May 25, 2015
When high school senior Lilliana Young becomes mystically tethered to a resurrected Egyptian mummy, her upper-crust, micromanaged New York City lifestyle is turned upside down. Lilliana and Amon, the resurrected prince and carrier of the Eye of Horus, travel to Egypt in search of Amon’s brothers, who are needed to complete a thousand-year-old ritual that will prevent Seth, the “Dark One,” from rising. They meet the Grand Vizier, an archeologist devoted to helping the brothers, but trouble emerges in the form of an unknown necromancer who intercepts their every move with flesh-eating demons, poisonous dust, and zombies. Along the way, Lilliana must decide whether to sacrifice herself to prevent the world’s “unmaking.” In this series opener, Houck (the Tiger’s Curse series) introduces a fantasy teeming with Egyptian characters and mythological stories come to life. Though the Amon’s thematic metaphors (“My throat is as dry as a sandstorm in the desert”) are trying, and the scenes between adventures can be tedious, Houck’s moving depiction of the love between Lily and Amon is memorable. Ages 14–up. Agent: Robert Gottlieb, Trident Media Group.
May 15, 2015
A reanimated mummy has an important mission and needs 17-year-old Lily in order to succeed. Lily is astonished to find a living pre-Pharaonic Egyptian king named Amon behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nothing in her privileged life has prepared Lily for what comes next as Amon takes her on one cyclone of an adventure. Amon rises from his sarcophagus every 1,000 years to protect the world from the destructive chaos of Seth, the Dark One. However, this time something has gone disastrously wrong, so Amon needs to borrow Lily's life force. Pragmatic Lily is no fragile bloom, but when Amon says things like, "You are as fresh and as lovely as a budding flower kissed by the dew of a golden morning," she can't help but notice his "physical splendor." But Amon, charming and kind though he may be, is harboring secrets that keep him from reciprocating Lily's growing love. The author weaves her story out of Egyptian lore, cinematic magic, selfless love, and cheesy dialogue, threading it with such oddities as a half-man, half-crocodile monster, massive biting worms, and rickety zombies. The tale feels occasionally overstuffed with mythology but is clever enough to remain surprising even to the last sentence. Happily, this paranormal romance has enough humor to keep the pages flipping, though it's unlikely to attract fans not already devoted to the genre. (Paranormal romance. 14-18)
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June 1, 2015
Gr 7 Up-In this modern-day fantasy, privileged New York teen Lily escapes the pressure from her parents and false friends by seeking refuge in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. On the first day of her spring break, she meets Amon, an Egyptian prince, who was mummified, yet rises once every millennia to reawaken his brothers and perform a ceremony to maintain the sun, moon, and the stars aligned and to keep the God of Chaos, Seth, away for another 1,000 years. Lily helps Amon navigate New York City, and he educates her about his past and the rituals of his native land. Together they travel to Egypt with the hope of achieving his immortality once again. Lily is a very self-aware heroine, who feels like an outcast except when she meets the resurrected royal. Amon is a mystery, a man of power and knowledge, and Lily stereotypically falls for him and can't help getting involved in helping him in his quest. The pacing of the story is even, with exciting culminating battle scenes. Rick Riordan fans who are looking for another series will delight in this fantasy. VERDICT An incredibly well-researched novel with an air of mystery and romance.-Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 1, 2015
Grades 8-11 Lily's entire life has been planned by her success-driven parents, and now she has to use her spring break to determine both her college and major. Seeking inspiration, she goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with her sketchbook, only to be shocked by the sudden appearance of a handsome guy dressed like an ancient Egyptian prince. Turns out, Amon is an ancient Egyptian princerisen from the dead with godlike powersand he desperately needs Lily's help to reunite with his brothers before Seth, the ancient god of chaos, can regain power. Whisked halfway around the world by Amon, Lily's orderly life spins out of controland it feels good. Much of this novel is predictable, but that does not diminish its appeal for teen readers. Littered with Egyptian mythology and snappy dialogue, this romantic adventure is a good choice for graduates of Rick Riordan or fans of Houck's Tiger's Curse series. The story's ending makes it clear that there will be more to come from Amon and his brothers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2016
Expecting a quiet afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sheltered seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young finds herself bound to an awakened mummy, the reincarnated form of Egyptian Prince Amon. She must help him find his brothers and save the world from the dark god Seth. Houck's fast-paced tale twines modern adventure and Egyptian mythology into a somewhat predictable forbidden romance.
(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)