|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Buy or rent from www.recordedbooks.com Readers who have followed the Amelia Peabody saga from the start will know that there is a period of time unaccounted for in Amelia's journals. Now, for the first time, the 1907-1908 adventures of Amelia and husband Emerson are revealed in a series of diaries and letters only recently discovered by Amelia's editor. The story of those years goes thus: The intrepid twosome is home in England relaxing with son Ramses, ward Nefret, and assistant illustrator David when their peace is shattered by the arrival of a young prince of the Egyptian desert. Merasen is the brother of Prince Tarek, ruler of the Lost Oasis from which Nefret was rescued several years before. Tarek is gravely ill, says Merasen, and needs Amelia and Emerson. Of course, they agree to go. Having hidden the location of the Lost Oasis for years from both family members and other archeologists, Amelia and Emerson make their preparations in deadly secret. Emerson sends Merasen back to Egypt where he is to await their arrival. David is likewise dismissed, sent to work for a book publisher. Along with Ramses and Nefret, the Emersons depart for Egypt, each of them carrying a copy of the map to the Lost Oasis. Trouble befalls them soon after their arrival. Merasen's been talking too much, and it seems that half of Egypt now knows of Emerson's plans. Followed by a big game hunter and a girl named Daria, they board a boat for the trip down the Nile, then lose one of their hired men when he falls overboard. Other hazards lie ahead, including roving bands of thieves and slave hunters plying the desert routes. When one of their men is murdered and Merasen goes missing, Ramses suspects the worst. Uncomfortable with the arrogant Merasen and secretly in love with Nefret, Ramses believes Tarek's brother has betrayed them. Nefret's past loyalty to the Lost Oasis causes her to defend Merasen, but even she is astounded when the family arrives at the hidden city only to find Tarek banished and his uncle on the throne. Merasen is in league with the new king whose only reason for summoning the Emersons was to draw Nefret back to the Oasis. The young woman is forcibly returned to her role as goddess of the kingdom. Watched over by ladies-in-waiting and counseled by the king's priests, Nefret seems to take to her old role, presiding over the temple as she did before her days in England. Amelia and Emerson plot her rescue while Ramses escapes their guards and goes off in search of Tarek. Assisted by Daria, whom he thinks he loves now that Nefret is lost to him, Ramses reaches the walled-off valley where Tarek and his men plan the Prince's return to power. Together, they return to the Lost Oasis where Amelia and Emerson are fighting not only for their lives, but also for Nefret's. Peters' books are always fun to read, but Barbara Rosenblatt makes this one even better with her excellent narration and ability to change voices with each and every character. Amelia is, of course, the star of this book, and Rosenblattt rises to the challenge in lending the proper nuance to every word said by Amelia. Lovesick Ramses, though, is not so fortunate. Ramses takes a featured role in the story, but Rosenblatt's interpretation of him falls short of what readers expect from the character. Ramses's voice is just a little too flat, dry, and expressionless, making him sound more like an old-fashioned gentleman than the lively young buck known to fans of earlier episodes in the series. Of course, despite his days in the desert, Ramses has been raised to be the proper English gentleman, and this may account for the voice Rosenblatt lends him. It's a small matter compared with the rest of the narration, which, on the whole, is wonderful. Peters' fans should enjoy what can only be described as an exciting return to the past in this highly regarded series.
Reviewed by Mary V. Welk, August 2004
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
