Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Review: 12.21.12 by Killian McRae

12.21.12Title: 12.21.12
Author: Killian McRae
Series: Stand Alone
Pages: 238
Published: Available now from Omnific
ISBN: 9781936305537
Source: Arranged Tour






Description: Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his deceased wife and partner on proving his widely-panned theory: Cleopatra VII, last ruler of Ancient Egypt, was murdered. When a statue of the doomed Queen is discovered in an Olmec excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between the sexy, enigmatic international thief, Victoria Kent, and infamous rumored Russian mobster, Dmitri Kronastia. Both hold pieces to the puzzle that will finally shed light on Cleopatras death, as they vie for Shep's trust and assistance. As he is drawn further into their world of ancient gods, supernatural powers, and alternative history, little does Shep know that the fate of all humanity may hinge on his ability to discover the truth in between Victoria and Dmitris' fragmented claims and hidden identities. Working to decode the ancient past while attempting to save the future, Shep becomes a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids themselves and cloaked by the Mayan prophecy of 12.21.12.

I Give This ...
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I'm not in the camp of believing  in the idea that the world is going to end on 12.21.12.  But, I admit that the basic idea behind this book had me really intrigued.  It's hard not to when it includes Cleopatra, Mayan civilization, and the end of days.  I wanted to know how the author couldn't possible manage to tie them together.


I liked Sheppard from the opening pages.  He's a man that's been dealt a hard blow, and I could see how he would blame himself for his wife's death.  It seems like he's bent on self destruction, but I was pleased to see him get involved in the quest for the truth.  I enjoyed the link he shares with Cleopatra, but it was one of the things I thought was too convenient for the story.


My thoughts on Victoria and Dimitry changed throughout the story.  But, I think it's suppose to be that way.  They've both spent so long guarding each other's secrets, that it would only be natural to put one face forward while hiding the true self.  I ended up really enjoying them both.  Their characters had a lot on their shoulders and I can only imagine what they went though.


I enjoyed how the author managed to piece the story together.  It all made sense even if it's not true.  At times though, the explanations could get a little heavy handed.  I still really enjoyed it though!






1 comment:

  1. I have to say, I never thought this book would be about both Cleopatra and the Mayan prophecy (not a believer either). Still, I'm curious about it.

    Thanks for the review. =)

    ReplyDelete

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