24 Bones

by Michael F. Stewart

Every five hundred years the phoenix dies.

Samiya, born-into-shadow, is soon to battle her born-into-light brother. Abandoned by their parents, neither wishes to play the preordained role of beast and hero. When their loved ones are taken hostage, they are forced to follow the path laid out in myth, culminating in a battle first fought six thousand years ago in ancient Cairo. A mythic clash where one defeats the other and both become gods.

To break free from their fates, Samiya and her brother must unravel a mystery twisted by cults, greed, and magic. But myth is a powerful force and failure to live up to it may not only destroy their lives but the lives of the ones they love most.

When the phoenix dies, the only certainty is flames.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Ebooks, Mythology, Magic

Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2009

About the author

Michael F. Stewart has authored over two dozen books for kids and young adults. With works ranging from interactive digital epics and graphic novels to humorous middle grade and surreal young adult novels, Michael enjoys stretching the limits on his storytelling and working with other authors young and old to tell their stories. He has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Ottawa with his partner, four daughters, a cat, and a dog.

To learn more about Michael and his next projects visit his website.

Reviews

[Kelly]

Michael Stewart successfully combines many elements in 24 Bones. The general plot is the ongoing battle between two rival cults steeped in Egyptian Mythology. Every five hundred years, the balance between the fullness (good) and the void (evil) teeters and must be restored. This particular battle plays out in modern day Cairo and is fought on either side by willing and unwilling participants:

Taggart was born in Cairo and initiated into the side of good at age eight. He rejects his 'destiny' and all religion and immigrates to America where he struggles to reconcile his differences by proving his own religious theories. Warning to devout Christian readers - you may not like what he proposes.

Sam was also born in Cairo and was pledged by her mother to the side of evil. She was raised in the cult by 'Pharaoh', her childhood one brutal test after another as she is forced to embrace the void.

The author introduces many other characters into the mix: Elen, Sam's mother; Askari, companion and high priest, a tragic figure who rests all his hopes on the wrong people; and my personal favourite, Faris, a tragic figure who constantly must battle his own nature.

24 Bones is a winning debut. It's well written and well plotted, studded with drama, action, history and mythology. There's even a little romance. The conclusion is thrilling with the final outcome of the battle between good and evil held over until the very end...leaving you guessing until that very last page.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more. I adore Egyptian history and mythology, and I thought for sure that a story set in modern times centered around the careful balance that is maintained by it's gods. But in the end I was kind of bored.

Much of the story has some really great ideas, and some of the imagery is fantastic...but I found the writing to be somewhat dry and stiff in areas and where the imagery of magic and set dogs were strong points the characterization suffered. I also found some of the ways that story jumped from different characters to be a bit jarring, especially in the second half where even more players are introduced.

[Soleil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth, Horus, and Osiris are reborn, fated to re-fight their greatest battle.

Samiya, an Egyptian woman, and Taggart, a Canadian professor of Comparative Religion, have nothing in common, until they find themselves on opposite sides of a bloody war for causes neither is sure they believe in.

The Balance is in jeopardy, and either The Fullness: humanity, law, and reason; or The Void: animal instinct, chaos, and death; will soon rule the world.

But which is the right side? Reason has ruled for centuries. Is it time for Chaos to have a chance?

Multicultural main characters + Egyptian mythology + strong main female character +EPIC three-sided battle + Fated DOOM + Shades of Grey?

Um, Mr. Stewart? You had me at “hello”.

Or rather, his first scene. A baptism of sorts involving the five elements. Water, Earth, Fire and Air. I was utterly captivated from them on. God, I’m such a culture geek and I swear, 24 Bones is like crack to a culture geek (figures, he has a B.A. in History), but its more than that. Mr. Stewart’s style is very to the point without being rushed. He gives you enough description (beautiful by the way) to ground you, then moves on. Enough emotion to stimulate your own, and so on. I love finding male writers that can do emotion effectively without making me think that they were trying too hard and I think Stewart had a really nice balance.

And this IS a thriller. Fast paced and a ton of fun, but that is not to imply that it is in anyway lacking in depth. A big theme is Balance of Power. Chaos vs. Order. Light vs. Dark, or in the case of Taggart and Samiya, Fullness Vs. The Void. And, as I mentioned, lots and lots of gray shades, something that has a HUGE appeal to me as a reader. These are the kinds of stories I live for.

However, a warning. If your religious sensibilities are easily offended even in the face of something clearly FICTIONAL, you may want to skip this book. I’m not going to go into detail. Don’t like? Don’t read. That is all. Although I’ll pity you the loss of a fantastic read.

Now for the rest of you rational, fantasy-lovin’ myth-craving folk. This is DEFINITELY the book for you. Full on, thoroughly engaging, not preachy, action-packed fun. Treachery abound and honestly, I loved every minute of it. I think its best when the lines are blurred. When you’re not quite sure whose side you are or should be on. From the very beginning, I knew who I was rooting for, and it wasn’t a side so much as a character. Samiya, a truly amazing character who I think may have knocked someone off my top-ten list. ;) She’s THAT cool.

But I’m not telling who won, who lost, or who suffered brutally only to be a pawn to the whims of the gods. That, my dear reader, is for you to find out.

And then tell me, whose side are you on?

[Dianne Ascroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a dark tale be magical? 24 Bones is very dark in places but Stewart has created such a vivid, intriguing world that I found even the dark side magical. From an evil underworld in the City of the Dead to the desert monastic retreat of the Companions to modern Coptic Cairo to the Pyramids, Stewart brings both the real and the imaginary places to life. I’ve never been to Egypt but I would love to see the places that are now in my mind.

The story is grounded in Egyptian myth and the idea that there must be evil to counterbalance good and that this balance must be maintained. From this premise Stewart develops the struggle between the three groups who people the story: the evil Shemsu Seth, the good Shemsu Hor and the Sisters of Isis, nuns who are meant to maintain the balance but actually have their own agenda. Many characters are not completely black and white though and there are struggles within individuals as well as between the groups, adding depth to the tale. Stewart expresses the concepts of heaven and hell as Fullness and Void. Interestingly Void is not actually evil but a place of chaos and animal behaviour without conscience. In a poignant scene Samiya’s lover, Faris is lost to Void and she finds him left as a mindless shell only capable of animal-like responses while his spirit, personified as a lion, roams unfettered by human morals.

I was intrigued by the way Stewart links the Egyptian myths with elements of Coptic Christianity, inferring that the Christian tradition is an extension of ancient Egyptian beliefs. Whether this is indeed true doesn’t matter, he has skilfully developed the link between them so that the reader believes this in the context of the story.

Although the plot is entwined with Egyptian myth, the reader does not need to have a prior understanding of these myths to enjoy the story. Stewart sets out his world clearly and reveals everything the reader needs to know. The novel is also an engaging fantasy, even without its links to mythology, as Stewart has created a fully developed world that could stand on its own.
It wasn’t just the world that Stewart created that I enjoyed. I found many of the characters memorable. Samiya and David, the main characters are well developed, with internal conflicts that add depth and believability to them. I liked the way that Stewart sets David on a path toward destruction through his growing desire for power. It wasn’t what I expected or hoped for him but it unfolded naturally.

When I find myself caring what happens to characters and agonising over their choices, as I did with 24 Bones, I know a novel has touched me. It stimulated my imagination and my emotions. And that’s what a good book should do. I found this a gripping story and I have no reservations recommending it to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels or just a good story.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is crazy good! It’s got a lot going on, so hold on for just a little bit and it will be explained better and you’ll catch on, or maybe that was just me and it took me a little bit to figure a few things out, but I was still hooked! There’s a serious battle going on between the rivals and it becomes a fight of good vs evil and the balance between the two in the world. It’s gunna get really deep and really complicated!

Taggart is your first main character who was originally on Team Good, but he wants to show others that there can be more than one belief system and religions. Samiya was literally forced to be Team Evil, and she has a very scary, cruel upbringing. These two have such different backgrounds, regardless of being born in the same place. There’s a TON of side characters, which I loved of course. I will also say that not everything is as it seems and something nature vs nurture really does come into play

The plot is one of a kind. It was written so wonderfully, with a ton of genres to catch everyone’s attention. Lots of action and history and mythology, enough suspense and thrill that you’ll be on the edge of your seat, with supernatural aspects and amazing plot twists! And the world building is just captivating! It’s fast paced, but not without it’s wonderful story-telling. I will say this, if you are easily offended by different types of religious beliefs and cultures, maybe be a little careful. This is a fictional story, but there are some serious religious things going on, but not the preaching throw it in your face kind. Just trust me, READ IT!! It’s pretty phenomenal! Like 5 PAWS Phenomenal GO GET IT ALREADY!

[Miranda Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a avid reader of comparative religion. I also love a plain old fashioned Good against Evil. So for me I found this to be a very exciting book. The mix of ancient beliefs and a modern world is fascinating and kept me interested the whole time.
This is a 5 star read for me.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

My last read of 2009 is my fellow Drollerie author Michael Stewart's 24 Bones, a book that's surprisingly hard to pin down into any specific genre. It's set in the modern day world, and yet it doesn't play out like what most readers would think of as "urban fantasy"; the feel of it is much more akin to a suspense novel, albeit with fantastic elements, i.e., Egyptian gods coming to life. You might be tempted to think Dan Brown when you think of how this book's about the clash between two ancient Egyptian cults and how a professor from Toronto is pulled into it when he receives a cryptic coded message. Don't. This book is simultaneously more and less complicated than a Brown novel, in all the correct ways.

We have the Shemsu Hor and the Shemsu Seth at each other's throats as the time of Seth's ascension is at hand, and Horus is on the wane. Set off against them both are the Sisters of Isis, keepers of the Balance, who are determined to keep both good and evil from becoming too dominant. And against this larger backdrop we have Samiya of the Shemsu Seth, raised to do evil, use the powers of the Void, and serve the Pharoah--while Taggart Quinn, hauled into this conflict by the mysterious message he's received, learns that his place in the unfolding events is far greater than he could have imagined.

There were times when I had a bit of difficulty following the events of the story; the narrative jumps very quickly from one event to the next when there surely must have been a little time between them, particularly in the latter half. More than once I had a "wait, what?" reaction, and this kept me from finishing the story as quickly as is my wont, since I had to take the time to absorb what I'd just read. But, that said, I was genuinely surprised by some of the directions this plot took, and I have to give it huge props for that.

Props too for the final tying together of the plot threads involving Taggart and Sam, and for the moment of delicious irony when a TV evangelist's flock, called to prayer during the climax of the plot, is not at all doing what they think they're doing. Over all, four stars.

[Robert Negut · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a good director and a decent budget, 24 Bones would make a pretty cool action movie. As a book, however, it has some issues, one being that the writing can at times be somewhat difficult to follow and at others a bit grating. And then there's the fact that, in spite of the large amount of potential material, it was all squeezed into a single relatively short novel, so certain things are rushed, not being properly explored or explained, coming more or less out of nowhere or being too fortunate or otherwise questionable even if the premises are accepted.
Still, those questionable parts do tend to be mainly details, as the story is otherwise internally consistent and does give the impression of being properly researched, though I'm not exactly in a position to judge the accuracy of some of its supposedly more realistic aspects. Also, and fortunately for me, said realistic aspects are left mainly in the background, more specific elements being used sparingly, largely only to establish the time and place, so this is a case of urban fantasy where the fantasy aspect clearly dominates.
One final note, however, is that the story makes it clear from the beginning that the opportunity for this to happen appears every 500 years. As such, humans being humans, it only makes sense that it was attempted every 500 years. Of course, it may have failed every single time, it may have been stopped relatively early in the past, and the world at large may not have heard of it, but signs should have remained and they should have been discovered by the characters. And, while this is another likely positive element for that movie I mentioned, if past attempts didn't cause permanent damage, this one probably shouldn't have either.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixing religious aspects with the legends of old, 24 Bones is a book that really impressed me. I'll admit that I did have to re-read the prologue once to really understand what was being set up for me. Still, from that point on I was completely immersed in this story. A warning, don't read this before bed. You won't sleep, you'll just keep reading.

Although I'm not one hundred percent certain about the accuracy of the history described here, I can say that 24 Bones makes it feel real. At the end of the day, isn't that all that matters? Michael Stewart creates a story that meshes the old world with the new, and brings to life an epic battle between good and evil. It honors the idea of balance and ultimate power. There are so many layers within Samiya's story, and it creates a whole reading experience.

It's hard to discuss the characters in detail because they are so vividly written and plentiful. Our group of heroes, and their villainous counterparts race to come out the victors in the quest for domination. I very much enjoyed the blurred lines between good and evil here. Stewart shows that there isn't a stark delineation and that intent has a lot to do with it as well. With twists, and turns, you never quite know where loyalties lie in this book.

Suffice it to say that 24 Bones drew me in from the beginning. There were slight slow parts, but really they were there to set up the stunning landscape the story takes place in. If you are a fan of books that mix fantasy and reality, that blur the line between myth and legend, this is one for you.

[Dlg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it difficult to get into this book. At first it seemed esoteric, but once present day Egypt and David appeared on the scene, I was hooked.
The Egyptian mythology was a good idea, setting this book apart. It acted as a bridge linking the present day goings on and Coptic Cairo in particular, and at the same time anchored it to the past. This resulted in a great read, just as the book's of Mary Renault used the ancient Greek mythology to such good effect.
Some reviews complained of the quality of the prose, which seemed to read better if you followed it's flow, as if it were being read to one by the author or in audio form. As to the numerous spelling errors referred to I found only three, which in the greater scheme of things in comparison to, other books, books is not many. Very much still a book worth reading!
Another point in this authors favour can be found in the pledge on his website, should this not be an example all authors on librarything should be asked to follow, otherwise it is a bit like politicians voting for themselves!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a meatier read compared to most other urban fantasies and I appreciate that difference. 24 Bones is a detailed and fast paced book that reminds me more of the type of serious urban fantasy undertaken in Lukyanenko’s Watcher books. This is particularly true considering the predominant theme of good vs. evil and the need to maintain a balance. I wish I had connected with characters slightly more and I felt this book was difficult to get into but well worth the effort so do not let those comments discourage you. My scattered knowledge of Egyptian myth helped me out bunches, though I do not think such knowledge is necessary to enjoy the book.

This is a serious read and I was half finished before I realized just how dark. Tons of action and beasties running around, with interesting characters, 24 Bones is a read I recommend for all myth lovers.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from a multitude of grammatical and spelling errors, this was a very pleasant read. The intertwining of Christianity and Egyptian Mythology was very interesting, and added many new perspectives of certain religions. The author’s method of bringing three completely separate story lines together was quite thrilling; a reverse-branching storyline that doesn’t come together at an intersection, but in slowly realized relations.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has a lot of great ideas and themes - I love Egytian Mythology and this book has it all over the place from page one which is great. I really like the main plot (two/three types fighting for one thing on a time limit), I liked Samiya right away, and we swapped POV every other chapter which I enjoy too.


Side note; it took me until chapter 3 to realise it was set in a modern setting and not 200-300 years ago.


For me, my problem was the writing; I just didn't get along with it at all - I can't decide if the in story descriptions (the locations, the characters actions, the scenes) were too vague or if the writing was just too dry for me, or both.


And, I found the author was heavily telling rather than showing for the sake of the reader. I prefer my stories to show (don't tell); to explain to the characters (rather than explaining for the reader); and for the readers to pick up the history and lore as we go along.
The characters in this novel are very obviously brought up in this culture/history/religion so it felt weird that every few paragraph the author would explain what they were talking about and what this god did or what something means, because in the actual story our characters would know what's going on.
TLDR: I don't like info drops for the sake of the reader.


I saw another comment that said this would be good as a movie, and I think I agree. We haven't had a good Egyptian Movie since "The Mummy" in the 1990s and early 2000s. I can easily see this story doing much better on screen than on the page.

[Karen Goclowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not fully get into the book. I refused to give up and read the entire book but it took me a month because no matter how I tried I just didn't click with it. It's a great concept though and the use of ancient Egyptian myth is fantastic. It just wasn't for me.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author made illogical choices that, instead of being interesting twists, just took the reader out of the text.

[Danielle Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this book starts out slow, confusing and frustrating. I liked the first scenes and they drew me right into the book, but then I sort of slogged through until about 50-60% of the way, which was when it really started kicking in.
A lot of the story was pretty predictable (even many of the twists). There was one thing I never saw coming, only really figured out what they had planned as it was happening and then I was thinking, "Oh shit, he's doing that? We're screwed!" And by "we," I mean the good guys. I really liked that part. It was probably my favorite part of the book.

One interesting aspect of the book is that, like with many ancient myths, there isn't a whole lot of happy endings. Things just get really messy, really bloody, and while things work out in the end, it's sort of a conditional good ending. I guess, really, that's a good and bad thing in the book. I got pretty invested in some of the characters only to see them go through great pain and/or die.

Other than how slow the first half of the book was (I trudged through it and only because I promised to review it), I was a little frustrated with him constantly using terms without explaining them. I know more about Islam and Muslim culture than the average American and I was constantly stumped by words he used. He also frequently used spellings I'd never seem before (or rarely seen). For example, though I have seen Ra spelled Re, I have never seen Set spell Seth (even though it is an alternate spelling and that's probably just my ignorance). Didn't realize they were one and the same until I looked them up, and I used to be fascinated with Egyptian culture. Even at one time learned to write using hieroglyphs. I'm not sure if his writing Najjal for the Islamic "anti-christ" was a typo or just a mistake since it is actually Dajjal.

I also had a hard time reconciling true myths and roles various gods played in them to the myths in the book, though I largely attributed that to artistic license. For example, Seth is not evil. He doesn't even represent evil. He represents chaos and I think the story would have been much more interesting if the author capitalized on that distinction. Also, Seth is responsible for sending the dead onto the afterlife, which made it weird that, in the book, he required sacrifices that prevented people from entering the afterlife. Sobek, associated with Seth in the book, was actually companion to all in the Egyptian myths. He didn't choose sides but aided Seth, Isis, Horus, and Ra. He was actually closer associated with Horus than Seth (who was his father in some myths). Just some interesting little tidbits. I'm no expert.

The last scene is the only time in the entire book that I laughed. In closing, the story was dark, complex, and with engaging characters. Some might not have had as much trouble with the first half that I did. I might have just been in a mood. Who knows. If you're a stickler for Egyptian mythology, I'd say stay very, very far away. Other than that, it's a decent book. The second half was spectacular and will have you emotionally involved with the events and characters. Lots of action, intrigue, and mystery.

[Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/05/24-bones-blog-tour-review-25-amazon.html

Well, this was quite an interesting read. Michael F. Stewart has definitely delivered an entertaining and complex read. Stewart mixes both Egyptian and Christian religions. The story revolves around a war between two opposing sides. The story is about the fall of the phoenix. The balance of good and evil must be restored. But it seems the evil side, Shemsu Seth, have special plans in play to make sure they break the coming prophecy.

I won't lie, I had a tough time getting into this book. It started off interesting then took a bit of a turn and slowed down. I am all for worldbuilding, but I couldn't connect with the characters. They don't really have any discernible personalities that make them different from any other. We know they are preparing for a war. One side is killing off the other, the Shemsu Hor, who protect the 24 bones of Osiris's spine. They are trying to stop the Shemsu Seth from killing off the companions that hold pieces of the spine and giving them to the Pharaoh of Shemsu Seth. The book follows Sam (Samiya) is the child of shadow and is the leader of the Shemsu Seth. Her mother, Tara, is the a part of the Sisters of Isle. The Sisters keep the balance of good and evil. Along with Samiya, on the opposite side is David (Dawid). David left Canada to go back to Egypt from a message he receives from in his email. He also has a relict that may be a very big discovery. But he is means more to the war that he originally thought.

Like I said, the book was a little slow, but once David and his story is introduced, he kicks up a bit. The book really kicks off in about the second half. I loved it. Lots of twists and turns. The characters and the plot change pace. I love the action. This isn't your usual Urban Fantasy and it is makes it stand out. The book is suspenseful with some paranormal aspects thrown in. I really loved where this book went.

Overall I would recommend this mainly for the second half. I enjoyed it, it just needed a bit more of a pick me up in the beginning. It may be hard to wrap your head around a few things in the book. Like terms and such that could use an explanation or too. The book can be a little confusing at times. But the buildup is still good once you see the connection between the stories. Sam becomes quite the character in the second half and you will love where the story goes. I won't spoil you, but it is good. I love Stewart's take on Urban Fantasy. 24 Bones was pretty dark and intense. But the book takes on more than one genre and is well written overall despite some of my complaints. I say check it out

[Lissette · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as long as she can remember, Samiya has walked in darkness. She has never understood the reason behind her mother's having given her away at such a young age. All she ever wanted was the woman's love, to know that she meant something to her, once and for all. Yet that hope died the moment her mother left her in the hands of cult intent on wreaking havoc on the world itself.

Raised to do the cult's bidding, Samiya has never questioned her destiny. She is evil, after all, a certainty that becomes clear when the Pharoah orders her to partake of a prophecy surrounding Osiris and several of the other gods. While she's not sure as to whether she can truly fulfill the task she's been given, she knows she needs to do everything possible in the hopes of surviving to see another day.

As the minutes go by, and the days begin to blend into one another, Samiya soon realizes that she's neck deep in the heart of a conspiracy she never truly knew existed. Warring factions are determined to get their hands on Osiris' legacy. One side wants it for the greater good, and the other is intent on cloaking the world in eternal darkness. Unsure as to which side she should be on, she does the only thing she can do - survive.

If she's to set all wrongs to right, she'll need to fulfill her destiny. Granted, she's not exactly sure as to what she really needs to do as time goes by. The rules have changed, something she's not quite happy with. Never-the-less, she's intent on doing everything she can to make sure she comes out on top before the darkness tries to claim her, once and for all.

Michael has crafted a tale where it's complex characters and the situations they find themselves leave you wondering as to whether one or all of them will ever achieve their goals. We have the beautiful Samiya, who is eager to please in the hopes of finally achieving the bounty she's been promised. Then there's David who isn't quite sure as to what he's supposed to do. Led by his determination, he stumbles upon a world he doesn't quite understand. Lastly, we have Faris, a loyal companion, touched by the Void, whose only wish is to learn and serve those who've given him a bed to sleep in, and food to fill his belly with. Together, the three embark on separate journeys that will ultimately lead them across each other's path. A journey that may prove to be their undoing in the long run. A truly thought-provoking, it's definitely one you'll want to read, time and again.

[Roxanne Crouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

24 Bones contains an interesting mix of Egyptian and Christian myth. I’ve read reviews saying this book is inaccurate, but that’s OK for me as long as the story uses the changed information consistently and tells an interesting story and is written well. The novel is written well with nice descriptions and active voice. I only found a few copy editing problems sprinkled through the work. Nothing that would be a huge disruption to reading the novel. I didn’t have to wade through passages of back story or telling. The changes to myth did stay consistent and are interesting. I think this book would have been a great book if I could have connected emotionally with the characters.

The beginning of the novel started out strong and hooked me to continue reading. I liked the writing style, the way it flowed, the descriptions. But after the first few chapters I started to lose interest. I read to feel something. I want to be moved emotionally and be wowed with a clever plot. The plot might have wowed if the characters had done their job. I just didn’t care about these characters. It took me a while to figure out what was missing, why the characters weren’t working, not enough character thoughts and feelings about what was happening to them. All kinds of battles happen and they are detailed out well, but what the characters are feeling- fear, hate, love, pain- it’s rarely thought about or discussed. Without a strong emotional element, I couldn’t stay interested.

This emotional absence might be a plus for male readers, and female readers who love action and want all the fluffy, mushy emotions taken out. But I thrive on emotions so it was hard for me to continue through this novel to the end. Everything about the book was right except no emotional reaction from me. I wanted to enjoy it and get into it, I just couldn’t.

If you thrive on emotion like I do, you may want to get the free sample first, make sure it’s your cup of tea. If you want a lot of action well described settings, and an interesting plot dealing with Egyptian myth, then this book is for you.

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading ’24 Bones’, I was a little confused about the time frames from past to present. I put my confusion aside when I decided it didn’t matter – this would fit whether it was millennia ago (aside from some technology) or today. The juxtaposition of dark, light, and balance, is brilliantly represented by the Shemsu Seth, Shemsu Hor, and Sisters of Isis. With mutable characters and an ancient belief system brought to life, ’24 Bones’ captures the imagination. The time has come for the spine of Osiris to be reunited and a vicious battle has begun to capture the power. Sam is the daughter of a Sister, given to the Shemsu Seth and the Pharaoh at a young age and trained in the use of the Void. The Shemsu Hor are versed in the use of the Fullness and they reach out to David Nidaal to assist them in their struggles. Sam and David are on opposite sides of the same coin, but nothing is as simple as it seems. In ’24 Bones’ loyalties are tested, alliances shift, and religious truths come to the surface. I was drawn into the intrigue and mystery quickly and enjoyed the wild ride through Egypt.

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

(This review may contain spoilers).

I have some mixed feelings about this book. It took me a little while to truly get into it and I was still confused by a lot of what was going on.

The concept behind the story was an interesting one and I liked Samiya and Faris. I didn't like David at all. The other characters... well, there were a few too many of them for me to really get involved with them. Each time a new traitor was revealed, I had to stop and try to remember exactly who the character was in the book.

I didn't see some of the twists coming, but I think that was because they simply got pushed out of my mind. I think the story would have been better focused on only two or three characters' perspective, instead of cycling between so many different ones. I couldn't really emphasise with a lot of the characters.

The whole thing with David and Samiya worked really well, I thought. I didn't really like the ending, though. Nothing seemed truly resolved and I was just left wondering what the point was.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

24 Bones is a book about 'Good vs Evil' basically. A child born into 'The Shadow' and a child born into 'The Light'. Destined to fight one another yet keep balance within the world. For if the power of one tips the scale the other must even the odds. However the master of the Shadow has other plans and wishes to find all the 24 bones of Osiris' spine in order to fulfil a prophecy and become a God.

This book took me a long time to get into, but it probably didn't help that I was reading another book at the same time. So I restarted and it got interesting. I got confused a little with the switching back and forth between time periods and the characters thoughts of the past. Eventually I got to the 70% mark and got bored. I stuck it out to the end but not sure I'd real it again.

It felt disorganized and I didn't really care about the characters, I couldn't connect to them at all. I thought the book was okay, but mainly because it included Egyptian mythology.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story in which the battle of good and evil is fought against the backdrop of Egypt's ancient monuments.
I really enjoyed the story. Stewart makes an intricate mix of religion, myth and history with fantasy and magical elements, and I thought it worked quite well. I like the way in which he uses theory about religion and myth to complement the story.
The story is fast-paced and well written. I very much liked the characters and how they develop, choosing different sides in the course of the novel. The connections between the different characters and groups are sometimes complex, but this also means that the story stays interesting until the end, and makes it much more intriguing than a simple 'good vs. bad' type of story.
I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's work.

[lynda dwight · Rating 4 out of 5]

this took awhile for me to get into...for the simple fact I am not aware of Egyptian mythology I have heard some of the terminology but not in as much depth as in this story. this is a well written novel and once I understood what was going on I was glued until the end.

I liked the kicker at the end with dawid and samiya and tara... didn't see that coming. and definitely was sad with faris at the end.

gives special meaning to good vs evil, heaven vs hell... purgatory... ying vs yang....cannot exist without the other.. they always need to balance in order to coincide with the world as we know it .

basically our religions are one and the same different cultures just have different names and titles but we seem to all believe the same. a very interesting and educating read.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, my 2 star reveiw may well be a matter of taste. The book was fairly well written and the subject matter may very well be great for other readers... however, apparently, not for me. I have no idea what others have put as a review (don't want to read what others have said until I have put up my own review).
By all means, feel free to read the book and make your own opinions.
I felt that the book jumped about a little and I got a little confused at times. I felt that the suthor was trying to create tension (which they did manage) but that they tried a little too hard at times i.e. plot twists that came from no where with little to no build up.
As I've said, this is my impression and opinion of the book. I am aware that this may vary for others.

[AliceAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Part of the fault is mine. I was reading it at the same time as I read another book that I really liked, so this one suffered. Maybe if I had read this one straight through, I would have been able to keep everything straight.
The book has plenty of action, and gore, and heavy/tricky issues of Good and Evil. I also liked Samiya very much. But I had a harder time with the other characters. I soon gave up on keeping track of the secondary characters, since as soon as we meet them, poof, they're gone. The one character I was most interested in seeing more of was Trand, the Dwarf. But I was disappointed with his big, or not so big, finish.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blends at least four religions, together twisting them around, but makes it all work. There's an underground kingdom presided over by a sadistic megalomaniac with supernatural powers. A fortress of warrior type monks. A secretive sect of women that keeps one from being stronger than the other. And a man and woman who were both given the power to stop the chaos, if they can learn to balance light and dark in time. It's a bizarre, surreal, bloody world full of giant crocodiles, hairless dogs, prophets, monks, dwarves, shape shifting, and fighting on the physical and metaphysical planes and ..a whole bunch of other stuff.

[Tamara aka SoMysteriousLee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's worth more than 3 stars, but not quite a 4. Had a hard time getting it all into place. Granted, lots of real life happening and not a small amount of Skyrim also kept getting in the way, but I had a hard time finding a flow that would make this a 'can't put it down' read. I really enjoyed the comparisons in religions, and found the plot to be wholly engaging, but the writing was a bit stilted for me and, well, I just couldn't get the 'groove' so found it taking longer than expected to finish. Lots of good action at the end though and I will look forward to reading the authors other works as while it wasn't quite the fast read I was looking for, it was a worthwhile one.

[Elli (Kindig Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic and exciting battle of good and evil based on Egyptian mythology. I got this book for free on kindle a few years ago and I'm glad I had a chance to go back and finally read it! It's a good story which brings an interesting twist on Egyptian mythology in a modern context. It was often quite difficult to remember that it was set in the present day and references to laptops and mobile phones seemed somewhat jarring against the cult references to Horus, Seth and Osiris and Isis! The characters and the world were nicely developed, however I did find David's story line a little difficult to follow at times (no spoilers).

Overall I recommend it!

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

this review is a little hard to write, as I'm not sure what to say!

steeped in Egyptian mythology, but also mixing Christian mythology with the Egyptian, it was hard to follow at times. the story was good, upto about 2/3 of the way through, then I lost it a bit. it got very complex and I had to leave it a bit and come back.

there are a whole host of characters, and it took a while to piece them altogether.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.