Review by MBerretta -- Scepter of Flint by N.L. Holmes
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MBerretta
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Review by MBerretta -- Scepter of Flint by N.L. Holmes
[Following is a volunteer review of "Scepter of Flint" by N.L. Holmes.]
Scepter of Flint, the third mystery installment of author N.L. Holmes, finds our main character Master Hani receiving an assignment to investigate the tomb robberies occurring during the Jubilee of Aten. At first, Hani—a foreign relations diplomat— is unsure why he has been asked to probe the issue until he is told that they suspect a foreigner, possibly a diplomat, is behind the string of robberies. Not only does the sacrilege of stealing from the dead upset Hani greatly, but he can’t seem to comprehend how a welcomed guest from a different country could come and perform such a disrespectful act. As he traces the steps of the wrongdoers, he is forced to acknowledge the volatile situation brewing in his own country. Somehow, with the help of his loyal son-in-law and scribe Maya, Hani must figure out how the plague, political unrest in the neighboring country of Naharin, and the massive religious and political reformation of their own country come into play.
Before I began the story, I was given detailed and accurate historical facts, a map, as well as a dictionary of terms and phrases frequently used by Ancient Egyptians. This is one of many positive aspects of this book. I appreciated being told where exactly Hani and his family existed in time and given the background information to fully understand the implications of some of the major plot details. For example, the new King changing important ideologies found in the old religion, like receiving ka, and the effect moving the capital would have on the common people—many of which were forced to move with their King or simply suffer in relative poverty. I found the cast of characters to be delightful and morally good, thus making it easy to rally behind their cause. The inclusion of the vivid details of Waset and Akhet-aten, as well as the ceremonial displays, and costumes allowed me to fully envision Hani’s surroundings.
Unfortunately, sometimes the detailed description became a little repetitive at times. When reading, I find that if someone describes the eye shape of a character—for example, it will only need to be done once. There were times when a description such as this was given twice in the span of two paragraphs. I am all for describing changes to a character’s appearance but if they have small eyes, I don’t think it needs to be said more than once.
I am giving this book a four out of four stars, despite there being a few grammatical issues and repetitive descriptions. These do not hinder the story in any way; therefore, I don’t think they should contribute to the rating of this piece. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or loves historical fiction. There is violence, murder, and fighting, and some sexual content such as the discussion of promiscuity, however, little profanity is used. You do not have to be well versed in Ancient Egyptian culture or history to be able to enjoy this story because everything you need to know is either defined for you or described thoroughly. Also, you don’t have to read the previous books. This series reminds me of the Nancy Drew mysteries where you could pick up any book in the series at random and not feel as if you’re missing pertinent details. This was a quick, enjoyable read and I will most likely go back and read the previous works as well as any future installments of N.L. Holmes’s Lord Hani Mysteries.
******
Scepter of Flint
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Scepter of Flint, the third mystery installment of author N.L. Holmes, finds our main character Master Hani receiving an assignment to investigate the tomb robberies occurring during the Jubilee of Aten. At first, Hani—a foreign relations diplomat— is unsure why he has been asked to probe the issue until he is told that they suspect a foreigner, possibly a diplomat, is behind the string of robberies. Not only does the sacrilege of stealing from the dead upset Hani greatly, but he can’t seem to comprehend how a welcomed guest from a different country could come and perform such a disrespectful act. As he traces the steps of the wrongdoers, he is forced to acknowledge the volatile situation brewing in his own country. Somehow, with the help of his loyal son-in-law and scribe Maya, Hani must figure out how the plague, political unrest in the neighboring country of Naharin, and the massive religious and political reformation of their own country come into play.
Before I began the story, I was given detailed and accurate historical facts, a map, as well as a dictionary of terms and phrases frequently used by Ancient Egyptians. This is one of many positive aspects of this book. I appreciated being told where exactly Hani and his family existed in time and given the background information to fully understand the implications of some of the major plot details. For example, the new King changing important ideologies found in the old religion, like receiving ka, and the effect moving the capital would have on the common people—many of which were forced to move with their King or simply suffer in relative poverty. I found the cast of characters to be delightful and morally good, thus making it easy to rally behind their cause. The inclusion of the vivid details of Waset and Akhet-aten, as well as the ceremonial displays, and costumes allowed me to fully envision Hani’s surroundings.
Unfortunately, sometimes the detailed description became a little repetitive at times. When reading, I find that if someone describes the eye shape of a character—for example, it will only need to be done once. There were times when a description such as this was given twice in the span of two paragraphs. I am all for describing changes to a character’s appearance but if they have small eyes, I don’t think it needs to be said more than once.
I am giving this book a four out of four stars, despite there being a few grammatical issues and repetitive descriptions. These do not hinder the story in any way; therefore, I don’t think they should contribute to the rating of this piece. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or loves historical fiction. There is violence, murder, and fighting, and some sexual content such as the discussion of promiscuity, however, little profanity is used. You do not have to be well versed in Ancient Egyptian culture or history to be able to enjoy this story because everything you need to know is either defined for you or described thoroughly. Also, you don’t have to read the previous books. This series reminds me of the Nancy Drew mysteries where you could pick up any book in the series at random and not feel as if you’re missing pertinent details. This was a quick, enjoyable read and I will most likely go back and read the previous works as well as any future installments of N.L. Holmes’s Lord Hani Mysteries.
******
Scepter of Flint
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"I want to learn everything I can, and I write down everything I see. Golly says if I want to be a writer someday, I better start now, and that is why I am a spy."
-Harriet M. Welsch (Harriet the Spy, 1996)
-Harriet M. Welsch (Harriet the Spy, 1996)
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