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THE WAY OF FIRE
by Christian Jacq
Simon and Schuster, September 2005
320 pages
10.99GBP
ISBN: 0743259610


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Given that Christian Jacq fell in love with Ancient Egypt when he was 13 years of age and that he began writing books on that topic almost immediately, it is amazing that he had to wait until he was 40 before his fiction achieved popularity. He is recognised as one of the world's foremost authorities on his favourite subject so readers of Jacq's many books that fictionalise Egyptology assimilate much of historical fact along with the fable.

THE WAY OF FIRE is part three of the Mysteries of Osiris series. Nonetheless, a reader who begins his acquaintance with the author with this volume will not have much difficulty in picking up the thread.

The first chapter in this episode of the Mysteries opens, ominously enough, with the reader being introduced to the Herald as that worthy forces a caravan bearing supplies to an Egyptian commander's team, to halt. When the merchant in charge of the caravan refuses to obey the Herald's orders to surrender his cargo, the Herald transforms himself into a falcon and sinks his talons into the merchant's heart, thereby terminating the discussion.

Iker, a young man who made his appearance in the earlier books, is the hero of this adventure. He has been named Royal Son to Egypt's Pharaoh, Senusret. The tale recounts Iker's attempts to track and destroy the Herald. Iker has fallen in love with Isis, a priestess who is being initiated into the Mysteries so that THE WAY OF FIRE is both a love story and a history of warfare.

Egyptian civilisation was governed by superstition so it is not surprising that this novel is permeated with the supernatural. Magic is invoked on almost every page. Iker owns a donkey with whom he can communicate and becomes beloved of a hound named Flesh Eater with whom he also enters into a close bond.

There is a lot of blood shed throughout the narrative but those interested in Egyptology as well as blood, guts and high adventure will no doubt find this tale fascinating. It is a great treat to be given an insight into the mysterious ways and history of that death-obsessed culture.

Reviewed by Denise Pickles, November 2005

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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