Eve of the Pharaoh

Era of Shadows #1

by R.M. Schultz

MYSTERY, FORBIDDEN LOVE, AND GRAND ADVENTURE.

The legendary Hall of Records waits, undiscovered since ancient Egypt …

Young Gavin Caywood’s afflicted life has never involved deciphering illusions concealed in shadow and light, unearthing the dead, or exhuming sunken tombs in crocodile-infested waters. Yet Gavin often dreams of what could have been—if only a consuming disease didn’t restrict his aspirations. Instead, fear caused him to pursue what others deemed appropriate, and
he committed an unforgivable mistake. But after receiving a letter from his deceased father, Gavin needs to escape.

Young Horemheb from ancient Egypt also desires to alter fate. He inspires Gavin through a lost tale that spans eons and cultures, weaving their lives together. Frightening enemies, magic, unexpected friendship, betrayal, love, and death emerge at every turn.

But if either of them are to survive, they must choose between life, love, and the revealing of secrets from the ages.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Historical

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2017

About the author

Receive a FREE R.M. Schultz best seller:

https://rmschultzauthor.com/landing-p...

R.M. Schultz is a #1 best-selling author of fantasy and science fiction.

After reading Tolkien, Ryan wrote his first 100,000-word fantasy novel as a freshman in high school. When he’s not saving animals, he continues reading and writing fantasy and science fiction, and has done so for over two decades. Ryan founded and heads the North Seattle Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Group and has published over a dozen novels.

And more than anything, he wants to be knighted by George R.R. Martin.

Reviews

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Adventure + Historical Fiction

Synopsis:
Two young characters in different time frames are in search of answers to many questions. Both seek justice & fairness. One protagonist (Gavin) is at the present time with his love interest Maddie. And the other one (Horemheb) is in ancient Egyptian times who is in love with Nefertiti. Readers go with these two characters & look at the different worlds through their eyes.

Book Structure:
The digital version of the book is 318 pages. There are 62 chapters with each chapter having a headline indicating the time frame of the story. "Present-day" is Gavin's story while "Journal translation" represents Heb's story. The book is well structured & there will not be any confusion while reading which time frame you are in.

Pros:
- Indian Jones vibes: The present-day story definitely gave me the Indiana Jones vibes, especially in the beginning. The chemistry between Gavin & Maddie was really good. I just wish there were more of them in the book. I feel the ancient Egyptian part had more scope. At least this is how I felt.

- I feel the author must have done lots of research regarding ancient Egyptian time. Yes, there are some of the things I'm familiar with but there are many things that I have learned from this section of the book. What I also like is how the author successfully gave the characters of that era lots of human traits be it friendship, loyalty, betrayal, or love.

Cons:
- For me, I am not sure the two stories worked well when told in one book. I understand the message that the author must've wanted to tell here that a human being no matter in what era he lives, will have the same insecurities and vulnerabilities. The present time was a more adventure story while ancient Egypt was more of a historical one. As a reader, I liked both but I had to keep adjusting my mind in and out of the two stories. Whenever I was getting in the mood for a particular story the next chapter starts & would throw me to the next story. This was a bit of a distraction for me. I feel if these two stories were expanded in two separate books it would have worked a lot better.

Final Thought:
Eve of the Pharaoh has been on my TBR for a long time. Finally, I was able to get into it. If you are a fan of adventure and historical books pick it up. However, I would recommend you to read the stories separately. I feel I would have liked it more if I did that.

Many thanks to Goodreads, Amazon, and the publishers for providing me a free digital copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

This is a little hard to follow jumps in the story line cause some confusion. The story is not bad and has the opportunity too become great once the author finds his rhythm. Looking forward to the next book in this series to see how far the author has come in his writing. Chances are he will do just fine.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great fast-paced read. I enjoyed the imagery of ancient Egypt the author creates, you get a real sense of living in that time as well as a dive into its mythology. It goes well above and beyond the cliché stories of a hero being chased around by a mummy - which is not this story at all. The book has a great blend of mystery, suspense, horror and fantasy. The dual stories of Gavin and Horemheb that take place in both ancient Egypt and in modern time is a very unique approach and cleverly shows differences and even unexpected similarities, in the cultures and our perceptions over the passage of time.

Perhaps the thing I liked the most about the book, are the characters. My biggest complaint about most books/movies coming out these days is that, while they have plenty of action, the characters are largely dull, lifeless and just plain unrealistic. This story definitely has great action, but I also found myself caring about the characters and what they were struggling through.

I thoroughly enjoyed the antagonist character of Akhenaten, someone that you love to hate, much like I did with Joffrey and Ramsey in Game of Thrones or Negan in The Walking Dead.

For overall story comparisons, I think those who are fans of the Harry Potter series would like this book, it also in some ways reminded me of The Princess Bride. I can’t wait for the 2nd volume to be released!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story brings the magic of ancient Egypt to life, intertwined with a modern tale of physical and self exploration and discovery-including lost monuments and tombs that are still waiting, buried. The ancient story is based on history and archaeology, and I found myself immersed in a world that I had before barely understood, one where magic and reality blend together. I found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't reading, and long after I'd read the book. I recommend it to anyone seeking an adventure!

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[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It starts hitting the ground running and is never ending adventure. There was never a boring chapter, it only kept getting more and more climactic as it went on. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Egypt and fantasy. It was a great read.

[Steve Alcorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve of the Pharoah is an exciting and deftly written adventure story that incorporates archaeology, history and magic in a tale that will engage readers from the very first page. Schultz has created a young hero readers will instantly relate to and cheer on as he explores the mysteries of Ancient Egypt and braves the dangers of the modern world.

[Laura Veals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Have you ever thought that looking to the past may help you find your future?

“I was only one of millions, a tiny part of an infinite whole. How could I ever hope to accomplish anything?” –Eve of the Pharoah, RM Schultz

Eve of the Pharaoh follows the story of two young people living parallel struggles, in search of answers and justice, while seeking to overcome large obstacles—both personal and on a larger scale. They both discover that the people in their lives may not be who they seem, at times enduring heartbreak and the sting of betrayal.

“I’m done judging by appearances,” I whispered. “I’ve seen the most beautiful thing in the entire world and the most hideous.” The dwarves’ eyebrows rose as they exchanged a glance. “They can both still hide the same insides,” I said. –Eve of the Pharaoh, RM Schultz

Enduring gut-wrenching loss and the weight of defeat, the characters take us through their own journeys, embracing change and discovering the extraordinary power one can possess to change circumstances.

“Have you seen the monarch butterfly? They float over the shimmering waters of the river, bringing vibrant colors, beauty, and elegance to our world. But even these creatures begin life as a dark worm. They must transform within a suffocating cocoon before revealing their true magnificence.”

Overall, the flow is an interesting ping-pong style linear adventure, which provides quick movement and prevents stagnation. The end of each chapter, in the beloved style of an adventure series, leaves the reader with a cliff-hanger. As the book moves, the parallel stories increasingly switch back and forth, creating an emotional crescendo for the reader as they now are invested in both protagonists.

One aspect I struggled with was some of the vocabulary used in the historical protagonist’s diary. There were occasional modern terms and slang that seemed unrealistic for a young slave at this time. While it is a ‘translation’ from a diary, it is unlikely that these words or vocal intonations would be used. On occasion, there were almost identical phrases or vocal timbre (both frequently have a staccato-like reaction when they realize someone is in trouble and a character’s name is used followed by an exclamation mark) used between both the historical and modern main characters. While they do in fact have a parallel experience, their voices would likely not be reflected identically. I think an opportunity to create unique voices for both characters exist, which will hopefully create more distinct identities.

Lovers of adventure, history, and drama will enjoy this book.

Due to some sexually suggestive content, I would recommend it for readers older than 16.

[KarnagesMistress]

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is a Kindle book.

[Lavender]

Placeholder

I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily pulled into the story and become engrossed into what occurs. Good characters that keep you wanting more and positive resolutions to the many challenges faced by each set of characters. Big disappointment for me (and reason for only 4 stars) is that the book provides only the beginning of the story and readers are left hanging without any answers. I was not aware that Era of Shadows #1 was a multi part story rather than different adventures for the series characters. If there is any information regarding time frame for release of #2, please post. Recommended reading.

Note: Received copy of book through a Goodreads give a way.

[Neisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this for free through a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

In the beginning, I was not too impressed with the story and how it played out. I thought that the character development was not quite to par and that the jumping perspective was a bit confusing. However, about 25% of the way through the story I started to get sucked in. The author definitely knows their information on Ancient Egypt and how to use it to create an enticing story for a reader who may or may not have any knowledge of Ancient Egypt.
This is one of those books where you will either love it or not like it at all. I really enjoyed reading it, and I appreciate the time that the author took on developing this story.

[Echizero Rincewind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical fantasy story.
First time my eyes laid on it I thought it was a historical fiction. And it is ... mostly.
Nothing against it, just not what I was looking for.
Several facts, most of them I already knew, and a lot of "may be", "perhaps" or "what if".

But then I read several other books from the same writer, which are very good fantasy, and learned this is the first of a trilogy: "Era of Shadows". That's a completely different perspective. The series must be fantasy. In fact this is a fantasy book

There are swords (more spears) and sorcery, but that is not its genre.
You could say it is ancient urban fantasy.

And yet, it's far from the typical fantasy story. It's clearly in the way of what is usually called "the hero's journey". Though the issue is more internal growth than physical journey, and the main character is not a hero, but in his dreams.

Good descriptions and clearly built characters, both in the past and in the present lead you through two stories that seem quite simple at the begining, but become more and more complex.

Having two stories in the same book may be a problem for some readers (not me), be aware of it.

Though the fantasy part is not very strong (yet) there is adventure, danger and mystery enough to get you hooked since the start. And, almost at the end, an unexpected twist left you in a cliffhanger end wich makes a promise of a darker and pretty more fantasy second book.

I told you, it is the first in a trilogy and reading it alone has no sense, but it left me eager to fulfill the whole journey and I will.

I know, a promise is not enough, but it is a leap of faith. The writer worth it.

See you in the next stop.

[Amy Jackman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Potential spoilers ahead - but not major ones.
I struggled with this book a little. Not because it wasn't an interesting concept, but it seemed very jumpy at times and there were moments I struggled to figure out what was happening.
It centres around two main characters facing challenges thousands of years apart. The present day storyline is great, even if the character of Mr Scalone doesn't quite add up.

However, the Ancient Egypt storyline was quite jumpy and hard to follow at times. I struggled to figure out the timeline or where things were taking place. For example, it seems like he was only in the cave/jail for a couple of weeks, but suddenly a couple of chapters later Nefertiti has a baby (without anyone mentioning she was pregnant) and is married (before or after baby?).
Gossip was just as prevalent in ancient times so the main character not knowing about these events seemed weird. Also there was no real explanation of how Akhenaten seemed to know it was his servant other than vague magic references. Maybe this will be in the next book.

I will read the next installment because the storyline is good and hopefully the next one will be a bit less jumpy.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway a while back. This is the first book in the series and the first thing by the author that I've read.

The flow and pacing of the book were pretty good, however occasionally I felt like I missed something. After reviewing the previous pages it didn't appear that I had. The characters are well developed and I don't think there is any way to interrupt them except the way the author intended (one character is a bully and a braggart, and you can tell that from the start). I felt a little like I was watching the Princess Bride where they keep jumping out of the story to tell you what is happening to the people reading the story. While I get why the book is done that way it didn't make the people reading the story very interesting to me. I much preferred the story taking place in ancient Egypt. The ending leaves a LOT hanging and I hope that the second book wraps things up better. I will eventually read the next book in the series once I get caught up with my to read list.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning This first book of the series ends in a cliffhanger that is addressed in the sequel. We have two young lads whose futures have been forever changed. young Gavin Caywood’s afflicted life has never involved his real dreams, due to a body that is shriveling, he decides study and work at jobs others thought he was capable of; leaving himself to dream at might of what he thought he could have been Now Young Horemheb from ancient Egypt also desires to alter fate. He inspires Gavin through a lost tale weaving that tale over the eons and eventually weaving their lives together. Once joined the face frightening enemies, magic, unexpected friendship, betrayal, love, and death at each and every turn. But if either of them are to survive, they must choose between life, love, and the revealing of secrets from the ages. A unique and thrilling tale, that will be enjoyed by all ages. I received this novel through BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review.

[Erick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think these are spoilers but you've been warned!

I normally don't take the time to write reviews (my bad I know), but sometimes you just read something that leaves you wanting to vent or whatever.

The story has 2 main characters of sorts, on the one hand you have one who's trying to overcome the situation and reality in which he was born and you sorta accept his issues thinking "that was their world".

The other one's a sickly guy (nothing bad there, it was no surprise), but he has so many issues, insecurities and BOTH make sooo many mistakes out of unrequited love and by trying to impress someone! At times you just want to shake them telling them to snap out of it!

You usually have to read several chapters in a book to start liking or identifying with the characters,m at some point I was wondering when that would happen and realized was already at 50%...

[Dani Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabs your attention right from the start. It starts action-packed and suspenseful and does not stop.

The characters are very engaging, especially Gavin. I adored his relatable day-dreams and felt sympathetic to his past and present emotions. Especially one of his past stories, which made me cringe when I read it, as if I was experiencing it with Gavin.

The story is creative and detailed, so that you feel as if you are there with the characters through all their adventures.

I have always loved ancient Egypt, the author really brings it to life, both in the past and in the present. The author knows his Egypt, from modern excavation sites, to the respected deities, and to the purpose of pharaohs and more.

I am excited for the next book, as this one leaves you with some cliff hangers.

I recommend this book if you are up for an adventure!

[R.M. Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first novel I took all the way to publication.

So, so many edits and nearly a half dozen editors in the mix and a dozen beta readers. Over 5 years, and tons of working hours, it finally paid off to get my first publication under my belt. The next came so much easier after this initiation (although this book was already the third novel I'd written - the first two will never see the light of day).

Did I mention 6 months of solid research about ancient Egypt, its people, and its architecture and art? Reading text books, interviews, travel, etc.

The story eventually came together well if you can stomach the cliffhanger ending in the first novel of the series. The three books are one entire story of the lives in ancient Egypt and had to be broken up and stopped somewhere or a single book would be like a Stephen King novel at over 1,000 pages.

[Serena Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing and new adventure story that stands out from the crowd and overused topics in young adult books. I've been an avid book reader my whole life, and it's pretty rare that I don't know where a story is going or what the characters are going to do next. That unpredictability combined with a new setting of ancient Egypt kept me intrigued until the end. The beginning is a little slow as the reader is introduced to all the characters and their worlds, but it quickly picks up speed and intensity and before you know it you're hurtling towards the end of the book and wanting more.

[K Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like action/adventure and historical fiction novels and this novel was a perfect blend of both! ancient egypt is not a time period i know a lot about and this book got me interested in doing a bit more research into the time period, which was really interesting. i enjoyed the juxtaposition of the present day story alongside the past and the characters are very well written. excited for the next book!

[Timarie Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first novel by this author, yet he writes in a way that makes you want to keep getting to the next page. There are two stories woven together seamlessly. If you love historical fiction, especially ancient Egypt, you will love this book. There is never a lull in the book, and it held my interest from beginning to end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Jennifer Malenius · Rating 4 out of 5]

What?! The ending slays me

I was immersed in the story of ancient Egypt. The characters were so well written that you feel you understand them. The present day story was not as intriguing on its own but still integral to the overall story. Can't say any details about the end but it's surprising.
I won this on a goodreads.com giveaway.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre and boring.

There is interesting elements from the history of Egypt. However, it is poorly written, with weak sentences and development. A string of facts around poorly developed characters.

[Virginia Ingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable page turner

I loved the characters I did not want to put the book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

[Vernon James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scattered

The parallel stories never came together in a coherent manner. The prose is juvenile and scattered. Fascinating stories that deserve better writing style.

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, with wonderfully detailed scenes of life in ancient Egypt.

[Serena Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical adventure into another world and time, Ancient Egypt. Schultz develops characters that are believable and authentic from their desires to their flaws that leaves you rooting for everyone!

[Tommie Sebastian]

Just blah

[Jenna Littlewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A faced paced read with an exciting adventure through Ancient Egypt that has it all. History, magic, love. You can feel the mysterious of the tomb take over as you read page after page. Before you know it, its over and your left cussing waiting for book two.

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from good reads in the Kindle version. I think this book could be interesting as a young adult adventure book but it did not hold my interest partially due to the writing style. DNF