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A review by lisa_setepenre
The Oasis by Pauline Gedge
5.0
It's often easier for me to review the books I dislike because I can usually rant about the things I didn't like for ages. It's less easy for me to write a review about a book I love that's not all flaily and squee-ridden and basically, "OMG THIS BOOK IS SO AWESOME, EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT".
And that's basically my incredibly fangirly, immature reaction to The Oasis. It's an amazing, amazing read and I think that The Lord of the Two Lands trilogy may just be my favourite fiction books set in Ancient Egypt, ever. And that's without having even started The Horus Road.
After loving The Hippopotamus Marsh so much, I was concerned that I'd be disappointed. Yet if anything, The Oasis is an improvement on the first book. The tension rackets up and there's more action and resolution. The ending is particularly stunning.
The characterisations are also much deeper. The then-prince, now-king Kamose really comes into his own, and it's as a tragic hero that I can't help but love and pity. The character of Ahmose is also developed, given depths that weren't present in the first volume – I really like the arc he's going on, from the prince with the least responsibilities toultimately, king and liberator. .
The Tao women were ultimately the biggest surprise. I knew of their importance in reality, and so was surprised when they seemed to take such minor roles in The Hippopotamus Marsh. Yet they do really step out and become these admirable, amazingly strong women that I know from history, and what's more, the type of female characters that I really admire. These are strong, awesome women of history, not some Nefertiti-turned-Mary-Sue.
The effect of war, the cost of war, is also shown here. We seen the Tao family change, not always for the better, and lose loved one in the course of it. This is most evident through the character of Kamose, but it is true for all of Taos.
I can't wait to start on the next book.
And that's basically my incredibly fangirly, immature reaction to The Oasis. It's an amazing, amazing read and I think that The Lord of the Two Lands trilogy may just be my favourite fiction books set in Ancient Egypt, ever. And that's without having even started The Horus Road.
After loving The Hippopotamus Marsh so much, I was concerned that I'd be disappointed. Yet if anything, The Oasis is an improvement on the first book. The tension rackets up and there's more action and resolution. The ending is particularly stunning.
The characterisations are also much deeper. The then-prince, now-king Kamose really comes into his own, and it's as a tragic hero that I can't help but love and pity. The character of Ahmose is also developed, given depths that weren't present in the first volume – I really like the arc he's going on, from the prince with the least responsibilities to
The Tao women were ultimately the biggest surprise. I knew of their importance in reality, and so was surprised when they seemed to take such minor roles in The Hippopotamus Marsh. Yet they do really step out and become these admirable, amazingly strong women that I know from history, and what's more, the type of female characters that I really admire. These are strong, awesome women of history, not some Nefertiti-turned-Mary-Sue.
The effect of war, the cost of war, is also shown here. We seen the Tao family change, not always for the better, and lose loved one in the course of it. This is most evident through the character of Kamose, but it is true for all of Taos.
I can't wait to start on the next book.