The Pharaoh and the Librarian is a tale of alternative history with a twist. The world of the paranormal collides with the world of Cleopatra and fills it with werewolves, sea monsters, rock creatures, and more.
Cleopatra doesn’t actually commit suicide even though it appears that she has. Instead, she escapes Egypt and flees from the ensuing attack of the Romans.
Alexandria, her twin sister, loves her books and has vowed to protect them no matter what it takes. Knowing Egypt is under threat from the Romans, she sends her books from the Library of Alexandria to Wales for protection and follows them there.
Both sisters are in for the adventure of their lives, an adventure that will forever change each of them.
Alexandria has vowed to never marry but soon finds herself with a husband while traveling to a harsh and unforgiving land.
Cleo is a pharaoh and expects to be treated as such wherever she goes. It’s definitely a shock to her when she discovers that not everyone will bow down to her wishes. Her eyes are about to be opened to just how spoiled she is.
Romance, adventure, and danger are experienced by each sister as she travels to unknown lands full of danger as they try to find each other. This is an unputdownable read that you’ll never forget.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you would want to get lost in this tale of alternative history, I’ve provided an Amazon link for you below.
Amazon Links:
Relaxing the Writer: Guidebook to the Writer’s High
Suggested Articles:
Recovered: The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 3 – a Review
Amber Polo Interview – Shapeshifters, Libraries, and Fantastic Character Names
Favorite Sentences:
A blood red body bore down, swooping from the sky so close she could see the lashes framing one gimlet eye.
A tall graceful form stood in the doorway, elegant as any noble woman—if a noble woman wore the head of a cat.
Cleo was instantly certain she’d sailed an ocean, travelled through jungles, crossed deserts, and climbed mountains only to become a snack for this ravenous beast.
One old man insisted thunder gods rolled rocks down from cliffs to create this savage landscape.
No part of this wretched woman looked like a queen who’d once sat on a pharaoh’s throne.
New Words Learned:
atlatl – a device for throwing a spear or dart that consists of a rod or board with a projection (such as a hook) at the rear end to hold the weapon in place until released
arcanum arcanorum – the mystery of mysteries, specifically the one ultimate secret supposed to lie behind all astrology, alchemy, and magic
brazier – a portable heater consisting of a pan or stand for holding lighted coals
cenote – a deep natural well or sinkhole, especially in Central America, formed by the collapse of surface limestone that exposes ground water underneath, and sometimes used by the ancient Mayans for sacrificial offerings
chicle – a gum from the latex of the sapodilla used as the chief ingredient of chewing gum
Faxi – The Merhorse or Faxi as it is called in Iceland is has been frequently spotted in Arnarfjörður at the west fjords of Iceland. It closely resembles the dragons portrayed in Chinese art. This may be the same creature as the red comb monster who was known by seamen through the centuries.
https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC62EV8_maggi-10?guid=0a50359f-4ab8-4a3e-a55e-a796810eafc0
jade-inlaid teeth – teeth that have had jade inserted into prepared cavities in the teeth, most often the front teeth
https://bda.org/museum/collections/teeth-and-dentures/mayan-tooth
kiva – a large chamber, often wholly or partly underground, in a Pueblo Indian village, used for religious ceremonies and other purposes
quetzal bird – any of several large Central and South American trogons of the genus Pharomachrus, having golden-green and scarlet plumage, especially P. mocino (resplendent quetzal), the national bird of Guatemala: rare and possibly endangered
saurian – any large reptile, esp. a dinosaur or other extinct form
selkie – a mythical creature that resembles a seal in the water but assumes human form on land
trireme – an ancient Greek or Roman war galley with three banks of oars. The rowers are believed to have sat in threes on angled benches, rather than in three superimposed banks.
weir – low dams built across rivers to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow
About the Author:
Amber Polo, constantly asking “What if…?,” has a hard time writing in one genre at a time. Best known for The Shapeshifters’ Library urban fantasy series which asked what if librarian dog-shifters faced book-burning werewolves, she shares her love of libraries and fascination with creatures and places, real and not-so-real in The Pharaoh and the Librarian.
Author of award-winning fantasies and Arizona romances, Amber relaxes stressed writers and readers. Her book, Relaxing the Writer, offers a catalog of suggestions and simple exercises while her calming CDs help almost anyone relax and find restful sleep.
Find her at amber@amberpolo.com.
