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La Vengeance des Dieux #1
Manhunt
Egypt, 528 BC. Kel, a young scribe recently hired by the prestigious Guild of Interpreter, arrives at work one morning to find the entire staff slaughtered. He flees in panic, taking with him the mysterious coded papyrus his colleagues had been deciphering. Thus he becomes prime suspect at the centre of an intrigue of State. For Egypt is at a turning point in her history. The throne has been usurped by Pharaoh Amasis, an idle drunkard interested only in forging an alliance with Greece, blind to the disturbing shadow of the Persians taking shape on the country's borders. The court is riven by intrigues and betrayals. Alone, pursued both by the conspirators who have framed him and the Egyptian police, Kel realizes that if he is to prove his innocence, he must uncover the secrets of the papyrus. But can he survive long enough to crack the code?
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2006
About the author
Christian Jacq
233 books964 followersAlso writes under the names Célestin Valois, J.B. Livingstone, and Christopher Carter.
Christian Jacq is a French author and Egyptologist. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book suite about pharaoh Ramses II, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.
Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, and read History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. He first visited Egypt when he was seventeen, went on to study Egyptology and archaeology at the Sorbonne, and is now one of the world's leading Egyptologists.
By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was Champollion the Egyptian, published in 1987. As of 2004 he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology.
He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites.
Between 1995-1997, he published his best selling five book suite Ramsès, which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramesses' known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit.
Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has Isetnofret (Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their death, gets married to Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramesses only three biological children: Kha'emweset, Meritamen (she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and Merneptah. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".
Christian Jacq is a French author and Egyptologist. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book suite about pharaoh Ramses II, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.
Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, and read History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. He first visited Egypt when he was seventeen, went on to study Egyptology and archaeology at the Sorbonne, and is now one of the world's leading Egyptologists.
By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was Champollion the Egyptian, published in 1987. As of 2004 he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology.
He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites.
Between 1995-1997, he published his best selling five book suite Ramsès, which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramesses' known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit.
Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has Isetnofret (Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their death, gets married to Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramesses only three biological children: Kha'emweset, Meritamen (she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and Merneptah. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 23, 2012
This book was given to me for free when I bought 2 other books from the same collection. I'd heard about this author but this is the first book I read. This is the first volume of the series La Vengeance des Dieux but I won't be reading the second one.
The characters are too unidimensional and don't act like real people. The hero is, in my opinion, pretty stupid and keeps getting saved by Deus Ex Machina, which to me is lazy writing. The mystery could be interesting but the story is very repetitive, linear and quite naive. And don't even get me started on the psychic, super smart donkey!
I'm not a specialist of ancient Egypt so I don't know if the depiction of the government and everyday life is accurate. However, it seems to me that this "antic whodunit" could take place anywhere at anytime, and it would still be overly simplistic.
The characters are too unidimensional and don't act like real people. The hero is, in my opinion, pretty stupid and keeps getting saved by Deus Ex Machina, which to me is lazy writing. The mystery could be interesting but the story is very repetitive, linear and quite naive. And don't even get me started on the psychic, super smart donkey!
I'm not a specialist of ancient Egypt so I don't know if the depiction of the government and everyday life is accurate. However, it seems to me that this "antic whodunit" could take place anywhere at anytime, and it would still be overly simplistic.
June 22, 2013
It starts well but the writing style is very limited and doesn't lend itself to a book of this length. Lots of 4 page chapters full of stunted, unrealistic dialogue, and ridiculous characters who are completely one dimensional makes for a boring read.
It all gets very silly when a DONKEY is introduced as a main character, "allergic to lawmen" so it can sense hostile guards hiding in barrels...it even leads a posse of rebellious animals "as their recognised leader" (!) to create a diversion for the protagonist. Really, I'm not making this up, it's ridiculous!
At that point I gave up. Farcical.
It all gets very silly when a DONKEY is introduced as a main character, "allergic to lawmen" so it can sense hostile guards hiding in barrels...it even leads a posse of rebellious animals "as their recognised leader" (!) to create a diversion for the protagonist. Really, I'm not making this up, it's ridiculous!
At that point I gave up. Farcical.
April 3, 2024
A mi me ha gustado el libro, y me encanta Bebon. Creo que pocas personas pueden arriesgarse tanto por un amigo.
(Y los sipeo entre Kel y Bebon.)
(Y los sipeo entre Kel y Bebon.)
October 17, 2008
Hm... I can't say that I liked this book greatly. I haven't found the atmosphere of Ancient Egypt in it. Though Bebon is a rather interesting character.
August 27, 2026
We all need a friend like Bebon!! He's my favourite character.
You get pulled into the story right away, it's well paced, the mystery builds up nicely and the romance does not detract from the plot. I'm off to volume 2.
You get pulled into the story right away, it's well paced, the mystery builds up nicely and the romance does not detract from the plot. I'm off to volume 2.
September 14, 2026
Neste volume começa a aventura de Kel e Nitis contra o mal, com um aliado improvável e um magnífico burro.
April 7, 2013
Manhunt Review
The book I read was Manhunt by Christian Jacq and I chose the book not as something I wanted to read but more of something that I found coincidentally found in my house and thought it would do. The setting takes place within around 530B.C. in Ancient Egypt, where a scribe who works for the interpreters Secretariat named Kel lives. The job of the secretariat is to decipher coded messages that are sent to Egypt from neighboring county’s especially from Egypt’s friend at the time; Greece. Kel arrives to work one morning to find his colleagues dead except for him and Demos a Greek working there. He finds a papyrus left for him in the rubble and it is coded. With hesitation Kel runs away and soon finds it to be a very bad decision. With a great need for peace in Egypt the law is taken very seriously and is thus taken with great care. The authorities soon come to believe that the only solution to the killings is through Kel, and thus Kel must now prove his innocence and regain his freedom. Through most of the story Kel tries countless ways in which to prove his innocence but with a blinded judge who is on the case, it is hard to convince anyone with the power to set him free as an innocent man. With the help of a priestess Nitis and Actor Bebon he scours the country finding a way to decode the papyrus and hopefully escape his death sentence. Soon Kel’s journey takes a turn as he soon finds he is involved in something that could turn the tides of Egypt and it’s future. Overall, I found the book lacking depth and was frankly not filled with enough originality. Near the end of the book I found it disappointing because it seemed that the author sped up the ending and with it, came sloppy and un-detailed writing. I soon realized there is a second book afterwards, but with the un-detailed ending it did not convince me to get the second book. Overall, I found the book to meet my basic needs as to entertaining me over the spring break but as an in-depth book I would not find it to be so. I would not recommend this book to someone unless they like reading easy books, like I do and are into Ancient Egypt and history in general, which I am. The author was an Egyptologist and I think he wanted to create a book that didn’t necessarily follow historical fact and wanted to make a book that shared what life would be like in the case of someone in Egypt at the time. I noticed that there were footnotes at the bottom of some of the pages explaining more about something that was said, which was helpful and interesting. In the end I would say it is not the worst book I have ever read but it did not fulfill my interest into reading it more besides the fact that it was a school assignment.
The book I read was Manhunt by Christian Jacq and I chose the book not as something I wanted to read but more of something that I found coincidentally found in my house and thought it would do. The setting takes place within around 530B.C. in Ancient Egypt, where a scribe who works for the interpreters Secretariat named Kel lives. The job of the secretariat is to decipher coded messages that are sent to Egypt from neighboring county’s especially from Egypt’s friend at the time; Greece. Kel arrives to work one morning to find his colleagues dead except for him and Demos a Greek working there. He finds a papyrus left for him in the rubble and it is coded. With hesitation Kel runs away and soon finds it to be a very bad decision. With a great need for peace in Egypt the law is taken very seriously and is thus taken with great care. The authorities soon come to believe that the only solution to the killings is through Kel, and thus Kel must now prove his innocence and regain his freedom. Through most of the story Kel tries countless ways in which to prove his innocence but with a blinded judge who is on the case, it is hard to convince anyone with the power to set him free as an innocent man. With the help of a priestess Nitis and Actor Bebon he scours the country finding a way to decode the papyrus and hopefully escape his death sentence. Soon Kel’s journey takes a turn as he soon finds he is involved in something that could turn the tides of Egypt and it’s future. Overall, I found the book lacking depth and was frankly not filled with enough originality. Near the end of the book I found it disappointing because it seemed that the author sped up the ending and with it, came sloppy and un-detailed writing. I soon realized there is a second book afterwards, but with the un-detailed ending it did not convince me to get the second book. Overall, I found the book to meet my basic needs as to entertaining me over the spring break but as an in-depth book I would not find it to be so. I would not recommend this book to someone unless they like reading easy books, like I do and are into Ancient Egypt and history in general, which I am. The author was an Egyptologist and I think he wanted to create a book that didn’t necessarily follow historical fact and wanted to make a book that shared what life would be like in the case of someone in Egypt at the time. I noticed that there were footnotes at the bottom of some of the pages explaining more about something that was said, which was helpful and interesting. In the end I would say it is not the worst book I have ever read but it did not fulfill my interest into reading it more besides the fact that it was a school assignment.
October 19, 2018
Manhunt-The Vengeance of the Gods by Christian Jacq
Rating:2,5/5 stars
Synopsis:
Kel works as an Interpreter for the Royal court. When he finds his colleagues murdered, he flees, but not without retrieving a mysterious papyrus nobody can read. He wants to prove his innocence, by deciphering the secrets of the papyrus.
My thoughts:
The beginning was very interesting and packed with action. It made me curious.
But after the first half (and this is generous) it became repetitive and boring. Nothing worked and their actions became more and more idiotic. There were no twists that hooked me, just a character running from one point to another without accomplishing anything.
Kel sounded interesting in the beginning, but I seriously doubted his intelligence during the second half. He was so naïve and still believed they wouldn’t try to kill him when he shows up with some proof… The other characters were rather obscure and some of them actually encourage Kel`s stupidity!
I liked the world! I really enjoyed reading a book with an Egyptian setting, especially since I love their culture so much! I loved how he portrays the shocked Greeks, every time they realised that women have rights in Egypt. I loved how he portrays the religion and politics and how they all influence each other!
The style was not that amazing. The donkey was like a Deus Ex Machina and always appeared, when the protagonist would have died otherwise. It always knew the safest way and can literally sniff their opponents…Some dialogues and chapters were ridiculous and unnecessary, since they didn’t add anything, besides some weird discussion, that wasn’t really a discussion at all. Adding to that the rather bland descriptions of the surroundings and emotions, it just couldn’t convince me.
Another thing I’d like to mention is, that this author doesn’t start a new paragraph when changing the Point of View, no, it all happens from one sentence to the next.
While I loved the setting, I just didn’t get along with the characters and the story, so this book earns two and a half stars.
Rating:2,5/5 stars
Synopsis:
Kel works as an Interpreter for the Royal court. When he finds his colleagues murdered, he flees, but not without retrieving a mysterious papyrus nobody can read. He wants to prove his innocence, by deciphering the secrets of the papyrus.
My thoughts:
The beginning was very interesting and packed with action. It made me curious.
But after the first half (and this is generous) it became repetitive and boring. Nothing worked and their actions became more and more idiotic. There were no twists that hooked me, just a character running from one point to another without accomplishing anything.
Kel sounded interesting in the beginning, but I seriously doubted his intelligence during the second half. He was so naïve and still believed they wouldn’t try to kill him when he shows up with some proof… The other characters were rather obscure and some of them actually encourage Kel`s stupidity!
I liked the world! I really enjoyed reading a book with an Egyptian setting, especially since I love their culture so much! I loved how he portrays the shocked Greeks, every time they realised that women have rights in Egypt. I loved how he portrays the religion and politics and how they all influence each other!
The style was not that amazing. The donkey was like a Deus Ex Machina and always appeared, when the protagonist would have died otherwise. It always knew the safest way and can literally sniff their opponents…Some dialogues and chapters were ridiculous and unnecessary, since they didn’t add anything, besides some weird discussion, that wasn’t really a discussion at all. Adding to that the rather bland descriptions of the surroundings and emotions, it just couldn’t convince me.
Another thing I’d like to mention is, that this author doesn’t start a new paragraph when changing the Point of View, no, it all happens from one sentence to the next.
While I loved the setting, I just didn’t get along with the characters and the story, so this book earns two and a half stars.
October 19, 2021
Oamenii trădaseră iarăşi.
De cele mai multe ori, apusul aducea clipe de pace şi seninătate. Dar astă-seară soarele era roşu ca sângele, iar Divina Adoratoare simţi cum i se strânge inima.
Domnind peste oraşul sfânt Karnak, preoteasa împlinea ritualurile regale, înălţa edificii şi cârmuia un grup de credincioşi pe care faraonul Amasis, deşi îndrăgea cultura greacă, îl respecta. Încă de la întemeierea dinastiei saite[1], Egiptul de Jos se deschidea spre lumea din afară şi accepta pe zi ce trecea decăderea idealurilor şi a obiceiurilor.
Dându-şi seama pe de-a-ntregul de gravitatea împrejurărilor, Divina Adoratoare încerca să apere valorile moştenite de la străbunii întemeietori. Doar respectarea temeinică a ritualului ferea încă ţara de haos şi, în această privinţă, o cât de mică neatenţie ar fi avut urmări cumplite. Aşa că cerea seriozitate deplină din partea ritualiştilor şi a slujitorilor ei, devotaţi cu toţii soţiei pământene a zeului ascuns Amon.
Dar acest echilibru firav păstrat la Theba ameninţa să se strice, căci soarele dogoritor vestea o perioadă grea.
Neputând să îndure nici rătăcirile, nici nevolnicia oamenilor, zeii nu vor întârzia să se răzbune. Însă, chiar şi în toiul furtunii, Divina Adoratoare va ţine piept vitregiilor până în ultima clipă.
Fără să schimbe cu nimic obiceiurile sau cuvenita celebrare a sărbătorilor şi a ritualurilor, va aştepta. Vântul nenorocirii îi va aduce oameni dornici să lupte cu soarta potrivnică şi să înlăture urgia. Iar dacă se vor dovedi vrednici, ea le va oferi comoara adăpostită la Karnak.
Dar oare, graţie comorii, vor scăpa de răzbunarea zeilor?
De cele mai multe ori, apusul aducea clipe de pace şi seninătate. Dar astă-seară soarele era roşu ca sângele, iar Divina Adoratoare simţi cum i se strânge inima.
Domnind peste oraşul sfânt Karnak, preoteasa împlinea ritualurile regale, înălţa edificii şi cârmuia un grup de credincioşi pe care faraonul Amasis, deşi îndrăgea cultura greacă, îl respecta. Încă de la întemeierea dinastiei saite[1], Egiptul de Jos se deschidea spre lumea din afară şi accepta pe zi ce trecea decăderea idealurilor şi a obiceiurilor.
Dându-şi seama pe de-a-ntregul de gravitatea împrejurărilor, Divina Adoratoare încerca să apere valorile moştenite de la străbunii întemeietori. Doar respectarea temeinică a ritualului ferea încă ţara de haos şi, în această privinţă, o cât de mică neatenţie ar fi avut urmări cumplite. Aşa că cerea seriozitate deplină din partea ritualiştilor şi a slujitorilor ei, devotaţi cu toţii soţiei pământene a zeului ascuns Amon.
Dar acest echilibru firav păstrat la Theba ameninţa să se strice, căci soarele dogoritor vestea o perioadă grea.
Neputând să îndure nici rătăcirile, nici nevolnicia oamenilor, zeii nu vor întârzia să se răzbune. Însă, chiar şi în toiul furtunii, Divina Adoratoare va ţine piept vitregiilor până în ultima clipă.
Fără să schimbe cu nimic obiceiurile sau cuvenita celebrare a sărbătorilor şi a ritualurilor, va aştepta. Vântul nenorocirii îi va aduce oameni dornici să lupte cu soarta potrivnică şi să înlăture urgia. Iar dacă se vor dovedi vrednici, ea le va oferi comoara adăpostită la Karnak.
Dar oare, graţie comorii, vor scăpa de răzbunarea zeilor?
August 4, 2022
Fugarul este prima carte pe care o citesc scrisa de acest autor.
Sunt fan numarul 1 a tot ce tine de cultura Egipteana.
In urma lecturii acestei carti am ramas profund impresionata.
Sincer am crezut ca va fi istorie, insa nu a fost asta in totalitate.
De la primele pagini facem cunostinta cu tanarul Kel, ultimul scrib venit de putin timp in Casa talmacilor.
Dupa o bauta, in urmatoarea zi ajunge cu intarziere la servici si.si gaseste colegii morti.
De ce au fost ucisi toti scribii?
Pentru ca acestia au aflat de complotul impotriva faraonului si evident trebuiau redusi la tacere.
Cine este principalul suspect?
Evident el....ce se va alege din Kel?
Va fi prins, va fi judecat?
In acest prim volum el fuge din calea judecatorului, dar in acelasi timp incearca sa.si dovedeasca nevinovatia.
Cum se va descurca cand toti il considera vinovat?
Are mare noroc de Nitis care il ajuta si de care se indragosteste.
O carte care te plaseaza in Egipt, unde m.am cam pierdut in nume de preoti, scribi, zei si faraoni.
Chiar si asa tot 5 stele ii ofer.
Abia astept sa citesc vol 2.
Sunt fan numarul 1 a tot ce tine de cultura Egipteana.
In urma lecturii acestei carti am ramas profund impresionata.
Sincer am crezut ca va fi istorie, insa nu a fost asta in totalitate.
De la primele pagini facem cunostinta cu tanarul Kel, ultimul scrib venit de putin timp in Casa talmacilor.
Dupa o bauta, in urmatoarea zi ajunge cu intarziere la servici si.si gaseste colegii morti.
De ce au fost ucisi toti scribii?
Pentru ca acestia au aflat de complotul impotriva faraonului si evident trebuiau redusi la tacere.
Cine este principalul suspect?
Evident el....ce se va alege din Kel?
Va fi prins, va fi judecat?
In acest prim volum el fuge din calea judecatorului, dar in acelasi timp incearca sa.si dovedeasca nevinovatia.
Cum se va descurca cand toti il considera vinovat?
Are mare noroc de Nitis care il ajuta si de care se indragosteste.
O carte care te plaseaza in Egipt, unde m.am cam pierdut in nume de preoti, scribi, zei si faraoni.
Chiar si asa tot 5 stele ii ofer.
Abia astept sa citesc vol 2.
July 29, 2024
Manhunt by Christian Jacq is a mystery triller set in ancient Egypt. Kel the scribe is given a papyrus with a mysterious code upon it which he is unable to sypher. Whatever is written on the scroll is worth dying for. While Kel is in a back room working to decode the scroll, the rest of the scribes are poisoned, and all fingers point to the survivor. Now Kel must clear his name and discover what is written on the papyrus, unraveling a plot that goes all the way to the throne.
Honestly, this book fell flat. The main characters are all naive and unrealistic. The lawmen are all quick to action and have absolutely no hard evidence. Everything is very circumstantial, and that makes for a lot of very dumb choices on their part. The book itself reads very awkwardly with juvenile sentence structure. This might be because it was translated from French, but it still does not make for an enjoyable reading experience. It's long and repetitive. I expected more from an Egyptologist. Instead, I was just bored.
Honestly, this book fell flat. The main characters are all naive and unrealistic. The lawmen are all quick to action and have absolutely no hard evidence. Everything is very circumstantial, and that makes for a lot of very dumb choices on their part. The book itself reads very awkwardly with juvenile sentence structure. This might be because it was translated from French, but it still does not make for an enjoyable reading experience. It's long and repetitive. I expected more from an Egyptologist. Instead, I was just bored.
October 30, 2021
Christian Jacq has two foremost elements going for him in the 'Vengeance of the Gods' series.
First is his familiarity with antiquity era Egypt, Egyptian esotericism and Pharaonic history.
Second is his reputation as a leading authority on all things Egypt.
Unfortunately, besides these two he offers us a lacklustre dribble of unnuanced 'when worlds collide' cliches with 'Manhunt.' We have our protagonist Kel, a scribe in training framed for murder in a greater game in which he is an unwitting pawn, his friend an actor and a sex-doll priestess. Then we have evil Greeks, avaricious Persians and a beset Pharaoh thrown in for the mix.
This novel lacks any bait to hook in the reader. It does offer a few tantalizing 'turn the page' moments but these are few and far-in-between. This is not Jacq at his best but at his apathetic. A disappointing read.
First is his familiarity with antiquity era Egypt, Egyptian esotericism and Pharaonic history.
Second is his reputation as a leading authority on all things Egypt.
Unfortunately, besides these two he offers us a lacklustre dribble of unnuanced 'when worlds collide' cliches with 'Manhunt.' We have our protagonist Kel, a scribe in training framed for murder in a greater game in which he is an unwitting pawn, his friend an actor and a sex-doll priestess. Then we have evil Greeks, avaricious Persians and a beset Pharaoh thrown in for the mix.
This novel lacks any bait to hook in the reader. It does offer a few tantalizing 'turn the page' moments but these are few and far-in-between. This is not Jacq at his best but at his apathetic. A disappointing read.
December 27, 2021
This book ends mid way through the the story. You have to buy the second book if you want to know the solution. Which is a disappointment, I hate books that do that. And to be honest I can't be bothered to read the second book to find out.
The writing is not particularly good, and the dialogue stilted (is this the translation?) though the first half was ok for an historical light read - say if you were sat by the pool, and I enjoyed the insight into life in ancient Egypt. But the fact it ends so abruptly renders it a little pointless - if you read a whodunnit, you want to know whodunnit don't you?
The writing is not particularly good, and the dialogue stilted (is this the translation?) though the first half was ok for an historical light read - say if you were sat by the pool, and I enjoyed the insight into life in ancient Egypt. But the fact it ends so abruptly renders it a little pointless - if you read a whodunnit, you want to know whodunnit don't you?
March 10, 2018
Una historia donde el autor nos cuenta hechos reales mezclados con la historia de Kel. Los personajes me gustaron con sus virtudes y defectos pero cada uno luchando por lo que cree, Kel, Bebo, Nitis, el faraón e incluso el asno Viento del Norte que tiene unos momentos únicos, te acercan a una cultura milenaria llena de rituales y tradiciones que me parecen interesantes y que desconocía. Leeré el Segundo para saber que pasa con Kel y los traidores. Una lectura diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada pero que me gustó.
November 5, 2019
Sempre gostei imenso de romance histórico, em especial nos tempos do antigo Egipto. No entanto, achei que este livro de Jacq deixou algo a desejar...
A escrita é algo básica e está carregada de exclamações, o que me causou um certo nervoso.
Os personagens revelam-se unidimensionais e a narrativa carece de alguma verosimilhança em diversos acontecimentos.
Contudo, deu para sentir alguma da magia do antigo Egipto e ficou o interesse em ver desvendada a conspiração contra Kel e esta grande nação.
A escrita é algo básica e está carregada de exclamações, o que me causou um certo nervoso.
Os personagens revelam-se unidimensionais e a narrativa carece de alguma verosimilhança em diversos acontecimentos.
Contudo, deu para sentir alguma da magia do antigo Egipto e ficou o interesse em ver desvendada a conspiração contra Kel e esta grande nação.
August 10, 2020
Me atrapó la trama de intriga y aventura. Siempre me transporto a los lugares por donde discurren los libros.
Hay que disfrutar del lugar donde te encuentras en ese momento.
Hay que disfrutar del lugar donde te encuentras en ese momento.
October 31, 2022
E ca un labirint, te poarta dintr-o usa in alta, dar nici una nu e buna :)))). Captivanta, dar la un moment dat plictiseste.
August 14, 2023
Me pareció horrible que en el libro no termina la historia, y en ningún sitio se anunciaba como una serie.
October 22, 2024
I didn’t find this book inspiring not like his other books. It seemed over the top in belief that a person could keep moving and not be killed when so many others were being killed.
March 5, 2025
Malísima novela. Pésima.
September 10, 2025
ha sido muy entretenido este libro, me ha acompañado durante un viaje. es el 2do libro que leo de este autor. no le pongo 5 por el final!
August 1, 2026
tope aburrido. lo terminaria si no fuera el primero de una bilogia
March 20, 2014
I had read the highly acclaimed Ramses series and the Queen of Freedom trilogy some years back, but had not picked up another Christian Jacq book since. That is until now. When I stumbled on this and after a cursory glance at the premise of the story, I got it. After reading it, I really did spend quite a bit of time wondering, 'what supernatural force possessed me?' Perhaps the stars were not quite aligned that particular day.. Anyhow, I read this in a day and categorically decided that I will not bother with the sequel. I'll hazard an uneducated guess and be rather content at what may transpire in books two and three.
Don't get me wrong, it was not that it was not readable. It is. Enjoyable? Debatable. Consider one watching a no-brainer, one-does-not-need-to-think kind of TV show, where the brain is in safe-mode as a apt comparison. There is some entertainment value, but it does not set fire to the imagination, nor does it trigger any particular emotional response in your brain's limbic system. It is not exactly bone-numbingly boring as there are the odd moments when one does feel like giving some of the characters a good knock in the head. There are several likeable characters but that is rather where it ends. This is one story that will not process beyond the temporal lobe of my cerebral cortex to remain etched in my long-term memory. Forgettable, regrettably. Sorry Mr. Jacq.
Don't get me wrong, it was not that it was not readable. It is. Enjoyable? Debatable. Consider one watching a no-brainer, one-does-not-need-to-think kind of TV show, where the brain is in safe-mode as a apt comparison. There is some entertainment value, but it does not set fire to the imagination, nor does it trigger any particular emotional response in your brain's limbic system. It is not exactly bone-numbingly boring as there are the odd moments when one does feel like giving some of the characters a good knock in the head. There are several likeable characters but that is rather where it ends. This is one story that will not process beyond the temporal lobe of my cerebral cortex to remain etched in my long-term memory. Forgettable, regrettably. Sorry Mr. Jacq.
December 9, 2008
This is a typical Jacq book, with a very righteous hero that ends up in the middle of a conspiracy, his good buddies that help him out, a beautiful and pure heroine and very powerful baddies.
I've read most books by this author and although I've seen this plotline before, I never get tired of it. I love Jacq's romantic vision of Egypt. Although that is a little inaccurate, most historical info seems good to me (although I'm not an especialist, by any means).
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
I've read most books by this author and although I've seen this plotline before, I never get tired of it. I love Jacq's romantic vision of Egypt. Although that is a little inaccurate, most historical info seems good to me (although I'm not an especialist, by any means).
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
May 6, 2013
The first in a trilogy of books by French writer, Christian Jacq, this sets the scene for conspiracy and murder.
On the whole the book was readable. However... either the writing is over simplistic or the translation is. It lacked depth. The characters were very two dimensional and the story very linear.
On the whole the book was readable. However... either the writing is over simplistic or the translation is. It lacked depth. The characters were very two dimensional and the story very linear.
March 9, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this as a who/why done it set in Ancient Egypt. Admittedly the characters are a bit two dimensional but the narrative has pace. A good 'holiday read.' Be warned; the story doesnt end with this book. It continues in The Divine Worshipper (which I havent read) There were lots of typos in my English Trans publ by Simon & Schuster!
May 3, 2014
There were some of the same elements here as in the Judge of Egypt series, but still good. Jacq is such a good writer that even after studying Egyptology, I can't always tell where the facts end and the fiction begins.
February 25, 2012
I remember reading a couple of Jacq books as a child and liking them very much. Perhaps it is the time that changes your attitude towards genres or maybe this particular book is a bore.
April 29, 2012
Page turner!
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