Released: May 2020
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Pages: 288
Rating: 4.5/5
Deep inside the tomb exists a hidden world of wonder and terror.
From the publisher:
In 1935, British archaeologists vanished inside an Egyptian cave. A year later, one man returned covered in mysterious scars.
Egyptologist Imogen Riley desperately wants to know what happened to the ill-fated expedition led by her grandfather. On a quest for answers, she joins a team of archeologists and soldiers in Egypt. Inside a mountain tomb, they’ve found technologically advanced relic and a maze of tunnels. Dr. Nathan Trummel believes this tomb leads to the most guarded secrets of the pharaohs. When the explorers venture deep into the caves, they discover a hidden world of wonder and terror.
Most kids go through an Ancient Egypt phase, but this archaeologist never actually grew out of hers. So reading a book that explores the “history” behind one of the most well-known empires was right up my alley. I didn’t go into Tomb of Gods expecting factual events or for it to suddenly reveal unknown information about the ancient pharaohs. I think that’s important when reading a book like this- you have to be able to suspend disbelief to truly enjoy what you’re reading. (Side note: this lack of suspension of disbelief is why whenever a Dan Brown book comes out, historians and archaeologists inwardly groan as we brace ourselves for the onslaught of “OH MY GOD DID YOU KNOW THAT…”)
In saying all that, though, the author clearly did his research. Quite of a bit of what he wrote was at least loosely based on fact, right down to the descriptions of what the early days of archaeology in Egypt were like. I might be at a bit of an advantage because I’ve spent time in the Valley of the Kings, but anyone reading this book should be able to feel vividly transported inside the awe-inspiring tomb that was at the center of this story. I know I certainly did.
There were numerous characters on this expedition and the narrative went from each of their points of view often, sometimes from paragraph to paragraph. This was a little odd at first, but after awhile I started to like hearing what everyone was thinking at the exact same moment. The only downside to this is that because there were so many different characters we were hearing from, some were only with us for a few pages. I would have liked to have heard more, especially the local Egyptians the archaeologists had hired.
As this group traveled further into the cave, it became apparent that there was much more at play within its depths. They encounter technology that still doesn’t exist today, so how could the Egyptians have had it thousands of years ago?
Often while I was reading this captivating tale I was reminded of one of my favorite books, Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. Much like the astronauts who carved their way into Rama, the characters in this book travel through an alien and unknown structure that defies logic and reveals more questions than it does answers. The sense of trepidation and curiosity in the face of sheer wonder and horror was similar to how I felt when I read Rama (and most recently when reading Walking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky).
Despite there being sequels that reveal the mysteries behind Rama, I haven’t read them because sometimes ambiguity evokes a far better landscape in the imagination than a detailed explanation does. Similarly, Tomb of Gods leaves itself open for sequels that could go in several directions to explain the unknowns.
I’m definitely eager to learn more and am rooting for this to become a series, although if that happens I hope the author continues in the vein of not letting everything be fully revealed. It’s a plot device that is difficult to achieve without frustrating a reader but Moreland has more than proved he’s talented enough to do it.
Even though I’m a major sci-fi nerd, I’m not one to think aliens or divine beings had anything to do with the development of the ancient world. Trust me, no one wants this to be the case more than me, but a little bit of research generally disproves any of those theories. That doesn’t mean, however, I don’t believe some of ancient mythology is based on fact- however relatively.
This was one of the developments I enjoyed most about the story. As an archaeologist, you learn that much of what is passed through the oral tradition is based on actual events. It’s essentially a fascinating game of “Telephone” that gets distorted and embellished throughout the ages.
That is one of the many reasons I highly recommend this book. Also, its blend of genres makes it appealing for just about every reader. Combining elements of fantasy, horror, and mythology, Tomb of Gods has something for everyone. The sense of wonder this book inspires will most certainly leave you as impressed as I was.
About the author:
Brian Moreland writes a blend of mystery, action-adventure, dark suspense, and horror. His books include Shadows in the Mist, Dead of Winter, The Witching House, The Devil’s Woods, The Seekers, and Darkness Rising.
An adventure seeker and lover of world travel, Brian is currently living in various places and writing books and short stories.
Join Brian’s mailing list: http://www.brianmoreland.com/
Follow on Twitter: @BrianMoreland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianMorelandWriter
Brian’s blog: http://www.brianmoreland.blogspot.com
About the publisher:
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established, the award winners, and exciting original voices.
A Little Nerd Told Me 
Thanks so much for the blog tour support x
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Thanks for having me! Loved this book.
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