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The Harmony of Isis
Queen Isis is devastated when her mate is murdered, dismembered, and his parts are hidden across time. She is determined to heal him. Ten thousand years later, curator Maggie is pulled into the queen's quest to put Osiris back together and bring him back to life.
At work in a Masonic museum, Maggie becomes enthralled by a pendant's curious symbols. When researching them, she learns they point to both an ancient Egyptian myth and to the streets of her remote college town. The pendant's symbols act as a key for Isis to access Maggie's life, and the more Maggie learns, the wider open becomes the door between the two time periods.
The Fraternity of Freemasons, focused on Light, are the inheritors of an ancient golden triangle carved with a single word that encompasses all. The Brothers have kept it safe over many generations, its true meaning lost to the veils of time. The clues on the pendant lead Maggie to where the triangle is hidden in the manipulated settlements of a rural landscape.
With the triangle in her hand, Maggie is launched on a voyage across space and time. It becomes clear that her own confusing love life is the key to finding the last piece of Osiris, and to helping Isis usher in the Age of Peace.
The present is laden with the darkness of history, and the dawn of civilization sparkles with the breadth of possible futures. THE HARMONY OF ISIS is a historical fantasy that weaves the past and present together in a quest born of love.
At work in a Masonic museum, Maggie becomes enthralled by a pendant's curious symbols. When researching them, she learns they point to both an ancient Egyptian myth and to the streets of her remote college town. The pendant's symbols act as a key for Isis to access Maggie's life, and the more Maggie learns, the wider open becomes the door between the two time periods.
The Fraternity of Freemasons, focused on Light, are the inheritors of an ancient golden triangle carved with a single word that encompasses all. The Brothers have kept it safe over many generations, its true meaning lost to the veils of time. The clues on the pendant lead Maggie to where the triangle is hidden in the manipulated settlements of a rural landscape.
With the triangle in her hand, Maggie is launched on a voyage across space and time. It becomes clear that her own confusing love life is the key to finding the last piece of Osiris, and to helping Isis usher in the Age of Peace.
The present is laden with the darkness of history, and the dawn of civilization sparkles with the breadth of possible futures. THE HARMONY OF ISIS is a historical fantasy that weaves the past and present together in a quest born of love.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2012
4 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Catherine M. Walter
7 books11 followersCatherine M. Walter is an anthropologist who loves travel and learning about the world's variety of people, both modern and ancient. A lifelong poet, she is also a technical and descriptive writer within the parameters of her "day-job" career.
THE HARMONY OF ISIS is her debut novel. THE PATH OF NEPHTHYS is an acclaimed short story based on the ancient Egyptian part of her novel. LIGHT FROM THE NEXUS is a collection of her poetry. She also has issued a series of Solution Pads, with solutions for everyday problems: MY PILLS CHART and MY CHORES CHART, with more on the way.
THE HARMONY OF ISIS is her debut novel. THE PATH OF NEPHTHYS is an acclaimed short story based on the ancient Egyptian part of her novel. LIGHT FROM THE NEXUS is a collection of her poetry. She also has issued a series of Solution Pads, with solutions for everyday problems: MY PILLS CHART and MY CHORES CHART, with more on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 16, 2015
Until reading The Harmony of Isis, it was difficult to think of ancient civilizations in anything other than abstract terms. Walter, an anthropologist by trade, brought to life the world of the Pharaoh and ancient Egypt in her gorgeously woven tapestry of a tale that juxtaposes the ancient with the modern, the light with the darkness, and the good with the evil. She humanizes people whom we are only used to seeing in heiroglyphic drawings by making them “real” people with pain, fear, joy, jealousy, good, and evil.
Isis (later revered as a goddess) is singing a powerful “song” in order to locate the remains of her dead husband, Osirius, who had been murdered twice by his treacherous triad-brother, Typhon because he lusts after Isis and was hoping to be Pharaoh. The song of Isis resonates throughout the ages and is picked up by a present-day anthropologist Maggie, who, through a series of dreams, learned the history of the sibling-triad Isis, Osirius, and Typhon, from their education and training as young children and their eventual unions, which were made by the choice of the Pharaoh. Typhon’s everlasting fury at being passed over as both mate for Isis and next in line for Pharaoh will have devastating consequences for millennia to come. Maggie is one of many “harmonies” who hears Isis’ song and is willing and able to help her restore Osirius back to life. In a mirroring subplot, Maggie herself is in love with two brothers and is agonizing other which one would be a better choice for her. Her choices are the calm, settled Clem or the flighty but exciting Tris. A third choice, known as Sunny (hinted to be Osirius himself) briefly enters the picture and complicates things further.
Walter’s carefully chosen language is almost poetic and song-like, even though it is written in regular prose. You can almost hear the music as you read. The most important theme in the book is balance. Without it, everything falls to pieces and nothing is as it should be. Finding one’s center is the key to peace and happiness. Good vs. Evil, although cliched as a theme, is crafted expertly in this novel as the key plot centers around the battle between the calm, rational, and just Osirius and the greedy, vengeful, sociopathic Typhon. Walter uses a variety of non-conventional symbols, such as shapes, directions, and numbers. Exciting and educational at the same time, readers will love this gemstone of a story.
Isis (later revered as a goddess) is singing a powerful “song” in order to locate the remains of her dead husband, Osirius, who had been murdered twice by his treacherous triad-brother, Typhon because he lusts after Isis and was hoping to be Pharaoh. The song of Isis resonates throughout the ages and is picked up by a present-day anthropologist Maggie, who, through a series of dreams, learned the history of the sibling-triad Isis, Osirius, and Typhon, from their education and training as young children and their eventual unions, which were made by the choice of the Pharaoh. Typhon’s everlasting fury at being passed over as both mate for Isis and next in line for Pharaoh will have devastating consequences for millennia to come. Maggie is one of many “harmonies” who hears Isis’ song and is willing and able to help her restore Osirius back to life. In a mirroring subplot, Maggie herself is in love with two brothers and is agonizing other which one would be a better choice for her. Her choices are the calm, settled Clem or the flighty but exciting Tris. A third choice, known as Sunny (hinted to be Osirius himself) briefly enters the picture and complicates things further.
Walter’s carefully chosen language is almost poetic and song-like, even though it is written in regular prose. You can almost hear the music as you read. The most important theme in the book is balance. Without it, everything falls to pieces and nothing is as it should be. Finding one’s center is the key to peace and happiness. Good vs. Evil, although cliched as a theme, is crafted expertly in this novel as the key plot centers around the battle between the calm, rational, and just Osirius and the greedy, vengeful, sociopathic Typhon. Walter uses a variety of non-conventional symbols, such as shapes, directions, and numbers. Exciting and educational at the same time, readers will love this gemstone of a story.
January 19, 2015
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
The Harmony of Isis is an unconventional, yet curious
fantasy/romance novel. Maggie, a museum
curator, finds herself entrenched in a love triangle with t
wo hunky rock star brothers. Her plight is
somehow reminiscent of the relationship between Isis, Osiris,
and Typhon in ancient Egypt. In fact, the
author hints that Maggie may herself be a reincarnation of Isis,
and that one of the boys is actually
Osiris, Isis’ true love, who was murdered by Typhon in jealous rage.
The book intrigues then confuses the reader. The characters
are passionate and the themes breathe
sensuality; however, the sexual imagery is so masked behind
euphemisms that it lacks emotion. In
defense of the author, ancient Egyptian and Freemason s
ymbolisms are foreign to modern sensibilities.
Perhaps to an anthropologist, the love scenes exude passion.
Catherine M. Walter is a solid writer. She has also added her
own drawings and maps to aid the reader
in understanding her explanations within the book.
Egyptology enthusiasts are in for a treat.
Yvonne
The Harmony of Isis is an unconventional, yet curious
fantasy/romance novel. Maggie, a museum
curator, finds herself entrenched in a love triangle with t
wo hunky rock star brothers. Her plight is
somehow reminiscent of the relationship between Isis, Osiris,
and Typhon in ancient Egypt. In fact, the
author hints that Maggie may herself be a reincarnation of Isis,
and that one of the boys is actually
Osiris, Isis’ true love, who was murdered by Typhon in jealous rage.
The book intrigues then confuses the reader. The characters
are passionate and the themes breathe
sensuality; however, the sexual imagery is so masked behind
euphemisms that it lacks emotion. In
defense of the author, ancient Egyptian and Freemason s
ymbolisms are foreign to modern sensibilities.
Perhaps to an anthropologist, the love scenes exude passion.
Catherine M. Walter is a solid writer. She has also added her
own drawings and maps to aid the reader
in understanding her explanations within the book.
Egyptology enthusiasts are in for a treat.
Yvonne
February 21, 2019
Beautiful
Dusk is approaching. A beautiful, gentle woman has composed herself for the evening ceremony. She is holding a golden sistrum (like a hand-held windchime with golden discs). Her movements make the discs whisper softly in the deepening, purple dusk. All is peace, all is composure... And so the story starts.
THE HARMONY OF ISIS is a weaving of stories, of the myth of Osiris, the wisdom of the Freemasons, and the travels and travails of the main character, who encounters the myth and its underlying reality and connections in the course of the novel. (The reader does have to pay attention or risk missing something important.)
I first encountered The Harmony of Isis in a sample of writing submitted to a discussion group by one of the participants.
Others have spoken of the novel itself, its story and its message. I have nothing to add to their comments. I will say that for me, the most gripping story is valueless if it is not set in a good frame. Catherine M. Walter's prose is beautiful and supple. The myth scenes are as composed and moving as a dance. The crafting is lovely and forms a fitting setting for the story.
Myth, ancient Egypt, the modern world, mysticism, hopes, fears, regrets, death and renewal are woven together in an overarching harmony. This is a beautiful story.
Dusk is approaching. A beautiful, gentle woman has composed herself for the evening ceremony. She is holding a golden sistrum (like a hand-held windchime with golden discs). Her movements make the discs whisper softly in the deepening, purple dusk. All is peace, all is composure... And so the story starts.
THE HARMONY OF ISIS is a weaving of stories, of the myth of Osiris, the wisdom of the Freemasons, and the travels and travails of the main character, who encounters the myth and its underlying reality and connections in the course of the novel. (The reader does have to pay attention or risk missing something important.)
I first encountered The Harmony of Isis in a sample of writing submitted to a discussion group by one of the participants.
Others have spoken of the novel itself, its story and its message. I have nothing to add to their comments. I will say that for me, the most gripping story is valueless if it is not set in a good frame. Catherine M. Walter's prose is beautiful and supple. The myth scenes are as composed and moving as a dance. The crafting is lovely and forms a fitting setting for the story.
Myth, ancient Egypt, the modern world, mysticism, hopes, fears, regrets, death and renewal are woven together in an overarching harmony. This is a beautiful story.
October 8, 2018
I enjoyed it
Who's a good brief narration of the Memphis conflict with having a child that was belongs Osiris in the way that Isis dealt with it
Who's a good brief narration of the Memphis conflict with having a child that was belongs Osiris in the way that Isis dealt with it
January 25, 2019
I received a free copy for an honest review. Let me start by saying that I like the cover art, however the book was just too wordy. I believe the author is very knowledgeable about Egyptian Mythology and tried her hardest to bring to life the Osiris myth. I just felt like I read two pages about her describing a basic flower and then she went on five more pages about the air and so forth. I just skimmed through at the end because over four hundred pages of her doing that got annoying. So, the book is about a love triangle, magic, Egyptian Mythology, how great the masons are and with a dash of equal rights for women.
May 25, 2015
I don't think that any of the following contains spoilers - in that it's stuff you'll pick up in the first few pages. And it's not like I've said that Maggie lives in a world
I'm sitting at my day job writing this review because that's where I do my best work.
“The Harmony of Isis” is not a normal read for me. I don't tend to go for Paranormal. [Those of us in the know abbreviate paranormal to “PN,” which is counter-intuitive because paranormal is one word.] Anyway. I don't think that PN is the correct moniker for “The Harmony of Isis,” because it's not paranormal. Rather, it is normal – in the sense that the characters operate in what they perceive to be a normal world. Rather than in their own PN subset of an otherwise normal world.
Maybe 'surreal' is a better moniker. Because one of the story threads is millennia old – and the bridge between that thread and contemporary thread are that the dreams of the female lead include aspects of that millennia old thread. So 'surreal' fits nicely.
Why three stars? It's because I don't give fives; and it's because I'm not cut out for the whole surrealist thing. That, and there's a metaphysical layer to the whole narrative – and metaphysics is simply beyond me. [See what I did there?] I've never really been much into metaphysics. And I'm certainly no meta physicist. Hell, I'm not even a normal physicist. If I was, and if I was into the whole surrealist thing then four starts would have followed.
I'm not – and three stars reflects, for me, the high quality of Catherine M. Walter's writing. Because she absolutely captures the dream-like sing-song almost intangible nature required by the world she has constructed.
So if you're into the type of PN that requires the sort of creature-human hybrids that Buffy could have dispatched without raising a sweat, and you're after something that isn't exactly PN – but shares PN sensibilities – have a look at “The Harmony of Isis.” Because it may be that you'll enjoy the world that Walter has meticulously constructed for her character(s). And maybe you'll enjoy the carefully textured metaphysical world – as well as the twining together of the two (temporally at least) distinct story threads.
If not, then consider “The Harmony of Isis” anyway – and do as I did; sit back, relax, and enjoy the quality of the writing.
I'm sitting at my day job writing this review because that's where I do my best work.
“The Harmony of Isis” is not a normal read for me. I don't tend to go for Paranormal. [Those of us in the know abbreviate paranormal to “PN,” which is counter-intuitive because paranormal is one word.] Anyway. I don't think that PN is the correct moniker for “The Harmony of Isis,” because it's not paranormal. Rather, it is normal – in the sense that the characters operate in what they perceive to be a normal world. Rather than in their own PN subset of an otherwise normal world.
Maybe 'surreal' is a better moniker. Because one of the story threads is millennia old – and the bridge between that thread and contemporary thread are that the dreams of the female lead include aspects of that millennia old thread. So 'surreal' fits nicely.
Why three stars? It's because I don't give fives; and it's because I'm not cut out for the whole surrealist thing. That, and there's a metaphysical layer to the whole narrative – and metaphysics is simply beyond me. [See what I did there?] I've never really been much into metaphysics. And I'm certainly no meta physicist. Hell, I'm not even a normal physicist. If I was, and if I was into the whole surrealist thing then four starts would have followed.
I'm not – and three stars reflects, for me, the high quality of Catherine M. Walter's writing. Because she absolutely captures the dream-like sing-song almost intangible nature required by the world she has constructed.
So if you're into the type of PN that requires the sort of creature-human hybrids that Buffy could have dispatched without raising a sweat, and you're after something that isn't exactly PN – but shares PN sensibilities – have a look at “The Harmony of Isis.” Because it may be that you'll enjoy the world that Walter has meticulously constructed for her character(s). And maybe you'll enjoy the carefully textured metaphysical world – as well as the twining together of the two (temporally at least) distinct story threads.
If not, then consider “The Harmony of Isis” anyway – and do as I did; sit back, relax, and enjoy the quality of the writing.
March 21, 2017
Wasted Time
The writing is very simplistic, the storylines very shallow. When I obtained this I had hoped for a bit more depth to Nephthys account. Instead this was more like reading some sort of summary of an afterthought regarding a "forbidden" sexual experience. I am not denying the truths which she basis her story on, instead I am saying how she presents it is without depth, or consideration.. It's not a short story, merely a few pages of summarized fantasy ... A waste of time & a disrespect to Nephthys if you ask me.
The writing is very simplistic, the storylines very shallow. When I obtained this I had hoped for a bit more depth to Nephthys account. Instead this was more like reading some sort of summary of an afterthought regarding a "forbidden" sexual experience. I am not denying the truths which she basis her story on, instead I am saying how she presents it is without depth, or consideration.. It's not a short story, merely a few pages of summarized fantasy ... A waste of time & a disrespect to Nephthys if you ask me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews