Scroll of Saqqara

An early offering by Canadian author, Pauline Gedge, The Scroll of Saqqara is a brilliant little book full of mystery and intrigue. No can evoke a sense of reality set in Ancient Egypt with the facility of Gedge. I read this novel years ago, and again recently. It is a classic.

I have read a number of Pauline Gedge's books and find this one very interesting and chilling. It is well-researched, as usual with her, and one feels he is really right there 2500 years ago. Ramesses' son, KHaemweset, the great magician prince, is a handsome, likable protagonist the reader longs to embrace and we revel in his perfect family, exalted position, sense of duty and the love he has for his country. The horror of his downfall due to an evil he accidently ? set in motion is excrutiating to experience. We pray, even as we cannot put down the novel, that he will come to his senses before it is to late. We experience the terror his family feels right up to the shocking and unexpected ending. In history, despite Khaemweset's popularity with the people, his beauty, his competence, he does not become crown prince-why? Perhaps...perhaps Nubnefer

If you're a fan of ancient Egypt or just an action/adventure fan -- this book is just a fun, fun read. Kept me on the edge of the seat until the end.

Let Pauline Gedge take you by the hand and lead you back into ancient egypt. A richly detailed novel of egypt: Breathe the scented air of the pharaohs palaces and walk through the sandswept streets of this great civilization. For a stunningly fast novel that will keep you mesmerized this is a great read. The ending will blow you away. Highly recomended!

The central protaganist in this story is Prince Khaemwaset, an egyptian prince of royal blood, son of Ramses II, physician, sem-priest and magician. Although he is in line for the royal throne, he has no political ambitions, and even though he is his father's favourite, the overriding desire in his life is to locate the Scroll of Thoth, which is said to grant immortal life. With the help of his son, Hori, he excavates ancient Egyptian tombs, but is always dissappointed until the day he finds an unlooted, but mysterious tomb. Unintentionally he unleashes the dark magic residing in this tomb, and sets in motion forces that will haunt him and his family, and show him how high is the price of arrogance, pride and the pursuit of all knowledge. As always, Pauline Gedge, brings to life the daily life of ancient Egypt, from lowliest servant, to scribe to royal princes. This story is no exception, however I found that the story sagged midway, and the climatic ending was anti-climatic, and could have been reached sooner. The story could have used a little more twists in the middle.