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Sekhmet's Light #1
Akhet
It is a season of waning and little is certain. Akhet, The Inundation. The world is changing, Gods of old stir, and their agents work behind the scenes to fulfill their masters' commands. Who will have the courage to stand for The Light when darkness rises to swallow the world?
Doctor Nicole Salem is a beautiful and brilliant Egyptologist who is working on a dig outside Luxor, Egypt when she is confronted by her own destiny. She is plunged into a world of divided loyalties, intrigue, and treachery that will destroy her and everything she knows if she isn't strong enough. Nicole must learn how to survive in a war between elder powers that claim her life and soul as their own, and earn the title of Sekhmet's Light.
Doctor Nicole Salem is a beautiful and brilliant Egyptologist who is working on a dig outside Luxor, Egypt when she is confronted by her own destiny. She is plunged into a world of divided loyalties, intrigue, and treachery that will destroy her and everything she knows if she isn't strong enough. Nicole must learn how to survive in a war between elder powers that claim her life and soul as their own, and earn the title of Sekhmet's Light.
210 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2010
7 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Reasby
9 books19 followersThough born in Illinois, Heather spent most of her life in the Phoenix/Scottsdale metropolitan area of Arizona. Now residing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest (literally moving from one extreme to the another) she is married to Garth Patrick Reasby, who is a talented artist and writer in his own right.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 1, 2012
I received this book from Making Connections for free, in exchange of, an honest review. Get your copy here.
I really enjoyed this book for various reasons:
anything that has to do with mythology always attracts me and the author incorporated Egyptian mythology into this story beautifully.
the action begins with the first page and keeps going!
the story kept me interested throughout and it was the right length.
I liked how Nur/Nicole knew some things instinctively while she had to work to get better at others.
Another thing I liked about this book was that it can be read as a stand alone.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
I really enjoyed this book for various reasons:
anything that has to do with mythology always attracts me and the author incorporated Egyptian mythology into this story beautifully.
the action begins with the first page and keeps going!
the story kept me interested throughout and it was the right length.
I liked how Nur/Nicole knew some things instinctively while she had to work to get better at others.
Another thing I liked about this book was that it can be read as a stand alone.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2012
This is a nice beginning to what seems to be a very intriguing, action-packed series. Immersed in the alluring world of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, I could not help but be pulled into the story. The story proves to be very well researched in Egyptian mythology, and the main character, Dr. Nicole Salem, is strong-willed and fierce. She struggles with how to take on the responsibility of her newly awakened goddess status while leading an army into war against an evil Egyptian god. Although I did enjoy the plot, I was a bit disappointed by the pacing of the story. The book started off very fast paced, but lost some of that momentum towards the middle. Despite that, I did enjoy the story and would definitely read the next in the series.
March 14, 2012
It all started innocently enough for Dr. Nicole Salem, just another day “at the office”. If your office happened to be, the Deserts of Egypt and you happened to be an archeologist working in the ruins of an ancient Egyptian temple. That’s when things go from “just another day” to “staring down your own destiny” in the blink of an eye. Leaving Dr. Nicole Salem with a destiny she didn’t know was possible and enemies coming from all sides. As she learns what is to be who is she is, Sekhmet’s Light.
Akhet, The Inundation is book one in Sekhmet’s Light Trilogy written by H.L. Reasby. Reasby is a talented author with a firm grasp of both conversation and descriptive narrative. She is very detailed in her descriptions of characters and settings, which gives the reader a feeling of being included in the story. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Egypt; however, H.L. Reasby’s description left me feeling as if I could smell the air of the market place.
Her description of her characters covered every last detail so flawless that I felt as if I knew them nearly as well as I know myself. I also appreciated the ‘Dramatis Personae’ in the end of the book. I’ve read other novels where the authors have tried to include something similar before the novel even began and all it did was serve to confuse me for the first few chapters because I didn’t know who to look for. So Kudos for that!
If I’m honest, as much as I enjoyed Akhet, The Inundation, I had one major issue. The novel as a whole left me feeling a bit “time warped”. Basically, what I mean is this, so much would happen in a few pages that it felt to me as if 20, 30 or 40 pages had been read. In fact, I had read maybe 10 pages. At other times, things would move at a slower pace and the opposite would occur. I felt sure that 10 pages had been read; when in fact, I had read 40 pages or more. You would think that the two would cancel each other out. They don’t. They left me feeling like I was reading for hours at a time and hardly making any progress at all. A book that should have taken me a few days to read, took me 10 days.
Overall, “time warp” issues aside, I enjoyed Akhet, The Inundation. I mean yeah, it took me longer than usual to read but in the end, it did what it should and that’s get me hooked. I’m now invested in Dr. Nicole Salem’s life. I want to see how she handles this new twist destiny has thrown her way. I want to see if she beats the bad guys. I want to see if the girl can have her destiny, save the day and maybe find love too.
Akhet, The Inundation is book one in Sekhmet’s Light Trilogy written by H.L. Reasby. Reasby is a talented author with a firm grasp of both conversation and descriptive narrative. She is very detailed in her descriptions of characters and settings, which gives the reader a feeling of being included in the story. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Egypt; however, H.L. Reasby’s description left me feeling as if I could smell the air of the market place.
Her description of her characters covered every last detail so flawless that I felt as if I knew them nearly as well as I know myself. I also appreciated the ‘Dramatis Personae’ in the end of the book. I’ve read other novels where the authors have tried to include something similar before the novel even began and all it did was serve to confuse me for the first few chapters because I didn’t know who to look for. So Kudos for that!
If I’m honest, as much as I enjoyed Akhet, The Inundation, I had one major issue. The novel as a whole left me feeling a bit “time warped”. Basically, what I mean is this, so much would happen in a few pages that it felt to me as if 20, 30 or 40 pages had been read. In fact, I had read maybe 10 pages. At other times, things would move at a slower pace and the opposite would occur. I felt sure that 10 pages had been read; when in fact, I had read 40 pages or more. You would think that the two would cancel each other out. They don’t. They left me feeling like I was reading for hours at a time and hardly making any progress at all. A book that should have taken me a few days to read, took me 10 days.
Overall, “time warp” issues aside, I enjoyed Akhet, The Inundation. I mean yeah, it took me longer than usual to read but in the end, it did what it should and that’s get me hooked. I’m now invested in Dr. Nicole Salem’s life. I want to see how she handles this new twist destiny has thrown her way. I want to see if she beats the bad guys. I want to see if the girl can have her destiny, save the day and maybe find love too.
April 19, 2012
I am ecstatic to finally see someone spotlighting Egyptian mythology in an urban fantasy setting - and doing it well. The author's writing style was more eloquent than I expected to see in this genre. I enjoyed her detailed descriptions, especially of certain locations. It really helped me feel as though I was immersed in the story.
Akhet follows a similar formula to that of the Buffy franchise (the single female, chosen by a higher power to defend the world against encroaching darkness). Being female, I appreciated her depiction of a powerful woman protagonist. Nicole Salem is one lady I wouldn't want to mess with. Her behavior and reactions seemed to vary wildly, however. Just when I felt I had a grasp on her personality, she would do something unpredictable. She seemed just as likely to keep her head down and remain meek as she was to fly off the handle in anger. Then again, most women do seem to be greatly affected by their moods so this is probably realistic.
There is not much left to the imagination as far as character descriptions are concerned, which made it play almost like a movie in my head. I could picture everything and everyone so perfectly. In some books, I find such detailed descriptions distracting and unnecessary, but they worked in Akhet. The author paints a vivid picture with her words.
The only thing that seemed to distract me was the pacing. Some parts of it felt like they slowly dragged on without much happening. These were punctuated by moments of intense action that were short-lived, but exquisitely executed. The action-packed parts of Akhet were my favorite moments; I just felt that the overall pacing of it was rather haphazard. But this is the first in a series, so I understand the need for laying groundwork.
The author definitely shines when it comes to her knowledge of Egypt and its rich culture and mythology. I'm a mythology nerd myself, and tend to pick apart books like this without really meaning to. But the author really does know what she's talking about, from weaponry and medicine to temples and gods. Those who go into this book knowing nothing about Egyptian civilization and mythology will learn quite a bit. I commend her for managing to remain so true to the source material and I eagerly await the next installment of Sekhmet's light!
Akhet follows a similar formula to that of the Buffy franchise (the single female, chosen by a higher power to defend the world against encroaching darkness). Being female, I appreciated her depiction of a powerful woman protagonist. Nicole Salem is one lady I wouldn't want to mess with. Her behavior and reactions seemed to vary wildly, however. Just when I felt I had a grasp on her personality, she would do something unpredictable. She seemed just as likely to keep her head down and remain meek as she was to fly off the handle in anger. Then again, most women do seem to be greatly affected by their moods so this is probably realistic.
There is not much left to the imagination as far as character descriptions are concerned, which made it play almost like a movie in my head. I could picture everything and everyone so perfectly. In some books, I find such detailed descriptions distracting and unnecessary, but they worked in Akhet. The author paints a vivid picture with her words.
The only thing that seemed to distract me was the pacing. Some parts of it felt like they slowly dragged on without much happening. These were punctuated by moments of intense action that were short-lived, but exquisitely executed. The action-packed parts of Akhet were my favorite moments; I just felt that the overall pacing of it was rather haphazard. But this is the first in a series, so I understand the need for laying groundwork.
The author definitely shines when it comes to her knowledge of Egypt and its rich culture and mythology. I'm a mythology nerd myself, and tend to pick apart books like this without really meaning to. But the author really does know what she's talking about, from weaponry and medicine to temples and gods. Those who go into this book knowing nothing about Egyptian civilization and mythology will learn quite a bit. I commend her for managing to remain so true to the source material and I eagerly await the next installment of Sekhmet's light!
September 16, 2010
I grew up with a fascination of the metaphysical: from Star Wars and the Force, to Spiderman and Wonder Woman; all fantastical non-realities that yet found their way into my subconscious as I developed my own skewed perception on the world and the way things "Were." Mythologies in particular made for a strong thread in the tapestry of my processed perspective, be it japanese, norse, celtic or egyptian - just to single out some of the main heavy hitters.
Egyptian mythos in particular, I feel, don't receive the spotlight they deserve. Anne Rice's "The Mummy" was close, before it unravelled (see what I did there?) into a tragic conundrum of passion between inexplicably perfect specimens of mankind. But the book Akhet by new author HL Reasby is a very strong showing into the game.
Weilding a clear and strong fascination for egyptian mythologies, Reasby has crafted a deft and at time oddly delicate tale of a woman's struggle to adapt to her new role as holy defender of the old gods; weapon-bearer to the divine. Taken literally, it remains a fun and adventurous romp through the senses. But on deeper levels, it also exists as an engaging exploration of that which makes us who we are, and that which defines belief - not only in ourselves but in the creator who breathes the air of life in our lungs.
At turns terrifying and overpoweringly affectionate, the gods do not just govern their creations, but in Reasby's world, they struggle right along beside us - sharing our dances of joy even as they shed our tears. It is a very humane look into the face of the divine, and the sort of exploration within which I (as both reader, writer and fellow human) also love to lose myself.
Egyptian mythos in particular, I feel, don't receive the spotlight they deserve. Anne Rice's "The Mummy" was close, before it unravelled (see what I did there?) into a tragic conundrum of passion between inexplicably perfect specimens of mankind. But the book Akhet by new author HL Reasby is a very strong showing into the game.
Weilding a clear and strong fascination for egyptian mythologies, Reasby has crafted a deft and at time oddly delicate tale of a woman's struggle to adapt to her new role as holy defender of the old gods; weapon-bearer to the divine. Taken literally, it remains a fun and adventurous romp through the senses. But on deeper levels, it also exists as an engaging exploration of that which makes us who we are, and that which defines belief - not only in ourselves but in the creator who breathes the air of life in our lungs.
At turns terrifying and overpoweringly affectionate, the gods do not just govern their creations, but in Reasby's world, they struggle right along beside us - sharing our dances of joy even as they shed our tears. It is a very humane look into the face of the divine, and the sort of exploration within which I (as both reader, writer and fellow human) also love to lose myself.
October 26, 2010
I don't typically read urban fantasy or adventure novels, but I was really engrossed in Sekhmet's Light.
The latter half of the book in particular was very well paced and I found that as I read further, I got lost in the story. Reasby blends the fantasy elements quite seamlessly into the novel; just as her protagonist becomes so immersed in magic that she is no longer surprised by it, the reader also enters a world where old magic blends into the modern world.
Sekhmet's Light is a unique book. It covers many genres and is difficult to classify. Those familiar with the Amelia Peabody mysteries will find similar romance, mystery and adventure elements in Sekhmet's Light, but the comparison ends there. Sekmet's Light has an edge to it that reminds me of war stories. It is a book very much of this time- a time of secret wars, sleeper cells, and a time where we can see the destruction of war around us, yet continue to act as though nothing is going on.
Reasby's writing skills were clearly honed by the practice of writing this book. While the first chapters Sekhmet's Light feel like a first novel, the rest of Sekhment's Light is simply an excellent adventure filled with danger, drama, and romance.
It was a pretty quick read and I highly recommend it.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series and am interested to see how Reasby's skills improve into the second book.
The latter half of the book in particular was very well paced and I found that as I read further, I got lost in the story. Reasby blends the fantasy elements quite seamlessly into the novel; just as her protagonist becomes so immersed in magic that she is no longer surprised by it, the reader also enters a world where old magic blends into the modern world.
Sekhmet's Light is a unique book. It covers many genres and is difficult to classify. Those familiar with the Amelia Peabody mysteries will find similar romance, mystery and adventure elements in Sekhmet's Light, but the comparison ends there. Sekmet's Light has an edge to it that reminds me of war stories. It is a book very much of this time- a time of secret wars, sleeper cells, and a time where we can see the destruction of war around us, yet continue to act as though nothing is going on.
Reasby's writing skills were clearly honed by the practice of writing this book. While the first chapters Sekhmet's Light feel like a first novel, the rest of Sekhment's Light is simply an excellent adventure filled with danger, drama, and romance.
It was a pretty quick read and I highly recommend it.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series and am interested to see how Reasby's skills improve into the second book.
August 11, 2016
Well researched, you will learn some Egyptian words when reading this (which is pretty interesting). If you like to know exactly what the important characters look like, this is great. If you like to be able to imagine yourself as the main character, well all I can say is I’m not tall and lean with an angular face and dark hair long enough to brush the waistband of my pants when pulled back in a ponytail. The research done shows in the work and was very thorough, while the descriptions are clear enough that (in my opinion) this should be a graphic novel. Even though the characters are adults, the way subject matter is handled, this is safe for early teens (and might help inspire a new generation of Indiana Jones wannabes). My only complaint? Is not meant to stand alone. I like series books, they always give me something to look forward to and I get to revisit (in different adventures) characters that I have fallen in love with. But, I really dislike a series that must be read from book 1 to the end, or where the books can not stand on their own. (Good example: Chronicles of Narnia. Bad example: Lord of the Rings).
© Night Owl Reviews
© Night Owl Reviews
April 10, 2013
To borrow from another reviewer, Reasby manages an interesting trick in “Akhet”; at some point in the book—and I have yet to recall exactly where it occurred--the reader transitions right along with the main character from the world of the mundane into a world of Gods and magic. It is a subtle border that occurs seamlessly, and once within its boundaries, a hidden world of ancient Egyptian religion combined with modern day intrigue and romance is revealed. The first installment in a series, “Akhet” is not for children; while set against the backdrop of mysticism and legend, it is at its essence, a war story, but one that is fought between ancient underground cults and the Gods that guide them.
November 30, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel which combined Egyptian legend with modern day life. Well plotted, strong images and dynamic characters. The story revolves around a female main character; an archeologist who discovers herself to be the chosen champion of an ancient Egyptian god. She is embroiled in a coming war between the gods of good and evil, where she must learn not only to fight and stratigize, but to unit the gods of good against the evil in order to save the world. Yeah, I know -- pretty predictable storyline, but Reasby makes it both fun and believable.
So -- I'll be finding the next in the series to add to my Kindle library.
So -- I'll be finding the next in the series to add to my Kindle library.
January 7, 2011
I won this through the Goodreads First Reads Giveway!
I enjoyed this book a lot! At first I wasn't too sure how the whole fantasy blended in with Ancient Egypt would work, but I soon forgot all about that and enjoyed the tale! I liked the blending between modern-day fantasy with the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt and an ancient/modern fighter coming into her powers to battle an age old war against evil. It was hard to put down at night!
I enjoyed this book a lot! At first I wasn't too sure how the whole fantasy blended in with Ancient Egypt would work, but I soon forgot all about that and enjoyed the tale! I liked the blending between modern-day fantasy with the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt and an ancient/modern fighter coming into her powers to battle an age old war against evil. It was hard to put down at night!
April 17, 2012
A really good book; I ended the first book and picked up book two immediately. I feel this is an especially good read for lovers of Egypt, mythology, strong female leads. The lead character, Nicole, is learning as we go along as are the readers making it easy to read for those not familiar with Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. I also love the fact there is a strong male character right along beside her. This is definitely a book I could read again (quite a compliment from me)!
September 29, 2010
Love this book, can't wait for book 2!
September 30, 2010
Awesome book. I loved the Goddess aspect as well as seeing the workings of the Egyptian pantheon together. Nicole's transformation was slick. Great adventure.
October 31, 2021
May the Lioness roar!
Good vs evil, the constant fight, from the time of Ancient Egypt to modern day. This book is part of a trilogy, from what I can see. The research into language, culture and the ‘feel’ of Luxor, Egypt, where much of the action takes place is apparent. I shall look forward to reading the next book.
Good vs evil, the constant fight, from the time of Ancient Egypt to modern day. This book is part of a trilogy, from what I can see. The research into language, culture and the ‘feel’ of Luxor, Egypt, where much of the action takes place is apparent. I shall look forward to reading the next book.
May 18, 2012
Currently reading. Can't say the writer has not done her share of research but please, somebody explain me why the Egyptians are speaking in FARSI instead of (Egyptian) ARABIC. There are some other problems, mostly concerning Ancient Egyptian theology and misconceptions stemming from an overly Greco-Romanized view of Egyptian religion which was later incorporated into Western Esoteric movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, but in a fantasy novel, those can be more or less overlooked. Nothing too absurd so far.
The Kindle edition has some editing problems. The prose itself suffers from mediocre editing from time to time.
Will probably update my review once I finish the book but, if it weren't for my soft spot for Egyptology, I probably wouldn't bother reading it. But it has archaeology, netjeru (Egyptian gods/goddesses), ego-tripping academics, and mythological references, so (though some are a bit faulty) I'll stick to it.
The Kindle edition has some editing problems. The prose itself suffers from mediocre editing from time to time.
Will probably update my review once I finish the book but, if it weren't for my soft spot for Egyptology, I probably wouldn't bother reading it. But it has archaeology, netjeru (Egyptian gods/goddesses), ego-tripping academics, and mythological references, so (though some are a bit faulty) I'll stick to it.
June 19, 2012
i really! wanted to like this book....i was very excited about reading it and the sequel...
it was a disappointment, i'm afraid...steampunk meets ancient Egypt, this is a title i think might appeal to a YA set, but for me, even given the premise, it stretched credulity to snapping point and i felt that the character development was stunted and fatally flawed...
i will not be reading the sequel, i am sorry to say...
it was a disappointment, i'm afraid...steampunk meets ancient Egypt, this is a title i think might appeal to a YA set, but for me, even given the premise, it stretched credulity to snapping point and i felt that the character development was stunted and fatally flawed...
i will not be reading the sequel, i am sorry to say...
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