T.L. Higley Reviews

Added January 16, 2010

Guardian of the Flame

A Seven Wonders Novel

Author: T.L. Higley
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: October 1, 2009
Genre: Fiction/Christian/Historical
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 978-0-8054-4732-3
Author Email/Website: www.tlhigley.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 8 Gargoyles

Guardian of the Flame stirs up the embers of the ancient world, making it realistic and relevant for contemporary readers. These pages ignite an interest in this time period, thanks to the author's careful attention to details and creative characterization. The plot moves along with skillful dialogue, drama and plenty of attention-grabbing action. From the first sentence to the last, this novel keeps a steady pace and leads to a very satisfying conclusion that remains true to history.

The famous lighthouse of Alexandria takes center stage in this book, as Sophia, the lighthouse keeper, must come to terms with the invading Roman army. As Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, the Greek queen of Egypt, form a political and romantic alliance, Sophia struggles to protect the things she hold dear, namely the ever-present flame in the lighthouse and her country's vast store of knowledge. Yet, in the midst of all this, her own heart is taken captive by a surprising love.

If you ever had a desire to 'meet' famous people from the past, open this book. This was a completely enjoyable journey back in time, as Caesar and Cleopatra walk through these pages and the Roman army marches across Egypt. The novel is rich in both ideas and history, causing it to become relevant to the reader. Sophia's character is an engaging combination of vulnerability and defiance, making her charming and cunning. The plot is filled with political intrigue but is powered by the very real motivations of these people.

Love, conquests and the ever-present struggle for survival ignite the Guardian of the Flame into an intriguing story.

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Added August 14, 2009

City of the Dead

A Seven Wonders Novel

Author: T.L. Higley
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Publisher Website: bhpublishinggroup.com
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: Available now
Genre: Fiction/Christian/Historical
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 978-0-805404731-6
Author Email/Website: www.tlhigley.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

City of the Dead is so alive, my own pulse rate soared! This second book in the Seven Wonders series is an exciting trip back in time to ancient Egypt. Readers get an up close look at the blood, sweat and fears that built the Great Pyramids. The mystery and suspense level in this novel is high, making each page slip quickly through the fingers, like sand in an hour glass.

Hemiunu is Pharaoh's grand vizier, in command of the country's elaborate building projects. But a killer is on the loose, threatening to bring down prominent citizens because of past crimes. While Hemi seeks the assassin, he discovers instead a new, and perhaps dangerous, way of thinking. As he begins to realize that the justice he desires for Egypt may not come from the gods, but from the one true God, he knows that his life and his relationship with Pharaoh will be forever changed.

Politics and passion kiss in these pages, creating a union that births exciting elements of treachery and trepidation. When prominent Egyptians die, the clues left by the killer create more questions. Everyone who surrounds Pharaoh's throne becomes both a suspect and a potential victim, giving readers an thrilling mystery to unravel.

The hidden past of key characters slowly surfaces, spotlighting an event that binds them in a deadly vow of silence. Against this backdrop, the beliefs of Christianity surface, quietly but with a powerful voice. The author provides a sensitive portrayal of these characters in conflict-- for their lives and their afterlives as well.

City of the Dead awakens readers' senses to the larger meaning of life.

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This page was last updated on January 16, 2010.

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