Always difficult to write and often just as difficult to read, historically based novels can be hideously slow in pace, can lack vision, and can delve far too deeply into boring descriptions of ancient scenery and traditions which have little or no bearing on the plot. Not Christan Jacq’s “Ramses” series! This is an interesting collection of five novels, each paced differently according to the time in the life of Ramses they portray. There is adventure, love and deceit; beauty, ugliness and death – everything required for an exciting and relatively thrilling read from beginning to end. It is suggested the series is read in ...  Read the complete review

(I know this category is for the Ramses series in general, but this op is about one volume of the series. Rather than ask for a separate category, I’m sure my opinion on this series – even based on just this one book – more than shines through!! If anyone REALLY thinks I need to request a new category, please leave a comment. Thanks.) As I’m sure some people might have noticed by now, I have a passion for reading and for books in general. I’ve also mentioned before that I like to browse a great ‘cheap’ bookshop near where I live, and pick up the odd bargain. This, I think, is the first instance of it going a little ...  Read the complete review

The Ramses Series by Christian Jacq is a collection of 5 books depicting the story of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, better known as 'Ramses The Great'. The series mixes story-telling with historical events cleverly, interweaved with tales of myths and secret forces giving us an insight into various facets of old Egyptian society and ways of life. I started reading the first book in the series due to curiosity over ancient Egyptian culture and its Pharaohs. Now that I have completed the fifth book in the series, I must say that I am totally hooked and am planning a trip to Egypt! In the first book of the series - 'Ramses 1: The Son of ...  Read the complete review

Having seen this series advertised in many bookclub catalogues, I finally found this one in my local library, and despite being the last of five gave it a try. There are several problems with this book. First, it covers a long period of time - thirty four years, in quite a short book, so time passes rather fast in places. Second, there is very little feeling of danger. Ramses, as divine ruler, is protected by the gods, and just about every plot that is put up against him falls apart without any danger. Finally, as the last in a series, there is a feeling of winding down. This might be in part because I already knew Ramses simply died of extreme old age, and so ...  Read the complete review