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Rating: 
Summary: Where's the ending?
Review: I read all three of these books in about 15 days, and I can only imagine how exhausted Pauline Gedge was when she finished writing them. I imagine she never wanted to see them again, but gosh, I wish she had taken the time to wrap them up. They were, in general, very interesting, well paced books with enough reflection by and with each character that I could identify with them as sympathetic human beings, possessing all the emotional features that make us human. I thought from time to time some of the players stepped out of character, but that was excusable, and only slightly irksome. The ending gave me the biggest fits. Where did it go? The epilogue was in reality not an epilogue at all, but the final chapter of the story. Epilogues give a brief synopsis of people and events subsequent to the action of the story. This was missing altogether. Something regarding the reign of Ahmose and a quick rundown on what became of the main characters would have been nice. I don't want to be too specific on this subject; I don't want to dissuade anyone who may be interested from reading these books, but if you have read them, you know what I'm talking about. This is more than a wish on my part for a continuation. There really were several dangling loose ends that needed tying up. Would I recommend these books to a friend? If I knew their tastes ran to historical adventure fiction, yes. I just wish Ms. Gedge would consider adding a real epilogue to a future edition.
Rating: 
Summary: Kept me interested enough to follow
Review: I'm going through an ancient-Egypt phase, so that's probably why this trilogy kept me interested. I can't say it was an engaging series. Surprisingly, The Horus Road is the best out of all 3. The author was irritatingly racist (she made some characters racist, which I had no problem with. It was her portrayal of the Medjay that exposed her), and a bit sloppy and thus confusing. For example, she would refer to a character as Black, dark-complexioned, or brown, then later say he/she paled. lol The ending was OK. But, the epilogue's ending was ridiculously corny. Each book was too long, too drawn out. I usually love details and elaborate descriptions, but in this series it was just too repetitive and appeared to be "filler" for lack of something (I don't know what. That's just how it felt). The books were also too predictable. She often tells what's going to happen instead of building the story to surprise us or at least provide a better sense of eventfulness. I liked the language. However, it was barely character-distinctive, if at all. There're unanswered questions. What was Tani's fate? She could've said it in the epilogue (although granted, I pretty much skimmed over it so maybe I missed something). Considering the mundanity of this book, I was surprised when it was moving. A few times I was moved to laughter or sorrow, etc. I suspect that high sales were due to the theme or setting (ancient Egypt, which isn't common for a novel), as opposed to the writer's skill or talent.
Rating: 
Summary: THE HORUS ROAD,
Review: In the last book of this trilogy, the all important question is answered about the Tao's fate. The war continues with Apepa, with Ahmose at the helm for the family now. Friendships and family members from the previous two books in this series are all there, right behind him. The ending to the trilogy is pure literary genius - while not necessarily precise in its historic accuracy, it is brilliantly thought out, and entirely plausible. The book does not fail to enthrall and thrill - and it is everything I have come to expect from this wonderful author.
Rating:
Summary: Grandiose work, at times too heavy to read.
Review: Pauline Gedge has been always amazing story teller. Her "Horus Road" is another chapter to never forgotten history of Egyptian kings fighting foreign invaders - Hyksos, known in a book as Setiu. "Horus Road" is the third and the final book in this epoch describing struggle of ancient Tao house to establish the glory of independent Egypt and their anointed Pharaohs. Ms. Gedge did a fantastic job describing in detail the time around campaign against the Setiu, relationship of the members of the royal house, the psychology of young pharaohs, coming of age and fighting not only external enemy, but its own demons, weaknesses and doubts. The third book describes the actions of the youngest son of the Tao house, Ahmose, who survived the assassination, and is ready to finish grandiose work started by his uncompromising brother Kamose, killed by treacherous princes. Ahmose is set to succeed and expel foreigners from Egypt, but before he will be able to finally beat his grave enemy, he must deal not only with political aspects of emerging Egypt, but also with social issues and family relations. Ms. Gedge did a splendid job recreating ancient Egypt. Her research skills are impeccable, but her story is a bit heavy at times in this part, and a reader needs to go through plenty of unnecessary reading in order to find some action, bountiful descriptions, or insightful conversation. I still highly recommend this book and the entire series to ancient history lovers, but I think some readers will be put off, and will never finish this monumental work.
Rating:
Summary: Grandiose work, at times too heavy to read.
Review: Pauline Gedge has been always amazing story teller. Her "Horus Road" is another chapter to never forgotten history of Egyptian kings fighting foreign invaders - Hyksos, known in a book as Setiu. "Horus Road" is the third and the final book in this epoch describing struggle of ancient Tao house to establish the glory of independent Egypt and their anointed Pharaohs. Ms. Gedge did a fantastic job describing in detail the time around campaign against the Setiu, relationship of the members of the royal house, the psychology of young pharaohs, coming of age and fighting not only external enemy, but its own demons, weaknesses and doubts. The third book describes the actions of the youngest son of the Tao house, Ahmose, who survived the assassination, and is ready to finish grandiose work started by his uncompromising brother Kamose, killed by treacherous princes. Ahmose is set to succeed and expel foreigners from Egypt, but before he will be able to finally beat his grave enemy, he must deal not only with political aspects of emerging Egypt, but also with social issues and family relations. Ms. Gedge did a splendid job recreating ancient Egypt. Her research skills are impeccable, but her story is a bit heavy at times in this part, and a reader needs to go through plenty of unnecessary reading in order to find some action, bountiful descriptions, or insightful conversation. I still highly recommend this book and the entire series to ancient history lovers, but I think some readers will be put off, and will never finish this monumental work.
Rating:
Summary: What a fabulous epic series!!
Review: Pauline Gedge is an excellent and imaginative writer and a great storyteller. I read the trilogy in a week, and this book in two sittings. I was captivated by the fast-moving story. What a fabulous reading experience. I am usually totally lost when any author tries to describe multi-focal battle scenes, but I found her descriptions easy to envision. I thank Ms. Gedge for including a map, creating a cast of memorable characters, and illustrating many aspects of everyday life in "royal" Egypt. Her descriptive talents allow one to visualize meals, dress, the struggles of daily life, human frailties, and even complex religious customs and rituals. It's ending was a little anticlimactic...perhaps a sequel? Ahmose's second son, Amunhotep, becomes the next pharaoh. It made me wonder what happened to his first stepson, or even if he was an historical figure. I'm definitely adding Ahmose to my Historical Hunks and Heroes list. I am pleased to add this trilogy to my library.
Rating:
Summary: What a fabulous epic series!!
Review: Pauline Gedge is an excellent and imaginative writer and a great storyteller. I read the trilogy in a week, and this book in two sittings. I was captivated by the fast-moving story. What a fabulous reading experience. I am usually totally lost when any author tries to describe multi-focal battle scenes, but I found her descriptions easy to envision. I thank Ms. Gedge for including a map, creating a cast of memorable characters, and illustrating many aspects of everyday life in "royal" Egypt. Her descriptive talents allow one to visualize meals, dress, the struggles of daily life, human frailties, and even complex religious customs and rituals. It's ending was a little anticlimactic...perhaps a sequel? Ahmose's second son, Amunhotep, becomes the next pharaoh. It made me wonder what happened to his first stepson, or even if he was an historical figure. I'm definitely adding Ahmose to my Historical Hunks and Heroes list. I am pleased to add this trilogy to my library.
Rating:
Summary: Unification and redemption
Review: The Horus Road is the third and last book that comprises the "Lords of the Two Lands" trilogy about the expulsion of the Hyskos from Egypt by the House of Tao. Although this book at times goes into literally too much detail, it is still an exemplar of the brilliance of the author. Ms. Gedge is well known for her lush and picturesque fictional ancient Egypt novels that are tightly bound with meticulous historical and period research. This novel does indeed carry on that tradition. In this third installment, Ahmose Tao fulfills the destiny of his deceased older brother Kamose, and succeeds in expelling the hated Hyskos usurpers from Egypt's Delta region. This final victory marks the beginning of Egypt's glorious Eighteenth Dynasty. In The Lords of the Two Lands trilogy, Ms. Gedge succeeds in her stated desire to rehabilitate Kamose Tao in the eyes of Pharaonic Egyptian history. Every succeeding pharoah owes to him a great debt of gratitude for his vision, dedication, and self-sacrifice. Something else also occurs in this brilliant trilogy, that being the acknowledgement of the courage of the three Queens who contributed greatly to the expulsion. Although arbitrarily placed by historians in the Seventeenth Dynasty, Queen Tetisheri can rightly be thought of as the birth mother of the golden Eighteenth Dynasty. The success of the Hyskos expulsion could not have been accomplished without the great contributions of Queens Aahotep and Aahmes-Nefertari. These two brave and courageous women contributed greatly to overall battle strategy, and from the extant written records we come to the conclusion that they also commanded soldiers in battle. From this triad of queens sprang the unique qualities that would mark many of the powerful queens that followed them... Hatshepsut, Tiye, Nefertiti, and Ankhesenamun. On balance, I highly recommend not only this book, but the complete Lords of the Two Lands trilogy and indeed every novel authored by the master of this genre, Pauline Gedge.
Rating:
Summary: Amun is Satisfied...but has the cost been too great?
Review: The house of Tao has long waited for the god Amun to end his demands of personal loss and sacrifice for the return of the rule of Ma'at (rightful law & justice by the true Egyptian Pharoah of royal blood)to Egypt. After living through his father Seqenenra's slaughter, his brother Si-Amun's suicide, his brother Kamose's murder and his sister Tani's marraige to a traitor, Ahmose Tao may finally see the unification of Upper and Lower of Egypt and feel the weight of the Double Crown of the Pharoah rest upon his brow. Still, there remain so many obstacles to overcome if peace and prosperity are to reign. The Setiu usurper, Apepa, once Pharoah of the whole land, still lives and controls the northern capital of Het-Uart. The trade routes along the Horus Road, necessary for Egypt to thrive, remain out of Ahmose Tao's control. Furthermore, there is the business of the government itself. As Ahmose will learn, it is one thing to build, motivate and lead an army during a time of war, but quite another to create a government to rule a country that has been devastated by the scars of battles. Ahmes-Nefertari, Ahmose's wife, grows skilled in the arts of politics and diplomacy but will her ability to rule, the joy she takes with her accomplishments and her new found independence tear her marriage apart? Can Ahmose and Ahmes-Nefertari hold Egypt and their family togther? The Horus Road is the conclusion to the Gedge's trilogy which depicts the events that usher in the great 18th Dynsaty. It is fitting for Gedge to have focused such attention on Ahmes-Nefertari as well as Tetisheri and Aahotep (her grandmother and mother, respectively) in this final volume as these three women are the ancestors of the only woman to rule as Pharaoh, Hatshepsut (Gedge's Child of the Morning is an incredible book if you would like to learn more about this amazing woman!). As always, the attention to detail is precise and the amount of research done by the author shines through each sentence. Egypt comes alive once again in a Pauline Gedge novel and I have had the pleasure of visiting, if only for a little while...
Rating:
Summary: A Shame it's the Final Book of the Trilogy
Review: This is the final volume of the Lord of the Two Lands trilogy, Ahmose Tao has vowed to continue the fight that has already killed his father and brother.
He is determined to take the fight to Apepa and breach of the walls of his capital Het-Uart. While he is away with the army his wife Nefertari is creating a new royal city from which Egypt will eventually be ruled.
When at last Het-Uart is captured Ahmose his horrifed to find that Apepa has escaped and still thwarts Ahmose's plans for Egypt and Ahmose must come to a decision . . .
Pauline Gedge is an accomplished writer who knows her subject thoroughly.
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