johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw the slate of 2020 Flame Tree Press titles, 2 of them in particular drew my eye. The first by Glenn Rolfe, the second, the newest Brian Moreland. Ancient Egyptian horror set in the 30’s? Yep, sign me up for that.
When her grandfather disappears, only to re-emerge a broken man, Imogen Riley must know what happened. He claims to have found an ancient Egyptian tomb and the greatest archaeological discovery. In order to find out what has taken her grandfather from her, Imogen joins colleague Nathen Trummel on an adventure of wonder and horror.
Going to throw this one out there. This is my favorite book by Moreland. The writing, plotting, and characterization here are leaps and bounds beyond what I’ve read from the author previously. Despite not having read all of his books, I still feel comfortable making the claim that this may be his best overall book. It’s just difficult to feel otherwise after having read this. I love the mixture of history, adventure, and horror that Moreland has put in the pages.
Imogen is an excellent main character and I had a good time following the exploration of The Tomb of Gods. There is plenty of action here and the scary sequences are terrifying. This was one of those books that keeps you engaged the entire time, even when there are lulls in the scares and action, the sense of discovery and adventure keep you within the authors grasp.
Tomb Of Gods is an excellent novel by Brian Moreland, and another top notch horror from FlameTree Press. I hope the author and publisher work together again soon.
When her grandfather disappears, only to re-emerge a broken man, Imogen Riley must know what happened. He claims to have found an ancient Egyptian tomb and the greatest archaeological discovery. In order to find out what has taken her grandfather from her, Imogen joins colleague Nathen Trummel on an adventure of wonder and horror.
Going to throw this one out there. This is my favorite book by Moreland. The writing, plotting, and characterization here are leaps and bounds beyond what I’ve read from the author previously. Despite not having read all of his books, I still feel comfortable making the claim that this may be his best overall book. It’s just difficult to feel otherwise after having read this. I love the mixture of history, adventure, and horror that Moreland has put in the pages.
Imogen is an excellent main character and I had a good time following the exploration of The Tomb of Gods. There is plenty of action here and the scary sequences are terrifying. This was one of those books that keeps you engaged the entire time, even when there are lulls in the scares and action, the sense of discovery and adventure keep you within the authors grasp.
Tomb Of Gods is an excellent novel by Brian Moreland, and another top notch horror from FlameTree Press. I hope the author and publisher work together again soon.
scottneumann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
readingvicariously's review against another edition
5.0
If I see a title that involves Egyptian mythology and tombs beneath pyramids then I'm automatically on board. So I guess the author hooked me in early just with that, but I'm pleased to say that not only did this set up pay off, but the book rises to an epic level I was not expecting and goes in insane directions that I never saw coming.
I truly am going to say very little about the plot here. I want you to be as surprised as I was with each new unfolding event. What I will say is that the book wastes no time in getting to the good stuff. Our characters get to the dig site and things start going sideways very quickly. And speaking of characters, I love the ones constructed here. Imogen is fantastic as our egyptologist heroine, and other characters I liked include Caleb (her photographer-turned-love interest) and Dyfan (the blind assistant with a special sixth sense). Even the characters you're supposed to hate - namely expedition leader Trummel and head of security Gosswick - were fully realized and well done. The author does a good job of blending in the character's backstories and motivations with the current horrors they are facing.
And believe you me, there is a lot of horror here. And a nice variety as well. Lots of tense moments, gruesome violence, and eerie happenings. To say this book is a mix of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider is wildly underselling it, but I did enjoy the overall focus on exploration and puzzle-solving (as well as the numerous creatures and nightmares that make an appearance). I wish I could talk about the final act, but I can't. Just know that it blew my mind. Go read it and get back to me so we can talk.
I know a little about Egyptian mythology, but there's so much here that I'd never heard of. I spoke with the author and he mentioned doing about a year of research, and it shows - from references to specific archaeological sites/finds, to ancient Egyptian belief systems, to the construction of the afterlife and the various layers therein. Not only was a I enamored by all the (new to me) lore, but I was also excited to see scenes of what I knew (such as a particular moment where hearts are weighed against the feather of Maat for eternal judgment).
Overall I loved this book! It's a longer one, and some parts did start to drag for me, but I never lost interest in what was happening or fearful anticipation of what was going to happen next. It's a wonderful mix of mythology, thriller, and horror. Highly recommend!
*4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads
I truly am going to say very little about the plot here. I want you to be as surprised as I was with each new unfolding event. What I will say is that the book wastes no time in getting to the good stuff. Our characters get to the dig site and things start going sideways very quickly. And speaking of characters, I love the ones constructed here. Imogen is fantastic as our egyptologist heroine, and other characters I liked include Caleb (her photographer-turned-love interest) and Dyfan (the blind assistant with a special sixth sense). Even the characters you're supposed to hate - namely expedition leader Trummel and head of security Gosswick - were fully realized and well done. The author does a good job of blending in the character's backstories and motivations with the current horrors they are facing.
And believe you me, there is a lot of horror here. And a nice variety as well. Lots of tense moments, gruesome violence, and eerie happenings. To say this book is a mix of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider is wildly underselling it, but I did enjoy the overall focus on exploration and puzzle-solving (as well as the numerous creatures and nightmares that make an appearance). I wish I could talk about the final act, but I can't. Just know that it blew my mind. Go read it and get back to me so we can talk.
I know a little about Egyptian mythology, but there's so much here that I'd never heard of. I spoke with the author and he mentioned doing about a year of research, and it shows - from references to specific archaeological sites/finds, to ancient Egyptian belief systems, to the construction of the afterlife and the various layers therein. Not only was a I enamored by all the (new to me) lore, but I was also excited to see scenes of what I knew (such as a particular moment where hearts are weighed against the feather of Maat for eternal judgment).
Overall I loved this book! It's a longer one, and some parts did start to drag for me, but I never lost interest in what was happening or fearful anticipation of what was going to happen next. It's a wonderful mix of mythology, thriller, and horror. Highly recommend!
*4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads
bookish_satty's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! Loved it so very much especially the Epilogue! Must read for horror fans! A masterpiece in my eyes!
horrorholmes's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
elles_shelves's review against another edition
5.0
Tomb of Gods by Brian Moreland is part adventure, part horror, and part Egyptian mythology. Dr. Harlan Riley is a famed British archaeologist who is seeking the tomb of Nebenteru, where it is believed King Ramses II sealed his royal secrets. He and his team became lost while on an exhibition for the British Museum of London in 1935. One year later, Dr. Riley is found wandering the desert after being missing for a year; however, he comes back covered in scars and is placed in a mental hospital. His granddaughter, Imogen Riley, is determined to find out what happened to her grandfather in Egypt. She joins an expedition that is following the path of her grandfather to find out the mysteries of the Nebenteru. What follows is a good old fashioned Egyptian pyramid story complete with mysterious disappearances, accidents, booby traps, and rumored curses. This is a fast paced story and I quickly devoured it nearly in one sitting because it was fun!
I initially was attracted to the book because it is published by Flame Tree Press, which usually hit the mark for a fun filled horror novel. This was even better than I expected because it really delved into Egyptian mythology and the concept of a centralized creation myth between various early civilizations. This is my first novel by Moreland, but I will definitely be checking out his earlier works. If they are anything like Tomb of Gods.
I initially was attracted to the book because it is published by Flame Tree Press, which usually hit the mark for a fun filled horror novel. This was even better than I expected because it really delved into Egyptian mythology and the concept of a centralized creation myth between various early civilizations. This is my first novel by Moreland, but I will definitely be checking out his earlier works. If they are anything like Tomb of Gods.
tuxedokitties's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw Brian Moreland had written a horror story based around Egypt how could I resist it?
Fast-paced and utterly engaging, I absolutely adored this. This isn't the first of the author's books I've read and it won't be the last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
Fast-paced and utterly engaging, I absolutely adored this. This isn't the first of the author's books I've read and it won't be the last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
I have missed reading Brian Moreland's novels and was so glad when I heard about his forthcoming release, "Tomb of Gods," in a few months. If you loved the first two "Mummy" films from the early 2000s, you will love this novel. It's a roller coaster ride of a page-turner that will leave you wanting more at the end of each chapter. It has Egyptian deities, forbidden passages, mythology, the Underworld, adventure, intrigue, romance, and pulse-pounding action. It is perfect reading material to lead into the summer season, and I enjoyed it so much. I don't want to spoil the story or the details, but I loved the experiences of the characters, seeing how everything unfolded, and can't wait to read more of the author's work.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a lot of fun to read and I wasn't able to put it down turning pages as fast I could.
It begins as an old-style adventure book set in Egypt, it develops into an interesting horror with some mystical undertones.
I loved the plot that flows and the great world building, the interesting cast of characters and the how the POV changes giving you an insight into all the characters.
I look forward to read other books by this author.
It was a gripping and entertaining read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It begins as an old-style adventure book set in Egypt, it develops into an interesting horror with some mystical undertones.
I loved the plot that flows and the great world building, the interesting cast of characters and the how the POV changes giving you an insight into all the characters.
I look forward to read other books by this author.
It was a gripping and entertaining read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.