more of these characters. :)

As a debut novel and as the start to a new series, Daughter of Isis was so good! It snared my attention from the very beginning, and I loved how the story-line was intertwined with a little romance, a little Egyptian mythology, a little bit of suspense, and a whole lot of mystery and intrigue.

[Kristen Jett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from Pen and Muse . (Giveaway there.)

What happens when your grandmother dies suddenly, and you end up having to leave London for a small town?
What happens when you’re trying to escape the Egyptian culture and the reminder of your mother’s death, only to end up in a town thriving on it?
What happens when the one boy you shouldn’t fall for is the only one that pulls you in like a magnet?
Or when the girl you shouldn’t fall for is the only one you can’t charm?

I know I’m going to love a character when she thinks: “Brilliant, where’s Hermione when you need her.” You know how I feel about interesting characters – and Daughter of Isis didn’t fail. Natara is witty, tough, and realistic. You’ve got to be tough as it is if you’re moving from London to the middle of nowhere in California. Ever try being the new kid? It’s not fun. It’s especially not fun when the town player (Seth) has his eyes on you as the next conquest. If I didn’t already love her from the Hermione comment, I’d have fallen in love with her when she brought her own water bottles to a party. You heard me. Brought water bottles to a high school party. Girl’s got guts AND brains. My kind of heroine.

Seth is complex, clever, and made me swoon even when I didn’t want to. Every single time I thought I had this boy figured out, guess again. His character has the most interesting growth path in the story, which has me wondering if his life will ever be parallel to any of the gods from mythology. Q and Ky had me glaring at the book, and muttering remarks under my breath. (This is why I try not to read in public anymore, y’all!) I wanted to sit in class next to Wanda. You’ll love her too.

This is a dark read. Honestly, it didn’t phase me because I’m used to the shadows in Egyptian mythology and culture, but I could see others getting squeamish. There’s also some dark moral issues being brought up – with serious shades of gray (think human sacrifices, manipulation and control of others in all ways, etc…). I do however like the way they were referenced and approached in the book, but I find it worth mentioning for those who’d prefer something lighter.

The mythology is explained well. Even if you don’t know the story of Isis and Osiris, you’ll understand completely before the book is through.

Bottom line: Will I be reading the sequel? Absolutely.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey Ketch's debut novel will keep you reading from start to finish. I reallly didn't want to put it down for sleep.

Natara "Natti" Stone just moved to the United States from London after her grandmother is murder. Her father planned to live in a small town to let them both recover from the lost of their beloved but what they didn't know is that this little town in sunny California loves Egypt. After how much Egypt meant to her mother and grandmother and how they both died, this is the last thing they want but is too late to go back.

On her first day of school Natti meets Seth, charming, confident and don't takes no for an answer. Seth is used to getting what he wants with a simple look and a smile. He has all the girls in the school wanting to be his and he takes advantage of it. But Natti is immune to his charm and something inside Seth wants to control her and keep her all to himself.

I loved Natti's personallity. She's a strong and caring, she stands up for her friends and sometimes she just wants to fit in. I felt she was a very real character strugling to fit in not in just a new school but in a new country. She has a love-hate relationship with everything Egyptian, it conects her to her family but at the same time reminds her of their deaths. Seth on the other hand loves it.

The way Kelsey explains the myths and legends from Egypt makes it easy for the reader to understand and follow the story without needing Google to come to the rescue. The story is paced almost perfectly, while some moments felt a bit slow for my taste, I was never bored. The last part of the book specially keeps you on your toes.

What I really liked about it was the Seth's POV, they allows us to understand the in and outs of this secrets societies and how much pressure he's under from his father and order. It makes is easier to understand his character because he doesn't tell Natti much. For me, Seth grows a lot in this book. He learns about himself, about what he wants from life and what he's willing to risk to get it, even when that means going against everything he was ever told. Natti on the other hand is already a strong person but she discovers more about her heritage than herself.

As the blurb states, this book is better for mature teens, it contains drug use, alcohol, murders and some mention of rape.

Overall, I really Enjoyed Daughter of Isis and I can't wait to read the next book and see how it all continues.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Daughter of Isis is a YA urban fantasy featuring a mysterious organization rooted in ancient Egyptian culture that has set up shop in the desert of California. It's somewhat ironic that Natti and her father leave England to escape the Egyptian artifacts that dominated the lives of her murdered grandmother and mother, only to end up in Setemple, CA dominated by the dangerous Sons of Set.

Natti is confused by her grandmother's murder and by the strange heirloom she left behind. Not only that, but some of the students at her new school have strange 'abilities'. She spends a lot of time running from Seth who has developed an intense interest in her. Though she's attracted to Seth, she tries desperately to avoid him due to his player reputation which she has witnessed with her own eyes. At home she works on a translation for the mysterious necklace left to her by her grandmother.

Seth is the son of the high priest for the Sons of Set. He has been groomed to one day take over from his father. He is blessed with a magical ability to charm everybody. Everybody except Natti, which fuels his interest in her. In this novel Seth is the one who goes through a big change as he realizes that what he has been taught his entire life doesn't mesh with his new feelings and views.

The plot is interesting, though, I do admit that I've always loved the ancient Egyptian culture. I loved Natti, and though I wanted to hate Seth (and did at the beginning), he managed to worm his way into my good graces by the end. The dialogue between Natti and her American friends was amusing at times, especially when she had to explain her idioms. The beginning and ending of the novel are fast-paced, but the middle drags just a bit.

I recommend Daughter of Isis to everyone 17+ that enjoys urban fantasy with a bit of romance. The content of this novel is not suitable for younger readers due to sexual situations. If you like ancient Egyptian culture, definitely add this one to your to-read list.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story takes you on a journey where Egyptian gods and magic exists. I'm due for a Fantasy YA and this one is really worth the read. Natara "Natti" Stone is a teenage British girl who after an unfortunate incident had to move to California with her dad. Seth O'Keefe on the other hand is a devoted son set to follow his father's footstep as a member of the Sons of Set. It starts off a bit slow, but good slow. What do I mean? It means I didn't mind slowing down a bit while she establishes Natti's character and background. I was okay with how she described Natti. It established she was beautiful but it didn't go over the top. Now, Seth O'Keefe is a different story. When he was introduced in the story, I can't believe he was one of the leads. Yes, he's hot. He's probably ripped in all the right places. But man, do I want to slap his face! He is a major jerk. And all the girls falling over their asses to get in line for Seth's affection was cringe-worthy.

The setting was a typical high school. We have the cheerleaders (aka Seth's conquest) the jocks (Seth's posse) and the people in between. It provides a good background for the little tension between these two. Oh hell, what am I saying. There were A LOT of tension filled moments between Natti & Seth. One of the good things I like about this book, is how it catered to my love-hate relationship weakness. I always want to know how two people who hate each other end up falling in love.

I also love how these two characters have to go against their nature to consider each other as love interests. I don't want to give too much spoilers but this is a perfect read to those who love strong-willed stubborn women vs. mega-hot with powers "are-you-for-real" bad boys. I also recommend it to people who HATE insta-love. There is no such thing here. Everything is laid out with the hopes of luring you with the plot or the characters charm. Kelsey Ketch doesn't need romance to sustain this novel. By the last 5 chapters, I was speed reading as if my life depended on it.

[Desert Rose Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be sure to check out my blog post for this review! Includes giveaways (for a limited time)!! See the post here!




I've always been fascinated with ancient mythology, especially Egyptian. The synopsis and idea for this story was completely fascinating- Ancient Egyptian mythology, in a modern day setting. The "Sons of Set" sounded very interesting, along with the tension that seemed to be between Seth and Natti. When the opportunity to read and review came up, I knew I had to see if the book was as amazing as it's cover.

Seth is a guy who is truly too-good-to-be-true. He's gorgeous, alluring, confident, charming, and completely dangerous for a girl to be around. Netti is the kind of girl most of us look up to (not the fake cheerleader, the other girl). She's beautiful, honest, strong, yet laid back, holds tightly to her self-respect, and isn't afraid to call someone on their lies and wrong behavior. Between the two, they create an interesting combination, and when you add in the Ancient Egyptian mysteries and secrets, their story is completely addicting.

The writing in this book was very good. Kelsey Ketch smoothly goes between the two main characters' point-of-view, never missing a beat of the story. She is also very fluid in her mixture of British terminology on Netti's part, with the American terminology of everyone else in the story. Overall, this book was very entertaining, and is one I would recommend.

*I was given a complimentary eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

** spoiler alert ** For more reviews visit: http://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr

The characters

Natara “Natti” Stone never wanted to be the new girl at school but she has to since her grandmother was murdered back in England and her father decided that a change of scenery would be good for them.Their new home is in a town called Setemple.The weird thing about this town is that it has signs of the Egyptian civilization everywhere,especially the Setemple High School.

There,on her first day she meets the school's player,Seth O’Keefe, in a pretty intimate moment with a girl.You see,Seth is a member of the Sons of Set.He has the power to manipulate people's minds,especially girls',and take from them the one thing he wants,pleasure and as soon as he sees Natti,he's determined to make her his.

But Natti,being a Daughter of Isis even if she doesn't know it,is immune to his charms,thing that surprises and frustrates Seth.So,he tries to approach her in the most well-know way,which is courting her,something that Seth has never done before.

Seth's father is the hem-netjer,Set's high priest and let me tell you one thing:he's a pretty creepy
guy if you ask me.He disrespects his wife,he sees Seth as his successor and not as his son and the only thing he's after is power and if something or someone gets in his way,he won't hesitate to kill them in order to accomplish his goals.

In the beginning,I kind of hated Seth because he was just using girls to have fun but at some point he realizes that there are more important things,like having feelings for someone.But being a Son of Set means that love is your greatest weakness.Seth must make a choice and fast before it's too late for Natti.

Verdict

Give me a Young Adult book with ancient gods,mythology and a kick ass heroine and I'll read it! Daughter of Isis has it all!Get ready for a deadly battle between good and evil...

Rating: 4 stars!!

[Chené Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5 / 5 stars

Wow what a book! I first saw The Daughter of Isis a while ago and though, I must try read this book sometime. Then I saw the tour for Son of Set and jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the tour! I love books with strong Egyptian themes and this book did not disappoint.

Characters & Storyline: 4/5
Kelsey does a wonderful job creating unique, strong and interesting characters. Natti & Seth were the most well developed out of all the characters. They were easy to connect to and care about. I enjoyed the fact that Natti could resist Seth's charm and see what a jerk he was initially, but I also enjoyed the fact that she could see the person beyond the facade. I was initially a bit frustrated that Natti knew so little about her heritage but it is definitely worth the wait to find out more. I do wonder why her grandmother did not leave her more answers and hope to find out more in the next book. Seth is totally swoon-worthy and the story has so many memorable moments. Natti is feisty - I love British persona and humor that she brings to the story. She is smart, quick and observant.

The story line was captivating and you couldn't help but get caught up in the story!

Plot, Pace, Writing style: 4/5
The plot was great and the pace was perfect. Kelsey has an easy and enticing writing style and really does a great job bringing this story to life. Kelsey ends with so much suspense that I am so glad i can just pick up Son of Set and see what happens next!

Cover talk: 5/5
What a gorgeous cover! It did catch my attention when I first saw it and I definitely would have picked this one up in a book store!

Final Thoughts:
This is possible the best Egyptian theme book I have read so far and that is huge since I really have high expectations from books like this. If you love mythology.. get this book now!

[Katrina Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a mythology kick lately it seems. I love that this book focuses on Isis and Set. I've read about Set before, but haven't read much that includes Isis in the story. Kelsey Ketch did a great job introducing these two deities.

Natara is a strong character. I love the she has a constant battle with herself in regards to Seth. She doesn't understand why the girls at her constantly throw themselves at him, but she can't deny that Seth is attractive. Natti also takes responsibility for her actions. She doesn't try to place blame, and does the right thing in bad situations. Seth is a total womanizer. He's always been perfectly happy with how he lives, until Natti moved to town. He begins to question everything he's been taught. He also isn't as shallow as we all believe him to be. He has his own struggles he has to face when it comes to his family.

Some parts are predictable, but all in all the story is enjoyable. Setemple is a strange town with strange traditions. As Natti's time increases she begins to have horrible gut feelings about events. It's all a little bizarre, but flows nicely with the story. I did like the look at the Egyptian themed events. Also, the followers of Set are pretty much creepy!

This is definitely up there on my series to continue, and after the ending of Daughter of Isis, I'm so ready to see what's going to happen next. There are quite a few sexual scenes. Just letting you know up front, but it ties in with the storyline of Set's followers.

[Kelly Hashway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely for upper YA. There is sexual content and drug use in this novel, so it's better suited for older teens. Having said that, Natti is new in town and she immediately notices Seth O'Keefe—or more like she runs into him in several situations where he is all over girls at school. Every girl is obsessed with Seth and wants to become his next "play thing". Every girl except Natti. She feels weird when Seth is around and gets a lot of headaches, which (thanks to the third person narration) the reader knows is a result of Seth trying to "charm" Natti. She's not like other girls Seth has met and he can't seem to win her over. Or so he thinks. Despite Natti trying to avoid Seth, she finds herself wanting to be around him just as much as she wants to avoid him. Their relationship is extremely complicated, and as Natti learns more about her grandmother's death and what it means for Natti, her relationship with Seth becomes even more complicated and intense.

I liked the dynamic between Natti and Seth because Ketch does a very good job of showing how Natti tries to resist Seth and how Seth tries to resist his urges to "charm" Natti once he begins to develop real feelings for her. My only negative with this book was the use of exclamation points. There were some points where several sentences in a row ended with exclamation points. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, so I'm sure most people wouldn't even notice this.

Overall, it's a quick read that keep my attention. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

[Gracie Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Daughter of Isis was so amazing, I loved it from the beginning to the end. Because of this book I took interest in Egyptian Gods.Natti is such a powerful female character. She protects her friends, and she has a good power. Natti can tell if someone is lying.

Natti was forced to leave England when her grandmother died. Her father decides to move to Setemple CA. Where everything there is Egyptian(where her father was trying to get away from). She meets Seth at school, the boy can literary make you do anything he wants you to do. Seth is a Son of Set(an evil Egyptian God). Being apart of the Sons of Set he has to find the secret of Ra(the sun God).

The Goddess Isis tricked Ra into giving his secret name(which allows Isis to get his power). Set wanted Ra name so he can be the top God, but Isis refused to give it to him. Isis and two other Goddess hid the secret of Ra’s name and the only people who know it is the protector Daughter of Isis.

So Set made the Sons of Set to get the name from the Daughter of Isis and kill her. And I think you guys can guess who the Daughter of Isis is. Right Natti.

This book is so good, I give it six stars. You really need to know what happens between Seth and Natti. I can’t wait for the second book.