Another Review at MyShelf.Com

The Tree of Life
The Mysteries of Osiris I

By Christian Jacq

     Young Iker just wants to be a scribe, so what is he doing on a ship destined to be a sacrifice? When he is saved, nobody believes his story and thus begins his quest to find out about the ship and her crew. Meanwhile, Pharaoh Sesostris III has his work cut out for him to unite Egypt, as most of the provincial governors think that they are doing just fine without him. To makes matters worse, the holy acacia tree is dying, and without it there can be no Egypt. The paths of these two very different men are destined to cross, and when they do there will be portentous consequences for Egypt.

      Firstly, three cheers for writing about an obscure pharaoh who hasn't already had reams written about him in other novels. Jacq's easy-to-read style is a winner as usual, but often his plots can be very linear. Not here, as there are two main strands that intertwine, as well as the fortunes of several other characters. There is, as usual, an Old Testament feel about this work where nothing is done by halves and Iker is another one of Jacq's formidably fit and able but driven characters who seems to be able to accomplish anything he sets his mind to. Many readers seem to class his books as fantasy, but this isn't exactly true. He does season his work with a generous dose of wishful thinking, but the "supernatural" happenings in his books can be attributed to the characters' faith, imagination, various substances and suggestion. In this book however there does seem to be some rather amazing things going on and we have a seemingly superhuman villain and some astonishing "mirages". I tend to categorize it more as a part of his surely inimitable folktale style, and long may be continue to enthrall us with his unique tales.

The Book

Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster)
March 2005
Trade Paperback
0743259572
Historical [19th century BC - Ancient Egypt]
Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2005
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© 2005 MyShelf.com