Millennia before Alyssa, Paul, and Tasha... The ancient Rathadi and Pureans live side by side, sharing the island entrusted to their care. When the fragile peace between them is shattered, a young boy, exiled to a distant land, rises to become worshipped as the falcon-headed god.
About the Author - written from the point-of-view of his 15-year old daughter (that's me! :)
Some say that M. Sasinowski writes until 4 am... fueled by a single cup of decaf coffee. Others say this Polish-born American hyper-nerd absorbs energy from late-night TV space shows. No matter the truth... he's my dad. He will never be cool.
He loves archaeology, Star Wars/Trek, martial arts (especially women who kick butt), and impromptu father/daughter (that's me! :) science debates or music jam-sessions. He's kind of smart, I suppose (he has a physics PhD, and an MD, or whatever) and likes to build computers for fun.
His teenage daughter (that's me! :) is occasionally a handful to deal with and also served as the inspiration for the main character in his debut young adult novel Heir of Ra.
You may recognize him from his glorious hair or his tendency to do the "vacuum cleaner" dance to embarrass his daughter (that's me... :(.
If you ever see this man, approach with care and greet him in a language he understands, like in Klingon or, better yet, in Wookie.
*Disclaimer: Reviewed from an electronic copy gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review.
♔ PUBLISHED: 5 December 2020 ♔ PAGES: Kindle Edition, 396 ♔ GENRE: Thriller, Fantasy Fiction ♔
The Blood of Ra series continues, but in the latest book Dawn of Ra, Maciek Sasinowski shows the reader how everything started. Dawn of Ra is the back-story of the first three books: Heir of Ra, Daughter of Ra and Legacy of Ra. If you haven't read the series yet, you're in luck because Dawn of Ra can be read as a standalone and is Horus's (Heru-pa) story. If you have read the series, you are in for a treat to discover the back-story of Horus and how it all began.
M. Sasinowski includes a summary of the original trilogy to refresh our memories. I found this enjoyable and helpful since this series is filled with a lot of adventure, thrill and plot twists and reading the summaries instantly brought everything back. The book is divided into three parts: Dawn, Tempest and Exile. We meet the two ancient races, Rathadi and Pure Ones residing on one island (a map is included of the Island Kingdom of Atlantis). Maps are always useful and enhance the reading experience. Heru-pa (later named Horus) is the Rathadi prince and he is best friends with Set, the Pure Ones crown prince. Their friendship and 'brotherhood' evolves during the story and their connection plays an important part in keeping the peace between the two races.
M. Sasinowski describes the island of Atlantis in great detail and there is never a dull moment in the story. The story has a good flow to it and the plot twists are interesting and unexpected. Initially, I rated the story four stars out of five but later changed it to five. My main reason for changing it is because it's not easy to create a fictional world that feels so believable, it's not easy creating characters that have an emotional impact on a reader, much less writing a back-story that is so fitting and effortlessly invites familiar and unfamiliar readers into Horus's world. M. Sasinowski takes Egyptian mythology and transforms it.
I would have liked more detail of Horus and the falcon's convergence, but I understand there was more pressing matters to focus on. I don't want to go in detail about this book, I always feel a reader must experience a story without preformed opinions, but the only thing I want to say is that I love the Blood of Ra series and Dawn of Ra adds that 'extra' which makes this series extraordinary!
Entering the portal of fantasy – the beginnings of Ra
Polish-born Virginia author Maciek Sasinowski thundered onto the literary scene with HEIR OF RA one of the best conceived and executed fantasy adventures that, while directed toward the Young Adult audience, adult readers with an appreciation for his mixture of mythology, science, and adventure will find it makes a fine impact. He continued that impact with DAUGHTER OF RA, and LEGACY OF RA and now he proffers the inception of the series in this Prequel, appropriately named DAWN OF RA. Of note, Maciek’s humor, liberally sprinkled throughout his books, is suggested by his daughter’s biographical summary: PhD in physics AND an MD (!) with a keen interest in archeology, martial arts and music.
Defining his reason for creating a prequel for his successful series, Maciek states, ‘If you read the first three books, I hope you will have fun reconnecting with the characters you met in Alyssa’s flashbacks,’ and then he provides an overview of the initial three novels as a courtesy to the first timers!
DAWN OF RA is a fantasy set in Atlantis and provides the back-story of Horus, Set, Thoth and other characters who populate the three books of the series. Retaining his superb sense of story weaving, the Prologue provides a hint of the tale: ‘The Purean truth-seeker gazed over the flames lapping at the edges of the divination bowl. The burning oils swathed the chamber in scents of metopian, and the fire cast soft shadows against the walls and the solitary bed that occupied the space. A scream cut through the silence. The Rathadi female writhed against the damp sheets, her skin stretched firmly over her bulging stomach. The birthing woman seated between the Rathadi’s thighs cried our, “He is crowning! Push now, hard.”…Tell King Osiris that his wife and son are both healthy…’
Beginnings – and a fine story on its own, DAWN OF RA reveals ‘Millennia before Alyssa, Paul, and Tasha. One island, two ancient races. A young boy, exiled from home, who rises to become worshipped as the falcon-headed god.’ Maciek Sasinowski has produced a prequel to his series that aligns gods and mythology and science and genetics and keen adventure. Now, do yourself a favor and read the entire series! Very highly recommended – for all audiences
A good story gives you an escape, a great story transports you. This prequel not only fleshes out the backstory of one of my favorite trilogies it transforms the story into fantasy filled with characters that endear and quests and mysteries that excite the imagination. M. Sasinowski has become a deft story teller weaving magic, myth and history with a falcon eye for detail.
This is a prequel to The Blood of Ra 3 book series; which I also read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was thrilled to be asked to beta read this book. I dearly loved the first three books and was excited to return to this world. The writing is really good. The book flows really nicely and as I told the author it starts out with a bang and just keeps moving forward. If you read and enjoyed the first three books, you will love getting the backstory in more detail. If you haven’t read the first three books, you should really give them a try, then come back and read the backstory.
This is a wonderful story, so compellingly told that I skipped lunch and read it almost without any breaks, and now feel moved to write about it before dinner.
To start with, I'd originally not liked the "flash-backs" to the time/world of Horus and Atlantis in the first of the main series, because I felt they interfered with the great main narrative. But I found myself increasingly drawn to those parts and the world described therein, and of course, to author Maciek Sasinowski and his story-telling skills.
And now, as a wonderful bonus, Sasinowski seems to be promising us three books set entirely in the Atlantis/Horus world/time. Best of all, and in keeping with the steady trend in his first three books, this latest title is even longer than any of the others, so it is crammed full of wonderful description and narrative.
The world of Atlantis and the two races who co-inhabit it are described in great and compelling detail, and the narrative never gets bogged down in static "scene setting" descriptions, but somehow, Sasinowski both richly fleshes out his world while keeping the action moving at the pace you may have already come to love in the first trilogy.
Perhaps it is his own scientific background, but I love the way the fantasy world of magic is also intertwined with logic and constraints, and the emerging scientific knowledge - such as a tangential discussion on if the earth or sun is the central reference point - makes it all the more interesting. It is difficult to merge both science and magic together, Sasinowski does it well.
I suspect the book is targeted at a readership similar to the teen ages of the main protagonists, but as one who is way older than that, I still found it compelling and involving, and was able to identify with the issues and emotions of all characters, young and old.
Truly, it is a compelling page-turner of a read. Fully recommended. Noting the great pace with with Sasinowski is churning out these great stories, I hope it won't be too long for the second and third in this second trilogy.
Dawn of Ra is the intense and fascinating prequel to Maciek Sasinowski’s thrilling fantasy adventure trilogy, Blood of Ra. His new book is written in a way that allows it to be read without having read the trilogy.
The book has Egyptian mythology woven deep into its fibers and tells the tale of what happened in the forgotten city of Atlantis many millennia before today’s modern age. Inhabiting Atlantis are two races of people – Pureans and Rathadi – who coexist together on the island in somewhat peaceful harmony. However, when a sudden and worrying attack strikes Atlantis and breaches the gate, the Pureans and Rathadi are scrambling for their footing as they try to figure out who attacked them, and why. The Purean and Rathadi princes work together to uncover the secrets of their city and people’s past.
If you love mythology and adventure, this is the book for you. Cloaked in mystery and intrigue, Dawn of Ra has back to back action that makes it difficult to put down. Sasinowski weaves a complex storyline filled with espionage and secrecy. There is a wide range of personalities in the characters, each of which played a special role in the large puzzle. I enjoyed the vast world-building, and (spoiler!) was sad to see two main characters leave Atlantis because I wanted to remain in the beautiful – but now dangerous – island.
The plot is complex and detailed and there are many moving parts in this story. Sometimes it was a bit difficult to follow everything that was happening and match names to characters. The intricacy and attention to detail goes to show how thoughtful Sasinowski is and how much time and planning he has put into Dawn of Ra.
I give Dawn of Ra 5 out of 5 stars. The many twist and turns, magical spells, and surprises make this book a great read for teenagers and above who like action and mythology. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
Heru-Pa, being a Rathadi, is about to go through an important rite where he and his sentinel become one, and he will be given his true name (Horus). Set is destined to reign over the Purean's. However, when the island of Atlantis is attacked by a foe long thought dead, both of them will have to face challenges that would crush anyone, never mind two twelve-year-olds.
Having read the trilogy, I was excited when I heard this book was available to pre-order. I downloaded it as soon as it became available.
I was quickly swept up into the tale. I loved the way the two boys acted, like brothers. I also liked how they grew as the story progressed. I spent most of my time on a rollercoaster of emotion throughout. I cursed the author in my head for it. However, I also thanked him because he brought the characters to life.
It's a stand-alone read, so even if you read the trilogy first, you will not face confusion. However, it explains the history that joins Alyssa's destiny. My only criticism is that I wish it was a little longer and showed Horus as a young man/adult and up until he came face to face with Alyssa. I know it wasn't possible as it spanned millennia. Nevertheless, I loved the journey from beginning to end.
M. Sasinowski is a fantastic author. As Heir of Ra was his first book, I think this author is one to watch. I love his fast-paced writing style. His characters come to life on the page, and I can picture the scenes in my mind's eye with ease. I also love the story flow, which runs smoothly from scene to scene. I've added him to my favourite author's list.
There are scenes of a sexual nature (not explicitly shown) between adult characters, and there is some violence, so I feel that parental guidance may be required. I highly recommend this book (and series) to teens and adults alike who love YA science fiction, fantasy, action, adventure, thrillers, mysteries, mythology, and romance genres. - Lynn Worton
The Rathadi and Pureans races come alive with information about their societies, cultures and politics, making this story compelling. It does make me believe that the two races exist in ancient history.
If you have yet to read the trilogy and plan to read it, you may skip the few pages on the front! It's a summary of the three books. Those who have read the trilogy will get to read uninterrupted storytelling of the flashes of memories mentioned in the trilogy in this stand-alone book.
Those who did not read the trilogy will feel that the story was incomplete because it did not tell Horus' complete life story. Information such as his army, wife, son, the destruction of the Atlantis, how his grandfather stored his memories, et cetera, was not mentioned in the story. Maybe we'll get another book for this? Dusk of Ra?
I loved the relationship between Horus and Set the most in this story. It warmed my heart, but it's just too bad that they have to be parted that way. Another thing I liked was the cover of the books in this series. It was absolutely gorgeous. I strongly recommend this series for those who love Egyptian mythology, adventures and fast-paced books.
Loved it - honestly might even be my favorite of the whole collection. With the original trilogy, you see glimpses and memories of the past. With this prequel, you witness it first hand!
This book felt very cohesive and focused on the backstory behind the original trilogy. I felt part of the Rathadi and Purean society, part of their culture and connected with the characters. I loved the “fantasy” elements of the story - almost better than a more action driven story.
It’s still a showcase Maciek Sasinowski book - and that means “unputdownable”! But it adds depth to the story, captures fantasy elements and leaves you eager to read the next book coming out!
Reading this book was such an immersive experience. The author is incredibly talented at creating worlds and characters that are worth reading. I have read the trilogy and found this backstory to be just as rich as the other books, if not more so. I love the relationship between the two boys Set and Heru-pa. Even though from divergent races, they are like brothers. They should lead their people to an enlightened age, but the folly of man intercedes. When the two are separated and go their own ways, the quality of who they are as people still shines through. I think this is one of the hallmarks of a great author, that their characters become so real causing the reader to experience tremendous empathy.
I really dug "Blood of Ra," the first book in this series. so I couldn't wait to check out the prequel.
The author really digs deep into his own mythos here, and I am 100% in favor of that. The world here is exhaustively detailed, and you can tell the glee with which Sasinowski keeps exploring further into it.
The series is a fantasy adventure that thunders along at an epic speed. I can't wait to read more in this series.
Here's what I wrote about Blood of Ra: "This book is so fun. It's an Indiana Jones movie and a National Treasure movie and The Mummy and tons of other fun action flick-style stories in convenient book form."
That's true again for this book. Read it now. Bug the author until he writes more. You have your orders.
This prequel is rich with ancient lore, the details and imagery brings Horus's world alive. The hardships and experiences of Horus and Set both, wonderful and terrible, shape who they must become. How two uniquely different people's struggle to maintain peace, yet fail due to treachery, dark magic, betrayals and fear. From the beautifully done cover to the storyline, another exquisitely written tale that I wished would continue. Would love to see what occurred between the years left off here and his adult adventures...
I can't believe I did not read this the day I got it. The first book was given to me for a review by the author bug I read the whole set and really enjoyed them. This one was just as good and I got to learn so much about the past. I so want to know what happens with Horus and Thoth. The characters in this book were barely touched on in the other books even though they were used so well. I'm not always a fan of prequels but they have done a great job and I hope to read more of their times. These are all worthy reads.
Love that the RA series backstory has come to life. I blasted through the first books in record time. The same with this first prequel. This franchise needs to be on the silver screen! The two bloodlines who were at peace and the evil that drove a wedge between them make for a great page turner. I can’t wait to see what becomes of Horus! Keep ‘em coming!!
Here is the beginning of the end of Atlantis. Horus and Set are two young princelings of two different races. They have grown up together and with Mia share a sibling love for each other. Whether the prophecy given at Horus birth could have been prevented or not it has come to pass. The story has shades of racism and betrayal that gut you. I await anxiously for the next chapter.
This prequel to the Blood of Ra trilogy is very well conceived and brought to life by the author. I have read all four books and they're all fantastic but this one is especially immersive and answers a lot of questions about how it all started. I'm looking forward to the release of the next book in the prequel series! One question I'm especially interested in knowing the answer to is where Thoth's immense knowledge came from.
Dawn of Ra is the prequel to the Blood of Ra series. It starts with Horus as a young boy and is the story of how the Rathidi and Purean races became enemies.
Dawn of Ra is cinematic in nature with excellent world-building. The fast-paced plot keeps readers turning pages. This well-written, engaging read is highly recommended for fans of fantasy, mythology, and adventure.
Ancient Egypt and Atlantis, a mix of myth and ancient lands. A host of well known names with a new take on the possible mix of truth and imagination that is behind the myths. Intriguing and action packed
Either as a stand alone prequel to the main series, or if you’ve read the main series and wanted more of the timeline of how things started, you won’t go wrong with ‘Dawn of Ra’!
A great enthralling story throughout, and really well done!
M Sasinowski is an excellent author! I have now read all four of his books. His imagination and story telling are at par with some of the more established writers! I look forward to seeing many more wonderful works from him.
This is the book that has the something so many of look for. Although it is a prequel the book is independent and can be a great starting point. I recommend it to everyone.
Loved this book. It offered an explanation and understanding to the books that finished the saga. Excellent! Will definitely read the trilogy again...😊
Such a great prequel. I loved getting to follow how things began and get to know more about the heritages. I was engaged from the very beginning and was on the end of my seat up until the last page. Can’t wait for the next one!