The Hippopotamus Marsh: Lords of the Two Lands (Lords of the Two Lands, Vol 1)

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Summary: Must read for Egypt fans
Review: I absolutely love this book and the other two parts of the trilogy. It is full of details and the historical characters are described in a way that we feel as if we knew them in real life. Gedge is one of the few authors who actually do some research on the topic they're writing a novel about, and she needs credit for this, it's a pity that other authors don't follow her example. She is true to the real historical events and alters only minor things to add a twist to the story (like the historical Tani was the sister of Apophis and I'm not sure if Siamun really existed) but these things do no harm to history and just make the story better.

Rating:
Summary: The Hippopotamus Marsh
Review: Once again, Ms. Gedge uses her papyrus time-machine to transport us back to a vivid and living ancient Egypt. We find ourselves walking among the sands of time as it slowly drifts between the late Seventeenth and early Eighteenth Dynasties. Egypt at this time has been occupied for nearly two hundred years by the Hyksos, foreign Asiatics who rule from the Delta city of Avaris. Apophis, the Hyksos king, delights in imposing ridiculous demands on the semi-autonomous Egyptian princes of the South. The straw that breaks the camels back, is an edict to kill every hippopotamus in the Nile marshes around the city of Thebes. This terrible task the Theban prince cannot bear, nor will he do. The prince is Sequenenre Tao II. This book is the first in a trilogy about the expulsion of the Hyksos from Egypt by the House of Tao. It is a compelling and imaginative saga, with brilliant twists and turns of historical fiction. Ms. Gedge lays a feast of alternative history on the palate that is sumptious and exotic. Enjoy! Book two of this trilogy "The Oasis", is scheduled for release in October of 2000.

Rating:
Summary: Vivid, engaging, thoroughly entertaining storytelling.
Review: The Hyksos (interlopers from Asia Minor with Creton and Minoan trading connections) ruled Egypt for over two hundred years at the end of the "Middle Kingdom" era. Theirs was a gradual and almost bloodless seizure of power, but once ensconced in their Delta strongholds they sacked Memphis and plundered Egypt. Their archers and horse drawn chariots give them military superiority over the Egyptians. But in the middle of the Seventeenth Dynasty the native princes of Upper Egypt rebelled against the foreigners, their alien gods and ways. Seqenenra Tao, Prince of West, lead the revolt against the Hyksos. His provincial aristocratic family are accustomed to a life of impoverished gentility on their estate, far removed from the center of power and commerce in the Delta and the influence of the Hyksos. But when the Prince decides to through off the shackles of subservience, their lives change as each family member must risk everything, including their lives, to restore Egyptians and their gods to glory. Highly recommended for historical fiction enthusiasts, The Hippopotamus Marsh is a thrilling novel of epic proportions and the first of a planned trilogy. Author Pauline Gedge brings the antiquarian Egypt vividly to life with her engaging and thoroughly entertaining story of passion, intrigue, and the ushering in of the downfall of the Hyksos and the emergence of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty.