Synopsis: Leoros doesn’t have many friends. The son of a scientist and archaeologist, he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros’ world is turned upside down.
When an archaeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.
On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.
Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.
Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.
Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?
There is darkness in everyone.
The Emerald Tablet by Joshua Silverman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
When it comes to fantasy books, I find that sometimes I am absolutely enthralled, and other times I am rather ambivalent. It is often not the author’s fault, but I am committed to giving my honest opinion. Please know that is what this is, and your experience may be completely different.
From the beginning, I knew I was out of my league with this book. I do not know mythology well, and this book covers Egyptian, Greek, and Roman mythology (perhaps others, but those are the only ones I recognized). I found myself struggling to keep the characters straight, and I think a cast of characters may have helped. I will say that the merging of these various mythological characters was done exceptionally well, and those who know these characters would appreciate this element of the book very much.
When I began reading, I was of the understanding that this was a fantasy book, but I believe there is much more to this genre. I would call it fantasy-thriller. There is plenty of violence in the book–not terribly descriptive, but it will “wake” you up! There is some profanity and some sex scenes (not erotic but definitely there) that I could have done without, but that is just me. In my opinion, this is not young adult fantasy–this is adult.
While this book is not necessarily something I would pick up and read, if you are a hardcore fantasy enthusiast, this book would probably be right up your alley. I often found myself lost within the book, but most of that was just me. I didn’t connect with the story like I wished I could have. I will say that if you like the book, you will find the ending unsettling. This is the first book in the series, and you will want to read the second.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
About the Author
Joshua Silverman was born in Washington, D.C. He moved to Orange County, California where he was raised.
While attending California State University, Fullerton and studying Criminal Justice, Joshua was introduced to a creative writing class where he wrote a series of paranormal stories. As a child, he has always been an amateur historian, focusing on ancient Egypt, Greek, and Roman civilizations.
Since working in the legal environment he has combined his passion for creative writing with his love of ancient history by penning his début novel, The Emerald Tablet, the first of seven in the Legends of Amun Ra series.
Joshua currently resides in Orange County, California and enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.
Check out the author on his site and via social media for more.
https://www.facebook.com/LegendsofAmunRa
And if you are interested in buying the book, click here.
