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Cries from the Lost Island
This standalone fantasy brings an ancient Egyptian mystery to life against a modern background, in a tale expertly crafted by a seasoned anthropologist
Set against the glory and tragedy of ancient Roman Egypt, this novel brings to bring to life the greatest love story of all time.
Sixteen-year-old Hal Stevens is a budding historical scholar from a small town in Colorado. A virtual outcast at high school, he has only two friends: Roberto the Biker Witch and Cleo Mallawi. Cleo claims to be the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra. She also believes she's being stalked by an ancient Egyptian demon, Ammut, the Devourer of the Dead.
But when Hal and Roberto find Cleo murdered in the forest near her home, it appears she may have been telling the truth. Her last request sends them journeying to Egypt with famed archaeologist Dr. James Moriarity, where it quickly becomes clear that Cleo has set them on the search of a lifetime: the search for the lost graves of Marc Antony and Cleopatra.
But they are not alone in their search. Cleo's murderers are watching their every move. And not all of them are human...
Set against the glory and tragedy of ancient Roman Egypt, this novel brings to bring to life the greatest love story of all time.
Sixteen-year-old Hal Stevens is a budding historical scholar from a small town in Colorado. A virtual outcast at high school, he has only two friends: Roberto the Biker Witch and Cleo Mallawi. Cleo claims to be the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra. She also believes she's being stalked by an ancient Egyptian demon, Ammut, the Devourer of the Dead.
But when Hal and Roberto find Cleo murdered in the forest near her home, it appears she may have been telling the truth. Her last request sends them journeying to Egypt with famed archaeologist Dr. James Moriarity, where it quickly becomes clear that Cleo has set them on the search of a lifetime: the search for the lost graves of Marc Antony and Cleopatra.
But they are not alone in their search. Cleo's murderers are watching their every move. And not all of them are human...
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2020
42 people are currently reading
2670 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen O'Neal Gear
137 books711 followersMy professional life began in the dark basement of the Museum of Cultural History in Los Angeles, where I was cataloguing three-hundred-year-old Guatemalan saint carvings. I quit this fascinating job and moved to Wyoming to work for the U.S. Department of the Interior as a historian and archaeologist. When I finally understood the error of my ways I moved to Wyoming and started writing books. Since then, I've authored or co-authored 54 novels and around 200 non-fiction publications.
I love writing. And buffalo. And hiking the wilds of Wyoming's backcountry.
I'm married (until he comes to his senses) to W. Michael Gear, the novelist and my co-author, and we live at the edge of the Wind River Indian Reservation in the Owl Creek mountains of Wyoming. We're contented watching buffalo and writing books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kathle...
I love writing. And buffalo. And hiking the wilds of Wyoming's backcountry.
I'm married (until he comes to his senses) to W. Michael Gear, the novelist and my co-author, and we live at the edge of the Wind River Indian Reservation in the Owl Creek mountains of Wyoming. We're contented watching buffalo and writing books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kathle...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 14, 2020
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Thank you NetGalley and DAW for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
I fell in love with mythology and the history that surrounds it around the age of thirteen-years-old, when my English teacher, at the time, introduced me to Greek myths. That led to me digging up more on my own, and my fascination with Greek mythology evolved into Roman, Egyptian, Norse and Celtic. So, whenever a novel crosses my path that deals in any sort of mythology, I am eagerly and instantly fascinated by it.
I wanted to enjoy Cries from the Lost Island as much as I had hoped that I might, but from the beginning the novel grated on me.
First, I see this listed as an adult novel. There are certainly adult characters in this novel, but this is at best a young adult story with a tone to match.
The characters in this novel were very difficult to read and therefore get to know. Their emotions, especially when they were in the throes of a dramatic moment, tended to shift and swerve from one end to the other so fast that you were left wondering exactly how they were feeling. And aside from the relationship between Roberto and Hal, it's not easy to come to terms with any real transparency about how others feel toward each other. They all act as if they are hiding something up their sleeves while waiting for the right moment to reveal this mysterious tidbit.
As characters—especially Hal—introduced to us different pieces of the story, especially if they were related to the mythology and history of Egypt, it was like sitting in a lecture class. Now, please take into account that I am a huge fan of Egyptian mythology, and history in this regard is fascinating. But there's a way to balance this out into storytelling so that it doesn't make a monotonous overflow of information for the reader, so much so that it can be overwhelming. And it happened often. Frankly, I felt like Roberto half the time, who may—or may not—usually regurgitate the facts that were spewed to him incorrectly.
It was a lot.
Speaking of Roberto, he was by far my favorite part of the story. Any time that the novel might start to lag, even slightly slightly, he was there with humor and a quick wit to save the day. He's an integral part of the story, and even though Halloran is our lead, I deferred to Roberto in preference of character dynamic and strength. Make no mistake, the novel overall is not unpleasant; it propels at a nice speed, and once we reach Egypt things start to move along a lot more smoothly than they did in its rather abrupt beginning.
Nonetheless, I felt like too much in this novel seemed either unbelievable—like the fact that the parents of a distraught teenager who has just lost his best friend would be encouraged and pushed into going across the world to “grieve” rather than receive emotional support at home from those who say they love him—or nonsensical. Such as the ending, which made me made me cringe as Hal and Roberto hauled around the thousands' year old mummified and newly-found corpse of Marcus Antonius (which they shoved into their bag and hauled around for weeks) so that they could take it into an open cave. In this cave, apparently the body of Cleopatra VII had been resting all this time, and by laying Marcus Antonius with her they would ensure that the two could be together in the afterlife, the story's main purpose. It's a nice and romantic notion in the end, but the steps taken to get there are shoddy at best.
All in all, Cries from the Lost Island has a lovely presentation, that unfortunately fell short for me in its delivery.
Thank you NetGalley and DAW for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
I fell in love with mythology and the history that surrounds it around the age of thirteen-years-old, when my English teacher, at the time, introduced me to Greek myths. That led to me digging up more on my own, and my fascination with Greek mythology evolved into Roman, Egyptian, Norse and Celtic. So, whenever a novel crosses my path that deals in any sort of mythology, I am eagerly and instantly fascinated by it.
I wanted to enjoy Cries from the Lost Island as much as I had hoped that I might, but from the beginning the novel grated on me.
First, I see this listed as an adult novel. There are certainly adult characters in this novel, but this is at best a young adult story with a tone to match.
The characters in this novel were very difficult to read and therefore get to know. Their emotions, especially when they were in the throes of a dramatic moment, tended to shift and swerve from one end to the other so fast that you were left wondering exactly how they were feeling. And aside from the relationship between Roberto and Hal, it's not easy to come to terms with any real transparency about how others feel toward each other. They all act as if they are hiding something up their sleeves while waiting for the right moment to reveal this mysterious tidbit.
As characters—especially Hal—introduced to us different pieces of the story, especially if they were related to the mythology and history of Egypt, it was like sitting in a lecture class. Now, please take into account that I am a huge fan of Egyptian mythology, and history in this regard is fascinating. But there's a way to balance this out into storytelling so that it doesn't make a monotonous overflow of information for the reader, so much so that it can be overwhelming. And it happened often. Frankly, I felt like Roberto half the time, who may—or may not—usually regurgitate the facts that were spewed to him incorrectly.
It was a lot.
Speaking of Roberto, he was by far my favorite part of the story. Any time that the novel might start to lag, even slightly slightly, he was there with humor and a quick wit to save the day. He's an integral part of the story, and even though Halloran is our lead, I deferred to Roberto in preference of character dynamic and strength. Make no mistake, the novel overall is not unpleasant; it propels at a nice speed, and once we reach Egypt things start to move along a lot more smoothly than they did in its rather abrupt beginning.
Nonetheless, I felt like too much in this novel seemed either unbelievable—like the fact that the parents of a distraught teenager who has just lost his best friend would be encouraged and pushed into going across the world to “grieve” rather than receive emotional support at home from those who say they love him—or nonsensical. Such as the ending, which made me made me cringe as Hal and Roberto hauled around the thousands' year old mummified and newly-found corpse of Marcus Antonius (which they shoved into their bag and hauled around for weeks) so that they could take it into an open cave. In this cave, apparently the body of Cleopatra VII had been resting all this time, and by laying Marcus Antonius with her they would ensure that the two could be together in the afterlife, the story's main purpose. It's a nice and romantic notion in the end, but the steps taken to get there are shoddy at best.
All in all, Cries from the Lost Island has a lovely presentation, that unfortunately fell short for me in its delivery.
March 20, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/03/19/...
So I’m pretty sure this is my background in anthropology talking, but I really enjoyed this. Coupled with my general interest in ancient Rome and Ptolemaic Egypt, it made Cries from the Lost Island by Kathleen O’Neal Gear a delightful escape for this archaeology and history nerd.
The protagonist of this story is sixteen-year-old Halloran Stevens, a smart but socially awkward high school student. His only friends are Roberto, grungy biker and self-proclaimed witch extraordinaire, and Cleo Mallawi, who moved to Colorado to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents were killed in the revolution that rocked Egypt a few years ago. Hal has never met anyone like Cleo before. Intelligent, cultured, and a bit of a social outcast just like him, Cleo comes from a family of scholars and archaeologists, and has a deep knowledge of her country’s history and mythology. She also claims to be the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra, and that she had killed her first demon with her father’s pistol at the age of ten. Everyone else thinks she’s not quite right in the head, her delusions caused by the trauma of losing her parents. But to Hal, Cleo was the most fascinating and beautiful girl who had ever lived. And despite himself, he believed in all her stories.
Then one day, a frightened and distraught Cleo comes to Hal asking for his help, convinced that more demons are after her. She shows him an ancient medallion that her father had uncovered in a dig site in Egypt and given to her before he died. Hal was the only one Cleo could trust, and she needed him to keep the medallion safe, and let no one—especially her aunt and uncle—get their hands on it. But not long after that, tragedy strikes, and Cleo is found murdered in the woods near her home. A grief-stricken Hal then starts having visions and hearing voices that he is sure belonged to Cleo, even though it should be impossible…unless everything she had told him was the truth. Now his next step is to return the medallion to Egypt, so that the spirit of Cleopatra can finally rest in everlasting peace with the love of her life, Marc Antony. And Hal knows just how he can pull it off. Together with his best friend Roberto, the two of them decide to go along with the pretense of being students traveling abroad with Cleo’s uncle, the famed archaeologist Dr. James Moriarity—the very man who had tried to take away her medallion. The professor claims he only wants to help, but Hal knows better than to trust anyone with the quest he had been given. After all, the soul of Cleopatra depends on it.
As much as I enjoyed Cries from the Lost Island, I will say this: the book’s not perfect and it has a lot of flaws. The first thing I noticed was that it had very strong young adult vibes. I didn’t mind, but others heading into this under the impression this would have a more mature feel are going to be disappointed. Hal is sixteen, and to the author’s credit, his character is written to act and sound his age. Prose is dialogue heavy, and conversations between Hal and Roberto are packed with the usual teen banter you’d expect. This is also less of an action-adventure novel in the style of Indiana Jones and more of an adventurous mystery steeped in historical intrigue. If you’re not too interested in Egyptian mythology and history or the minutiae of the archaeological process, the middle sections of the novel will likely pose a struggle. But if you’re into that kind of stuff, you’ll have a much better time.
Granted, the plot was a bit scattered and pacing could have been better. The beginning of the book is a flurry of activity, from Cleo’s murder to the boys’ journey to Egypt. It’s when they arrive at Moriarity’s dig site where the momentum stalls, and here Hal seems to spin his wheels waiting something for something to happen, rather than take control of his own quest. An author should also balance the need to provide background knowledge to the reader without going overboard. Admittedly, there are times when Gear comes dangerously close to info dumping, and here is where my own personal experiences, education, and interests might have shielded me and made me a lot more tolerant to it.
Without Roberto, I also don’t think I would’ve had nearly as much fun with this book. Hands down, one of the best characters I’ve read so far this year. He’s completely irreverent, politically incorrect, and full of shit half the time, but he brought energy and humor to the story, especially when things dragged and needed an extra boost. The protagonist might have ben Hal, but Roberto definitely stole the show.
All told, Cries from the Lost Island can be a great read if you are into its premise and subjects. It not, it can be a little tougher. There’s a good story here though, if you forgive some of its minor missteps like pacing and some plot meandering, and in any case, it makes up for these with its fascinating historical fiction and paranormal elements, plenty of quippy dialogue, and moments of adventure and humor. If you’re interested in archaeology and Egypt, it’s worth giving it a shot.
Audiobook Comments: Great narration by Charlie Thurston. The story called for a lot of different voices, accents and speaking styles, and I think he did them all very well. A solid performance, and an enjoyable audiobook overall.
So I’m pretty sure this is my background in anthropology talking, but I really enjoyed this. Coupled with my general interest in ancient Rome and Ptolemaic Egypt, it made Cries from the Lost Island by Kathleen O’Neal Gear a delightful escape for this archaeology and history nerd.
The protagonist of this story is sixteen-year-old Halloran Stevens, a smart but socially awkward high school student. His only friends are Roberto, grungy biker and self-proclaimed witch extraordinaire, and Cleo Mallawi, who moved to Colorado to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents were killed in the revolution that rocked Egypt a few years ago. Hal has never met anyone like Cleo before. Intelligent, cultured, and a bit of a social outcast just like him, Cleo comes from a family of scholars and archaeologists, and has a deep knowledge of her country’s history and mythology. She also claims to be the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra, and that she had killed her first demon with her father’s pistol at the age of ten. Everyone else thinks she’s not quite right in the head, her delusions caused by the trauma of losing her parents. But to Hal, Cleo was the most fascinating and beautiful girl who had ever lived. And despite himself, he believed in all her stories.
Then one day, a frightened and distraught Cleo comes to Hal asking for his help, convinced that more demons are after her. She shows him an ancient medallion that her father had uncovered in a dig site in Egypt and given to her before he died. Hal was the only one Cleo could trust, and she needed him to keep the medallion safe, and let no one—especially her aunt and uncle—get their hands on it. But not long after that, tragedy strikes, and Cleo is found murdered in the woods near her home. A grief-stricken Hal then starts having visions and hearing voices that he is sure belonged to Cleo, even though it should be impossible…unless everything she had told him was the truth. Now his next step is to return the medallion to Egypt, so that the spirit of Cleopatra can finally rest in everlasting peace with the love of her life, Marc Antony. And Hal knows just how he can pull it off. Together with his best friend Roberto, the two of them decide to go along with the pretense of being students traveling abroad with Cleo’s uncle, the famed archaeologist Dr. James Moriarity—the very man who had tried to take away her medallion. The professor claims he only wants to help, but Hal knows better than to trust anyone with the quest he had been given. After all, the soul of Cleopatra depends on it.
As much as I enjoyed Cries from the Lost Island, I will say this: the book’s not perfect and it has a lot of flaws. The first thing I noticed was that it had very strong young adult vibes. I didn’t mind, but others heading into this under the impression this would have a more mature feel are going to be disappointed. Hal is sixteen, and to the author’s credit, his character is written to act and sound his age. Prose is dialogue heavy, and conversations between Hal and Roberto are packed with the usual teen banter you’d expect. This is also less of an action-adventure novel in the style of Indiana Jones and more of an adventurous mystery steeped in historical intrigue. If you’re not too interested in Egyptian mythology and history or the minutiae of the archaeological process, the middle sections of the novel will likely pose a struggle. But if you’re into that kind of stuff, you’ll have a much better time.
Granted, the plot was a bit scattered and pacing could have been better. The beginning of the book is a flurry of activity, from Cleo’s murder to the boys’ journey to Egypt. It’s when they arrive at Moriarity’s dig site where the momentum stalls, and here Hal seems to spin his wheels waiting something for something to happen, rather than take control of his own quest. An author should also balance the need to provide background knowledge to the reader without going overboard. Admittedly, there are times when Gear comes dangerously close to info dumping, and here is where my own personal experiences, education, and interests might have shielded me and made me a lot more tolerant to it.
Without Roberto, I also don’t think I would’ve had nearly as much fun with this book. Hands down, one of the best characters I’ve read so far this year. He’s completely irreverent, politically incorrect, and full of shit half the time, but he brought energy and humor to the story, especially when things dragged and needed an extra boost. The protagonist might have ben Hal, but Roberto definitely stole the show.
All told, Cries from the Lost Island can be a great read if you are into its premise and subjects. It not, it can be a little tougher. There’s a good story here though, if you forgive some of its minor missteps like pacing and some plot meandering, and in any case, it makes up for these with its fascinating historical fiction and paranormal elements, plenty of quippy dialogue, and moments of adventure and humor. If you’re interested in archaeology and Egypt, it’s worth giving it a shot.
Audiobook Comments: Great narration by Charlie Thurston. The story called for a lot of different voices, accents and speaking styles, and I think he did them all very well. A solid performance, and an enjoyable audiobook overall.
April 18, 2020
I'm a big fan of Kathleen O'Neal Gear (and her husband Michael), and she always does a beautiful job of sweeping into her stories. When I heard she was writing a story about ancient Egypt that dealt with incarnation and demons, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. CRIES FROM THE LOST LAND was worth the wait.
Something is fascinating about a story that not only entertains but teaches as well. Kathleen adds just enough archeology and history details to add depth to the story but not burden it down with facts and slow the pace. There were historical facts that made me Google them so I could find out more about them, like cats being used as shields in war. It made me wish I had a history teacher like Kathleen.
CRIES FROM THE LOST LAND does have a YA feel for it, which is not my favorite genre because I hated my teen years and don't care to read about other teens, but due to the topics Kathleen wrote about, it sucked me in. Roberto, the side-kick in the story, stole many of the scenes and was my favorite character in the book. His sarcastic attitude reminded me of myself. Roberto was a great balance to the main protagonist Hal.
I could go on and on about how I loved Kathleen steeped a story around the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra (one of my favorite historical characters) and Marc Antony and the Egyptian land of the dead, but I suggest you read it.
March 10, 2020
*ARC received from #Netgalley in return for an honest review*
Video Review: https://youtu.be/l-tXbpKfNhI
This whole story gave me a little bit of 'The Mummy' vibes and a little bit of Indiana Jones but with a very young adult bent to it. I loved that there was so much history embedded in this book. I was fascinated the whole way through. The little tidbits of Antonius and Cleopatra and their love story captured me in a way I wasn't expecting. Plus you get a lot of Egyptian mythology. You get to see Ammut, you get to see Set, and you also get to see the culture around archaeology, more specifically, in Egypt. It was so intriguing.
I do have to say that the characters in this story were not my favorite. They felt like characters I have seen before. There were instances in which we were following Hal and how he was grieving, where I struggled with how everyone was interacting. See how he was interacting and dealing with his parents and just adults in general. It felt off somehow and his parents' reaction to Cleo did not feel authentic.
And then there was the fact that Hal was very much into Cleo and her thoughts around reincarnation. But when he came up against something that was equally as odd and magical, he instantly wrote it off. He was willing to believe one aspect of magic and this ancient Egyptian culture but not others.
So overall I really enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book, all of the history, all of the mythology, the mystery. I just struggled with how the characters interacted with each other. I found myself reading more into the mystery/Egypt aspect and really, really enjoying that. Loved Egypt. Loved the history. Loved the mythology. Struggled with some of the character interactions. That pretty much sums up my thoughts.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/l-tXbpKfNhI
This whole story gave me a little bit of 'The Mummy' vibes and a little bit of Indiana Jones but with a very young adult bent to it. I loved that there was so much history embedded in this book. I was fascinated the whole way through. The little tidbits of Antonius and Cleopatra and their love story captured me in a way I wasn't expecting. Plus you get a lot of Egyptian mythology. You get to see Ammut, you get to see Set, and you also get to see the culture around archaeology, more specifically, in Egypt. It was so intriguing.
I do have to say that the characters in this story were not my favorite. They felt like characters I have seen before. There were instances in which we were following Hal and how he was grieving, where I struggled with how everyone was interacting. See how he was interacting and dealing with his parents and just adults in general. It felt off somehow and his parents' reaction to Cleo did not feel authentic.
And then there was the fact that Hal was very much into Cleo and her thoughts around reincarnation. But when he came up against something that was equally as odd and magical, he instantly wrote it off. He was willing to believe one aspect of magic and this ancient Egyptian culture but not others.
So overall I really enjoyed a lot of aspects of this book, all of the history, all of the mythology, the mystery. I just struggled with how the characters interacted with each other. I found myself reading more into the mystery/Egypt aspect and really, really enjoying that. Loved Egypt. Loved the history. Loved the mythology. Struggled with some of the character interactions. That pretty much sums up my thoughts.
February 24, 2020
I was never able to really get into this book which is a shame because the synopsis and cover made it look amazing.
“Cries from the Lost Island” follows Hal as he struggles to manage his parents desires for him to love a normal life and the love he feels for Cleo, a young woman who believes herself to be the reincarnation of the infamous Cleopatra. Following an unfortunate series of events Hal and his friend Roberto find themselves in Egypt where they must uncover the truth from the past and return what was stolen to its rightful owner.
A lot of my problems for this book stems from its pacing, a good portion of the book is weighed down by heavy exposition to explain the historical references and mythology that surrounds ancient Egypt in order to make some of the later moments make sense but it ended up making the read rather dry.
Another issue is I was never quite sure what this book was supposed to be it plays to some elements of fantasy where you have the demons and gods that lurk in the shadows, an archeological site where things keep going missing leading to a crime ring, a murder mystery, a sprinkle of reincarnation and a question of sanity and I’m not sure which of those themes won out in the end. I enjoyed the tastes of myth and history folded together into this big mystery of is it magic or madness but the book never managed to give a good pay off to that other than a brief chapter that basically serves as the epilogue which was a bit of a let down especially when it started to become a bit heavy handed with the misdirects pointing towards a mental break.
With all that being said the main focus was on Cleo and Hal and I never once understood their relationship. We’re told that they were true loves but I never felt like they had enough history no pun intended for it to be believable which didn’t help as he set off on this quest to break the cycle which is why I think I wished for it to be a more mundane answer because at least those missteps could be explained away by how perception changes with trauma.
I think this book could have been fun if it managed to balance all the elements it needed to or even better took some out but I think if you enjoy Egyptian history and mythology you’ll be able to find the magic in it that I unfortunately did not.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“Cries from the Lost Island” follows Hal as he struggles to manage his parents desires for him to love a normal life and the love he feels for Cleo, a young woman who believes herself to be the reincarnation of the infamous Cleopatra. Following an unfortunate series of events Hal and his friend Roberto find themselves in Egypt where they must uncover the truth from the past and return what was stolen to its rightful owner.
A lot of my problems for this book stems from its pacing, a good portion of the book is weighed down by heavy exposition to explain the historical references and mythology that surrounds ancient Egypt in order to make some of the later moments make sense but it ended up making the read rather dry.
Another issue is I was never quite sure what this book was supposed to be it plays to some elements of fantasy where you have the demons and gods that lurk in the shadows, an archeological site where things keep going missing leading to a crime ring, a murder mystery, a sprinkle of reincarnation and a question of sanity and I’m not sure which of those themes won out in the end. I enjoyed the tastes of myth and history folded together into this big mystery of is it magic or madness but the book never managed to give a good pay off to that other than a brief chapter that basically serves as the epilogue which was a bit of a let down especially when it started to become a bit heavy handed with the misdirects pointing towards a mental break.
With all that being said the main focus was on Cleo and Hal and I never once understood their relationship. We’re told that they were true loves but I never felt like they had enough history no pun intended for it to be believable which didn’t help as he set off on this quest to break the cycle which is why I think I wished for it to be a more mundane answer because at least those missteps could be explained away by how perception changes with trauma.
I think this book could have been fun if it managed to balance all the elements it needed to or even better took some out but I think if you enjoy Egyptian history and mythology you’ll be able to find the magic in it that I unfortunately did not.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
March 23, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love when authors combine anthropology and a little bit of fantasy. I loved that this book was a little bit fantastical, but still had a real world feeling about it. I also appreciate that Kathleen O'Neal Gear did such a good job keeping to a lot of the history from Egypt and Cleopatra. I learned a lot about the history as I read the book and kept pausing to google certain facts and questions. Even with all the pausing to look up the history, I zoomed through this book. I love Kathleen's style of writing, and devour each of her books. I can't wait to read whatever it is that she writes next!
September 26, 2020
Cries from the Lost Island by Kathleen O'Neal Gear sounded like it was going to be right up my alley, but in the end it just wasn't for me. I was expecting something much different actually. I'm really interested in Egyptian mythology and that's what kept me reading, but there were several moments where I was very close to DNF'ing this novel. My main issues were with the writing style. I felt too far removed everyone in the cast. Their behavior and dialogue was much too stilted for me to become truly invested in the characters, the world, and the overall story although there was so much potential. I'm sorry, but it just wasn't for me.
February 22, 2020
I’m almost tempted to rate this three stars for Roberto and because this was so bad that it wrapped back around to being enjoyable, but I’m leaving it at 2 for now. If you happen to be the kind of person who finds questionable classical reception entertaining and you’re not bothered too much by inaccuracies (regarding both ancient Roman/Egyptian history and modern Colorado) then this is probably a good book for you. I am fascinated by this portrayal of Antony.
August 24, 2022
2.5 stars.
I wanted to love this so badly, but from the start, it fell flat. The writing was...average at best, the "romance" just wasn't it, and there was never enough of the mythology/fantasy aspect for me. I wanted to travel to another land, I wanted more of Cleo, and I wanted answers!
I wanted to love this so badly, but from the start, it fell flat. The writing was...average at best, the "romance" just wasn't it, and there was never enough of the mythology/fantasy aspect for me. I wanted to travel to another land, I wanted more of Cleo, and I wanted answers!
January 28, 2020
I loved this book....it took me a long time to read it because I had to keep rereading parts to make sure I understood how the plot was building.
Hal Stevens is a teenager with a vivid interest in Egyptian history. His girlfriend is Cleo and she claims to be the incarnation of Cleopatra...when Cleo is killed, her claims seem to have validity. Suspicious that she may be killed, Cleo leaves behind a medallion with Hal for safe keeping. She says that she never would have been reincarnated had the medallion been buried with her when she was Queen of Egypt.
Hal and his best friend, Roberto accept an offer to go to Egypt on an expedition. Cleo's claims start to seem realistic amid the the unusual happenings, findings and danger at the expedition site.
Hal Stevens is a teenager with a vivid interest in Egyptian history. His girlfriend is Cleo and she claims to be the incarnation of Cleopatra...when Cleo is killed, her claims seem to have validity. Suspicious that she may be killed, Cleo leaves behind a medallion with Hal for safe keeping. She says that she never would have been reincarnated had the medallion been buried with her when she was Queen of Egypt.
Hal and his best friend, Roberto accept an offer to go to Egypt on an expedition. Cleo's claims start to seem realistic amid the the unusual happenings, findings and danger at the expedition site.
July 11, 2023
"In the process of becoming scrupulous intellectuals, we insisted upon historical accuracy, so we refused to say things like Marc Antony or Beirut. It was Marcus Antonius and Berytus. We read aloud the works of Lucan, Plutarch, Appian, Josephus, and Dio, and discovered that none of these ancient authors could be trusted. In fact, when it came to the truth about the lives of Cleopatra and Antonius, there was obviously a secret historical conspiracy to destroy the evidence."
This is... hilariously bad, but what's really getting me is the fact that the author apparently chose not to write "Loukianos" or "Ploutarkhos" or the like. Or "Kleopatra"!
This is... hilariously bad, but what's really getting me is the fact that the author apparently chose not to write "Loukianos" or "Ploutarkhos" or the like. Or "Kleopatra"!
November 26, 2019
My review will appear in Booklist!
Read
March 11, 2020So, if there is one way to turn me into a petulant child with sticky fingers screaming, “gimme!” it is to combine the two words: anthropology and book. It’s just an instant draw, love, and obsession for me. Has been since middle school. There’s just something about the profession that is so dreamy and wondrous to me. Tie in a book with anthropological aspects WITH an author who is an anthropologist? Well, that’s just like handing me a bar of gold!
But: Happy Book Birthday to this sweet book! It’s been a while since I’ve read a book set in Ancient Egypt, which is really sad because it’s such a fascinating subject. This also means that my memory of ancient Egyptian myths is shoddy at best. So, I really appreciated all of the information in this book! And there is a lot in it. It’s almost as if you’re reading a companion textbook while also reading the story. Which isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Or should I say holy dagger?
The story itself was quite interesting and I love the blend of ancient myths/history blending with modern times. It’s such a unique flair. And speaking of flair, I absolutely LOVED Roberto. The king amongst this cast of misfit, creating wars to stand up for his fellow misfits. And that’s what this story really is about: The underdogs.
You can view my full review on my blog! I post a wide range of reviews!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
But: Happy Book Birthday to this sweet book! It’s been a while since I’ve read a book set in Ancient Egypt, which is really sad because it’s such a fascinating subject. This also means that my memory of ancient Egyptian myths is shoddy at best. So, I really appreciated all of the information in this book! And there is a lot in it. It’s almost as if you’re reading a companion textbook while also reading the story. Which isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Or should I say holy dagger?
The story itself was quite interesting and I love the blend of ancient myths/history blending with modern times. It’s such a unique flair. And speaking of flair, I absolutely LOVED Roberto. The king amongst this cast of misfit, creating wars to stand up for his fellow misfits. And that’s what this story really is about: The underdogs.
You can view my full review on my blog! I post a wide range of reviews!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
September 18, 2020
I gave this 3 stars (2.5 is more like it) because if you don't pay attention to the details and don't think too much about it, it's a fine way to pass the time. But OMG. The consistently wrong details, or in probable (or just plain weird details) was a real problem for me. It felt lazy.
For example... there's no way someone would live in Georgetown, CO, and commute to Fort Collins to teach. It's too far and the weather is too unpredictable. Plus... CSU Ft Collins may have an archaeology program, but they don't specialize in Egyptology. The Uncle wouldn't switch dig sites from Pelusium to Karnak in a season. They'd have at least one layover flying from Denver to Port Said. And who is paying for these boys to go to Egypt? I don't think archaeology digs are known for having big budgets. Robert needed surgery on his bullet wound, yet only 3 weeks later he's hiking in the desert for hours and hours, a hike that nearly wiped both boys out at the beginning? And carrying a 2000-year-old mummy to boot? WHAT? That made no sense at all.
Weird detail example... when a character was introduced the first time, you always got a description of their nose shape - hooked, button, upturned. Once you realized it, it was everywhere.
I really didn't like how other than the boys, the characters weren't developed. The parents were mean and it wasn't clear why they acted how they did. Same with the aunt and uncle. What was their motivation? The students at the dig site - totally cardboard stereotypes.
For example... there's no way someone would live in Georgetown, CO, and commute to Fort Collins to teach. It's too far and the weather is too unpredictable. Plus... CSU Ft Collins may have an archaeology program, but they don't specialize in Egyptology. The Uncle wouldn't switch dig sites from Pelusium to Karnak in a season. They'd have at least one layover flying from Denver to Port Said. And who is paying for these boys to go to Egypt? I don't think archaeology digs are known for having big budgets. Robert needed surgery on his bullet wound, yet only 3 weeks later he's hiking in the desert for hours and hours, a hike that nearly wiped both boys out at the beginning? And carrying a 2000-year-old mummy to boot? WHAT? That made no sense at all.
Weird detail example... when a character was introduced the first time, you always got a description of their nose shape - hooked, button, upturned. Once you realized it, it was everywhere.
I really didn't like how other than the boys, the characters weren't developed. The parents were mean and it wasn't clear why they acted how they did. Same with the aunt and uncle. What was their motivation? The students at the dig site - totally cardboard stereotypes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2020
Cries from Lost Island
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
Starting with the dedication, no one is more deserving than to whom this book is dedicated. Knowing these authors as I do they are grateful to their fans. This particular one more than others because she finds value in their works beyond the normal reader. This book is a remarkable tribute to her bravery, her ability, and her adoration.
I have waited impatiently for four years for this book. First and foremost because it is a Young Adult book, I can purchase and leave to my students in all the schools I visit and teach. Second because it's history. A book that looks into Egypt with the eyes of the author that brings Native Americans to life. I knew she would make Egyptian history a remarkable weave I can follow. Third Cleopatra is an enigmatic figure beautiful, mysterious and deadly, just like many of Kathleen's female characters. She makes heroes out of ordinary women and legends out of heroes. Hal has a remarkable future if the publisher see it the way this lowly fan does. Kathleen could go on through Egyptian history for 29 books like she did North Americans Forgotten Past. Hal could be the start of bring children to archeology like Harry Potter brought children to magic. Lastly, I can not stop seeing the possibility of this positive message getting kind into history, and anthropology congratulations my humble beloved strong woman. Thank you Kathleen for taking me into the dust, sand, and stars of Egypt.
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
Starting with the dedication, no one is more deserving than to whom this book is dedicated. Knowing these authors as I do they are grateful to their fans. This particular one more than others because she finds value in their works beyond the normal reader. This book is a remarkable tribute to her bravery, her ability, and her adoration.
I have waited impatiently for four years for this book. First and foremost because it is a Young Adult book, I can purchase and leave to my students in all the schools I visit and teach. Second because it's history. A book that looks into Egypt with the eyes of the author that brings Native Americans to life. I knew she would make Egyptian history a remarkable weave I can follow. Third Cleopatra is an enigmatic figure beautiful, mysterious and deadly, just like many of Kathleen's female characters. She makes heroes out of ordinary women and legends out of heroes. Hal has a remarkable future if the publisher see it the way this lowly fan does. Kathleen could go on through Egyptian history for 29 books like she did North Americans Forgotten Past. Hal could be the start of bring children to archeology like Harry Potter brought children to magic. Lastly, I can not stop seeing the possibility of this positive message getting kind into history, and anthropology congratulations my humble beloved strong woman. Thank you Kathleen for taking me into the dust, sand, and stars of Egypt.
June 25, 2020
Be still my younger self. I know that you are doing dances and screaming from on top of a mountain.
To let y'all in for a clue, when I was about 5 to 13 I was OBSESSED with Ancient Egypt. I checked out all the nonfiction books on Egypt over and over again until the library wanted to know if I ever planned to read anything else. I had a "Make your own mummy" thing- it was all plastic but I got to remove guts from the body and place it is a sarcophagus and bury it in my yard. I also watched The Mummy (I know- fiction) until I memorized it. In a word- I was hooked.
Now adult me still loves Egypt and like a Siren call, I knew I had to read this book when I saw the cover. Now let me tell you I was scared. All this talk of Egyptian Demons while reading this ALONE at night I had to put it down because I was giving myself the spooks.
So the book!! Hal has a best friend, Cleo, who says that she is the REAL Cleopatra reborn. They talk for hours and hours about Ancient Egypt and Rome. It wasn't until he and his other friend, Roberto, get a emergency call from Cleo. They find her murdered. Right before she did she tells Hal to set her soul free and find the Island of the Two Flames.
Hal and Roberto find themselves in Egypt, to bring closure of her death but Hal means to keep a promise. Going to Egypt there is old magic in the air. Can Hal find the Island? Can he keep his promise? Even when evil unseen forces are trying to stop him all the way?
To let y'all in for a clue, when I was about 5 to 13 I was OBSESSED with Ancient Egypt. I checked out all the nonfiction books on Egypt over and over again until the library wanted to know if I ever planned to read anything else. I had a "Make your own mummy" thing- it was all plastic but I got to remove guts from the body and place it is a sarcophagus and bury it in my yard. I also watched The Mummy (I know- fiction) until I memorized it. In a word- I was hooked.
Now adult me still loves Egypt and like a Siren call, I knew I had to read this book when I saw the cover. Now let me tell you I was scared. All this talk of Egyptian Demons while reading this ALONE at night I had to put it down because I was giving myself the spooks.
So the book!! Hal has a best friend, Cleo, who says that she is the REAL Cleopatra reborn. They talk for hours and hours about Ancient Egypt and Rome. It wasn't until he and his other friend, Roberto, get a emergency call from Cleo. They find her murdered. Right before she did she tells Hal to set her soul free and find the Island of the Two Flames.
Hal and Roberto find themselves in Egypt, to bring closure of her death but Hal means to keep a promise. Going to Egypt there is old magic in the air. Can Hal find the Island? Can he keep his promise? Even when evil unseen forces are trying to stop him all the way?
June 18, 2023
3.5/5
“By the time I was thirteen, I knew that the girl of my dreams was not what anyone would call a sane child. My first hint came on a bright autumn afternoon when Cleopatra Mallawi was helping me rake up mountains of fall maple leaves from our front yard in Georgetown, Colorado.”
Summary - When Cleo is killed, her friends Hal and Roberto jump at the chance to travel to Egypt with the famed archaeologist Dr. Moriarity. Cleo was convinced she was the reincarnation of Cleopatra and left Hal with a mission: to find the graves of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. But all is not as it seems, and Cleo's killers are on the hunt for the same.
Review:
Plot - The story really interested me when I picked up this book in the library and read the little summary. This is the first book I’ve read about mythology in Egypt about cleopatra and it was really interesting to read about because it was really mysterious and kept me on my toes!
Characters - I think it was interesting to see how the characters were written. Hal seemed more of a calm relaxed person while Roberto is more anxious and wants to rush things. I do think it was kind of strange their parents just let them travel across the world by themselves and let them go exploring with a random stranger, but that’s not the point. Overall I really enjoyed the book and would recommend this if you like mythology and mysteries. This is super interesting and most likely not like anything you’ve ever read!
“By the time I was thirteen, I knew that the girl of my dreams was not what anyone would call a sane child. My first hint came on a bright autumn afternoon when Cleopatra Mallawi was helping me rake up mountains of fall maple leaves from our front yard in Georgetown, Colorado.”
Summary - When Cleo is killed, her friends Hal and Roberto jump at the chance to travel to Egypt with the famed archaeologist Dr. Moriarity. Cleo was convinced she was the reincarnation of Cleopatra and left Hal with a mission: to find the graves of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. But all is not as it seems, and Cleo's killers are on the hunt for the same.
Review:
Plot - The story really interested me when I picked up this book in the library and read the little summary. This is the first book I’ve read about mythology in Egypt about cleopatra and it was really interesting to read about because it was really mysterious and kept me on my toes!
Characters - I think it was interesting to see how the characters were written. Hal seemed more of a calm relaxed person while Roberto is more anxious and wants to rush things. I do think it was kind of strange their parents just let them travel across the world by themselves and let them go exploring with a random stranger, but that’s not the point. Overall I really enjoyed the book and would recommend this if you like mythology and mysteries. This is super interesting and most likely not like anything you’ve ever read!
January 15, 2021
I hate to say that this book was very disappointing, I was expecting quite a bit from it. I saw that intriguing cover with hieroglyphics and had to see what it was about. Then I read the description and um..excuse me? “This standalone fantasy brings an ancient Egyptian mystery to life against a modern background, in a tale expertly crafted by a seasoned anthropologist.” This was literally screaming my name because all my life I’ve been fascinated with Ancient Egypt and Egyptian mythology and I was obsessed with it when I was a child. This brought back those feelings of nostalgia and I was so freaking excited to give this a read. I was expecting it to be more focused on the Ancient Egypt aspect and have a lot more lore and myth within its pages. Unfortunately, this was not the case and I was left with a very unsatisfying read.
First of all, as far as I could tell this was being pushed as a more adult book which it did not feel like at all. This felt a lot more like YA and at times the writing even felt a tad Middle Grade-ish to me, which is fine of course, but not really what I wanted when a book is being advertised as Adult. The writing, aside from feeling immature at times, was just sort of odd and didn’t flow very well. The story and the dialogue all felt sort of jumbled together and choppy. An example of something that bothered me was some of the word usage. Such as, the word “trotted” was used to describe movement WAY too often. The reason I bring this up at all is to show you HOW MUCH IT FREAKING BOTHERED ME! I’m serious. That word itself was used so much to the point where it was actually driving me crazy while reading. “Hal trotted towards the stairs”, “He trotted to the tent”, etc. Use some other words! “Walked”, “Ran”, “Scrambled”, “Scurried”. I don’t know! Just quit saying the characters were “trotting” everywhere. So yes, I was not a huge fan of the writing or style at all.
The story itself was, again, a huge jumble. The main reason I was excited to read this book was for the Egyptian mythology and we got so little of it that I felt cheated almost. Whenever there was any Egyptian myth, lore or history it was essentially info-dumped onto me and that made things even less exciting. The story would constantly be all over the place too, whether it was Hal and Roberto’s escapades at home in America or in Egypt or flashbacks of Cleopatra and Marc Antony, it was a mess. I just felt confused about WHAT the story was actually supposed to be about because there was history and fact and then randomly throw some myth and magic in for the sake of doing so. A lot of the time magic was actually used as an excuse for some sort of plot point or to easily explain something without actually explaining something. I could not even begin to tell you how magic or myth was actually supposed to fit into this story.
On top of being mostly a confusing mess, the plot was also extremely unbelievable. Which says a lot considering magic and myth were involved and this was supposed to be a FANTASY novel. Such as the main character, Hal, being essentially forced into taking a trip to Egypt after finding his best friend brutally murdered in the woods instead of allowing him to grieve. Yes, that makes perfect sense and oh, take your other friend with you for no reason other than to have another character there. On top of that the ending was absolutely over the top, I can’t even. I don’t actually want to spoil anything so I won’t say exactly what happened but it felt so hasty and thrown together and further solidified my opinion that nothing made sense and the story didn’t actually know what it wanted to be.
And as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, it’s extremely slow paced and I felt very bored once I got further into reading the book. Boring, confusing, messy, and poor writing. It did not have much going for it and even after finishing it all the way up until the end I still feel that way. Although I will give it props for being decent enough for me to finish instead of just DNF’ing it.
The main character is Hal, interested in Egyptian history and Cleo, who is his best friend that believes she is the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra. Cleo is murdered, by a demon that only Hal saw, and thus Hal is thrust on a quest to Egypt with his tag-along friend, Roberto to free Cleopatra’s soul. Hal was pretty boring and I don’t believe any of the characters had any level of complexity, they all felt like cardboard cutouts. The adult characters were hardly even there and when they were, they felt so….fake. The book’s only saving grace is Hal’s friend, Roberto, honestly. He was hilarious and actually had a personality, easily my favorite part of the book.
Honestly, I don’t even want to get going on this either. Hal had a crush on Cleo, which leads him on this entire journey essentially. This goes hand in hand with the flashbacks and over arcing plot point of Marcus Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship. I don’t want to spoil a whole lot of the story but their romantic relationship is probably one of the only plot points I could actually hold onto while reading and is generally what the book is supposed to be about. Yes, it’s a romantic concept. However, the whole thing with Hal and Cleo just never made any sense to me, it’s just sort of…there.
What I Loved:
The little bit of Egyptian mythology and history that were present.
Roberto.
What I Didn’t Love:
Poor, slow pacing.
Writing was choppy and didn’t flow well.
Story felt like a jumble and didn’t know what it wanted to be.
Magic and myth were used as an easy excuse or explain-away.
Info dumping.
Aspects of the story were over the top and unbelievable.
Characters were flat .
Overall this story didn’t have a lot of redeemable qualities for me and felt boring and messy. None are more disappointed than I with this book, trust me, I expected something very different than what I got. I can’t say I recommend this book at all, especially if you’re like me thinking “Oh, Egyptian mythology and history, fun!”. Don’t do it. I gave this a two star rating purely for Roberto and the fact that I managed to finish the whole thing.
Trigger Warnings: Death, Murder
**** Huge thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****
First of all, as far as I could tell this was being pushed as a more adult book which it did not feel like at all. This felt a lot more like YA and at times the writing even felt a tad Middle Grade-ish to me, which is fine of course, but not really what I wanted when a book is being advertised as Adult. The writing, aside from feeling immature at times, was just sort of odd and didn’t flow very well. The story and the dialogue all felt sort of jumbled together and choppy. An example of something that bothered me was some of the word usage. Such as, the word “trotted” was used to describe movement WAY too often. The reason I bring this up at all is to show you HOW MUCH IT FREAKING BOTHERED ME! I’m serious. That word itself was used so much to the point where it was actually driving me crazy while reading. “Hal trotted towards the stairs”, “He trotted to the tent”, etc. Use some other words! “Walked”, “Ran”, “Scrambled”, “Scurried”. I don’t know! Just quit saying the characters were “trotting” everywhere. So yes, I was not a huge fan of the writing or style at all.
The story itself was, again, a huge jumble. The main reason I was excited to read this book was for the Egyptian mythology and we got so little of it that I felt cheated almost. Whenever there was any Egyptian myth, lore or history it was essentially info-dumped onto me and that made things even less exciting. The story would constantly be all over the place too, whether it was Hal and Roberto’s escapades at home in America or in Egypt or flashbacks of Cleopatra and Marc Antony, it was a mess. I just felt confused about WHAT the story was actually supposed to be about because there was history and fact and then randomly throw some myth and magic in for the sake of doing so. A lot of the time magic was actually used as an excuse for some sort of plot point or to easily explain something without actually explaining something. I could not even begin to tell you how magic or myth was actually supposed to fit into this story.
On top of being mostly a confusing mess, the plot was also extremely unbelievable. Which says a lot considering magic and myth were involved and this was supposed to be a FANTASY novel. Such as the main character, Hal, being essentially forced into taking a trip to Egypt after finding his best friend brutally murdered in the woods instead of allowing him to grieve. Yes, that makes perfect sense and oh, take your other friend with you for no reason other than to have another character there. On top of that the ending was absolutely over the top, I can’t even. I don’t actually want to spoil anything so I won’t say exactly what happened but it felt so hasty and thrown together and further solidified my opinion that nothing made sense and the story didn’t actually know what it wanted to be.
And as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, it’s extremely slow paced and I felt very bored once I got further into reading the book. Boring, confusing, messy, and poor writing. It did not have much going for it and even after finishing it all the way up until the end I still feel that way. Although I will give it props for being decent enough for me to finish instead of just DNF’ing it.
The main character is Hal, interested in Egyptian history and Cleo, who is his best friend that believes she is the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra. Cleo is murdered, by a demon that only Hal saw, and thus Hal is thrust on a quest to Egypt with his tag-along friend, Roberto to free Cleopatra’s soul. Hal was pretty boring and I don’t believe any of the characters had any level of complexity, they all felt like cardboard cutouts. The adult characters were hardly even there and when they were, they felt so….fake. The book’s only saving grace is Hal’s friend, Roberto, honestly. He was hilarious and actually had a personality, easily my favorite part of the book.
Honestly, I don’t even want to get going on this either. Hal had a crush on Cleo, which leads him on this entire journey essentially. This goes hand in hand with the flashbacks and over arcing plot point of Marcus Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship. I don’t want to spoil a whole lot of the story but their romantic relationship is probably one of the only plot points I could actually hold onto while reading and is generally what the book is supposed to be about. Yes, it’s a romantic concept. However, the whole thing with Hal and Cleo just never made any sense to me, it’s just sort of…there.
What I Loved:
The little bit of Egyptian mythology and history that were present.
Roberto.
What I Didn’t Love:
Poor, slow pacing.
Writing was choppy and didn’t flow well.
Story felt like a jumble and didn’t know what it wanted to be.
Magic and myth were used as an easy excuse or explain-away.
Info dumping.
Aspects of the story were over the top and unbelievable.
Characters were flat .
Overall this story didn’t have a lot of redeemable qualities for me and felt boring and messy. None are more disappointed than I with this book, trust me, I expected something very different than what I got. I can’t say I recommend this book at all, especially if you’re like me thinking “Oh, Egyptian mythology and history, fun!”. Don’t do it. I gave this a two star rating purely for Roberto and the fact that I managed to finish the whole thing.
Trigger Warnings: Death, Murder
**** Huge thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****
April 1, 2020
If you could pick any best friend, one who is brilliant, compassionate, loyal, and indulges your idiosyncrasies even when everyone else thinks you're delusional, who would it be? Cleo found Hal, or he found her, and the rest is history, literally.
CRIES FROM THE LOST ISLAND is a spectacular story of friendship! Hal, Roberto, and Cleo are misfits, according to their high school student body, but there's nothing further from the truth. When you can find two or more people who "click" spiritually then no one is a misfit. Hal and Cleo are those two from the very beginning, and Roberto is their missing link. Every character in this book is so well drawn that it was hard to choose a favorite. However, even though I think most will embrace Roberto (who's fabulous!) I truly connected with Hal.
Technically, this is a Young Adult novel, but it goes much deeper than that. This is an amazing story that expounds upon the mysteries of Cleopatra and her love, Marc Antony. You've got to read it for yourself, because the trail that this author follows to find the truth is stunning.
If you love history, or are simply enthralled by the mysteries of Cleopatra and her life, this story should not be missed! It's going on my "Favorites" shelf, and because of its fascinating historical facts, I'm confident I'll be reading it again soon.
CRIES FROM THE LOST ISLAND is a spectacular story of friendship! Hal, Roberto, and Cleo are misfits, according to their high school student body, but there's nothing further from the truth. When you can find two or more people who "click" spiritually then no one is a misfit. Hal and Cleo are those two from the very beginning, and Roberto is their missing link. Every character in this book is so well drawn that it was hard to choose a favorite. However, even though I think most will embrace Roberto (who's fabulous!) I truly connected with Hal.
Technically, this is a Young Adult novel, but it goes much deeper than that. This is an amazing story that expounds upon the mysteries of Cleopatra and her love, Marc Antony. You've got to read it for yourself, because the trail that this author follows to find the truth is stunning.
If you love history, or are simply enthralled by the mysteries of Cleopatra and her life, this story should not be missed! It's going on my "Favorites" shelf, and because of its fascinating historical facts, I'm confident I'll be reading it again soon.
October 3, 2020
Kathleen O’Neal Gear’s Cries from the Lost Island followed Hal and his friend Robert after they find their friend Cleo murdered, and set out to grant her last request. Cleo claims to be the reincarnation of Cleopatra. They set out with archaeologist Dr James Moriarty to visit Egypt in hopes of finding the legendary graves of Cleopatra and Marc Antony.
I loved Roberto. He was pagan and cast spells at times (off page). Those outcomes came to pass, and while it could have been coincidence, it's more magical to think he really did. He's practical though, and doesn't believe just anything. Really, it's like magic as science.
I loved the history and the archaeology! I’m a big fan of the Gears’ First North Americans series and offshoots. Egyptian myth is fascinating and Egyptology equally intriguing. This was the first book I've read by Kathleen alone, and I found the tone quite different! In fact, I almost shelved reading it at the time because it didn't 'feel' like a Gear novel. I'm glad I stuck with it after all. It's given me an even greater appreciation for the Gears' writing.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley/DAW for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I loved Roberto. He was pagan and cast spells at times (off page). Those outcomes came to pass, and while it could have been coincidence, it's more magical to think he really did. He's practical though, and doesn't believe just anything. Really, it's like magic as science.
I loved the history and the archaeology! I’m a big fan of the Gears’ First North Americans series and offshoots. Egyptian myth is fascinating and Egyptology equally intriguing. This was the first book I've read by Kathleen alone, and I found the tone quite different! In fact, I almost shelved reading it at the time because it didn't 'feel' like a Gear novel. I'm glad I stuck with it after all. It's given me an even greater appreciation for the Gears' writing.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley/DAW for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 6, 2023
Hal is a misfit at school and at home. He is deeply in love with Cleo who claims to be the reincarnation of Cleopatra. When she is murdered, Hal and his best friend Roberto travel to Egypt with Cleo’s uncle to solve the mystery of her death.
Part fantasy, part mystery and part historical romance this is a difficult book to categorize. This is definitely a YA book aimed at teen readers though adults should enjoy it as well. As an adult some things did not ring true for me. For instance the fact that Hal’s mother is insistent that he is mentally ill because of his love of history and deep feelings for Cleo and the fact his parents were willing to send him the Egypt with a man they barely knew. Hal’s constant vacillation between belief in Cleo and his visions of the past and then believing he is mentally ill as his mother insists is probably true as to how teens doubt themselves but it was distracting to the story’s progression.
While the story wraps up nicely it leaves room for a sequel. As hard as it was to get into this book initially, I would be happy to see more of Hal, and especially Roberto, and their adventures. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon
Part fantasy, part mystery and part historical romance this is a difficult book to categorize. This is definitely a YA book aimed at teen readers though adults should enjoy it as well. As an adult some things did not ring true for me. For instance the fact that Hal’s mother is insistent that he is mentally ill because of his love of history and deep feelings for Cleo and the fact his parents were willing to send him the Egypt with a man they barely knew. Hal’s constant vacillation between belief in Cleo and his visions of the past and then believing he is mentally ill as his mother insists is probably true as to how teens doubt themselves but it was distracting to the story’s progression.
While the story wraps up nicely it leaves room for a sequel. As hard as it was to get into this book initially, I would be happy to see more of Hal, and especially Roberto, and their adventures. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon
March 23, 2020
Superb!
I have been reading all my life. I started this book one evening and could NOT put it down, literally. I finished in under 15 hours including breaks.
Kathleen O'Neal Gear has written a novel which reaches out, pulling you into another world through her masterful use of the written word.
I have been learning Egyptian history most of my life, yet I can only now say I understand. Along with an amazing storyline, she weaves a tale unparalleled of characters so rich you feel their feelings.
I am excited to obtain a tangible copy as my grandson will enjoy the adrenaline pumping story as it unfolds. Not to mention the valuable history lesson it will impart.
I would love to read more stories by Kathleen on Egyptian history, archaeology, and anthropology.
Very satisfied reader,
Tess Cole
I have been reading all my life. I started this book one evening and could NOT put it down, literally. I finished in under 15 hours including breaks.
Kathleen O'Neal Gear has written a novel which reaches out, pulling you into another world through her masterful use of the written word.
I have been learning Egyptian history most of my life, yet I can only now say I understand. Along with an amazing storyline, she weaves a tale unparalleled of characters so rich you feel their feelings.
I am excited to obtain a tangible copy as my grandson will enjoy the adrenaline pumping story as it unfolds. Not to mention the valuable history lesson it will impart.
I would love to read more stories by Kathleen on Egyptian history, archaeology, and anthropology.
Very satisfied reader,
Tess Cole
March 28, 2020
4.5 stars
If you love ancient Egypt, the story of Cleopatra and Marc Antony, and stories of the gods/esses, this book is for you!
Our story revolves around a sixteen year old named Hal, who is in love with a girl who believes she is the reincarnation of Cleopatra. Cleo is murdered and then Hal and his friend Roberto are off to Egypt to try and solve the case.
The amount of detail with the history of Cleopatra and Marc Antony is amazing. I've always loved history, so it was right up my alley. Obviously I don't know if it is all true, or if some liberties were taken, but it is all seamless and is hard to tell one way or the other.
The story arc is finished but it does leave it open for another adventure it the author choices to. I really hope she does as I would read it in a second!
If you love ancient Egypt, the story of Cleopatra and Marc Antony, and stories of the gods/esses, this book is for you!
Our story revolves around a sixteen year old named Hal, who is in love with a girl who believes she is the reincarnation of Cleopatra. Cleo is murdered and then Hal and his friend Roberto are off to Egypt to try and solve the case.
The amount of detail with the history of Cleopatra and Marc Antony is amazing. I've always loved history, so it was right up my alley. Obviously I don't know if it is all true, or if some liberties were taken, but it is all seamless and is hard to tell one way or the other.
The story arc is finished but it does leave it open for another adventure it the author choices to. I really hope she does as I would read it in a second!
May 8, 2020
When Cleo is killed, her friends Hal and Roberto jump at the chance to travel to Egypt with the famed archaeologist Dr. Moriarity. Cleo was convinced she was the reincarnation of Cleopatra and left Hal with a mission: to find the graves of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. But all is not as it seems, and Cleo's killers are on the hunt for the same.
As an adult reading a teen book: I really wanted to like this book more, and it did get better as it went along, but there was just some disconnect, something just not quite right with the characters and actions in the story. Parents sending their kids with someone they barely know to Egypt? I'm just not sure about this book. With insight into archaeological digs, it was a pretty good, fun adventure story filled with suspense and hints of mythical beings walking among us.
As an adult reading a teen book: I really wanted to like this book more, and it did get better as it went along, but there was just some disconnect, something just not quite right with the characters and actions in the story. Parents sending their kids with someone they barely know to Egypt? I'm just not sure about this book. With insight into archaeological digs, it was a pretty good, fun adventure story filled with suspense and hints of mythical beings walking among us.
July 7, 2020
I'm a sucker for most anything the Gears write and have been for as long as they've been published. This latest offering from Kathleen was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the characters were weak and the story moved too slowly until the end.
The thing about the Gears is they are always teaching and they make archeology understandable and interesting. The story moves from a small mountain town outside Denver, Colorado to the Egyptian desert all centered around Cleopatra and Antonius: the history; the legend; the romance. The characters never seemed to take center stage. The focus of the story had more to do with Egyptian history and culture and what takes place at an archeological site.
The story had its moments, but not enough to make it a compelling or fascinating read. A little bit of mystery. A little bit of suspense. A little trip through time complete with demons and ghosts and maybe a touch of magic.
The thing about the Gears is they are always teaching and they make archeology understandable and interesting. The story moves from a small mountain town outside Denver, Colorado to the Egyptian desert all centered around Cleopatra and Antonius: the history; the legend; the romance. The characters never seemed to take center stage. The focus of the story had more to do with Egyptian history and culture and what takes place at an archeological site.
The story had its moments, but not enough to make it a compelling or fascinating read. A little bit of mystery. A little bit of suspense. A little trip through time complete with demons and ghosts and maybe a touch of magic.
August 18, 2020
It's been too long since I visited the stunning libraries of Kathleen O'Neal Gear and Her husband W. Michael Gear. A quick visit to their page shows that I've been gone too long! It's time to catch up on my favorite native American series , I've already ordered a book to take me back in time.
This story is YA, full of teenage angst, first love and coming of age. I found it difficult to put down and tried not to inhale the story line as I read about an unfolding story during the age of Cleopatra's reign in her final days. The characters towards the end make you wonder if we will see more from them or will they be stand alone?
I'm hoping that we see more of this story line. Back to the native American series with a vengeance!!
This story is YA, full of teenage angst, first love and coming of age. I found it difficult to put down and tried not to inhale the story line as I read about an unfolding story during the age of Cleopatra's reign in her final days. The characters towards the end make you wonder if we will see more from them or will they be stand alone?
I'm hoping that we see more of this story line. Back to the native American series with a vengeance!!
July 31, 2021
Wonderful!
As Ms. Gear's books always are, Cries From the Lost Island is full of great, real-life characters, a full range of emotions, enough mystery to keep the mind working, & a bit of thrill to keep the heart pumping!! Another win under her belt! The final twist just blew my mind! I did NOT see it coming! And the cherry on top, just as the storm hit at the site, thunder hit on top of my house! Talk about being immersed in a story!! Although I feel this was written for a younger audience, this Senior enjoyed it very much. I read it straight through! Couldn't stop! Recommend this book? You better believe it!
As Ms. Gear's books always are, Cries From the Lost Island is full of great, real-life characters, a full range of emotions, enough mystery to keep the mind working, & a bit of thrill to keep the heart pumping!! Another win under her belt! The final twist just blew my mind! I did NOT see it coming! And the cherry on top, just as the storm hit at the site, thunder hit on top of my house! Talk about being immersed in a story!! Although I feel this was written for a younger audience, this Senior enjoyed it very much. I read it straight through! Couldn't stop! Recommend this book? You better believe it!
March 9, 2024
This was a fun and unexpected adventure combining ancient Roman and Egyptian mythology with a modern-day detective story.
I was swept into the story from the start, and enjoyed the ride, but I found it to be confusing in parts. I felt very off balance, not knowing what was real and what wasn't.
I felt that the author could have made the dream world and the real world more distinct, so that the reader doesn't get lost.
But I felt that perhaps we were meant to be kept off balance, much like the 16-year-old protagonist, who spent the entire book wondering if he were insane.
I liked it but I did struggle to follow the story at times.
I was swept into the story from the start, and enjoyed the ride, but I found it to be confusing in parts. I felt very off balance, not knowing what was real and what wasn't.
I felt that the author could have made the dream world and the real world more distinct, so that the reader doesn't get lost.
But I felt that perhaps we were meant to be kept off balance, much like the 16-year-old protagonist, who spent the entire book wondering if he were insane.
I liked it but I did struggle to follow the story at times.
May 17, 2020
I loved the subject matter and writing style in this book. I loved the history and the sense of adventure.
However it didn’t feel professionally edited. There were some typos, words mistaken for their homophones and not fixed, missing commas, that kind of thing. Also several instances where the author seemed to have gotten mixed up with her complex plot and confused a point or two.
That’s why you keep detailed plot graphs and hire editors, folks.
If it hadn’t been for those errors, this book would have been exquisite. It was still very good, and I still enjoyed it a lot.
However it didn’t feel professionally edited. There were some typos, words mistaken for their homophones and not fixed, missing commas, that kind of thing. Also several instances where the author seemed to have gotten mixed up with her complex plot and confused a point or two.
That’s why you keep detailed plot graphs and hire editors, folks.
If it hadn’t been for those errors, this book would have been exquisite. It was still very good, and I still enjoyed it a lot.
May 24, 2020
I was unsure about this to start out since I was not initially impressed with the characters. A chubby, nerdy teenager boy, the mysterious outcast girl he's in love with, and his creepy horn-dog friend. I've read (and abandoned) that kind of story before. While this never really pulled out of that one dimensional character rut, the plot was fast-paced and picked up at the final chapters. Had the characters been more fleshed out, I would have rated this higher. Not a terrible read, but not worth a reread either.
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