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A Bitter Wind
Can the past be changed without creating a paradox? Does history repeat itself or is that something we tell ourselves to cover our poor choices? When Alexander ‘Ramses’ Smith is assigned to decipher the odd hieroglyphs of the Temple of Khnum—all heka (magic) breaks loose. As a teen, his interest was in metaphysical and sharing psychic experiences with his beloved grandmother. However, when she died, things turned dark when a Ouija Board freed a terrifying entity. He thought he was free of it when he shut his psychic gifts down and began a study of Egyptology—but Shezmu was waiting for him in Esna. Lex (Alexander) found others trapped by the time loop: afret (djinni), the ghost of a former archeologist, Dr. Broderick S. Gillwood, the Neteru (Egyptian gods/goddesses), all conspiring against his scientific training and logical mind. Lex soon realizes there is no choice but to obey the voices in his head and rely on the intuitive gifts he fought so hard to quash. Realizing he can see and sense what others cannot, Lex runs headlong into a past life that puts him dangerously susceptible to the hidden secrets infused in the stone ruins. He must re-define his understanding of the lines between imagination and reality or lose the battle for his mind with the darkness created by blood sorcery and a destiny (shay) he never expected. As the logical mind is confronted by the truth of its past lives and learns the impossible—time entangled by events of unspeakable nature—gods and ghosts demand attention from a young archeologist to face up to the truth of who he is.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2015
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Anita Merrick
2 books1 followerAs a Mystical Author, Anita Merrick is a 3rd generation psychic, retired and living in a wooded area of Erin, NY with her husband, Timothy, and furry children—two West Highland White Terriers and a half-Westie/Cavalier King Charles spaniel. As Crystal Wind (DBA), she is a Psychic Intuitive, Tarot Reader and Medium, an ordained priestess in the Order of Melchizedek. She holds certification as a Tarot Master from the Tarot Certification Board of America. Prior to 1991, she performed as Nehebka, a semi-professional Oriental (belly) dancer; at the same time raised, trained and showed Appaloosa horses. A Bitter Wind, a first novel, comes from a life-long love of Egypt that probably really began in 1988 as a belly dancer and a first trip to Egypt and a performance at the Winter Palace of Luxor. Starting about 1991, her focus went to the paranormal, supernatural and metaphysical, as well as the tarot. That led to the next trip to Egypt (1997) with a group of like-minded friends then a synchronistic connection with Nicky Scully/Shamanic Journeys, Mary K. Greer and Normandi Ellis, Anita returned to deepen an understanding of the mystical. The last trip in 2011 (Shamanic Journeys) most powerfully connected her to the mysteries of Egypt—Like a portal opened into the ancient past, the spirits spoke and their stories became this book.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 12, 2016
KIRKUS REVIEW --
In this debut fantasy, a young archaeologist struggles to decipher a temple’s puzzling hieroglyphics and his own paranormal talents.
The University of Chicago dispatches Alexander “Ramses” Smith—aka Lex—to study a temple in Egypt. Lex arrives via the Nile River in Esna, hoping to perform research valuable enough to secure his doctorate. The Temple of Khnum, however, has proved difficult for archaeologists to study because it’s filled with confusing, supposedly incoherent hieroglyphics. In the bare-bones apartment procured by the university, Lex wonders if professor Orridge has sent him on a fool’s errand. When Lex enters the temple, he acknowledges and explores a curious energy within. Lex’s teenage years were spent under the tutelage of a clairvoyant grandmother, who realized he had gifts worth nurturing, but he doesn’t want to rely on them here. Then, after touching the bas relief of a priest, he starts hearing disembodied voices, including one that says, “Time here looped, curving in upon itself.” Back at the apartment, he remembers the journal of Dr. Broderick Gillwood, which had been slated for destruction until he pilfered it from the university. In a shocking feat of synchronicity, Gillwood also studied the Temple of Khnum, which Lex soon discovers is inhabited by ancient demons called afrets. Merrick conjures a narrative reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft—not thanks to hideous creatures, but because Lex’s story travels inward, through his own paranoia and terror, as much as it moves forward. Esna and the temple itself, described in lavish detail, persist as characters more memorable than some of the people (like the grocer Malik) Lex meets; at one point, the temple “mesmerized with teeming dust particles that sparkled as flecks of tinfoil.” Merrick also displays immense knowledge of Egypt, comparing temples to spiritual batteries and telling readers that they “consisted of multiple structures built over a long period of time, which reflected the evolution of culture and beliefs.” Her greatest success, however, is in isolating the reader alongside her protagonist and toying with both psychologically.
A supernatural fantasy impressive for its subtlety and Egyptian research.
Pub Date: March 16th, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4602-6094-4
Page count: 368pp
Publisher: FriesenPress
Program: Kirkus Indie
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16th, 2016
In this debut fantasy, a young archaeologist struggles to decipher a temple’s puzzling hieroglyphics and his own paranormal talents.
The University of Chicago dispatches Alexander “Ramses” Smith—aka Lex—to study a temple in Egypt. Lex arrives via the Nile River in Esna, hoping to perform research valuable enough to secure his doctorate. The Temple of Khnum, however, has proved difficult for archaeologists to study because it’s filled with confusing, supposedly incoherent hieroglyphics. In the bare-bones apartment procured by the university, Lex wonders if professor Orridge has sent him on a fool’s errand. When Lex enters the temple, he acknowledges and explores a curious energy within. Lex’s teenage years were spent under the tutelage of a clairvoyant grandmother, who realized he had gifts worth nurturing, but he doesn’t want to rely on them here. Then, after touching the bas relief of a priest, he starts hearing disembodied voices, including one that says, “Time here looped, curving in upon itself.” Back at the apartment, he remembers the journal of Dr. Broderick Gillwood, which had been slated for destruction until he pilfered it from the university. In a shocking feat of synchronicity, Gillwood also studied the Temple of Khnum, which Lex soon discovers is inhabited by ancient demons called afrets. Merrick conjures a narrative reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft—not thanks to hideous creatures, but because Lex’s story travels inward, through his own paranoia and terror, as much as it moves forward. Esna and the temple itself, described in lavish detail, persist as characters more memorable than some of the people (like the grocer Malik) Lex meets; at one point, the temple “mesmerized with teeming dust particles that sparkled as flecks of tinfoil.” Merrick also displays immense knowledge of Egypt, comparing temples to spiritual batteries and telling readers that they “consisted of multiple structures built over a long period of time, which reflected the evolution of culture and beliefs.” Her greatest success, however, is in isolating the reader alongside her protagonist and toying with both psychologically.
A supernatural fantasy impressive for its subtlety and Egyptian research.
Pub Date: March 16th, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4602-6094-4
Page count: 368pp
Publisher: FriesenPress
Program: Kirkus Indie
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16th, 2016
August 10, 2015
A Bitter Wind is a debut novel that introduces young archaeologist Alexander Smith, who is trying to come to terms with what sounds to be a fairly overbearing father and a slightly complicated family heritage.
Smith is sent to Egypt rather unexpectedly on a dig; and once there he begins to explain a series of visions and odd events that leads him to question his sanity at first. As times goes on, Smith realizes that the problems may be the result of a latent psychic/medium ability that he had as a child, which his late grandmother had tried to cultivate in him, against her sons’ wishes.
Anita Merrick shows a clear grasp of Egyptian history and the surrounding mythology. The sense of place is well developed; even when the timeline moves around a bit (this isn’t a negative as to the authors writing, but it is about past lives). I would recommend this book to any fan of metaphysical fiction; or those that have an interest in Egyptian mythology.
Smith is sent to Egypt rather unexpectedly on a dig; and once there he begins to explain a series of visions and odd events that leads him to question his sanity at first. As times goes on, Smith realizes that the problems may be the result of a latent psychic/medium ability that he had as a child, which his late grandmother had tried to cultivate in him, against her sons’ wishes.
Anita Merrick shows a clear grasp of Egyptian history and the surrounding mythology. The sense of place is well developed; even when the timeline moves around a bit (this isn’t a negative as to the authors writing, but it is about past lives). I would recommend this book to any fan of metaphysical fiction; or those that have an interest in Egyptian mythology.
July 21, 2015
Immature, self involved and prone to tantrums, Alexander *Ramses* Smith, usually referred to as *Lex* throughout the novel, is a young archaeologist and PhD candidate with something to prove. His professor sends him to an obscure temple in an out of the way corner of Egypt to translate hieroglyphics. In his past is a talent for clairvoyance he shared with his beloved grandmother that is diagnosed as schizophrenia and haunts him to the present day. He's been forced to abandon his love for the metaphysical and embrace science by his domineering and disapproving father. His presence in the temple releases ancient spirits and demons from some astral plane in this suspenseful tale of myth and possession. The author demonstrates an affection and depth of knowledge of Egyptian mythology that frequently left me confused and bewildered in my attempt to keep up. This is the author's first novel and the first of a series...the story is artfully written and a worthy effort.
May 29, 2020
Best book I've read in a while! A cool premise to weave in history with fantasy.
The plot of this book is so complex; I feel like if I said too much in the summary, it may ruin the book for those who are planning on reading this. Anyway, I loved the characters in this book so much. Lex, the main protagonist, was so different from the heroines that I usually read about in books. He is so strong, and I love how he does not hesitate to say anything he pleases, even if it can get him into crazy situations. Dr. Broderick S. Gillwood, I think he is a great role model, and I love him for it.
As I said, the plot was complex; there were so many things that happened. At first, when I started reading this book, I thought I wouldn't understand it because of the number of characters and how the story was divided, but in the end, I did. It was unique; I loved how everything was set up. The writing style in this book is beautiful; I couldn't get over how good it was. It flowed so well; I couldn't stop reading until the very end.
The pacing of this book was amazing; it wasn't too fast or too slow.
I recommend this book for all ages.
The plot of this book is so complex; I feel like if I said too much in the summary, it may ruin the book for those who are planning on reading this. Anyway, I loved the characters in this book so much. Lex, the main protagonist, was so different from the heroines that I usually read about in books. He is so strong, and I love how he does not hesitate to say anything he pleases, even if it can get him into crazy situations. Dr. Broderick S. Gillwood, I think he is a great role model, and I love him for it.
As I said, the plot was complex; there were so many things that happened. At first, when I started reading this book, I thought I wouldn't understand it because of the number of characters and how the story was divided, but in the end, I did. It was unique; I loved how everything was set up. The writing style in this book is beautiful; I couldn't get over how good it was. It flowed so well; I couldn't stop reading until the very end.
The pacing of this book was amazing; it wasn't too fast or too slow.
I recommend this book for all ages.
June 17, 2020
This is an amazing and captivating fantasy story! A Bitter Wind by Anita Merrick is an awesome book, that tells the tale of an archaeologist with psychic powers (although, he tries not to use it) who travels to Egypt to study the confusing hieroglyphics found in the Temple of Khnum. While he is there, he stumbles upon a dangerous mystery about the temple.
Lex is a great character and protagonist because he has a good sense of humor, and his reactions to what was happening were understandable. I enjoyed reading about his character development and how he tried to overcome the challenges thrown at him.
An amazing suspense and fantasy novel that captures your attention the whole time! It's wonderfully written, and the writing style of the author is descriptive. It was a great joy to read it! Can't wait for more!
Lex is a great character and protagonist because he has a good sense of humor, and his reactions to what was happening were understandable. I enjoyed reading about his character development and how he tried to overcome the challenges thrown at him.
An amazing suspense and fantasy novel that captures your attention the whole time! It's wonderfully written, and the writing style of the author is descriptive. It was a great joy to read it! Can't wait for more!
June 17, 2020
This is a great book for fans of fantasy and Egyptology!
I would recommend bibliophiles everywhere to read this masterpiece!
The writing style is extraordinary, and the lines and scenes of this book are all well-researched. It is also impressive that this fantasy book was truly well-written as it depicts the main character as a person of courage and light.
The author has shown Lex’s growth throughout the book- from a clueless and common man to a courageous and responsible person.
The evolution of the story and the vivid description of the paranormal scenes got me hooked in this book. It is not an ordinary fantasy story; it is about facing fears and living a life under your control.
I would love to read this book all over again!
I would recommend bibliophiles everywhere to read this masterpiece!
The writing style is extraordinary, and the lines and scenes of this book are all well-researched. It is also impressive that this fantasy book was truly well-written as it depicts the main character as a person of courage and light.
The author has shown Lex’s growth throughout the book- from a clueless and common man to a courageous and responsible person.
The evolution of the story and the vivid description of the paranormal scenes got me hooked in this book. It is not an ordinary fantasy story; it is about facing fears and living a life under your control.
I would love to read this book all over again!
June 15, 2020
A Bitter Wind by Anita Merrick is a captivating read filled with knowledge about Egyptian heritage and culture! It’s indescribable and amazingly well-written!
The pacing of the story and feelings of the characters were well-planned out, and it was clear that the author had done her research to write an amazing story with Egyptian elements into it.
It might be a bit hard to understand with the Egyptian terms and such, but the book is a worthy read and entertaining!
The concept of the story is new and refreshing! An amazing blend of suspense and fantasy! It was hard to put the book down! This is a book that I would recommend to fellow book lovers!
The pacing of the story and feelings of the characters were well-planned out, and it was clear that the author had done her research to write an amazing story with Egyptian elements into it.
It might be a bit hard to understand with the Egyptian terms and such, but the book is a worthy read and entertaining!
The concept of the story is new and refreshing! An amazing blend of suspense and fantasy! It was hard to put the book down! This is a book that I would recommend to fellow book lovers!
June 15, 2020
It's always difficult to find a good book to read. Some books don't capture your attention for long. However, A Bitter Wind is a book worth reading! The story is exciting, and with many twists and turns, that is hard for a reader to predict or expect.
The book is filled with suspense, and you could sympathize with the protagonist's dilemma. You could also relate to his desire for a normal life after experiencing something terrible and trying to hide a part of himself that is different from others. The book tells us that there are some things we can't control in our lives and that we shouldn't hide.
The book was exciting, and the plot is unique! A worthy read for all!
The book is filled with suspense, and you could sympathize with the protagonist's dilemma. You could also relate to his desire for a normal life after experiencing something terrible and trying to hide a part of himself that is different from others. The book tells us that there are some things we can't control in our lives and that we shouldn't hide.
The book was exciting, and the plot is unique! A worthy read for all!
June 15, 2020
Fascinating! This story is captivating! My pounding heart is filled with awe at the story I read! It’s was amazing with the right amount of suspense and mystery! I couldn’t believe some of the events that took place in the story. It’s was unexpected! It would be amazing if this would be made into a movie!
From the start of Lex's trip to Egypt to the ending where he went inside a shop, it was enthralling! It was well-written, and the emotions shown by the characters were described clearly. I can’t wait for the second book of A Bitter Wind.
This is an amazing book that I would highly recommend to other readers! Fascinating and unique! It’s a worthy read!
From the start of Lex's trip to Egypt to the ending where he went inside a shop, it was enthralling! It was well-written, and the emotions shown by the characters were described clearly. I can’t wait for the second book of A Bitter Wind.
This is an amazing book that I would highly recommend to other readers! Fascinating and unique! It’s a worthy read!
June 17, 2020
From the poetry introduced alone, I knew that the story was going to be epic. Then, I read the first chapter, and I knew I was going to love this book! The story was incredibly well-planned out, and the character development was great! The suspense was thrilling! I couldn’t predict what was going to happen next, and the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger, but there was a promise for more.
From Lex's past and way of thinking to the high presence of Egyptian culture and history, the author planned out her story, and I got to say, it turned out extremely well! The story is captivating and a joy to read! I would recommend this book to other readers!
From Lex's past and way of thinking to the high presence of Egyptian culture and history, the author planned out her story, and I got to say, it turned out extremely well! The story is captivating and a joy to read! I would recommend this book to other readers!
June 17, 2020
What a captivating story! The plot, the characters, the writing style, and the dialogue were well-written! The struggles and dilemma of the characters were exciting and filled with suspense. I was worried and scared for Lex and the others many times.
The emotions I felt were real. I couldn’t wait to turn the page and find out what happens next. It was hard to put the book down!
I had a lot of fun reading this, and the story is great! Kudos to the author for this one! I would really recommend readers everywhere to read this masterpiece!
The emotions I felt were real. I couldn’t wait to turn the page and find out what happens next. It was hard to put the book down!
I had a lot of fun reading this, and the story is great! Kudos to the author for this one! I would really recommend readers everywhere to read this masterpiece!
November 19, 2025
Alexander "Ramses" Smith is a brilliantly complex protagonist. His struggle between logic and intuition, science and the supernatural, unfolds in a way that feels both intimate and epic. As he deciphers the cryptic hieroglyphs of the Temple of Khnum, the story explodes into a whirlwind of ancient gods, restless spirits, time loops, and buried trauma. Each twist adds new layers to a mystery that is as philosophical as it is supernatural.
June 16, 2021
A Bitter Wind: Time Entanglement was quite a journey. A true fantasy and one that I quite enjoyed reading. I like stories with parallel lines.
April 13, 2019
I think this book has potential and some good editing could turn it into a very interesting and enjoyable book.
The main character, Lex, is not very likable and a spend a lot of time remembering his grandma or his overbearing father.
The pace is a bit slow at the beginning and it takes some times before something happen.
When the book starts going it's interesting and I was involved in the plot.
I think that the book should have been part of a series as I think there were some things that remains unsolved. Unfortunately I didn't find the second part and I'd been interested in reading it.
I recommend it to people who like paranormal novel and are interested in Ancient Egypt.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The main character, Lex, is not very likable and a spend a lot of time remembering his grandma or his overbearing father.
The pace is a bit slow at the beginning and it takes some times before something happen.
When the book starts going it's interesting and I was involved in the plot.
I think that the book should have been part of a series as I think there were some things that remains unsolved. Unfortunately I didn't find the second part and I'd been interested in reading it.
I recommend it to people who like paranormal novel and are interested in Ancient Egypt.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
May 18, 2019
A magical journey between Antique Egypt and modern life. A labyrinth between paradoxes and parallels lives.
#ABitterWindTimeEntanglement #NetGalley
#ABitterWindTimeEntanglement #NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews