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Nefertari Hughes Mystery #1
ASP of Ascension
Nefertari “Terry” Hughes has three rules for surviving high school:
#1 Don’t attract attention.
#2 Don’t get involved.
#3 Don’t make trouble.
A year after the accident that left her crippled and took her mother’s life, sixteen-year-old Terry just wants to keep her head down and survive her new high school. When she catches the eye of cute basketball star Zach—who happens to be the boyfriend of mean girl Allison—all hopes of flying under the radar are gone.
She is thrust even further in the spotlight when Fraser, the editor of the school newspaper, learns Mr. Hughes is the renowned archaeologist overseeing the new Egyptian display at the museum, which is rumoured to include Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. Fraser’s research leads to the fifty-year-old mystery of a girl who vanished while on a school trip to to the museum along with an artefact that may be Cleopatra’s asp.
When Mr. Hughes falls into a coma and his co-worker claims it’s the curse of Cleopatra, the stakes become too high for Terry to ignore. Terry must work with Fraser and her new candy loving friend Maude to find out what happened fifty years ago in hopes of saving her father before time runs out.
Rated T - Teen 13 and up: May contain violence, crude humour, suggestive themes and/or strong language.
#1 Don’t attract attention.
#2 Don’t get involved.
#3 Don’t make trouble.
A year after the accident that left her crippled and took her mother’s life, sixteen-year-old Terry just wants to keep her head down and survive her new high school. When she catches the eye of cute basketball star Zach—who happens to be the boyfriend of mean girl Allison—all hopes of flying under the radar are gone.
She is thrust even further in the spotlight when Fraser, the editor of the school newspaper, learns Mr. Hughes is the renowned archaeologist overseeing the new Egyptian display at the museum, which is rumoured to include Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. Fraser’s research leads to the fifty-year-old mystery of a girl who vanished while on a school trip to to the museum along with an artefact that may be Cleopatra’s asp.
When Mr. Hughes falls into a coma and his co-worker claims it’s the curse of Cleopatra, the stakes become too high for Terry to ignore. Terry must work with Fraser and her new candy loving friend Maude to find out what happened fifty years ago in hopes of saving her father before time runs out.
Rated T - Teen 13 and up: May contain violence, crude humour, suggestive themes and/or strong language.
338 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2015
2 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
B.R. Myers
13 books495 followersAlways in the mood for a good scare, B.R. Myers spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 6, 2015
There is something very comforting about curling up with a good and winding mystery novel, isn't there? During my reading of Asp of Ascension, I couldn't help but be reminded of the mysteries I read growing up and that great experience of reading those mysteries: sitting down with Encyclopedia Brown, or Nancy Drew, or the Hardy Boys, a new Lois Duncan or a new Caroline B. Cooney...putting pieces together, trying to stay one step ahead and solve the mystery...
Terry Hughes, our protagonist, is an intriguing teen heroine/sleuth to follow. She's not brash like Veronica Mars, and her drive for solving mysteries is not innate. Terry can come across as cold indifferent, but as we learn, her personal history packs serious heartache and emotional damage. As Myers has written the novel in third person- which is not so common for YA- I found the trek of getting to know Terry (along with the major secondary characters like classmates Maude, Fraser and Zach) a slower process but a rewarding one. I think Myers excelled at portraying Terry as an uncomfortable and grieving teen, thrown into situations she doesn't want to be in, but so strong in making a go of everything. Terry's friendship with classmate Maude (amazing character), in particular, is done so well; a supportive and warm friendship that is genuine to its core.
Though Asp of Ascension has multiple arcs carrying on at once, Myers pulls it off very well. Without giving away spoilers here, I will say that a few smaller ingredients of the larger mystery felt a bit rushed and thus certain secondary characters read as too easily one dimensional. However, the major mystery surrounding the possible sarcophagus of Cleopatra and her missing asp is layered, well-paced and interestingly tied in with a decades old mystery surrounding a local missing girl. My one tiny quibble with the story's major arc is that I don't think the slightly supernatural elements introduced were necessarily needed (it does work, but the novel may have also worked just as well as a straightforward contemporary mystery!).
Overall, Asp of Ascension is an entertaining and engrossing young adult mystery. It will likely appeal to readers and fans of YA series such as Deadly Cool, Heist Society, The Liar Society, or authors such as Myra McEntire, Rosemary Clement-Moore and Mariah Fredericks. Furthermore, readers who enjoy Egyptian history, pharaohs, and novels that talk about the fascinating life of Cleopatra might also find themselves drawn to this title!
I received a galley courtesy of Fierce Ink Press in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars because of the Egyptian connection!
Nefertari may have been given the name of a queen but she doesn't feel like one so she insists she be called the more common Terry. With her mother dead and her leg crippled this 16 year old must re-enter the world of high school when her archaeologist dad gets a job with a museum. Life is complicated when she is paired with Zach the star basketball player and mean girl Allison takes exception to it. When her father falls into a coma and it is blamed on an Egyptian curse Terry with the help of her new friends, Maude and Fraser will uncover a 50 year old mystery and figure out what happened to the missing asp.
The cover has this retro feel that I kind of dig but at the same time made me pause at reading it but I love any fiction to do with archaeologists and Egypt so this premise sounded really fun. Plus it turned out to be really fun to read too! Terry really felt like a real teenager to me. Sometimes she was a bit of a coward and sometimes she was so gutsy that I worried she would survive. Her backstory was set up such that I totally believed that she hadn't really had close friends yet and that her philosophy would be to keep her head down. Many times this is a sticking point for me that I just have to ignore but this time I was pleasantly surprised. Strong storycraft is very important in crafting a sound and compelling mystery so I was excited to find Asp of Ascension having it in even the fine details. Character wise Terry was a great combination of regular girl who had unusual circumstances in her life. I really loved that she wore a brace and had a crippled leg. Also it was fun how knowledge of Cleopatra was important to the story and Terry was a bit of an authority on it due to her mother's research.
So a really great protagonist is joined by two of the funnest and most compelling friends I have met in contemporary teen fiction: Maude and Fraser! Gosh I really loved them. The candy loving Maude was bold and proud while also having to deal with a serious bully problem. I loved that she was Hispanic and how we got to see her entire background with her grandma and mother. Any girl would be blessed to have a friend like Maude. I really took to her from the moment she put that sticker over the word whore. Fraser is your classic reporter wannabe but somehow he made you feel like he was a real reporter even in high schooler... I loved how he first approached Terry to get a scoop for his school newspaper and it developed into more than just a story. I loved the way he talked and how he was constantly referencing Scooby-doo! In fact he quite reminded me of Fred! I really liked how these two were separate from her relationship with Zach. They weren't all friends then partnered up but legitimately grew closer because of their friendship with Terry who grew closer to Zach due to the secrets she knew about him.
I liked Zach too. I guessed his troubles right off but they were a compelling part of his relationship with Terry. I liked how he mirrored Terry as a regular guy but with some unusual fame in his life. I loved how Terry saved him and it happened in a believable way (if in unusual circumstances). The prince was a really great touch! As was the Egyptologist Dr. Mullaca. Also the museum director who had a crush on her dad and the creeper stalkery teacher who adored Egyptology. The characters in this story really made the book for me due to the fact no character was wasted and everyone had their moments in the limelight.
The narrative was really strong too if a little morose. Understandably so though with all Terry has gone through the last year.
"She stared at the space between her sneakers. There was a hole in her spirit, and it was growing every day. Soon she’d be so hollow, the wind would pick her up, rip apart her limbs and scatter her all over the world."
Well what about the plot? Loved it! It is a little high school but it does have to do with a group of teenagers. I liked the mystery a lot with the old missing persons case and the missing artifact. I liked how Terry was not a stupid girl and figured things out in steps. She was a bit naive and believed how things appeared but doesn't all teenagers do that?! The kids all had some growing to do and I loved how those moments layered over one another in a very real and compelling way. There is an aspect of the supernatural that is unexpected in the story. As well as an end result that was shocking in how spot on it was.
If everything was so great then why 4.5 stars and not 5? Well while I loved the plot and the characters made the book for me I could see the outcome of all of the foreshadowing. I don't know of one of these moments that didn't jump out at me. I like to be surprised at least once like I'm meant to. This book didn't have that for me... I don't think it will be bothersome to others as there are quite a number of little twists! Don't be turned off by the cover*, this is a must read, especially for Egypt lovers!
BOTTOM LINE: Supernatural coming of age mystery with plenty of Egyptian mythology!
(*I wish the cover had been a more modern rendition of a retro feel rather that seriously copying cover art of a bygone time...)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
December 29, 2022
This book was my introduction to the writings of B.R. Myers, but it will certainly not be my last! As far as young adult books go this one has a lot going for it. Good plot, intriguing mystery, slight romance, but not too much. Overall it is fairly clean content, a little kissing but that it is. Some violence but mostly just a great adventure with learning about friendship mixed in. And some incredible characters. I was attracted to this book by the cover and the description. The description begins with:
"Nefertari "Terry" Hughes has three rules for surviving high school:
#1 Don't attract attention.
#2 Don't get involved.
#3 Don't make trouble.
A year after the accident that left her crippled and took her mother's life, sixteen-year-old Terry just wants to keep her head down and survive her new high school. When she catches the eye of cute basketball star Zach - who happens to be the boyfriend of mean girl Allison - all hopes of flying under the radar are gone."
Nefertari - Terry just wanted to get through high school, or at least until she could convince her father to let her do online tutors like she did while her and her parents were on archaeological dig in Egypt. But now they are back in the states, her father is preparing a new exhibit at a small museum, Terry is in high school and her mother is dead.
This story has a bit of it all mixed together in just the right amounts. You have the new kid at school. The jock. A mean girl. The editor of the school newspaper. And the Best friend, even if she is a social outcast. And that is just the teenagers. You also have an Egyptian Prince, an Archaeologist, a Museum curator combined with lots of crazy rumours and stories. And at the centre Terry must solve the riddles, and put together the clues, and at every turn it seems like someone else she cares about is in danger. So we have the mystery of a theft 50 years earlier Cleopatra's Armband and the disappearance of a school girl. Two people who are unconscious and the doctor's cannot figure out why. Thugs attack a young man, and at the centre of this swirling storm Terry the girl that wanted to not attract attention or get involved.
I started reading this book without realizing what book in the series it was. I actually though it was book 2 because of all the reference to the accident that killed Terry's mom and destroyed her knee. After finishing I realized this is book one and the story moves forward from here not back to tell how we got here. But to be honest I wish we had books on each end of this story. We can hope for a prequel someday …
This book was a great little read. I know a number of people that I will be recommending it to directly. This book does an excellent job as a mystery and also tackling the theme of bullying. There is a great section at the end for study group or class room discussion. As an introduction to a new author this book has hooked me and I know I will be reading more by Myers soon!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
"Nefertari "Terry" Hughes has three rules for surviving high school:
#1 Don't attract attention.
#2 Don't get involved.
#3 Don't make trouble.
A year after the accident that left her crippled and took her mother's life, sixteen-year-old Terry just wants to keep her head down and survive her new high school. When she catches the eye of cute basketball star Zach - who happens to be the boyfriend of mean girl Allison - all hopes of flying under the radar are gone."
Nefertari - Terry just wanted to get through high school, or at least until she could convince her father to let her do online tutors like she did while her and her parents were on archaeological dig in Egypt. But now they are back in the states, her father is preparing a new exhibit at a small museum, Terry is in high school and her mother is dead.
This story has a bit of it all mixed together in just the right amounts. You have the new kid at school. The jock. A mean girl. The editor of the school newspaper. And the Best friend, even if she is a social outcast. And that is just the teenagers. You also have an Egyptian Prince, an Archaeologist, a Museum curator combined with lots of crazy rumours and stories. And at the centre Terry must solve the riddles, and put together the clues, and at every turn it seems like someone else she cares about is in danger. So we have the mystery of a theft 50 years earlier Cleopatra's Armband and the disappearance of a school girl. Two people who are unconscious and the doctor's cannot figure out why. Thugs attack a young man, and at the centre of this swirling storm Terry the girl that wanted to not attract attention or get involved.
I started reading this book without realizing what book in the series it was. I actually though it was book 2 because of all the reference to the accident that killed Terry's mom and destroyed her knee. After finishing I realized this is book one and the story moves forward from here not back to tell how we got here. But to be honest I wish we had books on each end of this story. We can hope for a prequel someday …
This book was a great little read. I know a number of people that I will be recommending it to directly. This book does an excellent job as a mystery and also tackling the theme of bullying. There is a great section at the end for study group or class room discussion. As an introduction to a new author this book has hooked me and I know I will be reading more by Myers soon!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
February 17, 2017
Overall I enjoyed this book.
Some things I didn't enjoy largely centered around how disjointed the plot felt. The first third is largely Terry acclimating to her new school and what it means to be a (mostly) normal teenager in America. Having spent her first fifteen years globetrotting with her archeological parents Terry doesn't quite understand the politics of being a high schooler and doesn't want to understand them. Grieving for what happened to her mother, feeling a distance growing between her very busy father and herself, dealing with the aftermath of her injury and stuck in a town who's museum is mostly closed off, she's quite adrift.
Honestly speaking if the book had mostly focused on her adjusting and making friends, with a light mystery involved I would have been more content. The summary however makes the mystery seem much more important than I felt the book treated it. Her father fell into a coma, a curse, and a fifty year old mystery to solve all makes the high school stuff pale in comparison. Once the mystery plot actually began I could have cared less about her boy troubles, her mean girl troubles or her issues with understanding American teen culture.
I feel like some of it could have been spread throughout subsequent books (especially her boy drama), to avoid having the plot seem cramped.
I was quite pleased with how the mystery resolved itself as I had guessed at pieces of it, but not the overall motive. Myers tosses a couple red herrings out that should keep most readers guessing. As a lover of ancient Egypt I enjoyed the bits that spoke about her and the search for her tomb, as well as the pains Myers takes to discuss how taking artifacts impact the country they're taken from. Its always nice to see social consciousness in a book.
So as I said, overall I enjoyed the book. The next book (Diadem of Death) has Terry traveling once more and running into an old friend (which in as any lover of genre knows this NEVER bodes well).
Some things I didn't enjoy largely centered around how disjointed the plot felt. The first third is largely Terry acclimating to her new school and what it means to be a (mostly) normal teenager in America. Having spent her first fifteen years globetrotting with her archeological parents Terry doesn't quite understand the politics of being a high schooler and doesn't want to understand them. Grieving for what happened to her mother, feeling a distance growing between her very busy father and herself, dealing with the aftermath of her injury and stuck in a town who's museum is mostly closed off, she's quite adrift.
Honestly speaking if the book had mostly focused on her adjusting and making friends, with a light mystery involved I would have been more content. The summary however makes the mystery seem much more important than I felt the book treated it. Her father fell into a coma, a curse, and a fifty year old mystery to solve all makes the high school stuff pale in comparison. Once the mystery plot actually began I could have cared less about her boy troubles, her mean girl troubles or her issues with understanding American teen culture.
I feel like some of it could have been spread throughout subsequent books (especially her boy drama), to avoid having the plot seem cramped.
I was quite pleased with how the mystery resolved itself as I had guessed at pieces of it, but not the overall motive. Myers tosses a couple red herrings out that should keep most readers guessing. As a lover of ancient Egypt I enjoyed the bits that spoke about her and the search for her tomb, as well as the pains Myers takes to discuss how taking artifacts impact the country they're taken from. Its always nice to see social consciousness in a book.
So as I said, overall I enjoyed the book. The next book (Diadem of Death) has Terry traveling once more and running into an old friend (which in as any lover of genre knows this NEVER bodes well).
June 9, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**ASP of Ascension is the first in the young adult Nefertari Hughes Mystery series by B.R. Myers. I really enjoyed ASP of Ascension and I am really digging the cover of the book. It reminds me so much of an Egyptian version of the old school Nancy Drew book covers. Which I completely love. I also love all things Egypt so I found this book particularly interesting. It centers around a very important and secret exhibit coming to a small town, and a curse surrounding it- Cleopatra sarcophagus!
Terry, short for Nefertari, starts at a new school because her dad, who is a famous archeologist, is bringing a secret exhibit to town. I really liked Terry. I found her trips with her parents to be fascinating, and as painful as it was for her, I really enjoyed the glimpses into her past that we got. Espically that fateful trip into the fourth chamber where she was injured, and she lost her mom. Not to mention all of the curse business. I loved that I think the most.
The only thing that I found a bit hard to believe was how famous her dad seemed to be. The kids at the school all seemed to be very up on him and his discoveries, which I found a bit odd. I certainly didn't know about different archeologists and their discoveries when I was in high school, but then again it was a small town, so who knows. Other than how star struck people seemed to be by Terry's dad ASP of Ascension. It is a really fun story. Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, The Mummy and Egyptian mythology. I can't wait to read the next Nefertari Hughes Mystery!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Terry, short for Nefertari, starts at a new school because her dad, who is a famous archeologist, is bringing a secret exhibit to town. I really liked Terry. I found her trips with her parents to be fascinating, and as painful as it was for her, I really enjoyed the glimpses into her past that we got. Espically that fateful trip into the fourth chamber where she was injured, and she lost her mom. Not to mention all of the curse business. I loved that I think the most.
The only thing that I found a bit hard to believe was how famous her dad seemed to be. The kids at the school all seemed to be very up on him and his discoveries, which I found a bit odd. I certainly didn't know about different archeologists and their discoveries when I was in high school, but then again it was a small town, so who knows. Other than how star struck people seemed to be by Terry's dad ASP of Ascension. It is a really fun story. Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, The Mummy and Egyptian mythology. I can't wait to read the next Nefertari Hughes Mystery!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
July 15, 2015
Asp of Ascension is like Night at the Museum mixed with the humour of Mean Girls with a dollop of darkness from Should I Stay.
B.R. Myers introduces us to Nefartari Hughes (or Terry as she understandably prefers to be called). She’s every girl who went to high school and tried their best to ride through the middle of the crowd with their elbows in (so me for sure) with the added baggage of the traumatic loss of her mother.
What sets Terry apart (much to her dismay at times) is her archaeologist parents who have passed on to her their love and understanding of ancient Egypt. What makes Terry special however is that she is starving for real relationships and has no idea how to be in one. Whether it is with she and Maud (a fantastic character who I wish I’d had the balls to be in high school) or with Zach, the prototype jock who turns out to be so much more than that.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I laughed reading this book, remembering parallel moments in my own life. I know that Terry is the hero of this story, but I have to say, I fell in love with Maud and her little family. Myers does a great job of bringing the corridors of high school to life and the dialogue rings true of the age group too. I happen to LOVE all things having to do with pharaohs so reading about Egypt and Cleopatra is just icing on the cake of a great read.
B.R. Myers introduces us to Nefartari Hughes (or Terry as she understandably prefers to be called). She’s every girl who went to high school and tried their best to ride through the middle of the crowd with their elbows in (so me for sure) with the added baggage of the traumatic loss of her mother.
What sets Terry apart (much to her dismay at times) is her archaeologist parents who have passed on to her their love and understanding of ancient Egypt. What makes Terry special however is that she is starving for real relationships and has no idea how to be in one. Whether it is with she and Maud (a fantastic character who I wish I’d had the balls to be in high school) or with Zach, the prototype jock who turns out to be so much more than that.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I laughed reading this book, remembering parallel moments in my own life. I know that Terry is the hero of this story, but I have to say, I fell in love with Maud and her little family. Myers does a great job of bringing the corridors of high school to life and the dialogue rings true of the age group too. I happen to LOVE all things having to do with pharaohs so reading about Egypt and Cleopatra is just icing on the cake of a great read.
December 23, 2022
For someone who wants to start reading mystery novels. This is a great start.
September 27, 2018
This book revolves around Nefertari and the Egyptian myth of Cleopatra. Having lived on Egyptian lands and archeological digs, it was hard for Terry (Nefertari) to adjust to a school environment. She had lost her mother and part of one leg after a cave-in. Her life had changed and she needed to get used to her new situation. Terry was easy to understand and I rooted for her almost instantly.
Her friendship with Maude and Fraser was insane fun, they had this instant chemistry that had nothing to do with romance, even if Fraser liked Terry. Maude was hopelessly in love with him.
Terry also gets a love interest, but this does not overshadow the plot, that is centered around a sarcophagus that Terry's mom found, before the accident. There is depth to the plot that had me hanging on to every word.
B.R.'s writing was strong. The portrayal of the teens was relatable, and I will gladly continue this series to see what happens next. Also, there is no cliffhanger ending, thank goodness...
Her friendship with Maude and Fraser was insane fun, they had this instant chemistry that had nothing to do with romance, even if Fraser liked Terry. Maude was hopelessly in love with him.
Terry also gets a love interest, but this does not overshadow the plot, that is centered around a sarcophagus that Terry's mom found, before the accident. There is depth to the plot that had me hanging on to every word.
B.R.'s writing was strong. The portrayal of the teens was relatable, and I will gladly continue this series to see what happens next. Also, there is no cliffhanger ending, thank goodness...
May 18, 2017
Asp of Ascension by b r Myers.
Nefertari hughes or as she would like to be known as Teri.
Her dad is the famous Guthrie Hughes who is a egyptologist.
Her dad is to set up a exhibit to save a museum.
A good read with good characters. Although slow I managed to read it.
I liked her mum and dad. full of twists. Teri was my favourite character.
I give it 4*. Netgalley and Digi writing.
Nefertari hughes or as she would like to be known as Teri.
Her dad is the famous Guthrie Hughes who is a egyptologist.
Her dad is to set up a exhibit to save a museum.
A good read with good characters. Although slow I managed to read it.
I liked her mum and dad. full of twists. Teri was my favourite character.
I give it 4*. Netgalley and Digi writing.
March 10, 2017
This was a really fun book for me to read. I enjoyed all the ancient Egyptian history coming to life throughout the story, the basketball hottie who is secretly a sweetheart, the funky pink haired sidekick, and the mysterious Egyptian prince working behind the scenes. Terry proves to be a relatable female lead who has regular teenage problems while also dealing with her mother's death and disfiguring accident. I highly recommend this YA mystery.
June 23, 2017
Title: Asp of Ascension - The Nefertari Hughes Mystery Book 1
Author: BR Myers
Publisher: Blue Moon Publishers
Published: 4-25-2017
Pages: 354
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers, & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Young Adult; Fantasy & Supernatural; Action & Adventure; Sorcery
ISBN: 9781988279527
ASIN: B0722HSDZY
Reviewed For NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
In the year since her mother Naomi's death in the same cave-in that crippled Nefertari "Terri" Hughes's leg have moved to Devonshire to recuperate and grieve. Terri is attending a new high school and her father, Gunther Hughes, begins setting up the new special Cleopatra display at the local museum. Trying to lay low and go unnoticed goes the way of the dodo when star athlete Zack takes an interest in her. Then strange things begin happening and Terri's father falls into and unexplained coma.
An unusual and captivating story that pulls readers in. Myers has woven a tale that combines bits of insight into the ancient past while taking those of us who had left high school in our past right back to being sixteen again. Trying to find our way to adulthood and survive the transition. With characters we can identify with and a well written plot. Filled with Drama, adventure and suspense, but lightened with a touch of humor.
My rating for "Asp of Ascension is 4.25 out of 5 stars. Great for history lovers as well as teens and young adults. Also older readers will find it a captivating read.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FH7MN2/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/asp-...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: BR Myers
Publisher: Blue Moon Publishers
Published: 4-25-2017
Pages: 354
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers, & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Young Adult; Fantasy & Supernatural; Action & Adventure; Sorcery
ISBN: 9781988279527
ASIN: B0722HSDZY
Reviewed For NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
In the year since her mother Naomi's death in the same cave-in that crippled Nefertari "Terri" Hughes's leg have moved to Devonshire to recuperate and grieve. Terri is attending a new high school and her father, Gunther Hughes, begins setting up the new special Cleopatra display at the local museum. Trying to lay low and go unnoticed goes the way of the dodo when star athlete Zack takes an interest in her. Then strange things begin happening and Terri's father falls into and unexplained coma.
An unusual and captivating story that pulls readers in. Myers has woven a tale that combines bits of insight into the ancient past while taking those of us who had left high school in our past right back to being sixteen again. Trying to find our way to adulthood and survive the transition. With characters we can identify with and a well written plot. Filled with Drama, adventure and suspense, but lightened with a touch of humor.
My rating for "Asp of Ascension is 4.25 out of 5 stars. Great for history lovers as well as teens and young adults. Also older readers will find it a captivating read.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FH7MN2/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/asp-...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
May 11, 2017
Nefertari "Terry" has been disabled and her mother killed in an archeological dig. Her father a famous archeologist has moved them back to the United States where he has been offered a job to oversee the new Egyptian display at the museum. Terry just wants to be invisible at school but isn't able to when she catches the eye of a boyfriend to the meanest girl in school. Fraser is the editor of the school newspaper and wants a scoop for his newspaper. He asks Terry to give him the scoop on the Egyptian display. He has heard a rumor that Cleopatra's sarcophagus will be show. He researches for the article, when he discovers a fifty year mystery of a girl disappearing while on a school trip to the museum along with an artifact that might be Cleopatra's asp. Was the girl ever found? When Terry's father falls into a coma, it is said to be Cleopatra's curse that has caused it. What did cause it? Terry, Fraser and her friend Maude need to try to find out what happened to the missing girl in order to save her father. Will Terry find out?
The author has written a great first novel of a series-to-be. It is mysterious, romantic and at times a little bit scarey. I found it easy to identify withe Terry and her friends. It also shows what bullying can do to others. There is a section at the end that has questions that could be used for classroom discussion. The history and myth useage is excellent. I need to read the next book as I am hooked!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author has written a great first novel of a series-to-be. It is mysterious, romantic and at times a little bit scarey. I found it easy to identify withe Terry and her friends. It also shows what bullying can do to others. There is a section at the end that has questions that could be used for classroom discussion. The history and myth useage is excellent. I need to read the next book as I am hooked!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
August 16, 2017
The new school year doesn't seem promising. Terry's still dealing with the grief of losing her mother, struggling to get used to her crippled leg, plus trying to deal with fitting in at a new school in a new continent. It only gets worse when her father falls into a coma and his creepy colleague insists that she's the only one who can break the curse... by solving the mystery of the ancient Egyptian asp that went missing from the museum 50 years ago.
On the surface, ASP of Ascension is typical teenage girl fodder. There's the outcast girl--well, girls--who are awesomely kickass, the handsome basketball star who is paying attention to them, the jealous girlfriend who'll stop at nothing, and a real honest-to-goodness Prince (even if he's Egyptian). There's flirting and awkwardness and new love and...
...there's the mystery. The new Egyptian display includes what's rumoured to be Cleopatra's sarcophagus--the very same one Terry's mother died trying to find. Here's where Myers shows her twisty depths. Nothing is what it seems, and not everyone is who they're supposed to be. Everyone has secrets--but which ones are dangerous?
Overall, the novel is a fun read--light enough to keep you entertained, mysterious enough to keep you hooked, and with just the amount of teenage silliness to keep you charmed.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
On the surface, ASP of Ascension is typical teenage girl fodder. There's the outcast girl--well, girls--who are awesomely kickass, the handsome basketball star who is paying attention to them, the jealous girlfriend who'll stop at nothing, and a real honest-to-goodness Prince (even if he's Egyptian). There's flirting and awkwardness and new love and...
...there's the mystery. The new Egyptian display includes what's rumoured to be Cleopatra's sarcophagus--the very same one Terry's mother died trying to find. Here's where Myers shows her twisty depths. Nothing is what it seems, and not everyone is who they're supposed to be. Everyone has secrets--but which ones are dangerous?
Overall, the novel is a fun read--light enough to keep you entertained, mysterious enough to keep you hooked, and with just the amount of teenage silliness to keep you charmed.
Note: I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 11, 2018
If Buffy and Nancy Drew had a baby it would be Nefertari Hughes! I found this book by accident but I am so thrilled that I did. I had requested the ARC for the third book in the series without realizing it was the third in the series. I was thrilled to find that the first two books were available through Kindle Unlimited. I am so glad I found them. I loved this first book in the series! As someone who grew up reading the old Nancy Drew novels, everythig Lois Duncan, R.L Stine and my King of YA Christopher Pike ths was made for me.
Nefartari (Terry) Hughes finds herself in the smaller city of Devonshire in New England after Terry and her Mother were involved in a collapse on a dig in Egypt. It also left her leg crippled. Terry's motto have become "Do Not Get Involved". It becomes increasingly harder to not get involved. She starts to become attached to her partners in her history class, outcast Maude and ach the golden boy athlete as well as the class new paper reporter Fraser. Just when Terry starts to feel comfortable her Father is found passed out in the Museum that he works in. In order to save her Father she and her friends set off to solve the mystery!
Every character in this novel stands out but Maude (Terry's best friend) is the stand out for me!
Nefartari (Terry) Hughes finds herself in the smaller city of Devonshire in New England after Terry and her Mother were involved in a collapse on a dig in Egypt. It also left her leg crippled. Terry's motto have become "Do Not Get Involved". It becomes increasingly harder to not get involved. She starts to become attached to her partners in her history class, outcast Maude and ach the golden boy athlete as well as the class new paper reporter Fraser. Just when Terry starts to feel comfortable her Father is found passed out in the Museum that he works in. In order to save her Father she and her friends set off to solve the mystery!
Every character in this novel stands out but Maude (Terry's best friend) is the stand out for me!
May 10, 2017
I am an adult who happens to enjoy the Young Adult genre. It's refreshing to read a book that isn't overloaded with sex so instead it has to rely on a good plot.
The ASP OF ASCENSION reminds me in a way of my time in high school. I wasn't dealing with disappearances and all that but I did change schools often and my rules were quite similar to Terry's. I enjoyed watching as Terry starts to work her way through the grief at the loss of her mother and begins to make friends.
The secondary characters are well portrayed and add much to the story from Maude's optimism to Fraser's cluelessness. Some of their circumstances were worth a chuckle, other's made me rather annoyed at the cruelty of people.
I would recommend ASP OF ASCENSION to any reader who enjoys young adult and mysteries. And it is rated T for a reason. There are violent scenes along with some risque dialogue.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
September 27, 2021
The young adult novel ASP of Ascension by B.R. Myers was such a fun read! And to find out it was the first in a series was an added bonus. People who love Egyptian archaeology, ancient curses, and the story of Cleopatra will love this book. Add in some teenage drama, some bullying, a 50-year-old mystery, and a handsome basketball player and you have a recipe for a wonderful page-turner. I’m am looking forward to reading more in the Nefertari Hughes mystery series.
April 30, 2018
Truly enjoyed this book which was a combination of mystery, fantasy and contemporary.
February 23, 2017
ASP of ascension is a fascinating rendition of Cleopatra and the curse associated with her asp. It focuses on the trials and tribulations of students' lives in High School.
Nefertari who prefers to be called Terry is a sixteen year old trying to adjust to her new school. She has spent most of her life travelling with her archaeologist parents until the fatal accident where she lost her mother and she herself sustained severe injuries.
After the discovery of their last excavation, Terry's father has been invited to organise an exhibition in a small town. The results of her injuries have left her with lack of confidence and she is trying hard to stay "invisible". Her father being a famous archaeologist makes it even harder as her history classes just happens to have Cleopatra as the next project.
She teams up with Maude, a colourful character and Zach the basketball star. They are both impressed at her knowledge of the subject and Zach finds himself drawn to her. The problem? His girlfriend, Allison is the nasty queen bee and a bully. When she focuses on a target, she comes up with the worse possible methods of humiliation!
Fraser, the school journalist approaches her for a scoop on the rumoured Cleopatra's discovery and here begins the most unexpected investigations. They are faced with an unsolved fifty years old case of a student's disappearance. The more they delve in, the more mysteries are uncovered. Terry is tasked to find the asp which is not a priority until her father goes into an inexplicable coma. She is led to believe that finding the asp is the answer to his recovery. It's a dangerous task.
Fraser and Maude get involved in her quest and what they uncover can't be ignored. Somehow what happened fifty years ago could be linked to the present situation. This leads to a beautiful friendship between the three of them. Zach doesn't hide his attraction for Terry and when she discovers that he too, faces his own struggles, she is more than supportive.
The plot is very well orchestrated. It's very difficult to know who are friends or enemies. It's amazing at how far some would go for the greed of power. The bullies take extreme delight in demeaning their victims. The unravelling of the mysteries is intriguing and fascinating. The characters are plausible. Overall, it's a well paced and compelling mythological and historical story with a supernatural twist, romance, rivalry, jealousy, cruelty and danger. This young adult novel would appeal to readers of all ages.
I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
Nefertari who prefers to be called Terry is a sixteen year old trying to adjust to her new school. She has spent most of her life travelling with her archaeologist parents until the fatal accident where she lost her mother and she herself sustained severe injuries.
After the discovery of their last excavation, Terry's father has been invited to organise an exhibition in a small town. The results of her injuries have left her with lack of confidence and she is trying hard to stay "invisible". Her father being a famous archaeologist makes it even harder as her history classes just happens to have Cleopatra as the next project.
She teams up with Maude, a colourful character and Zach the basketball star. They are both impressed at her knowledge of the subject and Zach finds himself drawn to her. The problem? His girlfriend, Allison is the nasty queen bee and a bully. When she focuses on a target, she comes up with the worse possible methods of humiliation!
Fraser, the school journalist approaches her for a scoop on the rumoured Cleopatra's discovery and here begins the most unexpected investigations. They are faced with an unsolved fifty years old case of a student's disappearance. The more they delve in, the more mysteries are uncovered. Terry is tasked to find the asp which is not a priority until her father goes into an inexplicable coma. She is led to believe that finding the asp is the answer to his recovery. It's a dangerous task.
Fraser and Maude get involved in her quest and what they uncover can't be ignored. Somehow what happened fifty years ago could be linked to the present situation. This leads to a beautiful friendship between the three of them. Zach doesn't hide his attraction for Terry and when she discovers that he too, faces his own struggles, she is more than supportive.
The plot is very well orchestrated. It's very difficult to know who are friends or enemies. It's amazing at how far some would go for the greed of power. The bullies take extreme delight in demeaning their victims. The unravelling of the mysteries is intriguing and fascinating. The characters are plausible. Overall, it's a well paced and compelling mythological and historical story with a supernatural twist, romance, rivalry, jealousy, cruelty and danger. This young adult novel would appeal to readers of all ages.
I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
March 6, 2017
It's a very interesting story about ancient curses and modern teenagers. It's well-written and all the characters are well-developed. I loved both Terry and Maude, they're two unlikeliest of friends but willing to do anything for each other. Story is full of intrigue, mystery, teenage drama, and some action. It's a thrilling adventurous books which all YA readers will enjoy.
Terry is going to school for the first time. After being with her parents and every dig site, it seem strange to b back in America and attending school as if everything is normal in her life. But she is willing to make the best of it. Now all she needs is to stay invisible. Unfortunately for her, she stands out. Soon school's mean girl is after her blood, her father is in the hospital and Prince of Egypt wants to go out with her. In short her life is quite interesting. In all this mess she has Maude on her side. A friend who will stick with her no matter what. It's not all bad, she just needs to find the asp of Cleopatra and everything will go back to normal..... or so she thought....
I loved reading it, It was very balanced book which will keep readers engrossed from very beginning until the end.
Terry is going to school for the first time. After being with her parents and every dig site, it seem strange to b back in America and attending school as if everything is normal in her life. But she is willing to make the best of it. Now all she needs is to stay invisible. Unfortunately for her, she stands out. Soon school's mean girl is after her blood, her father is in the hospital and Prince of Egypt wants to go out with her. In short her life is quite interesting. In all this mess she has Maude on her side. A friend who will stick with her no matter what. It's not all bad, she just needs to find the asp of Cleopatra and everything will go back to normal..... or so she thought....
I loved reading it, It was very balanced book which will keep readers engrossed from very beginning until the end.
March 6, 2017
Nefertari “Terry” Hughes is a teenager who became disabled after an accident that killed her mother. At the time, they were unearthing Cleopatra’s burial site. Now, she’s at a new school dealing with bullies and making new friends. Her father is working at a local museum preparing to open a mysterious sarcophagus that has been attributed to Cleopatra. Some people believe that opening the sarcophagus will unleash supernatural powers. When Terry finds the golden asp of Cleopatra, will she be able to handle the energy unleashed and solve its mysteries?
This young adult novel is different from any I’ve read recently. I loved it! The main character is disabled but shows so much strength. She’s a role model for every adolescent. She shows us that we don’t have to look perfect to be strong. I also liked the portrayal of the bully character, Allison. All bullies are taught to be bullies. If we stop bullying each other, our children will stop being bullies, too! I praise this author for writing such a fantastic tale of adventure and suspense with underlying truths that are relevant in every generation. An Advanced Reading Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
This young adult novel is different from any I’ve read recently. I loved it! The main character is disabled but shows so much strength. She’s a role model for every adolescent. She shows us that we don’t have to look perfect to be strong. I also liked the portrayal of the bully character, Allison. All bullies are taught to be bullies. If we stop bullying each other, our children will stop being bullies, too! I praise this author for writing such a fantastic tale of adventure and suspense with underlying truths that are relevant in every generation. An Advanced Reading Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2016
ASP Ascension is about a sixteen year old girl Terry Hughes. Her name is actually Nefertari but don’t tell anyone because Terry really hates being called by her real name. Poor Terry lost her mother about a year ago in an accident while they were looking for Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. Her mother spent her whole life nearly looking for Cleopatra’s sarcophagus and died for it. Terry loved her mother very much and misses her every single day. Terry’s mom and dad is archaeologist and so she grew up with the love of ancient Egypt. Terry knows more about ancient Egypt than anyone in her new school.
Terry doesn’t want to go to a brick and mortar school she wants to stay home and take online classes. But her dad insist that she go to school and be with other kids her own age and he knows she just needs to be with people more than ever right now especially since the anniversary of her mother’s death is so close. Terry tries her best to stay invisible at school but it is impossible when you are the daughter of a famous archaeologist who is in town working at the museum setting everything up for an unveiling of Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. But Terry does meet a very good person a girl Maude who becomes her best friend. She also has the opportunity of meeting and being partners with the school jock Zach. But alias he has a girlfriend the mean girl of the school Allison.
Allison is very popular and has her groupies who follow her around all day and help her to beat up other girls in the bathroom which is very old school as they say. If it has been done before then you can bet your bottom dollar Allison has done it too when it comes to her bathroom secessions or even out of the bathroom as well. Allison is one girl you want to try and avoid at all cost.
When Terry’s dad ends up in a coma one night while working late at the museum; Terry is the only one who can save him. A woman her dad works with tells Terry that her dad is in a coma because of the curse of Cleopatra and Terry is the only one who can break it. Terry must solve a fifty year old case of Cleopatra’s missing ASP. If she finds the ASP then she can break the curse and her dad will be ok. Can she find the missing ASP before time runs out? Will she lose her dad only a year after losing her mother? Will her and her new friends save her father?
When I first signed up to do this tour I didn’t think I wanted to read ASP Ascension. Well it was more like I didn’t have time but you know it is quite amazing how you can find the time when you really want to read something. After checking the book out further by reading the preview on Goodreads I was like I got to read this book. So I set out to find that little bit of extra time. How you say? Well by reading the books on my tbr list at the time faster. And how did I do that? By putting more time in to my reading but I actually think I just got lucky and had some really good books that read faster than some. You know what I mean?
I am really glad that I check ASP Ascension out further before throwing it to the side. I plan on do this a lot more in the future. Thanks Goodreads for having a preview of the book and thanks to the author B.R. Myers and YA Bound Book Tours for giving me this opportunity to read ASP Ascension and I can’t wait to read more of Nefertari Hughes Mystery’s in the future.
I highly recommend ASP Ascension to anyone who loves a good mystery and have a love for ancient Egypt. Or maybe just Cleopatra and Mark Anthony.
Terry doesn’t want to go to a brick and mortar school she wants to stay home and take online classes. But her dad insist that she go to school and be with other kids her own age and he knows she just needs to be with people more than ever right now especially since the anniversary of her mother’s death is so close. Terry tries her best to stay invisible at school but it is impossible when you are the daughter of a famous archaeologist who is in town working at the museum setting everything up for an unveiling of Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. But Terry does meet a very good person a girl Maude who becomes her best friend. She also has the opportunity of meeting and being partners with the school jock Zach. But alias he has a girlfriend the mean girl of the school Allison.
Allison is very popular and has her groupies who follow her around all day and help her to beat up other girls in the bathroom which is very old school as they say. If it has been done before then you can bet your bottom dollar Allison has done it too when it comes to her bathroom secessions or even out of the bathroom as well. Allison is one girl you want to try and avoid at all cost.
When Terry’s dad ends up in a coma one night while working late at the museum; Terry is the only one who can save him. A woman her dad works with tells Terry that her dad is in a coma because of the curse of Cleopatra and Terry is the only one who can break it. Terry must solve a fifty year old case of Cleopatra’s missing ASP. If she finds the ASP then she can break the curse and her dad will be ok. Can she find the missing ASP before time runs out? Will she lose her dad only a year after losing her mother? Will her and her new friends save her father?
When I first signed up to do this tour I didn’t think I wanted to read ASP Ascension. Well it was more like I didn’t have time but you know it is quite amazing how you can find the time when you really want to read something. After checking the book out further by reading the preview on Goodreads I was like I got to read this book. So I set out to find that little bit of extra time. How you say? Well by reading the books on my tbr list at the time faster. And how did I do that? By putting more time in to my reading but I actually think I just got lucky and had some really good books that read faster than some. You know what I mean?
I am really glad that I check ASP Ascension out further before throwing it to the side. I plan on do this a lot more in the future. Thanks Goodreads for having a preview of the book and thanks to the author B.R. Myers and YA Bound Book Tours for giving me this opportunity to read ASP Ascension and I can’t wait to read more of Nefertari Hughes Mystery’s in the future.
I highly recommend ASP Ascension to anyone who loves a good mystery and have a love for ancient Egypt. Or maybe just Cleopatra and Mark Anthony.
March 6, 2017
If you enjoy present day mysteries that tangle with ancient artifacts, then you should try the Nefertari Hughes books. "Terry" as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of archaeologists. When her mother dies in an accident on a dig and Terry is severely injured, her father decides to move somewhere safer to start over. That is how they end up in the cold of New England, with her father working at a museum that is run by an old school friend. Nothing feels right to Terry. She misses the warmth of Egypt, the food, her friend Awad, her mother... High school is a nightmare. The limp from her injury makes her feel awkward, she has managed to incur the wrath of the reigning cheer leading captain, and their history assignment on Cleopatra brings up too many painful memories. How will she navigate the world of ball games, dates, and school projects without her mother's guidance? And when it seems things can't get any worse, they do.
Join Terry and her friends (Maude, Fraser, and Zach), as they try to survive high school, solve a 50-year-old mystery, save Terry's dad from a deadly threat, and maybe even manage to complete their class project and find time for a date. Plenty of suspense, murky motives, personal and ancient history, drama, romantic tension, and bad guys/gals. Recommended for ages 12+ who enjoy mystery, a smidgen of romance, and stories where the protagonist rises above challenges.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Join Terry and her friends (Maude, Fraser, and Zach), as they try to survive high school, solve a 50-year-old mystery, save Terry's dad from a deadly threat, and maybe even manage to complete their class project and find time for a date. Plenty of suspense, murky motives, personal and ancient history, drama, romantic tension, and bad guys/gals. Recommended for ages 12+ who enjoy mystery, a smidgen of romance, and stories where the protagonist rises above challenges.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
February 16, 2017
Sixteen-year –old Nefertari (Terry) Hughes is stuck in another new high school in a town where her dad’s got yet another temporary job. It’s been that way since Terry recovered from the terrible accident took her mother’s life and almost took hers. But Terry doesn’t want to be in this high school. She may officially be American, but as the daughter of two Egyptologists, Egypt is truly home to Terry.
Terry’s managed to escape the notice of the other students at the last few schools she’s attended, but somehow that’s proving impossible in Devonshire, especially since her dad’s in charge of the big new Cleopatra exhibit at the museum, and the history teacher’s acting like a Nefertari groupie. When Terry catches the attention of Zach, the star basketball player, she’s really in trouble. His cheerleader girlfriend tends to be jealous, and she’s got a mean streak a mile long.
Before she knows it, Terry’s got more than social problems on her plate. There’s a snag in the opening of the exhibit, and it looks like Terry’s going to have to be the one to solve it before it’s too late and her life changes forever.
This was such a fun read! The mystery’s intriguing and there’s plenty of room in the story for heartwarming friendships, nefarious motives, and a tingly romance. It looks like there are more Nefertari Hughes mysteries coming up, and I’ll definitely be looking for them. This is one sleuth I’ll be glad to follow!
I received an electronic review copy of ASP of Ascension from NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers.
Terry’s managed to escape the notice of the other students at the last few schools she’s attended, but somehow that’s proving impossible in Devonshire, especially since her dad’s in charge of the big new Cleopatra exhibit at the museum, and the history teacher’s acting like a Nefertari groupie. When Terry catches the attention of Zach, the star basketball player, she’s really in trouble. His cheerleader girlfriend tends to be jealous, and she’s got a mean streak a mile long.
Before she knows it, Terry’s got more than social problems on her plate. There’s a snag in the opening of the exhibit, and it looks like Terry’s going to have to be the one to solve it before it’s too late and her life changes forever.
This was such a fun read! The mystery’s intriguing and there’s plenty of room in the story for heartwarming friendships, nefarious motives, and a tingly romance. It looks like there are more Nefertari Hughes mysteries coming up, and I’ll definitely be looking for them. This is one sleuth I’ll be glad to follow!
I received an electronic review copy of ASP of Ascension from NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers.
April 17, 2017
Terry Hughes has had a rough year. While on an archaeological dig with her parents, a cave-in permanently damages her leg and kills her mom. Now, months later, it’s time to reveal the artifacts from that dig -- the final treasures of Mrs. Hughes’s life’s work -- to the world. Terry thought it was just a bunch of coins. She didn’t know they found a sarcophagus after the accident, much less the sarcophagus of Cleopatra! The only way to open it safely is using Cleopatra’s asp, though, and that was stolen 50 years ago from the very museum in which they are setting up the exhibit. Crazy Dr. Mullaca thinks Terry is the key to finding the asp. How do you find a relic that’s been missing for 50 years though?
Asp of Ascension had a bit of a retro feel to it. Aside from the occasional use of cell phones (usually by people other than Terry) and some discussion about the unrest in Egypt this could have been set in the 1990s. Which was kind of nice. Nostalgic. Terry clearly has no use for social media and may not even know it exists. She turns her cell phone off at bedtime and runs the battery down repeatedly. She also climbs a fire escape to her boyfriend Zach’s apartment because she forgot phones were useful (“She rolled her eyes to the sky. She was so stupid. Why hadn’t she called him from downstairs?”). In short, she’s hard to reach. Even when she does get Zach’s texts, she often leaves him hanging. It`s refreshing to see technology left in the background. It`s still essential to the story – a weird text from her dad keeps Terry wondering, best friend Maude googles the gorgeous Prince Kamal, and another friend uses his special access to the local paper’s database to discover important information for her. The tech just isn’t the focal point.
The powerful asp IS. They think about it and search for it. When Terry finally does find it, she also finds it is not just a relic. It makes her stronger than she ever was before, though the strength does come at a price. Actually, the asp it comes with different prices, depending on how she chooses to use it…
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
Asp of Ascension had a bit of a retro feel to it. Aside from the occasional use of cell phones (usually by people other than Terry) and some discussion about the unrest in Egypt this could have been set in the 1990s. Which was kind of nice. Nostalgic. Terry clearly has no use for social media and may not even know it exists. She turns her cell phone off at bedtime and runs the battery down repeatedly. She also climbs a fire escape to her boyfriend Zach’s apartment because she forgot phones were useful (“She rolled her eyes to the sky. She was so stupid. Why hadn’t she called him from downstairs?”). In short, she’s hard to reach. Even when she does get Zach’s texts, she often leaves him hanging. It`s refreshing to see technology left in the background. It`s still essential to the story – a weird text from her dad keeps Terry wondering, best friend Maude googles the gorgeous Prince Kamal, and another friend uses his special access to the local paper’s database to discover important information for her. The tech just isn’t the focal point.
The powerful asp IS. They think about it and search for it. When Terry finally does find it, she also finds it is not just a relic. It makes her stronger than she ever was before, though the strength does come at a price. Actually, the asp it comes with different prices, depending on how she chooses to use it…
A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
June 9, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am on a trend of reading mythology based books recently and this one is no exception. Another good book with a basis of Egyptian mythology and I can say without doubt I liked this book too.
Firstly the premise of the mystery behind the disappearance of a girl who disappeared 50 years ago was intriguing and add the vein of mythology to it and you have a winner on your hands. It was a nice spot of reading a mythological mystery which appeals to the younger generation especially.
Terry was a very strong heroine. The death of her mother and her disability might hinder at times but mostly she came across as a person who does everything in her power to get to her goal. There were scenes where I saw her as a cowardly person. But it was counteracted by her reluctant closeness with Fraser and Zach and Maude. The friendship between Terry and Maude was done well and I felt that they would grow more, separately and together, in the coming books. The insta love between Zach and Terry felt overdone. I would have liked to have seen more "proper" love rather than the first look attraction as portrayed in the book.
The negative characters were confusing most of the times. The author convoluted the narration so much that I wasn't able to get a proper read on the antagonists. I was literally hopping from one person to another in trying to guess the identity of the real villain. Apparently, they were a coalition and the ending which revealed it was kind of surprising for me. Another part which had me guessing was the disappearance of the "mystery" girl and the asp. I wouldn't have guessed that at all. The author knows how to plot a good mystery in my opinion. And for this alone I look forward to reading the future books in this series.
The author has opened the series on a good note and I am looking forward to the sequel. For all those Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys lovers out there, including the adults, would love this one.
My rating : 4/5
June 11, 2016
Terry is really an average girl that has been thrust into a unimaginable situation. Her parents are world known archaeologists, a career that her mother died for. Terry has been badly scarred and in her mind damaged by an event surrounding the discovery of a sarcophagus, so much so that she lets it rule her new life motto. I would have to akin it to severe depression with a touch of PTSD honestly.
Terry refuses to live in the now, until she is forced to because of a school project in which she meets a trio of unlikely friends that will ultimate make all the difference to her!
The story is a slow build at first, yet the ending is twist after twist!
I found that the speed was perfect, we were able to slowly grow and realize certain things along with Terry at HER pace! Reading about Egyptian history and myth was absolutely enthralling. I must say that ASP of Ascension is a book all in it's own category and I loved it!
~Dowie
Terry refuses to live in the now, until she is forced to because of a school project in which she meets a trio of unlikely friends that will ultimate make all the difference to her!
The story is a slow build at first, yet the ending is twist after twist!
I found that the speed was perfect, we were able to slowly grow and realize certain things along with Terry at HER pace! Reading about Egyptian history and myth was absolutely enthralling. I must say that ASP of Ascension is a book all in it's own category and I loved it!
~Dowie
November 10, 2017
Asp of Ascension (The Nefertari Hughes Mystery Series Book 1)
By: B R Myers
The first book in a new series, a really good YA mystery. Two good, unique protagonists that you wouldn’t think would make good friends but prove us all wrong. An Egyptian prince, an ancient Egyptian asp that went missing from the museum 50 years ago. A curse, romance, and a mystery all tied together and thank heaven I had the next book in the series because I didn’t want to wait to find out what happens next. Excellent story, I highly recommend it. While the paperback might not be available, it is available in ebook.
By: B R Myers
The first book in a new series, a really good YA mystery. Two good, unique protagonists that you wouldn’t think would make good friends but prove us all wrong. An Egyptian prince, an ancient Egyptian asp that went missing from the museum 50 years ago. A curse, romance, and a mystery all tied together and thank heaven I had the next book in the series because I didn’t want to wait to find out what happens next. Excellent story, I highly recommend it. While the paperback might not be available, it is available in ebook.
June 7, 2016
I read this book with my twelve year old daughter. She is a huge mystery fan like myself and we are hoping Terry will take us on many more adventures!
April 8, 2017
A fast paced adventure targeted for teens and young adults.
This is definitely a page turner that will keep the reader glued to the story as the plot unravels.
Love the History details and facts that conforms this work.
Note: I received an ARC for review purposes and an honest opinion.
This is definitely a page turner that will keep the reader glued to the story as the plot unravels.
Love the History details and facts that conforms this work.
Note: I received an ARC for review purposes and an honest opinion.
April 16, 2017
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Asp of Ascension clearly has roots in Nancy Drew - but updated for the modern middle schooler to include hunky love interests (in multiples) who fall for the way she smells, her eyes, her hair, etc. Which wouldn't be a bad thing, necessarily, but the harem does get a bit old with all the fawning all over her constantly. Odd pacing made the book feel like a slog - overly long when it wasn't and not really following a cohesive and thoughtful path. If anything, I felt like I was reading a 300 page synopsis - characters go to point A to overhear something, then point B to get a clue to a mystery. Point C is for studly jock to swoon over Nefertari, point D brings in the handsome Egyptian prince, point E introduces long lost childhood sweetheart from Egypt, etc. etc. It bounced around everywhere, never really settling down on any one scene.Story: Nefertari lost her mother in an archeological excavation that also left her with a permanent limp. Now returned home and with the hot Egyptian sun behind her, Nefertari just wants to fit in with normal high schoolers. But the opening of a mysterious sarcophagus at the local museum that could very well be Cleopatra's leads to her father collapsing and fear of an ancient curse coming to life. With new friends at her side, Nefertari's scooby squad will help her solve a decades old mystery of a missing asp bracelet - and perhaps also help save Nefertari's father from the mysterious illness that has him in a coma.
I'll have to be honest - as much as I love ancient Egyptian history, this fell very flat for me. It's all over the place, the Cleopatra references felt really shallow, and the whole story just didn't feel like it could be anything more than made up in an author's mind. Which doesn't mean it was terrible by any means - just that I couldn't get into it at all. It's not a long book but felt like I had already read 800 pages by the 50% mark. Too much bouncing around and boys falling all over themselves to help Nefertari (read: a lot of instaluv). I wish more time had been devoted to the mystery; and that the mystery itself had a much tighter focus instead of wandering around all over the place constantly.
So, although I did not dislike the book, I have to admit that it didn't catch my interest, either. Nothing felt realistic and perhaps I want more than a Scooby Doo level of mystery. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
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